Master of International Hospitality Entrepreneurship

The Master of International Hospitality Entrepreneurship is a two-year coursework degree for people who want to start or grow hospitality businesses. It sits at the intersection of hospitality operations and entrepreneurship, so you'll study how food, beverage, accommodation and events businesses are built, run and scaled. Expect units on new venture creation, hospitality finance, marketing, service operations, and international business. You'll look at how Australian hospitality businesses operate and how they adapt models for overseas markets.

The degree is structured in trimesters or semesters, depending on the intake, with each unit carrying a set number of credit points. You'll need to complete a set total of credit points to graduate, usually made up of core units and electives. Many master's programmes finish with a capstone project or a research thesis, and this one is likely to include a major project where you develop a hospitality business plan or investigate a real industry problem. Credit for prior study may be available if you've done relevant postgraduate work, assessed under the institute's credit policy.

Work-integrated learning is common in hospitality master's degrees. Placements or industry projects let you apply what you learn in hotels, restaurants, catering companies or event firms. The skills you build include financial modelling for hospitality ventures, market and feasibility analysis, digital marketing, leadership of diverse teams, and the practical side of opening a venue: licensing, food safety, supplier negotiation and rostering. You'll also practise pitching ideas and writing business cases.

This course suits people who already have some hospitality experience and want to move into ownership or senior management, as well as career changers with a business or management background who want to specialise in hospitality. It's also relevant if you work in tourism, events or food service and want to develop your own concept. Australian institutions often have industry advisory boards and strong links to hospitality groups, which can help with networking. English requirements are set by the institute and the Department of Home Affairs for the student visa, so check the official page for the exact scores. While you study, a student visa allows up to 48 hours of work per fortnight, and after graduating you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream. Confirm all details, including tuition, on the CRICOS register and the institute's website.

• Hospitality entrepreneur or business owner, start your own café, restaurant, catering company or boutique accommodation. Australia's food and beverage sector is full of small operators, and this degree helps you plan and finance a launch.
• Venue or operations manager, run day-to-day operations for hotels, restaurants, clubs or event venues. Employers include major hotel groups, hospitality chains and independent operators across Australia.
• Business development manager, hospitality groups, tourism boards and food service distributors hire people who can spot new markets and build partnerships.
• Events and functions manager, plan and deliver conferences, weddings and corporate events for hotels, wineries, convention centres and event management firms.
• Food and beverage manager, oversee menus, purchasing, staffing and service standards in hotels, resorts and large catering operations.
• Consultant or advisor, help hospitality businesses improve profitability, enter new markets or adopt new technology. Consulting firms and industry bodies hire people with both operational and strategic skills.
• Tourism experience developer, create and market food, wine and cultural tourism experiences. Regional tourism organisations and tour operators need people who understand both hospitality and entrepreneurship.