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Hospitality Innovation Management with Internship

MSc

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Key information

Key information for 2026-27

Start date:
October 2026
Study route:

  • Two years full-time, on campus

Status:
Fully approved
Location:
Birkbeck campus and Le Cordon Bleu, central London
Awarding body:
University of London
Study options:
Full-time | On campus

Course overview

Our new MSc Hospitality Innovation Management with Internship is a unique course jointly delivered by Birkbeck and Le Cordon Bleu London to equip you with the knowledge, skills and tools to solve business challenges, provide solutions and help you become a leader in the hospitality industry.

  • Why choose this course?
    • It offers you the chance to gain valuable experience and skills during a 12-month internship in a hospitality organisation.
    • It is designed to respond to the professional needs of a wide range of roles in the hospitality industry, including emerging entrepreneurs, managers in the hospitality discipline, leaders in hospitality organisations and people who are passionate about the hospitality industry.
    • Le Cordon Bleu is an internationally recognised leader in the teaching of culinary arts and hospitality management.
    • Birkbeck is proud of its reputation as an internationally recognised centre of excellence in teaching, research and consultancy in the broad field of management.

  • What will I learn?

    You will explore the importance of hospitality businesses embracing innovation to cater for diverse and changing consumer trends and ensure that they are sustainably profitable. Compulsory modules on this course will allow you to gain knowledge and experience in topics including:

    • innovation
    • contemporary issues in hospitality management
    • hospitality experience design
    • hospitality operations management
    • resilience management.

    You will also acquire in-depth, applied insight through the use of hotel-simulation software, enabling you to explore realistic operational scenarios, make informed management decisions and develop practical problem-solving skills.

    During your 12-month internship you will gain hands-on experience within a hospitality organisation, developing and applying your skills and knowledge.

  • How will I learn?

    This course is available to study full- or part-time with classes taking place in the evening. Some modules may also offer classes in the afternoon.

    You will take a combination of compulsory modules delivered by Le Cordon Bleu London, within walking distance of Birkbeck campus, and compulsory and option modules delivered by the Birkbeck Business School. You can choose option modules depending on your interests and career aspirations.

    Your internship will be jointly delivered and supervised by both Birkbeck and Le Cordon Bleu London.

    You will also gain further experience and insight into the industry by way of case studies, site visits and industry professional guest speakers.

  • How often will I attend classes?

    Full-time: Three to four evenings a week, October to July.

  • Course disclaimer

    Birkbeck makes all reasonable efforts to deliver educational services, modules and programmes of study as described on our website. In the event that there are material changes to our offering (for example, due to matters beyond our control), we will update applicant and student facing information as quickly as possible and offer alternatives to applicants, offer-holders and current students.

    Most of our courses are taught in the evenings, however some of our courses offer a daytime timetable. Where there is an option to attend daytime teaching sessions, this is stated in the How will I learn? section.

More highlights

  • We also offer this course without an internship, see the MSc Hospitality Innovation Management.
  • Le Cordon Bleu London is a world-renowned network of educational institutions dedicated to providing the highest level of culinary and hospitality instruction through world-class courses. The school combines innovation with creativity and tradition through its Bachelor's and Master's degrees in business that focus on the demands of a growing international hospitality industry.
  • Birkbeck and Le Cordon Bleu are members of the Institute of Hospitality. Free membership is available to students on this course.
  • You will have access to Moodle and Engage, our online learning resources where all information and materials relating to your course of study and modules are available, as well as the Birkbeck Library and e-Library.
  • Birkbeck is an internationally recognised centre of excellence in teaching, research and consultancy in the broad field of management. Our academic staff are active researchers as well as enthusiastic teachers, and regularly publish cutting-edge articles in the world's leading journals.
  • You will use pioneering simulation software, which will allow you to use your analytical skills and strategic decision-making in a true-to-life business scenario. This immersive technique gives real-time experience of the challenges presented when running a hospitality business.

Modules and Teaching

Birkbeck Business School

The school is research-driven across a wide range of disciplinary themes with academic staff who create new knowledge, push boundaries and publish in leading academic journals.

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Entry requirements

Our standard entry requirements for postgraduate courses are a second-class honours degree (2:2), or equivalent, in any area of study.

We welcome applicants without traditional entry qualifications as we base decisions on our own assessment of qualifications, knowledge and previous work experience. We may waive formal entry requirements based on judgement of academic potential.

On your application form, please list all your relevant qualifications and experience, including those you expect to achieve.

