Travel and Tourism

What is it? A vocational A-level (AVCE) that trains you up for work in the travel and tourism industries. You can take the single award course (equivalent to one A-level), which gives you a sound introduction to the industries, or the double (equivalent to two A-levels), which allows you to specialise in areas such as conference and event organisation, arts and museums, or tours.

Why do it? Because you want a job that allows you to see the world while you work.

What skills do you need? The intermediate GNVQ in leisure and tourism is useful, but not essential. Enthusiasm and good communication skills are much more important.

How much practical work is there? A lot. For example, there's a module on working as an overseas travel rep, for which students must show that they can conduct a welcome meeting for guests and deal with customer complaints. This is done through role-playing in the classroom or on work experience.

Ratio of coursework to exams? 2:1. In the exams, students are given a real-life situation and asked for their recommendations. For example, they might be asked how an old mining town could attract tourists.

Is it hard? "The students think it's hard," says Elise James, principal examiner in travel and tourism at Edexcel. "They have to learn how to study in a completely different way – working independently and conducting their own investigations."

Who takes it? More girls than boys.

How cool is it? It's very cool – you only have to watch TV docu-soaps such as Club Reps, Airport and The Cruise to know that.

Added value: The travel opportunities, naturally. For one module, you'll organise a trip of your choice. In recent years, students at Edexcel's Elise James's school have gone to Disneyland Paris and the Lake District. Other schools have taken students as far as China.

What subjects go with it? Complementary A-level subjects include foreign languages, geography, business, law and sociology. And students often also take vocational qualifications to become travel agents and overseas reps.

What degrees does it lead to? Travel and tourism, business studies and marketing.

Will it set you up for a brilliant career? Of course. Many students quickly go on to become holiday reps and cabin crew for airlines. Others go on to management jobs in the industry. Edexcel's Elise James recently bumped into one of her ex-students, working as a senior cabin-crew member, on a flight to Tenerife.

What do the students say? "For the module on marketing, I did a presentation on some of the hotels in my area. I visited the hotels, interviewed their staff, and discovered who their customers were," says Suzanne Olley, 17, who is also studying for an A-level in law at Tynemouth College. "For another unit, I researched travel to Vancouver and what is on offer for tourists there. I then had to present my findings in a brochure."

Which awarding bodies offer it? AQA, Edexcel and OCR.

How widely available is it around the country? Very widely.

c.rudebeck@independent.co.uk