Tourism Management
Yeditepe University, aiming to provide innovative education to its students, presents a comprehensive overview for both current students and prospective candidates through a promotional video prepared by our department head, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Murat Yücelen.
The video thoroughly explores Yeditepe University's educational approach in the field of tourism, the courses included in the curriculum, practical training opportunities, and collaborative projects with the industry. Additionally, information about career opportunities for students after graduation is provided.
Our department emphasizes not only theoretical knowledge but also practical experiences, preparing students to adapt to the dynamics of the industry in the best possible way. The introduction video offers a great opportunity for anyone looking to discover the department and experience the advantages offered by Yeditepe University.
In light of all this information, the Tourism Management Department of Yeditepe University aims to nurture confident, innovative, and leadership-oriented individuals who will be the tourism professionals of the future.
The mission of the Department of Tourism Management within the Faculty of Economy and Administrative Sciences is to educate and graduate well equipped top level future managers and entrepreneurs for Turkish economy’s leading industry, tourism, and all other related sectors.
Our department differs from similar educational programs elsewhere in many aspects. The academic staff consists of professionals who bring with them many years of hands on experience in the industry with strong contacts establishing a category of its own.
Our students not only develop themselves in the hospitality dimension of tourism but graduate with rich information and education specialising in other sectors of tourism; ranging from Travel Planning, Airline Industry Operations, to Logistics and Hotel Management.
The Department of Tourism Management gives education in the following four tracks:
- Hospitality (Hotel Management)
- Transportation (all forms but specialising in Air Transportation)
- Sales Marketing Distribution (Travel Agencies, Tour Operators, all intermediaries)
- Support Systems (third party Logistics firms of the industry behind the scenes)
which increases the employment opportunties of our graduates.
To give our graduates another competitive edge our program provides the opportunity of learning a second foreign language.
The Tourism Management Department of our Faculty, being in constant development and improvement in education, was twice awarded the "SKALİTE" Quality in Tourism Education Award (in year 2011 and 2013), selected by the votes of 980 tourism industry professionals in Turkey, forming the Turkish chapter of SKAL (World Tourism Industry Professionals Association, headquartered in Paris).
Internship/Trainee programs out in the field, where the students further solidify the theoretical material that they learn in the classrooms, give them a strong base and enables them to network and establish personal contacts in the industry, which helps them get employed at times even before graduation.
Don't forget to click the links for more detailed information and the video!
Vision
To become an internationally recognized and reputable brand in both academia and the service sector through our publications and projects in the field.
Mission
To cultivate equipped professional managers and entrepreneurial candidates in tourism and all related sectors—recognized as key drivers of the national economy—who possess strong communication skills, high professional knowledge, and the ability to develop innovative projects that contribute to sustainable development with a human-centered approach.
Studying Tourism Management at Yeditepe University
Individuals in the service sector must possess effective communication skills, knowledge, and a variety of abilities. Knowing that tourism is one of the main branches of the service sector, Yeditepe University aims to provide professional individuals to this field through its Tourism Management program, which offers education by an expert academic staff.
The Tourism Management program stands out from other programs in many ways. The education provided under headings such as accommodation, transportation, sales, marketing, distribution, and support services integrates courses from various disciplines, including management, hospitality, behavioral sciences, marketing, psychology, gastronomy, and customer relations.
In this sector, where experience is as important as knowledge, the academic staff guides students. Through seminars, fairs, airport visits, hotels, and tours, students have the opportunity to learn about tourism in both national and international contexts.
To reinforce their professional knowledge with theoretical insights, mandatory internship programs are also implemented. These internships allow students to meet industry representatives, gain practical experience in their fields, and increase their chances of receiving job offers after graduation.
In the highly competitive tourism sector, language training is also of great importance. In this context, the medium of instruction in our department is English.
Located within the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, our Tourism Management program benefits from its close integration with departments that offer double major and minor opportunities, making the educational process smoother for students.
Yeditepe University also offers student exchange programs such as Erasmus and Exchange. Through collaborations with numerous universities in Europe, America, and Canada, students can enhance their academic education while experiencing different cultures.
Yeditepe University is recognized internationally for its commitment to tourism education. Our continuously evolving department has been awarded the “SKALITE” Quality Award in Tourism Education, recognized as the “Tourism Oscar,” twice in 2011 and 2013 by the World Association of Tourism Professionals (SKAL). This award was won through the votes of 980 members of the Turkish SKAL Clubs Federation, with the association headquartered in Paris.
