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European universities with Postgraduate Courses in Ecotourism

Discussion in 'Zoo Cafe' started by Baldur, 28 Jun 2010.

  1. Baldur

    Baldur Well-Known Member

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    I have an undergraduate degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management from Bournemouth University. I would like to get a Master's degree next year and would like to specialise in Ecotourism (other terms used sometimes are Nature Tourism, Wildlife Tourism and a few others, even if Ecotourism seems the most common term in academic context).

    I have ruled out studying in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand due to high cost (the English language doesn't sell itself cheap) even if I'd love to. The loan from my undergraduate course is just high enough. It would be cheaper to study in Europe (I am Icelandic and we are members of the European Economic Area (EEA) which is almost the European Union (EU) and we might join that soon). An additional problem with the above countries is that a Master's degree takes normally two years while in Europe, at least in the UK, one year seems the norm. While studying in the UK wouldn't be cheap either, I would only have to pay for one year instead of two. So Europe is my target.

    I have used Google and online search engines for postgraduate courses, but strangely only come up with two European universities that teach this subject on a postgraduate level; both in the UK. Portsmouth University has (or had? I found info about their course via a search engine but was not able to find it on the university's website). The other one is Napier University in Edinburgh. I have applied and we'll see how it goes. A backup plan would be a degree in Cultural Tourism or Destination Management but I really would like to follow my heart and do an Ecotourism course.

    Google has provided all it has and the course search engines only list a portion of the universities out there; mainly those from English-speaking countries. Would anyone know of any other Ecotourism courses taught in Europe on a postgraduate level; from Albania to the Vatican City, from Andorra to the United Kingdom; that cover Ecotourism to a lesser or greater extend? Any information you can provide me with would be much appreciated. I would like to start in 2011 so time is running out to apply.
     
  2. Panthera Puss

    Panthera Puss Well-Known Member

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    'I would like to start in 2011 so time is running out to apply'.

    Masters courses normally start in September - if you want to start in September 2011 you are not short of time.
     
  3. Baldur

    Baldur Well-Known Member

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    Well, I'm actually looking at the start of 2011, January and February. I have found that most British universities have two intakes a year. I have laid the grounds for something which I hope will come true in early 2012 so I'd like to finish my degree before that happens.
     
  4. Panthera Puss

    Panthera Puss Well-Known Member

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    I suppose one option would be to find a more general course that is flexible enough to allow you to specialise in ecotourism. Someone I know is doing an education MA which allows them to specialise in the biological aspects of being a zoo educator, for instance.
     
  5. Baldur

    Baldur Well-Known Member

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    That's something I should consider as well, thank you! Education is something I would be interested in as well.