MSc in Tourism Management

1. Name of the master’s programme: Tourism Management

2. Level of qualification obtainable in the master's programme and designation of professional qualification on the diploma:

• level of qualification: master's degree (magister, master; abbreviated: MSc)
• qualifications: Economist in Tourism and Management

3. Field of study: Economics Science

4. Degrees accepted as prerequisites for admission to master's programmes

4.1. Full credit value can be taken into account: basic training in tourism and hospitality.

4.2. The credits specified in Section 9.3 may primarily be taken into account for the following: business and management, human resources, trade and marketing, international business, finance and accounting, business education, applied economics, economic and financial mathematical analysis, and basic public service training.

4.3. The following may also be taken into account when fulfilling the credits specified in Section 9.3: those bachelor's and master's degree programmes, as well as programmes specified in Act LXXX of 1993 on Higher Education, which are accepted by the credit transfer committee of the higher education institution based on a comparison of the knowledge serving as the basis for determining credits.

5. Duration of training in semesters: 4 semesters

6. Number of credits required to obtain a master's degree: 120 credits

• Specialization: balanced (40-60 percent)
• Credit value assigned to the thesis: 15 credits
• Minimum credit value for elective courses: 6 credits

7. Classification of fields of study according to the uniform classification system for vocational training areas: 812/1015

8. The training objectives and professional competencies of the master's programme

The objective of the master's programme is to train tourism management professionals for the tourism industry labor market who, with their professional skills and knowledge, are capable of independently performing tasks related to decision preparation and management in areas directly or indirectly related to tourism, systematically analyzing the relevant economic areas and organizations, developing supply, prepare decisions and manage tasks independently, analyze the functioning of the relevant economic areas and organizations at a systemic level, develop concepts, plans, and studies related to supply and organizational development, implement development projects, and manage businesses and institutions. Graduates can find employment in local governments, ministries, their background institutions, specialized administrative offices, tourism destination management organizations, tourism marketing companies, and non-profit organizations, among others. They are prepared to continue their studies in doctoral programmes.

8.1. The professional competencies to be acquired

8.1.1. Economist majoring in tourism management

a) knowledge

• Has mastered the concepts, theories, processes, and characteristics of economics and micro- and macro-level economic organization and is familiar with key economic facts.
• Understands the structure and operation of economic organizations, their domestic and international networks, and their informational and motivational factors, with particular regard to the institutional environment.
• Is familiar with the European integration process and the European Union's policies related to its activities.
• Possesses problem recognition, formulation, and solution skills, as well as modern, theoretically sophisticated mathematical-statistical, econometric, and modeling methods for information gathering and processing, and is aware of their limitations.
• Knows the rules and professional and ethical standards of business, economic organizations, and project planning and management.
• Has a high level of extensive theoretical knowledge of the complex system of tourism and related areas of activity (accommodation, catering, travel organization, event organization).
• Has knowledge of the management characteristics of different types of tourism organizations, including the factors necessary for strategic planning.
• Possesses knowledge related to the preparation and implementation of complex tourism and hospitality industry development projects, and has the expertise required to fill senior management positions in operating businesses and institutions.
• Able to apply relevant concepts, theories, and research findings from specific fields related to tourism (environmental, regional, health, and food sciences) to gain a deeper understanding of the sector's operations and interrelationships.
• Has comprehensive knowledge of the most important relationships between tourism and other subsystems of society.

b) abilities

• Formulates independent new conclusions, original ideas, and solutions; is capable of applying sophisticated analytical and modeling methods, developing strategies for solving complex problems, and making decisions in a changing domestic and international environment and organisational culture.
• After acquiring practical knowledge and experience, manages medium-sized and large enterprises and complex organisational units, performs comprehensive economic functions in economic organisations, plans and manages complex economic processes, and manages resources.
• Able to work effectively in an international, multicultural environment.
• Suitable for collecting, analyzing, and processing various business information related to tourism stakeholders, requiring a high level of knowledge and sophisticated theoretical methods, as well as their application in business modeling, strategic and operational planning, and decision-making.
• Using sophisticated mathematical-statistical, econometric, and modeling methods, you will be able to collect, organize, and analyze data related to tourism and related fields, as well as Hungarian and foreign-language literature sources.
• Able to creatively apply methods for managing and solving problems arising in various areas of tourism and hospitality, and to further develop these methods in a multidisciplinary context.
• Able to participate in and lead large-scale and complex tourism development projects.
• High level of written and oral communication skills in a workplace environment, professional and academic forums, in the native language and two foreign languages used with confidence.
• Ability to prepare and present professional summaries, analyses, tender documents, and detailed studies using up-to-date methods of information and communication technology.

