In short
The four-year Hotel Management bachelor is for future leaders in the international world of hospitality. At Hotel Management School Maastricht, innovative entrepreneurship, gastronomy and developing a 'global mindset’ take central stage.
You will follow a strongly economic and business-oriented curriculum with subjects such as management accounting, statistics, and a strong focus on languages. The first year you live on campus in the Student Residence. You will develop your practical skills in the Teaching Hotel and during work placements.
We offer an English and Dutch track of our bachelor of international tourism and hotel management, which is identical in content. In the English track you will be in an international classroom with both Dutch students and international students.
You can start this programme in September or February.
Join our Open Day
Ask all your questions, soak up the atmosphere and experience what it’s like to study here. Whether you already know what you want or are still deciding, discover what truly suits you during the open day.
Follow our Online Webinar
Get a first impression of the programme in 30 minutes, with student experiences and tips about your future opportunities.
Download the programme brochure
Everything about the programme content, admission, internships and future opportunities, all in one clear document.
Why study Hotel Management at Zuyd?
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Global perspective
Learn with a global mindset and prepare yourself for an international career in hospitality.
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Learning in real life
Practise your skills at the Teaching Hotel and during internships at home and abroad.
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Strong business foundation
From management accounting to languages: you will receive a solid package of subjects for every hospitality professional.
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Living and learning together
In your first year, you will live in the Student Residence: immediately making new friends and becoming part of a close-knit community.
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Entrepreneurial and innovative
Develop into a creative leader who combines hospitality and entrepreneurship.
Study in the student city of Maastricht
Maastricht is the perfect place to study Hotel Management in the Netherlands – and the hotel school campus makes it even more special. The campus brings together everything you need: the educational building, the Student Residence, the Teaching Hotel, and the student association Amphitryon – all nestled in a scenic park setting. As a first-year student, you’ll live on campus for a full year, together with 390 fellow students in the Student Residence. The school building features its own student restaurant, a library, and plenty of study spaces. You’ll also find hands-on facilities such as the Gastronomy Lab and the Beverage Lab. It’s the ideal environment to combine academic learning with social, cultural, and international experiences in Maastricht.
We are Zuyd. We are close-knit, sincere and confident
Programme Structure
In the first year of Hotel Management you build a solid foundation. Then you move on to more in-depth work, with projects, internships and practical assignments. You receive personal guidance and work closely with fellow students. This way, you not only learn the profession, but also get to know yourself better and prepare for the step into the professional field.
Your first year
In the propaedeutic year at Hotel School Maastricht, you will focus on the 4 pillars of the hospitality industry. The Bachelor of Arts Hotel Management offers a good balance between theory and practice, while you work at the Teaching Hotel and the student restaurant Refresh.
Professional Hospitality: In this BA in Hotel Management module, you’ll explore the business side of hospitality. You’ll gain insights into financial management, operational processes, and service excellence. Theory meets practice as you work in the Teaching Hotel and student-run restaurant, learning the ins and outs of the profession while also developing your leadership skills.
Gastronomic Hospitality: This module focuses on the world of food and beverage. You’ll learn all about gastronomy, food service, and the importance of guest-focused hospitality. As part of this module, you’ll also work in the Teaching Hotel and the student-run restaurant, where you’ll put your bachelor of Hotel Management in culinary into practice.
Innovative Hospitality: This module puts creative entrepreneurship in the spotlight. Together with fellow students, you’ll organise a sustainable and innovative event for external guests. It’s a hands-on experience that lays the foundation for forward-thinking hospitality and future-oriented management.
Intercultural Hospitality: With the international focus of the bachelor of Hotel Management course, you’ll explore how hospitality is practised across different cultures. You’ll examine diverse cultural norms and values, as well as the role of sustainability in global hospitality.
Guaranteed housing on campus
At Hotel Management School Maastricht, we offer guaranteed housing for all first-year students. As a freshman, you’ll live in the on-campus Student Residence in an international community. It’s part of your training, building both social and practical skills. You’ll have your own furnished student room with a private bathroom. Living alongside your classmates, you’ll make friendships that last a lifetime.
