Visitor Attraction and Resort Management

Study options

Award

FdA

Key facts

UCAS code:
N834
Location:
Stoke-on-Trent campus
Study option:
Full-time
Duration:
2 Years
Start date:
25 September 2023
School:
School of Justice, Security and Sustainability

Unique course

This unique course is taught in partnership with Alton Towers Resort

Paid work experience

You'll complete 20 weeks of work experience at the Alton Towers Resort

World leading research

71% of our business and management research overall is “internationally excellent” or “world leading” (Research Excellence Framework 2021)

This unique course is taught in partnership with Alton Towers Resort, part of the World renowned Merlin Group. It includes 20 weeks paid work experience, and the opportunity to top up to a BA (Hons) degree in your third year.

The visitor attractions sector is experiencing tremendous growth both in the UK and overseas, with the most notable increase being in visits made to family attractions. According to VisitEngland (2016), staffing levels within leisure/theme parks are anticipated to increase to meet this growing demand.

So, if you’re looking to establish a career in visitor attractions that growth is great news. But if you’d like to give yourself an edge when it comes to seeking employment, our Foundation Degree in Visitor Attraction and Resort Management, developed in partnership with Alton Towers Resort, could be for you.

As part of the course, you will complete a 20-week, paid work placement with Alton Towers, allowing you to combine work and study in a truly unique learning environment.

On successful completion of study, we will issue the following award: FdA Visitor Attraction and Resort Management

Work placements

Alton Towers Resort.

Course content

This two-year course will give you the knowledge, skills and work experience you’ll need to progress in this exciting and diverse industry. Designed in accordance with guidelines published by the Events, Hospitality, Leisure, Sport and Tourism (EHLST) network, it is delivered in close association with Alton Towers Resort, which is located just half an hour’s drive from the Stoke-on-Trent campus. The resort is part of Merlin Entertainments plc, the world’s second largest visitor attraction operator, employing around 22,000 people in global attractions across 22 countries.

You will be employed for 20 weeks at Alton Towers Resort, initially working in front-line roles in retail, hotel and park operations. Following this period of hands-on learning experience, you should be ready to work at team leader level. The 20 weeks of placement will be spread across the two years of the course and will take place at peak periods in the resort operations.

Throughout your studies, your time in the classroom will relate directly to the practical experience and skills development you’ve gained while working as part of the resort team.

Academic year

The course operates on a modular basis with each module equating to 15 credits. Each credit taken equates to a total study time of around 10 hours. Total study time includes scheduled teaching, independent study and assessment activity. Students take modules worth 60 credits per semester. All students take a total of 120 credits per level and 240 credits for the foundation degree as a whole. Your overall grade for the course and your foundation degree classification are based on the marks obtained for all modules taken at levels 4 and 5. The course has one start point in September. 

Visitor Attraction and Resort Management Course Introduction

Visitor Attraction and Resort Management Course Introduction

Video

Find out more about the Visitor Attraction and Resort Management course.

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Modules

The tables provide an indicative list of the modules that make up the course for the current academic year. Each module is worth a specified number of credits. Our teaching is informed by research, and modules change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline. We aim to ensure that all modules run as scheduled. If for any reason a module cannot be run we will advise you as soon as possible and will provide guidance on selecting an appropriate alternative module.

Year 1 compulsory modules
An Introduction To Human Resource Management 15 credits
Conference And Events Management 15 credits
Hospitality And Hotel Management 15 credits
Managing The Customer Experience 15 credits
Placement 1 15 credits
Professional Skills In The Workplace 15 credits
Visitor Attraction And Resort Business Environment 15 credits
Visitor Attraction And Resort Management Operations 15 credits
Year 2 compulsory modules
Business Development And Sales Management 15 credits
Current Issues In Visitor Attraction And Resort Management 15 credits
Finance And Revenue Management In The Leisure Industry 15 credits
Leadership And Organisational Change Management 15 credits
Marketing And Digital Communications 15 credits
Placement 2 15 credits
Strategic Visitor Attraction And Resort Management 15 credits
Understanding Legal Liability In Visitor Attraction And Resort Management 15 credits

Entry requirements

  • Typical UCAS offer: 80 points

We understand that you might have experienced a challenging run up to higher education and may have not met the entry requirements as listed. If this is the case don’t worry, contact us and our team of expert advisors can guide you through the next stages of application, or help you find the perfect course for your needs.

