Travel & Tourism Foundation/Extended Diploma Level 3
Students on this programme will study towards a Foundation or Extended Diploma in Travel & Tourism. The course is equivalent to 3 AS Levels over one year for the Level 3 Foundation Diploma. After successful completion of this year it is possible to continue onto a second year to gain the Extended Diploma, which is equivalent to 3 A Levels.
This course would be suitable for anyone interested in studying travel and tourism and it is designed to develop your skills in problem solving, customer care, teamwork and product development, as well as examining some of the major tourism trends within the industry that create the ‘tourist experience’. You will also have the opportunity to develop your employability skills through a work placement in the tourism and travel sector.
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Entry requirements
A minimum of 4 GCSE subjects at grade 4 or above including English and/or Maths.
What will I study?
This qualification covers topics such as:
- The UK Travel and Tourism Industry
- Marketing for Travel and Tourism
- The UK Conference and Event Industry
- Worldwide Passenger Airlines
- Customer Service
- Tour Guiding
- Travel Agency Operations
- Airline Cabin Crew
- Specialist Tourism
There is also the option to take part in a range of trips and residential visits during the course which are designed to support the topics being studied. Costs for these visits are additional and cover a range of local, national and international destinations. Some recent locations include Edinburgh, London, Barcelona and Seville.
Method of delivery
Attendance is full-time and it may include work experience placement and some blended learning. Your studies will be across three full days per week. These are likely to involve 20% online and 80% onsite face-to-face learning.
When onsite you will mainly be classroom based but you will also learn via experiential learning that include events organisation activities, role plays and related activities. All of your onsite sessions are likely to be 70% in the classroom and 30% undertaking simulated practical activities.
Our methods of delivery will include student focused learning, formal teaching sessions, accompanied by workshops, tutorials, some independent studies, problem solving and work-based learning.
How will I be assessed?
Assessment will include written exams as well as an internal assessment in the form of a portfolio of evidence. The portfolio demonstrates achievement of 100% of the learning outcomes and assessment criteria associated with each unit. On completion of each unit, you must declare that the work produced is your own. The Assessor must countersign this. The main pieces of evidence for the portfolio could include (in no particular order):
- Assessor observation
- Witness testimony
- Worksheets
- Practical tasks
- Assignments/projects/reports
- Record of professional discussion
- Record of oral and written questioning
- Candidate and peer reports
- Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
Good course combinations
This is a full-time course. It is not possible to combine this course with other Vocational, Apprenticeship or A Level programmes.
Your next steps
Students who achieve this qualification could progress to higher education to study tourism, business, events or hospitality management qualifications, with a large number of students also progressing into employment and apprenticeship opportunities with employers across the tourism sector. Alternatively, you could progress to a Higher National Diploma in International Tourism Management or Business, a BA Honours Degree in Business with Management or a higher apprenticeship at York College or another university. Past students have secured employment with TUI, Jet2, Marriott, Esprit Ski, LNER and Hilton Hotels.

"The course explores the whole travel and tourism industry which branches out into so many opportunities. I like learning about all the different elements of the industry. The whole course is a highlight for me."