Hotel management and hospitality is a degree that may be awarded either by a university college dedicated to the studies of hospitality management or a business school with a relevant department. It is a field of study similar to a business degree with a focus on hospitality and hotel management.
Why study in Ireland?
No fear for a language barrier
There are a number of languages used in Ireland. Since the late nineteenth century, English has been the predominant first language, displaying Irish. Irish English could be a little in contrast with British English with the local accented slang. However, Irish English is primarily spoken in the country. Irish English could be gaped with filler words in between which would be eventually easier to catch up with later on.
The ideal weather
Not too cold, not too hot. The local weather is just right for you. If you have heard of the typically unsettled weather in England that could be extreme and distinct, then the weather in Ireland is far bearable with a better climate. Ireland’s climate is influenced by the Atlantic Ocean so it does not have similar weather conditions like the countries in the same latitude would have.
Low cost of studying compared to the UK
Whether you are going to study in the UK or Ireland could depend on certain criteria that you wish to focus on. Ireland is known as one of the friendliest countries to pursue higher education for international students. The cost of living in Ireland is slightly cheaper than the UK especially in the outskirts of Ireland.
Plenty of student perks
If you are a student in Ireland you will be entitled to endless students perks such as free buses, special discounts on public transports and many more. Your student card will be worth a lot when you can also join plenty of clubs and have more fun.
Vibrant culture
If you are a student in Ireland you will be entitled to endless students perks such as free buses, special discounts on public transports and many more. Your student card will be worth a lot when you can also join plenty of clubs and have more fun.
Working with a student visa
This is possibly the best privilege of studying in Ireland. The Irish government has allowed international students to stay back for 24 months after graduating to work locally. Students can also work part-time on average students can work part-time for 20 hours/week or 40 hours/week during holidays or break. This is also a great opportunity to continue being employed there and become a permanent resident.
What are the specialisations in Hotel Management and Hospitality?
In today’s era of globalisation, Hotel Management and Hospitality industry professionals are highly specialised in their field. It’s a field indeed assuming greater significance and is fast developing into a lucrative career provider.
If you are interested in the field, you will be rewarded financially but also what are the fields in the industry that will interest you more? Consider these 5 leading fields in the industry and their specifications.
Hotel operations manager
As apt as it sounds, the job scope of a Hotel Operations Manager is to consult or supervise the operational departments within a hotel, resort or lodge. It’s essential to ensure that every aspect of the hotel runs smoothly on a day to day basis.
Event planner or coordinator
Event planners are often creative and innovative when it comes to ideas to the concepts of the events. They have to help secure ideal location, prices and other decor materials. So it’s a detail-oriented and crucial job that requires a great deal of patience and a jolly good sense of humour.
Chef
Chefs are required to know and understand food safety rules and regulations and may work their way up the kitchen. Chefs are required to know the basic cooking styles and techniques and are taught how to prepare meals for a restaurant.
Concierge
Concierge, as it’s translated from a French word, means Keeper of the Keys or a person who gets everything done when you’re staying at a hotel. Concierges are versatile, they can carry out a number of job roles, ensuring that guests have an amazing and comfortable overall experience.
Tour guide
If you like travelling and also friendly in nature, you are probably suitable for this. Tour guides are individuals who take people to and from a touristy place. They guide, explain and exhibit the places, culture and events to the tourist. A tour guide is required to encompass the essential information of the tourist attractions.
What are the important skills I need in this field?
It all takes the right skills to become successful in what you are doing. Here are the top skills to possess if you want to be successful hotel management and hospitality major.
Customer service skill
Hospitality revolves in serving customers. Hotel managers are required to have good communication skills and the ability to serve customers warmly.
Sharp memory
Hospitality revolves in serving customers. Hotel managers are required to have good communication skills and the ability to serve customers warmly.
A little tip to sharpen your memory: eat foods enriched with nutrients and get sufficient sleep.
Work under pressure effectively
Are you someone who always hurries in the last minute? Then maybe you will the potential one. Bill Gates once said that "give a task to a last-minute person and he will complete it twice as quicker than a normal person. This is the art called effective laziness".