Advanced study and practical experience
Year 2: Management & business plan
In the second year of the BA in Hotel Management programme, you will deepen your knowledge of team management and develop a business plan. In the second part of the year, you will go on an operational internship abroad, working in a 4- or 5-star hotel. You’ll gain hands-on experience across various departments – such as Rooms Division or Food & Beverage – and gain a close-up understanding of hotel operations.
Year 3: Strategic hotel management
In year 3, you will focus on strategic hotel management and continue developing your leadership skills. You will visit a hotel and, together with your group, prepare a strategic proposal. Later in the year, you’ll expand your knowledge of change management, innovation, and research. You will use your strategic proposal to develop an innovative concept for the hotel. This advisory report will then be presented to the client.
This year, you will also start to specialise. You’ll choose 1 of our BA in Hotel Management tracks: Foodservice, Hotel Management or Horizons in Hospitality. Based on your track, you will select 2 minors – at least 1 of which must align with your chosen specialisation. You also have the option to go on an international exchange. Alternatively, you may choose to follow a pre-master’s programme.
Year 4: Management project & internship
In the final year of your bachelor's in international Hotel Management, you will spend the first semester working in a graduation group on a management consultancy project. You will address a real management issue for an external client. You’ll gain in-depth knowledge of the topic, define a research question, and conduct the necessary research. The project concludes with a professional presentation to the client, in which you share your recommendations.
In the last 5 months of your Hotel Management course in the Netherlands, you’ll complete a management internship. This takes place in a hotel or hospitality-related organisation and includes a tailored internship assignment. It is the ideal preparation for your first job.
You’ll conclude your studies with the ‘My Story’ assessment: a personal reflection on your journey, your development, and your value as a young professional. You may also be eligible for the IHAB Award.
Excellence Programme
Alongside your regular Hotel Management studies in Maastricht, we offer a range of extracurricular activities. Our Excellence Programme is designed for ambitious students. You will develop a unique hotel concept based on a real-life business case, attend masterclasses, and take part in international student competitions. You can also take on a board year within Student Association Amphitryon or Study Association Iris.
Internships
The hospitality industry is global and diverse. In addition to speaking multiple languages, it is vital to learn how to work with people from different cultural backgrounds. For many students, this international aspect is a key reason for choosing a career in hospitality. During your internships, you’ll work with colleagues and guests from around the world and gain insights into other countries' norms and values.
In year 2, you will spend 5 months on a practical internship abroad, typically in the Food & Beverage or Rooms Division of a 4- or 5-star hotel. Your internship takes place abroad. We collaborate with reputable partners to ensure quality placements. Our Internship Office supports you in finding the internship that best suits you. To help you prepare, we organise an Internship & Career Event twice a year, where companies and organisations present their opportunities.
In your final year (year 4) of the Bachelor of Business in Hotel Management, you will complete a 5-month management internship. Based on your chosen profile, you will do an internship in a hotel or another hospitality-related company. An appropriate internship assignment is an integral part of your internship. The management internship offers excellent preparation for your future career. You can complete this internship either in the Netherlands or abroad.
Guidance and support
From the first year of your Bachelor of Science in Hotel Management, you will take part in the My Story coaching programme. This individual coaching track focuses on your academic progress, personal well-being, and, later on, your professional development. You will be assigned a personal coach – usually a senior lecturer – with whom you will have 1-on-1 meetings throughout your time at the hotel school.
During these sessions, you will reflect on your growth, explore your strengths and motivations, and work towards your personal and professional goals.
Your first year
Your first year
In the propaedeutic year at Hotel School Maastricht, you will focus on the 4 pillars of the hospitality industry. The Bachelor of Arts Hotel Management offers a good balance between theory and practice, while you work at the Teaching Hotel and the student restaurant Refresh.
