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Why Sunderland for Tourism and Hospitality

Our courses offer real-world experience through field trips in the UK and abroad, study abroad opportunities, and industry insights. You’ll develop the skills you need for a rewarding career in travel, hotels, aviation, and more, in one of the world’s fastest-growing sectors.

Two students working together in the classroom

Accolades

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  • 1stOur Hospitality, Event Management and Tourism courses are 1st in the north-eastGuardian University Guide 2026
  • 4thOur Tourism, Transport, Travel and Heritage Studies courses are 5th in the UK for student satisfactionComplete University Guide 2026
  • 3rdOur Hospitality, Leisure, Recreation and Tourism courses are 3rd in the UK for teaching qualityThe Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024
  • 9thHospitality, Leisure, Recreation and Tourism courses are 9th in the UK for student experienceThe Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025

Field trips

You'll go on field trips as part of your Tourism and Hospitality course. These will help you bond with coursemates and build a strong sense of community. Our trips can take you to regional, national, and international locations. You'll gain real-world experience through research activities to mirror your academic work. This could include observations, surveys, and questionnaires. Explore some of the field trips our students have taken part in:

Field trips
Kielder Water
National Trust
Managers from some of the north-east’s top hotels talking with students at the University of Sunderland

North East Hotels Association (NEHA)

We’ve launched the Hospitality Mentor Programme in partnership with NEHA. This allows you to connect with experienced hoteliers from some of the region’s top hotels.

It’s a great opportunity to build your network, as you'll learn from professionals who’ve built successful careers in the industry. You’ll also gain insight into the wide range of career paths available. This will help you get a clearer idea of what you'd like to do in the future.

North East Hotels Association (NEHA)(opens in new tab)
A plane coming in to land in a built up city

Placements and studying abroad

We encourage our undergraduate students to complete a placement year. It's a great way to gain experience, build industry contacts, and work with those from a range of cultures and businesses. Past placements have included:

  • The Customs House

  • The Landmark London Hotel

  • Constructing Excellence

  • The Hilton Garden Inn.

You'll likely have a passion for travel and exploring new cultures. This is why we also offer the option to study abroad during your degree. We have partnerships with universities around the world, such as in the USA, Canada, Australia, and South Korea.

Study abroad