Bachelor of Business (Hospitality and Tourism Management)

The Bachelor of Business (Hospitality and Tourism Management) at Torrens University Australia is a three-year degree built around the business side of hotels, resorts, events, airlines, travel agencies and food service. You study the same core business subjects as other Bachelor of Business students, accounting, marketing, management, economics, business law and data, then specialise in hospitality and tourism. That means subjects in accommodation and food and beverage operations, tourism systems, destination management, revenue management, event operations and service quality. You graduate knowing how a hotel makes money, how a destination markets itself, and how to manage a roster, a budget and a guest complaint without losing your cool.

How the degree is structured

Australian bachelor degrees are normally three years of full-time study, and this one follows that pattern. Torrens runs its academic year in trimesters rather than semesters, which means three study periods a year and the option to speed up or slow down. You complete units of study, each worth a set number of credit points, and you need to pass the required total to graduate. The degree usually includes a capstone unit in your final year where you pull together everything you have learned, often through a real industry brief or a simulated business project. Some students take an optional work-integrated learning placement or internship, which counts towards their degree and gives them weeks inside an actual hospitality or tourism operation.

What you actually learn

You learn to read a profit and loss statement for a restaurant, forecast demand for a resort in peak season, design a tourism experience, manage a team of casual staff, and pitch a business idea to people who have heard every pitch before. Group work is common because the industry runs on teams. You will write reports, give presentations, use industry software, and analyse case studies from Australian and international operators. Assessment is a mix of exams, assignments, projects and practical tasks, depending on the unit.

Who it suits

This degree suits school leavers who want a business career but would rather work in hotels, travel, events or tourism than in a bank. It also suits people already working in the industry, front office, food and beverage, tour guiding, airline customer service, who want a formal qualification to move into supervisory or management roles. International students should note that studying in Australia on a Student visa allows you to work up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session, and after you graduate you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream. English requirements are set by the university and by the Department of Home Affairs for the visa itself, so check both. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register under course code 113665H. Confirm all details, including trimester dates, unit lists and placement options, on the official Torrens University Australia page.

• Hotel and resort management, front office manager, duty manager, rooms division supervisor, food and beverage manager, revenue analyst. Employers include Accor, Marriott, IHG, TFE Hotels and regional independent properties.
• Tourism and destination marketing, tourism officer, destination marketing coordinator, visitor services manager, experience designer. Employers include state tourism bodies, regional tourism organisations, tour operators and online travel agencies.
• Events and conferences, event coordinator, conference services manager, venue operations supervisor. Employers include hotels, convention centres, stadiums and event management companies.
• Food service and catering, restaurant manager, catering manager, operations coordinator. Employers include restaurant groups, contract caterers, aged care and hospital catering services.
• Travel and airlines, travel consultant, airline customer experience coordinator, corporate travel account manager.
• Small business and entrepreneurship, many graduates open or manage their own cafés, tour companies, boutique accommodation or event businesses.

Hospitality and tourism is one of Australia's largest employment sectors, with strong demand in capital cities and regional areas. The degree also gives you a business qualification that transfers to retail, property, sport and other service industries.