Post-graduate Diploma in Tourism and Service Business

Boost your skills in our innovative post-graduate programme!

Post-graduate Diploma in Tourism and Service Business is a 60 ECTS programme for Bachelor’s Degree holders. Those who complete the programme successfully have a possibility to continue into the Master’s Degree Programme.

Full time studies

  • location: Savonlinna, Finland
  • duration of studies: 1 year
  • application deadline: 21.4.2024, application will close as soon as the group is filled
  • The interviews are conducted in the end of February, March and April 2024, but no longer than the group is filled
  • Acceptance information will be sent to the selected students shortly after each interview but no later than by 15th of May 2024
  • tuition fee: €11 600
  • studies begin: August 19th 2024

Entry requirements

  • relevant prior studies: at least Bachelor’s degree in tourism, food, hospitality or business or other applicable degree
  • at least 2 years (24 months) of work experience from the sector of tourism, food, hospitality and/or business
  • valid English language test: minimum IELTS 6.0 or PTE 54

Selection procedure

  • document check
  • online interview

Proceed to application

Opportunity to study in Finland

Finland consistently ranks high in the world happiness ranking, quality of education and security. It is also abundant in nature and peaceful environment. Finland is a technological forerunner in various sectors and innovation is supported by a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem producing some of the world’s most successful companies.

Studying at South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences

Xamk is among the top universities of applied sciences in terms of number of degree programs, amount of continuous learning credits and external research funding, according to the Ministry of Education and Culture’s comparison of various indicators. By joining Xamk, you have the possibilities to explore multitude of interests in various in-house development projects and study programs.

You will be studying in the picturesque Finnish lake district, in the town of Savonlinna.

Content of the Programme

The content of the one year programme is as follows:

Tourism and Service Business

  • Hospitality business environment analysis
  • Management of experience services
  • Future challenges in hospitality services
  • Research and development of customer experience
  • Development of e-business and e-services
  • Financial management in tourism and service business

International working environments

  • Advanced professional English
  • Multi-cultural teamwork and communications
  • Finnish 1

Management, leadership and entrepreneurship

  • Sustainable growth
  • Marketing management
  • Supply chain management and smart logistics

In the programme, we focus on applied knowledge on tourism and service business. Our pedagogical focus is on learning by doing – utilizing project and problem-based learning. During the studies, students actively participate in conducting projects for local companies. Students generate ideas for new ventures, develop and test them in simulated environments with continuous feedback from relevant stakeholders during their study period. The primary role of the instructors is to facilitate learning and to be in dialogue with the stakeholders. Students are expected to be proactive in their learning.

Master’s Degree in Tourism

The diploma programme in Tourism and Service Business is a one-year diploma programme with additional possibilities to transfer credits and continue in our Master’s Degree in Tourism. Many of our graduates continue their residence and are gainfully employed in their specialized area after graduation from the Master’s degree in Finland.

The students who have successfully accomplished the PGD programme will be eligible to apply for a Master’s degree in Tourism and Service Business at Xamk. To apply for the Master’s degree, the students will have to submit an online application (in October or in March/April depending on the number of accumulated ECTS). After that they will be conditionally accepted to the degree programme.

The conditions to enter the master studies are:

  • 60 ects obtained from the PGD
  • paid tuition fee for one semester (students will be entitled to a 20% tuition fee refund based on study progress if they complete the studies within a semester)
  • Average grade 3
  • Applying through the joint application system and completing the entrance exam (interview or written assignment)

The students must meet the following entry requirements:

  • 2 years of work experience from the sector of tourism, food, hospitality and/or business
  • a relevant education background.

How to apply

The applicants may choose to apply individually by submitting the online application and all the required documents via the online application form, or with the help of our authorized partners who will also provide extensive guidance on the application procedure, entry requirements, preparation for relocation to Finland etc.

