Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
BOOK AN OPEN DAY
To find out more about postgraduate courses, talk to academic staff, and explore finance options, join us for our Postgraduate Open Day on Wednesday 25 March 2026.
Course overview
-
L27 -
Distance Learning -
Part-Time -
36 Months -
14 Sep 2026
This distinctive postgraduate programme is the only responsible tourism management MSc in the world certified by the UNWTO.TedQual programme established by the United Nations World Tourism Organization. It is taught by staff with first-hand experience in tourism management, research and consultancy, who will share their global expertise with you.
Designed to develop your professional experience in tourism, heritage, and sustainable development, this course will also help meet the resulting demand for managers who can implement responsible tourism strategies within marketing, operations and product development.
As part of your course, you’ll:
- Explore domestic and international tourism - and understand that the principles of responsible tourism are as applicable to the Yorkshire Dales as they are to The Gambia
- Plan, implement and evaluate responsible tourism policies and practices
- Understand and manage the complex interactions between tourism stakeholders
- Identify, create and implement appropriate responses to better manage common resource use issues
The course is informed by relevant theories and practice-based tools and frameworks, such as the Global Sustainable Tourism Council criteria for hotels, tour operators and for destinations; the Sustainable Development Goals and the UNWTO Global Code of Ethics for Tourism.
The Cape Town Declaration for Responsible Tourism
Building on the Declaration’s principles, the course’s philosophy acknowledges the importance of making “all forms of tourism sustainable through all stakeholders taking responsibility for creating better forms of tourism”.
Using research informed teaching and the application of a critical edge, you will study how the Cape Town Declarations aspirations can be met, looking at:
- The triple bottom line concept
- Stakeholder theory
- Resilience
- Creating shared value
- Corporate social responsibility
- Theories of change and change management
Five-star learning
Our university has been given a five-star rating for our academic work in Hospitality & Leisure Management by QS, the international higher education benchmarking agency. We also rank in the top 100 institutions in the world for Hospitality & Leisure Management in their World University Rankings by Subject.
Why study the MSc Responsible Tourism Management course at Leeds Beckett University?
- Expert practitioners - Our specialist teaching team includes research-active academics and industry professionals who work as consultants to the course – expertise which feeds into your learning
- Unlike-minds - You’ll join and work with a diverse community of students to share ideas and best practice
- Networking - Develop professionals contacts when visiting speakers come to offer unique industry insights during guest lectures
- Placement year - Deepen your skills and experience, build your confidence, contacts, and CV, and improve your chances of jumping straight into a job after graduation with a paid placement year
- Support - Not only will we support your throughout your course, you can continue to access careers support up to five years after graduating
Explore videos and blogs
Is tourism sustainable? Dr Peter Robinson, Head of the UK Centre for Tourism and Hospitality Management at Leeds Beckett University, talks about how we can move towards more sustainable tourism, teaching the tourism leaders of tomorrow and what we should consider if we are looking for a more sustainable holiday.
Responsible Tourism Management | Student view Student Christine talks about her experience studying at Leeds Beckett University.
Everything you need to know
Discover all there is to know about the course, from entry requirements and fees to exploring the school you’ll be joining - we’ve got it covered.
Entry requirements
Applicants should have at least a second class honours degree in a relevant field including Travel, Tourism, Hospitality, Business, Economics, Marketing, Environmental Management, Ecology, Development, Cultural Heritage Management, Project Management or Planning.
Applicants who do not meet the academic entry requirements will be expected to have equivalent experience and training from a relevant work environment.
All applications should be supported by a reference, either academic or professional; you can download our reference template for completion.
All applicants should satisfy our English Language requirements . Please note the IELTS requirement for this course are IELTS 6.0 with no skill below 6.0. Further details about acceptable equivalent qualifications can be found on our International Student information pages .
Entry requirements
Applicants should have at least a second class honours degree in a relevant field including Travel, Tourism, Hospitality, Business, Economics, Marketing, Environmental Management, Ecology, Development, Cultural Heritage Management, Project Management or Planning.
Applicants who do not meet the academic entry requirements will be expected to have equivalent experience and training from a relevant work environment.
