One-Year Master Programme in Tourism Destination Development

Semester 1 (Autumn) - Early September to mid-January

In the first semester, you will study the four main modules of the programme. Each of these modules contributes to an aspect of tourism destination development.

Sustainable Destination Development (KG3019)  (7.5 credits)

Event Tourism - Planning, Marketing, Evaluation (TR3009) (7.5 credits)

Management and Interpretation of Cultural Heritage Sites (AKG27R) (7.5 credits)

Place and Destination Marketing (ATR2AF) (7.5 credits)

You will also visit businesses, cultural heritage managers and event organizations as well as regional tourism destinations.

Semester 2 (Spring) - Late January to Mid-June

In the second semester, you will learn about research methods and you will complete a research project that focuses on an aspect of destination development at an international or local tourism destination. 

Theory and Research Methods (TR3010) (15 credits)

All courses are taught in English by international faculty. The programme comprises 60 credits (1 credit = 1 ECTS) and begins at the start of the autumn semester in early September. Note: 1.5 credits = one week of full-time study.

Guest lectures and seminars headed by representatives from the regional tourism branch and from international partner universities as well as alumni are regularly held so that current students can learn more about international research in tourism, the employment market as well connect with former students to talk about opportunities.

Degree Awarded

Upon completion of this programme, you will receive a Master of Science (60 credits) in Tourism Studies. You can use this degree to apply for PhD studies in Sweden.

Study Environment

Dalarna University is a small university, which will allow you to develop close professional relationships with your classmates and teachers. You will study at the Borlänge campus, which is located close to the region's largest shopping centre, beautiful natural surroundings and outstanding outdoor activities.

Typically, there are 20 students in each class. Lessons include lectures; seminars; group discussions; presentations; study visits; and written assignments. You will normally have four to eight hours of classes a week, 20 to 30 hours of individual reading and writing assignments, and group projects.

Since Master's Programme in Tourism Destination Development admits only a small number of students, you will easily get to know your classmates and be involved with activities in and around Dalarna and Sweden with new-found friends. The knowledge and experiences you share with your classmates, along with the opportunity to be involved in interesting tourism destination development projects, will prepare you to join our alumni who go on to find their ideal jobs within the field.

An international classroom taught by international faculty

Students from all over the world come to study Tourism Destination Development at Dalarna University. With the wealth of practical experience and the opportunity to participate in interesting Tourism Destination Development projects that programme students receive, many go on to find their ideal jobs in the field.

Meet some of our students and hear what they have to say about their time in Dalarna and experiences with the programme:

Svetlana from Russia

My time in Dalarna was the most impressive time in my life. One year of study gave me a lot of new foreign friends. It was a year of new ex­periences and made me an independent person. The programme included many interesting courses, such as Sustaina­ble Tourism, Urban and Rural Tourism De­velopment and Tourism Marketing. I liked the fact that everything facilitated my studies: well-equipped classrooms, free Wifi and a big library. What is more, I could live close to campus. The study trips were very informa­tive and useful. Also, all the teachers were very skilled and responsive.

I liked the town of Borlänge. It felt cosy and quiet. But despite its not being a big city, I could still find everything I needed there for my social life: the shopping cen­tre Kupolen, the fitness centre Friskis and Svettis, a swimming centre and, of course, night clubs. One of my best memories is the music festival Peace and Love. We wrote a paper about this festival for one of my classes.

Tourism/Destination Development is always topical. New travel destinations are appearing all the time. Moreover, people from different countries are discovering new places of interest: for example, in Russia, there is growing interest in South America and South-East Asia, and places such as these are be­coming more and more popular.

As soon as I returned to Russia, I got a job at a four-star Eurasia Business Hotel (Rus­sia, Tyumen City) as an event coordinator in the Sales and Marketing Department, and so was able to use my knowledge and study experience.

Eva from Germany

The atmosphere at Dalarna University was very personal and intensive. Teachers gave us the support needed for our individual development, and I enjoyed the classroom discussions, which were filled with diverse perspectives and experiences. On top of that, the various guest lectures and study trips gave us the opportunity to explore current tourism development and to create innovative ideas for the future.

Laetitia from France

At home, I was taking a Marketing Techniques diploma and everything was going well for me. My plans then were to finish my diploma and get a job where I lived. One day, my English teacher suggested to me and some classmates that we go to Sweden for an Erasmus exchange – 8 months, no big deal! It isn't easy to leave friends and family for such a period of time, as short as it actually is, but I'd never travelled before. With no questions asked, I decided to go to Sweden!

Sweden was totally unknown to me and I was among so many students with different nationalities. I couldn't understand them, my English was far from being good, but I made new friends, learnt, and got the language quite fast. I loved my courses. The educational system was great and suited me really well, I started to travel around and I made myself real friends. I couldn't leave Sweden! I just didn't want the experience to end.

I found an internship in Sweden, and then decided to apply to the Tourism Master's Programmed at DU and was accepted. The TDD programme was a great year. I learned a lot and also discovered a passion for the tourism field. Somehow, Sweden inspired me that year and I wanted to do so many things – I took Swedish and Russian courses, I wrote a blog while writing my thesis at the same time (which was my first thesis ever). The thesis was a real challenge, but I made it in time and graduated with all my classmates. It was true satisfaction. But I still couldn't leave.

After another internship abroad, I am back in Sweden for good, with a job in the tourism field in Stockholm. No dream job for now, but probably a dream career to come, and thanks to my TDD master degree!

Three years ago, I took a decision that I didn't know would change my whole life. It might sound cliché but it is real, and I don't regret any piece of it.

Marianne from Finland

Studying at DU was a great experience. It is a small university, and the atmosphere is cosy and friendly. You get to know many people very quickly. I have made friends from all over the world and have got to know so many other cultures. My studies here were an advantage in getting employed in my current position.

