04_Internationales 04_Zertifikate und internationale Abschlüsse

Recognition of semesters spent abroad, certificates and international qualifications

Expand your business internationally!

Students spending a semester abroad can have their courses abroad approved in advance – via a Learning Agreement. Recognition by HM is granted upon their return, following a written application and on the basis of an official overview of marks from the host institution.

In collaboration with various partners, the department offers additional joint international degrees and certificates, which you can obtain as part of your (study abroad) programme.

Recognition of a semester abroad

The selection of modules and the drawing up of a learning agreement take place before the start of the semester abroad, in consultation with the International Office (in collaboration with the examination board) of the Department of Tourism.

Students should use the HM course timetable and the module handbook for their degree programme to compare the learning outcomes of the modules studied abroad with those of the HM modules.

We recommend that students taking part in the winter or summer semester outgoing programmes use the Moodle course ‘Semester Abroad: Module Catalogues for HM Recognition’ provided by the International Office Dept 14. Students can obtain the enrolment code from the International Office Dept 14 for the application process.

Recognition is granted in accordance with the ASPO and SPO, provided that “there are no significant differences with regard to the competences acquired” (university certificate in continuing education), on the basis of a learning agreement signed by all parties involved (students, HM, host institution).

Students have the right to choose (ASPO) whether courses taken abroad are to be recognised ‘with marks’ or ‘as successfully completed’. You must make a binding decision before the start of the semester abroad (as part of the Learning Agreement). Subsequent changes are not permitted.

Students can obtain detailed information at the events organised by the International Office of the Department of Tourism.

Guidelines on the Recognition of Semesters Abroad for Bachelor’s Students in Tourism Management (as at October 2026)

Bachelor’s students will receive detailed information at the preparatory info sessions on studying abroad organised by the Department of Tourism’s International Office, in a Moodle course containing the relevant module catalogues from partner institutions for each semester, and can also find the details in the guide!

Double Bachelor’s Degree in Tourism Management, Spain

A great addition to your CV and a boost to your career after graduation!

Hochschule München (HM) and the Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC) have maintained a very close partnership for many years.

The Department of Tourism is very proud to be able to offer dedicated and internationally-minded students a double degree at one of Spain’s most prestigious universities – the ULPGC.

Criteria	Information
Prerequisites	Language skills: Spanish C1 Level: English B2 academic: 100 ECTS when starting a degree programme abroad, a maximum of 2 outstanding modules; (very) good grades demonstrated social commitment within or outside the university compulsory attendance at the information session
Course structure	1st to 3rd semesters at the HM 4th semester: Practical semester 5th and 6th semesters at the ULPGC 7th semester at the HM
Application process	Participation in the Erasmus+ and ULPGC information session Application in the same way as for Erasmus, plus proof of language proficiency Interview with the selection panel Confirmation/cancellation of a place Nomination by the ULPGC and applications from students Confirmation and offer of a place at ULPGC
Application deadlines	Start of the winter semester: 15 March / Start of the summer semester: 15 September (both options are possible, depending on when you start your studies and the course of your studies at HM)
Candidate selection/ Seating allocation	Students must fully meet the above-mentioned entry requirements and convincingly demonstrate their motivation to the selection panel of the Department of Tourism.
Curriculum	mutual recognition of modules completed Learning Agreement confirmed by the academic coordinators each semester
bachelor's thesis	The bachelor's thesis will be written in German and Spanish submitted in accordance with the regulations of the relevant higher education institution.
Certificate and diploma	Upon successful completion of the programme, students will be awarded the German bachelor's degree from Hochschule München (HM), the ‘Bachelor of Arts’ (Tourism Management), and the Spanish bachelor's degree from the Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC): ‘Bachelor of Arts’. Both degrees will only be awarded once all the requirements have been met at both partner universities.
Costs	No tuition fees thanks to a partnership/cooperation agreement Administrative fees must be paid by all students at both partner universities on an equal basis. HM students maintain their enrolment at the HM (even whilst studying abroad). Students must cover the costs of accommodation, travel, insurance and study materials themselves. Any costs incurred by accompanying persons (family members, partners) must also be borne by the individual concerned.
Financing	Occasionally, a Erasmus funding can be used in conjunction with the Bafög scheme for study abroad.
Coordination	Academic:Prof. Ralph Berchtenbreiter Administrative: International Office, Department of Tourism Cornelia Liem

Studying in California

Certificate of Completion in Sustainable Global Tourism at CalPoly, USA

The Department of Tourism has maintained a close partnership with CalPoly’s Department of Experience Industry Management for many years. Students have the opportunity to obtain a certificate whilst studying abroad for a semester.

