Leeds Beckett University launches 2024 Commonwealth Scholarships

Leeds Beckett's MSc Responsible Tourism Management is the only course in the world certified by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) TedQual programme, it was also rated with 5 stars in QS World University Rankings.

The course has been designed to support early to mid-career professionals to deliver responsible tourism in practice and contribute to improving the quality of life for local communities, as well as conserving the environment and cultures within destinations. It covers the key issues required to understand and apply responsible tourism principles in a generic, analytical and integrated way.

Through these Commonwealth Scholarships, we are aiming to recruit ten high-quality postgraduate students who live and work in Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, The Gambia or Zanzibar, who wish to access education unavailable in their home countries, or, who need to remain in their home country while they study.

Students will be taught via a combination of distance learning and face-to-face delivery. They will also participate in fieldtrips to one of the countries where students have previously been recruited from. In 2023, the in-country fieldtrip was based in Kenya at the Institute of Tourism and Hospitality Management, Dedan Kimathi University of Technology. In January 2024 a further field trip took place in The Gambia, hosted by The Institute of Travel and Tourism of The Gambia. The university is also working in partnership with 'Welcome Ideas Tourism Development Incubator' in Zanzibar, managed by one of our alumni, to develop future fieldtrip opportunities.

The places offered by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission have been funded by the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), with the aim of contributing to the UK's international development aims and wider overseas interests, supporting excellence in UK higher education, and sustaining the principles of the Commonwealth. Scholarships include all tuition fees, fieldtrip costs, including transport, food and accommodation and guiding costs for those students selected from outside of the country where face-to-face teaching is delivered.

The MSc Responsible Tourism Management course is aimed at early to mid-career tourism professionals who combine working within the tourism industry with part-time study over three years. It allows them to apply their learning to their workplace and contribute to local economic development and poverty reduction through delivering responsible tourism. Our experienced academic staff have all worked within sustainable tourism management sectors, research, and consultancy.

Dr Milka Ivanova, Course Director for the MSc Responsible Tourism Management explains, "Within the travel and tourism industry, responding to global challenges such as post-pandemic resilience, climate change and changing consumer interests requires an increasing focus on responsible business practices that improves the quality of life for communities and conserves the environment and local cultures. This course helps to meet the resulting demand for managers with the ability to implement responsible strategies within marketing, operations, product development and destination planning."

Dr Peter Robinson, Head of the Centre for Tourism and Hospitality Management at Leeds Beckett said, "We are delighted to have secured Commonwealth Scholarship funding for a further ten students to join our MSc Responsible Tourism Management programme. The scholarships offer a great opportunity to support tourism development by providing opportunities to help build knowledge amongst professionals who would otherwise not have access to these opportunities. The scholarships will provide both career development and enhancement for the students and will help them deliver effective tourism policies and strategies in their destinations."

Applications

Scholarship applications for candidates open on Friday 16th February 2024 and must be submitted by Thursday 28th March 2024 via the Commonwealth online application system. For further information and how to apply visit: Commonwealth Distance Learning Master's Scholarships - Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK.

In addition to the Commonwealth application, candidates must also apply for a place on the MSc Responsible Tourism Management course at Leeds Beckett University before the deadline and can apply via our Applicant Portal.

If you have any questions about the course or the Commonwealth Scholarships please contact Dr Milka Ivanova. We can also put you in touch with our in-country partners who will provide guidance and support.