Visitor Attraction and Resort Management - Phoebe Boyce

Visitor Attraction and Resort Management - Phoebe Boyce

Video

Phoebe Boyce talks about her experience studying Visitor Attraction and Resort Management at Staffordshire University.

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For equivalent entry requirements in your home country, please see the information on our country pages.

Choose your country

Check our entry and English language requirements for your country.

GO

Facilities

Think Tank

Business is not all about rushing around, mindfulness and thinking time is important to innovation.  Use our Think Tank to come up with the next big thing – designed for entrepreneurs of the future.

Transition Room

A space dedicated to you. The room has all the tech you need to work in groups on assignments, project plan and talk through your ideas.

Collaboratory

A cleverly designed room to allow you to work together in teams, communication is key in business and this space allows you to practice team dynamics in a safe space.

Careers

Students will have the opportunity to apply for career vacancies within Alton Towers and the wider Merlin group following successful completion of the programme.

There are many roles in this sector, which includes museums, galleries, gardens, historic properties, country parks, steam railways and theme parks. Jobs are available for full-time, part-time and seasonal staff, and roles vary from operations manager to human resources coordinator.

Staffordshire University also offers you the opportunity to top up your qualification into a full degree.

All students have access to Career Connect, our dedicated careers team.

Studying Visitor Attraction and Resort Management

Studying Visitor Attraction and Resort Management

Video

Jeremy Holt speaks about his experience studying at Staffordshire University.

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Teaching and assessment

Teaching

You will be taught through a combination of lectures, seminars, workshops and laboratory practicals. Seminars enable you to discuss and develop your understanding of topics covered in lectures in smaller groups of around 16-18 students. In addition, you will have timetabled meetings with your personal tutor at least twice a year. You will be taught in first-class learning spaces throughout your course. Many of our courses are accredited or recognised by professional, statutory or regulatory bodies.

Assessment

Your course will provide you with opportunities to test your understanding of your subject informally before you complete the formal assessments that count towards your final mark. Each module normally includes practice or ‘formative’ assessments, for which you receive feedback from your tutor. Practice assessments are developmental and any grades you receive for them do not count towards your module mark. There is a formal or ‘summative’ assessment at the end of each module. This includes a range of coursework assessments, such as essays, reports, portfolios, performance, presentations, final year, independent project and written examinations. The grades from formal assessments count towards your module mark.

Learning support

In addition to the excellent support you will receive from your course teaching team, our central Academic Skills team provides group and one-to-one help to support your learning in a number of areas. These include study skills (including reading, note-taking and presentation skills); written English (including punctuation and grammatical accuracy); academic writing (including how to reference); research skills; critical thinking and understanding arguments; and revision, assessment and examination skills (including time management).

Additional support

Our Student Inclusion Services support students with additional needs such as sensory impairment, or learning difficulties such as dyslexia.

Feedback

You will normally receive feedback on coursework assessments within 20 working days following the date of submission. Examination feedback may take a variety of formats. However, as a minimum, generic feedback will be made available to all students who take written examinations. 

Your study time will consist of class contact hours, self-directed learning, assessment and placements where appropriate. Your actual contact hours will depend on the subject area, on the option modules you select and professional body requirements. 

