Dual studies Tourism Management (B.A.) – IU International University of Applied Sciences

👉 You study core topics like business administration, marketing, destinations and sustainability with practical modules in hospitality, events and digitalisation. The programme is a dual model over 7 semesters (classic dual or the flexible Dual myStudium) combining two theory days with 20 hours/week in a practice partner or online via the virtual campus. Teaching language is German. The degree is state-recognised and system-accredited; tuition is typically covered by your employer.

Tourism Management (B.A.) at a Glance

📜 Degree Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
⏳ Duration 7 Semesters, Study effort 20 hours weekly
🏫 University IU International University of Applied Sciences, UAS based in Erfurt (Germany)
IU International University is a private, state-recognised university of applied sciences based in Erfurt, Thuringia, and one of the largest distance-learning providers in Germany. Its programmes span business, IT, health and engineering. For international students, the key draw is its range of fully English-taught online degrees – accredited in Germany, open to applicants worldwide, and studied flexibly from home or alongside work.
📋 Study Format Dual studies
🎓 Field of Study EconomicsTourism and Event
🎯 ECTS 210 Credit Points
🌍 Language of Instruction German
📖 Course contents Business Administration, Business Mathematics, Marketing, Digital Business Models, Sustainability, Quality Management, Actors and Business Models in Tourism, Intercultural Management, Destination Management, Applied Research in Tourism, Business English, Elective modules, Practical projects: Megatrends in the corporate context, Practice reflections: Hospitality, Tourism & Event, Bachelor Thesis, Internship/practical phases at companies
📚 Electives Travel provider and travel distribution management, Event management, Hotel management
👥 In-person sessions Theory is taught on two days per week on campus (occasionally live online). The Dual myStudium offers optional weekly live online sessions at the virtual campus.
📍 Location Berlin, Bremen, Dresden, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Hanover, Cologne, Leipzig, Mannheim, Munich, Münster, Stuttgart, Virtual Campus
📅 Enrollment Winter or summer semester
🔗 More Info https://www.iu.de/en/

Who this dual Tourism Management B.A. suits – and what you need to bring

This programme targets you if you want to launch a career in Germany’s tourism, hospitality or events sector while studying. Typical profiles include: a recent international school leaver aiming for a recognised German bachelor’s degree plus paid industry experience; a hospitality or travel agency employee seeking structured management training with weekly practice; or a service-minded career starter who prefers a fixed schedule and learning in small groups at campus locations such as Berlin, Munich or Hamburg (or online theory via the Virtual Campus) while working 20 hours per week at a company in Germany.

Admission requirements

To enrol, you need a higher education entrance qualification and a practice placement in Germany. In brief:

  • University entrance qualification: a German Abitur/Fachhochschulreife or a comparable, recognised secondary school leaving certificate that entitles you to bachelor-level study. International diplomas are admitted after an equivalence check; submit official transcripts and translations.
  • Programme language: the degree is taught in German. You must demonstrate sufficient German to follow lectures, participate in assessments and work on site (typically B2 level or higher). Accepted proofs follow IU’s current policy; provide a recognised German-language certificate.
  • Practice partner in Germany: a binding training or employment agreement with a tourism, hospitality or events company for approx. 20 hours per week across all 7 semesters is mandatory. IU supports the matching process, but admission requires a confirmed partner.
  • Study format and location: choose on-campus study (e.g. Berlin, Bremen, Dresden, Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg, Hannover, Köln, Leipzig, Mannheim, München, Münster, Stuttgart) or online theory via the Virtual Campus. In all cases, the practice takes place at your company in Germany.
  • Intakes: starts twice a year (April and October). Apply with sufficient lead time for document review and company onboarding.

Personal requirements

Expect a steady rhythm: two days of theory and three days in your company each week. With class time, commuting, preparation and assignments, plan for 40–45 hours total workload weekly. You will thrive if you are well organised, communicate clearly in German with colleagues and guests, and can switch between customer-facing tasks and analytical coursework. Strong self-management, reliable time planning, and perseverance during peak tourism seasons are essential.

This degree is not a fully remote option from abroad: even in the online-theory model, you must live in Germany to work 20 hours per week at your practice partner and attend assessments as scheduled. Solid English helps with course materials and industry sources, but day-to-day study and workplace communication are in German. If you value routine, hands-on learning and early professional responsibility, the dual format is a good fit.

What will you study in the Tourism Management (B.A.) at IU International University of Applied Sciences?

The programme is taught in German. You need advanced German for academic study (typically around C1 level) and an accepted proof of language proficiency; the university specifies which certificates it recognises. You combine a business foundation with industry-specific tourism knowledge and continuous workplace practice across seven semesters. IU is a staatlich anerkannt (state-recognised) private Fachhochschule – a university of applied sciences focused on practical, career-oriented teaching.

Business and analytics: You build core skills in business administration, accounting and financial reporting, statistics and managerial economics. Legal basics and cost and performance accounting give you the tools to plan, budget and assess projects commercially.

Tourism system and destination development: You map the actors and business models in tourism economics, learn destination management, and explore intercultural and ethical competencies. Crisis management in tourism prepares you to respond to disruptions professionally.

Marketing, customer experience and sustainability: You study tourism marketing, hospitality and events, and sustainability management in tourism. You learn how to position products, design guest journeys and integrate responsible practices into operations.

