Onsite Course
1 academic year
On Campus with teacher or Online self-study
74 Students Enrolled
Master in Professional Tour Guiding
On Campus or Online
In-company Internship
Apply nowMaster in Professional Tour Guiding
On Campus version
The Master in Tourist Guide Services at HTL International School is a 9-month intensive program designed to train professionals for successful careers in the tourism, travel, and cultural heritage sectors. The program equips students with the knowledge and practical skills required to design, organize, and lead guided tours and visitor experiences in international destinations.
Students develop strong competencies in communication, group management, cultural interpretation, itinerary planning, and customer service, gaining a professional understanding of the global tourism industry.
The language of instruction is English, and the program includes intensive foreign-language modules in Spanish, French, or Russian. Students can take official DELE or SIELE Global exams (levels A1–C1). HTL International School is an accredited SIELE Examination Center of the Instituto Cervantes, allowing students to earn recognized Spanish-language certification directly on campus.
The curriculum combines theoretical study with real-world application through specialization modules based on industry experience. Assessment is carried out through continuous evaluation, examinations, and a final project presentation.
Students complete a professional internship in a tourism-related company in Spain or abroad, gaining valuable work experience in real settings. Classes can be attended on campus in Barcelona or via the virtual classroom (live streaming), ensuring maximum flexibility, global accessibility, and academic mobility for all international students.
Master in Professional Tour Guiding
Online version
Program structure:
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The Online Study Modality at HTL International School offers students 24/7 access to a specialized e-learning platform containing all materials for every compulsory module included in the academic plan.
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All students complete a foreign language preparation module in Spanish, French, or Russian. It is recommended to take an official DELE or SIELE Global exam at levels A1–C1. HTL International School is an accredited SIELE Examination Center of the Instituto Cervantes, allowing students to obtain certified Spanish-language proficiency directly through the school.
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Each module has a three-month duration for completing all required assignments, tests, and final projects. All exams and presentations are conducted online, with no campus attendance required.
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Students may complete a professional internship anywhere in the world. HTL manages all internship agreements, and internships can run simultaneously with theoretical studies. Upon completion, the evaluation certificate must be submitted to include the internship in the academic record.
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Students can switch between Online and On-Campus modalities every trimester, ensuring complete flexibility and global accessibility.
Program Details
Admissions
Qualifications
Career Paths
Faculty/Methodology
Internships
Final Exams
Study Plan
ONLINE ENROLLMENT FORM
To enroll in the Master’s Degree, it is necessary:
1. fill out the online application form below
2. submit the requested documents:
- passport copy
- last study transcript
- CV
- English level certificate, if any. If you don’t have any proof of your English level, you have to fill out the online placement test to be completed online before the online application is submitted. The direct link is on the Admissions page.
On completing this Professional Program of Study, you will:
1. Be awarded the
- Master’s Degree in Tour Guiding in Spain
- DELE Diploma or SIELE Global (Spanish Language for Foreigners official diplomas) or
- French/Russian Language Level Certificate
2. Have attained an accredited qualification for managerial and supervisory levels, showing you possess competence in professional work activities.
3. Have attained a high-level qualification equated to the International studies framework as a Master’s Degree or Master Propio according to the Spanish National framework.
– local guide, tour guide, and senior tour guide
– tour manager or tour director
– interpretive guide and senior interpretive guide
– a remote area guide
– outdoor recreation guide or tour leader
– museum guide and heritage guide
– cultural guide and senior cultural guide
– nature-based guide and senior nature-based guide
– adventure guide
– walking guide
– specialist guide
– driver-guide
– the owner-operator of a small tour operation
Individuals with this qualification can work in multiple tourism industry sectors and enterprise types. They may work for inbound tour operators, outbound tour wholesalers, local tour operators, at cultural and heritage sites, in marine and national parks and attractions, or maybe owner-operators of small tourism businesses. Because guiding is an occupation that relies on a knowledge base, guides at this level may have specialist knowledge of particular destinations, local areas or regions, sites, tourist precincts, or any subject matter. Local guides have a broad knowledge base and deliver tours across a particular city, local area, or region.
Specialist guides at this level operate tours to remote area destinations, and others manage extended touring programs within and outside Spain.
The program blends the on-campus theory with the online study platform and in-company practical internship. The academic year consists of three trimesters: theory trimester (language classes and professional subject classes); business planning and research trimester, and the Internship trimester.