Professional Hospitality: In this BA in Hotel Management module, you’ll explore the business side of hospitality. You’ll gain insights into financial management, operational processes, and service excellence. Theory meets practice as you work in the Teaching Hotel and student-run restaurant, learning the ins and outs of the profession while also developing your leadership skills.
Gastronomic Hospitality: This module focuses on the world of food and beverage. You’ll learn all about gastronomy, food service, and the importance of guest-focused hospitality. As part of this module, you’ll also work in the Teaching Hotel and the student-run restaurant, where you’ll put your bachelor of Hotel Management in culinary into practice.
Innovative Hospitality: This module puts creative entrepreneurship in the spotlight. Together with fellow students, you’ll organise a sustainable and innovative event for external guests. It’s a hands-on experience that lays the foundation for forward-thinking hospitality and future-oriented management.
Intercultural Hospitality: With the international focus of the bachelor of Hotel Management course, you’ll explore how hospitality is practised across different cultures. You’ll examine diverse cultural norms and values, as well as the role of sustainability in global hospitality.
Guaranteed housing on campus
At Hotel Management School Maastricht, we offer guaranteed housing for all first-year students. As a freshman, you’ll live in the on-campus Student Residence in an international community. It’s part of your training, building both social and practical skills. You’ll have your own furnished student room with a private bathroom. Living alongside your classmates, you’ll make friendships that last a lifetime.
Advanced study and practical experience
Advanced study and practical experience
Year 2: Management & business plan
In the second year of the BA in Hotel Management programme, you will deepen your knowledge of team management and develop a business plan. In the second part of the year, you will go on an operational internship abroad, working in a 4- or 5-star hotel. You’ll gain hands-on experience across various departments – such as Rooms Division or Food & Beverage – and gain a close-up understanding of hotel operations.
Year 3: Strategic hotel management
In year 3, you will focus on strategic hotel management and continue developing your leadership skills. You will visit a hotel and, together with your group, prepare a strategic proposal. Later in the year, you’ll expand your knowledge of change management, innovation, and research. You will use your strategic proposal to develop an innovative concept for the hotel. This advisory report will then be presented to the client.
This year, you will also start to specialise. You’ll choose 1 of our BA in Hotel Management tracks: Foodservice, Hotel Management or Horizons in Hospitality. Based on your track, you will select 2 minors – at least 1 of which must align with your chosen specialisation. You also have the option to go on an international exchange. Alternatively, you may choose to follow a pre-master’s programme.
Year 4: Management project & internship
In the final year of your bachelor's in international Hotel Management, you will spend the first semester working in a graduation group on a management consultancy project. You will address a real management issue for an external client. You’ll gain in-depth knowledge of the topic, define a research question, and conduct the necessary research. The project concludes with a professional presentation to the client, in which you share your recommendations.
In the last 5 months of your Hotel Management course in the Netherlands, you’ll complete a management internship. This takes place in a hotel or hospitality-related organisation and includes a tailored internship assignment. It is the ideal preparation for your first job.
You’ll conclude your studies with the ‘My Story’ assessment: a personal reflection on your journey, your development, and your value as a young professional. You may also be eligible for the IHAB Award.
Excellence Programme
Alongside your regular Hotel Management studies in Maastricht, we offer a range of extracurricular activities. Our Excellence Programme is designed for ambitious students. You will develop a unique hotel concept based on a real-life business case, attend masterclasses, and take part in international student competitions. You can also take on a board year within Student Association Amphitryon or Study Association Iris.
Internships
Internships
The hospitality industry is global and diverse. In addition to speaking multiple languages, it is vital to learn how to work with people from different cultural backgrounds. For many students, this international aspect is a key reason for choosing a career in hospitality. During your internships, you’ll work with colleagues and guests from around the world and gain insights into other countries' norms and values.
In year 2, you will spend 5 months on a practical internship abroad, typically in the Food & Beverage or Rooms Division of a 4- or 5-star hotel. Your internship takes place abroad. We collaborate with reputable partners to ensure quality placements. Our Internship Office supports you in finding the internship that best suits you. To help you prepare, we organise an Internship & Career Event twice a year, where companies and organisations present their opportunities.
