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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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  • 1st
    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
  • 3rd
    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

As part of your Tourism and Hospitality course, you'll head out on field trips that help you bond with your coursemates and build a strong sense of community. These trips take you to regional, national, and even international locations, where you'll gain real-world experience through research activities like observations, surveys, and questionnaires – mirroring the kind of work you’ll do in your academic studies. 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 the North East Hotels Association (NEHA), connecting our Tourism and Hospitality students with experienced hoteliers from some of the region’s top hotels.

It’s a great opportunity to build your network and learn directly from professionals who’ve built successful careers in the industry. You’ll gain insights into the wide range of career paths available and get a clearer idea of which direction you’d like to take.

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 strongly encourage all undergraduate students to take up the option of a placement year. It’s a fantastic way to gain hands-on experience, build industry contacts, and work with professionals from a range of cultures and businesses. Past placements have included The Customs House, The Landmark London Hotel, Constructing Excellence, and the Hilton Garden Inn.

We also know you’re likely to have a passion for travel and exploring new cultures, which is why we offer the option to study abroad as part of your degree. We have exchange partnerships with universities around the world, including in the USA, Canada, Australia, and South Korea.

Study abroad