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Dream of working in a 5* hotel in London? Or maybe on a Caribbean resort? From weddings and conferences to restaurants and catering – our Hotel Management degree can take you all over the world.
The two-year accelerated Hotel Management degree is a one of a kind course in the UK. The course combines hotel experience in Wivenhoe House , a 4* country house hotel on Essex’s Colchester campus, with industry-relevant business management lectures to prepare you to become a successful manager.
With a student experience unlike any other, it may come as no surprise that the Edge Hotel School is ranked in the top 10 in the UK for overall positivity in our subject area (National Student Survey 2023, English Broad Discipline Institutions).
The BA Hotel Management is only available to students who do not require a VISA to study in the UK. Our three-year BA Hospitality Management has very similar course content, but is structured differently to allow applications from student of any fee status or VISA requirement.
With around 45 weeks of study per year and up to six weeks of annual holiday you will be able to fast-track your degree and start your career sooner. You will study topics including:
Customer experience and culture
Gastronomy and food trends
Finance management
Human resources management
Marketing and sales
Entrepreneurship and business strategy
The Edge Hotel School experience is unlike any other student experience. Not only will you graduate from a well-renowned university - you will develop your industry knowledge and professional skills by gaining valuable experience in a fully commercial 4* hotel alongside your studies.
You will gain experience in the different departments of the hotel such as the kitchen, front office, restaurant, housekeeping and events department. These shifts may involve some late finishes on occasion, as well as weekend work, so that you get to see all aspects of what the hotel offers: including restaurant meals, afternoon tea, weddings, meetings, tribute acts, baby showers, conferences and more.
Professional accreditation
Accredited by the Institute of Hospitality that academic, vocational and professional standards achieved are appropriate and programme content and delivery meet international Institute of Hospitality benchmark standards.
Why we're great.
The first hotel school of its kind in the UK offering experience in a fully-commercial 4* hotel.
Accelerated, two-year degree allows you to kick start your career sooner.
Outstanding preparation for employment through an innovative combination of professional experience and academic learning
Our expert staff
Our team includes lecturers with professional as well as academic backgrounds to ensure that you are taught by people with strong, industry-relevant experience. Among our academic staff we have published authors including a former hotel General Manager, a Food and Beverage Manager for award-winning cruise lines, an organiser of the BRIT Awards and London Fashion Week and a Dr. (PhD) with international research experience.
Specialist facilities
Wivenhoe House, where you will gain experience, is a 40-bedroom country house hotel on the university campus with a brasserie restaurant and a busy conference and events function that hosts over 300 events and 50 weddings annually. If for any reason the hotel is subject to closures during rotations, we have developed a comprehensive platform of online skills and experience workshops to replicate the practical experience offer as closely as possible.
The Edge Hotel School has connections with a range of organisations across the hospitality and events industries – throughout your studies you can expect guest lectures, masterclasses and an annual careers fair to help further your career prospects. Supporters of the Edge Hotel School include:
The Edge Hotel Society hosts student-organised events including industry speakers, social events and an annual ball.
As an Edge Hotel School student you will be issued with a uniform to wear for your shifts in Wivenhoe House and when representing the School externally. You will just need to provide your own white shirts and black shoes.
Your future
The skills you will gain throughout your Hotel Management degree will be transferable to a range of working environments within the hospitality industry including hotels, restaurants, resorts and event management. There are opportunities throughout the course to meet hotel general managers and recruitment managers to further your professional network.
Graduates of the Hotel Management programme have gone onto careers in:
Hotel management
Food and beverage management
Housekeeping
Guest experience
Interior design
Marketing and sales
Restaurant management
Events management
Airlines and airport operations
“The two-year degree has been great. I’ve been able to start earning money before my friends and it’s prepared me for working life.”
Toby, BA (Hons) Hotel Management (2018) now Deputy General Manager with BaxterStorey
Entry requirements
UK entry requirements
GCSE: English Language C/4 and Maths C/4, or equivalent. We can consider OFQUAL regulated Level 2 Functional Skills in Numeracy as equivalent to GCSE Maths C/4.
