What are tourists’ top needs? What might tourism products look like in the future? How do you market a tourist destination? How do you stage an event and overcome the challenges involved? You will work on these and other business-related questions in our full-time bachelor degree programme, delivered in partnership between IMC Krems and Hainan Tropical Ocean University.
All courses are taught in English by international lecturers, bringing together global perspectives and local expertise. In just three years, you will be ready to design modern tourism concepts, contribute to the growth of one of China's most important industries, and launch a successful international career.
A formula for success: theoretical knowledge + practical experience
The programme is built on three pillars.
Semesters 1–2
The basics
In the first semesters, you will mainly cover the basics of business administration, including marketing, management, and accounting – always with a view to how they apply to the tourism industry. In addition, a strong focus is placed on the topic of sustainability – not only in two dedicated courses but also as a common thread throughout the entire degree programme.
In semester 2, you will gain initial insights into the areas of event management, hospitality management and destination management.
You will also focus on the communication, negotiation, language, and research skills needed to lead in international tourism markets.
Semester 3–4
Practical training and time abroad
All courses have a strong practical focus. Most of the lecturers come directly from the tourism industry and use real-world examples to illustrate course content.
In semester three, you have the opportunity to spend a study semester in Krems, Austria. In semester four, you will complete a minimum 22-week internship at a company of your choice in China or abroad. This allows you to put your theoretical knowledge into practice in a professional environment. When searching for the right internship provider, you can benefit from our extensive global company database, giving you access to a wide range of international opportunities and valuable industry connections.
Semesters 5–6
Advanced courses
In the final two semesters, you will deepen your expertise and explore advanced topics shaping the future of tourism.
Semester 5 offers a strong mix of core and elective subjects. You will enhance your business skills through courses such as Finance, Investment and Mathematics and Risk and Crisis Management, while gaining industry-specific insights in Digital Tourism and Marketing and Cultural and Culinary Tourism. You can also specialise by choosing between Sustainable Hospitality Management or Sustainable Destination Management, allowing you to focus on an area that aligns with your career goals.
In Semester 6, the emphasis shifts to innovation and leadership. You will study Business Models and Business Planning and Innovation and Experience Design, complemented by a choice of electives such as Wellness Tourism or Sports and Adventure Tourism. You will also take part in the Future Lab and Personal Development, designed to enhance your professional skills and entrepreneurial mindset.
Throughout your final year, you will work on your Bachelor Thesis across two seminars, building towards the Bachelor Exam — which also serves as your final exam. This milestone is your chance to bring together everything you’ve learned, showcase your expertise, and leave your mark on the tourism sector with fresh, research-based perspectives. It’s the perfect springboard for launching your career or continuing your academic journey.
Welcome to Sanya/China!
Established in 1954, Hainan Tropical Ocean University (HNTOU) is a full-time public university. HNTOU has two campuses: one located in Sanya and one in Wuzhishan, covering a total area of over 1.45 million square meters. The university currently offers 13 master degree programmes, 53 bachelor degree programmes and 5 post-secondary programmes.
HNTOU offers two joint programmes cooperating with IMC Krems, namely Tourism and Leisure Management and Export-oriented Management.
The Tourism and Leisure Management programme started in 2013, produced 349 graduates and currently has 437 students. The Export-oriented Management programme received its first group of students in September 2020. 47 students are currently enrolled.
Application and admissions
Application and admissions – the next steps
You've found a course that's a perfect fit? Great – you’ve already taken the most important step! We’ve put together an overview to guide you through the next steps.
What are the admission requirements for the bachelor degree programme?
To qualify for admission to a university of applied sciences bachelor degree programme, you must have a proof of a general higher education entrance qualification (i.e. an Austrian secondary school leaving certificate or an equivalent qualification).
In the case of foreign certificates, we check the equivalence with the general higher education entrance qualification according to Art. 4 FHG (Fachhochschulgesetz) as amended as soon as your online application is completed. Supplementary examinations might be necessary to achieve an equivalence.
What proof of your language skills is required for this English-language bachelor degree programme?
In addition, a proof of English language proficiency at level B2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) is required.
The following English language certificates are accepted:
- IELTS 5.5
- Cambridge certificates at level B2
The language certificate should not be older than two years and can be submitted later before the start of studies.
If English is your first language or if you have completed your entire secondary education in English, you do not need any additional certificates.
Registration
To initiate your online application for the bachelor degree programme Tourism and Leisure Management in Sanya, send an e-mail with the following data to our cooperation partner at Hainan Tropical Ocean University under 13907595114(at)163.com:
- Name of the bachelor degree programme
- Gender
- First name
- Last name
- Date of birth
- E-mail address
In coordination with our cooperation partner, Hainan Tropical Ocean University, we will carry out the registration for you and send you your personal access link by e-mail. With this link you can start your online application.
Apply online
Complete the input fields of your online application and upload the required documents as listed below.
- Photo: as required for the passport
- Passport: ID page with the passport holder’s data or, if not available, ID card with certified translation
- Your CV (curriculum vitae) in tabular form
- Secondary school leaving certificate or general university entrance qualification: a full scan of your original document, combined with the proper translation and all legalisation seals and notes in one digital file.
- or, if you have not yet obtained the proof of general higher education entrance qualification at the time of application:
Official and personalised confirmation – issued by your school – with the exact denomination of your secondary school leaving certificate including the expected date of graduation. If the confirmation is not issued in English language, a proper translation is also required. - Proof of English language proficiency: either an English language certificate (e.g., IELTS 5.5 or Cambridge Certificate Level B2) or a confirmation from your secondary school that you have completed your entire secondary education in English.
Prepare digital copies (properly scanned, up to max. 5 MB per document) of all required documents for your application. Please use only the following formats: PDF or JPEG/JPG. When scanning multi-page documents, please ensure that all pages are saved together in one digital file.
The statement of motivation and your essay are integrated parts of the online application and don’t have to be uploaded as additional documents.
For instructions and supporting information on how to apply online, please refer to the Guide to online application for a transnational bachelor degree programme. Make sure to consider the requirements for translation and legalisation of international documents prior to your online communication.
We will confirm receipt of your application via e-mail. Please note that only complete applications submitted in time by the application deadline can be accepted.
Information on data protection in a nutshell
Responsible body: IMC Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften Krems GmbH, Piaristengasse 1, 3500 Krems an der Donau
Contact: datenschutz(at)imc.ac.at
Processed data: data provided in the course of the online application
Legal basis:
a.) Art 6 para. 1 lit b GDPR - the fulfilment of the pre-contractual legal relationship
b.) Art 6 para. 1 lit f GDPR – legitimate interest of IMC University of Applied Sciences Krems
Purpose:
a.) processing the application
b.) marketing purposes
Details can be found in our current data protection declaration („Student applicant data“, „Rights of data subjects“ und „Marketing“).
What happens after you have submitted your online application?
Once we have received your application, we will check whether it is complete, the details are correct, and the required documents have been uploaded.
If you fulfil our admission requirements, we will invite you to an admission interview.
Admission interview
We would like to get to know you personally:
Your statement of motivation and your essay form the basis for your application interview. Every applicant will be given the opportunity to introduce him- or herself in a face-to-face interview with the degree programme director. In addition to a short personal introduction and your motivation to study, you will discuss the topic selected prior to your interview and the arguments used in the essay, as well as the relevance of this topic for the degree programme.
The admission interview is conducted via video chat and held in English.
After the admission interview, your statement of motivation, the essay and your performance throughout the interview are assessed according to the content statements, the expressive power and the argumentation. Based on this evaluation, the decision on the allocation of study places is made.
