
International Hospitality and Service Management (Master) course overview
On this page, you can read all about how the master’s degree in International Hospitality and Service Management is organised and the opportunities it offers.

About the course
The programme in International Hospitality and Service Management introduces you to key concepts such as service, hospitality, service concepts and customer satisfaction, as well as covering areas as diverse as sustainability, globalisation and working with multicultural teams. The duration of the programme is two academic years and 30 EC per year.
The five modules in the part-time programme are the same as in the full-time master's in International Hospitality and Service Management programme, but the cases discussed in the classroom are specifically practice-oriented. You acquire real-life work experience during your studies at the Stenden Hotel, a 4-star property owned and operated by the Stenden Hotel Management School and used as a training venue for its students. You will attend classes based on a variety of teaching methods, including seminars, workshops, lectures, presentations, group assignments and guest lectureships.
The master's programme corporates exciting electives, including Managing Events Organisations.
Study programme
- Principles of Hospitality and Service Management
- Research 1
Principles of Hospitality and Service Management
This module is designed to enhance your knowledge and understanding of hospitableness, service quality, customer satisfaction and other principles relevant to the hospitality industry and the broader service industry.
Research 1
This module prepares you to write your thesis by exploring how to define a contemporary hospitality/service management research topic.
- Service Performance Improvement
- Sustainable Value Creation in the Hospitality Industry
- Research 2: Research Proposal
Service Performance Improvements
This module aims to provide a broad introduction to the topic of performance, operations analysis and performance measurement. The leading theme is the analysis of operations. In their operations, service businesses create value for their customers.
Sustainable Value Creation in the Hospitality Industry
This module emphasises the important aspects of sustainable development, the intrinsic contribution of corporate social responsibility, the key role of ethics and the imperative use of stakeholder analysis in the management of hospitality organisations in the transition towards sustainability.
Research 2
You will learn how to write a well-balanced and detailed research proposal.
- Strategic Human Resource Management
- Strategic Financial Decision Making
- Master Thesis
Strategic Human Resource Management
This module seeks to challenge the notions of Strategic Human Resource Management in the global hospitality and service industry. Strategic Human Resource Management plans and their implementation will be examined within the context of the challenges posed to the industry.
Financial Decision Making
The module Financial Decision Making presents the key principles of finance necessary to understand and implement the finance function in an organisation and carry out the financial analysis that justifies the decision-making process.
- Electives
- Master Thesis
In this phase you choose an elective module. You can choose from Managing Events Organisations, Entrepreneurship & Innovation and AIHR Projects (Research). In addition, you write a master's thesis based on your research. Would you like to gain extra practical experience? You can do so after completing this module in our Notiz Hotel.
In module 4 you can choose between five exciting electives:
In this module you can choose between five exciting electives:
1. Entrepreneurship & Innovation
This elective focuses on entrepreneurship, innovative concepts and business perspectives. This module is an accelerated research-based programme. It is designed to provide you with the opportunity to gain the skills, framework, and learning experiences necessary to create business opportunities in service-orientated organisations, or new companies. You do this by developing entrepreneurial and innovative solutions.
2. Managing Events Organisations
In this elective, you will learn what it takes to manage an event’s organisation. You will also learn how to create competitive advantages that lead to success.
3. AIHR Projects
This module focuses on a research project related to the research programmes at AIHR, the research unit of the Hotel Management School.
4. Elective DBE projects
In this elective, you work on a project for a service organisation, conducting research that will contribute to solving an issue currently faced by the client company
5. Elective Capita Selecta Service Management
This module aims at developing further specialized knowledge in an area of service management. A combination of readings and discussions contribute to further understanding and create the potential for more critical reflection of issues faced in a particular segment of service or hospitality
Course Catalogue
Combining work and study
- Once every two weeks on Friday, you will come to Leeuwarden for a day of lectures.
- In addition to the lectures, you will study on your own accord. This takes about 15 hours each week.
Hotel Management School
This course is part of the Hotel Management School.


Is this the degree for you?
If you're confident this degree is the one for you, then why not apply online straightaway? Or pick one of the other options to help you take the next step.