Studium Tourism and Leisure Management - Mann steht im Gang

Tourism and Leisure Management bachelor degree programme

What are tourists’ top needs? What might tourism products look like in the future? How do you market a tourist destination? How do you stage an event and what challenges are involved?

You’ll work on these and other business-related questions in our part-time bachelor programme. And on top of this, you'll learn a foreign language in addition to English, our language of instruction, allowing you to benefit from countless international connections and relationships. In three years, you'll be ready for an international career!

The degree programme: Bachelor of Arts in Business (BA)

In an age of rapidly changing global markets, prospective managers are constantly facing new challenges. The Tourism and Leisure Management bachelor degree programme provides you with the tools to succeed locally and internationally in this environment.

The aim of this English-language bachelor programme is to equip you with in-depth business administration expertise. The tourism and leisure industry is the centre of attention throughout the programme.

Tourism and Leisure Management was IMC Krems’ first degree programme. So we have maintained close contacts with the tourism sector for more than 25 years. You profit from this as well!

The degree features an ideal blend of theoretical elements with practical insights and discussions. It also stands out for its strong international focus. You study with fellow students from all over the world, and have the opportunity to spend semester 3 abroad at one of our partner universities.

Student stories

Business administration

Business administration focuses on how organisations and companies are managed.

In other words, it examines business processes with the aim of providing insights into the planning, implementation and evaluation of responsibility, approaches and objectives in different parts of a business.

Business administration topics include: accounting and finance, marketing, human resources and logistics.

Core topics of the Tourism and Leisure Management degree programme

Tourism is an umbrella term for travel. It’s not only one of the largest, but also one of the fastest growing industries worldwide. Furthermore, it’s considered to be one of the world’s most significant sectors for employment.

In addition to the travel industry, the hospitality and leisure industries are also elements of tourism.

There are a number of specialised areas in the tourism and leisure industry as well. These are covered in our bachelor programme in the Specialised Tourism Studies module. To give you a few examples: event management, tourism with an emphasis on sport, culture and health, and sustainable travel.

Studium Tourism and Leisure Management - Studierende im Untergeschoss
Studium Tourism and Leisure Management- Frau hält ein Buch nach oben
Studium Tourism and Leisure Management- Studierende lesen ein Buch
One of the hallmarks of the tourism industry is its internationality. Learn new languages, study with classmates from different nations and benefit from their diverse professional experience. Learn new languages and take the opportunity to go on a semester abroad. In short: have the time of your life!
Programme director Claudia Bauer-Krösbacher

A formula for success: theoretical knowledge + practical experience

The programme is built on three pillars.

1

The basics

Semesters 1-4

In the programme’s first few semesters, you'll mainly cover the basics of business administration, including marketing, management, and accounting – in terms of how they apply to the tourism industry.

You'll also focus on language skills – choosing an additional foreign language from a pool of 6 languages – international tourism markets, research methods, and soft skills. Then you'll concentrate on another key element of the programme: cutting-edge information and communications technology (ICT).

2

Practical elements and time abroad

Semesters 1-6

All courses have a strong practical focus. Most of the teachers come directly from the tourism industry and use real-world examples to illustrate course content. In your part-time studies, you’ll also benefit from the experience and know-how of your classmates. So you can look forward to lively discussions!

In semester 3 you’ll have the option of spending a semester abroad at one of our 140 partner universities.

Since this is a part-time degree programme, you'll need to provide proof that you’re working in tourism or in tourism-related sectors. The extent required depends on the ECTS shown in the curriculum (e.g. 6 ECTS = internship amounting to 150 hours per semester).

3

Advanced courses

Semesters 5-6

In the final two semesters you’ll delve into more detail, learning more about various aspects of tourism. From event management to sustainable tourism to sports, cultural and health tourism: you’ll gain extensive insights into these specialised areas of tourism and future growth markets.

This is the perfect opportunity for you to discover your interests, contribute new ideas and implement projects.

Curriculum

What can you expect from your studies? The curriculum provides an overview.
Click on the individual courses for further information.