  1. If you apply on your own (not via an authorized partner), please, be prepared to submit the following documents together with the online application: copy of the passport and a copy of the relevant degree certificate
  2. if you apply via an authorized partner, be in touch with the partner and follow their instructions.

Regardless of the application option (direct of via partner), applicants will be invited to a group interview shortly after Xamk receives the application. Interviews will be held on the following dates:

  • 22 February 2024 (for applications submitted by 15 February)
  • 27 March 2024 (for applications submitted by 20 March)
  • 29 April 2024 (for applications submitted by 21 April)

Please, note that Xamk does not charge any application fee, however, if you apply with one of our agents you maybe charged counselling fee for additional services such as, but not limited to immigration consultation and visa application assistance. Please, be in touch with an individual agent to find our more about the related fees and processes. The fees charged by an agent are not in any way controlled, influenced or related to Xamk.

LIST OF AUTHORIZED PARTNERS

RG INTERNATIONAL (Global)

Mr. Rajiv Soni
r.soni@rginternational.org
www.rginternational.org

JRK International Educational Consultants (Global)

Mr. Avijit Kuri
avijit.kuri@jrk-iec.com
www.jrk-iec.com

EDUNATION (Global)

Ms. Eerika Thurlin
contact@edunation.co
www.edunation.co

ACEA Global Building Careers Pvt. Ltd (India)

Mr. Gopal Kansal
gopal@aceaglobal.in
www.aceaglobal.in

Indo European Educational Services Pvt. Ltd (India)

Mr. Harpreet Kaur
university@indoeuropean.in
https://indoeuropean.in

HaiEducation Ltd.(Bangladesh)

Mr. Abdul Hai
haieducationbd@gmail.com
www.haieducation.fi

Mystique Admission Ltd. (Bangladesh)

Mr. Prince Ahmed
mystiqueadmission@gmail.com
www.mystiqueadmission.com

Welcome to Savonlinna

Savonlinna is a small town in eastern Finland with approximately 36,000 inhabitants. The population of the entire region is about 55,000. The Savonlinna region is situated at the heart of Europe’s most extensive lake district. The town itself is built on a chain of is­lands; around 40 % of the surface area of Savonlinna is covered with lakes and ponds.

Olavinlinna Castle, founded in 1475, serves as a reminder of Savonlinna’s colourful, though often brutal past. Nowadays, Olavinlinna Castle is a venue for the world-famous Savonlinna Opera Festival.

Savonlinna is an ideal place for enjoying peace and the beauty of nature but it also offers various opportunities for spending active leisure time.

MORE INFORMATION

Xamk

Finland

Savonlinna Campus

Savonlinna Campus

Frequently asked questions

You can apply to the programme by yourself or via an educational agent. You will find the detailed requirements and application information from this site. Please check that your prior education, work experience and language level meet the requirements.

The next application period for the Post-graduate Diploma in Tourism and Service business will be announced later.

After being accepted to the programme, Xamk’s Education Export team will send you the guidelines on how to complete the payment. Please remember to only trust email addresses that end with xamk.fi.

We will send an acceptance letter to all accepted students. We recommend to start the visa application process as soon as your study place has been confirmed, because the process can take a long time to be completed.

We will also organise an online orientation session, where you will get all the necessary information to start preparing for your arrival to Finland.

In addition to that, you will receive a thorough info package with plenty of advice and guidance to make your relocation as smooth as possible. There are also informational videos that you can watch prior to your arrival.

We strongly recommend to arrive to Finland only a few weeks before the programme starts. This will give you plenty of time to settle to Savonlinna and find your way around the town before your studies start.

In case you arrive with your family, please read our guide very thoroughly and make the necessary preparations for their arrival as well.

For any questions related to Post-graduate Diploma in Tourism and Service Business,
please contact:

Phone
+358405720474
Email
Marjut.Kasper@xamk.fi
Department
Matkailu-, ravitsemis- ja nuorisoalan koulutusyksi
Marjut Kasper
Lehtori
+358405720474
Marjut.Kasper@xamk.fi