Tourism and Sustainability Management
Master of Science
Providing transdisciplinary knowledge for consulting, planning, and sustainable development of destinations, as well as for sustainability management in companies.
Key Information
Course Content
This Master's programme combines tourism with the fields of public economics, management, geography and law, as well as the forward-looking field of sustainability.
The programme aims to train individuals who can actively contribute their academic and professional experience and work together to develop innovative solutions for the upcoming changes. The aim is to train experts with interface competences for the planning and sustainable development of tourist destinations in the broader sense, i.e. local authorities, regional destinations, but also larger investment projects such as (hotel) resorts or leisure parks.
Read more about the projects, guest lectures and excursions that optimally prepare our students for professional life on the German version of our website.
Specialisations
In addition to compulsory subjects in the areas of sustainability management and tourism, TNM students choose individual specializations from a wide range of electives in the second semester to sharpen their profile. Topics offered include:
- Current issues in regional development
- Tourism futures studies
- Intercultural management
- Leadership
- Business analysis & research
- Business environment
- Entrepreneurship
- Innovation management
Career Perspectives
The Master "Tourism and Sustainability Management" opens up a wide range of career opportunities. Our graduates work in areas such as
- destination management organizations
- politics, public administration, and tourism associations
- tour operators and the hotel industry
- corporate sustainability departments
- planning and consulting firms
- nature conservation and protected area management
- at non-governmental organizations
- in development cooperation organizations
- in education and public relations
- as founders of their own companies and innovative start-ups
Programme Structure
Teaching in small groups promotes intensive discussions and direct exchange with lecturers. Carefully selected teachers and external partners ensure practical relevance. Courses are held in German or English. Details on individual modules can be found in the module handbook in the download area.
- 1st Semester
- 2nd Semester
- 3rd Semester (Optional Internship or Study Abroad)
- Final Semester: Thesis & Defense
- Downloads
The first semester comprises the following courses, each worth 5 ECTS credits:
- Fundamentals of Sustainability Management*
- Spatial Science Fundamentals of Tourism*
- Digital Transformation Foundations, Business Models and AI in Tourism
- Municipal Economics and Public Management*
- Spatial Planning and Law*
- Research Methods I
* in German
The second semester comprises the following courses, each worth 5 ECTS credits:
- Natural & Cultural Heritage Management
- Sustainable Tourism Management
- Sustainable Tourism Development Project*
- Research Methods II
- Special Tourism and Sustainability Management 1 (elective module according to the elective catalog)
- Special Tourism and Sustainability Management 2 (elective module according to the elective catalog)
* in German
Electives
In the second semester, students choose two modules (5 ECTS each) from a catalog of electives that is published annually, e.g.:
Courses from the Master's program in Entrepreneurship (M.Sc.) in the following subject areas:
- Innovation Management
- Social Entrepreneurship
- Entrepreneurial Leadership
- Marketing for Founders*
* in German
Courses from the Master's program in International Business and Intercultural Management (M.Sc.) in the following subject areas:
- Intercultural Communication & Management
- Leadership
- Business Analysis & Research
- Business Environment
- Global Marketing
- International Finance
- Business Transformation
Courses from the Master's program in Tourism Futures Studies (M.Sc.) in the following subject areas:
- Tourism Futures Studies Fundamentals
- Real & Virtual Spaces in Tourism Futures
- Exponential Technologies
- Activism, Policy Innovations & Ethical Perspectives
- Understanding Futures from Art, Literature, Media & History
During an optional 3rd semester, students have the possibility to complete either an internship or spend a semester abroad at one of our partner universities. When taking advantage of this option, students will collect an additional 30 ECTS credits that will be counted toward their Masters degree (thereby collecting a total of 120 credits). Certain conditions apply when completing the optional semester, such as minimum requirements, duration and content.
Internship
Gaining practical experience can be an integral factor in successfully entering the job market following completion of the MIBIM program. Not only do students have the opportunity to apply the knowledge they have gained as part of the program, but they also can build additional skills. Students electing to complete an internship during the optional 3rd semester can receive 30 ECTS points which are awarded on a pass/fail basis.
Study Abroad
When choosing this option, the grades received during your exchange studies will be counted toward your overall MIBIM grade point average. Students must complete a minimum of 30 ECTS points (or equivalent) to earn credit. Find out more about the partner universities available to our Sustainable Tourism Development students by clicking below.
The final stage of the "Sustainable Tourism Development" programme is the Master Thesis and Defense, which requires in-depth empirical research in the student’s chosen area. Ideally, the thesis is based on real situations in conjunction with international companies or organisations. During the first two semesters, this programme offers various courses on quantitative and qualitative research, which will prepare students for this stage. Students have 6 months from their date of registration to submit the final thesis and schedule the defense.
Requirements and Application
To be considered for admission, applicants must possess the following qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree of 210 ECTS* in tourism, geography, planning, environmental studies, economics, social sciences, or a similar field with a minimum overall grade of 2.5 or equivalent (German grading system)
- *Applicants with 180 ECTS may also apply, with the condition that an additional 30 ECTS be earned by taking Bachelor's courses.
- German language proficiency at C1 level (fluent)
- English language proficiency at B2 level (advanced)
Applicants apply directly to Heilbronn University via the application portal during the application period. The application portal opens in early May with the application deadline being September 28th this year. In addition to the completion of the online application, several documents must also be submitted.
When applying with non-German educational certificates, an additional application step is required for degree recognition. We recommend this recognition process be started no later than June 1st to ensure a timely application to Heilbronn University.
Contact
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