CourseSWSECTS
Accounting and Financing
Accounting I 24
Management
Principles of Management 23
Sustainability and Ethics in Leadership 11
Marketing
Marketing I 23
Fundamentals of Tourism
Understanding Tourism 23
Tourism Geography 22
Soft Skills
Rhetoric and Presentation 11
Language
French I (Level A1) 23
Spanish I (Level A1) 23
Business English I 11
Scientific Methods and Tools
Foundations of Empirical Social Research 11
Tourism Research Exercises 11
Principles of Business Data Analysis 23
Professional Competence
Professional Competence I 04
CourseSWSECTS
Accounting and Financing
Accounting II 23
Economics
Microeconomics 23
Law
Principles of Private and Public Law 22
Marketing
Marketing II 22
Fundamentals of Tourism
Event Management 23
Tourism Sector
Hospitality Management 22
Destination Management 22
Soft Skills
Group Dynamics 11
Language
French II (Level A2) 23
Spanish II (Level A2) 23
Business English 11
Business Mathematics and Statistics
Business Mathematics
Business Mathematics - Theory 12
Business Mathematics - Exercises 12
Professional Competence
Professional Competence II 04
CourseSWSECTS
Accounting and Financing
Managerial Accounting and Decision Making 23
Economics
Macroeconomics 33
Law
International and Tourism Law 23
Management
Human Resource Management 22
Marketing
Tourist Behaviour and Psychology 23
Language
French III (Level A2/A2+) 22
Spanish III (Level A2/A2+) 22
Business Mathematics and Statistics
Business Statistics
Business Statistics - Theory 12
Business Statistics - Exercises 12
Scientific Methods and Tools
Qualitative Research Methods 24
Computational Thinking 12
Professional Competence
Professional Competence III 04
CourseSWSECTS
Marketing
Multi Channel Distribution Systems 23
Fundamentals of Tourism
Sustainability in Tourism 12
Culture, Heritage and Tourism 22
Current Issues in Tourism 12
Tourism Sector
Transportation 23
Tourism Intermediaries 22
Soft Skills
Intercultural Competence 22
Language
French IV (Level A2/B1) 23
Spanish IV (Level A2/B1) 23
Scientific Methods and Tools
Quantitative Research Methods 23
Professional Competence
Professional Competence IV 08
CourseSWSECTS
Accounting and Financing
Finance and Investment 23
Economics
Economics in Tourism and Leisure 23
Management
Project Management 12
Marketing
Digital Tourism 23
Specialised Tourism Management
Hospitality Consulting 24
Destination Consulting 24
Soft Skills
Negotiation and Sales Skills Training 12
Language
French V (Level B1) 23
Spanish V (Level B1) 23
Scientific Methods and Tools
Bachelor Seminar I 13
Professional Competence
Professional Competence V 07
CourseSWSECTS
Accounting and Financing
Controlling 23
Management
Entrepreneurship and Start-Ups 24
Marketing
Digital Marketing 23
Fundamentals of Tourism
Experience Design in Tourism 34
Specialised Tourism Industries
Adventure, Events and Sports Tourism 23
Global Wellness and Spa Management 23
Scientific Methods and Tools
Bachelor Seminar II and Bachelor Paper 18
Bachelor Exam 02
Professional Competence
Professional Competence VI 03

Study abroad

Spend a semester or more at one of our 140 partner universities. A unique experience!

The exchange semester

Key features

What makes our Tourism and Leisure Management degree programme so special? Here’s an overview.

Studying the international way

Linguistically, you'll grow by leaps and bounds by perfecting your English skills – after all, the lectures are held in English. In addition, you’ll learn or further improve another foreign language during your degree, choosing between Spanish or French.

You can also go abroad with the option of spending semester 3 at one of our 140 partner universities – the perfect opportunity to further develop your cross-cultural skills.