In your final year (year 4) of the Bachelor of Business in Hotel Management, you will complete a 5-month management internship. Based on your chosen profile, you will do an internship in a hotel or another hospitality-related company. An appropriate internship assignment is an integral part of your internship. The management internship offers excellent preparation for your future career. You can complete this internship either in the Netherlands or abroad.
Guidance and support
Guidance and support
From the first year of your Bachelor of Science in Hotel Management, you will take part in the My Story coaching programme. This individual coaching track focuses on your academic progress, personal well-being, and, later on, your professional development. You will be assigned a personal coach – usually a senior lecturer – with whom you will have 1-on-1 meetings throughout your time at the hotel school.
During these sessions, you will reflect on your growth, explore your strengths and motivations, and work towards your personal and professional goals.
Let's Meet
Want to know if Hotel Management is right choice for you? Register for an online session and come and get to know us during an open day. Ask your questions, talk to students and find out what it’s really like to study here.
Visit an Open Day
Would you like to learn more about Hotel Management and find out whether it’s the right choice for you? Then visit 1 of our open days! During the open day you will learn even more about our programme, you will get a campus tour, get offered a taster class and meet some students. Please note: before attending an open day, you’ll first take part in an online webinar. The webinar offers a first impression of the programme and its content. Afterwards, you’ll receive a personal invitation to register for an on-campus open day. The international open days always take place on a Monday afternoon.
Explore from home?
We offer online info sessions in the form of a webinar. This will give you a first impression of our Hotel Management bachelor programme, so you can find out what to expect. A webinar lasts 30 minutes and is an interactive way to gather information. The webinar features students talking about their experiences and will give you practical insights about the programme and career opportunities.
What Comes Next
A Hotel Management degree opens doors. Whether you start working or continue studying, you’ll be stronger with practical experience and knowledge in your pocket. Read which careers you can pursue, what your opportunities are and how others have approached life after graduation.
This programme provides an excellent foundation at a high level.
The last 4 years have been a journey of personal and professional growth for me. This programme provides a strong academic foundation for ambitious students with a passion for hospitality, management, and entrepreneurship in the broadest sense. On to the future!
Lars den Hollander
Your future
Professions
Job prospects and salary
The average starting salary after completing the BA in Hotel Management programme is approximately €2,799 gross per month (source: Keuzegids Hbo 2025). This figure may vary depending on the role, employer, level of experience, and the region in which you work. With the right experience and specialisation, you can progress to higher salary scales and exciting career opportunities in this dynamic sector.
Continue studying
After completing your bachelor's degree Hotel Management in Maastricht, you may choose to pursue a master’s programme. A great option is the Master in Facility & Real Estate Management, which does not require a pre-master’s programme. You can also enrol in a master’s programme at a research university. In most cases, this will require you to complete a pre-master’s programme first. To support this path, Zuyd University of Applied Sciences and Maastricht University have developed a dedicated 6-month transition course (pre-master). Upon completion, you’ll be eligible for 1 of the following master’s programmes:
- International Business
- Management of Learning
- Global Supply Chain Management and Change
- Business Intelligence and Smart Services
Practical Information
Thinking about studying Hotel Management? Of course you want to know what to expect. How to apply, what the admission requirements are and how the costs work, we explain it all clearly.
Study load and study advice
The programme is a full-time study, which means you’ll spend around 40 hours a week on your learning journey. How much time you need exactly depends on your study year, the modules you take, and what works best for you.
In your first year, you’ll have about 26 contact hours per week. During these hours, you’ll attend classes and have coaching sessions with your Study Success Coach. The rest of the week you’ll work on assignments, projects, or spend time on self-study — often together with your fellow students.
You’ll also take part in practical training at our Teaching Hotel and in our student restaurant Refresh. Sometimes these practical sessions may take place in the evening or on weekends, giving you a real taste of the hospitality industry.