All applications should be supported by a reference, either academic or professional; you can download our reference template for completion.
All applicants should satisfy our English Language requirements . Please note the IELTS requirement for this course are IELTS 6.0 with no skill below 6.0. Further details about acceptable equivalent qualifications can be found on our International Student information pages .
IELTS
All applicants should satisfy our English Language requirements . Please note the IELTS requirement for this course are IELTS 6.0 with no skill below 6.0. Further details about acceptable equivalent qualifications can be found on our International Student information pages .
Selection Criteria
We may use selection criteria based on your personal attributes; experience and/or commitment to the area of study. This information will be derived from your personal statement and reference and will only be used if you have met the general entry requirements.
Independent study is a crucial part of learning at university and you will be required to undertake many hours of self-directed research and reading, and preparation and writing of assessments. Your course is delivered through a number of modules, which will help you to plan your time and establish a study routine. Outside of your lectures, workshops and tutorials, a range of support is available to assist with your independent study. Our subject-specific librarians will be on hand to direct you to the specialist learning and study-skill resources. You’ll also be assigned an academic advisor to give you tailored feedback and support.
Modules, teaching and learning
Distance learning
We understand that full-time study does not suit everyone. That’s why we offer courses which give you the opportunity to decide where, when and how you can get involved in learning. Studying a distance learning course offers the convenience and flexibility to make education work for you. Whether you’d like to fit your studies around childcare, develop your skills while working or, quite simply, want to learn from the comfort of your own home, we can help you gain a qualification at a time and pace that suits your lifestyle.
Like our students on campus, you’ll have the same excellent teaching and learning resources, however you’ll find these online instead of a lecture theatre. Not only are all the modules taught online, but you’ll also have access to an online community and more than 140,000 books and journals in our online library.
Technical requirements for distance learning study are detailed in the full guide. Visit our distance learning website for more information.
Distance Learning - overall workload
If you choose to study this course by distance learning, as a guideline you will need to allocate around 10 hours per week to complete each module plus a further five hours for additional reading and assignments. These 10 hours of teaching and learning will be delivered using a range of interactive resources, this typically includes audio and video content, group discussions, reflective exercises, quizzes, online reading and much more. All these resources are delivered through our Virtual Learning Environment and can be accessed at a time and place that suits you.
What you'll learn
This introductory module to the course introduces the concept of responsible tourism and ensures that all students have a common knowledge base about tourism assets and the tourism industry. (This module is not available to full-time students).
Gain an understanding of the key concepts of destination management and begin to identify, evaluate and apply practical and theoretical strategies for the responsible management of destinations. You will also be able to identify and evaluate the roles and responsibilities of destination stakeholders in the implementation of these strategies.
Develop a critical understanding of the theoretical concepts and practical strategies related to successfully harnessing tourism for local economic development, community empowerment and poverty reduction. This module will enable you to assess a tourism context from the perspective of different stakeholders and how they are contributing to, or benefiting from, local economic development.
What you'll learn
Develop analytical skills to identify and understand the causes of tourism-related environmental impacts in order to apply strategies for their effective management. You will examine best-practices of competing environmental management objectives in tourism businesses and relevant activities.
Explore the relationships between host communities, their unique cultures and heritage, and the tourists who visit these destinations. You will gain an understanding of how people make and experience places, and how these places and their intangible and tangible heritage assets can be managed responsibly.
What you'll learn
Learn to effectively manage the business of responsible tourism marketing management. You will explore a range of key strategies, tools, insights and approaches in marketing travel and tourism responsibly, as well as in marketing responsible tourism products and experiences within the digital era
Explore the nexus between ethics and business and gain an overview of the range of commercial skills and knowledge required by managers operating in the private, public and third sector. You will be introduced to ethical business practices and skills needed to plan and manage a successful ethical business.
What you'll learn
Gain the knowledge, skills and techniques to develop your abilities to conceive, plan and execute research and to successfully complete a major research project at masters level.
Undertake an extended study of a topic relating to your subject. You will use the skills and knowledge developed during the 'Masters Research Methods' (or comparable module) for investigation of an aspect of your field of study that is of particular interest.
