BA (Hons) in Hospitality Management with Business
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Course Overview
This course is a dynamic, career-focused degree that combines specialist knowledge of the hospitality industry with the business, management and leadership skills required to succeed in an exciting and internationally connected sector.
A distinctive feature of the programme is its strong Living Labs approach to learning. Students do not simply learn about hospitality management in the classroom; they have opportunities to experience, manage and evaluate hospitality operations in realistic working environments. DkIT's specialist hospitality facilities become living learning environments where students can connect theory with practice, experiment with ideas, solve real operational challenges and develop their confidence as future managers.
Through these Living Labs, students can apply their learning across areas such as food and beverage operations, customer and guest experience, revenue and financial management, marketing, service innovation, sustainability, events and business development. Students progressively move from understanding hospitality operations to managing, improving and innovating within them, developing both practical experience and commercial awareness.
Throughout the programme, students also develop expertise in business management, marketing, finance, human resource management, revenue management, digital technologies, entrepreneurship and strategic management. They learn how to manage people, analyse business performance, identify opportunities and make informed management decisions.
Learning is further enhanced through industry engagement, guest speakers, applied projects, work-based learning and professional experience, ensuring that students remain connected to contemporary hospitality practice and emerging industry trends.
With its distinctive combination of Living Labs, hospitality expertise, practical experience and business management education, the programme prepares graduates to become confident, adaptable and commercially focused professionals ready for management and leadership careers in Ireland and internationally, or to develop their own hospitality and business ventures.
The “understanding → managing → improving and innovating” progression is particularly useful because it gives the Living Labs concept an academic purpose rather than making it sound like students simply use the training restaurant and other facilities.
What makes this course different
Early Industry Learning
In Year 1, students complete the Hotel Lab – Accredited Industry Learning module, which includes a short professional placement in the hospitality industry. This early industry experience introduces students to the realities of the hospitality workplace, allowing them to observe professional practice, develop their confidence and begin applying their learning in a real-world environment.
Work Placement
In Year 2, students undertake a semester-long professional work placement, putting their learning into practice while developing management, leadership and professional skills and building valuable industry connections.
Additional Certifications
Students have opportunities to complement their degree with additional professional certifications and micro-credentials, enhancing their CV and employability. These may include Google Digital Garage, CHIA (Certification in Hotel Industry Analytics), Cvent and Food Safety Certification, providing additional expertise in areas such as digital marketing, hospitality analytics, event technology and food safety management.
Study Abroad
In Year 3 students can explore Study Abroad opportunities, providing the chance to experience another culture and education system, develop an international network and gain the global perspective that is particularly valuable in the hospitality industry.
Understanding the Industry
The hospitality industry is a dynamic, people-focused and truly global industry, centred on creating exceptional guest experiences. It brings together hotels, resorts, restaurants, food and beverage operations, events, tourism, visitor attractions and hospitality businesses in an exciting and diverse professional environment.
Today’s hospitality industry extends far beyond hotels and restaurants. It is a global business environment encompassing accommodation, food and beverage, resorts, events, tourism, customer experience and hospitality-related enterprises. The industry needs adaptable, commercially aware graduates who can lead people, respond to changing consumer expectations and create innovative and memorable guest experiences.
At its heart, hospitality is about people, service and experience, but it is also a major international business requiring skilled managers who understand operations, finance, marketing, revenue management, technology and leadership.
From luxury hotels and international resorts to innovative hospitality concepts, events and entrepreneurial businesses, the industry offers a wide range of career opportunities in Ireland and across the world. Increasingly shaped by technology, sustainability, changing consumer expectations and new approaches to customer experience, hospitality provides an exciting environment for graduates who want to lead people, manage businesses, innovate and build an international career.
Career Opportunities
The Future Careers
- Hotel / Resort Manager
- General Manager
- Operations Manager
- Food & Beverage Manager
- Restaurant Manager
- Bar Manager
- Front Office / Rooms Division Manager
- Guest Relations / Guest Experience Manager
- Revenue Manager
- Sales & Marketing Manager
- Digital Marketing Manager
- Business Development Manager
- Conference & Banqueting Manager
- Events Manager
- Human Resource / People & Culture Manager
- Customer Experience Manager
- Revenue & Commercial Executive
- Hospitality Business Analyst
- Tourism / Visitor Experience Manager
- Leisure & Entertainment Manager
- Hospitality Consultant
- Graduate Management Trainee
- Entrepreneur / Hospitality Business Owner
Career Sectors
- Hotels, resorts and international hotel groups
- Restaurants, bars and food & beverage businesses
- Conference, events and banqueting
- Tourism and the visitor economy
- Sales, marketing and digital media
- Revenue management and business analytics
- Entertainment and leisure
- Customer and guest experience
- Business development and consultancy
- Entrepreneurship and hospitality start-ups
- With experience, graduates can progress into senior management, general management, commercial and leadership positions, or use their business knowledge to establish and manage their own hospitality enterprise.
Graduates work at
Course Delivery and Modules
This course adopts a student-centred, Living Labs approach to learning, where students learn by experiencing, applying and reflecting on the types of situations they will encounter in the hospitality industry.