Application
Our programme includes a selection procedure. We also set various requirements regarding foreign languages and subjects, which may vary depending on your prior education. Please consult the overview on the website of Hotel Management School Maastricht to ensure you meet the most up-to-date requirements and are fully informed about our selection procedure.
You can start this programme in September or February.
Tuition fees
Following our bachelor study programme requires an investment. Good to know: the bachelor study programme at the Hotel Management School Maastricht is a government-funded study programme. This means that the costs are considerably lower than those for programmes at well-known private hotel management schools.
In addition to the tuition fees, there are other costs. Like the one-time purchase of a Tenue de Ville (school uniform), kitchen uniform, knife set, the rent of your campus room in the first year and of course the study books. Please check the website for more information about tuition fees.
Zuyd Excellence Scholarships
If you are an excellent international non-EU student you can apply for a Zuyd Excellence Scholarship, which will offer you a waiver of almost 50% of your tuition fee. More about the scholarships.
Education and examination regulations
The education and examination regulations (EER) provide all the information you will need about the content of the study programme, the academic support provided, and the way in which examinations are organised.
Study in the Netherlands
Curious about what it’s like to study in the Netherlands? From outstanding education to a warm, international atmosphere, it’s all here. Discover what makes the Netherlands such a great study destination. We tell you all about it on the Study in the Netherlands page.
Study load and study advice
Study load and study advice
The programme is a full-time study, which means you’ll spend around 40 hours a week on your learning journey. How much time you need exactly depends on your study year, the modules you take, and what works best for you.
In your first year, you’ll have about 26 contact hours per week. During these hours, you’ll attend classes and have coaching sessions with your Study Success Coach. The rest of the week you’ll work on assignments, projects, or spend time on self-study — often together with your fellow students.
You’ll also take part in practical training at our Teaching Hotel and in our student restaurant Refresh. Sometimes these practical sessions may take place in the evening or on weekends, giving you a real taste of the hospitality industry.
Application
Application
Our programme includes a selection procedure. We also set various requirements regarding foreign languages and subjects, which may vary depending on your prior education. Please consult the overview on the website of Hotel Management School Maastricht to ensure you meet the most up-to-date requirements and are fully informed about our selection procedure.
You can start this programme in September or February.
Tuition fees
Tuition fees
Following our bachelor study programme requires an investment. Good to know: the bachelor study programme at the Hotel Management School Maastricht is a government-funded study programme. This means that the costs are considerably lower than those for programmes at well-known private hotel management schools.
In addition to the tuition fees, there are other costs. Like the one-time purchase of a Tenue de Ville (school uniform), kitchen uniform, knife set, the rent of your campus room in the first year and of course the study books. Please check the website for more information about tuition fees.
Zuyd Excellence Scholarships
If you are an excellent international non-EU student you can apply for a Zuyd Excellence Scholarship, which will offer you a waiver of almost 50% of your tuition fee. More about the scholarships.
Education and examination regulations
Education and examination regulations
The education and examination regulations (EER) provide all the information you will need about the content of the study programme, the academic support provided, and the way in which examinations are organised.
Study in the Netherlands
Study in the Netherlands
Curious about what it’s like to study in the Netherlands? From outstanding education to a warm, international atmosphere, it’s all here. Discover what makes the Netherlands such a great study destination. We tell you all about it on the Study in the Netherlands page.
Selection and admission
Selection and admission
To participate in our programme, you need a diploma that grants access to higher education in your home country. We admit 390 students to our Bachelor programme in Hotel Management each academic year. Our programme uses a selection procedure. You can find detailed information on the website of the Hotel Management School.
Join our Open Day
Ask all your questions, soak up the atmosphere and experience what it’s like to study here. Whether you already know what you want or are still deciding, discover what truly suits you during the open day.
Follow our Online Webinar
Get a first impression of the programme in 30 minutes, with student experiences and tips about your future opportunities.
Download the programme brochure
Everything about the programme content, admission, internships and future opportunities, all in one clear document.