I’ve noticed many people asking about the Tourism Management program at the University of Zaragoza lately. As someone who has been studying here for two years, I’d like to share my genuine experience. This program is quite suitable for students interested in the tourism industry who want to develop their careers in the Aragon region.
Curriculum Structure
The Tourism Management curriculum at the University of Zaragoza is fairly comprehensive, covering multiple areas including tourism planning, hotel management, and cultural heritage preservation. The first year focuses mainly on foundational courses like Tourism Economics and Tourism Geography. Starting in the second year, there are more practical courses related to land management in Zaragoza. What impressed me most was the Cultural Tourism Resource Management course, where professors took us on field trips to places like the Aljafería Palace and the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar. Learning while observing these sites in person was far more engaging than sitting in a classroom.
| Academic Year | Core Courses | Credit Requirements |
|---|
| First Year | Tourism Economics, Tourism Geography, Tourism Law Fundamentals | 60 credits |
| Second Year | Hotel Management, Tourism Marketing, Cultural Heritage Management | 60 credits |
| Third Year | Tourism Planning, Event Organization, Internship Projects | 60 credits |
Internship and Career Opportunities
The program’s greatest advantage is the abundance of internship opportunities. While Zaragoza isn’t as popular as Barcelona or Madrid, the tourism industry here is developing well, particularly in business tourism and cultural tourism. The university has partnerships with numerous local hotels and travel agencies, and the mandatory third-year internship can be completed at these establishments. I interned for three months at a company specializing in Pyrenees hiking tours, where I learned many practical skills that proved far more useful than textbook theories.
However, to be honest, post-graduation employment depends on individual capabilities and luck. If you stay in Zaragoza, options are relatively limited—mainly hotels, travel agencies, and event companies. If you want to work in coastal cities or major metropolitan areas, competition will be fiercer since there are more tourism management graduates there. I used to think finding a job after graduation would be easy, but in reality, you need to accumulate experience and improve language skills—ideally speaking English and French.
Overall, the Tourism Management program at the University of Zaragoza suits students who want solid academic training without living in a particularly large city. Tuition is relatively affordable, living costs are reasonable, and professors are quite dedicated. The only drawback might be that Tourism Management at Zaragoza lacks a highly internationalized atmosphere. If you’re interested in cultural tourism in the Aragon region or plan to work in this area in the future, this program is definitely worth considering.
