BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Travel & Tourism
Develop enterprise skills while learning about the world’s fastest growing industry. Studying Travel & Tourism will prepare students for university or for a diverse career working for Tour Operators, Airlines, Visitor Attractions, Festival & Events, Accommodation providers or Travel Agents.
Top course highlights
- Lecturers with Travel & Tourism industry experience
- A range of exciting study visits to enhance the learning experience
- Opportunity to design your own tourism enterprise
- Only 19% External assessment (1 written exam and 1 controlled assessment on year 1)
Curriculum Visits
An exciting and engaging programme of day trips and residential study visits are embedded into the delivery of the course. Highlights include the first-year visits to Eden Project and Disneyland Paris are linked to Unit 9 Visitor Attractions and Unit 4 Managing the Customer Experience. In the 2nd year a P&O cruise supports student understanding of The Cruise Industry.
Develop Work-Related Skills
The subject team and work placement officer work together to support the students with completion of work placement while completing their programme of study. Current placement providers include The Headland Hotel, St Austell Brewery Visitor Centre and Estates, Boutique Retreats, Eden Project, Carbis Bay Hotel, and many more successful partners around the County.
Industry Links
A wide range of industry partners will provide engaging talks to our students both at college and out on visits. Previous speakers have included Watergate Bay Hotel, Eden Project, Callestick, Elemental UK and Carbis Bay Hotel and Estates.
WHY CHOOSE THIS COURSE?
The course will develop a wide range of transferable skills that supports progression to university or employment. Studying Travel & Tourism will provide an understanding of key business concepts including marketing, finance, human resources, market research and customer service. The course provides an insight into the world of work in the UK and overseas including roles within tour operations, the cruise industry, the hospitality sector; including hotels ranging from budget to luxury, as well as restaurants, coffee shops and bars; tourist attractions, from purpose-built theme parks to historic houses; and the transport sector, including working at airports, and for airlines as cabin crew.
A range of study visits will broaden experience of the industry and provide invaluable exposure to successful entrepreneurs and the scope of the UK tourism industry. This is an opportunity to take a vocational course as an initial or further qualification and gain an understanding of the many sectors in the travel & tourism industry. It will develop understanding, knowledge, and skills to a high level of competence for employment within the travel & tourism industry or for progression to university.
Successful students’ progress to Higher Education; studying International Tourism Management, Events Management, Business Studies, Geography and Tourism, Marketing, or other related subjects at university. Others readily find employment in a wide range of businesses in Cornwall, the wider UK, and overseas. As an industry it is home to more small and medium size enterprises than any other sector, so starting a business is another career option and core units like Travel & Tourism Enterprise will enable the development of these skills.
WHAT WILL I LEARN?
The course aims to provide a varied learning experience and will be a combination of a student-centred approach to learning, involving research for assignments, guest speakers, lectures, group work, discussions, and a range of industry related study visits. An experienced team of lecturers many of whom have relevant industry experience will support student learning. Students will need to be prepared to work independently, carry out in-depth research and use a variety of sources of information.
The two-year programme will involve the completion of eight core units (two of which are external assessments) and five specialist units. The specialist units have been carefully selected to support progression at higher education and are selected to enable students to develop as wide a range of employability skills as possible.
All students completing the Diploma in Travel and Tourism will be expected to complete a work placement as part of the course. Students will be supported throughout the placement process by the work placement coordinator. The work placements are a fantastic opportunity to develop employability skills and gain invaluable experience within the travel and tourism industry.
WHERE WILL IT TAKE ME?
Top Travel & Tourism careers include Online Travel Agent, Cabin Crew, Travel Influencer, Holiday Rep, Cruise Director.
Travel & Tourism degrees courses include: BA International Tourism Management, BA Tourism with Business, BA Tourism and Events Management.
A qualification in Travel & Tourism is highly valued by universities and employers alike. Students going on to higher education often move into specific areas of the industry, such as Cruise Management, Marketing or Events Management, as well as Travel & Tourism Management. For those going straight into work, job opportunities arise in many related areas, such as airports and airlines, hotels, and tour operations.
Achievement in this subject is dependent upon excellent attendance, punctuality, and effort. Learning will take place in a friendly atmosphere, using a variety of assessment methods. Assessment is 19% External assessment (1 written exam and 1 set task) the other 81% is comprised of 11 units that are coursework based. Assessment activity follows each element of course delivery, so progression is regularly monitored. Most assessments are in written format (word-processed not hand-written) there are units where role plays and practical activities are core, and these will be video recorded. Assignments are externally moderated by BTEC and overall grades of Pass, Merit, or Distinction will be awarded upon completion of the course.
Students need to be proficient using computers for research, and for coursework production. The aim should be to complete 10 – 15 hours of self-directed study a week, in addition to timetabled class contact time.
Four GCSEs at Grade 4 or above in appropriate subjects (to include English Language or English Literature and/or Mathematics).
We encourage all students to read widely and conduct their own research into the topics they are studying. There are a wide range of materials available across the campus to support this ranging from newspapers, textbooks, and SharePoint. Each student will have a personal tutor, who will be one of the Travel & Tourism lecturers. They will support students in pastoral as well as academic matters. In addition, students will be able to access practical support from Student Services, Learning Services, and the College Careers Zone.
There will be regular 1:1 meeting with tutors to review progress and, where appropriate students will be given the opportunity to attend drop-in sessions for tailored 1-to-1 support as well as a variety of opportunities to stretch and challenge the most able students. We encourage students to proactively engage with the support available to maximise their potential.
Additional costs – Students will need to plan for the cost of participation in study visits and for the purchase of a Travel & Tourism polo shirt.
Work Placement – Our students have been fortunate enough to undertake placements at a range of well-established local businesses including St. Austell Brewery Visitor centre, pubs hotels and reservations department, Carbis Bay Hotel, The Headland Hotel, Boutique Retreats, Cornish Gems, Manning’s, Visit Cornwall and many more… Our dedicated work placement coordinator will provide support before during and after placement.
Enrichment – The Travel & Tourism students will receive an enhanced programme of study with the added enrichment opportunity of completing a level 2 qualification in resort representatives while completing their year one programme of study. While undertaking the second year of the qualification students will be offered the enrichment opportunity to complete the level 2 cabin crew qualification. Both enhancements will enable the development of essential work-based skills and improvement of employability skills to further support progression into a successful career path within the Travel & Tourism industry.
Awarding body – Edexcel/Pearson
