In the academic pre-master Leisure and Tourism Studies you will mostly work on a solid theoretical foundation and on your research skills so that you have the best preparation possible for the Master of Science Leisure and Tourism Studies at Breda University of Applied Sciences.  

Course content
The programme consists of two semesters. In the first semester you will take several theoretical courses, you will learn how to conduct research and you will work on a real-life project. In the second semester you will again take a number of courses, start with qualitative and quantitative data analysis and conduct research for your final project.

Semester 1

Leisure Ethics: Theories, Cases and Tools 
In this course, we will discuss ethical behaviour in the four key roles the Leisure Studies programme educates for (i.e. researcher, policy developer, strategic planner, designer). We will explore different ethical dilemmas in leisure, e.g. in sports, online leisure, dark leisure and idealistic leisure and events. 

Sociology of Leisure 
This course focuses on the basic principles of sociology in order to understand the role of leisure in our society, for instance how we learn to become part of our society through sports or volunteering. 

Advanced Qualitative Research Methods 
In a series of lectures and seminars, students will master more advanced knowledge and skills in qualitative research. Students will learn about different purposes for using qualitative research, such as using qualitative research for developing knowledge, for design purposes, and for social purposes. 

Project Qualitative Field Research 
In this course, students will set out to conduct a qualitative field research project in groups. In the project, students will learn how to actually do qualitative research, to reflect on interpretive and ethical choices, and to understand how fieldwork variables condition data collection and analysis. 

Storytelling & Cultural Narratives 
In this course you will learn how stories play a role in in leisure and tourism contexts and how leisure and tourism contexts are designed through storytelling. 

Semester 2

Leisure networks 
This course familiarizes students with various types of leisure providers and their way of working. Special attention will be paid to the dynamics of the stakeholder network and the way how public, commercial, and voluntary leisure providers collaborate. 

Leisure & Placemaking 
In this course we will discuss the role that leisure, events, and tourism play in the making and shaping of places and destinations. 

Statistics 
This course provides an introduction into quantitative research methods of basic descriptive and inferential statistical analysis. Also, it provides the necessary mathematical background for understanding the logic behind the different types of analysis. 

Experience Measurement and Design 
In this course, students learn about theoretical insights on the building blocks of experiences. Tools for designing experiences, such as storytelling, virtual/augmented reality (VR/AR), and digital twins are discussed. 

Survey Research Project 
In this course, students will set out to conduct a survey-based research project in groups. In the project, students will learn how to actually do survey research and present the results. In addition, students will participate  in the module Academic Skills & Coaching. 

During the pre-master's programme, you will receive various classes from lecturers and guest lecturers. You will also attend workshops and seminars, and work individually or with classmates on projects and assignments. Throughout the year, you will take examinations. You will also have statistics labs, where you will learn to work with software.  

The academic pre-master Leisure and Tourism Studies is a one-year, full-time programme. The total study load is 60 ECTS credits. To give you an idea: 1 ECTS credit = approximately 28 hours of study a week.

We offer you a small-scale study environment as the number of students involved in the pre-master's track are limited. For questions on the content of the programme, lecturers can be easily reached. In addition, the pre-master's coordinator is available to help with day-to-day issues. If you wish to discuss personal problems that may be affecting your life as a student, you can turn to the student counsellor.

A typical week

Below, you will find an example of a typical week. Keep in mind that this schedule may vary each week, and this example serves as an indication.   

Monday 

• 09.00 – 11.00 hrs: Lecture on the influence of cultures on leisure   
• 11.00 – 13.00 hrs: Seminar on statistics  
• 14.00 – 16.00 hrs: Lecture on the organisation of the leisure sector 

Tuesday 

• 10.00 – 12.00 hrs: Seminar on shopping area vacancy in the city centre 
• 14.00 – 16.00 hrs: LAB session on measuring emotions   

Thursday 

• 11.00 – 13.00 hrs: Group discussion on the application of psychology in leisure  
• 14.00 – 16.00 hrs: Lecture on how to increase sustainability at festivals   

Wednesday and Friday 
Independent study. Think of reading papers and books, preparing for examinations, and making assignments and reports. The programme often has scheduled classes on three days; which days these are is always different. On the other two days you will have time for independent study.  

Student well-being
BUas encourages and helps you to make the most of yourself, whatever your circumstances. Maybe you have a chronic illness, are a family carer, a competitive athlete, or juggle your studies with running your own business? Our study coaches, student counsellors and student psychologists are here to help. Do you need extra support or advice? Or extra facilities? Then take a look at the options here.

There is a (non-mandatory) field trip. This allows you to discover more about Germany, Spain, Italy or different cities in the Netherlands, for example. You will also go on one-day excursions to different locations in the Netherlands, such as the Spoorzone in Tilburg or the Westergasfabriek in Amsterdam.