Property Development and Planning BSc (Hons)
- Level(s) of Study: Undergraduate
- UCAS Code(s): K491 (with placement year) / K420 (full-time)
- Start Date(s): September 2023
- Duration: Four years full-time with placement year, three years full-time
- Study Mode(s): Full-time / Sandwich
- Campus: City Campus
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Entry Requirements:
More information
More information
Introduction:
Property development and planning is fundamental to the growth of the property industry – from scheme proposal, site identification and analysis, through to design, viability, finance and marketing.
On this course, you'll gain a comprehensive understanding of the key aspects of property development and planning, including spatial and urban design, site appraisal, sustainability, planning consultancy, and management of development – areas that will allow you to add value to the land and property industry, whether as an adviser, consultant or developer.
Through specialist and technical knowledge you'll focus on business planning, client care and negotiation, developing all of the core surveying competencies required to succeed in a global and dynamic industry.
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The course is accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), meaning it matches industry-specific needs and represents your first step towards becoming a Chartered Surveyor. -
97% of our Property Management and Development sandwich undergraduates are in work or further study within 15 months of finishing their degrees (latest Graduate Outcomes Survey 2020/21). -
94% of BSc (Hons) Property Development and Planning FT students are satisfied with the course (National Student Survey, 2022). -
You'll gain vital workplace skills by undertaking a one-year placement on our sandwich route. Previously students have spent their placements at Lambert Smith Hampton, Barker Storey Matthews and Jaguar Land Rover.
What you’ll study
This course equips you to oversee the entire development process, from site identification and analysis, design, viability and finance; through the planning system; and ultimately to the delivery of a development scheme.
Professional, Academic and Business Skills (20 credits)
- This module provides you with an introduction to academic study, to the built environment professions, and to the nature of the work carried out by surveyors.
Surveying Skills (20 credits)
- This module will provide you with an introduction to practice and surveying skills, which will be developed throughout the course of your degree and in the workplace.
Construction (20 credits)
- This module introduces you to a range of technical, practical and environmental principles involved in the construction of a range of traditional and non-traditional buildings.
- It provides a framework for understanding the environmental impact of buildings and introduces the concept of building pathology, which examines why buildings fail.
Economics and Valuation (20 credits)
- This module introduces property economics and the links between the economy and the property market, as well as giving you a overview of property valuation.
- By the end of the module, you will be able to use economic concepts and the theory of supply and demand to explain activities in the construction and property market.
Law (20 credits)
- This module introduces you to the English legal system with a focus on civil law affecting the property industry. You will gain an understanding of how this law operates and an introduction to how it impacts on society and the property professions.
Planning and Land Use (20 credits)
- This module introduces the concepts and principles of the planning system.
- The content of the module is underpinned by the concept of sustainable development, and it considers the impact of climate change on how cities will evolve and adapt in the future.
Valuation (20 credits)
- In this module you will develop knowledge and understanding of the different approaches to the valuation of property, and examine the application of different techniques employed in the valuation process.
Concepts and Practice in Planning (20 credits)
- This module develops an integrated understanding and application of the concepts that guide the development of land and buildings in urban and rural areas in the UK.
- With a key focus on sustainability, you’ll explore creating sustainable cities and communities and affecting issues such as health and wellbeing, affordable and clean energy, and life on land.
Property Management and Agency (40 credits)
- This module provides an introduction to the principles, procedures and practices of commercial estate management, property agency, and landlord and tenant law.
- You will develop an awareness of the interrelationship between property agents, asset managers and their various clients, and the implications and application of marketing within the property industry.
Property Development: Principles and Practice (20 credits)
- This module introduces you to the development process and the commercial drivers behind it. You will examine the roles of various participants in the development process and how they affect its end product.
Employability and Commercial Awareness (20 credits)
- This module provides guidance for gaining, and preparing for, employment within the property sector.
- You will be introduced to the requirements for the RICS Assessment of Professional Competence and the principles of employment law, Health and Safety at Work regulations, and related procedures.
