Travel and Tourism Courses London: Fees & Options 2026/27

This guide compares the travel and tourism courses London offers, from practical Level 2 and Level 3 diplomas to HNC/HND qualifications, tourism degrees, postgraduate programmes and short aviation or ticketing courses.

The right option depends on your starting point and the job you want. A school leaver interested in airport services may gain more from a vocational programme with simulated cabin training than from a broad university degree. Someone aiming for destination management, tourism marketing or consultancy will usually benefit more from a bachelor’s or postgraduate qualification.

Here’s the thing: a higher qualification is not automatically a better choice. The strongest course is the one that matches your career goal, budget, entry qualifications and preferred way of learning.

Course information and fees in this guide were checked on 22 July 2026. Providers can change intakes, costs and entry requirements, so confirm the details on the official course page before submitting an application or paying a deposit.

How we selected the courses: We reviewed official London college, university and professional-training pages. We compared current availability, qualification level, duration, tuition, entry routes, practical training and progression opportunities. Sponsored rankings and unverified course-directory claims were not used to set the recommendations.

Travel and Tourism Courses London: Quick Comparison

Provider and course	Level	2026 start	Duration	Published fee	Best suited to
West London College: Travel, Tourism and Aviation	Level 3	7 September	2 years	Free for eligible 16–18 learners; adult funding varies	Aviation, airport services and practical training
City of Westminster College: Travel and Tourism	Level 3	2 September	2 years	Check current funding eligibility	University preparation and broad tourism study
Newham College: Travel and Tourism	Level 3	3 September	2 years	Check current funding eligibility	Vocational progression and industry projects
The City College: International Travel and Tourism Management	HNC/HND	21 September	1–2 years	£6,355 per year on the course page	Lower-cost practical higher education
University of Westminster: Tourism Management BA	Bachelor’s	September	3–4 years	£9,790 home; £17,600 international	Destination management and responsible tourism
University of Greenwich: International Tourism and Hospitality Management BA	Bachelor’s	September	3–4 years	£9,790 home; £17,975 international	Tourism combined with hospitality
Middlesex University: International Tourism Management BSc	Bachelor’s	September	3 years	£9,790 home; £17,200 international	Tourism with business and marketing
London Metropolitan University: Tourism and Travel Management BA	Bachelor’s	September/January options	Route-specific	Check the selected entry point	Flexible entry and destination-focused study
University of Westminster: Tourism Management MA	Master’s	September	1 year	£10,900 home; £18,000 international	Tourism policy and destination strategy
University of Greenwich: Strategic Tourism and Hospitality Management MSc	Master’s	September	1 year	£13,500 home; £19,450 international	Strategic tourism and hospitality leadership

The maximum standard tuition fee for an eligible full-time undergraduate degree at an approved fee-cap provider in England is £9,790 for 2026/27. This is an annual tuition figure, not the total cost of a three-year degree. Check the current government tuition-fee rules when preparing your budget.

Best Options by Career Goal

For beginners: Start with a Level 1 or Level 2 route before progressing to Level 3.

For airport and airline roles: Consider West London College or another programme with aviation facilities, airport operations and customer-service training.

For adults returning to study: West London College’s Level 3 course accepts 19+ learners, while an HNC or HND may suit applicants who already hold a Level 3 qualification or relevant experience.

For practical higher education at a lower fee: The City College HNC/HND route costs less per year than the bachelor’s degrees compared above.

For tourism management careers: Westminster, Greenwich, Middlesex and London Metropolitan University all provide relevant degree routes, but their module mix differs.

For destination planning or tourism development: Consider a specialist master’s after completing an undergraduate degree.

For ticketing and reservations: Look for practical training in Amadeus, Sabre or Travelport rather than a general tourism certificate with no booking-system practice.

Best London Colleges for Travel and Tourism

College programmes tend to focus on practical assignments, employability and progression. They often make sense for learners targeting airport operations, cabin crew, customer service, travel sales, visitor attractions or further study.

Students considering similar career-led qualifications can also compare other vocational routes available in the UK.

West London College

West London College’s Level 3 Travel, Tourism and Aviation programme starts on 7 September 2026 and takes two years full-time. It accepts both 16–18 and 19+ learners.

The course covers global destinations, tour guiding, business travel, events and customer service. Students may also have opportunities for overseas work experience and educational visits.

Its main advantage is the practical setting. The college has a simulated aircraft cabin and airline check-in area, allowing learners to practise situations they may later face in airport or airline roles.