Apply now to secure your place. The earlier you apply, the sooner your application can be considered, and you can enrol. You do not need to have completed your current qualification to start your application.

  • What are the English language requirements?

    If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, our usual requirement is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.5, with not less than 6.0 in each of the sub-tests. We also accept other English language tests.

    If you don't meet the minimum English language requirements, please contact us or see our international study skills page for more details about how we can help.

    Visit the International section of our website to find out more about our English language entry requirements and relevant requirements by country.

  • What are the visa and funding requirements?

    If you are not from the UK and you do not already have residency here, you may need to apply for a visa.

    The visa you apply for varies according to the length of your course:

    • Courses of more than six months' duration: Student visa
    • Courses of less than six months' duration: Standard Visitor visa

    International students who require a Student visa should apply to study on our courses full-time as these qualify for Student visa sponsorship. If you are living in the UK on a Student visa, you will not be eligible to enrol to study part-time courses at Birkbeck (with the exception of some modules).

    As a Student visa student, you should also apply to study on campus only, as online and flexible options of study (if they are available for your course) may affect the conditions of your visa.

    For full information, read our visa information for international students page.

    Please also visit the international section of our website to find out more about relevant visa and funding requirements by country.

    Please note students receiving US Federal Aid are only able to apply for in-person, on-campus programmes which will have no elements of online study.

  • Credits and accredited prior learning (APL)

    If you have studied at university (or have an HND or Foundation Degree), you may have accumulated credits. It may be possible to transfer these from your previous study to Birkbeck or another institution.

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Fees

MSc: Two years full-time, on campus, starting in October 2026

Academic year 2026-27

Full-time home students, Year 1: £15,600 per year
Full-time international students, Year 1: £24,390 per year
Full-time home students, Year 2: £3,000 per year
Full-time international students, Year 2: £3,000 per year

Students are charged a tuition fee in each year of their course. Tuition fees for students continuing their course may be subject to annual inflationary increases. For more information, please see the Fees Policy.

Discover the financial support available to you to help with your studies at Birkbeck.

Birkbeck's campus is located in the historic and vibrant Bloomsbury area of central London - named one of the best places to live in London 2025 by The Times.

Careers and employability

On successfully completing this MSc Hospitality Innovation Management with Internship you will have gained a range of valuable, transferable, technical, interpersonal and organisational skills including:

  • the ability to apply theoretical knowledge to professional contexts by integrating theory with practice
  • the ability to engage effectively in professional contexts, showing adaptability, initiative, resilience and an understanding of the workplace culture
  • professionalism and an ethical approach to business.

Graduates can pursue a range of careers in the hospitality industry, including in:

  • hospitality management
  • entrepreneurship and innovation
  • sales and marketing
  • revenue management
  • events management
  • corporate business analysis.

We offer a comprehensive careers service - Careers and Enterprise - your career partner during your time at Birkbeck and beyond. At every stage of your career journey, we empower you to take ownership of your future, helping you to make the connection between your experience, education and future ambitions.

Student support

Birkbeck offers study, learning and wellbeing support to undergraduate and postgraduate students to help them succeed.

Our Learning Development Service provides a lively programme of free weekly workshops building essential academic skills - from writing and critical thinking to maths and referencing - offering flexible sessions, practical tips, and online resources to boost your skills and confidence.

Our Disability and Mental Health Service can support you if you have disabilities, specific learning differences, mental health conditions or neurodivergence, by providing practical support to help you achieve your academic potential.

Our Counselling Service aims to support you with any emotional and psychological difficulties that are affecting your experience and engagement with your studies at university. It is a free, non-judgemental and confidential service which consists of a consultation process followed by time limited counselling contact.

Find out more about the full range of student services we offer at Birkbeck.

How to apply

You apply directly to Birkbeck for this course, using the online application link.

You will need to prove your identity when you apply. Find out more about how to apply.

Once you have been accepted onto this course, you will need to enrol at Birkbeck and also complete registration at Le Cordon Bleu at the very latest before the start of the second week of the course, otherwise you may forfeit your place on this course.

  • When should I apply?

    We encourage you to apply as soon as possible for this course as it has limited places and, once these are full, we may have to close the course early.

    You don't need to complete your current programme of study before you apply - Birkbeck can offer you a place that is conditional on your results.

Related courses

Study routes for Hospitality Innovation Management with Internship (MSc)

Please select a study route below to continue your application.

Please note that international students who require a Student visa to study in the UK can only apply for full-time, on campus routes.

Starting in October 2026

Full-time