We are able to consider a range of equivalent English language qualifications, including OFQUAL regulated level 2 Functional Skills, Key Skills level 2, literacy units taken as part of the Access to HE Diploma, or a demonstration of the use of English through essay-based subjects at either GCSE or A-level equivalent. Advice on acceptability can be provided, please contact Undergraduate Admissions for more information.
A-levels: CCC or 96 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of 2 full A-levels.
BTEC: MMM. The acceptability of BTECs is dependent on subject studied and optional units taken - please email ugquery@essex.ac.uk for advice on acceptability.
Other qualifications that hold UCAS tariff points, and combined qualifications: 96 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of 2 full A levels or equivalent. Tariff point offers may be made if you are taking a qualification, or mixture of qualifications, from the list below:
If you are taking a qualification on the UCAS tariff that is not included in the list above and want to check whether we can accept it as part of a tariff-based offer, please email ugquery@essex.ac.uk
IB: 26 points or three Higher Level certificates with 444.
We are also happy to consider a combination of separate IB Diploma Programme Courses (formerly certificates) at both Higher and Standard Level. Exact offer levels will vary depending on the range of subjects being taken at higher and standard level, and the course applied for.
IB Career-related Programme: We can consider combinations of IB Diploma Programme courses with BTECs or other qualifications. Advice on acceptability can be provided, please contact Undergraduate Admissions for more information.
QAA-approved Access to HE Diploma: 45 level 3 credits at Merit.
T-levels: We can consider T-levels on a case-by-case basis, depending on subject studied and course applied for. If a T-level can be accepted, the offer for most of our undergraduate courses would be Merit overall. Depending on the course applied for there may be additional requirements, which may include a specific grade in the Core. If you are worried about meeting our offer level, please contact our admissions team on ugquery@essex.ac.uk who will be happy to discuss your options.
Additional requirements
Unfortunately if you need a Student Visa to study in the UK this course is not suitable for you. This is due to the high percentage of work placement which exceeds the amount permitted in the Student Visa regulations.
All applicants must be aged 18 or over at the point of registration.
What else do I need to know about applying? We will use all of the information on your application form when making a decision about your suitability for the course you have applied for. Where possible we will look to suggest an alternative course if we cannot accept you for the course that you have applied for. Visit our undergraduate application information page for more details.
What if I don’t achieve the grades I hoped? If your final grades are not as high as you had hoped, the good news is you may still be able to secure a place with us on a course which includes a foundation year. Visit our undergraduate application information page for more details.
What if I have a non-traditional academic background? Don’t worry. To gain a deeper knowledge of your course suitability, we will look at your educational and employment history, together with your personal statement and reference.
You may be considered for entry into Year 1 of your chosen course. Alternatively, some UK and EU applicants may be considered for Essex Pathways, an additional year of study (known as a foundation year) helping students gain the necessary skills and knowledge in order to succeed on their chosen course. You can find a list of Essex Pathways courses and entry requirements here.
What if I am a mature student? We recognise that students come from all backgrounds and embrace the different experiences that mature learners bring to our community. Our mature students pages will help to answer your questions.
International & EU entry requirements
We accept a wide range of qualifications from applicants studying in the EU and other countries. Get in touch with any questions you may have about the qualifications we accept. Remember to tell us about the qualifications you have already completed or are currently taking.
Sorry, the entry requirements for the country that you have selected are not available here. Please select
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where you'll find this information.
English language requirements
English language requirements for applicants whose first language is not English: IELTS 6.0 overall, or specified score in another equivalent test that we accept.
Details of English language requirements, including UK Visas and Immigration minimum component scores, and the tests we accept for applicants who require a Student visa (excluding Nationals of Majority English Speaking Countries) can be found here
If we accept the English component of an international qualification then it will be included in the information given about the academic levels listed above for the relevant countries.
Please note that date restrictions may apply to some English language qualifications.
What if my IELTS does not meet your requirements?
If you do not meet our IELTS requirements then you may be able to complete a pre-sessional English pathway that enables you to start your course without retaking IELTS.
Do I need to have achieved an acceptable English language qualification before I apply?
