Service Experience Management

Where can this degree take you?

Hospitality is the business of creating memorable experiences. Service Experience Management graduates have a strong reputation in the industry, and the programme opens up professional and leadership roles across hospitality, events, food & beverage and tourism — domestic and international. 

Career paths in service experience and hospitality 

Your expertise applies in roles such as: 

• Restaurant manager — leading the operations of a restaurant or food service 
• Event producer — designing and producing events for diverse audiences 
• Service design specialist — applying design methods to hospitality and tourism services 
• Food and beverage manager — managing food and beverage operations 
• Tourism service developer — developing tourism products and services 
• Customer experience specialist — designing and improving the guest experience 
• Hospitality or service entrepreneur — running your own business 
• International trainee — hospitality groups regularly hire Laurea graduates into trainee programmes 

Your impact as a graduate 

Your work might mean designing a new restaurant concept, producing an international event, leading a kitchen brigade or shaping a tourism service that brings visitors back. You combine service design, leadership and business skills with deep knowledge of the hospitality industry. 

Laurea students also regularly take part in international competitions like the European Masters Cup (EMCup) and similar hospitality events. 

Apply in the joint application

Application period for English-language bachelor’s programmes is held annually in January. 

Daytime studies: 
Service Experience Management, Leppävaara – Application period: 7.1.–21.1.2027 – Language: English – Semester begins: 09/2027 

Service Experience Management is the renewed and renamed programme (2027 curriculum) — formerly Hospitality Management and Service Design. Blended-learning and online options are not currently available for this English-language programme. 

Eligibility requirements

To be eligible for the programme, you need: 

• Upper secondary qualification — a Finnish matriculation examination, a vocational upper secondary qualification, or a foreign qualification giving access to higher education 
• English language skills at B2 level (IELTS, TOEFL or other Laurea-approved test) 

Previous experience in hospitality is not required. The programme welcomes students with a passion for service, food, events and customer experience. 

Is this programme for you?

• You have a passion for service, hospitality, events, food & beverage or tourism 
• You enjoy working with diverse people and creating memorable experiences for them 
• You want to combine practical skills with leadership and service design 
• You are open to hands-on learning — including real service shifts as part of your studies 
• You see yourself in a service business career — domestic or international 
• You want to build your international and intercultural competence 

What you’ll be able to do after graduation

You graduate with a comprehensive foundation in hospitality and service experience management. You’ll be able to: 

• Lead service experiences in restaurants, events, food & beverage and tourism settings 
• Apply service design methods to develop hospitality and tourism services 
• Manage food and beverage operations, from concept to delivery 
• Produce and develop events for diverse audiences 
• Develop tourism services and products with business and customer thinking 
• Lead small teams and projects in hospitality and service business 

These outcomes are built through core competence studies, work placements and hands-on learning detailed below. 

Programme structure

The programme is 210 ECTS in total and consists of: 

How are studies organised?

Daytime studies at Leppävaara Campus 

The programme is delivered as daytime studies at our Leppävaara Campus in Espoo. Your weeks combine contact teaching, face-to-face instruction and hands-on project work. 

Learning by Developing 

Laurea’s pedagogical model comes to life in BarLaurea, our teaching restaurant on Leppävaara Campus. As a student, you take on service, kitchen and process-development shifts — gaining real restaurant experience while completing your studies. You also work on collaborative projects with hospitality and tourism companies through development hubs and on-campus projects. 

What to expect at the start of your studies 

Your first year is built around the foundations of hospitality and service experience. You learn by doing — taking on different operational and developmental roles in our teaching restaurant on campus, from front-of-house service to kitchen operations and process planning. From the beginning, you are part of a real service operation, alongside other students and lecturers who guide you. 

You apply theoretical concepts directly to real-world cases and practical assignments, often in development hubs where Laurea works with hospitality companies. International study visits are part of the programme and give you early exposure to the global hospitality clientele. 

If you have previous studies, certifications or relevant work experience in hospitality, restaurants, events, customer service or tourism, these can be credited towards your degree through Laurea’s Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) procedures. Your previous experience is also a valuable resource for your project work and team contributions. 

Practical details 

• Duration: the programme is designed to be completed in 3.5 years, full-time 
• Hands-on learning: structured work shifts and development projects integrated into your studies 
• Work placements: practical placements in restaurants, events, tourism organisations or hospitality companies — domestic or international 
• International study visits: part of the programme; give you experience with the global hospitality clientele 
• Industry competitions: Laurea students regularly take part in the European Masters Cup (EMCup) and other international hospitality competitions 

Studying in an international environment

Hospitality is by nature global. The programme reflects this: 

• International student community — classmates from across Finland, Europe and the world 
• International study visits — building understanding of global hospitality 
• Exchange opportunities — with Laurea’s partner universities 
• International work placements — many students complete a placement abroad 
• Competitions and events — Laurea students participate in European Masters Cup (EMCup) and other international hospitality competitions 

Concrete benefits of this degree

• Bachelor’s qualification in a globally relevant field 
• Practical, hands-on learning in a real teaching restaurant on campus 
• Strong industry network — Laurea graduates work across the hospitality sector 
• International opportunities — exchanges, placements and competitions 
• Pathway to further studies — Laurea’s Master’s in Service Innovation and Design is a recommended next step 

Tuition fees and scholarships

Non-EU/EEA area students in degree programmes taught in English are charged tuition fees.

Tuition fee: €9 500/ academic year for non EU/EEA students.

Read more about the tuition fees and scholarships.

Frequently asked questions

How to apply

Applications are submitted through Opintopolku.fi during the announced application period. For step-by-step guidance, see How to apply to Laurea.