Discover how research in tourism can influence policy, protect places and empower communities across the globe.
Why study postgraduate Tourism?
Tourism is more than holiday-making: it’s about exploring people, places and possibilities. At Otago, you’ll study tourism as a dynamic field that spans social, cultural, environmental and commercial dimensions. The sector in New Zealand is vital to our economy and to how communities engage with visitors, and that means you have a chance to influence something meaningful.
You’ll ask questions like: How do destinations manage growth and sustainability? What role does culture play in visitor experience? How can tourism benefit local and indigenous communities? These are not academic abstractions: they are real-world issues that tourism professionals, researchers and policy makers are confronting now. At Otago you will explore these questions in-depth, sharpen your analytical skills and set yourself up to contribute to positive change.
Career opportunities
By studying postgraduate tourism at Otago you’ll open doors to roles that make a difference in how tourism works, evolves and resonates. Whether you lean toward research, industry leadership or community impact, the path is yours. Possible career directions include:
- Destination Manager or Planner
- Tourism Policy Analyst or Consultant
- Sustainable Tourism Development Specialist
- Researcher or Academic in Tourism Studies
- Visitor Experience Designer/Manager
What it’s like to study at this level
In our postgraduate programmes you’ll engage with advanced research and real-world applications. You will work closely with staff who are internationally recognised in tourism studies, and you’ll join a community where your ideas matter.
You might conduct fieldwork, develop original research, collaborate with industry partners, and explore global and local case studies. Whether you choose the one-year full-time Master’s or a longer path to doctoral study, you’ll be challenged, supported and inspired to find your own voice in the field.
This is for you if ...
You’ll be best prepared if you come with an undergraduate degree in tourism, business, social sciences or a related field and have interests in research, people, places and change.
Are you just starting uni?
Learn about studying Tourism as an undergraduate at Otago.
A community of thinkers and change-makers
Postgraduate Tourism at Otago is more than a qualification, it’s a community of researchers exploring how tourism shapes the world. You’ll work alongside leading academics and fellow students from around the globe, sharing ideas that challenge assumptions and inspire innovation.
Our staff are internationally recognised for research in sustainable tourism, cultural heritage, and visitor behaviour, and they bring those insights directly into your learning and supervision. You’ll gain the guidance, networks and critical thinking skills to turn your research into meaningful action, whether that’s informing policy, improving practice or reimagining how destinations thrive.
Choose a study option
Whether you are advancing your career with our specialised graduate qualifications or pursuing in-depth research and expertise through our postgraduate programmes, Otago is here to support your aspirations.
Postgraduate qualifications
Honours, masters’, PhDs, and other advanced degrees for graduates. Just one additional year of study will earn you a valuable postgraduate degree. Or perhaps you want the depth of a full year of research-only time during a master’s or to step up to a PhD.
Master of Commerce (MCom)
A one-year thesis-only master's degree
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Engage in original research leading to a doctoral thesis, supported by comprehensive academic and social networks
Master of Business (MBus)
A coursework degree with an optional research component, awarded in a chosen specialist subject, completed in one-year's full-time or equivalent part-time study
Postgraduate Diploma in Business (PGDipBus)
A two-semester (at full-time), coursework programme, offering specialisation in a variety of subjects and a possible entry pathway into the MBus
Postgraduate Certificate in Business (PGCertBus)
A coursework programme, typically consisting of three papers, that can be completed with full-time study (half year) or part-time study (full year)
Graduate qualifications
Our graduate qualifications are crafted to transition students from foundational studies to advanced, specialised knowledge.
Ready to apply?
Take your expertise to the next level with advanced study.
Programme details
Compare programmes for this subject.
| Papers required |
|---|
|
Note: Endorsement may require enrolment in papers totalling more than 120 points, depending on the extent of prior study in relevant subjects and whether the student wishes to be eligible for postgraduate study in the subject of endorsement.
| Thesis |
|---|
|
The Master of Business in Tourism will be awarded on successful completion of 180 points from one of the three options (Dissertation, Project or Coursework) outlined in the schedule below.