You don’t need to achieve the required level before making your application, but it will be one of the conditions of your offer.
What if the English language qualification I hold, or am taking, is not listed?
If you cannot find the qualification that you have achieved or are pending, then please contact Admissions on ugquery@essex.ac.uk
for advice.
What are the requirements for second and final year entry?
Different requirements apply for second and final year entry, and specified component grades are also required for applicants who require a visa to study in the UK. Details of English language requirements, including UK Visas and Immigration minimum component scores, and the tests we accept for applicants who require a Student visa (excluding Nationals of Majority English Speaking Countries) can be found here
Structure
Course structure
Below is just a example of modules from the current academic year. Our research-led teaching is continually evolving to address the latest challenges and breakthroughs in the field, therefore all modules listed are subject to change. To view a full list of modules with more in depth information, please view the programme specification via the link below.
Please note the two-year accelerated degree course is divided into 8-month levels (Level 4, Level 5 and Level 6) instead of years. Due to the accelerated nature of our two-year degrees the modules have broader titles as your learning experience is fully integrated with your work experience in the hotel. Throughout the course you will cover industry relevant topics such as marketing, finance, human resources, entrepreneurship and business strategy.
We understand that deciding where and what to study is a very important decision for you. We’ll make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the courses, services and facilities as described on our website. However, if we need to make material changes, we’ll let our applicants and students know as soon as possible.
Components and modules explained
Components
Components are the blocks of study that make up your course. A component may have a set module which you must study, or a number of modules from which you can choose.
Each component has a status and carries a certain number of credits towards your qualification.
Status
What this means
Core
You must take the set module for this component and you must pass. No failure can be permitted.
Core with Options
You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component but you must pass. No failure can be permitted.
Compulsory
You must take the set module for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail.
Compulsory with Options
You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail.
Optional
You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail.
The modules that are available for you to choose for each component will depend on several factors, including which modules you have chosen for other components, which modules you have completed in previous years of your course, and which term the module is taught in.
Modules
Modules are the individual units of study for your course. Each module has its own set of learning outcomes and assessment criteria and also carries a certain number of credits.
In most cases you will study one module per component, but in some cases you may need to study more than one module. For example, a 30-credit component may comprise of either one 30-credit module, or two 15-credit modules, depending on the options available.
Modules may be taught at different times of the year and by a different department or school to the one your course is primarily based in. You can find this information from the module code. For example, the module code HR100-4-FY means:
HR
100
4
FY
The department or school the module will be taught by.
In this example, the module would be taught by the Department of History.
This module will enable you to appreciate the history and culture of events and hospitality and to understand the factors in the external environment, which influenced the emergence of the important and diverse industry of today. The module will explain the economic profile of the event and hospitality industry and the issues and trends which continue to provide challenges e.g. skills gaps, proliferation of small businesses. You will be encouraged to monitor developments in the industry as it continues to change and progress, while taking an active part in the industry activities.
This module will enable you to acquire the understanding and knowledge of the operational characteristics of a high quality hotel business enabling the business to achieve its objectives. You will understand and use basic financial and costing skills and utilise relevant technology to enhance business performance.
This module will introduce you to concepts and techniques of independent learning and professional development. You will develop the skills and knowledge to reflect on your personal effectiveness both academically and practically and be encouraged to monitor and review your progress in improving their individual performance within the practical environment.
This module will introduce you to the concept and importance of the centrality of the customer experience as fundamental to all activity within a hospitality business. You will understand the different types of Customer and factors that will influence their behavior and expectations. The module will identify the components of effective customer relationships enabling you to develop the knowledge required to effectively deliver customer excellence.
This module will introduce you to the concept and importance of the centrality of the customer experience as fundamental to all activity within a hotel business. The module will provide you with the opportunity to reflect on and take part in delivering customer excellence within the various functions of the hotel operation, enabling you to acquire the practical skills which will support the understanding and knowledge gained from the module Introduction to the Customer Experience.
This module investigates the cultural and contemporary influences on the development of gastronomy and restaurants looking at the changing face of contemporary dining and cultural food trends. You will have an understanding of the physical nature of food and beverage commodities and their usage in professional outlets.