That matters. Discussing passenger service in a classroom is useful; handling a realistic check-in or cabin scenario demands a different level of confidence.

City of Westminster College

The Level 3 Extended Diploma at City of Westminster College runs for two years at the Paddington Green Campus. It is designed for 16–18 learners and is described as equivalent in size to three A levels.

Subjects include aviation, cruise operations, visitor attractions, customer service, sustainable tourism and work experience.

This route may suit a school leaver who wants a broad vocational qualification before applying to university, an apprenticeship or an entry-level role.

Newham College

Newham College’s Level 3 course starts on 3 September 2026 at the East Ham Campus.

Applicants normally need five GCSEs averaging grade 4 or above, including English Language or maths at grade 4. Students progressing from a related Level 2 vocational course normally need at least a Merit.

The programme covers the UK tourism industry, customer service, airports, marketing, destinations and responsible tourism. It also includes practical projects and opportunities to engage with employers.

This staged route works well for someone who wants to begin at Level 1 or Level 2 and progress without changing subject or provider.

HNC and HND Travel and Tourism

An HNC represents Level 4 study and commonly takes one year full-time. An HND normally combines Level 4 and Level 5 study over two years.

The City College lists its BTEC Higher National programme at £6,355 per year. The first year leads to an HNC, while completing the second year leads to the HND.

HNC and HND courses balance academic study with applied assignments. They may lead directly to employment or support an application for advanced entry to a related bachelor’s degree.

Progression is not automatic. The receiving university decides whether it will accept the qualification and how much previous study it will recognise.

Travel and Tourism Degrees in London

A degree in travel and tourism normally combines tourism with business, marketing, sustainability, destination planning, research and management.

Some travel degrees include a placement year, foundation route or international study. Others combine tourism with hospitality, events or entrepreneurship.

Before choosing, compare universities across the capital rather than relying on the course title alone. Two programmes called Tourism Management can lead to quite different learning experiences.

University of Westminster

The Tourism Management BA at Westminster is based at the Marylebone Campus in central London.

For 2026/27, annual tuition is £9,790 for home students and £17,600 for international students. The standard course lasts three years, with an additional placement or international-experience route available.

The programme examines destination management, entrepreneurship, responsible tourism and the relationship between tourism and local communities.

It may suit students who want to move beyond frontline travel operations and develop strategic or management skills.

University of Greenwich

The International Tourism and Hospitality Management BA costs £9,790 for home students and £17,975 for international students in 2026/27.

The degree combines tourism with hospitality and offers full-time, part-time and sandwich routes. It may keep career options open across hotels, resorts, tourism organisations, events and destination marketing.

Applicants mainly interested in hotels or resorts should also compare hospitality-focused university options.

Middlesex University

The International Tourism Management BSc at Middlesex is based at the Hendon Campus.

For 2026/27, tuition is £9,790 for UK students and £17,200 for international students.

The programme combines tourism with business, marketing and events. This can be valuable for students who want a degree in travel and tourism while keeping broader commercial career options open.

London Metropolitan University

London Met’s Tourism and Travel Management BA covers responsible tourism, visitor attractions, destination management, digital marketing and tourism-led regeneration.

The university lists different entry points and study routes, including foundation, standard and top-up options. Fees depend on the route and intake selected on the live course page.

The course may appeal to applicants who want flexibility or a strong focus on how tourism affects cities, communities and destinations.

Other London Degree Options

The University of West London’s travel and tourism subject area is also worth checking, particularly for students interested in aviation, tourism and hospitality within a specialist school.

Course names and availability can change between application cycles, so confirm the exact 2026 or 2027 entry route before adding it to your shortlist.

Tourism Development Courses in London

Tourism development courses in London serve a different audience from entry-level college diplomas.

They focus on destination planning, sustainable development, tourism policy, community impact, visitor management and economic regeneration. These programmes may suit graduates, tourism officers, consultants and professionals moving into strategic roles.

Westminster’s Tourism Management MA costs £10,900 for home students and £18,000 for international students in 2026/27. It covers tourism policy, destinations, culture and global industry change.

Greenwich’s Strategic Tourism and Hospitality Management MSc costs £13,500 for home students and £19,450 for international students. It combines strategic tourism with hospitality leadership.

Think about it this way: someone preparing to issue airline tickets needs operational precision. Someone planning how a city manages visitor growth needs policy, data, sustainability and community-engagement skills.

Those are not interchangeable career paths.

Short Aviation, Ticketing and Travel-Agent Courses

A full tourism degree is not always necessary.

