Hotel Management, Bachelor of Arts

Who is the Bachelor’s Degree in Hotel Management (B.A.) Suitable For?

The distance learning course in Hotel Management (B.A.) is aimed at anyone who wants to obtain a recognised bachelor’s degree regardless of location and time and has a special interest in the hotel industry. Typical target groups include, on the one hand, school graduates with a general or specialised university entrance qualification who are aiming for a direct entry into the hotel sector. On the other hand, the course also addresses industry experts who want to further qualify themselves academically – such as trained hotel professionals, career changers with professional experience, or employees in the hotel industry who want to expand their management skills.

Admission Requirements at a Glance

• With (Advanced) School-leaving Certificate: A general university entrance qualification (Abitur), specialised university entrance qualification or an equivalent school leaving certificate is required.
• Industry Experience/Internship: Additionally, a three-month internship in the hotel sector or alternatively industry-specific professional experience of at least three months is required. This proof can be provided by the start of the 3rd semester at the latest.
• Studying Without Abitur: Possible with a master craftsman’s diploma or a further qualification (e.g. IHK specialist qualification) or with a completed vocational training of at least two years and at least three years’ professional experience. Here, too, proof of a three-month internship or corresponding industry-specific professional experience is required (proof also possible at the latest by the start of the 3rd semester).
• Special Case Focus Culinary Management: Those who aim to obtain the final certificate with a focus on “Culinary Management” must also provide practical professional experience in the kitchen.

Important Notes: The exact admission criteria are based on statutory regulations (§ 49 Higher Education Act NRW) and the requirements of the IST-Hochschule für Management. Applicants who are unsure whether they meet all requirements should seek individual advice before applying.

Further information about the admission requirements can be found on the website of the IST-Hochschule für Management and from the respective student advisory service.

Personal Requirements and Expectations

• Interest in the Hotel and Tourism Industry: Working in a hotel requires openness to people, intercultural skills, and enjoyment in dealing with international guests.
• Organisational and Communication Skills: Management and leadership tasks in the hotel industry require a structured, solution-oriented and communicative working style.
• Motivation and Initiative: Distance learning demands a high level of self-organisation as well as willingness to continuously develop oneself.
• English Language Skills: Good English skills are an advantage as the hotel industry is internationally oriented. “Business English” is explicitly deepened during the course.
• Flexibility and Resilience: The hotel industry is often characterised by changing working hours; flexibility and resilience help to cope with typical demands.
• Practical Experience: Initial insights into the industry, for example through internships or part-time jobs, facilitate the start and understanding of the course contents.

The distance learning Bachelor’s degree in Hotel Management (B.A.) is therefore particularly suitable for motivated individuals who want to actively shape the opportunities and challenges of modern hospitality and at the same time develop themselves both in terms of business management and personally.

What content does the Bachelor's degree in Hotel Management cover?

The Bachelor's degree in Hotel Management at the IST University of Management imparts fundamental and specialised content from business administration, management, and the hotel industry. You will acquire knowledge on company management, financial management, marketing strategies, and the specific characteristics of the hotel sector. The degree programme is designed to convey practical and theoretical skills specifically for application in hotel management.

• General Management: Basics of business administration, accounting, commercial law, corporate management and human resource management, business mathematics, business informatics, and economic thinking.
• Hotel-specific subjects: Hotel and quality management, gastronomy management, operational and strategic hotel management, customer care management, F&B management, customer communication, market research in the hotel industry.
• International orientation: Business English and modules on international economics and tourism management.
• Subject specialisation and options: You can set individual priorities through elective modules, for example in event management, culinary management, tourism management, or wellness and spa management. Internships or a semester abroad are also possible.
• Methodological skills: Academic work, project management as well as development of social and leadership skills.
• The degree concludes with the bachelor's thesis, into which a thematic focus can be introduced.

Additionally, depending on your choice, there are focuses on areas such as e-commerce, revenue management, sustainability management, human resource management or tourism management. The hotel-specific share is around 50% – from the first semester onwards.

How is the study programme organised?

The Hotel Management degree is offered as a distance learning programme – with the option of a dual study programme. The standard duration is either 6 semesters (full-time) or 8 semesters (part-time) and can be flexibly adapted to your individual life and work situation.

• The programme starts on 1 April and 1 October each year; application deadlines are 15 February and 15 August respectively.
• You predominantly learn independently using study booklets. The studies are supplemented by online lectures, tutorials, exercises, and occasional seminar days with a practical focus.
• Practical content is supported by excursions to partner companies and practical phases in the hotel industry.
• Examinations can be taken either online or at examination centres in major German cities as well as in Innsbruck (Austria). There are six different exam dates per semester.
• In addition to the classic distance learning model, there is a dual study option with simultaneous employment in a company.
• After the regular study period, you have a free supervision period of three further semesters available.
• A switch between full-time, part-time, and dual study programmes is possible during the course of study.

What professional and career opportunities does the degree open up?

With a Bachelor's degree in Hotel Management, you qualify for diverse career opportunities in the national and international hotel industry as well as in tourism and hospitality management. You are prepared to take on responsibilities in operational and strategic management roles.

• Typical fields of work:
• Hotel management and leadership in individual hotels, hotel chains, resorts, and club facilities
• Revenue management, especially controlling pricing and capacity
• Food & Beverage management: responsibility for kitchen, restaurant, bar, events
• Customer and quality management
• Marketing and sales management in the hotel industry
• Management in areas such as wellness, spa, event or tourism management
• Career paths in health and wellness facilities, catering companies, cruise lines or investment sectors for hotel real estate

Many graduates take on leadership and management positions after their studies or specialise in areas such as consulting, digitalisation, sustainable management, or expansion in the international environment.

How does the distance learning programme work and where can you find the study offers?

The degree programme is conducted entirely as distance learning. This means: you study flexibly in terms of time and place, supported by digital learning platforms and modern online formats. The university is located in Düsseldorf. Exams can be taken at various examination centres in Germany and online. During the practical phase or the dual study programme, you work directly in hotels, resorts, or other tourism-related companies.

• Location of study: Headquarters of the IST University of Management is Düsseldorf (North Rhine-Westphalia).
• Study 100% online possible; seminar days and examinations take place in person or online.
• Examination centres: Düsseldorf, Essen, Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg, Hanover, Berlin, Munich, Weil am Rhein, Jena, Stuttgart area and Innsbruck (Austria). Worldwide examinations possible by arrangement.

What does the Bachelor's degree in Hotel Management cost – and how can you finance it?

The tuition fees depend on the study model and duration:

• Full-time (6 semesters): 379 euros monthly (total 13,644 euros).
• Part-time (8 semesters): 319 euros monthly (total 15,312 euros).
• All services are included in the costs (no hidden fees).
• Graduates receive a 10% discount on IST University's master's programmes.

There are several financing options, e.g. through BAföG, scholarships or possibly employer sponsorship, especially in the dual study model. Information about further funding options, such as education loans or tax benefits, is provided by the university.