Master of Arts in International Tourism Program By USI - Università della Svizzera italiana |Top Universities
Program Duration

24 monthsProgram duration

Tuitionfee

4,000 CHFTuition Fee/year

Application Deadline

30 Apr, 2024Application Deadline

Scholarship

YesScholarships

Program overview

Main Subject

Hospitality and Leisure Management

Degree

MA

Study Level

Masters

Study Mode

On Campus

The International Tourism industry needs skilled and creative managers who:

  • Understand how to tackle sustainability challenges of tourism and its impact on societies
  • Master different ways of critical thinking needed for solving complex problems
  • Implement sustainable change integrating the perspectives of local residents, tourists, and service providers

…to create a sustainable future of travel and tourism. Not just in Switzerland, but worldwide.

During your University degree in tourism, would you like to Master…

  • Cutting-edge tools to interact successfully in an ever more digital international tourism environment?
  • Intercultural competences that take time to develop but are required for present-day international tourism jobs?
  • Unique communication and leadership skills that enable a high-level career in the global tourism market?

Highlights of the USI Master in International Tourism programme in Switzerland

  1. Gain practical hands-on experience in tourism already before completing your university degree
    Experiential learning in various applied team projects, practical labs, international study trips, international conferences, Study Tour week to a European city destination, tourism internship in Switzerland or abroad, company visits.
     
  2. Sharpen essential multidisciplinary & soft skills
    Acquire toolkits of Economics, Communication Sciences, and Management. Specialize yourself during the Minor in eTourism or the Minor in Sustainability, tackle food waste in the World Challenges Programme, or study a semester abroad at one of our selected partner universities. Most importantly, you will actively train your intercultural communication and leadership skills every day.
     
  3. Grow personally and professionally thanks to direct & individual support
    Small intercultural classes (< 30 students), individual attention of professors, support to participate in tourism award competitions, possibility to learn directly from our distinguished International Tourism Alumni in the Tourism Career Lab course, dedicated Career Service
     
  4. Develop your talent with our international expert Faculty & leading tourism practitioners from Switzerland and abroad
    Tourism professors coming from all over the world to the heart of Europe to teach your courses in Lugano, guest lectures by leading international tourism experts, direct access to the business community of tourism professionals in Switzerland
     
  5. Excellent career placement records
    92.9% of USI graduates are employed within 1 year after graduation.* The USI Master in International Tourism equips you for a high-level career in management positions within Destination Management & Marketing Organizations; Transportation & Accommodation companies; (online) Tour Operators; (virtual) Event Management & Conferences; Corporate Travel Management; Tourism Research & Consultancy; Governments, NGOs, and Tourism Industry Associations. Get inspired by the Career Stories of our International Tourism Alumni.

The USI Master in International Tourism is deeply involved in the USI UNESCO Chair in ICT to develop and promote Sustainable Tourism in World Heritage Sites – hosted at our university – through teaching, applied research projects, Master thesis opportunities, and internships offered to our Master in International Tourism students.

Become part of our USI Master in International Tourism family to co-create the sustainable future of travel and tourism!

*Source: USI Alumni Placement Survey 2017

Program overview

Main Subject

Hospitality and Leisure Management

Degree

MA

Study Level

Masters

Study Mode

On Campus

The International Tourism industry needs skilled and creative managers who:

  • Understand how to tackle sustainability challenges of tourism and its impact on societies
  • Master different ways of critical thinking needed for solving complex problems
  • Implement sustainable change integrating the perspectives of local residents, tourists, and service providers

…to create a sustainable future of travel and tourism. Not just in Switzerland, but worldwide.

During your University degree in tourism, would you like to Master…

  • Cutting-edge tools to interact successfully in an ever more digital international tourism environment?
  • Intercultural competences that take time to develop but are required for present-day international tourism jobs?
  • Unique communication and leadership skills that enable a high-level career in the global tourism market?

Highlights of the USI Master in International Tourism programme in Switzerland

  1. Gain practical hands-on experience in tourism already before completing your university degree
    Experiential learning in various applied team projects, practical labs, international study trips, international conferences, Study Tour week to a European city destination, tourism internship in Switzerland or abroad, company visits.
     
  2. Sharpen essential multidisciplinary & soft skills
    Acquire toolkits of Economics, Communication Sciences, and Management. Specialize yourself during the Minor in eTourism or the Minor in Sustainability, tackle food waste in the World Challenges Programme, or study a semester abroad at one of our selected partner universities. Most importantly, you will actively train your intercultural communication and leadership skills every day.
     
  3. Grow personally and professionally thanks to direct & individual support
    Small intercultural classes (< 30 students), individual attention of professors, support to participate in tourism award competitions, possibility to learn directly from our distinguished International Tourism Alumni in the Tourism Career Lab course, dedicated Career Service
     
  4. Develop your talent with our international expert Faculty & leading tourism practitioners from Switzerland and abroad
    Tourism professors coming from all over the world to the heart of Europe to teach your courses in Lugano, guest lectures by leading international tourism experts, direct access to the business community of tourism professionals in Switzerland
     
  5. Excellent career placement records
    92.9% of USI graduates are employed within 1 year after graduation.* The USI Master in International Tourism equips you for a high-level career in management positions within Destination Management & Marketing Organizations; Transportation & Accommodation companies; (online) Tour Operators; (virtual) Event Management & Conferences; Corporate Travel Management; Tourism Research & Consultancy; Governments, NGOs, and Tourism Industry Associations. Get inspired by the Career Stories of our International Tourism Alumni.

The USI Master in International Tourism is deeply involved in the USI UNESCO Chair in ICT to develop and promote Sustainable Tourism in World Heritage Sites – hosted at our university – through teaching, applied research projects, Master thesis opportunities, and internships offered to our Master in International Tourism students.

