A world of opportunities is waiting for you. Graduates of this programme could go onto careers in the UK or overseas in hotels, restaurants, spas, cruise ships, airlines, events and visitor attractions.

The course includes an integrated work experience placement in Wivenhoe House, our luxury hotel on our Colchester campus.

With a student experience unlike any other, it may come as no surprise that the Edge Hotel School is ranked in the top 10 in the UK for overall positivity in our subject area (National Student Survey 2024, English broad discipline higher education institutions).

After completing the FdA you will have the opportunity, subject to satisfactory performance, to continue with your studies and finish with a BA degree.

This course is not suitable if you need a Student Visa to study in the UK.

At Essex you will gain the knowledge and industry connections to launch your career in hospitality management. You will develop your hospitality skills and business management understanding to open up a world of opportunities in this growing industry. You will study topics including:

Change management and hospitality business innovation

Gastronomy and food trends

Finance and macro-economics

Event planning and venue management

Human resources management

Digital marketing

The Edge Hotel School experience is unlike any other student experience. Not only will you graduate from a well-renowned university - you will develop your industry knowledge and professional skills by gaining valuable experience in our fully commercial luxury hotel alongside your studies.

You will gain experience in the different departments of the hotel such as the kitchen, front office, restaurant, housekeeping and events department. These shifts may involve some late finishes on occasion, as well as weekend work, so that you get to see all aspects of what the hotel offers: including restaurant meals, afternoon tea, weddings, meetings, tribute acts, baby showers, conferences and more.