BA Tourism, Languages and Cultures

You can choose to study one or more of the following languages/cultures: Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Māori, Spanish.

Students have the choice of a range of Tourism papers, including events, destination management and ecotourism.

There is also space within this major for you to complement your chosen language/culture specialty with other appropriate Humanities or Business papers.

Students do not require any particular background to enrol in this subject, and do not need to have studied a language previously. Those students who have existing language skills will be assessed and placed in classes at an appropriate level.

This major subject provides you with a unique opportunity to gain cross-cultural perspectives while also acquiring a solid grounding in tourism management.

In addition:

A Bachelor of Arts (BA) is a three-year degree comprising 20 papers (360 points).

The Tourism, Languages and Cultures major consists of two sets of papers for a total of 15 papers (270 points). This includes:

Five further Humanities papers (90 points) allow students to complete an additional minor subject if they wish to do so.

Students are encouraged to take papers from at least two different language disciplines to enhance their international perspective.

There is flexibility to personalise a programme of study to meet a student’s particular language and cultural interest, and respond to their future needs. For example, a student with geographically specific employment prospects in mind could give a regional focus to both the tourism and languages/cultures component of their major. A designated co-ordinator in Languages and Cultures will always be on hand to help students plan their degree pathway.

The Tourism, Languages and Cultures major can be specifically tailored to students’ individual needs. Because of the combination of papers that can be selected to complete this major, it is recommended that students contact the Languages and Cultures co- ordinator and one of the programme advisers in Tourism or Te Tumu. You will find their contact information on this page (below).

Papers are taught using a combination of lectures, tutorials and directed readings. Language classes are often small, and students receive personalised attention.

Students will have the opportunity to attend an overseas institution for one or two semesters. Students only pay New Zealand fees and can complete the qualification in the usual three-year timeframe. The minimum grade for students to apply for exchange opportunities is a B average.

Students may also gain practical experience in a workplace through internship opportunities. Ask one of the programme advisers about possible internship options. Contact details are on this page (below).

Graduates will have a wide range of career opportunities in tourism roles in both the public and private sectors, nationally and internationally.

Graduates in the public sector may predominantly be employed by national and regional tourism organisations (e.g. Tourism New Zealand, Destination Queenstown, Tourism Auckland, China’s National Tourism Agency, Tourism Australia).

Private sector employers are numerous, and may include a wide range of accommodation, activity, transport and infrastructure operators, from the approximately 20,000 small to medium sized tourism-related enterprises in New Zealand, to the larger domestic companies (e.g. Air New Zealand, Tourism Holdings Ltd, Real Journeys, Auckland Airport Ltd, Ngai Tahu Tourism) and multinational employers such as Accor, the Hilton Hotel Group and China Travel Service.