What Does a Tourism Management Graduate Do?
Where to Work?
Graduates of the Tourism Management program enter the workforce as knowledgeable and well-equipped individuals in the sector. With the education they receive, these graduates have the opportunity to find employment in various companies and specialize in their chosen fields.
At Yeditepe University, 96% of our Tourism Management graduates have embarked on careers in this area. Thanks to the advantages offered by their education and training, our graduates easily find jobs in sectors such as tourism, hospitality services, organization, commerce, entertainment services, food, aviation, academia, and information technology.
The primary responsibilities of professionals in the tourism sector include identifying customer expectations and meeting them in the best possible ways.
Graduates from the Tourism Management program can work in a variety of fields, including hotels, travel agencies, airlines, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, tour operators, cruise ships, event and organization companies, entertainment venues, and marinas. They may take on roles as managers or planners in these firms, and they can also choose to pursue an academic career in this direction.
Those particularly interested in working in hotels will find a range of diverse options. They can engage in front desk operations, including reservations and check-in/check-out processes, or develop their skills in marketing and sales. Other possible career paths include being responsible for room organization, cleanliness, and maintenance in housekeeping, or ensuring that hotel guests enjoy healthy and delicious meals in the kitchen.
Graduates can also work extensively in large-scale tourism agencies. Responsibilities may include serving as a project manager in the congress department, handling all flight and accommodation information for guests, and organizing events in hotels or congress venues, all of which contribute to their professional development.
Bologna Process
A student-centered program is being created to understand and raise awareness not only about the regional or national but also the international dimensions of tourism management. The aim of this program, called the Bologna Process, is to create some standards in academic fields and to share these with other international higher education institutions. In this process, while trying to eliminate contradictions in education systems, it is also aimed for students to continue their lives more consciously.
Double Major and Minor Opportunities
Tourism Management, which significantly contributes to the Turkish economy, should be considered not only in its own field but also in relation to many other sectors. In this sector, where collaboration with fields such as business and public relations is essential, continuous development and knowledge acquisition are crucial. For students eager to improve themselves and contribute to the industry, the Tourism Management program offers double major and minor educational opportunities.
A double major program allows students who meet the success criteria and other conditions to take courses from two diploma programs simultaneously at the same higher education institution and earn two separate diplomas. Students can graduate by completing the course load for both programs.
A minor program provides a limited number of courses in a specific area from another diploma program within the same higher education institution, as long as the student meets the established conditions. This results in a document (minor certificate) that does not replace a diploma.
Students can apply for double major programs as early as the third semester and no later than the fifth semester. For minor programs, applications can be made as early as the third semester and no later than the beginning of the sixth semester.
- Students must have successfully completed all courses in their primary program up to the application period. Courses completed before starting a double major cannot be transferred.
- For the double major program, students must have a minimum GPA of 2.75 at the time of application and be in the top 20% of their class based on academic ranking. To receive a scholarship for the double major program, a GPA of at least 3.25 on a 4.0 scale is required.
- For minor program applications, a minimum GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale is required. Students with a GPA of 3.0 or higher can register for minor programs with full scholarships.
- Students cannot enroll in multiple second major programs simultaneously. However, they can register for a second major diploma and a minor program at the same time.
- During double major studies, a student's GPA for the second major can drop to 2.50 only once. If the GPA falls below 2.50 a second time, the student's registration in the second major program will be canceled.
- To continue in the minor program, a student's GPA in the primary program must be at least 2.30. Students who do not meet this requirement will have their registration in the minor program canceled.
- Students who do not take courses from the double major or minor program for two consecutive semesters will have their registrations canceled.
To graduate from the second major program, a student must have a minimum GPA of 2.70 and fulfill the graduation conditions of the programs. The protocol valid at the time of starting the double major will be the basis for transfer and graduation processes.
To obtain a minor certificate, a student must have a minimum GPA of 2.30 in their primary program.
A student enrolled in a double major or minor program will receive a second major diploma or minor certificate upon graduation from their primary program.
A student who earns the right to graduate from their primary degree program and completes the double major program will receive a second major diploma, while a student who completes the minor program will receive a minor certificate.