Hotel and Restaurant Management

Overview

This 2-year program prepares you for a career in the tourism industry with a focus on accommodations and food service sectors.

Pursue your passion for dining and travel while meeting new people and gaining job-ready skills in a hands-on learning environment connected to industry. Learn about creating, developing and managing guest experiences, strategies for providing culturally relevant customer service in hotels and restaurants, and entrepreneurial business practices – from human resources and leadership to finances and strategic marketing.

Co-operative education

• This program includes a mandatory co-operative education (co-op) credit course.
• Co-op placements provide the opportunity for paid, full-time work in a field related to your program.
• Co-op takes place in the third and fourth terms and must be a minimum of 600 hours.
• Our co-op program follows Co-operative Education and Work-Integrated Learning Canada (CEWIL) guidelines.
• Transportation, accommodations and other costs related to work experience are your responsibility.
• For more information, visit work experience opportunities

Choose NSCC

• This program was developed with industry, for industry, ensuring your skills are current and relevant.
• Our instructors come from industry with world-class experience and skills.
• You'll have many opportunities to network with tourism industry partners both on and off campus.
• Learn the theory and practical aspects of the program through hands-on and situated learning. You'll work in the campus restaurant and participate in local and/or provincial tourism activities and events, such as active exploration projects, event management, excursions, networking with industry partners and many other progressive learning experiences.
• There is an exciting opportunity to attend and be involved in the annual Tourism Industry Association of Nova Scotia (TIANS) conference.
• You graduate well-prepared with workplace-ready skills to provide a broad range of services to businesses of many sizes.
• Our programs and faculty maintain strong community and industry connections and use a proactive approach to prepare students for industry trends and demands.
• You get access to other exciting learning opportunities beyond your program such as international learning programs and entrepreneurship workshops.

Other info

• A strong work ethic and a professional approach are key elements to your success in this program and career.
• Punctuality and attention to cleanliness are absolute necessities.
• As this program mirrors working in industry, you should be prepared to work industry-type hours, including early mornings, late nights and some weekends.
• If you have food allergies, dietary requirements or sensitivities to environmental conditions, be aware that you'll frequently be exposed to substances that may affect these sensitivities.

September 2025

Campus	Full time/part time	Delivery	Availability
Akerley Campus Dartmouth	Full time	In person Delivered in-person. Some courses may have online elements.	Seats available
Burridge Campus Classes at Digby Pines Resort	Full time	In person Delivered in-person. Some courses may have online elements.	Seats available

Admission requirements

• High School Graduation Diploma or equivalent.
• International students – High school diploma equivalency and English language requirements vary by country. View document and language requirements by country

Program requirements

• You're required to complete industry seminars and certifications, including Serve Right for Managers, Basic Food Safety Certification and Emergency First Aid/CPR Level C.
• Additional certifications may be required depending on the electives you choose.
• There may be additional fees associated with seminars or certifications related to your electives.
• Portfolio development – As part of your studies at NSCC, you develop a portfolio of your work; the portfolio captures your achievements and profiles your skills to employers.

Tuition

Tuition amounts are for the 2024-25 academic year. Program costs and fees (textbooks, supplies, etc.) are additional.

Tuition, fees and program costs

In addition to annual tuition, there are program costs (books, tools, etc.) and student fees for College services, health and dental plans, your student association and parking.

View detailed program fees page(s). Please note that amounts on these pages are meant for planning purposes only. They don't represent final amounts owing.

• Hotel and Restaurant Management - Year 1
• Hotel and Restaurant Management - Year 2

Career options

• Graduates earn a solid foundation of skills and experiences that can open doors to opportunities in the food and beverage and accommodations sectors of the tourism industry. Find a range of careers worldwide in:
• Hotels and resorts
• Restaurants and bars
• Cruise ships
• Wineries, breweries and distilleries

In the next decade, Nova Scotia will need thousands of new and highly skilled employees, across all tourism sectors. The Canadian Tourism Human Resource Council (CTHRC) estimates that by 2035, 240,000 jobs will be available in tourism (CTHRC 2015).

Future study options

• Graduates of the Tourism Hospitality program can apply to the second year of the Event Management program. This program prepares you to begin a career in the tourism industry with a focus on events such as:
• Festivals
• Weddings
• Conferences, tradeshows and meetings
• Continue your studies at university – This program includes courses that count towards a university degree. Learn more about having your diploma count towards a university degree