Our specialist hospitality facilities become Living Labs, providing realistic environments where students can connect theory with practice. Students have opportunities to develop and test their skills through hotel and hospitality simulations, food and beverage operations, bar and restaurant management, guest experience activities, practical projects and real-world business challenges.
Teaching combines lectures, seminars and tutorials with a wide range of active learning approaches, including group work, role play, case studies, problem-based learning, practical activities, industry projects, guest lectures and site visits. The Department's integrated Guest Lecture Series further connects students with hospitality professionals, managers and industry leaders, bringing current industry practice and emerging trends directly into their learning.
Technology is also embedded throughout the programme. Students gain experience using relevant business and hospitality software and digital platforms, including Microsoft 365, Moodle, hotel property-management systems, hospitality business simulations and e-portfolios. These technologies help students develop the digital, analytical and professional skills increasingly required by the hospitality industry.
Through the Living Labs approach, students progress from understanding hospitality operations to managing, evaluating and improving them, developing the practical skills, confidence, problem-solving ability and professional judgement needed for successful careers in hospitality management.
- Academic and Career Skills
- Digital Skills
- Hotel Lab 1 - Restaurant Operations
- Hotel Lab 2 - Rooms Division
- Hotel Lab 3 - Culinary Fundamentals
- Hotel Lab 4 - Casual Dining
- Hotel Lab 5 - Accredited Industry Learning
- Fundamentals of Accounting
- Fundamentals of Management
- Fundamentals of Marketing
Electives:
- Tourism Operations
- French and Francophone Culture for Tourism
- English for Living and Studying in Ireland 1
- Digital Marketing
- Hospitality Industry IT
- Hotel Lab 6 - Food and Beverage Management
- Hotel Lab 7 - Contemporary Hospitality Service
- Hotel Lab 8 - Bar Operations
- Public Relations and Marketing
- Introduction to Revenue Management
- Operational Accounting
- Placement Preparation
- Bar Operations
- Contemporary Hospitality Service
- Placement (Industry Placement with the option to work in Ireland or internationally)
Electives:
- Business Tourism
- Spanish and Hispanic Culture for Tourism
- English for Business and Academic Success
- Enterprise Development
- Applied Law
- Event Planning
- Human Resource Management
- Business Economics and Management Accounting
- Applied Live Events
- Revenue Management & Data Analytics
- Sustainability and Resource Management
- Destination Management
- Applied Marketing
Electives:
- German Language and German-Speaking Cultures for Tourism
- English for the Workplace
- Studies Abroad - 1/2 Semesters
- Tourism and Society
- International Hospitality Management
- Financial Management
- Advanced Industry Analytics
- Strategic Management
- Research Skills for Business
- Research Paper
- Strategic Human Resource Management
- Business Management Simulation
- Digital Marketing Management
Electives:
- Contemporary Tourism
- English for Contemporary Business
- Experience Management
- Food Content Creation & Multimedia Production
Work placement
In Year 1, students complete the Hotel Lab – Accredited Industry Learning (5 credits) module, which includes a short professional placement in the hospitality industry. This early industry experience introduces students to the realities of the hospitality workplace, allowing them to observe professional practice, develop their confidence and begin applying their learning in a real-world environment.
In Year 2, students undertake a semester-long professional work placement, putting their learning into practice while developing management, leadership and professional skills and building valuable industry connections.
Professional Accreditations
Students who will successfully complete the course will have the opportunity to achieve additional micro-credentials such as Google Digital Garage, CHIA (Certificate in Hotel Industry Analytics), CVent, and Food Safety Certification.
Education Progression
MBS in Entrepreneurship and Marketing
Fees and Funding
Please find information on fees and funding here: www.dkit.ie/fees
Entry requirements
Standard entry requirements apply. There are no special entry requirements for this course.
- Standard Requirements for Leaving Certificate Applicants
- Standard Requirements for UK/NI Applicants
- Standard Requirements for QQI-Further Education Applicants
Recent CAO points
Student Stories
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Evan Kane
Mark McGowan
How to apply
Apply on CAO
All standard entry first-year applicants must apply for entry through the CAO. See Important application dates for CAO and information for specific applicant types below:
Advanced Entry & Transfer Applications
Advanced Entry is for applicants who have previous educational achievements and/or work experience and want to be considered for direct entry into year 2, 3, or 4 of a course. This includes students looking to transfer to DkIT from another Higher Education provider.
International Application (non-EU)
International Applicants (not from or living in the EU) can apply through an agent or directly to DkIT to study this course.
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Disclaimer: All module titles are subject to change and for indicative purposes only. All courses are delivered subject to demand and timetables are subject to change. Elective Module options will only run subject to student numbers. The relevant Department will determine the viability of each elective module option proceeding depending on the number of students who choose that option. Students will be offered alternative elective modules on their programme should their preferred elective option not be proceeding. Award Options for Common Entry Programmes: The relevant Department will determine the viability of each award option proceeding depending on the number of students who choose either option. If the numbers for one of the Award options exceed available places, students for this option will be selected based on Academic Merit (highest grades).