Travel and Tourism

Course type: BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma
Awarding/exam body: Pearson Edexcel

Do you enjoy helping other people plan their holidays?

Do you want a career that gives you the opportunity to travel?

If so, our exciting, vocational BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Travel and Tourism is for you. Equivalent to 3 A levels, this course is designed to support students who are interested in learning about the travel and tourism industry alongside other areas of study.

On this course, you’ll learn valuable, transferable skills such as business planning, budgeting, communication, presentation and sales techniques, using real businesses as case studies.

You’ll:

Use data to analyse trends and their impact on tourism – one of the UK’s fastest growing industries

Investigate and analyse global destinations – their features and popularity – through travel planning, trends and factors that affect their appeal

Develop a travel and tourism marketing plan that an organisation could use to attract and engage customers

Investigate both artificial and natural attractions – why they are commercially successful and appealing, how they respond to visitor needs, and why it’s crucial to deliver memorable visitor experiences.

We encourage our Travel and Tourism students to study a modern foreign language. The languages we offer at Saint Francis Xavier are Italian, French, Portuguese, and Spanish.

Apply Now

Course Units

Mandatory Units
Unit 01: The World of Travel & Tourism (externally assessed)
Unit 02: Global Destinations (externally assessed)
Unit 03: Principles of Marketing in Travel and Tourism
Unit 04:Managing the Customer Experience in Travel and Tourism
Unit 05: Travel and Tourism Enterprises
Unit 16: Researching Current Issues in Travel and Tourism
Unit 17: Managing Accommodation Services
Unit 18: The UK as a Tourist Destination

Specialist Units
Unit 06: Specialist Tourism
Unit 07: Sustainable Tourism
Unit 11: Events, Conferences and Exhibitions
Unit 13: Work Experience in Travel and Tourism
Unit 15: Recruitment and Selection in Travel and Tourism

Course Assessment

Assessment is specifically designed to fit the purpose and objective of the qualification. It includes a range of assessment types and styles suited to vocational qualifications in the sector, such as practical activities, role plays and presentations.

Some units are externally assessed, while others are internally assessed and externally verified.

Where This Course Could Take You

You can progress to a wide range of higher education courses, and ultimately to employment: including, but not limited to, travel and tourism and related industries. This qualification is recognised by higher education providers as meeting admission requirements to a variety of degree courses. In addition, you will develop transferable and employability skills such as self-confidence, self-presentation, interpersonal skills and time management – all of which are valuable and highly regarded for degree study and in the professional world.

Entry Requirements

5 GCSEs at Grade 4 or above, ideally including English Language at Grade 4 OR BTEC Level 2. Diploma at Merit with English Language at Grade 4.

Grade 4 in English Language OR Maths OR BTEC Level 2 Diploma in Travel and Tourism (or a related area) with Merit.

Course Highlights

Educational trips to complement classwork
Visit to universities
Educational talks at Thorpe Park on Customer Service and Marketing.
Practical activities (role plays) which will help develop a variety of transferable skills
Work experience

Courses

Students can take any combination of 30 A level and Level 3 Applied Diploma subjects. Vocational programmes include 11 Level 3 Extended Diplomas, including BTEC, CTEC and University of the Arts courses, and 4 T Levels. We also offer BTEC Level 2 and Foundation options, along with GCSE Maths and English language retakes.

View Courses

Students

At Saint Francis Xavier, we develop the whole person. Our commitment goes beyond academic achievement; we equip students with the confidence, values, and skills needed to thrive in higher education, employment, and adult life. With an extensive range of courses, our students receive expert teaching in our modern, state-of-the-art facilities.

Parents & Carers

Personal Tutors will work with both you and your student to overcome any obstacles and achieve their potential. We build a positive ethos around learning and behaviour, support students with discussion and advice, invite you to progress review evenings, provide each student with an Individual Learning Plan (ILP), and send you full reports.

Parent Portal

Upcoming Events

Open Evening

Wednesday, 4th March · 4pm – 6pm

Explore your options and secure your offer from Saint Francis Xavier Sixth Form College for September 2026.

Book your place to visit London’s top performing and friendliest sixth form college with a 97% pass rate in A levels, BTECs, UAL Diplomas and T Levels.

Book Now

Hire Our Spaces

Hold your next event with us in one of our many available spaces. Choose from: a multi-use games area, sports hall, dining hall and garden, multi-purpose hall, dance/drama studio, fitness suite, meeting/conference rooms, computer suite, chapel and music studio. Kitchen and catering facilities and free parking are also available.

Nursery

‘Happy staff make happy children’

Nightingale’s Nursery is set in the beautiful, secure grounds of Saint Francis Xavier Catholic Sixth Form College where children can play outside and help tend the vegetable patch. The nursery follows the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework and provides a holistic learning environment, paying special attention to the transition from home to nursery, reassuring parents of their child’s wellbeing and progress on a daily basis.

Nightingale’s friendly team builds positive relationships with all the children and parents.

Contact

What Our
Students Say

The support I received from passionate teachers who pushed me to aim higher, to the tailored guidance with university applications made all the difference. SFX believed in my potential even when I doubted myself, and that encouragement gave me the confidence to pursue my ambitions. Without that foundation, I don’t think I’d be on the path to a legal career today.

Joshua, former Sociology student

Record‑Breaking University Applications at SFX

We’re thrilled to announce that almost 90% of our Year 13 students submitted their university applications ahead of last week’s UCAS deadline – the highest completion rate in our history. Even more impressively: 📈 78% of applications were to Top Third universities 📈 55% were to Russell Group institutions – a 6% increase on 2025 […]

Students Celebrated at the Essential 8 Awards

During the final week of term, students’ achievements were recognised at Saint Francis Xavier Sixth Form College’s Essential 8 Awards, a celebration of the skills and qualities that underpin success both during college life and beyond. Students were nominated by their teachers and Heads of House for demonstrating aptitude in one or more of the […]

Saint Francis Xavier Sixth Form College announces excellent 2025 Level 3 examination results

We congratulate all our students who received their excellent public examination results today. We are delighted to see results improving on last year’s impressive pass rates across A level, BTEC, CTEC and UAL courses. Our second year T Level results have also been excellent. The overall pass rate at Level 3 was 97%, including 50% […]

Read All

Travel and Tourism