Sander from the Netherlands

Studying at Dalarna University was a wonderful experience. I found the programme to be a great combination of tourism and marketing. The way of teaching in Sweden is quite different than in the Netherlands: discussions in the classroom are very important.

Student life in Borlänge may not seem that big at first, but the diverse range of cultures I met in Borlänge was extraordinary. I made countless friends, and traveling around the world to meet up with them again has been a nice touch.

Vojtěch from Czechia

Being an Erasmus+ student at Dalarna University and spending an academic year there was one of the most enriching yet challenging experiences of my life so far.

While I was studying the subjects within the Tourism Destination Development degree programme, the study group was mixed as both master programme and exchange students attended the lessons, which resulted into interesting discussions because each of the student had different cultural and educational background. The system of the studies was different compared to my previous experiences as the attendance to lessons/seminars is not that frequent (sometimes only two times per week). However, this is because a lot  of studying workload is left on the individual responsibility (reading, individual/group tasks), which was very time-consuming, yet realistic, which even developed my time-management skills. Moreover, all the teaching methods are very collaborative and reactive, with a plenty of safe space to express any thoughts or ideas which were always received with a respect.

During my studies, several field trips to various tourist destinations were organised and funded by the university, effectively bridging the gap between theory and practice. As an Erasmus+ student, I also had the opportunity to participate in several blended intensive programmes at other universities abroad.

The university is very small, which contributes to the friendly study atmosphere and close-knit environment where everything is within easy reach. Moreover, the city of Borlänge is surrounded by nature, offering numerous opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking and swimming in the summer, as well as skiing and ice skating in the winter.

Overall, the time spent at Dalarna University not only enriched my theoretical and practical knowledge in the field I studied, but also greatly contributed to my personal growth. Moreover, studying there deepened my thirst for knowledge, leading me to pursue further studies upon returning to my home country.

Should you apply?

You should have a desire to combine your passion for sustainable tourism with a curiosity for the research and theory that drive the development of the global tourism industry towards sustainability. If you have previously majored in Social Sciences, and have documented knowledge of spoken and written English, then you are a good candidate for this programme

How To Apply

Applying to the Tourism Destination Development Programme is quick and easy. Just complete these two steps:

1. Click on the green "Apply" button to create a user account and add the programme to your account in the online application portal.
2. Submit the required documents to verify that you fulfill the entry requirements listed below. It is usually possible to upload the required documents to your user account.

• How to submit an application
• Required documents for application

​Entry Requirements:

Specific Entry Requirements

In order to be eligible for the Master's Programme in Sustainability and Tourism you need to have:

• Completed Bachelor’s degree in Human Geography, Business Administration and Management, Tourism Studies, Economics or an equivalent degree or currently completing the final year of studies leading to such a degree.
  We sometimes are able to accept students with other academic backgrounds so please contact the programme manager if your previous studies are outside our formal requirements.
• Proof of English language proficiency. You should check the UniversityAdmissions.se information about English language proficiency to see if your previous studies fulfill this requirement. If you need to take an IELTS or TOEFL then you should acheive the following result:
  • IELTS (academic training), 6.5 (with no part of the test below 5.5)
  • TOEFL (Internet-based): 90 (with a minimum of 20 on the written part)

For specific information, see the webpage on universityadmissions.se about English documentation

Tuition Fees

96,000 SEK (total*)
*EU/EEA Citizens are not required to pay tuition fees.

Tuition fees are paid in two installments of 48,000 SEK and the first payment should be made as soon as possible after you have received your invoice and no later than the deadline on the invoice. This allows for reasonable processing time for a residence permit application.

If you have any questions about tuition fee payments, please e-mail tuitionfees@du.se.

Scholarships

There are a number of scholarships available for successful applicants to the Tourism Destination Development Programme who are not EU/EEA citizens.

For more information about scholarships, please visit our webpage about international student scholarships or contact us using the contact form on this website.

Career Opportunities

Tourism is a major growth industry internationally, and there is an urgent need for knowledge on how to develop destinations in a sustainable manner. The courses in Master's Programme in Tourism Destination Development prepare you to work within the tourism and marketing fields, and can lead to countless job opportunities, including positions as:

• Junior Online Marketer
• Tourism Officer
• Destination Development Consultant
• Operations Manager

You will most likely find work in destination-marketing organisations, at hotels, in activity companies, and within local and regional tourism-planning organisations throughout the world.

International internships

You can receive an Erasmus+ grant to complete an internship and can apply for one up to 12 months after completing your studies. This is available to all students in the programme, regardless of nationality, who pursue an approved internship within an Erasmus+ programme country (except Sweden).

Further studies including studying towards a PhD

Upon completion of the programme, you may also apply for a PhD position within Tourism Studies or similar fields at any Swedish university.  

Stay in Sweden and look for work

You can apply for a 12-month residence permit to stay in Sweden and look for work after you complete a degree programme of at least 60 credits. International students are encouraged to stay in Dalarna and Sweden and look for a job after graduating from the Master's Programme in Tourism Destination Development.

Using your degree overseas

The degree awarded by Dalarna University for this programme is internationally recognized and has been used by previous students to attain employment or pursue further studies outside of Sweden.

You can also apply to receive an Erasmus+ grant for an internship, even up to 12 months after completing your studies. This opportunity is available to all students in the programme, regardless of nationality, who pursue an approved internship within an Erasmus+ programme country other than Sweden.

The tourism faculty at Dalarna University is engaged in research and collaboration regionally and internationally. Many of the researchers are organized in the Centre for Tourism and Leisure Research (CeTLeR)

CeTLeR acts as an interface between Dalarna University and the regional tourism community.