The Master of Tourism is a 72-unit coursework degree which is part of the Graduate Program in Tourism offered by the Faculty of Education, Humanities and Law.

The degree may be taken over four semesters full-time, or the equivalent part-time.

The Master of Tourism articulates with the 18-unit Graduate Certificate in Tourism and the 36-unit Graduate Diploma in Tourism.

Admission requirements

Applicants must normally hold:

  • an approved bachelor degree or equivalent qualification in Tourism, Hospitality or a related discipline from an approved tertiary institution and have achieved a grade point average of 5.00 in the upper level topics in this award, or
  • a Graduate Diploma in Tourism, or an equivalent qualification from an approved tertiary institution, and have achieved a grade point average of 5.00 in this award, or
  • an approved Honours degree in Tourism or a closely related discipline from an approved tertiary institution. 

However, the Faculty Board may, under certain circumstances, and subject to specific conditions, admit others who can show evidence of fitness for candidature.

Course aims

The course aims to meet the research needs of graduates with an interest in tourism, enabling them to undertake an in depth research-focused study. It aims to increase the theoretical knowledge and research skills required to develop appropriate depth of understanding of issues in tourism in a number of specialisations.

The Masters program draws on both theoretical and practical material and provides the opportunity for students to apply both the principles and the practical aspects of the course.

The course aims to:

  • provide students with a broad understanding of trends in and the role of their specialised field in tourism, both in Australia and worldwide
  • introduce the concepts behind their specialised tourism field and examine how they reflect the arts, culture and/or heritage of a place
  • develop a framework for tourism management with the opportunity to apply this framework to specific case studies both on and offshore
  • instil management and marketing skills necessary for professional endorsement within the industry
  • produce graduates who will act ethically as professionals within their specialised field of the tourism industry
  • provide students with the opportunity for a work integrated learning experience across a range of tourism sectors
  • provide students will the opportunity to undertake and produce an extended research project/dissertation on a contemporary issue in the tourism industry.

Learning outcomes

The course will enable students to increase the knowledge base on which their practice is grounded and to combine strategic thinking with creativity, knowledge and practical skills.

Upon graduating, students will be able to:

  • review and critically analyse current issues and trends in tourism
  • examine and assess the role of tourism in an international context, and generate sustainable solutions to a range of complex tourism related issues
  • initiate, develop and implement event, business and/or interpretation plans in a professional manner
  • communicate theoretical and practice issues in tourism, both verbally and in writing, to a wide range of audiences
  • enter the workforce as skilled and knowledgeable festival and event or tourism professional practitioners
  • undertake their work in an ethical way within the fields of festival and events and/or tourism
  • investigate, analyse and synthesise a range of tourism primary and secondary sources to produce original research
  • reflect critically on their own industry practice

Credit

Students who have successfully completed the Industry Certificate in Festival and Event Design and Management at Flinders University may be eligible to receive 4.5 units of credit for the topic TOUR8111 Essentials of Festival and Event Design and Management, and those who have completed the Industry Certificate in Interpretation may be eligible to receive 4.5 units of credit for the topic TOUR8115 Essentials of Interpretation.

Students who have successfully completed the Tourism stream or Festival and Event Design and Management stream in the Graduate Certificate in Tourism will receive 18 units of specified credit towards the Master of Tourism and must complete 54 units with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, according to the program of study below.  Students who have successfully completed the Tourism stream or Festival and Event Design and Management stream in the Graduate Diploma in Tourism will receive 36 units of specified credit towards the Master of Tourism and must complete 36 units with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, according to the program of study set out below.

Program of study

To meet the requirements of the Master of Tourism, students must complete 72 units with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, according to the following program of study:

Core - Year 1 & 2 topics

31.5 units comprising:

TOUR8114 Tourism Research Methods (4.5 units)
TOUR8210 Ethics in Tourism Research (4,5 units)
TOUR8211 Tourism Research Proposal (4.5 units)

Plus 18 units from either:

TOUR8116 Essentials of Tourism (4.5 units)
TOUR8118 Destination Image and Tourism (4.5 units)
TOUR8125 Issues in Contemporary Tourism (4.5 units)
TOUR9129 Sustainable Tourism Planning and Development (4.5 units)

Or

TOUR8111 Essentials of Festival and Event Design and Management (4.5 units)
TOUR8112 Festival and Event Design and Management Practice A (4.5 units)
TOUR8113 Festival and Event Design and Management Practice B (4.5 units)
TOUR8122 Festival and Event Design (4.5 units)

Option - Year 1 & 2 topics

Select either 13.5 or 22.5 units from:

BUSN9400 Workplace and Business Communication (4.5 units)
BUSN9401 Australian Workplace and Business Environment (4.5 units)
SCME8001 Screen and Media Production 1, Production (4.5 units)
SCME8002 Screen and Media Production 2, Post Production (4.5 units)
TOUR8115 Essentials of Interpretation (4.5 units)
TOUR8117 Essentials of Interpretive Tour Guiding (4.5 units)
TOUR8119 Tourism Business Planning GE (4.5 units)
TOUR8123 Tourism Placement (4.5 units)
TOUR8126 Tourism Case Study (4.5 units)

Option - Research Project - Year 1 & 2 topics

Select either an 18-unit Dissertation (TOUR9000A and TOUR9000B) or a 27-unit Dissertation (TOUR9000A, B and C) from:

TOUR9000A Tourism Dissertation (9 of 18/27 units)
TOUR9000B Tourism Dissertation (9 of 18/27 units)
TOUR9000C Tourism Dissertation (9 of 27 units)