This module will enable you to analyse current concepts in the hotel and hospitality sector. You will analyse the management structure of the different operations and the systems deployed to ensure high levels of customer satisfaction and profitability in relation to deploying staff. You will consider the importance and development of revenue management to the sustainability of the industry together with a consideration of how other industries have shaped or influenced the hotel and hospitality industry. Finally a continuation of further consideration of contemporary issues that impact the industry.
This module continues from the level 4 module Hotel Operations 1 by providing you with the opportunity to develop the knowledge of supervising teams as well as aspects of operational management. You will develop further the knowledge and application required for the successful planning and organising of your teams for the delivery of products and services to customers in all aspects of hotel management operations. This module develops further your knowledge, understanding and application of financial performance management.
Delivering Hotel Operations 2 (Assessed in Future Year)
(0 CREDITS)
This module will provide you with the opportunity to develop further the skills gained in Delivering Hotel Operations by providing you with the opportunity to develop supervisory and professional operational skills when responsible for functional areas of the hotel operations. You will analyse the operational characteristics and success of your teams thus providing the opportunity to put your learning into practice. You will be responsible for the planning, organising of your teams in the delivery of products and services to customers in all aspects of hotel operations.
The Customer Experience 2 (Assessed in Future Year)
(0 CREDITS)
This module will build on your understanding of the importance of the centrality of the customer experience as fundamental to all activity within a hotel business. You will develop a greater understanding of the tangible and intangible components of the customer experience and how the components of delivering the customer service encounter and the service need to be in place to exceed customer expectations.
Continual Professional Development (Assessed in Future Year)
(0 CREDITS)
The purpose of this module is to consolidate professional and personal learning and to provide a focus on the development of techniques and strategies for self-management of your continuous professional development, critical self-reflection of professional experience and application within an organisational setting as well as provide an understanding of the role and relevance of research for managers. The module will also provide opportunity to develop a range of skills to prepare you for career advancement and employment opportunities.
Delivering the Customer Experience 2 (Assessed in Future Year)
(0 CREDITS)
This module will provide you with the opportunity to develop the skills gained in Delivering the Guest Experience by providing you, within a supervisory capacity, the opportunity to develop the skills required to deliver customer excellence. You will develop a greater understanding of the tangible and intangible components of the guest experience and reflect on how the components need to be in place to exceed guest expectations.
This module will enable you to analyse current concepts in the hotel and hospitality sector. You will analyse the management structure of the different operations and the systems deployed to ensure high levels of customer satisfaction and profitability in relation to deploying staff. You will consider the importance and development of revenue management to the sustainability of the industry together with a consideration of how other industries have shaped or influenced the hotel and hospitality industry. Finally a continuation of further consideration of contemporary issues that impact the industry.
This module continues from the level 4 module Hotel Operations 1 by providing you with the opportunity to develop the knowledge of supervising teams as well as aspects of operational management. You will develop further the knowledge and application required for the successful planning and organising of your teams for the delivery of products and services to customers in all aspects of hotel management operations. This module develops further your knowledge, understanding and application of financial performance management.
This module will provide you with the opportunity to develop further the skills gained in Delivering Hotel Operations by providing you with the opportunity to develop supervisory and professional operational skills when responsible for functional areas of the hotel operations. You will analyse the operational characteristics and success of your teams thus providing the opportunity to put your learning into practice. You will be responsible for the planning, organising of your teams in the delivery of products and services to customers in all aspects of hotel operations.
This module will build on your understanding of the importance of the centrality of the customer experience as fundamental to all activity within a hotel business. You will develop a greater understanding of the tangible and intangible components of the customer experience and how the components of delivering the customer service encounter and the service need to be in place to exceed customer expectations.
This module will provide you with the opportunity to develop the skills gained in Delivering the Guest Experience by providing you, within a supervisory capacity, the opportunity to develop the skills required to deliver customer excellence. You will develop a greater understanding of the tangible and intangible components of the guest experience and reflect on how the components need to be in place to exceed guest expectations.
