Master in Tourism Systems and Hospitality Management at University of Palermo

Detailed entry requirements

Palermo's Tourism Systems and Hospitality Management master has open access. It asks for a bachelor's degree in tourism, economics, business, social sciences or a related field, English at B2, a review by the admission committee, and an entry test and/or interview. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]

Degree requirement

UniPa's 2026/27 access rules treat the curricular requirements as met for Italian graduates in tourism, administration, business, economics, political science and international relations, social sciences for cooperation, social work, sociology and statistics (classes L-15, L-16, L-18, L-33, L-36, L-37, L-39, L-40 and L-41), or with 60 credits across economics and business, statistics and maths, languages (English, Spanish or French), computer science, history, sociology, anthropology and law. [1]

A foreign degree meets the requirements if it includes English language credits (or you hold a B2 certificate or are a native English speaker) and gives knowledge similar to those Italian degree classes. If it does not, a committee can admit you after an interview on minimum curricular content, based on the tourism sciences class L-15, and can also weigh work experience and training in your CV. [1]

The programme's 2026 application manual lists suitable fields: tourism, hospitality management, economics, languages, business administration, international relations, marketing, sociology, environmental studies, cultural studies, event management, geography or similar. It advises a degree GPA of 3.00 or more, which it equates to 50% to 55% for India and 60% to 65% for Pakistan, and says your bachelor's degree should not be more than five years old when you apply. [2]

What this means for your transcript

As a guide, based on the rule above:

• Usually a fit: a B.Com, BBA, BA in Economics, a tourism or hotel management bachelor's, or a BA in Sociology, Political Science or International Relations, as these match the listed fields.
• Check carefully: a BA in English or another language, History, Geography or Environmental Studies. The manual lists several of these fields, but they sit outside the Italian classes named in the access rules, so the committee may ask for the curricular interview.
• Often short: a B.Tech, B.E., BCA or a science B.Sc. These fall outside the listed fields, so you would need to pass the curricular interview on tourism basics, where tourism work experience and training can help. [1][2]

Your degree should also be no more than five years old, and graduates outside tourism or economics take the entry test. [2]

English

English at CEFR level B2, as the whole programme is taught in English. UniPa's access rules accept a B2 certificate from a suitable certifying body, native-speaker status, or a check at the University Language Centre within the enrolment deadlines. [1]

The programme manual asks for a B2 certificate from an internationally recognised body such as TOEFL or IELTS, issued no more than two years before you apply, and exempts applicants from the United States, Canada, the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland. [2] UniPa's non-EU procedure also lists a Medium of Instruction certificate from your institution as proof for the portal and Universitaly. [3] No specific test scores are stated.

Selection: entry test and interview

Access is open, so places are not capped. [1] The university office checks your documents, then the admission committee evaluates the application and decides whether to admit you to selection; files without the eligibility requirements are rejected. The evaluation can take at least 30 working days. [2]

• Entry test: multiple-choice, on basic tourism concepts and issues. The manual says it is best to score 25 out of 40. Graduates in tourism and hospitality, or related tourism or economics degrees, are exempt. [2]
• Interview: an online interview with the coordinator on your study goals, motivation and aspirations in tourism and hospitality. [2] UniPa's non-EU procedure calls it the personal knowledge interview and says it assesses academic preparation, motivation and English. [3]

Under the access rules, graduates with a final mark of at least 95 out of 110 are exempt from the personal preparation check. [1]

2026/27 deadlines

Applications for 2026/27 opened on 15 January 2026, and classes started on 1 October 2026. [2] Non-EU applicants had to create their UniPa portal application by 20 July 2026 and their Universitaly application by 4 August 2026, and to complete visa procedures by 30 November 2026. [3] The 2027/28 dates are set in the next cycle and are not yet published.

Documents and non-EU steps

• Portal application: valid passport, passport photo, bachelor's degree certificate, transcript of records in English, B2 English certificate, CV with a recent photo and a short motivation letter. Optional: an Italian B1 certificate, at least one year of tourism work experience and certificates from tourism and hospitality courses (not online courses). [2][3]
• Universitaly pre-enrolment: only after the final admission letter, with your passport, photo, a copy of your bachelor's degree (provisional certificates are not accepted), a legalised translated transcript and a B2 certificate or Medium of Instruction certificate. [2]
• Enrolment in Palermo: your original degree with a legalised Italian or English translation and a declaration of value, or a CIMEA statement of comparability, Diploma Supplement or ARDI with a CIMEA statement of verification, plus your transcript with legalised translation and proof of your residence permit request. [3]

Sources and verification

Checked by the ApplyAZ admissions team against the university's official documents listed below. Entry rules can change with each new call, and we re-check them before every application.

