Empower your future in a global industry—where impact meets opportunity.
Study where world-class leadership meets world heritage. Our MBA Tourism and Visitor Economy Management programme is delivered face-to-face at Ambleside, in the heart of the Lake District National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This immersive location offers a living laboratory of sustainable tourism in action.
Designed for professionals with an existing degree or other qualification and professional experience, this MBA will support career progression through:
* Industry expertise woven into every module.
* Embedded UNESCO Sustainable Development Goals, shaping ethical and innovative leaders
* Career-focused content to boost employability and inspire career progression
Whether you're evolving your role in the sector or entering with purpose, this programme equips you to lead with insight, impact, and confidence.
Take the next step in your tourism career. Apply now and learn in one of the most inspirational settings on Earth.
Accredited by:
Tourism Management Institute
Study the MBA Tourism and Visitor Economy Management in the heart of the Lake District National Park—a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Delivered face-to-face at Ambleside, this programme is designed for professionals with a degree, combining academic insight with industry experience. With strong sector links and content embedded with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, you'll develop ethical leadership, strategic thinking, and practical skills to drive career progression and impact. Gain hands-on experience through fieldwork and site visits, while enhancing your employability in a globally relevant sector.
Students enrolled in the MBA Tourism and Visitor Economy Management programme will gain a rich blend of academic knowledge and practical skills tailored to the evolving global tourism sector. Modules combine strategic insight with hands on practice and are designed to empower you with the leadership, analytical, and operational capabilities to thrive in today's visitor economy—whether you're shaping strategy, improving visitor experiences, or influencing policy.
The modules on the MBA Tourism and Visitor Economy Management provide a transformative educational experience that combines academic excellence with strategic insight, sustainable commitment, and real-world application.
The MBA Tourism and Visitor Economy Management offers a transformative learning journey for anyone ready to deepen their expertise and drive meaningful change in the global tourism sector. Set in the inspirational surroundings of Ambleside, students engage directly with the Lake District National Park—an ideal environment for experiential education. The programme focuses on student development across key areas: critical thinking, applied research, strategic leadership, and professional practice. With each module, students build the skills to analyse complex industry challenges, design innovative solutions, and lead with ethical purpose. Learning is hands-on, collaborative, and anchored in real-world contexts, ensuring graduates are not just informed—but empowered to shape the future of tourism.
The MBA Tourism and Visitor Economy Management offers a transformative, hands-on learning experience in one of the UK’s most inspirational settings. Delivered face-to-face at Ambleside in the Lake District National Park, students benefit from immersive engagement with a UNESCO World Heritage Site as a living learning environment.
Learning is built around:
This structure enables students to develop analytical insight, leadership capabilities, and a nuanced understanding of global tourism challenges.
Assessment on the programme is applied, dynamic, and designed to reflect the complexity of the real-world visitor economy. Students are evaluated through a variety of innovative methods that combine academic depth with strategic and operational thinking.
Assessment formats include:
These assessments ensure students emerge with practical experience, evidence of impact, and the skills to lead in sustainable destination and tourism management.
The minimum entry requirement is a 2:2 honours degree, or an equivalent international qualification.
Applications without standard qualifications must demonstrate:
Students for whom English is not their first language must have achieved IELTS 6.5 (with a minimum 5.5 in each component).
Career Outcomes
On completion of the programme graduates would normally be equipped to undertake a range of strategic and management roles across the tourism and visitor economy.
Possible career paths include Destination Manager, Visitor Economy Strategist, or Tourism Development Officer, where they lead sustainable growth and destination planning. Operational roles such as Hotel Manager or Attractions Manager provide opportunities to shape customer experience at key tourism sites. For those interested in consultancy or innovation, careers in Tourism Consulting, Sustainability Advising, or launching a tourism enterprise are viable options. The programme also opens doors to policy and education through roles such as Policy Analyst, Academic Lecturer, or Research Lead, shaping the future of tourism through thought leadership and public impact.
Research
Programme staff actively contribute to cutting-edge research across a diverse range of areas, enhancing student learning through real-world insight and academic innovation. Key specialisms include:
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) in tourism operations and experience design
- GDP of Happiness and its role in measuring destination success and visitor wellbeing
- Heritage & Culture, focusing on conservation and storytelling in tourism
- Strategic Management, with emphasis on leadership and destination planning
- Upland Tourism, including environmental and economic perspectives
- Sustainable Human Resources, exploring workforce ethics and wellbeing
The MBA Tourism and Visitor Economy Management is part of the Centre for National Parks and Protected Areas, placing students at the heart of research and policy dedicated to the UK’s most treasured landscapes. This connection provides access to sustainability-focused initiatives, live projects, and academic expertise—enriching student learning with real-world relevance and environmental stewardship. It empowers graduates to contribute meaningfully to the future of responsible tourism and destination management.
