Economics of Tourism

The 1st cycle degree programme in Economics of Tourism prepares students able to work in the accounting,marketing or strategic fields of tourism companies, in project management, oras hotel managers. It also trains students to create and promote touristdestinations as tourism planning consultants, tourist promoters, destinationmanagers or local development consultants. Finally, it prepares graduates ableto work in planning and staging special events.

As preparation for these roles it provides:quantitative analysis tools used to monitor flows and markets, and performmarket research surveys; economic know-how concerning the way networks andlocal systems work; the ability to interpret market operations, the mechanismsof competition among companies, and consumer trends in the tourism and culturefields; business skills in marketing, accounting and tourist company strategy;knowledge of law with reference to the regulations of local government and thetourist trade, package tours, tourist rights and other aspects of marketregulation; finally, it provides computing and communication skills, to ensurethe appropriate use of new tools for promoting and developing touristdestinations and businesses.

To help master these skills, the first-yearcourse units provide basic knowledge of mathematics, private law,micro-economics and business economics, as well as an introduction to tourism,consumer and tourist company history, and geography for tourism. Over the followingtwo years more specific expertise is provided in each of the five learningareas indicated. Law studies focus on the legislation of tourism and localgovernment; mathematics/statistics explores techniques of market research andfinancial analysis; economic models are provided relating to tourism, cultureand networks; while business management develops knowledge of marketing,strategy and budgetary analysis; finally, course units in computing andcommunication provide the tools for the strategic use of the web. The degreeprogramme includes a compulsory internship in a tourism company ororganisation, offering students the chance to apply their acquired knowledge ina practical setting.

Access requirements

Applicants to the first/single cycle degree programme shall hold a five-year secondary school diploma or equivalent suitable qualification obtained abroad, or a four-year secondary school diplomaand diploma for the relative supplementary year, or, where no longer active,will be assigned additional credits.

Restricted access

The first cycle degree programme has arestricted access set at local level (pursuant to art. 2 of Italian Law 264/99) depending on the available resources.

The number of admitted students and theselection methods are published annually in the relative call for applications.

Knowledge required

Applicants shall also possess the following knowledge:

- Logic reasoning skills, basic knowledge of the principle results of mathematics and ability to use such principles.

For the access to the international curriculum in “Tourism Economics and Leisure industries” (ITALI) it is also required to have a good knowledge of English language, so to be able to attend classes.

For both curricula admission procedures and knowledge evaluation will be defined in the call for application.

Assessment of basic knowledge

The admission to the degree program shall be assessed considering both, curricular requirements and a minimum score in the access test to the degree programme, whose purpose is to evaluate the required knowledge. The degree programme can define different access tests forboth curricula, according to procedure, contents and timing. The degree programme can allow to arrange a specific session for international candidates with a nominated committee in order to evaluate personal knowledge, according to deadlines of call for application related to study grants.

International students acquiring a positive evaluation are exempted from the test about personal preparation required for the generality of students, but not from the assessment of Additional Learning Requirements (OFA) in Mathematics.

Exemption of assessment of basic knowledge for the assignement of OFA

The Degree Programme Board assesses the possibility of exempting students from the assessment of basic knowledge in the following cases:

- withdrawal from studies,

- loss of student status,

- application to opt out of previous degree programme systems,

- possession of an academic qualification obtained from or learning activities carried out in foreign universities,

- transfer to another degree programme at the Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna,

- transfer from another university.

Students who have sat an exam in Mathematics in a previous degree programme are exempted from the Additional Learning Requirements (OFA).

In the event of accepting the transfer application beyond the usual terms, students who have not been exempted from sitting the entrance exam will be directly assigned additional learning requirements.

Additional Learning Requirements (OFA)

Students who do not pass the entrance exam will be assigned additional learning requirements, consisting of the participation in the supplementary learning activities as stated by the Degree Programme Board.

The additional learning requirements will be deemed to have been achieved by passing the exam in Mathematics within due date as set by the Academic Bodies. The Degree Programme Board will approve the elaboration of a specific test, finalised to the passing of OFA, consisting in a written exam with a schedule set accordingly.

Students not completing the requirements by the date set by the Academic Bodies and published on the University website will be required to re-enrol in the first year of the programme.

Assessment of knowledge and language skills

-For Economics of Tourism

Admission to the degree programme is subject to the assessment of knowledge and skills in the English language, to level A2, certified by the University Language Center (CLA).

Students holding a corresponding language certification may be exempted from sitting this exam.

Students who are assessed on admission to the degree programme as having language skills below level A2 shall be graded with an initial linguistic deficit. This linguistic deficit must be recovered in preparation for the following exams.

For the programme year in which language skills to level B1 are required, this preparation is as follows:

▪ skills level B1 in the first: preparatory courses in order to achieve level B1 prior to the year 3 exams.

-For International Tourism and Leisure Industry

For the access to the international curriculum the assessment of knowledge and competences in English language shall such to allow attendance to classes. Minimum level required is B1. Assessment procedures to evaluate English language will be let known with call for application and could require a higher level than minimum one.

Language requirement shall be attested with certification, to be provided by the end of the first academic year, thus 30thSeptember of the year next to the enrollment.

In case of missing certificate of English Knowledge, the Degree Programme can nominate a commission for the evaluation ofthe level of language knowledge.

Shall the student do not have the required level, he/she will not be accepted to sit exams of the second year.