The purpose of this module is to consolidate professional and personal learning and to provide a focus on the development of techniques and strategies for self-management of your continuous professional development, critical self-reflection of professional experience and application within an organisational setting as well as provide an understanding of the role and relevance of research for managers. The module will also provide opportunity to develop a range of skills to prepare you for career advancement and employment opportunities.
You will analyse the strategic implications of managing within dynamic industry environments and evaluate the necessary theories, tools and skills needed to develop realistic, coherent and effective business strategy. You will analyse the nature of change and change management strategies within the industry with consideration for innovation. You will evaluate the important role technology is playing in regards to strategy, change and innovation within the industry.
This module will enable you to critically evaluate and apply knowledge and skills in strategic and performance management in your development as a leader of high performance teams to deliver business excellence. You will analyse and apply key concepts, tools and processes to develop relevant, realistic, coherent and creative business strategy. The module will develop skills and knowledge to enable you to critically analyse business performance, interpret the key performance indicators and utilise appropriate tools, techniques and technology for effective planning and review of finance and quality. You will evaluate approaches and characteristics of effective leadership of high performance teams.
This module will explore your understanding of the importance of the centrality of the customer experience. You will develop critical understanding of the nature of the service encounter and how the quality and consistency of the customer experience is determined by all of the components in delivering the customer service encounter. The management of the quality of the customer service encounter will also be put in practice.
During this module you will evaluate the concept of strategic Human Resource Management and critically analyse retention, engagement and performance management within hospitality operations.
For your 8,000 word dissertation, you will manage a piece of individual research in the context of the commercial hospitality industry. You will be expected to demonstrate expertise with a range of business data, research resources and methodologies, as well as personal communication skills.
The Consultancy Project consists of an individual report, a group presentation and a group report focusing on a project in the hospitality industry. Working with fellow students you will work with an external hospitality client to resolve an issue that they are facing using research, data and analysis.
Your fast track two-year Hotel Management degree will be divided into three 8-month levels (Level 4, Level 5 and Level 6).
In the first and second levels (Level 4 and Level 5), each level consists of up to 8 weeks of teaching, 16 weeks gaining experience in the hotel and 4 weeks self-study, in addition to your holidays.
In the final level (Level 6), you will have up to 18 weeks of teaching, 5 weeks gaining experience in the hotel and 5 weeks self-study, in addition to your holidays.
During a teaching week you would spend around 4 hours per day in lectures, or smaller seminars, Monday – Friday.
During a hotel week you would spend 4 or 5 days on shift, Monday – Sunday, gaining experience and applying the academic theory from your lectures. Hotel Management students gain experience throughout the course in: reception, restaurants, kitchens, housekeeping and conference and events.
During the final level of the course (Level 6) you will spend time working at a duty manager level. The remainder of the last 8-months will be spent in lectures/seminars and working on your assessments and dissertation.
Our two-year accelerated degrees include around 6 weeks of annual holiday. Holiday weeks are not necessarily over seasonal periods such as Christmas and hotel shifts over Christmas/New Year are an important part of our two-year courses.
Our two-year accelerated degrees do not follow the standard termly timetable, and students are expected to continue their academic and hotel work over the Summer, Easter and Christmas periods. Further information for the course is available on the by contacting our professional services team at ehs@essex.ac.uk.
Assessment
Your Hotel Management degree has been designed to provide a mix of assessment approaches, including:
Essays
Exams
Posters
Presentations
Reflective statements
Reports
Dissertation
Consultancy Project. The consultancy project enables you to work on a project or problem for an external client. Past consultancy projects have included social media and marketing strategies, brand development and new hotel launches. Edge Hotel School students have been offered job opportunities with their level 6 project clients having demonstrated their capacity to deliver highly professional solutions and positive outcomes.
The Professional Performance Assessment (PPA) which takes the form of an interview is used throughout our courses to allow you to reflect, practise and improve your interview skills before embarking on interviews for your first graduate role.
The Professional Code of Conduct is an important part of your assessment. It focuses on areas that are important for future managers such as attendance, punctuality and team working. The Professional Code of Conduct is available in your Student Handbook.
