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Studying hospitality & catering degree guide 

If you want to work in a fun, dynamic environment where you meet loads of people, you may be suited to a career in the world of hospitality and catering. Studying this at uni is all about learning how to provide the best customer experiences in environments like hotels, restaurants, events and holiday resorts.

Resalat Rasheed
by Resalat Rasheed
Last Updated:
03 Nov 2022

It’s by no means an easy ride but the rewards of working in this field can be massive. You’ll see in person the outcome of your work as you aim to deliver great service for your clients. A degree in hospitality & catering will give you the business, management and customer service skills needed to succeed in the fast-paced, exciting hospitality industry. Oh and did we mention, you can do this anywhere in the world.

Find hospitality & catering courses.

What do you need to get on a hospitality & catering degree?


The ranges of entry requirements for hospitality & catering are as follows: 

  • UCAS points: 120–96
  • A-levels: BBB–CC
  • Scottish Highers: BBBB–DD
  • BTEC Nationals: DDM–MMM
  • International Baccalaureate: 30–27

Unis might also ask that you have relevant work experience.

Find out how to apply to uni through UCAS.

Learn how to write a winning personal statement. 

What hospitality & catering degrees can you study? 


Degrees in hospitality & catering include:

  • BA Events Management
  • BA Hotel Management
  • BSc International Hospitality Management

Learn about the different types of undergraduate courses. 

What topics does a hospitality & catering degree cover?


Common modules for hospitality & catering include:

  • Customer experience
  • Food and beverage management
  • Restaurant operations
  • Event marketing
  • People management
  • Consumer behaviour
  • Global business

"I think the most enjoyable thing about my particular course is its broadness; we get taught a wide range of modules from Ethics to Operations Analysis, and Marketing to Business Law. This keeps things interesting and provides us with a wide knowledge." – Mardi, BA (Hons) International Hospitality Management at University of Surrey

What do you learn studying a hospitality & catering degree?


Studying a hospitality & catering degree will help you gain industry-specific skills like:

  • People management
  • Event organisation
  • Industry awareness
  • Trend analysis
  • Marketing
  • Financial analysis

More general, transferable skills you’ll pick up include:

  • Leadership
  • Teamwork
  • Communication
  • People-skills
  • Working under pressure
  • Working to a deadline
  • Customer service

"The first year provides a good foundation in management and the hospitality industry that can be built on in the following years of your degree. Important modules were Business Communication Skills where we learnt to write CVs and cover letters, and Business Environment, where we developed a good understanding of the internal and external factors that influence organisations." – Mardi, BA (Hons) International Hospitality Management at University of Surrey

What professional accreditations can you get with a hospitality & catering degree?


Some hospitality & catering degrees are accredited by organisations like the Institute of Hospitality and the Council for Hospitality Management Education (CHME).

What can you do with a hospitality & catering degree?


Hospitality & catering graduates can find work in the UK or abroad in hotels, leisure groups, travel companies, restaurants, food businesses, event management companies and other hospitality organisations. Examples of specific roles include:

Check out our careers guides here.

How long is a hospitality & catering degree?


A hospitality & catering degree usually takes three years to study. However, many unis will also give the option of a sandwich year (a year spent working in the industry), or a year abroad.

"I am off to do an internship at The Savoy in London for a year. The Savoy has a good relationship with the University of Surrey and always takes a few students for internships during their professional training year, so I thank the course for this chance to do my internship at a fantastic hotel. My course has already helped me on my way to achieving my ambitions and I haven't even graduated yet!" Mardi, BA (Hons) International Hospitality Management at University of Surrey

How will you be assessed?


Hospitality & catering courses usually involve assessment through:

  • Exams
  • Case studies
  • Business reports
  • Essays
  • Presentations
  • Group projects
  • Placement assignments

What are the postgraduate opportunities?


Your options for further study include:

  • MSc International Hotel Management
  • MSc Hospitality, Leisure, Tourism and Transport
  • MSc Hotel and Food Services Management 

What alternatives are there to a hospitality & catering degree?


Not sure if a hospitality & catering degree is right for you? Check out these related subjects: 

Travel & tourism
Management

Find hospitality & catering courses.