Ideally equipped for the globalised world

While you’re still at university, you’ll cultivate contacts with important representatives of the tourism industry – during the excursion to ITB Berlin in semester 3 or an optional excursion to the IMEX Future Leaders Forum in semester 6, for instance.  And lectures in Krems are held by experts in their field, who incorporate lots of practical examples and projects.

Your training will be concluded with a sharp focus on an increasingly important set of soft skills. They’ll help you to become a confident and self-assured tourism professional. In seminars and workshops you’ll develop your presentation, negotiation and sales skills as well as explore teambuilding methods. You’ll also learn to set your own personal goals and to rigorously pursue them.

In addition, you and your classmates will spend a fascinating week abroad visiting first-class innovative tourism companies. Two courses complement this intensive week, helping you to consolidate your cross-cultural skills and to gain an even better understanding of the travel industry.

Discover your interests

One in ten jobs worldwide is directly linked to tourism – a good argument for pursuing a career in this sector. The Krems bachelor programme centres on the operational aspects of this fast-growing industry.

In addition to general lectures on the tourism industry, towards the end of your studies you’ll delve into specialised areas of tourism and leisure. In addition to event management, you’ll look at the specific features of cultural, sports, health, and sustainability tourism, as well as destination management and the convention industry.

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Key skills

When you graduate, you will have developed wide-ranging professional and theoretical expertise and skills, as well as strong interpersonal abilities.

During the degree you learn about the basics of business administration, economics and law.

Understanding complex functions within organisations and the interplay between departments is another core competence. You will be aware of just how important an enduring corporate culture is, and become an advocate for strengthening the culture at your company.

You also study the following business disciplines during your degree:

  • Accounting and finance: You have all the skills required to take on bookkeeping, accounting or controlling duties. You are also familiar with various financial instruments and budgeting tools, and how to deploy them effectively.
  • Marketing: You will study key marketing models, with a focus on typical marketing methods, international marketing, and market research.
  • Human resource management, logistics and organisational development: You will become familiar with key responsibilities of HR managers and learn how to handle cross-cultural differences. The course also provides an overview of logistics and procurement, and teaches you how to incorporate aspects of quality assurance in your approach to work. Your extensive basic business knowledge also enables you to play a part in preparing business plans.

Microeconomics and macroeconomics are core elements of the curriculum. After completing your degree, you will have a clear understanding of major global interrelationships, which can feed into your organisation’s decision-making processes.

The programme also provides an overview of various legal topics, with an emphasis on international and European law, as well as geopolitical relationships.

As English is the language of instruction and everyday communication on the programme, after completing your degree you’ll cut a confident profile on the international stage. You will have the speaking and writing skills to communicate fluently – which will look great on your CV.

On top of that, you also study an additional foreign language throughout the programme, choosing from Spanish or French.

Besides professional expertise, interpersonal skills will play a major role in your day-to-day work.

This is why we place a particular emphasis on soft skills. You will develop your teamworking abilities in various group work situations, as well as learning how to manage conflicts in the group. We also help you to enhance your presentation skills, put you in a position to take on team leadership functions and teach you how to use conflict resolution tools.

A stand-out feature of the degree programme is that it enables you to develop strong cross-cultural abilities, thanks to the programme’s distinctive international focus. You learn how to handle contrasting views and approaches more effectively and identify potential in teams comprising members with a variety of personal and cultural backgrounds. Put simply, in your career you’ll be able to deal expertly with business partners from all over the world.

Analysing research-related questions is an important aspect of higher education. This is why we help you to develop academic skills that allow you to understand and successfully participate in research processes.

For your bachelor paper, you'll address an area such as “Digital transformation in travel and tourism”, “Brand management in tourism destinations”, “Trends in wellness tourism” or “Sustainable event management”, to name just a few of the topics chosen by students in the past. And in the course of your academic research, you’ll establish valuable contacts to companies for your future career!

If there’s one constant throughout the programme, it’s the clear focus on the tourism industry. You’ll learn the basics, but you'll also be learn about specialised areas of tourism.

That’s why, when you graduate, you'll be a sought-after tourism expert.

