Study Tourism & Event Management in Germany: No NC, from €237/Month

What Will You Study?

Tourism, event and hotel management programmes share a business foundation and then specialise. Typical Bachelor’s modules:

Common Core (Semesters 1–2)

• Business administration, economics, law, marketing, accounting
• Project management, business English, statistics
• Introduction to tourism, event and hospitality industries

Tourism vs. Event vs. Hotel: What’s the Difference?

From the third semester, the specialisations diverge significantly. This comparison helps you decide:

Combined programmes such as “Tourism and Event Management” at Fresenius University or “International Tourism and Event Management” at SRH cover the essentials of all three fields and specialise late – ideal if you haven’t decided yet.

Study Formats Available

Private universities offer tourism and event management in several formats. Distance learning and dual study dominate the English-taught programmes:

* German-taught programmes. All other entries include English-taught options.

Language Requirements

Not all programmes at German private universities are taught in English. Here’s what to expect:

• Fully in English: IU (Tourism Management), SRH (International Tourism & Event Management, International Hotel Management, International Hospitality Management M.A.), Euro-FH (Event Management, Tourism M.A.)
• German required: DIPLOMA (Tourism Management), IST (Hotel Management, Communications & Event Management), Fresenius (Tourism & Event Management) – these programmes are taught in German. You will need at least B2-level German proficiency.

Tip: If you don’t speak German yet, start with an English-taught programme at IU or SRH and learn German alongside your studies. Most universities offer free German language courses, and German language skills significantly boost your career prospects in the local tourism and hospitality industry.

Admission Requirements

Private universities in Germany have no NC (numerus clausus) – admission is based on the university’s own selection process.

• Bachelor’s: A-levels or equivalent school-leaving certificate. Vocational qualifications in hospitality, tourism or event management can also qualify you for admission without traditional A-levels.
• Master’s: A first degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent). The SRH Master requires prior work experience or an internship in the hospitality sector.
• Dual study: Additionally, an employer partner (hotel, tour operator, event agency) – universities often help with placement.
• Visa: Non-EU students need a student visa. With an acceptance letter from a German university, the visa process is straightforward. After graduation, you receive an 18-month job-seeking visa – and Germany’s tourism and hospitality industry is actively hiring.

Private vs. Public Universities

Tourism and event management is also available at public universities in Germany – but with important differences:

• Language: Public universities rarely offer English-taught tourism or event programmes. Private universities like IU and SRH have fully English-taught options designed for international students.
• Practical focus: Private universities emphasise real-world projects, mandatory internships and industry lecturers. Public programmes tend to be more theoretical.
• Industry network: In tourism and hospitality, your network is everything. Private universities like SRH have close partnerships with hotels, airlines and event agencies worldwide.
• Flexibility: Most English-taught programmes at private universities are available as distance learning – a rarity at public institutions.

Honest assessment: Tuition fees (€237–690/month) are the obvious downside. Public universities charge only the semester fee (~€300). The investment in a private university is worthwhile if you need English-taught programmes, want to study alongside work, are pursuing a dual study format, or value small class sizes and industry connections.

Salary Expectations After Graduation

Salaries in tourism, event and hospitality are below the average for other business fields – that’s the honest picture. However, Germany’s severe skills shortage in these industries gives graduates strong bargaining positions.

Sources: Stepstone Salary Report 2025, gehalt.de 2025. All figures gross. Significant regional differences (southern/western Germany substantially higher than east) and employer size (corporate vs. SME).

Context: Entry salaries are €3,000–5,000/year below the general business average. In return, the industry offers benefits that don’t show up in salary data: international assignments, travel perks, creative project work and rapid career advancement – especially now, when qualified professionals are in short supply.

Salary boost: Specialising in controlling, revenue management or corporate events leads to significantly above-average pay. Tourism controlling roles start at ~€39,000/year, corporate event positions at up to €50,000.

Skills Shortage and Trends: Why Study Now?

Germany’s tourism and event industry is booming – demand for qualified professionals far exceeds supply. Three trends are shaping the job market:

• Acute skills shortage: In recent years, many professionals left the industry and never returned. Hotels, tour operators and event agencies are urgently looking for qualified staff. For graduates, this means faster entry and better negotiating positions.
• Sustainable tourism: Travellers expect environmentally responsible offerings. Companies need professionals who can develop and implement sustainable concepts – from carbon offsetting to circular hospitality.
• Hybrid events: The event industry has permanently changed: physical events are increasingly complemented by digital or hybrid formats. Professionals skilled in event technology, streaming and live communication have a clear competitive advantage.

Germany welcomes over 90 million international guests annually and generates over €300 billion in tourism revenue. The event industry is the country’s sixth-largest economic sector. Both industries offer long-term stable career prospects – and actively seek international talent with language skills and cross-cultural competence.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Study Programmes

Tourism and event management overlaps with several other fields. If you want to broaden your profile:

• Business Administration (BA) – broader foundation with the option to specialise in tourism or events
• Marketing – for destination marketing, event marketing and hospitality branding
• International Management – for international careers in hospitality and tourism
• Logistics – for event logistics and tour operations
• Communication Sciences – for live communication and event planning