New UNED Tourism Degree Curriculum 2026: structure, specializations and subjects

Key data

The UNED Tourism Degree has a new curriculum as of October 5, 2026. The modification, approved by the Council of Universities in February 2026 and published through Resolution of September 16, 2026 in the BOE, reorganizes the degree around 240 ECTS credits and introduces new subjects and two specialization tracks. For students, tourism sector companies that train their staff, or advisors guiding professional careers, this change defines the training profile of tourism graduates for years to come.

What does this regulation establish?

The resolution sets the new academic structure of the UNED Tourism Degree, distributing the 240 ECTS credits into four differentiated blocks:

Among the new subjects incorporated into the curriculum, the following stand out:

• Technologies Applied to Tourism Management
• Tourism Policy and Sustainability
• Cultural Heritage

The curriculum offers two specialization tracks from which students must choose:

Additionally, students can take a second language as part of their training. The available options are:

• English
• German
• French
• Italian
• Modern Greek
• Portuguese

Economic and operational impact

For tourism sector companies, this curriculum change has direct implications for the talent pool entering the labor market in the coming years. Graduates under the new curriculum will have specific training in tourism management technologies and sustainability, two areas of growing demand in the sector.

From an operational perspective, companies collaborating with UNED on internships or with training agreements should review whether their internal programs are aligned with the new subjects and specialization profiles. A graduate with a specialization in Management of the Tourism Business will have a profile more oriented toward business management, while one with a specialization in Planning of Tourism Destinations will be better prepared to work with public administrations, tourism boards or territorial development consultancies.

Verification by ANECA guarantees that degrees obtained under the new curriculum have full academic and professional validity, so there is no risk in hiring graduates with unrecognized qualifications.

Who is affected?

• Students enrolling in the UNED Tourism Degree from October 2026 onwards
• Current students who must adapt their academic record to the new curriculum
• Tourism sector companies that hire UNED graduates or collaborate on internships
• HR departments of hotels, travel agencies, tourism boards and consultancies
• Academic advisors and career counselors guiding candidates toward the tourism sector
• Public administrations with tourism responsibilities that collaborate with UNED

Practical example

A student enrolling in the UNED Tourism Degree in the 2026-2027 academic year will complete a total of 240 ECTS credits distributed over four years. During the first years, they will complete the 60 credits of basic training and the 126 credits of mandatory subjects, which include subjects such as Technologies Applied to Tourism Management or Cultural Heritage.

In the final years, they must choose between the specialization in Management of the Tourism Business or Planning of Tourism Destinations, completing 48 elective credits according to their specialization. Additionally, they can choose a second language from the six available options (English, German, French, Italian, Modern Greek or Portuguese). The curriculum concludes with the Final Degree Project of 6 ECTS credits.

A hotel company that regularly recruits UNED graduates will find, from 2027-2028 onwards, candidates with specific training in tourism management technologies, which can reduce the need for internal training in digital management tools.

What should companies do now?

1. Review hiring profiles: Update job descriptions to incorporate the new curriculum competencies (management technologies, sustainability, cultural heritage) and align them with the available specializations.
2. Identify which specialization fits each position: Define whether vacant positions require a business management profile (Management of the Tourism Business specialization) or territorial planning (Planning of Tourism Destinations specialization) to refine selection.
3. Review internship agreements with UNED: If the company has active internship agreements, verify that the projects offered are aligned with the new subjects and specializations of the updated curriculum.
4. Inform HR teams: Ensure that recruitment managers know the new degree structure to correctly evaluate the academic records of candidates graduating under the new curriculum.
5. Consult the complete regulation: For decisions on adapting agreements or training programs, review the full text published in the BOE (BOE-A-2026-20738).

Official source

View complete regulation in official source

Notice: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-20738