FDA Aviation, Travel and Tourism Foundation degree at Hartlepool College of Further Education
FDA Aviation, Travel and Tourism at HCFE. The qualification is nationally recognised through a recognised UK degree-awarding body. Across Business & Management courses nationally, 81% of students continue past their first year.
About this course
FDA Aviation, Travel and Tourism is a Foundation degree (FDA) at HCFE, based in Hartlepool College. It is studied part-time; duration varies by route.
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Business & Management, see the sections below.
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
Year 1 6 modules
- Aviation ServicesCore
Module details
You study the world of aviation, from its modest beginnings to its development as a global industry. International tourism is dependent on a reliable aviation industry, which requires complex planning on a global scale to keep staff and passengers safe. This module sets the scene on where it all began, considering the key milestones. You look at the size and scope of the sector and its statistics in airport, airlines, passenger numbers, operations and major routes. You also consider operational
- Managing and Developing PeopleCore20 credits
Module details
Gain a theoretical and practical understanding of managing and developing people in the industry. Examine the importance of effective recruitment and selection, and key aspects of employment law. Using a combination of real-world examples and case studies, explore organisations within the sector and how they manage staff. Learn about the relationship between effective recruitment and development.
- Managing Service Standards in the Aviation, Travel and Tourism SectorCore
Module details
You focus on service standards in the aviation, travel and tourism industry and how managers lead their teams to improve customer service. Learn the importance of service standards and how they are monitored, examining how your own behaviour impacts on others. Gather and respond positively to useful and constructive personal feedback from others. Understand different coaching styles and theories to produce a coaching plan, building on your strengths and those of your team to overcome areas of de
- Sales and MarketingCore20 credits
Module details
Marketing plays a significant role in any industry, but particularly in the service sector. Organisations cannot operate without promotion or market research for communicating with a range of customers. Examine factors that influence the marketing of products and services and analyse the effectiveness of promotional campaigns for organisations to achieve their marketing objectives.
- The Work Environment and Self-AnalysisCore20 credits
Module details
The range of employment opportunities in any industry are diverse, from specialist operatives to strategic managers. Research and explore your industry of interest and formulate a career action plan, detailing your strengths and weaknesses to bridge any skills and knowledge gaps.
- UK Tourism – Diversity and ImportanceCore
Module details
You analyse the diversity of the UK tourism industry. Study visitor flows, origins and statistics, as well as the different tourism products available in the UK. Focus on the future of UK tourism as a catalyst for growth and employment.
Year 2 5 modules
- Aviation and Travel TechnologyCore
Module details
You analyse the development and importance of online business within the aviation and travel industries. You focus on the trends and development of online business through advancing technology and its relevance for the current travel and aviation industries.
- Current Global Issues in Aviation, Travel and TourismCore
Module details
You study a sector of your choice in the aviation, travel and tourism industry, composing a detailed report.
- Events in The IndustryCore
Module details
You work in a team to successfully plan and implement a live event, reflecting on it afterwards. You develop your personal aims and self-evaluation. This module supports all aspects of the industry, but is particularly appealing if you want to work in events management.
- Industry-related ProjectCore40 credits
Module details
Apply your wider learning in a working environment. Take part in a project with an organisation of your choice to improve an aspect of its operations. This provides a solid platform to showcase your skills, enhancing employability, and supporting you to understand the application of research methodologies and analysis of results.
- Managing Airport and Airline OperationsCore
Module details
Following on from the Aviation Services module, you continue to study this specific industry, getting a deep insight into the world of aviation. You learn about the role of senior crew in a practical assessment setting.
Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
This Foundation degree in Aviation, Travel and Tourism explores how businesses in these sectors operate and compete. You'll usually begin with core modules covering management and organisations, marketing principles, and business economics, building the analytical and data skills you'll need. As you progress, you'll study operations and supply chain management, organisational behaviour, and strategy, examining how firms design processes, manage people, and position themselves competitively. In your final stage, you can pursue specialist options such as entrepreneurship, international business, digital business, consulting, or marketing. You'll typically engage with innovation and enterprise, and complete a capstone project or consultancy brief that applies your learning to a real client challenge or business scenario.
Who it's for
This part-time course suits those seeking to develop expertise in aviation, travel and tourism whilst balancing other commitments. It is designed for learners who want a nationally recognised qualification in the Business & Management field without full-time study demands.
Careers & job market
Nationally, 87% of Business & Management graduates are in work or further study 15 months after graduating. Of those working, 60% are in highly skilled roles or pursuing further study. Graduate earnings across the sector show a starting range of £24,000–£32,000 at 15 months post-graduation, rising to £26,350–£37,200 after five years. These figures reflect national outcomes data and are not guaranteed individual salaries. The course covers specialisations such as Marketing, Finance, HR, Operations, Strategy, International Business, Entrepreneurship, Supply Chain and Consulting, equipping you for varied career paths within the sector.
University & format
This Foundation degree (FDA) is studied part-time at Hartlepool College of Further Education, a higher education college located in Hartlepool. The course is taught in English. As a degree from a recognised UK degree-awarding body, your qualification will be nationally recognised.
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
Part-time application dates vary by provider. UCAS dates
See and book current events. Dates can fill or change.
Opened 2 July 2026; last choice 19 October 2026. Check vacancies now. A cached page never claims a place is still available.
Entry & how to get in
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Entry is set by the university and based on your offer. Use your predicted grades to see how you compare, then check the university's stated requirements.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course. One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by Apply directly to the provider
Part-time application dates vary by provider. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
The cap depends on the UK nation the provider sits in; the provider's page is authoritative.
Check fees at HCFE →Check the finance route that applies to you
Support depends on ordinary residence, assessed fee status, course and provider nation. The provider nation is unresolved here, so no national cap or loan amount is being guessed.
Find your official student-finance route →Paying for it
- Tuition fee loan: applied for through the student-finance body for the UK nation you live in.
- Living-cost support: means-tested on household income, from your nation's student-finance body.
- Repayment: only above the income threshold set by your nation's student-finance system.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
Each UK nation runs its own student-finance system; check gov.uk for the rates that apply to you.
Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
That does not mean no funding exists. Check the university directory for current amounts, eligibility and application dates.
We only display a named award when its provider source identifies the award and who it is for.
Still deciding what to study?
StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.
Careers & earnings
What Business & Management graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
- 1Graduate / AnalystOn a scheme or first role · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / ManagerOwning an area, marketing, finance, ops · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / Head ofLeading a function and a team · 5–10 yrs
- 4Director / FounderRunning a business unit or your own company · 10+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs Business & Management nationally
National figures for Business & Management graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
Job market & outlook
How Business & Management graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
How AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Routine reporting and data pulls
- First-draft decks and copy
- Standard forecasts and reconciliations
- Scheduling and admin workflows
More human than ever
- Strategy and judgement under uncertainty
- Leading, negotiating and selling
- Sense-checking and owning what AI produces
- Relationships with clients and teams
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where Business & Management graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- Consultancies
- Corporate graduate schemes
- Retail & FMCG
- Startups & scale-ups
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Business & Management graduates.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
Business and management across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around Hartlepool College
2,052 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.
Is Business & Management right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to HCFE from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is set per course by HCFE; international fees are typically £12,000–£30,000/year for classroom subjects and higher for lab/clinical ones. You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
English language
Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.
Student visa
You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.
Scholarships & funding
Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check HCFE’s funding pages.
Living costs
Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.
Working while you study
A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.
Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with HCFE and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at HCFE
Business & Management at other universities
Common questions
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates earn?
What will it cost me?
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