Career options

After completing the Tourism and Leisure Management bachelor degree programme, you'll have the world at your feet. Whether you decide to go abroad or work in Austria, you will be qualified to assume entry-level positions in a wide-range of industries and departments.

You have the choice of immediately applying your new skills and expertise to your career or enrolling for a master degree.

A wide range of options will be open to you – at IMC Krems, for instance, you can register for the master degree programmes:

Alternatively, you can take a master degree in business at another Austrian or foreign university.

The professional areas open to graduates include
Hotel industry, system catering, and catering
Travel agencies and tour operators
Tourism travel operators such as airlines and bus companies
Regional tourism planning and development organisations
Tourism information and communication technology companies
Sports organisations and sports event management
Casinos and theme parks
Event agencies
Conference centres
Arts and cultural institutions 
Spa and wellness facilities
National park centres

10 good reasons


What makes us special? We are more than happy to tell you about the aspects of our university, which we are especially proud of.

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Krems


Friendly and cosmopolitan: The city attracts students from all over the world, who come to study, research and work together.

Zum Bereich Studierenden-Stadt Krems Find out more

Service centers


Our university has removed a host of administrative hurdles, leaving you free to concentrate fully on your studies.

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Advisory Service


Do you have questions regarding our degree programmes or the application? Contact our Prospective Student Advisory Service.

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Opinions: Tourism and Leisure Management

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Our team

Get to know the core team of our bachelor degree programme Tourism and Leisure Management.

  • Prof.(FH) Mag. Claudia Bauer-Krösbacher, PhD - IMC Fachhochschule Krems

    Programme Director Tourism and Leisure Management

    Prof.(FH) Mag. Claudia Bauer-Krösbacher, PhD
  • Prof.(FH) Denise Kleiss, MSc., MBA, B.A. - IMC Fachhochschule Krems
    Prof.(FH) Denise Kleiss, MSc., MBA, B.A.
    K
    Professor Department of Business
  • Hon.Prof.(FH) Univ.Doz. Prof. Dr. Dipl.-Ing. Irfan Arikan - IMC Fachhochschule Krems
    Hon.Prof.(FH) Univ.Doz. Prof. Dr. Dipl.-Ing. Irfan Arikan
    A
    Professor Department of Business
  • Dr. Claudia Dolezal, PhD, MSc, PGCert, PGCert, BA - IMC Fachhochschule Krems
    Dr. Claudia Dolezal, PhD, MSc, PGCert, PGCert, BA
    D
    Professor Department of Business
  • Hon.Prof.(FH) Dr. Elisa Hergueta-Covacho, E.H. Lic., MA - IMC Fachhochschule Krems
    Hon.Prof.(FH) Dr. Elisa Hergueta-Covacho, E.H. Lic., MA
    H
    Professor Department of Business
  • Prof.(FH) Dr. Dipl.-BW(FH) Albert Franz Stöckl, MA - IMC Fachhochschule Krems
    Prof.(FH) Dr. Dipl.-BW(FH) Albert Franz Stöckl, MA
    S
    Programme Director International Wine Business

Application and admissions – the next steps

You've found a course that's a perfect fit? Great – you’ve already taken the most important step! We’ve put together an overview to guide you through the next steps.

1

Admission requirements

We'll be happy to inform you about the requirements you have to meet in order to apply.

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2

Admissions procedure

Preparation is everything – read up on the admissions procedure in detail.

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3

Important dates and deadlines

What deadlines do you need to keep an eye on for your online application? Get an overview.

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4

Apply online

You've decided for one of our degree programmes? First of all: congratulations and thank you for choosing us! We’ll be happy to guide you step-by-step through your online application.

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5

Study-relevant dates

You would like to plan ahead and would like to know when your degree programme starts? Here you will find the answer!

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Questions about the degree programme?

Prospective Student Advisory Service


Do you have questions regarding the entry requirements, the admission procedure and more? Our Prospective Student Advisory Service is happy to help.

Ask a Student


Join our Facebook group: Direct your questions to our students and get first-hand accounts about studying at IMC Krems.

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