Real estate is a fast paced industry where you’ll be expected to use your decision-making, problem solving and negotiation skills to ensure the smooth running of properties on behalf of corporations, SMEs and owners of private residences.
On this commercially orientated course you will network with industry contacts and learn from sector experts through live projects and field trips. You will benefit from the professional knowledge and experience of RICS chartered lecturers as you develop the skills to acquire, develop, manage, value and dispose of property and land in the UK and further afield.
In the second year, for one semester, you’ll undertake an internship, study in another country or join a research group. This valuable experience will enhance your employability and further develop your theoretical and practical skills.
Internship
This option offers the opportunity to spend three months working full-time in one of the many companies/industries with which we have close links. You may be able to extend this over more than one semester in cases where it is adjacent to a vacation period. We will endeavour to help those who prefer this option to find and secure a suitable position but ultimately we are in the hands of the employers who are free to decide who they take into their organisation.
Research
If you take this option, you will be assigned to our Architecture and Built Environment Research Group. There is every possibility that you may contribute to published research and therefore you may be named as part of the research team, which would be a great start to a research career.
Study Abroad
We have exchange agreements with universities all over the world, including partners in Europe, Asia, the Americas and Oceania. If you take the Study Abroad option you will spend a semester at one of these partners, continuing your studies in English but in a new cultural and learning environment. Please note that this option may require you to obtain a visa for study in the other country.
With a long history, well established links in the property industry and excellent graduate employment (DLHE Survey 2014), this RICS-accredited MSc is perfectly placed to help launch your career.
Learn From The Best
You will learn in a vibrant and dynamic environment, supported by a team of research-active academics whose diverse backgrounds in the sector span planning and development surveying, the Civil Service, research in the Centre for Regional Economic Development, commercial property market analysis and heritage consultancy.
Lecturers balance their teaching and research with external industry-related projects and they use this knowledge to inform your learning. This approach creates a research-rich, practice-based environment which will develop your critical abilities, problem solving skills and lay a firm foundation for a career in the property industry.
Our strong links with industry give you the opportunity to work on live projects as part of your course. We also invite industry professionals to deliver guest lectures and share their experiences.
Learn from RICS chartered lecturers with extensive professional experience.
Teaching And Assessment
Designed to incorporate theoretical learning into practical scenarios wherever possible, this postgraduate degree develops the skills you will need to succeed in the rapidly evolving property market. You will have many opportunities to engage with industry through project work, real world case studies, study visits, problem solving tasks, plus an opportunity to spend time away from the University on study visits both in the UK and in Europe..
Commercially focused modules cover the key concepts in real estate. They include planning and development, property valuation, investment, management, sustainability and legal processes. Some modules are assessed via traditional assignments and project reports, but where appropriate we use methods relevant to industry such as presentations, report-writing and mock client meetings. The course culminates in a 20,000 word dissertation in a related specialist area of your choice. There are no examinations for this course.
The Advanced Practice semester will be assessed via a report and presentation about your internship, study abroad or research group activities.
Module Overview
Year One
KA7009 - Commercial Property Valuation (Core, 20 Credits)
KA7010 - Property Markets, Investment and Finance (Core, 20 Credits)
KA7021 - Urban Planning and Development (Core, 20 Credits)
KA7035 - Real Estate Concepts and Research Methods (Core, 20 Credits)
KA7036 - Real Estate Law & Asset Management (Core, 20 Credits)
KA7040 - Sustainable Construction and Technology (Core, 20 Credits)
Year Two
KA7032 - Dissertation (Core, 60 Credits)
KF7005 - Engineering and Environment Advanced Practice (Core, 60 Credits)
Learning Environment
You’ll find the latest technologies to support you in our specialist laboratories and studios. You will also benefit from dedicated project space and study areas for group and individual work.
The programme team have developed a coherent approach to technology enabled learning (TEL) which you can use on and off campus. This includes specialist software and online access to module information, key texts, podcasts and a range of teaching-related materials to support active learning.
Research-Rich Learning
We take a research-led approach to all aspects of teaching. As practising researchers, our lecturers pass on the latest techniques from their ongoing work to ensure your learning is current and relevant.
We are a top 30 research department, with 50% of our outputs ranked world-leading or internationally excellent according to the latest UK wide Research Excellence Framework (REF2014, UoA16) and the department is ranked 21st in the UK for the reach and significance of our research impact. This means we are well placed to support you to develop your own research skills.
Specialist research includes the mechanics of regeneration, office to residential conversions, sub-national development, urban land economics, sustainable urban development, commercial and industrial property market modelling, redevelopment of brownfield land and property development appraisal.
Give Your Career An Edge
You will graduate from this RICS-accredited course with all of the academic requirements for graduate membership, ready to undertake the two years’ professional experience you need to become fully chartered.
We have long established relationships with employers in the industry, including DTZ, CBRE, JLL, Savills, Knight Frank and GVA. Working with these employers throughout your course will give you invaluable sector knowledge and connections that could benefit your career enormously.
You will also have the opportunity to network with industry professionals through organisations such as the RICS Matrics who run networking events for students and recently qualified and graduate surveyors.
The Advanced Practice semester will help you develop a track record of achievement that will help you stand out from other job applicants.
A two-year master’s course, like this one, will carry particular weight with employers. They’ll understand that you’ll have a deeper understanding of topics as well as more hands-on practical experience.
Your Future
Current skills shortages in the sector mean that real estate graduates are in demand. With the Northumbria MSc, personal development is considered as important as academic progress which means you enter the job market with awareness of critical evaluation, problem solving, negotiation, communication and decision-making; essential for effective collaboration with clients and associates. As a result, prospects for Northumbria graduates are excellent.
Our graduates work for corporate financial institutions, government organisations, local authorities, the government and private clients across the UK and further afield in roles such as surveying, investment, property valuation, planning and development, and property management.
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