Creative minded
Are you someone who loves something not the norm? You like to be innovative and creative? To be an efficient problem solver you need to be creative minded. You need to think out of the box to solve problems in a creative manner.
Perseverance
You need to understand that before succeeding with a proper solution you will fail many times. While it deals with complexity, problem-solving could as equally challenging. To be determined and resilient is part of the process in this field.
How long will I study in this programme?
The study duration could vary from one institute to another. However, as a general estimate, we have compiled a general estimate of the duration according to the study levels and qualifications.
| Study Levels | Duration |
| Foundation/A levels | 1 year |
| Diploma | 2 years |
| Undergraduate Degree | 4 years |
| Master's Degree/PhD | 1 - 4 years |
What are the entry requirements and qualifications?
To successfully get admission into an Irish degree or pathway programme, students must meet the minimum academic and entry-level English language requirements.
However, requirements could vary according to institutions. We advise you to refer to the institutions directly for more details.
- Foundation/A levels
- SPM with minimum 5 passes
- Pass 4 relevant subjects in STPM, including English
- Bachelor's degree in hotel management and hospitality
- Completed any relevant Irish Degree or any equivalent International Degree with minimum CGPA 2.5, completed a Master’s Degree and/or PhD from a recognised Irish Institute or any equal International Institute.
English language requirements
- TOEFL score 61
- IELTS score of 6.0 (no bands below 5.5)
- Kaplan iBT 61
- Pearson Test of English (PTE) 53
How much are the average tuition fees?
The average tuition fees for Hotel Management and Hospitality vary from one institute to another according to different levels and qualifications. Below are the average estimated tuition fees:
| Programme | Estimated Fees (MYR) | Estimated Fees (EUR) |
| Foundation/A levels | RM15,000 - RM30,000 | €3,200 - 6,400 |
| Bachelor's Degree | RM55,000 - RM100,000 | €12,000 - 24,000 |
| Master's Degree, PhD | RM45,000 - RM95,000 | €10,000-20,000 |
What are the job opportunities and average pay in Hotel Management and Hospitality?
There are a number of job possibilities for the hotel management major. The right job will be dependent on your personal skills, preference and personality. Here are the career choices available for Hotel Management and Hospitality major:
| Career | Estimated Monthly Income (MYR) | Estimated Monthly Income (EUR) |
| Chef | RM3,300 | €700 |
| Hotel manager | RM2,600 | €600 |
| Event planner | RM3,800 | €800 |
| Concierge | RM3,800 | €750 |
| Tour guide | RM3,500 | €720 |
| Hotel accounts keeper | RM4,000 | €820 |
Top Universities in Ireland that offer Hotel Management and Hospitality Course
Hotel Management and Hospitality is highly trendy in universities in Ireland. In fact, Ireland is booming with plenty of hotels. Below are the top institutions offering the programme.
Trinity College Dublin
Ranked #1 in Ireland and #120 in the world, is the best university in Ireland to pursue computer science and IT course. Trinity College Dublin has excellent facilities and lecturers and good supportive administration.
University College Dublin (UCD)
Ranked #201 in the world, tops 1% of the higher education institutes worldwide is the largest and most richly diversified university in Ireland. University College Dublin is a very vibrant institute with over 30,000 students including 8,000 international students yearly.
National University of Ireland, Galway (NUI)
Ranked #301 worldwide and has also been ranked #260 in the QS world ranking. It has been awarded full five QS stars for excellence in the year 2018. National University of Ireland serves to provide education to and encourage consistent research from their students.
University College Cork (UCC)
Placed at world ranking #301. Students studying at University College Cork (UCC) will be potentially be selected to study abroad at affiliate colleges in Canada, Finland, France and Germany. Teaching methods conducted in the Hospitality department with coordinated lectures, tutorials and practicals.
University of Limerick (UL)
University of Limerick (UL) is an independent, internationally focused university with over 11,000 students yearly. The university has a proud record of innovation in education and excellence in research and scholarship.