Quick facts
| Qualification type | Level 2 Diploma |
| Duration | 1 year |
| Study times |
You will be expected to be in college for a minimum of 3 days per week, from 9:00 to 4:15. Your timetable will be confirmed at induction. |
| Entry requirements |
A minimum of 4 GCSE passes at grade 3 or above. You will also be required to pass an interview. |
| Campus |
West Suffolk College Sixth Form campus, Bury St Edmunds |
| Work placements | 50 hours mandatory placement |
Is it for me?
Does exploring and discovering new countries and cultures excite you? If it does, this course could be the beginning of a rewarding and stimulating career in the Travel and Tourism industry.
This qualification will develop your knowledge and experience in a range of directions including vocational geography, customer service, retail travel, promotion and sales, visitor attractions, the cruise industry and key employability skills. It also encourages achievement and opens doors to progress to Level 3 study and then on to university, an apprenticeship or into employment – depending on the dream!
The Travel and Tourism team at West Suffolk College will support you through a range of teamwork activities, finding out about local, national and international destinations and investigating what the tourism industry is all about, making sure you feel well equipped to move into the next phase of your learning.
What you'll learn
Core Units
- The UK Travel and Tourism Sector
- UK Travel and Tourism Destinations
- International Travel and Tourism Destinations
- Travel and Tourism Business Environments
Optional Units
- Travel and Tourism Employment Opportunities
- Organising a Travel and Tourism Study Visit
- Delivering the Travel and Tourism Customer Experience
- Work-Related Experience in Travel and Tourism
- Holiday Representatives
- The Cruise Industry
- UK Visitor Attractions
Additional qualifications in airline cabin crew (following progression to Level 3 Travel and Tourism) and other related areas may also be studied during your time at West Suffolk College.
Any student who does not hold a GCSE at grade 9 to 4 or equivalent qualifications in maths and English by age 16 will need to continue to study these subjects in each academic year.
Equipment required for the course
You will need to spend approximately £100 per year to cover the cost of course-related trips and visits. A laptop is also advised as all coursework will need to be submitted electronically. You will also need standard learner stationery.
Work experience placements
Work experience is a key component of the Study Programme – you'll need to undertake 50 hours mandatory work experience where you can enhance existing skills, as well as further developing transferable skills in a Travel and Tourism context. In addition, you can take part in an industry work placement one day a week. These are yearlong placements which work around the course timetable, giving learners the opportunity to gain a more in-depth experience which can be linked to existing part-time employment. In the past students have undertaken placements at a wide range of Travel and Tourism organisations including Center Parcs, Premier Inn, TUI, Fred Olsen and Co-Op Travel.
Assessment
There are exams for two units of the course. The rest of the assessment is made up of assignments including role plays that are set by the different unit lecturers and are graded at pass, merit or distinction.
1-1 recorded feedback and individual targets are given at key milestones during the year. All work is assessed and verified internally with a sample sent for external moderation. Final qualifications are awarded at either a pass, merit or distinction level.
Further study
- Travel and Tourism Extended Diploma Level 3
Example careers
- Airline Pilot
- Airline Customer Service Agent
- Cabin Crew
- Airport Information Assistant
- Cruise Ship Steward
- Heritage Officer
- Hotel Manager
- Museum Attendant
- Resort Representative T
- our Manager
- Tourist Guide
- Travel Agency Manager
- Sailing Instructor
- Visitor Attraction Manager
- Housekeeper
- Tourist Information Centre Manager
Days & times
Starting September 2024