In September 2008 Vilnius University will launch a 1,5-year Master’s programme in International Tourism Management. This programme is developed in cooperation with HAAGA-HELIA University of Applied Sciences (Finland) and Manchester Metropolitan University (UK). We strongly believe that the Faculty of Economics at Vilnius University has the required facilities and professional human resources to join the ranks of other top-rated master programmes in Europe. Most importantly, students who complete our programme will have the intellectual and social capital as well as competitive experience to successfully compete with graduates of other programmes. If you are looking for new challenges and destinations, Vilnius University is the place to go (student testimonials).

Vilnius University is working with Ca’ Foscari University of Venice (Italy) and offers a double degree possibility each year for the best students of the programme. The five best students will spend the third semester abroad, where they will have a three-month internship and defend their master thesis.

The first two semesters of the programme consist of both obligatory and elective courses. Among the elective courses, students have an opportunity to choose courses according to their field of interest: either tourism operations or destination management. Each semester, students will work on research projects in line with their selected master thesis topics. The third and final semester is meant for practical tasks and further specialization in the student’s area of interest and developing their master’s thesis.

For applicants with no background in business administration and/or economics, we offer Pre-master (preparatory) courses. The courses are designed for students who feel they lack a sufficient background in the basics of economics and business.

Structure

The scope of the Programme is 90 ECTS credits. The obligatory courses in the first semester include Research Methods, International Tourism Policy and Planning, Strategic Management of Tourism, Financial Tourism Management and Tourism Marketing. During the second semester, there will be a possibility to study Service Quality Management, and IT in Tourism as obligatory courses. Among elective courses, there will be a choice of: Sustainable Tourism, Hospitality Management, Events Management, and Brand Management (2011 Detailed programme structure)

Your experience at Vilnius University will be intellectually stimulating not only because of the breadth of courses, but also because of the international and intercultural environment you will experience in Lithuania.

International Focus of the Programme

Lithuania is considered to be the geographical center of Europe, which adds to the international appeal of the Programme. Students from Lithuania, the European Union and the rest of the world will be brought into the same classroom at Vilnius University, adding to cross-cultural exchange, which is particularly vital to tourism. The language of instruction is English. The team of lecturers in the Programme are pooled from Lithuania, UK, Finland, as well as other European countries. Our instructors are experts in the field of their subjects and have ties with the business communities in the countries of their origin. This adds to the hands-on experience in the tourism business world. Alongside practical, business related management skills, the students will develop logical and critical thinking of the sector issues, which is a requirement in an increasingly competitive global market of tourism. As Lithuania is also at a historical turning point with an annual tourism growth of 10 per cent and one of the most dynamic economies in Europe, students of the Programme will find themselves in a unique position to tap into this lucrative market.

As is common knowledge in business, connections are a key to success. We believe that other international students, as well as our Faculty and the business connections the International Tourism Management Programme at Vilnius University will provide students with a perfect opportunity to develop students’ careers and facilitate making the crucial links required for the enhancement of the tourism sector.