Travel & Tourism BTEC Extended Certificate Course Outline
Advanced Level 2
Awarding Body: Edexcel
Study Travel & Tourism
Travel and tourism is one of the world’s biggest and fastest growing industries which has created a wide range of career opportunities in a number of different sectors such as transport (airports, airlines, cruise ships), hospitality, events management to name but a few. The course will give you the opportunity to explore the different factors that are needed for organisations to achieve success and will give you an appreciation of the types and levels of work skills needed. You will research and visit some leading players from the industry; these include companies such as Virgin Atlantic, British Airways and the five star Royal Garden Hotel, while also looking at the vital role played by the smaller local providers. Throughout the course you will develop and build the skills, contacts and knowledge that will help you to progress your career in travel and tourism.
The General entry requirements are 4 GCSE’s at Grade 3 or above with a minimum 3 in GCSE English Language or Maths or a MERIT in Foundation Learning.
Exam board: Edexcel
Course title: Travel and Tourism BTEC L2 Extended Certificate
The course consists of 10 coursework units and 2 external exams. The units include:
- 1: The UK Travel and Tourism Sector (externally assessed)
- 2: UK Travel and Tourism Destinations
- 4: International Travel and Tourism Destinations
- 5: Factors Affecting Worldwide Travel and Tourism
- 6: The Travel and Tourism Customer Experience
- 7: T&T Business Environments (externally assessed)
- 8: Promotion and Sales in Travel and Tourism
- 9: Travel and Tourism Employment Opportunities
- 10: Organising a Travel and Tourism Study Visit
- 16: Holiday Representatives
- 19: Hospitality Operations in the Travel and Tourism Sector
- 20: UK Visitor Attractions
You will be asked to provide a range of assessment evidence which will include reports, presentations, role plays and tests. Your tutor will give you guidance as to how the work should be completed and encourage you to attain the highest grades. Regular and informative feedback will be given on your classwork progress which will help develop the skills and knowledge needed to successfully complete the formal assessment.
Over the years we have had a very high level of progression both internally (from levels 1 and 2 to Advanced Level 3) and externally to Higher Education. Indeed, most of our students go on to achieve success on travel and tourism (or related) courses at University. The aim of the level 2 course is to develop a good breadth of knowledge of the travel and tourism industry while enhancing your general study skills. By the end of the course you will have explored, through research and class visits, a wide range of components that make-up the industry. Some students choose to apply for work directly in travel and tourism or take-up apprenticeship schemes. Most students choose to remain at St Charles College to continue their studies to level 3 which then provides an excellent pathway on to Higher Education.
"The Travel and Tourism course is comprehensive and very diverse in the directions, which we learn about the sector. The assignments are well-organized and the teachers are very encouraging so we can achieve outstanding grades."
"Studying Travel & Tourism is very interesting and the context is absorbing and captivating. All my teachers are highly helpful, making sure that we have understood the tasks and we know what we need to do to achieve. The subject has helped me improve in many ways."
"The course was thorough and very varied in the ways that we learnt about the industry. The tasks were well organized and the tutors gave a lot of encouragement so that we could achieve the top grades."
"I really enjoyed the course and want to continue the subject to the next level."
"The visit to British Airways was excellent, we had the chance to speak to cabin crew, pilots and executives. I learnt so much about the airline industry."
Some useful industrial links that we use on the course.
- http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/
- http://www.visitbritain.com/en/EN/
- http://www.ttgdigital.com/
Mr Alwyn Morgan (HoD) Contact: amo@stcharles.ac.uk
Mr Alwyn Morgan BA(Hons) Geography (Manchester University); PGCE (University of Wales) Industry Experience: Sheraton Hotels, Cardiff Wales Airport
Mr Adam Chalcraft BA(Hons) Geography (Liverpool University); PGCE (Brunel University)
Mrs Paulina Capote BA (Hons) Business Studies; Masters Degree in Education (Madrid University); Diploma in Foreign Trade; Proficiency in Spanish Studies; QTS British Council
Current areas of interest within the department: The team are investigating the development of responsible tourism in Equatorial Guinea having organised and completed fieldwork visits to Lanzarote.