1. University of Palermo. Access sheets for open-access master's degree programmes, Tourism Systems and Hospitality Management (class LM-49 R), academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
2. University of Palermo, Department of Economics, Business and Statistics. Master's degree in Tourism Systems and Hospitality Management, application manual for international students, 2026 intake, updated December 2025. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
3. University of Palermo, International Affairs. Enrolment procedure for non-EU candidates, master's degree courses, 2026/27 intake. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
4. University of Palermo, Department of Economics, Business and Statistics. Master's degree in Tourism Systems and Hospitality Management, student manual, academic year 2025/26, first edition December 2025. Reviewed 8 October 2026.

What bachelor's degree do I need for Tourism Systems and Hospitality Management at Palermo?

A bachelor's in tourism, hospitality, economics, business, languages, international relations, marketing, sociology or a similar field. A foreign degree should include English credits and knowledge similar to Italian tourism, business, economics or social science degrees; otherwise a committee interview on tourism basics decides. [1][2]

Is there an entrance exam?

There is an entry test unless your degree is in tourism, hospitality or a related tourism or economics field. It is multiple-choice on basic tourism concepts, and the manual says it is best to score 25 out of 40. An online interview with the coordinator follows. [2]

What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?

English at B2. The programme manual asks for a recognised certificate such as IELTS or TOEFL, issued within two years, and no specific scores are stated. UniPa's non-EU procedure also lists a Medium of Instruction certificate, so we check which proof your file can use. [2][3]

When is the deadline for non-EU students?

For 2026/27, non-EU applicants had until 20 July 2026 to create the UniPa portal application and until 4 August 2026 for Universitaly. Applications opened on 15 January 2026. The 2027/28 calendar is not yet published. [2][3]

Can I apply with a provisional degree certificate?

Not for Universitaly. The 2026 manual says Universitaly pre-enrolment needs a copy of your bachelor's degree and that provisional certificates are not accepted. It also says your degree should be no more than five years old when you apply. [2]

I have a B.Com or a B.Tech. Can I apply?

A B.Com is close to the listed business and economics fields and also exempts you from the entry test. A B.Tech falls outside the listed fields, so you would need to pass a committee interview on tourism basics, where tourism work experience and training can count. [1][2]

What is the link with Florida International University?

The degree grew out of an agreement with FIU's Chaplin School of Tourism and Hospitality Management. Students can spend the second year at FIU, the University of Malaga or the University of Dubrovnik and graduate with two master's degrees. [4]

Can someone handle my whole application to Tourism Systems and Hospitality Management at Palermo?

Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your transcript against Palermo's rules for this programme, handles the application and Universitaly pre-enrolment, helps you file the ERSU Palermo scholarship application at the right time and in the right format, and prepares your visa file, for eligible students. Start by checking your eligibility.

I'm applying from India. What is the route into Tourism Systems and Hospitality Management?

A three-year Indian bachelor's in commerce, business, economics, tourism, hotel management or a social science is closest to the subject rule, and the programme manual treats 50% to 55% as roughly equal to its 3.00 GPA guide. You also need English at B2. The steps are the UniPa portal application, entry test or interview, final admission letter and Universitaly pre-enrolment. [2] Indian students apply for the type D study visa at the Italian embassy or consulate that covers their state, such as New Delhi, Mumbai or Bengaluru.

Is the route different from Pakistan, Bangladesh or Sri Lanka?

No. The academic rules for Tourism Systems and Hospitality Management are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: UniPa portal application, entry test or interview, final admission letter and Universitaly pre-enrolment, then a type D study visa from the Italian mission for their country of residence. Read our guide for students in Dhaka.

I live in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman or Bahrain. Where do I apply for the visa?

At the Italian embassy or consulate responsible for the country where you legally live, after Universitaly pre-enrolment. The academic rules for Tourism Systems and Hospitality Management are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: UniPa portal application, entry test or interview, final admission letter and Universitaly pre-enrolment. Read our guides for Dubai, Riyadh and Doha.

I'm applying from the UK, US, Canada, Singapore or Malaysia. Is anything different?

The academic rules are identical. Non-EU applicants who live abroad, including citizens of these countries, follow the same route: UniPa portal application, entry test or interview, final admission letter and Universitaly pre-enrolment, then a type D study visa. Read our guides for London, New York, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.