On-campus modality includes the possibility to connect to a virtual classroom from anywhere in Spain or in the world, and participate in class with all the students and the teacher. It is not required for students to be in a face-to-face class for any theoretical studies, exams, or projects. This gives students and teachers the flexibility necessary in the modern world
Online modality consists of access to an online self-study platform, available 24/7. It is not required to spend a particular number of hours per day or week on the platform. Students can study at their own pace, combining studies with an internship/job. Exams and evaluations are done on the self-study platform. The Final Business Planning and Research project is presented in an on-campus modality (in front of the teachers)
After the theoretical trimester is finished, all students need to do an internship. Internship requirements are:
* 240 hours per academic year (with the possibility to do more hours)
* internship tasks need to be in line with the study program
* internship can be done anywhere in the world, in person or remotely
* HTL International school does not place students in the company, but will assist with finding an offer and signing an internship agreement
For those who are working full-time or do not want to do the internship for any reason, there is an alternative to cover the necessary hours. This will be explained by the tutor.
- Exams and Projects
- Continuous Evaluation
- Internship evaluation
- Final Business Planning and Research Project
- Official Exam of Spanish Language for Foreigners DELE or SIELE; French/Russian language exam
Master in Professional Tour Guiding
STUDY PLAN: 720 h
Module I: Tour Guiding
- The Tourism Industry,
- Components of tourism,
- Tourism impacts
- The tourism system worldwide,
- Travel geography and markets,
- Tour guide role, the present and the future
- Effective communication skills for Tour Guiding,
- Type of communication
- Communication strategy
- Handling inquiries and complaints
- Customer Service,
- Code of Ethics
- External & internal customers
- Communication methods
- Internal policies and procedures
- Customer service planning
- Customer needs and expectations
- Customer satisfaction
- Tour guiding, types and kinds
- Presentation skills
- Walking tours, bus tours, logistics, group entertainment
- Safety and security protocols
- Legal and ethical issues in tour guiding
Module II. Touristic itineraries in Spain
Madrid and Castilla: Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, Castilla la Marcha y Castilla y Leon
- Royal Palace
- Escorial
- Plaza Mayor
- Museum Prado: Velazquez, retratos de los Habsburgo. Goya.
- Aranjuez. Ávila. Valladolid.
- Toledo: Arab and Jewish.
- Leon
- Salamanca
- Burgos
- Brothers Pizarro. Conquer of Peru.
- Extremadura. Virgen de Guadalupe. Cortés y conquer of Mexico.
Andalucia:
- Granada
- Cordoba
- Sevilla
- Corrida
- Costa del Sol: Málaga, Mijas, Marbella, Puerto Banús
- Costa de la Luz: Cádiz, Tarifa, Huelva, Puerto de Santa María, Jerez de la Frontera
Catalunya and Northern Spain: Barcelona, Catalunya, País Vasco, Galicia
- Barcelona
- Costa Brava: Girona, Dalí, Montserrat, Rupit, Pubol
- Costa Dorada: Tarragona, Port Aventura, Sitges, wineries
- Basque country
- Galicia
Module III. Strategic Marketing
- Essence of Marketing
- The strategic marketing planning process
- Mission, value strategies, and market definition
- Internal analysis
- Customer analysis
- Industry analysis
- Competitors analysis
- SWOT analysis
- Corporate objectives and corporate strategies
- Marketing objectives and marketing strategies
- Product, price, place
- Marketing communication
- Organization and implementation of marketing
Module IV. AI Management
- AI Introduction and History
- AI use Risks and Benefits
- Artificial Intelligence and Human Ethics
- Management of AI
- Use of AI in:
- Marketing
- Production and Development
- Hospitality and Tourism
- Education and Arts
- Future of Artificial Intelligence
Module V. Leading customer experience
- Introduction to customer experience
- Qualities and Actions of the Customer-focused Leader
- Customer Insights and Priorities
- Recruiting for Attitude, Training for Excellence
- Motivating and Empowering Your People
- Communication and Praise
- Improve and Innovate
- Consistently Consistent
Module VI. Foreign Language (Spanish, French or Russian)
Official SIELE exam of Spanish for Foreigners preparation module
General French or Russian Language test according to the initial entrance level
Module VII. Professional Spanish/French/Russian Language
Module VIII. Final Project
· Project design
· Research tools
· Personal reflection
· Appropriate questionnaire designs
· Conducting academic research, literature search, and review
· Developing a research question, hypothesis and methodology
Module IX: Internship
Exams
- Exams and Projects
- Continuous Evaluation
- Internship evaluation
- Final Business Planning and Research Project
- Official Exam of Spanish Language for Foreigners DELE or SIELE; French/Russian language exam
*One academic hour: 45 minutes
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