For reservations, fare construction and travel-agency roles, a shorter professional course may provide more directly usable skills.

IATA’s GDS fares and ticketing training includes realistic simulations of systems such as Amadeus, Sabre and Travelport. Learners practise fare searches, booking retrieval, rules, pricing and ticket issuance.

Beginners should start with foundation-level training. More advanced fares courses assume that students already understand basic reservation processes.

Some programmes run online rather than at a London campus. If course length matters more than location, compare other short UK study options for international learners.

A mildly surprising point: the cheapest certificate can become the expensive choice when employers do not recognise the provider or the course includes no practical system access.

Before paying, check:

• Who awards or recognises the qualification?
• Does the course include real or simulated GDS practice?
• Is an examination included?
• Are registration and assessment fees part of the advertised price?
• Which roles is the course genuinely designed to support?

Level 2, Level 3, HNC, HND or Degree?

Choose Level 2 when:

You need a foundation in customer service, tourism destinations, travel operations and employability. It usually supports progression to Level 3 rather than management-level work.

Choose Level 3 when:

You hold suitable GCSEs or a related Level 2 qualification and want to prepare for university, an apprenticeship or an operational tourism role.

A two-year extended diploma may carry the academic size of three A levels, but each university sets its own entry requirements.

Choose an HNC or HND when:

You want applied higher education without immediately committing to a three-year degree.

An HNC normally takes one year. An HND normally takes two and may support employment or degree progression.

Choose a Bachelor’s Degree when:

Your target roles involve destination management, tourism marketing, policy, entrepreneurship, consultancy or graduate-level leadership.

Choose a Master’s Degree when:

You already hold an undergraduate degree and want to specialise, change sector or move towards strategic tourism development.

Entry Requirements for Travel and Tourism Courses in London

Entry requirements vary by provider, but the following ranges offer a useful starting point.

Course level	Common academic route	Possible alternative
Level 1	GCSEs around grade 2	Initial assessment and interview
Level 2	GCSEs around grade 3, often including English and maths	Related Level 1 qualification
Level 3	Four or five GCSEs around grade 4	Related Level 2 qualification
HNC/HND	A levels, BTEC Level 3 or equivalent	Relevant experience where accepted
Bachelor’s degree	A levels, BTEC, Access to HE or equivalent	Foundation year
Master’s degree	Usually a bachelor’s degree, often 2:2 or above	Relevant professional experience on selected courses

International applicants normally need accepted evidence of English proficiency. Requirements differ by programme, so check the provider and compare the English-language qualifications UK universities may accept.

Mature applicants should not assume that missing A levels ends the application. Some institutions consider work experience, prior study or a foundation year. These alternative routes into university without standard qualifications may provide another starting point.

Fees, Funding and Scholarships

The examples in this guide show a wide range of costs:

• Many eligible 16–18 learners can study Level 2 or Level 3 college programmes without tuition fees.
• The City College lists its HNC/HND programme at £6,355 per year.
• Home undergraduate tuition in the university examples is £9,790 per year.
• International undergraduate tuition ranges from £17,200 to £17,975 per year in the fully priced examples.
• The selected postgraduate courses cost £10,900–£13,500 for home students and £18,000–£19,450 for international students.

Tuition is only one part of the budget.

Add accommodation, food, local travel, equipment, visa fees and any optional field trip. In practice, housing often creates the biggest difference between two London study budgets, so investigate more affordable student accommodation in London before accepting an offer.

Eligible full-time students in England may receive a Tuition Fee Loan of up to £9,790 for 2026/27. Students living away from their parents in London may receive a Maintenance Loan of up to £14,135, depending on eligibility and household income.

Check whether your course and circumstances meet the student-finance rules rather than assuming every programme qualifies.

Scholarships remain provider- and intake-specific. For example, the University of Greenwich International Scholarship Award can provide eligible new international students with a one-year tuition discount of up to £3,000 for September 2026 entry.

Before relying on a scholarship, confirm whether it:

• requires a separate application;
• applies for one year or the whole course;
• can be combined with another discount;
• reduces the initial deposit or only the final fee balance.

International Students and Visa Checks

International students can study travel and tourism in London, but a short private course does not automatically qualify for Student visa sponsorship.

Applicants normally need an unconditional offer from a licensed student sponsor and a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies, known as a CAS.

Check the institution on the official register of licensed student sponsors before paying a non-refundable deposit.

