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Real Estate MSc

  • Level(s) of Study: Postgraduate taught
  • Start Date(s): September 2024
  • Duration: One year full-time or two years part-time
  • Study Mode(s): Full-time / Part-time
  • Campus: City Campus
  • Entry Requirements:
    More information

Introduction:

Our MSc Real Estate course will introduce you to a wide range of aspects of commercial and residential property, including valuation, asset management, development, sustainability, agency, town and country planning, funding and the UK legal system.

You’ll gain insights into the requirements of occupiers, developers and investors, with exposure to a broad range of market sectors including retail, offices, industrial and residential, alongside more specialist asset classes such as student housing.

Supported by interactions with – and input from – industry professionals, course content will develop your understanding of contemporary issues in practice. This course is particularly relevant for students wishing to work for commercial real estate consultancies, occupiers, public sector estates, developers, investors, housing associations and residential valuation.

This course is accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), enabling you to progress to Chartered Surveyor status after graduation.

Who is this course designed for?

This course is aimed at professionals and gradates wishing to pursue a career in the property and construction industries, on route to Chartered Surveyor status. It's suitable for students who don't necessarily have a background in property or construction, acting as a fast-track conversion course for those with an unrelated undergraduate degree (or professional qualification) to obtain an accredited route into the industry.

In addition, this course is suitable for property and construction professionals who wish to specialise in planning and development.

  • 2nd most sustainable university in the world (UI GreenMetric World University Rankings 2023).
  • 100% of MSc Real Estate full-time graduates are in work or further study within 15 months of finishing their degrees (latest Graduate Outcomes Survey 2020/21).
  • 100% of MSc Real Estate full-time students feel that as a result of their course they feel better prepared for their future career (PTES 2023).
  • NTU is ranked Top 3 in the UK for Land and Property Management subjects (The Complete University Guide 2023).

Course accreditation

  • Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors logo

What you’ll study

This course has an investment and valuation focus making it particularly appropriate to those wishing to gain a stronger insight into these aspects of the property business. You'll be equipped with a blend of knowledge, understanding, skills, qualities and attributes that will enable them to pursue and develop careers in the real estate and construction professions at an international level.

Course structure

The course is formed of nine modules – eight core modules and one optional. You'll be able to choose one of two optional modules, offering the opportunity to pursue research or to undertake a work placement in industry.

Your modules total 180 credit points. The modules' credit points are weighted based on the total time you can expect to spend studying the module content, both in terms of contact hours and non-contact hours.

Some of these modules are shared with other Masters level property management courses.

Core modules

  • Construction and Planning
  • Real Estate Valuation and Appraisal
  • Law for Surveyors
  • Property and Construction Economics
  • Real Estate Management and Agency
  • Professional Practice
  • Real Estate Investment
  • Real Estate Funding and Finance

Optional modules

  • Postgraduate Dissertation/Consultancy Project
  • Internship

Construction and Planning

15 credit points

  • This module will introduce you to principle aspects of professional practice and help you to develop key professional skills, and a critical appreciation and evaluative understanding of professional and technical subjects within the general fields of real estate.
  • In particular, the module will introduce you to building technology concepts and terminology, specifically with regard to: new and traditional residential and low rise multi-story construction; and key aspects of land use and the Town and Country Planning system.

Real Estate Valuation and Appraisal

15 credit points
  • This module will enable you to develop your knowledge, understanding and skills of valuation and appraisal of real estate. It's concerned with both existing operational and investment properties, and development opportunities focusing on commercial property.
  • It will provide you with an understanding of UK valuation and appraisal theory and practice, together with an international perspective on the topic. The valuation aspect will be concerned with estimates of market value, in accordance with international valuation standards. Investment and development appraisals will be concerned with the notion of investment value - value to the investor or developer.
  • In this context, appraisal encompasses a thorough consideration of financial performance and risk analysis, and includes the application of a range of valuation and appraisal techniques.

Law for Surveyors

15 credit points
  • This module will help you to develop knowledge and understanding of key elements of a range of legislation and legal principles relevant to the work of Chartered Surveyors and professional advisers working in the real estate and construction professions.

Property and Construction Economics

15 credit points
  • This module will enable you to evaluate economic theory within the context of real estate and construction markets, and where necessary to propose the creation and application of alternative approaches to market analysis and evaluation.
  • This module will also develop your ability to evaluate and analyse how the real estate and construction professions operate and interact within the industries.
  • After studying this module, you will be able to identify and analyse industry-wide problems based on an understanding of the market structure, performance, and behaviour of the industry.