Become part of our USI Master in International Tourism family to co-create the sustainable future of travel and tourism!

*Source: USI Alumni Placement Survey 2017

Admission requirements

Undergraduate

6.5+

The formal requirement for admission to the USI Master in International Tourism is a Bachelor’s degree in Economics, Business Administration, Management, Communication Sciences, Marketing, International Relations, Political Science, Public Administration, Transportation Science, Geography, Environmental Science, History, Law, Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Languages and Literature, Tourism, and other related fields, granted by a recognised university.

To guarantee the optimal ratio between learners and the USI Master in International Tourism faculty, the places offered are limited. Therefore, selection can be effected on the basis of academic results. Admissions will be treated on a case by case basis.

For Bachelor degrees obtained in Switzerland, USI accepts Bachelor degrees from recognised Swiss Higher Education Institutions (Universities, and Universities of Applied Sciences) listed by Swissuniversities. The full, up-to-date list is available here: Swissuniversities .

USI Master in International Tourism candidates usually receive the outcome of their application within 10 working days from the day they submitted their application.

A one-to-one interview may be part of the application process.

30 Apr 2024
2 Years
Sep

Tuition fee and scholarships

Domestic Students

2,000 CHF
-

International Students

4,000 CHF
-

One of the important factors when considering a master's degree is the cost of study. Luckily, there are many options available to help students fund their master's programme. Download your copy of the Scholarship Guide to find out which scholarships from around the world could be available to you, and how to apply for them.

In this guide you will find:
opportunities

Where to look for scholarship opportunities

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How to apply to scholarships relevant to you

list

A list of available scholarships around the world

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A scholarship application checklist

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More programs from the university

USI Bachelors's degrees are 3-year (6 semesters) full-time study programs that comply with the principles set out by the Bologna Declaration. 

The USI Bachelor's diploma enables students to continue at the postgraduate level (Master's degree). 

Our programmes

Università della Svizzera italiana (USI) offers 7 Bachelor's programmes: 

  • Architecture
  • Italian Language, Literature and Culture
  • Communication
  • Economics
  • Informatics
  • Data Science
  • Theology
  • Philosophy

The Bachelor in Architecture is organised at the Academy of Architecture, on the Mendrisio campus.

All other Bachelor programs are organised on the Lugano campus. USI Bachelor curricula provide levels of specialisation and, at the same time, a multidisplinary approach, combining quality education with a friendly and welcoming atmosphere, offering many opportunities for informal dialogue between faculty and students.

Credits

All courses are awarded with ECTS points. The European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) guarantees that credits are compatible and transferable within all European universities. A full time academic year consists of 60 ECTS (30 credits each semester). Full Bachelor studies correspond to 180 ECTS. The second level of university studies (postgraduate or Master's degree), which completes the "3 + 2" system (Bologna system), consists in three or four semesters, equivalent to 90 or 120 ECTS.

Educational model

International faculty teach students with an interdisciplinary, engaging and interactive approach. The USI educational model is enhanced by a system that closely accompanies students in their learning path, with small classes enabling group exercises and direct dialogue with professors.

Teaching language

The official teaching language of the Bachelors in Architecture, Economics, Communication, Italian Language, Literature and Civilisation, Theology and Philosophy is Italian. Interested students can attend intensive Italian courses before the beginning of the autumn semester and the extensive courses throughout the academic year.

The Bachelor of Science in Informatics is taught entirely in English. Interested students are offered an intensive English language course before the beginning of the academic year and a technical English course during the first semester.

The Master's degrees at USI are defined by their high level of specialization, leading to international careers both in the professional and academic fields. Distinguished faculty in the respective disciplines provide innovative and quality teaching with a strong interdisciplinary approach and in collaboration with local and international institutions. The direct dialogue with professors and the cosmopolitan atmosphere of the Univeristy are the elements that enable students to broaden their views and to define their education individually. Theory is applied in case studies and consulting projects for companies and other business entities (field project).

The Master of Science or Master of Arts degrees are full-time graduate-level specialisation programs (3 or 4 semesters) awarded with 90-120 ECTS points.

Master's degrees are offered in the following subject areas:

Humanities

  • Master in Architecture
  • Master in History and Theory of Art and Archictecture
  • Master in Lingua, letteratura e civiltà italiana
  • Master in Philosophy
  • Master of Theology
  • Master in Interreligious Dialogue: Science, Philosophy and Theology of Religions
  • Master in Diritto canonico ed ecclesiastico comparato

Finance

  • Master in Finance
  • Master in European Studies in Investor Relations and Financial Communication
  • Master in Financial Technology and Computing

Tourism

  • Master in International Tourism

Political Economy

  • Master in Economia e politiche internazionali
  • Master in Economics
  • Master in Public Management and Policy (PMP)

Management and Marketing

  • Master in Management
  • Master in Management and Informatics
  • Master in Marketing and Transformative Economy
  • Master in Digital Fashion Communication
  • Master in Corporate Communication
  • Master in Public Management and Policy (PMP)

Health

  • Master in Communication, Management and Health
  • Master in Cognitive Psychology in Health Communication

Media and Communication

  • Master in Media Management
  • Master in Communication, Management and Health
  • Master in Cognitive Psychology in Health Communication
  • Master in Corporate Communication
  • Master in Digital Fashion Communication
  • Master in European Studies in Investor Relations and Financial Communication

Informatics

  • Master in Informatics
  • Master in Artificial Intelligence
  • Master in Software and Data Engineering
  • Master in Management and Informatics
  • Master in Financial Technology and Computing

Computational Science

  • Master in Computational Science

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