Also confirm:

• whether the exact course is eligible for sponsorship;
• whether the provider will issue a CAS;
• the required English-language evidence;
• tuition-deposit and financial-evidence rules;
• whether a placement forms an approved part of the programme.

For broader guidance on applications, finance and visa preparation, review this practical information for international students planning UK study.

Modules and Career Routes

Common modules include tourism operations, customer service, destination management, tourism marketing, sustainable tourism, visitor attractions and tour planning.

Degree programmes may add tourism policy, research methods, data analysis, entrepreneurship, crisis management and strategic leadership.

Match the module list to the job you want.

Amadeus practice has direct value for a reservations position. Destination governance and impact assessment matter more to a future tourism-development consultant.

Study route	Possible first roles	Later progression
Level 2	Visitor-services assistant, customer-service assistant	Senior adviser or supervisor
Level 3	Travel consultant, reservations agent, airport ground staff	Team leader or assistant operations manager
HNC/HND	Tour coordinator, operations assistant, tourism officer	Operations or destination manager
Bachelor’s degree	Tourism marketing executive, management trainee, events coordinator	Tourism, commercial or regional manager
Master’s degree	Tourism consultant, policy assistant, sustainability adviser	Programme manager or tourism strategist
GDS course	Reservations agent, fares assistant, ticketing executive	Senior fares or reservations specialist

Applicants often compare course names but overlook the wording around placements.

A “placement opportunity” does not mean a guaranteed placement. Ask who finds the employer, whether selection is competitive and what happens if you do not secure a position.

That single answer can change the value of a course.

How to Apply for Travel and Tourism Courses in London

College applications normally go directly to the institution. Full-time undergraduate degrees generally use UCAS, while postgraduate programmes often accept direct applications through the university website.

A sensible process is to:

1. Shortlist three to five suitable programmes.
2. Check the correct intake and application route.
3. Compare annual and total tuition costs.
4. Confirm placement conditions and study mode.
5. Prepare certificates, references and English-language evidence.
6. Apply before the relevant deadline.
7. Check scholarship and deposit deadlines separately.

Review the latest official UCAS application dates before submitting. This plain-English explanation of the UCAS process can help you organise each stage.

Do not build a shortlist containing only highly competitive choices. Include one ambitious option, two courses that closely match your profile and at least one safer choice.

Applicants who want local, face-to-face guidance can speak with an education adviser at the London office. Those who prefer an online conversation can request an initial course consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best travel and tourism courses in London for beginners?

Level 1 or Level 2 college diplomas normally provide the clearest starting point. Look for practical facilities, clear entry requirements and a progression route to Level 3.

How much does a travel and tourism course cost in London?

Eligible 16–18 learners may study many college programmes without tuition fees. The HNC/HND example in this guide costs £6,355 per year. Home undergraduate degrees cost £9,790 per year, while the fully priced international degrees range from £17,200 to £17,975 per year.

How long does a travel and tourism course take?

Level 2 normally takes one year. Level 3 may take one or two years. An HNC usually takes one year, an HND two years and a bachelor’s degree three years full-time.

Is a travel and tourism diploma better than a degree?

A diploma may be better for faster practical preparation. A degree is generally more suitable for graduate, analytical and management routes. The right answer depends on the role you want.

Can adults study travel and tourism in London?

Yes. Adults can find Level 3, HNC/HND, foundation, part-time and degree routes, although age eligibility and funding differ between providers.

Which course is best for airline jobs?

An aviation-focused Level 2 or Level 3 programme may support airport and passenger-service roles. For reservations and ticketing, choose training with practical Amadeus, Sabre or another GDS.

Can international students take a short travel course?

Yes, but many short courses do not qualify for Student visa sponsorship. Confirm the provider’s sponsor status and the course’s CAS eligibility before paying.

Do travel and tourism degrees include placements?

Some do, but arrangements differ. A placement may be optional, competitive or self-arranged rather than guaranteed. Confirm the conditions with the university.

Choosing from the Travel and Tourism Courses London Offers

When comparing the travel and tourism courses London offers, start with the career you want rather than the qualification with the most impressive title.

Choose a college diploma for practical preparation, an HNC or HND for applied higher education, and a travel and tourism degree for broader graduate and management routes.

A tourism development master’s makes more sense when you already hold a degree and want specialist strategic knowledge. Short GDS training suits learners targeting reservations, fares and ticketing.

Then compare the facts that genuinely affect the decision: current intake, total cost, campus, study mode, awarding body, placement conditions, entry requirements and visa eligibility.

A compact shortlist built on those details will take you further than a long page of course names.