Studying Hospitality in Different Destinations

The country where you study shapes almost everything about a hospitality degree: the structure of the degree, the language, the fees you pay, the rules on work and the way your qualification is later recognized. This directory covers seventeen destinations, and this guide explains what to compare and where the official information lives. It is a starting point; it does not replace the official source for your situation.

What differs between destinations

• Structure and length of degrees. Countries in the European Higher Education Area follow a three-cycle structure; the EHEA gives typical credit ranges of 180 to 240 ECTS credits for a first cycle and 90 to 120 for a second. Other systems count credits and years differently. We show the official award title and the stated duration and do not convert one system into another.
• Types of institution. A destination may have universities, universities of applied sciences, specialist hospitality schools, business schools, colleges and private providers. Their standing, and the authority that licenses or accredits them, differ.
• Language. Programs may be taught in English or in the local language. See English-taught programs.
• Fees. Public institutions in some countries charge international students more, in others the same as domestic students; private institutions set their own prices. Compare on the same basis. See understanding hospitality school fees.
• Practical training. Placement culture and rules vary. See internships and industry placements.
• Immigration and work. Each country sets its own rules, which change.

Official registers and starting points

We link to the register or authority used on each record. The following examples show the kind of official source to look for; they do not cover every destination, and for destinations not named here you should look for the national ministry or the higher-education regulator.

• Australia. CRICOS, the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students, describes itself as the official Australian Government website that lists education providers offering courses to people studying on student visas, with search tools for institutions and courses.
• United States. Study in the States, run by the Department of Homeland Security, provides a School Search tool for SEVP-certified schools and programs that are eligible to enrol F and M students. A school being on that list is not the same as accreditation, and accreditation is not the same as SEVP certification.
• United Kingdom. The government's student visa page says that study must be at a licensed student sponsor and that degree-level courses allow a stay of up to five years for applicants aged 18 or over. It also says that some postgraduate subjects may need an ATAS certificate.
• Canada. The government states that most foreign nationals need a study permit to study at a designated learning institution. Check that the institution and the program are eligible before you apply.
• Europe and elsewhere. The ENIC-NARIC networks list the national information centres that give information on recognition of foreign qualifications.

Rules and fees on these pages change. We cite them as starting places, with the date we accessed them, and you must always check the current version.

Questions to ask for any destination

1. Is the institution licensed, recognized or registered by the national authority, and for which campus and level?
2. Which institution confers the degree, and is it the same as the one that teaches it?
3. What immigration category applies to me, and what does the official authority require?
4. Am I allowed to work, and under what limits, and does a required placement need separate permission?
5. What will it cost in total, including living costs?
6. Will the degree be recognized where I plan to work afterwards? Ask the national information centre in that country.

Special cases

Some destinations have particular political or legal situations. Northern Cyprus, for example, is listed as a study destination, and recognition information is reported from independent official sources school by school. Listing a destination is not a statement about the status of any territory, and recognition of a degree in another country must be checked with that country's authority. Likewise, Macao (China) and Hong Kong have their own higher education systems and regulators.

Comparing destinations on this site

Use the destination pages to see institutions, programs and fee ranges by place (where published), then Find programs to filter by language, level and delivery, and compare to review up to four programs. Destination pictures are decorative and do not show an institution's facilities.

Checklist

• [ ] I have found the official register or authority for my destination.
• [ ] I have checked the institution and program against it.
• [ ] I have read the current immigration page for my nationality and purpose.
• [ ] I know the total cost, including living costs and insurance.
• [ ] I have checked how the degree will be recognized in the country where I want to work.