Tuition fees are set annually and are subject to review each year. The University may therefore raise tuition fees in the second or subsequent years of a course, in line with inflation and/or the maximum permitted by law or Government policy. Students will be notified of any changes as soon as possible.
At the University of Cumbria, we offer affordable tuition fees for international and EU students looking to study at one of our main four campuses. No matter your choice of course or career path, our International Team is here to support you.
Read MoreOverseas and EU fees are £16,900; for more details please contact international.admissions@cumbria.ac.uk
Note: fees exclude travel, meals and accommodation.
We have a wide range of scholarships, bursaries, grants and funds available to support you throughout your studies with us. This includes the Cumbria Bursary - a non-repayable bursary designed to support first year students with a household income of less than £25,000..
Student Finance
There will be some additional costs. For example all students will need to purchase stationery and may wish to purchase some text books. Extra costs may also be applicable to cover field trips, membership fees etc. although such features are usually options within the course.
Books are reviewed annually and are therefore subject to change, course welcome information will provide you with an indicative list for the year.
Most core text books are available via the University's library, however students may wish to buy copies of any texts used to support your learning on your course. This could cost between £50 - £100 per year.
Students should budget for stationery and consumables for your own personal use. This should include notebooks, pens and pencils for taking notes in class and/or in the field. Students should also budget for the purchase of USB pen drives, as well as occasional printing and photocopying costs incurred in the preparation or submission of coursework. Whilst you will choose how much you need, expect to pay around £30 - £40 per year for these items.
Approximately £30 to £40 per year
Required · Per year · Stationery
You should budget for stationery and consumables for personal use. These may include notebooks, pens and pencils, digital storage devices, printing and photocopying. The amount you spend will depend on your study preferences.
£69.50 (2026/27 fee)
Required · One-off · Checks, clearances and health requirements
An Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is required before you start placements. The Entry requirements section for your course shows which barred lists the check covers.
Approximately £50 to £300 over the course of your studies
Optional · Throughout the course · Books and journals
Most core textbooks and journals are available through the University library. You may choose to purchase personal copies of books or other resources used to support your studies.
Some courses recommend particular books or provide an estimated annual budget for purchasing personal copies. Search for your course below for details.
Cost depends on the equipment and internet service you choose
Required · Throughout the course · Digital learning and IT
You will need regular access to a laptop or computer capable of accessing the internet and running software such as a word processor and Microsoft Teams. Microsoft 365 is provided as part of your studies. You will also need a reliable internet connection. The amount you spend will depend on the equipment and internet service you choose.
Required · Per placement · Placements
You will need to pay for travel to and from your placements. Placement locations vary, and a placement arranged by the University may require additional travelling time. The amount you spend will depend on the placement location and your chosen method of transport.
You may be eligible for financial assistance towards some placement travel or subsistence costs. Any assistance available will depend on the scheme and eligibility criteria in place at the time of your placement.
Cost varies depending on the placement location and your chosen method of transport
Required · Per placement · Travel and accommodation
Approximately £30 to £50
Required · Throughout the course · Travel and accommodation
Costs can be several hundred pounds and may occasionally exceed £1,000 per year
Required · Per year · Travel and accommodation
Cost varies depending on where you live and how often you need to attend
Required · Throughout the course · Travel and accommodation
Part-time students are usually employed by their sponsoring placement. You will need to pay for travel to and from the University and, if required, accommodation for academic blocks and required campus attendance.
Costs vary and may be up to approximately £300
Required · Per placement · Travel and accommodation
You need to complete at least 400 hours of vocational placement for BASRaT accreditation. Where possible, term-time placements are local and within reach by public transport, but some may be further away, not reachable by public transport, or need overnight accommodation. Your Placement Coordinator will discuss these with you.
Cost depends on what you already own
Required · Throughout the course · Clothing and uniform
You'll spend a lot of time in the field, so you'll need weatherproof clothing, including a waterproof coat and trousers, sturdy walking boots, a rucksack (ideally with a waterproof cover) and plenty of warm outdoor layers. You may also want a flask and lunchbox for days out in the field.