Year 1

21% of time in lectures, seminars or similar
67% of time in independent study
12% of time in work based learning

Year 2

21% of time in lectures, seminars or similar
67% of time in independent study
12% of time in work based learning

Independent learning

When not attending lectures, seminars, laboratory or other timetabled sessions, you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. Typically, this will involve utilising a range of digital resources including our virtual learning environment; reading journals, articles and books; working on individual and group projects; undertaking research in the library; preparing coursework assignments and presentations, and preparing for examinations. Your independent learning will be supported by a range of excellent facilities. These include the library, open access computer facilities, informal learning zones, a range of laboratories and performance and studio spaces.

Year 1

17% practical assessments
71% coursework
13% written exams

Year 2

29% practical assessments
49% coursework
22% written exams

Staff

You will be taught by an expert teaching team whose expertise and knowledge are closely matched to the content of the modules on the course. The team includes senior academics and professional practitioners with industry experience. Postgraduate research students who have undertaken teaching training may also contribute to the teaching of seminars under the supervision of the module leader.

Carol Southall

Head Of Department - Business And Law

Carol is a member of the ERRIN (European Regions Research and Innovation Network) Tourism Working Group in Brussels. Taught in Switzerland, Finland and Croatia. Research interests include the relationship between cultural awareness and visitor s…

Carol's profile

Fees

For the course starting on 25 September 2023 the tuition fees are:

Study option UK / Channel Islands International
Full-time £9,250 per year of study £16,750 per year of study

UK and Channel Island students: This tuition fee is agreed subject to UK government policy and parliamentary regulation. If the UK government passes appropriate legislation, the fee for subsequent years of study may increase in each academic year. But this increase will not exceed the rate of inflation as measured by RPIX**. Any change in fees will apply to both new and continuing students. The University will notify students of any change as early as possible. Further information about fee changes would be posted on the University’s website once this becomes available.

**RPIX is a measure of inflation equivalent to all the items in the Retail Price Index (RPI) excluding mortgage interest payments.

International students: Tuition fees will remain the same for each year of your course, as long as you complete it in the normal time-frame (i.e. no repeat years or breaks in study).

Included in the fees:

Cost of assessment for Microsoft Certifications
Not included in the fees:

Any optional study trips

Travel to and from any work placements
Accommodation and living costs

Accommodation and living costs are not included in our fees. 

For more information on accommodation and living costs, please see: Accommodation

Sources of financial support

If you receive funding from Student Finance you may be eligible to apply for additional benefits. Details can be obtained by visiting: www.gov.uk

Scholarships and additional funding

As an undergraduate student at Staffordshire, you may be eligible for additional financial support through one of our scholarships and bursaries. You can visit our funding page to find out more and check your eligibility.

Our students

This course has taught me many things about how a Business operates.

This course has taught me many things about how a Business operates, from the marketing and promotional side of the industry to how vital accommodating industry laws and appropriate budgeting is to each department, whilst maintaining high standards of customer service, which are all covered in university lectures.

Nick Kerry

Visitor Attraction and Resort Management FdA

The best thing about studying at Staffs is the experiences you get.

The best thing about studying at Staffs is the experiences you get, the connections that you make and the general friendliness from all of the staff.

Simon Hope

Visitor Attraction and Resort Management FdA Graduate

Apply

Location Award Study option Start date
Stoke-on-Trent campus FdA Full-time 25 September 2023 Apply now

Rules and regulations

If you are offered a place at Staffordshire University, your offer will be subject to our rules, regulations and enrolment conditions, which may vary from time to time.

Students of Staffordshire University enter into a contract with us and are bound by these rules and regulations, which are subject to change. For more information, please see: University Policies and Regulations.

UK University

StudentCrowd University Awards 2022

for Job Prospects

StudentCrowd University Awards 2022

for Student Satisfaction

Complete University Guide 2022

for Social Inclusion

The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023

for Course Content

StudentCrowd University Awards 2022

of Research Impact is ‘Outstanding’ or ‘Very Considerable’

Research Excellence Framework 2021