Real Estate Management and Agency

15 credit points
  • This module provides an introduction to the principles, procedures and practices of commercial estate management, property agency, and Landlord & Tenant law. It will allow you to develop an awareness of the interrelationship between property, agents, asset managers and their various clients, and to consider the implications and application of leases within the property industry.
  • You will gain an understanding of the content and structure of typical commercial and residential leases, how to write a lease synopsis, and the operation and interpretation of lease clauses. The module content will familiarise you with the key areas of property management, including rent reviews, lease renewals, dilapidations, remedies for default, service charge administration, business rating, landlord's consent, and record keeping.
  • You will learn how to negotiate commercial property transactions and how to document an agreement in Heads of Terms. You will also learn how to place a property on the market, manage an agency instruction, and comply with relevant legislation.

Professional Practice

15 credit points
  • This module will draw upon the knowledge, understanding and skills you’ve developed during your studies as you critically evaluate and conduct a complex research or professional assignment.
  • You’ll apply your learning and demonstrate appropriate application of technical and theoretical knowledge, understanding, frameworks and skills are required.
  • This module enables you to engage with industry and will be facilitated by a period of simulated work experience.

Real Estate Investment

15 credit points
  • In this module, you will examine the strategic management of real estate as an investment asset. This will include examination of the characteristics of real estate as an investment asset, and the operation and performance of real estate investment markets.
  • Throughout the module, real estate is considered in the wider context of the characteristics of other investment assets and the operation and behaviour of investment and financial markets.
  • You will examine the characteristic and operation of both commercial and residential real estate investment markets. You will have the opportunity to evaluate a pluralist approach in considering the development of theory, in particular to critically evaluate the dominant traditional finance paradigm, with reference to the development of behavioural finance.

Real Estate Funding and Finance

15 credit points
  • In this module will enable you to understand the economic issues relative to real estate funding mechanisms, the structure of capital and real estate markets, and ways these markets operate.
  • This module will introduce you to economic and financial concepts, describe the economic behaviour and characteristics of real estate markets, and show the links between real estate and the economy.
  • You will examine the role of funding infrastructure and apply economic concepts to an analysis of residential and commercial property markets and the relationship between the macro-economy, real estate market performance, and financial stability.

Postgraduate Dissertation/Consultancy Project

60 credit points
  • You will be required to specify a research question, which will examine the connections between theories and principles, business or industrial practice and research in the context of your course. You'll own and manage your own significant independent academic enquiry, which will be reported in the form of a postgraduate dissertation.
  • Alternatively, you may, with the agreement of the module leader, undertake a consultancy project. However, the work must still meet the learning outcomes of the module and demonstrate application of the methodological principles of research. An investigation for your consultancy project may have been pre-identified or pre-constructed in your work environment, and framed around an issue of organisational relevance. Key relevant data may be readily available within your workplace and the outcome of the enquiry may have direct relevance to your employing organisation, or to the real estate and/or construction profession. It is important to note that a consultancy project will still require a substantive critical literature review, and consideration of methodological choices and approach, and is not simply a typical commercial consultancy report that might be produced for a client.
  • Normally you will implement your research proposal, which you will develop and hand in towards the start of this module. You will undertake a literature review appropriate to the selected topic and develop and apply a relevant methodology and research design. The results of your research will be described, analysed, evaluated and discussed with reference to the literature review. You will be required to draw conclusions and make recommendations for both professional practice and further research. You will not be required to make an original contribution to knowledge to succeed, but you will be required to demonstrate rigorous application of research processes to your selected topic.
  • In addition to your final dissertation/consultancy project report, you will be required to prepare a critical and reflective commentary and evaluation. Your reflective commentary will encompass the experience gained throughout your research, development of your professional and academic skills arising from the dissertation/consultancy project, and assessment of your ongoing development needs; as part of this you should produce a personal professional and academic skills development plan.

Internship

60 credit points
  • By choosing this option you will need to successfully secure an internship*, and complete a period of programme relevant work experience (minimum 150 hours).
  • As part of this you will be required to complete an associated research-based enquiry examining connections between theories, principles and practice; business, commercial, industrial, and professional practice and research, in the context of your course and field of internship.
  • Your Practice Research Enquiry will be reported in the form of a professional report; it is expected that this report will be underpinned by rigorous and critical examination of literature within the field. This enquiry may be based around a topic that has been pre-identified and possibly partly pre-constructed in your internship environment, and framed around an issue of organisational relevance to the internship provider.
  • Key relevant data may be readily available from or through the internship and the outcome of the study may well have direct relevance to the internship provider (although this is not a requirement). It is important to note that this study will require a focused critical literature review, and critical consideration of methodological choices, options and approaches. You will be required to specify the nature of your research enquiry at a formative stage of the investigation through the submission of a Practice Research Enquiry Proposal.