Fees and funding
£9,830
UK
Studying part-time gives you the flexibility to learn at your own pace. Because of this, the part-time tuition fees are calculated using credit points.*
The tuition fee for students entering in 2026/27 is £54.61 per credit.
The total number of credit points for this course is 180.
*The fee you pay may differ based on the number of credit points you study.
£9,830
International 2026. Full Course Tuition Fees.
Studying part-time gives you the flexibility to learn at your own pace. Because of this, the part-time tuition fees are calculated using credit points.*
The tuition fee for students entering in 2026/27 is £54.61 per credit.
The total number of credit points for this course is 180.
*The fee you pay may differ based on the number of credit points you study.
Fees and funding
£9,830
For students entering in 2026. Full Course Tuition Fees.
Studying part-time gives you the flexibility to learn at your own pace. Because of this, the part-time tuition fees are calculated using credit points.*
The tuition fee for students entering in 2026/27 is £54.61 per credit.
The total number of credit points for this course is 180.
*The fee you pay may differ based on the number of credit points you study.
Additional course costs
Tuition Fees
Your tuition fees cover the cost of registration, tuition, academic supervision, assessments and examinations.
The following are also included in the cost of your course:
- 24/7 Library and student IT support
- Free wifi via eduroam
- Skills workshops and resources
- Library membership, giving access to more than 500,000 printed, multimedia and digital resources
- Access to software, including five free copies of Microsoft Office 365 to install on your PC,laptop and MAC, and access to free high-end software via the Leeds Beckett remote app
- Loan of high-end media equipment to support your studies
In many cases, costs associated with your course will be included in your course fee. However, in some cases there are ‘essential’ additional costs (those that you will be required to meet in addition to your course fee), and/or ‘optional’ additional costs (costs that are not required, but that you might choose to pay). We have included those essential or optional additional costs that relate to your course, below.
Optional Costs
- Field trips/site visits; costs are dependent on details and location and may be subsidised.
- Field trips abroad; costs are dependent on details and location; in previous years we visited The Gambia (£850).
- Replacement DBS Certificate (should you need a DBS certificate for your projects / professional practice, and you lose your original, you will be charged £40 for a replacement).
- If you choose to study via distance learning, you’ll need access to a computer, the internet, and any necessary course software. Visit the course Teaching & Learning 'Modules, Workload & More' section for more details.
Other study-related expenses to consider: materials that you will need to complete your course such as books (whilst the library provides access to readings recommended for your modules, you may wish to purchase your own copies of some books); you can also make suggestions for books to be added to Library stock; placement costs (these may include travel expenses and living costs); student visas (international students only); printing, photocopying and stationery (you may need to pay for multiple copies of your dissertation or final project to be printed and bound); events associated with your course such as field trips; study abroad opportunities (travel costs and accommodation, visas and immunisations). Other costs could include academic conferences (travel costs) and professional-body membership (where applicable). The costs you will need to cover for graduation will include gown hire and guest tickets, and optional extras such as professional photography.
As well as your mobile phone, you will also need access to a desktop computer and/or laptop to complete assignments and access university online services such as MyBeckett, your virtual learning environment. You can book and borrow AV equipment through the media equipment service accessed online via the student hub and located in the library at each campus. Equipment includes: 360 Cameras, iPads, GoPros, MacBooks, portable data projectors, portable projection screens, flipchart stands, remote presenters, digital cameras and camcorders, SLR cameras, speakers, microphones, headphones, headsets, tripods, digital audio recorders and PC/laptops (a laptop loans service is provided on campus in the library on both campuses). Student laptops are also available from the laptop lockers located in the libraries.
This list is not exhaustive, costs are approximate and will vary depending on the choices you make during your course. Any rental, travel or living costs are also in addition to your course fees. If you choose to study via distance learning, you may not be able to access all of the facilities listed if you are not able to visit us on campus.
£9,830
For students entering in 2026. Full Course Tuition Fees.
