Hospitality, Tourism, Transport and Events (Ph.D.)

Drawing on the University of Surrey’s world-leading academic standing in hospitality, tourism, transport and events, the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programme in Hospitality, Tourism, Transport and Events is designed to train doctoral researchers equipped with advanced critical thinking, rigorous research proficiency and a global academic vision. It trains doctoral researchers to undertake structured, systematic academic research and encourages them to produce original doctoral research worthy of publication in top international peer-reviewed journals, delivering cutting-edge theoretical insights and intellectual resources to advance the high-quality development of tourism and associated sectors.

There are no mandatory fixed modules within the programme. In consultation with their supervisors, doctoral researchers can flexibly choose relevant postgraduate modules aligned with their research interests. The Institute also delivers bespoke training sessions covering research methodologies and academic career development. Doctoral researchers are able to present their ongoing work and exchange ideas at regular academic seminars. Year-round interactive workshops span personal professional effectiveness, digital information literacy, research dissemination and academic career planning, offering holistic support for doctoral candidates’ academic progression.

Key research themes of the programme cover the following streams:

Competitiveness of the Visitor Economy, Digital Transformation in the Visitor Economy, Sustainability and Wellbeing in the Visitor Economy, Technology and Tourist Experiences, and Sports Tourism.