Sandwich placement year
In your third year, you'll have the opportunity to take a year-long full-time placement. This will give you real, hands-on experience and open up exciting opportunities for your future employment. Many students return to their placement company after graduation.
Recent placement destinations have included Lambert Smith Hampton, Barker Storey Matthews, Gleeds, Tarmac and Savills, and more. The majority of these roles come with a salary, with some students earning up to £24,000 for their year. Roles have included local land charges officer, land buyer, land surveyor, planner, survey assistant, and many more.
The majority of companies are RICS-accredited, which means the year counts towards your RICS Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) and becoming a Chartered Surveyor.
Study abroad
If you're studying on our sandwich route you can also opt to study abroad for a full academic year, or for a semester, during Year Three. This is an optional and additional period of study that complements your degree at NTU as an alternative to taking a work placement.
This is an exciting opportunity to experience a different national culture, teaching and learning styles and subjects in an international environment. The destination university must be a year abroad / exchange partner of NTU or member of a formally recognised scheme such as the International Student Exchange Programme (ISEP).
Our NTU Global and student mobility team will support you in finding the right opportunity from one of the many international partners available around the world.
Successful completion of a period of international study will earn you a standalone award – an International Study Certificate (minimum six weeks) or the International Study Diploma (minimum 36 weeks).
Development Consultancy (40 credits)
- This module provides you with the opportunity to undertake practical application of planning and development-related skills, with particular emphasis on the development process.
- This is, as part of the final stage of the degree, designed to integrate the range of skills and attributes developed throughout the course.
Planning Consultancy (40 credits)
- Adopting a ‘real-world’ approach, on this module you’ll undertake practical application of planning-related skills within a project-based setting.
- You will undertake work such as planning site appraisals, preparing outline planning applications, and exploring planning related topics.
Research Project (20 credits)
- This module requires you to investigate a topic of your choice in an extended project.
- You will critically analyse existing literature, recommend and apply suitable research methods, analyse data, and produce conclusions and recommendations.
Heritage and Conservation (20 credits)
- This module will develop your knowledge and skills in relation to architectural history and conservation and heritage philosophy and practice.
- You will learn how to identify different architectural styles, appraise culturally significant buildings and places and manage proposed uses and associated interventions in line with current legal, technical, and procedural considerations.
Don’t just take our word for it, hear from our students themselves
How you’re taught
Most content is delivered through practice-based teaching, which gives you the opportunity to understand the course material and its theoretical framework within the context of real professional practice and activity. Approximately 20-27% of your time is spent in scheduled learning sessions. Course content is delivered through lectures, seminars, tutorials, and fieldwork, which can include site visits and practical exercises.
You will also be involved in self-directed project work with the support of NOW, our virtual learning environment. Outside of the timetabled sessions, you will need to undertake self-directed independent study. This will include preparing for lectures, researching, completing coursework, and directed reading to expand your knowledge.
Study trips
In the second and final year of your studies, you may have the opportunity to go on a field trip.
Field trips and study visits are an important part of your learning. Trips may include site visits and visits to practices, museums, exhibitions and events. Where a trip is mandatory it will be aligned to your modules and inform project work, and substantive costs – including travel and accommodation – will be paid for by the school.
Optional trips may also be organised which can provide additional opportunities to enhance your knowledge and experience. Optional trips may incur a cost to the student. A valid passport and any associated visas will be required for any trips outside of the UK. Where there are unforeseen circumstances outside of our control, trips may not run.
Contact hours
| Year One | Lectures/seminars/workshops | 25% | Independent study | 75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year Two | Lectures/seminars/workshops | 23% | Independent study | 77% |
| Year Three | Optional placement year | |||
| Year Four | Lectures/seminars/workshops | 20% | Independent study | 80% |
How you’re assessed
You will be assessed through a mix of coursework, practical exercises and exams. The coursework will make up the majority of your assessment, and will consist of group and individual projects, reports, presentations to your peers, and essays. You will receive feedback throughout each module.
| Year One | Coursework | 85% | Written exams | 15% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year Two | Coursework | 83% | Written exams | 17% |
| Year Three | Optional placement year | |||
| Year Four | Coursework | 100% | ||
Careers and employability
Our course is designed to prepare you to succeed in the property industry, through work placements, working on real projects from industry, input from industry professionals, and regularly updated course content.