Studying part-time gives you the flexibility to learn at your own pace. Because of this, the part-time tuition fees are calculated using credit points.*
The tuition fee for students entering in 2026/27 is £54.61 per credit.
The total number of credit points for this course is 180.
*The fee you pay may differ based on the number of credit points you study.
Additional course costs
Tuition Fees
Your tuition fees cover the cost of registration, tuition, academic supervision, assessments and examinations.
The following are also included in the cost of your course:
- 24/7 Library and student IT support
- Free wifi via eduroam
- Skills workshops and resources
- Library membership, giving access to more than 500,000 printed, multimedia and digital resources
- Access to software, including five free copies of Microsoft Office 365 to install on your PC,laptop and MAC, and access to free high-end software via the Leeds Beckett remote app
- Loan of high-end media equipment to support your studies
In many cases, costs associated with your course will be included in your course fee. However, in some cases there are ‘essential’ additional costs (those that you will be required to meet in addition to your course fee), and/or ‘optional’ additional costs (costs that are not required, but that you might choose to pay). We have included those essential or optional additional costs that relate to your course, below.
Optional Costs
- Field trips/site visits; costs are dependent on details and location and may be subsidised.
- Field trips abroad; costs are dependent on details and location; in previous years we visited The Gambia (£850).
- Replacement DBS Certificate (should you need a DBS certificate for your projects / professional practice, and you lose your original, you will be charged £40 for a replacement).
- If you choose to study via distance learning, you’ll need access to a computer, the internet, and any necessary course software. Visit the course Teaching & Learning 'Modules, Workload & More' section for more details.
Other study-related expenses to consider: materials that you will need to complete your course such as books (whilst the library provides access to readings recommended for your modules, you may wish to purchase your own copies of some books); you can also make suggestions for books to be added to Library stock; placement costs (these may include travel expenses and living costs); student visas (international students only); printing, photocopying and stationery (you may need to pay for multiple copies of your dissertation or final project to be printed and bound); events associated with your course such as field trips; study abroad opportunities (travel costs and accommodation, visas and immunisations). Other costs could include academic conferences (travel costs) and professional-body membership (where applicable). The costs you will need to cover for graduation will include gown hire and guest tickets, and optional extras such as professional photography.
As well as your mobile phone, you will also need access to a desktop computer and/or laptop to complete assignments and access university online services such as MyBeckett, your virtual learning environment. You can book and borrow AV equipment through the media equipment service accessed online via the student hub and located in the library at each campus. Equipment includes: 360 Cameras, iPads, GoPros, MacBooks, portable data projectors, portable projection screens, flipchart stands, remote presenters, digital cameras and camcorders, SLR cameras, speakers, microphones, headphones, headsets, tripods, digital audio recorders and PC/laptops (a laptop loans service is provided on campus in the library on both campuses). Student laptops are also available from the laptop lockers located in the libraries.
This list is not exhaustive, costs are approximate and will vary depending on the choices you make during your course. Any rental, travel or living costs are also in addition to your course fees. If you choose to study via distance learning, you may not be able to access all of the facilities listed if you are not able to visit us on campus.
Funding support for your studies
Discover more about our range of postgraduate funding options including a Master's Loan of up to £13,206, and our 20% alumni discount*
*Terms apply
How will I be assessed?
You won't take exams.
Instead, you'll be assessed through a range of activity, including:
- Essays
- Reports
- Presentations
- Your final dissertation
Career prospects
There’s a lot to consider when choosing a course. Take a look at the team you’ll be working with, employability statistics and career prospects to help make up your mind.
Student life
At Leeds Beckett your experience is important to us, find out more about what to expect from your time on this course and life at uni.
Experience Leeds Beckett
Our state-of-the-art facilities and learning environments give you everything you need to succeed – whether that’s completing your current studies or joining our cutting-edge research teams.
Why Leeds?
With great music venues, culture, shopping and parks – we’ve got it all. Voted no.1 student city in the UK* and the Best Place to Live in the North and Northeast**.
*StudentCrowd, Best Student Cities UK, 2024
**The Sunday Times Best Place to Live guide, 2024.
Thinking of staying at home for your studies?
It’s a great option for lots of our local students