| Option | Papers | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Dissertation | Compulsory papers: | |
| BSNS 411 Business Principles for the 21st Century | 10 | |
| BSNS 412 Research Skills and Methods 1 | 10 | |
| BSNS 413 Research Skills and Methods 2 | 20 | |
| BSNS 590 Dissertation | 60 | |
| TOUR 423 Advanced Tourism Concepts | 20 | |
| Plus papers to the equivalent of 60 points from: | 60 | |
| TOUR 428, TOUR 511, TOUR 516, TOUR 518, TOUR 520, TOUR 521, TOUR 522, TOUR 525, TOUR 527 | ||
| Total | 180 | |
| Project | Compulsory papers: | |
| BSNS 411 Business Principles for the 21st Century | 10 | |
| BSNS 412 Research Skills and Methods 1 | 10 | |
| BSNS 413 Research Skills and Methods 2 | 20 | |
| BSNS 580 Applied Project | 40 | |
| TOUR 423 Advanced Tourism Concepts | 20 | |
| Plus papers to the equivalent of 80 points from: | 80 | |
| TOUR 428, TOUR 511, TOUR 516, TOUR 518, TOUR 520, TOUR 521, TOUR 522, TOUR 525, TOUR 527 | ||
| Total | 180 | |
| Coursework | Compulsory papers: | |
| BSNS 411 Business Principles for the 21st Century | 10 | |
| BSNS 412 Research Skills and Methods 1 | 10 | |
| BSNS 413 Research Skills and Methods 2 | 20 | |
| TOUR 423 Advanced Tourism Concepts | 20 | |
| Plus papers to the equivalent of 120 points from: | 120 | |
| TOUR 428, TOUR 511, TOUR 516, TOUR 518, TOUR 520, TOUR 521, TOUR 522, TOUR 525, TOUR 527 | ||
| Total | 180 |
Papers
View a list of all related papers below.
TOUR papers
| Paper Code | Year | Title | Points | Teaching period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TOUR101 | 2026 | Introduction to Tourism | 18 points | Summer School, Semester 1, Semester 2 |
| TOUR102 | 2026 | Global Tourism | 18 points | Summer School, Semester 2 |
| TOUR103 | 2026 | Introduction to Hospitality | 18 points | Not offered in 2026 |
| TOUR214 | 2026 | Introduction to Wine Business | 18 points | Not offered in 2026 |
| TOUR216 | 2026 | Sport Tourism | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| TOUR217 | 2026 | Tourist Behaviour | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| TOUR218 | 2026 | Tourism and Hospitality Enterprise Management | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| TOUR219 | 2026 | Destination Management | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| TOUR221 | 2026 | Special Topic | 18 points | Not offered in 2026 |
| TOUR301 | 2026 | Cultural and Heritage Tourism | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| TOUR303 | 2026 | Tourist Accommodation Management | 18 points | Not offered in 2026 |
| TOUR305 | 2026 | Tourism Product Development | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| TOUR306 | 2026 | Ecotourism and Sustainable Development | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| TOUR310 | 2026 | Leisure: Lives and Societies | 18 points | Summer School |
| TOUR328 | 2026 | Event Management: Theory and Practice | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| TOUR350 | 2026 | Special Topic | 18 points | Not offered in 2026 |
| TOUR351 | 2026 | Special Topic | 18 points | Not offered in 2026 |
| TOUR423 | 2026 | Advanced Tourism Concepts | 20 points | Semester 1 |
| TOUR428 | 2026 | Event Management: Theory and Practice | 20 points | Semester 2 |
| TOUR511 | 2026 | Tourist Culture | 20 points | Semester 1 |
| TOUR516 | 2026 | Tourism Entrepreneurship and Business | 20 points | Not offered in 2026 |
| TOUR518 | 2026 | Tourism Destination Development | 20 points | Semester 1 |
| TOUR520 | 2026 | Special Topic | 20 points | Not offered in 2026 |
| TOUR521 | 2026 | Special Topic | 20 points | Not offered in 2026 |
| TOUR522 | 2026 | Tourism and Global Environmental Change | 20 points | Semester 2 |
| TOUR527 | 2026 | Tourism and Development Ethnographic Field School | 20 points | Short Courses (inc. Field Trips) (19 October 2026 - 20 November 2026) |
Contacts
Department of Tourism
Otago Business School
Email tourism@otago.ac.nz
Website otago.ac.nz/tourism
This information must be read subject to the statement on our Copyright & Disclaimer page.
Regulations on this page are taken from the 2026 Calendar and supplementary material.
World-class research
The University of Otago has a global reputation for research excellence. Our expertise is vast across health, society, culture, sustainability and the environment.
Explore our research