REST7017
30 credits
This module aims to provide you with an understanding of the fundamentals and principles of the real estate investment market via six learning packages...
Accredited by Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), Investment Property Forum (IPF)
Real Estate Investment Finance
MSc, PGDip
Develop specialist insight into real estate investment and finance, exploring financial attributes of property as an investment class.
Key facts
- Duration
- Part time: 1 - 2 years for Postgraduate Diploma, 18 months - 5 years for MSc.
- Starts
- January 2027, April 2027, July 2027, September 2027
- Level
- Master's and postgraduate
- Course code
- MSC-REI
- Location
- Distance Learning
- School
- School of the Built Environment
About this course
Real estate investment finance is constantly evolving. To continue climbing the career ladder, professionals in this area need to regularly update their knowledge and keep up with market trends.
This entirely online distance learning course is all about putting practical skills into action. It is for professionals around the world with a background in real estate, finance or business.
Our teaching team uses real-world examples, encouraging you to think critically. You will expand your knowledge of the practices that underpin the sector while being able to work at your own pace and keep track of your learning.
During your studies, you’ll also have lots of opportunities to connect with professionals across the globe. We’ll invite you to events where industry experts will present and share the latest thinking on different topics.
Read our Hot Property blog for student and alumni profiles and see what they got out of the course.
Alternatively, you may want to consider our alternative CPD programme Certificate of Real Estate Investment Finance.
Accreditations
- Accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).
- Recognised by the Investment Property Forum (IPF).
4 start dates
Decide whether you start this course in January, March, July or September. Simply apply 6 weeks before the date you want to start.
Control your length of study
The CPD and PG Diploma can be completed within 1 year, or extended to 2 years. The MSc can be completed within 18 months, or extended to a maximum of 5 years.
100% online study
We combine flexible, innovative learning with the opportunity to study and network with fellow professionals worldwide.
Leaders in education
This course is supported by industrial bodies such as ANREV, APREA and IPF.
Research expertise
Most of our teaching staff are involved in academic research and/or professional/commercial consultancy work.
The Land, Design and Development (LDD) group brings together about 20 research-active academics working on different aspects of real estate, land policy, urban design, urban development and pedagogy.
LDD members undertake a wide range of innovative and interdisciplinary research in areas of economic globalization; property development; housing policy; public space; place identity; urban design and heritage; urban morphology; townscape and city centre management; urban regeneration and sustainability; infrastructure delivery; healthy cities and healthy ageing; and pedagogical methods and digital technologies.
Peter Dent, Michael Patrick and Ye Xu authored ‘Real Estate Property Markets and Sustainable Behaviour for the Natural and Built Environment Series’ (Routledge 2012).
Entry requirements
Entry requirements
| Qualification | Typical offer |
|---|---|
| IELTS | IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.0 in all skills. For more information, please see our English language requirements. |
MSc/PGDip REIF is open to applicants who hold a 2.2 undergraduate honours degree (or international equivalent).
It is also desirable to have at least two years relevant experience in the workplace.
Applicants working in the sector, who hold suitable professional qualifications - which can demonstrate ability to study at master's level, are also welcome to apply.
Fees and funding
Fees
| Fee types | 2026/27 | 2027/28 |
|---|---|---|
| Home distance learning | £11,250 (18 months), £9,475 (PGDip) (12 months) | £12,100 (18 months), £10,200 (12 months) |
| International distance learning | £11,250 (18 Months), £9,475 (PGDip) (12 months) | £12,100 (18 months), £10,200 |
Fees quoted are for the first year only. If you are studying a course that lasts longer than one year, your fees will increase each year.
The following factors will be taken into account by the University when it is setting the annual fees: inflationary measures such as the retail price indices, projected increases in University costs, changes in the level of funding received from Government sources, admissions statistics and access considerations including the availability of student support.
How and when to pay
Tuition fee instalments for the semester are due by the Monday of week 1 of each semester. Students are not liable for full fees for that semester if they leave before week 4. If the leaving date is after week 4, full fees for the semester are payable.
- For information on payment methods please see our Make a Payment page.
- For information about refunds please visit our Refund policy page.
Questions about fees?
Learning and assessment
We’ve designed this course to extend your expertise of real estate as a financial asset in the investment market. You’ll complete 4 core modules:
- The Real Estate Investment Market
- Applied Real Estate Valuation
- Real Estate Investment and Finance
- Legal and Regulatory Considerations.
You’ll look at areas like property portfolio management and property financial management, as well as assets, markets and drivers. We’ll discuss the different valuation standards, techniques and modelling that are key for real estate valuations.
Understanding the context in which a real estate organisation functions is essential. As well as financial reporting and performance, we’ll explore Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) issues. For the legal and regulatory module, you’ll look at legal structures, regulations and taxation from an international perspective.
For the MSc, you’ll spend time developing your research skills and draw on the core modules to help you decide on a dissertation subject. We’ll also encourage you to link it to your own experiences and current role.
The REIF programme has been specifically tailored to enhance your online-learning. You can share work and study experiences, take part in presentations and receive feedback on assignments. Recordings of the Webinars will be available as part of each module. To enable you to get to know other students and discuss your studies informally, we have set up designated groups. Teaching methods include:
Formally:
- Online Webinars
- Virtual Office Hours
- Discussion Board
Informally:
- Virtual Coffee
Assessment
There are no formal exams. To reflect the practical nature of the REIF programme, each module is assessed with a combination of:
- online tests
- coursework
- presentations.
Year 1
Compulsory modules
REST7018
30 credits
This module asks you to compare and contrast the perspectives of real estate value and capital market valuation when doing a valuation of real estate via the...
REST7019
30 credits
This module provides the framework for you to develop an understanding of the financial and business context in which a real estate organisation functions. The...
REST7020
30 credits
In this module, you will bring together a number of regulatory and tax principles, as well as issues that are implicit in many of the topics covered in the...
Careers
Our online course is a great fit for real estate professionals across all sectors, as well as fund managers and investment bankers who would like to boost their expertise in real estate as a financial asset in an investment portfolio. Maybe you want to change career paths, or perhaps you’re preparing for a promotion.
The MSc REIF is accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). This means graduates who have completed the full course are entitled to apply for the RICS graduate pathway to membership.
How to apply
Our courses are reviewed regularly as part of our quality assurance framework, so module availability and course structures may vary from what is listed here. On rare occasions, we may also need to make updates to our course programmes after publication; for full details, please visit our changes to programmes page (opens in a new tab)