Cost depends on what you already own
Required · Throughout the course · Clothing and uniform
Essential kit includes a waterproof jacket and trousers, walking boots, well-fitted wellington boots, a warm hat and gloves, a day rucksack (ideally with a waterproof cover) and other outdoor clothing such as thermals, fleeces, walking trousers and socks. You may also want a flask, water bottle, lunchbox and your own binoculars for field trips. Many outdoor shops in Ambleside offer student discounts, so you may prefer to buy some items after you arrive.
Cost depends on what you already own
Required · One-off · Clothing and uniform
You'll need clothing and footwear suitable for walking in an upland environment in Cumbria, whatever the weather.
Cost varies depending on your placement and attendance requirements
Conditional · Variable · Travel and accommodation
You may need to pay for travel to placement and to the University campus, including parking, and for accommodation at placement or on campus if required.
Cost of a new enhanced DBS check
Conditional · Variable · Checks, clearances and health requirements
You will need to pay for any additional DBS checks, for example if you lose your certificate, if you suspend your studies for a year or more, or if a placement provider asks for a new check because your certificate is more than a year old.
Approximately £35 to £90
Required · One-off · Clothing and uniform
You will do a lot of standing and walking on placement, so you will need a comfortable pair of black, sensible shoes and black socks.
Cost varies
Required · One-off · Clothing and uniform
You will need a blue or black thigh-length coat to cover your uniform when you are required to wear it, for example on community placements.
Approximately £10
Required · One-off · Equipment
If you buy a fob watch (nurse's watch), choose one with a silicone cover that is easy to keep clean. Some placements may require one.
Cost depends on what you already own
Conditional · Throughout the course · Clothing and uniform
Some placements expect you to wear smart casual clothing appropriate for a professional working environment rather than a uniform.
Approximately £120 to £300, depending on your course
Required · One-off · Clothing and uniform
You will need appropriate trainers and University sports kit for practical sessions and placement. Kit includes a polo shirt, Dri-FIT t-shirt, long-sleeve top, shorts and straight or slim-fit tracksuit bottoms. You will receive information about buying it before your course starts. On some courses this budget also covers equipment such as a model skeleton or portable massage plinth.
Cost depends on what you already own
Required · One-off · Clothing and uniform
You will practise clinical skills on each other in university sessions, so you will need loose, comfortable clothing that keeps you covered, such as tracksuit or jogging bottoms or shorts, a plain polo shirt, t-shirt or vest top, and trainers or shoes with non-slip soles.
Cost depends on the items needed
Conditional · Variable · Clothing and uniform
Your placement uniform is provided. If you need additional or replacement items, you may have to pay for them, depending on the reason they are needed.
Approximately £20 to £40 or more
Required · Throughout the course · Clothing and uniform
You need to buy your own placement footwear. Sensible, plain black, comfortable and supportive flat shoes are suggested, and your placement Trust's uniform policy will give further guidance. You may need to replace them during your course, and you may want separate footwear for the theatre environment.
Approximately £200 to £300
Required · Throughout the course · Clothing and uniform
Uniform tunics and trousers are provided by the University. You will need plain black socks, plain black cardigans or jackets, plain black flat shoes and a fob watch for clinical practice.
Approximately £15
Required · One-off · Clothing and uniform
A laboratory coat is required for practical activities.
Cost varies
Optional · Variable · Clothing and uniform
You may choose to purchase CSI-branded polo shirts or softshell jackets.
Cost varies by union, for example about £10 a year
Recommended · Per year · Professional membership and registration
Membership of a union, such as UNISON or the Royal College of Nursing, is strongly recommended.
Cost varies
Optional · Variable · Professional membership and registration
You may wish to subscribe to nursing journals such as Nursing Times or Nursing Standard. You will need to fund any monthly or annual subscription yourself.
£92 per year (2025/26 fee)
Required · Per year · Professional membership and registration
Student membership of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) is needed for your course. The fee is subject to an annual increase.
Cost varies
Conditional · Per trip · Field trips
Cost varies
Optional · Variable · Professional membership and registration
Cost varies depending on your placement location and travel arrangements
Required · Per placement · Travel and accommodation
Nestled in the Lake District National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, the Ambleside campus is the perfect place for world-savers, animal lovers, and adventurers. There is never a dull moment when surrounded by such natural beauty and opportunity.
Find out moreAn Open Day is your opportunity to explore one of 5 campuses, meet your lecturers, and find out how the University of Cumbria could become your new home.