Fees and funding
Home/UK fee
£11,100 per year
International fee
£23,400 per year
EU students commencing their course in the 2021-22 academic year will be liable for the International fee. This course is not suitable if you need a Student visa to study in the UK.
Fees will increase for each academic year of study.
Our events are a great way to find out more about studying at Essex. We run a number of Open Days throughout the year which enable you to discover what our campus has to offer.
You have the chance to:
tour our campus and accommodation
find out answers to your questions about our courses, student finance, graduate employability, student support and more
meet our students and staff
Check out our Visit Us pages to find out more information about booking onto one of our events. And if the dates aren’t suitable for you, feel free to book a campus tour here.
You are also able to apply with us directly, via our Direct Admissions form. If you apply directly you will receive all the information you need from us if we make you an offer via your myEssex applicant portal. You will need to follow the instructions provided in your offer letter to accept your offer.
Our UK students, and some of our EU and international students, who are still at school or college, can apply through their school. Your school will be able to check and then submit your completed application to UCAS. Our other international applicants (EU or worldwide) or independent applicants in the UK can also apply online through UCAS Apply.
The UCAS code for our University of Essex is ESSEX E70. The individual campus codes for our Loughton and Southend Campuses are 'L' and 'S' respectively.
You can find further information on how to apply, including information on transferring from another university, applying if you are not currently at a school or college, and applying for readmission on our How to apply and entry requirements page.
Offer Holder Days
If you are an undergraduate student residing in the UK who has received an offer to study with us in October 2024, you will receive an email invitation soon to book onto one of our Offer Holder Days. Our Colchester Campus Offer Holder Days run from February to May 2024 on various Wednesdays and Saturdays, and our Southend Campus Offer Holder Days run in April and May 2024 on various Wednesdays and Saturdays. Offer Holder Days provide the opportunity to meet your department, tour our campus and accommodation, and chat to current students. We appreciate that travelling to university events can be expensive, so we are offering an Offer Holder Day Travel Bursary, allowing you to claim up to £150 as reimbursement for travel expenses. For further information about Offer Holder Days, including terms and conditions and eligibility criteria for our Travel Bursary, please visit our Offer Holder Days webpage.
If you are an overseas offer-holder, you will be invited to attend one of our virtual events. However, you are more than welcome to join us at one of our in-person Offer Holder Days if you are able to - we will let you know in your invite email how you can do this.
Visit Colchester Campus
Home to 15,000 students from more than 130 countries, our Colchester Campus is the largest of our three sites, making us one of the most internationally diverse campuses on the planet - we like to think of ourselves as the world in one place.
If you live too far away to come to Essex (or have a busy lifestyle), no problem. Our 360 degree virtual tours allows you to explore our University from the comfort of your home. Check out our Colchester virtual tour and Southend virtual tour to see accommodation options, facilities and social spaces.
Exhibitions
Our staff travel the world to speak to people about the courses on offer at Essex. Take a look at our list of exhibition dates to see if we’ll be near you in the future.
At Essex we pride ourselves on being a welcoming and inclusive student community. We offer a wide range of support to individuals and groups of student members who may have specific requirements, interests or responsibilities.
The University makes every effort to ensure that this information on its programme specification is accurate and up-to-date. Exceptionally it can be necessary to make changes, for example to courses, facilities or fees. Examples of such reasons might include, but are not limited to: strikes, other industrial action, staff illness, severe weather, fire, civil commotion, riot, invasion, terrorist attack or threat of terrorist attack (whether declared or not), natural disaster, restrictions imposed by government or public authorities, epidemic or pandemic disease, failure of public utilities or transport systems or the withdrawal/reduction of funding. Changes to courses may for example consist of variations to the content and method of delivery of programmes, courses and other services, to discontinue programmes, courses and other services and to merge or combine programmes or courses. The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will also keep students informed appropriately by updating our programme specifications. The University would inform and engage with you if your course was to be discontinued, and would provide you with options, where appropriate, in line with our Compensation and Refund Policy.
The full Procedures, Rules and Regulations of the University governing how it operates are set out in the Charter, Statutes and
Ordinances and in the University Regulations, Policy and Procedures.
