Tourism and gastronomy degrees in Spain
Tourism, gastronomy, hotel management, pastry, event organization, sommelier and oenology: they are degrees in tourism and gastronomy that you can study in Spain.
If you cook with your family, make the plans for the group or you like welcoming people and making them feel comfortable, there are studies that build on what you already do.
How tourism and gastronomy are studied in Spain
They are studied as a university degree or in specialized hospitality centers, with different types of qualifications, so read carefully what qualification you will obtain. There are centers in Madrid, Valencia, Vigo, Badajoz or the Basque Country, and also on the islands: Palma, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria or Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
Cooking and pastry ones are learned mainly by cooking, in workshops with technique and product. Tourism and hotel management ones teach how a destination, a hotel or a trip is organized, and they usually include languages. To check that a university degree is official, consult the RUCT.
Tourism and gastronomy degrees in Spain
Among those studied in Spain are Tourism, Gastronomy, Hotel Management and Pastry.
Some lean more toward the creative side (a dish, a dessert, an event) and others toward the organizational side (a hotel, an agency, a service). Hotel management overlaps with business and economics degrees in Spain, and Oenology with agriculture and environment ones.
Where to study tourism and gastronomy in Spain
Centro Internacional de Estudios Superiores de Administración y Desarrollo Empresarial (CESAE)Madrid · PrivateHospitalityTourismGastronomyPastrySommelier
Cámara de Comercio de MadridMadrid · PrivateGastronomy
ESERP Business School (ESERP)Madrid · PrivateTourism
Ilerna (ILERNA)Madrid · PrivateTourism
Mondragón Unibertsitatea (UMON)Arrasate · PrivateGastronomy
Universidad Antonio de Nebrija (UANE)Madrid · PrivateTourism
Universidad Camilo José Cela (UCJC)Madrid · PrivateEvent Planning
Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera (CEU)Alfara del Patriarca · PrivateGastronomyHow to choose between them
Notice what you do without anyone asking you to: if you cook or bake at home, if you are the one who organizes the school trip or the class party, if you like languages and meeting people from other places.
Then decide which side you want to be on. If wine appeals to you, look at Sommelier and Oenology; if you prefer service and organization, Event Organization or Hotel Management.
If you are torn between Tourism and Hotel Management, compare the subjects of each one and see which is taught near you. The career test also helps you see which ones fit your answers.
To read before choosing
Frequently asked questions
How long do these degrees last in Spain?
Pastry and Sommelier are short programs; Event Organization lasts a bit longer, and Tourism, Gastronomy, Hotel Management and Oenology are degrees of similar length.
Do you need to know how to cook to study gastronomy?
You don't need to arrive already knowing how to cook: technique is taught in the degree itself. Each center sets its own admission requirements.
What is the difference between Sommelier and Oenology?
Sommelier focuses on tasting, choosing, buying and recommending wines; Oenology studies how wine is made, including the chemistry involved.
Is Tourism just about traveling?
No. In Tourism the emphasis is on planning trips and dealing with clients; traveling is only part of some jobs.
How do I check that a university degree is official?
Look it up in the RUCT; if it is from a non-university center, ask what type of qualification it awards.
What does Event Planning study?
How to plan and carry out meetings, conferences, weddings, parties or competitions: budget, suppliers, venues and all the details of the day. It is shorter training than tourism degrees; read its profile.