Advantages:

Preparing for the global labour market through a German-American certificate
Promoting global perspectives, as well as intercultural experiences and skills
Expanding specialist knowledge of sustainable tourism practices

Criteria	Information
Prerequisites	Students must submit an application in the normal way for a non-EU place at university and be offered one. Successful completion of at least 4 courses (2+2) AND Bachelor's thesis at the HM on the subject of sustainable global tourism
Course Catalogue HM (Select 2 courses)	R2.6e Tourism Economics R5.2 Sustainable Tourism & Instruments R53 International Marketing and Leadership R542 Hospitality R544 Entrepreneurship R545 Current Issues in Tourism R5.6 Empirical Research in Tourism R6.3/R7.2KF Sustainable Tourism R6.4 Seminar in the subject area of Sustainability
CalPoly Course Catalogue (Select 2 courses)	EIM 1114 Introduction to Hospitality and Travel (summer semester only) EIM 3313 Sustainability in the Experience Industry (winter semester only) EIM 3318 Destination and Hospitality Marketing & Management (summer semester only) EIM 4416 Interpreting Experience Industry Data Analytics (winter semester only)
Additional information regarding the bachelor's thesis	The bachelor's thesis is supervised by the academic coordination team at HM or Cal Poly (alternatives are possible by arrangement). The bachelor's thesis is carried out or completed at the HM in Munich.
Exhibition Certificate	The certificate is issued by both universities upon successful completion of all requirements. The required supporting documents must be submitted to the academic coordinators. The "Certificate of Completion in Sustainable Global Tourism" is issued free of charge.

Academic coordinators and contact persons:

HM: Prof. Dr. Ralph Berchtenbreiter
CalPoly: Prof. Dr. Marni Goldenberg

Certificate in International Tourism Management (ITMC)

This additional qualification develops a number of interrelated skills by focusing on the management requirements of international companies in the cross-sectoral tourism industry:

A basic understanding of management processes and leadership requirements in various strategic areas of activity and sub-sectors within the tourism industry.

By taking part in international courses in the field of tourism management, you will also expand your specialist English vocabulary and develop your intercultural and social skills.

Criteria	Information
Advantages	Preparing for the global labour market Developing specialist knowledge, fostering global perspectives Subject-specific and methodological competence, international social competence, intercultural competence Further study of specialist terminology in English
Entry requirements	Enrolment at the HM Registration for examinations in the correct form and within the specified time limit English language skills, level B2
Module catalogue (compiled and published each semester from the standard course catalogue)	Teaching language: English Modules that are not included in the module catalogue (e.g. from other universities) cannot be used for academic credit transfer. Specialist modules totalling 20 ECTS (in accordance with §3(2) of the statutes) IN ADDITION, there is the module “R5.5 Intercultural Competence II” (5 ECTS)
Registration	Open-enrolment courses can be attended without registration CIE courses via international-fk14@hm.edu Seminars via the seminar selection system (dates as per the Moodle information screen for Dept 14)
Certificate	Successful completion of the selected modules from the module catalogue, totalling 25 ECTS (20 ECTS in accordance with Section 3(2) AND 5 ECTS for R5.5) shows the modules and the marks achieved is signed by the President of the HM and the Chair of the BA examination board free of charge (no cost)
Documents	ITMC Request Form Module catalogue, including course descriptions (The module catalogue corresponds to the ‘Courses in English’ programme offered by the Department of Tourism for the relevant semester) Articles of Association – International Tourism Management Certificate Leaflet