OVERVIEW
The study program takes into account the current changes in the tourism, hospitality and leisure industries, which are actively resuming work after the pandemic and offer excellent career opportunities due to the extremely high demand for professionals in the labour market. By studying in the program, you will learn how to strengthen the competitiveness of tourism places, business and other organizations, and how to strategically manage these organizations in times of crisis, post-crisis and uncertainty.
You can easily combine your studies with your work, as there are both distance and on-site studeis during intensive weeks and study trips. Intensive weeks are organized once a semester in Latvia and Finland, and integral part of the study is not only a study tour in the Nordic-Baltic region, but also field trips of study courses. During your studies, you will have the opportunity not only to get acquainted with international business experience, but also to identify and get to know potential partners. Thanks to cooperation with Satakunta University College of Applied Sciences, it will be possible to personalize part of the study program by choosing courses according to your professional interests. During the studies, the lecturers will act as consultants in solving your professional problems, actively involving peers and industry professionals in the study process.
Strengthening competitiveness, strategic management of smart tourism destinations and organizations is addressed through Nordic and Baltic best practice stories, highlighting the potential of modern technology starting from business data analysis to forecasting and product design, change management and resilience and other aspects while bearing in mind the multidisciplinary perspective.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
The programme offers a possibility to study in a truly international environment. The studies are carried out online, as a blended learning approach, which enables studying also alongside working, and even from overseas. The programme includes intensive weeks once in a semester in Finland or Latvia and field school in the Nordic Baltic region. Travelling to the intensive weeks abroad and field school is not compulsory, but highly recommendable. Travel-related costs are covered by Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences. The language of instruction is English.
"Tourism industry is working in a brand new reality now - in an uncertain, rapidly changing environment and facing very fierce competition. Under these conditions the managers of the destinations an organizations must change the mindset and to build resilient, flexible and competitive organizations which are able to adapt to changes and manage risks dealing with uncertainties."
Programme: Master in Tourism Competitiveness Management
Language: Latvian and English (combined)
Duration: full time 1,5 or 2 years (depending on previous education)
ECTS: 90 or 120
Degree: Master's degree of social sciences in tourism and leisure organization
DEGREE TO BE ACQUIRED
Degree: Master's Degree of Social Sciences in Tourism and Leisure Organization (ViA)
Until June 8, 2029
1,5 years or 3 semesters (with previously acquired professional qualification);
2 years or 4 semesters (with no professional qualification).
English
10 (for EU, EEA, Swiss Confederation students)
Lessons are held remotely on Thursdays, remotely or face-to-face on Fridays; field trips - a few times during the semester on Saturdays.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
To apply for the Master’s Degree Programme, the applicant needs an applicable Bachelor's degree in social sciences and humanities, commercial sciences and administration, or tourism and leisure organization, cultural management or equivalent education
Knowledge of English: at least B2 level
The assessment of entrance examination consists of: an interview;
For applicants whose previous bachelor's degree or equivalent education was not obtained in tourism organization and management or in a related field: written test and interview
Non-EU, Non-EEA applicants: March 1 - May 31 (Scholarships that cover tuition fees are available to non-EU, non-EEA students for this program).
EU/ EEA/ Swiss Confederation applicants: March 1 - August 20 (students are eligible to apply for Latvian state-funded study placements).
All the eligible students are invited to apply for the Latvian State Scholarship. The application deadline for the academic year 2024/2025 is 1st of April, 2024.
For further information, get in touch with International Office at international@va.lv.
Apply through Tourism Competitiveness Management - Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences (dreamapply.com)
WHY SHOULD YOU CHOOSE A MASTER'S IN TOURISM COMPETITIVENESS MANAGEMENT?
- The programme has been developed in collaboration with tourism professionals and experts from Finland and Latvia and is based on the analysis of tourism labour market needs.
- Studying is strongly connected with working life and the programme is widely based on utilising business case study method which helps to integrate theoretical knowledge with the development of practical skills
- The best practices and know-how applied in the Nordic-Baltic tourism business environment is integrated with the study programme and reflected by tourism professionals in different countries.
Tourism is a highly vulnerable industry and the recent pandemic crisis has left profound and long-term structural and transformational changes to tourism. However, the tourism industry should convert the crisis to innovation. Recovery and adapting to a new business landscape will require rebuilding tourism competitiveness. The managers in tourism and industry-related organizations need competencies in strategic leadership, crisis and risk management, marketing and selling their products to be able to re-increase their size, market share and profit. Tourism destinations should be capable of managing and organising their resources in an efficient way to re-gain their market position. Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences' study offer addresses this demand, offering education that prepares specialists with skills in:
- Strategic management & marketing
- Competitiveness & risk management
- Business data management & digitalization
- Product design & sales
The study programme provides future-oriented expertise necessary to manage sustainable and competitive tourism development, to strengthen resilience under the changing circumstances and different types of crises, as well as to strengthen digital competences to succeed in the contemporary world starting from effective business data analysis and forecasts to product development.
The study programme is implemented by:
Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences, Valmiera, Latvia. It has been developed in collaboration with Satakunta University of Applied Sciences, Pori, Finland.
The tuition fee is outlined in the individual agreement between the student and the university. The student receives the agreement together with the admission letter. Accepted students must pay the tuition fee in advance for the full academic year.
| Citizenship | Per year EUR | Full programme cost EUR |
| Tuition Fees for the citizens of the EU, EEA, Swiss Confederation 2023/2024 | 3094 |
4641 for 3 semesters 6188 for 4 semesters |
| Tuition Fees for other Citizens 2023/2024 | 3558 |
5337 for 3 semesters 7116 for 4 semesters |
Application fee (non-refundable) must be paid before the application is submitted (confirmation of payment must be included in the application):
|
Citizenship |
Application fee amount EUR |
| Estonia, Lithuania, Georgia and Moldova | 50 |
|
EU, EEA countries, Swiss Confederation, USA, Australia, Azerbaijan, Japan, Canada, Kazakhstan, Russia, Macedonia, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Vietnam |
100 |
|
International applicants from other countries |
250 |
Applicants from Ukraine are exempt from Application fee
Application fee must be paid to the following bank account:
The bank: Valsts Kase
Address: Smilsu iela 1, Riga LV-1050 Latvia
Bank code: TRELLV22
Bank account number: LV38TREL9150130000000
Bank payments should be marked: “Study registration fee: your name”
OTHER COSTS
To have and overview of the costs involved in studying in Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences, please see the indicative list of costs:
| Costs per month | EUR |
| Rent of room in student hostel |
105 single room 160 double room |
| Local transportation costs | 25 |
| Food, other personal costs (minimum) | 200 |
| Total of other costs (average) | ~350 |
The cost of living in Valmiera can seem rather inexpensive for students from some other countries.
Graduates will gain skills to establish and/or develop their own business or work in management and expert positions in various tourism, hospitality and leisure sectors in marketing, organization management, service management, product development as well as in destination management organizations, in tourism planning in municipalities, in various cultural heritage organizations such as museums, heritage sites etc.