*You will receive support in sourcing a placement through our Employability team, however it is your responsibility to source and secure your internship opportunity with a relevant company. Availability of internships is not guaranteed. If an internship cannot be secured, then you will be required to complete the Postgraduate Dissertation / Consultancy Project module instead.

It is the responsibility of non-UK students to investigate the restrictions of their student visa when seeking internship opportunities and/or employment in the UK. Visit the UKCISA website for the most up-to-date visa information.

Don’t just take our word for it, hear from our students themselves

Student Profiles

Noah Clegg

Real Estate

NTU and the Real Estate MSc excelled in providing projects that are relevant to the professional world and exposing its students to industry professionals throughout the course.

Naome Kayondo Bagenda

A postgraduate qualification gives me an edge over other professionals in the sense that it grants me more chances of getting a better and higher-paying job globally.

Diane Romano-Woodward

Real Estate

The lecturers are patient in their explanations. They are all experienced Property professionals, and this makes their explanations of principles very relevant and well-illustrated.

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How you’re taught

How will I learn?

A wide range of teaching and learning methods are used to deliver the course content. In most modules, you'll take part in intensive sessions of key point lectures, supported by study guides, case studies and other literature. Many modules include presentations by external industry specialists and visits to live sites, to provide a real life perspective on the module content. Previous guest speakers have included Cushman & Wakefield, Savills, the President of RICS and the Head of Estates for Rolls Royce Industries.

Non-contact hours include direct out-of-classroom reading and activities, and independent learning and reading is deemed necessary to achieve the learning outcomes for the course.

Study trips

Field trips and study visits are an important part of your learning. You will have the opportunity to go on a field trips as part of your studies. Previous destinations have included New York, Frankfurt, Budapest and Amsterdam. We also run an annual trip to a UK city to meet leading market practitioners and to view prime commercial property which has often included tours of iconic skyscrapers with agents or developers.

Other trips may include site visits and visits to practices, museums, exhibitions and events. Optional trips may also be organised which can provide additional opportunities to enhance your knowledge and experience. Optional trips will incur a cost to the student. A valid passport and any associated visas will be required for trips outside of the UK. Where there are unforeseen circumstances outside of our control, trips may not run.

MSc students smiling and posing for the camera in NYC.

Student trip to New York

Students studying MSc Real Estate and MSc International Real Estate and Finance courses visited New York City. The trip included industry-related tours, a link-up with Real Estate students from Columbia University, and a session hosted by one of our Alumnus, Adele Werner, at Savills, New York.

Staff Profiles

Rebecca Goodall - Principal Lecturer

School of Architecture Design and the Built Environment

Rebecca Goodall

Keith Lown - Head of Department

School of Architecture Design and the Built Environment

Keith Lown is the Head of Department for Property Management & Development, School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment, Nottingham Trent University.

Keith Agar - Senior Lecturer

School of Architecture Design and the Built Environment

Keith is the Course Leader for MSc Real Estate, MSc International Real Estate Investment & Finance and MSc Property Development & Planning.

How you’re assessed

Assessment methods include project work, independent assignments and reports, exams, work portfolios and presentations.

Assignments are investigative in nature, enabling you to develop your principles, analyse, critically appraise and evaluate relevant issues, demonstrating your creativity and sustainable thinking.

Careers and employability

This course provides an opportunity for graduates from disciplines unrelated to real estate and construction to embark on a professional career in real estate.

Where do MSc Real Estate graduates from NTU work?

Our graduates are highly regarded by employers, enjoy excellent career prospects and have gone on to work for a wide range of major national and international organisations.

100% of MSc Real Estate full-time graduates are in work or further study within 15 months of finishing their degrees (latest Graduate Outcomes Survey 2020/21).

Recent graduate destinations include:

  • JLL
  • CBRE
  • Lambert Smith Hampton
  • Montague Evans
  • Savills
  • ProLogis
  • Cushman & Wakefield
  • FHP
  • Miller Homes
  • Valuation Office and many more.

Becoming Chartered with the RICS

The RICS accreditation enables you to progress to Chartered Surveyor status once you have completed your studies. To become a Chartered Surveyor, you'll need to complete at least two years of relevant professional work experience – the Assessment of Professional Competence (APC).