NTU is joint 2nd for the percentage of Construction, Surveying and Planning graduates who are in graduate-level jobs, further higher education or professional study within 15 months of graduating (Guardian University Guide, 2023).
97% of our Property Management and Development sandwich undergraduates are in work or further study within 15 months of finishing their degrees (latest Graduate Outcomes Survey 2020/21).
Where do Property Development and Planning graduates from NTU work?
NTU has a strong property alumni community, with many graduates working in senior positions in leading national and international companies.
Recent BSc (Hons) Property Development and Planning graduate destinations have included:
- Barratt Homes
- Berkeley Group
- Croudace Homes
- Innes England
- JLL
- Persimmon Homes
- Sainsbury's
- Savills.
Graduate roles include land acquisition surveyor, graduate surveyor, and trainee manager.
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). If you undertake a sandwich placement, this will normally count as the first year of your professional work experience (only for RICS), however at least 12 months of study must take place on a graduate training scheme. Find out more about how to complete your APC and become RICS qualified.
This course is designed to prepare you for future employment in a number of the RICS APC pathways, which could include:
- Planning and Development
- Commercial Real Estate
- Residential
- Valuation.
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. Our Employability team run a series of events throughout the year specifically for Property Management and Development students, including our Built Environment Jobs Fair, bringing our students together with prospective employers.
Find out more about career options in the property industry on the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors website.
Excellent placement opportunities
BSc (Hons) Property Development and Planning students have the opportunity to apply for a year-long work placement (minimum of 36 weeks in one or more organisations). This will give you real, hands-on experience within the industry, opening up exciting opportunities for future employment. Our sandwich route offers this year-long placement option, with a total course length of four years.
NTU is 1st for the number of UG students studying Architecture, building and planning (HESA, 2021/22).
Professional qualification
Successful completion of the 36 weeks leads to an extra qualification of Diploma in Professional Practice, which will further enhance your CV.
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
Facilities for Property students
The majority of your lectures and seminars will take place in the Newton building on our City Campus.
Take a look at the industry-standard facilities we have at the School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment
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 the City site, 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).
Books and library resources
In the library, you will have 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. They can offer detailed help in finding and using print and electronic resources and also support on things such as Harvard referencing and research skills.
Entry requirements
Looking for a place in Clearing? We are accepting applications and would love to hear from you.
To discuss our entry requirements and see what we can offer you, call us now on +44 (0)115 848 6000 or apply online.
What are we looking for?
- We accept UCAS Tariff points from up to four qualifications (two of which must be A-level equivalent).
- GCSE English and Maths grade C / 4.
Other qualifications and experience
We may also consider credits achieved at other universities and your work/life experience through an assessment of prior learning. This may be for year one entry, or beyond the beginning of a course where applicable, for example, into year 2. Our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy outlines the process and options available for this route.
Getting in touch
If you need more help or information, get in touch through our enquiry form.
Looking for a place in Clearing? We are accepting applications and would love to hear from you.
To discuss our entry requirements and see what we can offer you, call us now on +44 (0)115 848 6000 or apply online.
What are we looking for?
- We accept UCAS Tariff points from up to four qualifications (two of which must be A-level equivalent).
- GCSE English and Maths grade C / 4.
International qualifications
We accept qualifications from all over the world – check yours here:
Undergraduate preparation courses (Foundation)
If you don’t yet meet our entry requirements, we offer Foundation 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:
Advanced standing (starting your undergraduate degree in year 2 or 3)
You may be able to start your undergraduate course in year 2 or 3 based on what you have studied before. This decision would be made in accordance with our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy.
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
Preparing for the financial side of student life is important, that's why we're here to help.
Take a look at our fees and funding pages for lots of handy advice and guidance.
Getting in touch
For more advice and guidance, you can contact our Student Financial Support Service.
