Why Study / Key Benefits

• The programme develops advanced knowledge of the global tourism industry, with emphasis on senior-level tourism planning and management.
• Students develop skills in tourism standards and processes, critical evaluation, communication, qualitative and quantitative analysis, and solving theoretical and practical real-world problems.
• Lincoln describes the programme as interdisciplinary, allowing students to combine tourism knowledge with areas relevant to their professional interests.
• The programme is informed by research from Lincoln University's Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Tourism.
• Students can develop knowledge around professional standards and issues such as gender, ethnicity, equity and environmental concerns.
• Lincoln states that its tourism programmes are developed in conjunction with industry and provide opportunities for practical experience and industry connections.
• Lincoln has a long-established tourism academic programme and describes it as the longest-running academic tourism programme in New Zealand.

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The programme requires 180 credits. Students complete two compulsory courses, select 100 credits from the specified tourism-related course lists, and select two elective courses from master's-level courses offered across the university.

The programme has been updated to reflect changes in course availability and industry/student needs. Lincoln's Academic Board documentation records the addition of courses such as TOUR 611 Food, Wine and Agritourism, as well as greater scope for marketing, business management and environmental/resource studies courses.

Examples of current programme-related subjects include:

• Tourism Management – TOUR 603: tourism systems, economic, physical and social impacts, tourism planning, policy and sustainable tourism development.
• Tourist Behaviour – TOUR 604: determinants of tourist behaviour, cross-cultural tourism, visitor management and tourism-development issues.
• Natural Resource Recreation and Tourism – RECN 626: tourism and recreation impacts on natural-resource areas, sustainability and resilience of tourism development.
• Applied Research Methods – ECON 615: quantitative research methods and their application to practical research.
• Food, Wine and Agritourism – TOUR 611 is identified by Lincoln as one of the courses introduced into the updated programme structure. 

Research / Dissertation Option

A 40-credit dissertation option has been introduced for high-performing students, but it is not an automatic option for every student.

Lincoln states that students with an A- average who have taken SOCI 601 or SOCI 602 may have the option of replacing 40 elective credits with a 40-credit dissertation, by invitation only.

The Academic Board documentation explains that the dissertation pathway is intended to provide a research route for high-performing coursework students who may wish to progress towards a PhD. Availability also depends on having an appropriate supervisor.

Disciplines / Specialisations

The programme does not present fixed named specialisations in the same way as some master's programmes.

Instead, Lincoln allows students to specialise through course selection and elective choices. The programme page specifically states that students can specialise in an area of interest.

Relevant areas include:

• Tourism management
• Tourism planning and policy
• Destination management/marketing
• Tourist behaviour and visitor management
• Sustainable tourism
• Tourism and natural-resource management
• Events and tourism
• Food, wine and agritourism
• Tourism research
• Marketing and business management
• Environmental and sustainability issues

Programme Highlights

• 180-credit taught master's qualification.
• 1.5 years standard full-time duration, with a possible 12-month intensive pathway.
• Campus and online study options.
• Advanced tourism management and planning knowledge.
• Interdisciplinary study.
• Sustainable-tourism focus.
• Development of qualitative and quantitative analytical skills.
• Opportunity to tailor studies through electives.
• Research/dissertation pathway for qualifying high-performing students by invitation.
• Industry-informed tourism education.
• Access to research-informed teaching through Lincoln's tourism expertise and Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Tourism. 

Career Outcomes

Lincoln identifies potential career opportunities including:

• Senior tourism management roles
• Destination marketing
• Event management
• Tourism planning
• Tourism policy advisory roles
• Tourism analysis
• Local and regional government
• Central government
• Tourism consulting
• Tourism research
• Regional development organisations

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

• The current Lincoln programme page was displaying the upcoming starts of 9 November 2026, 22 February 2027 and 19 July 2027 when checked.
• Lincoln recently revised the programme structure, including removing courses that were no longer offered, introducing new core/schedule courses and adding a dissertation option by invitation.
• The online version is not available to onshore international students currently in New Zealand.
• Course selection is subject to restrictions for students attempting the 12-month completion pathway or studying online.
• International applicants must satisfy Lincoln's English-language requirements where applicable.
• Programme admission is subject to Lincoln's assessment of the relevance and standard of the applicant's previous qualification and, where relevant, tourism-management-related work.
• The supplied IPU Master of Global Business URL should not be used as evidence for Lincoln's Master of Tourism Management. IPU-specific admission, fee, application or partnership conditions for this Lincoln programme are Not publicly specified – please confirm with IPU.

International Student Visa Requirements

For an international student physically studying in New Zealand, the relevant visa is generally the Fee Paying Student Visa.

Immigration New Zealand currently states that applicants must have:

• An offer of place from an approved education provider.
• Sufficient funds to pay tuition fees, or an eligible scholarship.
• Sufficient funds for living expenses or an acceptable sponsor.
• Acceptable insurance as required by the education provider.
• Evidence meeting the other applicable immigration requirements.

For tertiary students paying their own living expenses, Immigration New Zealand currently requires evidence of:

• NZ$20,000 for each year of study where the study is for one year or more, or
• NZ$1,667 per month where the study is shorter than one year.

Student visa conditions can include requirements to:

• Attend the approved course.
• Make satisfactory academic progress.
• Maintain required funds.
• Have appropriate onward-travel arrangements.
• Maintain acceptable insurance where the visa requires it.