This course will prepare you for future employment in a number of the RICS APC pathways. Find out more about how to complete your APC and become RICS qualified.

Internships

If you elect to complete the optional Internship module as part of the course, it is your responsibility to source and secure your internship opportunity with a relevant company. You will receive support through our expert Employability team, however availability of internships is not guaranteed.

It is the responsibility of non-UK students to investigate the restrictions of their student visa when seeking internship opportunities and/or employment in the UK. Visit the UKCISA website for the most up-to-date visa information.

Our Employability team

Our expert Employability team will work closely with you at every stage of your career planning, providing personal support and advice. You can benefit from this service at any time during your studies, and for up to three years after completing your course.

Throughout the year, our Employability team runs a series of events specifically for students studying in the School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment. This includes the Built Environment Jobs Fair, where employers advertise graduate positions to our students.

Re:search Re:imagined

To us, research is about more than writing papers and proposing new ideas. By daring to think differently, we’re disrupting the research landscape and finding the answers to the questions that really matter. From mortgage markets to real estate economics, we’re inspiring the brightest minds to rise up and find solutions to some of the most significant global challenges facing society.

Find out more

NTU Enterprise

You'll also have the opportunity to turn your ideas into a viable business with help from NTU Enterprise, NTU's purpose-built Centre for Entrepreneurship and Enterprise, a support centre to help students create, develop and grow their own businesses.

Campus and facilities

City Campus facilities

Many of your lectures and seminars will take place in the Newton building on our City Campus.

Industry-standard software

You will have the opportunity to use and familiarise yourself with our industry-standard software, including:

  • digital mapping
  • development appraisal
  • property and environmental risk information
  • industry-standard information systems and databases.

IT resources

Our IT resource rooms and PC clusters are distributed across our City Campus, with PCs providing access to Microsoft Office, email, web browsing, networked file storage and high-speed online printing services, with a free printing allowance for each student.

Resource rooms are available 24 hours a day.

Books and library resources

Our state-of-the-art Boots library will give you access to an extensive and diverse range of books and periodicals that focus on specialist areas within the built environment. The library's OneSearch system provides access to all our electronic resources, journals and books.

Within the library there is a liaison librarian who has specialist subject knowledge and can offer detailed help in finding and using print and electronic resources, and also with areas such as Harvard referencing and research skills.

Entry requirements

Applying with prior qualifications

  • 2.2 honours degree in a subject unrelated, or partially related, to real estate or construction.

We specify these minimum entry requirements, but we will assess you individually on your ability to benefit from the course. We sometimes offer places on the basis of non-standard entry qualifications, and industrial or professional experience.

Advanced entry

NTU may admit a student with advanced standing beyond the beginning of a course, through an assessment of that student's prior learning, whether it is certificated or uncertificated. Our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy outlines the process and options available to these prospective students, such as recognising experiential learning or transferring to a similar course at another institution, otherwise known as credit transfer.

All prospective students who wish to apply via Recognition of Prior Learning should initially contact the central Admissions and Enquiries Team who will be able to support you through the process.

Getting in touch

If you need any more help or information, please contact us at Ask NTU or call +44 (0)115 848 4200.

Getting in touch

If you need more help or information, get in touch through our enquiry form

Applying with prior qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree grade 2.2 in a subject unrelated, or partially related, to real estate or construction.
  • If you’re not sure how your international qualification matches our course requirements please visit our international qualifications page.

We specify these minimum entry requirements, but we will assess you individually on your ability to benefit from the course. We sometimes offer places on the basis of non-standard entry qualifications, and industrial or professional experience.

International qualifications 

We accept qualifications from all over the world – check yours here:

Postgraduate preparation courses (Pre-Masters)

If you don’t yet meet our entry requirements, we offer Pre-Masters courses through our partner Nottingham Trent International College (NTIC), based on our City Campus:

English language entry requirements 

You can meet our language requirements by successfully completing our pre-sessional English course for an agreed length of time, or by submitting the required grade in one of our accepted English language tests, such as IELTS:

Would you like some advice on your study plans? 

Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world. We also have members of staff based in Vietnam, China, India and Nigeria and work with a worldwide network of education counsellors.

Complete this simple form to keep in touch with the International Office.

Fees and funding

Fees for 2024 entry

Study route Home (UK students) fees 2024
Full-time (1 year) £11,900 per year
Part-time (cost per year of study) £5,950 per year

*Please note that if you are considering a part-time route that runs over more than one year, the tuition fee stated is for Year One of study. The course fee for Year Two is subject to annual review.