Tel: +44 (0)115 848 2494
Additional costs
Your course fees cover the cost of studies, and include loads of great benefits, such as the use of our modern library, support from our expert Employability team, and free use of the IT equipment across our campuses.
Library books
You’ll need to cover the cost of your own books, standard drawing and writing equipment and consumables. However, our City Campus library is home to four floors of books, journals and materials (many of which you can access online) – meaning you may not need to purchase as many books as you might think! Our library team work closely with our academics to ensure that our library collection closely matches the topics you’ll be studying, to provide relevant resources for you to use, free of charge.
Printing and materials costs
Students should also budget approximately £100 per year to cover any printing or materials that they may require to support their studies. Students may choose to apply for a placement option during their course.
Our Students’ Union shop and Bonington art shop are great places to pick up drawing and writing equipment at reasonable prices and are located right in the centre of our City Campus.
Placements
If you're undertaking a placement year, you'll need to budget for accommodation and any travel costs you may incur whilst on placement. Many of our placement students do earn a salary whilst on placement which can help to cover these living costs.
Our Building Blocks financial package: supporting you throughout your studies
As a student at the School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment, you’ll also benefit from our Building Blocks financial package, which aims to help minimise the additional costs of study, while you’re here at NTU.
What you’ll receive
- All of the materials needed for induction workshops and activities, working within our workshops and laboratories.
- Free personal protective equipment (PPE), which usually includes hard-wearing boots, goggles and high-vis vests, to keep you safe on site visits and while working in our workshops.
- Access to the free professional body accreditation, as appropriate for your course.
- £20 pre-paid printing allowance for use at the NTU Print Shops, and library photocopiers.
Tuition fees for September 2023 entry
Tuition fees are payable for each year that you are at the University. The level of tuition fees for the second and subsequent years of your undergraduate course may increase in line with inflation and as specified by the UK government. Visit our fees page for more information.
Scholarships
We offer scholarships of up to 50% of your tuition fee. You can apply for your scholarship when you have an offer to study at NTU.
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:
Additional costs
Your course fees cover the cost of studies, and include loads of great benefits, such as the use of our modern library, support from our expert Employability team, and free use of the IT equipment across our campuses.
Library books
You’ll need to cover the cost of your own books, standard drawing and writing equipment and consumables. However, our City Campus library is home to four floors of books, journals and materials (many of which you can access online) – meaning you may not need to purchase as many books as you might think! Our library team work closely with our academics to ensure that our library collection closely matches the topics you’ll be studying, to provide relevant resources for you to use, free of charge.
Printing and materials costs
Students should also budget approximately £100 per year to cover any printing or materials that they may require to support their studies. Students may choose to apply for a placement option during their course.
Our Students’ Union shop and Bonington art shop are great places to pick up drawing and writing equipment at reasonable prices and are located right in the centre of our City Campus.
Placements
If you're undertaking a placement year, you'll need to budget for accommodation and any travel costs you may incur whilst on placement. Many of our placement students do earn a salary whilst on placement which can help to cover these living costs.
Our Building Blocks financial package: supporting you throughout your studies
As a student at the School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment, you’ll also benefit from our Building Blocks financial package, which aims to help minimise the additional costs of study, while you’re here at NTU.
What you’ll receive
- All of the materials needed for induction workshops and activities, working within our workshops and laboratories.
- Free personal protective equipment (PPE), which usually includes hard-wearing boots, goggles and high-vis vests, to keep you safe on site visits and while working in our workshops.
- Access to the free professional body accreditation, as appropriate for your course.
- £20 pre-paid printing allowance for use at the NTU Print Shops, and library photocopiers.
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
Apply through UCAS.
As part of your application, you’ll submit a personal statement. Tell us about your ambitions, skills and experience. You have 4,000 characters to impress us – here’s how to make your words count.
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.
You can get more information and advice about applying to NTU on our Your Application page.
You can apply for this course through UCAS.
If you are not applying to any other UK universities, you can apply directly to us on our 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.