APPLIED RESEARCH IN TOURISM, HOSPITALITY AND EVENTS - 2020/1

Module code: MAN3126

Module Overview

This module aims to provide students wishing to embark upon an academic and/or industry research career in tourism and hospitality experience of designing and delivering an extended piece of work in a chosen area of interest in the field of their study, related to their degree. Students will be required to undertake a piece of independent research with supervision from an academic member of staff. This will enable students to identify cutting-edge, innovative issues that are currently faced within academia and the tourism and hospitality industries.

Module provider

Hospitality, Tourism & Events Management

Module Leader

HUMBRACHT Michael (Hosp & Tour)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 6

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Overall student workload

Independent Learning Hours: 100

Lecture Hours: 17

Seminar Hours: 30

Laboratory Hours: 3

Module Availability

Semester 1

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

This module has a capped number and may not be available to ERASMUS and other international exchange students. Please check with the Global Engagement Office exchange and study abroad team.

Module content


  • Identifying an appropriate and suitable research topic (LO1, 6)

  • Literature review and developing a theoretical framework (LO2, 6)

  • Collation and analysis of secondary data (LO2, 3, 6)

  • Critical discussion of findings (LO3, 4, 6)

  • Conclusions and recommendations (including identifying key limitations of research) (LO 4, 6)

  • Reflection in academic research (LO 4, 6)


Assessment pattern

Assessment type Unit of assessment Weighting
Project (Group/Individual/Dissertation) INDIVIDUAL EXTENDED PROJECT (6000 WORDS) 80
Coursework INDIVIDUAL REFLECTIVE ESSAY (1500 WORDS) 20

Alternative Assessment

Students are required to write a 6000 word extended project if this has not been completed. If the extended project failed, the student will be required to amend the project according to the feedback provided. If the Reflective Essay was not completed, this needs to be done. If the Reflective Essay was completed but failed, it needs to be re-written according to the feedback provided.

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is based on

i) an individual extended project of 6000 words and

ii) an individual reflective essay of 1500 words

Each assignment has been constructed to allow students to demonstrate their ability to collect and analyse secondary data, to formulate evidence based recommendations and to identify limitations of their work. The second piece is designed to encourage students to reflect upon their experience as a researcher.

Students will be asked to submit an initial short research proposal (maximum 500 words) as formative assessment and feedback for the first meeting with their supervisor.

Feedback will be provided at the first supervision meeting to allow students to continue with the preparation of the final extended project submission (summative assessment).

Module aims

  • The module is designed to enable students to undertake a challenging and detailed study of a particular area of interest normally using a range of secondary data. Students will be encouraged to demonstrate their extensive knowledge of theory within their chosen area of study as they develop a theoretical framework to support the research aims and objective they identify. They will be encouraged to provide evidence of their academic expertise with regard to critical analysis and evaluation of existing work by developing key skills including: problem identification, problem solving, collation and analysis of secondary data in their chosen area of research.

Learning outcomes

Attributes Developed
1 Develop a research design that will support and justify an appropriate, innovative research topic relevant to their programme that identifies a cutting-edge, innovative issue to academia and/or industry KC
2 Review and analyse existing literature to identify key concepts and develop a theoretical framework to support their research KC
3 Critically analyse and evaluate data  to develop appropriate conclusions and recommendations KCPT
4 Evidence reflection on limitations of approach taken & personal development throughout the research process KCPT
5 Communicate findings in a clear and effective manner in terms of a high quality and well-structured project  PT

Attributes Developed

C - Cognitive/analytical

K - Subject knowledge

T - Transferable skills

P - Professional/Practical skills

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy has three distinctive elements:


  1. Whole cohort lectures involving all students to reinforce key study skills and to include specific sessions on literature review, quantitative and qualitative techniques, analysis, reflection

  2. Independent learning with guidance from an academic supervisor. This approach facilitates student responsibility for research and learning and all students are expected to make regular contact and attend tutorials throughout the duration of the module.

  3. All material relating to the module will be made available on SurreyLearn. This will include key information such as: lecture notes and supporting material, weblinks, case studies and key reading.



In addition, students will be provided with a module Handbook for guidance (incorporating the marking criteria for the project).

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: MAN3126

Programmes this module appears in

Programme Semester Classification Qualifying conditions
International Tourism Management BSc (Hons) 1 Optional A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module
International Tourism Management MBus 1 Optional A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module
International Hospitality Management MBus 1 Optional A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module
International Tourism Management (Dual Degree with SII DUFE) BSc (Hons) 1 Optional A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2020/1 academic year.