The various optional modules
that aligned with my interests were such a blessing which isn't really offered by many other universities. Through the Bacchus Mentoring Programme, I was assigned an industry professional as my mentor. It was phenomenal to get exposure to the hospitality industry. The option of choosing from a dissertation or Client Project was also a major deciding factor for me. I had also heard about the teaching methods at Oxford Brookes and that the student support was excellent.
I absolutely loved one of the optional modules
From the very beginning the name itself was so intriguing: Dark Tourism, and after getting to know more about it, I was completely immersed in the knowledge and spectrum of Dark Tourism. The module itself was practical and interactive, from having to visit a dark tourist destination to designing a tourist experience for an actual site which could be implemented for real.
The tutors are approachable and easily available
To discuss and support your journey throughout. Even if we had to talk about something non-academic they would always be available for a quick call or a meet-up. This level of engagement with the students shows the high potential and degree of student satisfaction on the course. I never had any issue with reaching out to any of my lecturers for clearing any doubts I had or receiving additional feedback.
I have made amazing friends
The course cohort is from different cultures and different nationalities. The beauty is that we all bonded through group projects and got to know each other well and became good friends for life. I look upon them for any kind of help and support and sometimes just to chill out with them or have food together, eating different cuisines from their respective countries. This was the international experience that I was hoping to get before joining the course. Oxford itself is very international, and it is a beautiful city that lightens up the ambience of the student experience.
The experiential elements of the course are fantastic!
I’ve visited dark tourism destinations, hotels and stadiums as a part of this course. I’m also on a placement currently and I’m really thankful to the Business School’s WAVES team (Work and Voluntary Experience Services) for their tireless support and confidence in helping me to achieve this. Also, I had hands-on experience with industry standard software in one of our modules for learning hospitality operations in real-life professional interactions and decision making, and then reflected on the outcomes with games and a quiz which was a fun learning experience that I must highlight.
The course has given me a stronger understanding of three sectors
Hospitality, Events and Tourism. It helped me develop a deep understanding of operations and related finance. I’m now thinking about pursuing my PhD at Oxford Brookes in the future, but for now I am happy to continue with my work placement. And who knows, I might end up being a part of Oxford Brookes Business School again in the near future to continue my journey!