Alumni discount and scholarships

We're happy to offer a 20% alumni discount to most current NTU students and NTU alumni for courses starting between September 2024 and August 2025. This discount is available for those starting on an eligible postgraduate taught, postgraduate research or professional course.

You might be able to get a scholarship to help fund your studies. We award scholarships to those students who can demonstrate excellent achievement, passion and dedication to their studies.

Find out more about our discount and scholarships.

Funding your studies

There are numerous sources of funding available for postgraduate students, both from external sources such as the Government and funding bodies, and from the University.

There are two main costs involved with postgraduate study: the cost of your tuition fees which is paid directly to the University, and living expenses such as accommodation, travel and food.

You might be able to get a scholarship to help fund your studies. We award scholarships to those students who can demonstrate excellent achievement, passion and dedication to their studies.

Please take a look at our postgraduate funding page for information about sourcing grants, bursaries and scholarships, and much more.

Additional costs

In addition, most study modules will recommend one or more core text books, which most students choose to purchase. Book costs vary between courses and further information is available in the University’s bookshop. A good supply of these essential text books are available in the University libraries which students can easily borrow or access directly whilst studying in the library.

Getting in touch

For more advice and guidance, you can contact our Student Financial Support Service by calling +44 (0)115 848 2494.

Fees for 2024 entry

Study routeEU and International fees 2024
Full-time (1 year) £17,500 per year
Part-time (cost per year of study) £8,750 per year

*Please note that if you are considering a part-time route that runs over more than one year, the tuition fee stated is for Year One of study. The course fee for Year Two is subject to annual review.

Alumni discount and scholarships

We're happy to offer a 20% alumni discount to most current NTU students and NTU alumni for September 2023. This discount is available for those starting on an eligible postgraduate taught, postgraduate research or professional course.

You might be able to get a scholarship to help fund your studies. We award scholarships to those students who can demonstrate excellent achievement, passion and dedication to their studies.

We also offer international scholarships of up to 50% of your tuition fee. You can apply for your scholarship when you have an offer to study at NTU.

Find out more about our discounts and scholarships.

Additional costs

In addition, most study modules will recommend one or more core text books, which most students choose to purchase. Book costs vary between courses and further information is available in the University’s bookshop. A good supply of these essential text books are available in the University libraries which students can easily borrow or access directly whilst studying in the library.

Living costs

Get advice on the cost of living as an international student in Nottingham and how to budget:

Paying fees 

Find out about advanced payments, instalment plan options and how to make payments securely to the University:

Would you like some advice on your study plans? 

Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world. We also have members of staff based in Vietnam, China, India and Nigeria and work with a worldwide network of education counsellors.

Complete this simple form to keep in touch with the International Office.

How to apply

You can apply to this course online through NTU Applicant Portal.

You can get more information and advice about applying to NTU on our postgraduate pages.

Writing your application

Be honest, thorough and persuasive in your application. Remember, we can only make a decision based on what you tell us. Make sure you include as much information as possible, including uploading evidence of results already achieved, as well as a personal statement.

You can get more information and advice about applying to NTU on our postgraduate pages.

Advice for non-standard applicants

We welcome applications from applicants without prior qualifications. However, in this instance, you must have proven experience in the property or construction industries, which demonstrates appropriate knowledge and skills at honours degree (undergraduate) standard.

If you are applying without prior qualifications, you will need to submit comprehensive details of your achievements with evidence to substantiate your claim (any documentation can be uploaded to the My Documents section of the Applicant Portal). This type of application will be considered with respect to the University’s provision for ‘accreditation for prior experiential learning’. Decisions regarding the accreditation of prior learning are a matter of academic judgement.

Keeping up to date

After you’ve applied, we’ll be sending you important emails throughout the application process - so check your emails regularly, including your junk mail folder.

Getting in touch

If you need more help or support, you can call our Admissions Team on +44 (0)115 848 4200, or contact us at Ask NTU.

Good luck with your application!

You can apply to this course online through NTU Applicant Portal.

Application advice

Apply early so that you have enough time to prepare – processing times for Student visas can vary, for example.  After you've applied, we'll be sending you important emails throughout the application process – so check your emails regularly, including your junk mail folder.

Writing your personal statement

Be honest, thorough, and persuasive – we can only make a decision about your application based on what you tell us:

Would you like some advice on your study plans? 

Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world. We also have members of staff based in Vietnam, China, India and Nigeria and work with a worldwide network of education counsellors.

Complete this simple form to keep in touch with the International Office.

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