c) attitude

• Critical of their own work and that of their subordinates, as well as their behavior; innovative and proactive in dealing with economic problems. Open and receptive to new developments in economic theory and practice.
• They have a cultured, ethical, and objective intellectual attitude toward people and social issues, and in their work, they pay attention to broader social, sectoral, regional, national, and European values (including social, ecological, and sustainability aspects).
• Strives to develop his/her knowledge and working relationships, and encourages, assists, and supports his/her colleagues and subordinates in doing the same.
• Characterised by a quality approach that prioritises guest satisfaction.
• Upholds the values and standards of the tourism profession, strives to critically interpret and further develop them.
• Open to new scientific and professional achievements in the field of tourism and hospitality and their surroundings, receptive to their utilisation in practical activities.
• Constructive, cooperative, and proactive in regular and project-based teamwork, willing to cooperate between organisations and engage in joint development.
• Committed to lifelong learning for self-development and to building, organising, and implementing individual strategies for career development.

d) autonomy and responsibility

• Independently selects and applies relevant problem-solving methods in areas of significance in terms of organisational policy, strategy, and management, and independently performs economic analysis, decision preparation, and advisory tasks.
• Independently establishes, organises, and manages larger enterprises, organisations, or organisational units.
• Takes responsibility for their own work, the organisation they manage, their business, and their employees.
• Independently identifies, plans, and organises their own and their subordinates' professional and general development, takes responsibility for it, and bears responsibility for it.
• He reflects outstanding standards in his professional work and considers general knowledge associated with intellectual life, including the sources and methods of its enrichment, to be important.
• Interested in changes in the social, economic, technological, and legal environment of tourism, characterised by responsible consideration and consideration of the consequences of professional decisions.
• When independently preparing development documents, studies, research reports, or publications, the student assumes responsibility for their content and the accuracy of the professional terminology.

9. Characteristics of the master's programme

9.1. Professional characteristics

9.1.1. The disciplines and fields of study that make up the programme and lead to professional qualification: professional knowledge of tourism management (basic knowledge of economics and methodology; as well as quantitative methods, economic statistics and analysis, decision analysis methodology, strategic management, value creation process management, economic policy, e-business, project management, integrated enterprise management systems, corporate communication, corporate finance, financial strategies, financial management, tourism management techniques, regional tourism planning, tourism research methodology, professional law and institutional systems, non-profit sector management, marketing communication, international hotel management) 50-70 credit.

9.1.2. Taking into account the optional specialisations, tourism destination management, regional development and regional management, project management, leisure sociology, attraction and visitor management, creativity development, finance, e-marketing, destination marketing, quality management, cooperation between public and private organisations involved in regional tourism, and special knowledge in the fields of tourism and transportation.

The credit value of elective courses is 40-50 credits.

9.2. Minimum requirements for admission to the master's degree programme for holders of the certificates specified in sections 4.2. and 4.3.

The minimum number of credits required for admission to the master's programme is 60 credits in the following areas:

• at least 40 credits in economics and methodology (microeconomics, macroeconomics, mathematics, statistics, information technology, business economics, accounting, controlling, finance, human resource management) and social sciences;
• general theory of tourism, economics of tourism, geography of tourism, tourism marketing, at least 20 credits in the field of hospitality and hotel management.

Admission to the master's programme requires that the student have at least 30 credits in the listed areas based on their undergraduate studies. Missing credits in the master's programme must be earned in accordance with the study and examination regulations of the higher education institution.