Digitalisation and applied research: You work with “Tech and AI in tourism, hospitality and events” and tackle current topics in the sector. Applied research in tourism builds your evidence-based approach for projects and decision-making.

Practice, projects and thesis: Practical projects range from agile project management and public speaking to simulation games. In the dual myStudium track you also complete structured praxis reflection modules that connect your job experience with theory. The programme concludes with a bachelor’s thesis and colloquium.

Electives and focus: You can specialise in areas such as Travel provider & distribution management, Event management or Hotel management to align your profile with your employer and career goals.

How does studying in the Tourism Management (B.A.) work?

Teaching language and what you need to bring

Teaching is in German. To succeed, you should have advanced German at academic level (commonly around C1). The university requires an accepted language certificate; make sure you can provide formal proof of your German proficiency when you apply.

Dual study model and where you can study

You study dual over seven semesters with a fixed rhythm: two days of theory and three days (20 hours/week) in your practice company. You can choose the on-campus dual model at locations including Berlin, Bremen, Dresden, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg, Hannover, Köln (Cologne), Leipzig, Mannheim, München (Munich), Münster and Stuttgart. Alternatively, you can study theory online via the Virtual Campus in the dual myStudium model and still work 20 hours per week with your practice partner in Germany.

Learning formats, group sizes and support

In the classic dual model, you attend classes in small groups on campus (occasionally live online). Discussions, exercises and case work are central. In dual myStudium you study the theory online on myCampus with interactive materials and a personal AI learning assistant; weekly live sessions and additional interactive formats are offered. Both tracks tightly integrate your workplace experience with your academic learning.

Exams and assessments

Assessment is continuous and varied. You can expect written exams, individual and group assignments, presentations and project work, alongside practice-oriented reflection tasks. Your studies culminate in the bachelor’s thesis and a colloquium.

Duration, ECTS and start dates

The programme lasts seven semesters. In the on-campus dual model the degree carries 180 ECTS; in the dual myStudium model it carries 210 ECTS. You can start twice a year, on 1 April or 1 October. Expect a steady weekly structure that helps you balance study, work and life.

What does the Tourism Management (B.A.) cost?

In the dual format at IU, tuition is typically covered by your practice partner. That means you generally do not pay monthly tuition fees during your studies – a major cost advantage compared with many private programmes. Agree the exact terms directly with the company that employs you for the 20 hours per week.

Plan for personal expenses that are not part of tuition: accommodation near your campus or workplace, public transport, learning materials, and day-to-day living costs. As an orientation, typical monthly living costs in major German cities range widely: for example, €950–€1,300 in Berlin, €1,100–€1,500 in Munich, and roughly €850–€1,200 in cities like Leipzig or Hannover, depending on rent and lifestyle. Application or examination fees are not advertised for the dual model; budget a small buffer for incidental study-related costs.

What careers and recognition does the Tourism Management (B.A.) offer?

The degree follows the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) and the Bologna framework, making credits and the bachelor’s award comparable across the EU and widely understood internationally. IU is state-recognised (staatlich anerkannt) and system-accredited as a Fachhochschule. The Tourism Management programme itself is accredited; the current accreditation period runs from October 2024 to September 2032. For you, that signals quality assurance, transparent learning outcomes and international portability of your qualification.

With dual study experience and a tourism-focused business education, graduates move into commercial and operational roles across Germany, the EU and beyond:

  • Event manager in agencies, venues or corporate event teams
  • Travel sales manager in tour operations, OTAs or retail travel networks
  • Product manager in tour operating (sourcing, pricing, portfolio steering)
  • Destination manager in tourism boards and destination management organisations
  • Revenue/yield analyst or manager in hotels and hospitality groups

Career development depends on employer size, location and your specialisation. Entry-level roles in Germany often start in coordination or junior commercial positions, with growth into product ownership, key account management or operations leadership. The ECTS-based bachelor’s degree also enables progression to a tourism, hospitality, marketing or general management master’s if you aim for strategic or leadership roles later on.

Who is the Tourism Management (B.A.) right for – and who not?

This dual degree suits you if you want structured learning, real projects from day one and a recognised European qualification in tourism, hospitality and events. The split week creates routine and accelerates your transition into the labour market through experience and a professional network.

  • You want to study in German and work in Germany’s tourism, hospitality or event sector while you learn.
  • You prefer small-group teaching on campus or guided online study with weekly live sessions over self-paced distance learning.
  • You value tuition coverage through a practice partner and the chance to build CV-ready experience every semester.
  • You aim to specialise, for example in event management, hotel management or travel distribution.
  • You appreciate a clear weekly rhythm of two theory days and three practice days.

There are also situations where this programme will not be the right fit. Consider the points below carefully before you apply.

  • You do not have the required German proficiency for academic study; the programme is not taught in English.
  • You cannot be present in Germany for the workplace component; the dual format requires 20 hours per week with a company in Germany.
  • You seek maximum time and location flexibility; the fixed split week and employer commitments limit freedom compared with fully self-paced online study.

Advisory Service

Have questions about Academic Programs Tourism Management? Ask your question here, even anonymously. An employee of the institution IU International University of Applied Sciences or the editorial team will answer you.

Experiences & Reviews