The MSc Real Estate comprises 11 or 12 compulsory taught modules (depending on your chosen pathway) and a structured Applied Real Estate Project. It provides you with a thorough grounding in the skills and expertise necessary for a career in real estate.
Each module, except one, is 10 credits and the MSc qualification is 180 credits.
Please note: as programmes are reviewed regularly as part of our quality assurance framework, the module list you choose from may vary from what is shown here.
Autumn SemesterValuation and Investment (10 credits - all pathways) starts with an introduction to the concept of investment and pricing, and covers basic financial mathematics. The module looks at the role of pricing and valuation methods and their appropriateness against the wider economic and investment environment.
Real Estate Law (10 credits – all pathways) introduces you to the law as it relates to real property management issues. It covers the law of obligations (both contractual and tortious) then moves on to cover basic aspects of the law of real property and the law of landlord and tenant.
Real Estate Economics (10 credits – all pathways) provides the framework for developing an understanding of the economic context in which a real estate organisation functions. This includes the national and international economic environment. The module discusses the role of markets, in particular the real estate market and the influences upon such key variables as costs and prices. It develops techniques to enable an organisation to analyse its situation and propose solutions.
Integrative Professional Practice (10 credits – all pathways) concerns the application of estate management skills within a practical setting, and will help you develop a wide range of professional skills within the field of real estate management.
Construction and Sustainability (10 credits – all pathways) seeks to provide an understanding of the principles of construction in the context of a sustainable environment, and to develop a knowledge of the professional skills required to ensure sustainability in the built environment.
Real Estate Management (10 credits – all pathways) enables All MSc Real Estate students will be paired with a recent graduate from the programme who will support and help in careers' advice, study and professional development. The module will involve a series of case study examples from industry.
Spring SemesterCorporate Real Estate (10 credits – all pathways) provides a framework for analysis of the corporate environment and its effect on an organisation's real estate holdings, including both internal and external environments. The module develops strategic perspectives for real estate in a variety of organisational structures and environments. It also examines aspects of operational management and the impact of these on overall strategy.
Real Estate Finance and Business Economics (10 credits – all pathways) continues studies from the autumn semester looking at the role of markets, in particular the real estate market and the influences upon such key variables as costs and prices.
Real Estate Development Appraisal (10 credits – all pathways) deals with the quantitative analysis of real estate development. Development appraisal is the central tenet for assessing the feasibility of any development. It looks at the financial impact of physical, legal, planning and economic restrictions on the viability of a development at any point in the economic cycle.
UK Planning and Development (10 credits – Commercial/Residential pathways) sets out to deal with planning and development issues of interest to the chartered surveyor and related professionals. As well as covering issues relating to the planning system, the module focuses on urban renewal and regeneration.
International Planning and Development (10 credits – International pathway) - the processes involved in developing real estate in different global markets vary due to factors such as the legal, economic, political and environmental circumstances of each location.
Real Estate Investment Strategy (10 credits – Commercial/Residential pathway) builds on Valuation and Investment, studying property as an investment, including its role in a multi-asset portfolio. The module discusses the relevance of portfolio theory to property investment, and its influence on the use of diversification, risk analysis and performance measurement.
International Real Estate Investment (10 credits – International pathway) builds on the Valuation and Investment module, studying property as an investment in a worldwide context including its increasing role in multi-asset, cross-border portfolios. It discusses the relevance of portfolio theory to property investment, and its influence on the use of diversification, risk analysis and performance measurement.
UK Real Estate Law (10 credits – Commercial/Residential pathway) develops the themes of Real Estate Law I and expands the elements of professional practice related to the law of real property and the law of landlord and tenant.
International Real Estate Law (10 credits – International pathway) develops the themes of the Real Estate Law I and expands the elements of international and indigenous laws related to real property. The acquisition, disposal, development, valuation and management of real estate around the world will always be subservient to the legal system of the state in question.
Contemporary Issues (10 credits - Hotel & Hospitality pathway) is an independent research module that will allow the student to research a contemporary theme within the Hotel & Hospitality Industry.
Corporate Risk Governance (20 credits - Hotel & Hospitality pathway) enables the student to understand the set of policies, processes and within the Hotel & Hospitality Industry. It will allow the student to determine and assess strategic objectives while safeguarding the interests of their stakeholders.
Summer
The work required for this part of the programme can be undertaken away from the university with email and internet support.
Applied Real Estate Project (50 credits – all pathways) will involve an individual structured project that is industry related. The project themes will vary according to the pathway (i.e. Commercial/Residential, International or Hotel & Hospitality) but will include subjects such as Real Estate Investment, Real Estate Development, Real Estate Law, Real Estate Valuation and Professional Practice.
Real Estate Markets (10 credits – all pathways) is an umbrella module that will include, among other things, a series of guest lectures, field trips and industry events. In the summer semester, there will be a residential field trip to a major European city.
The PGDip and PGCert are available as exit awards only; students need 120 credits for the PGDip and 60 credits for the PGCert.
Teaching and learning
The philosophy of the MSc programme is to provide you with a theoretical framework in the early modules and to build on this in the latter stages with practical, real life examples and case studies.
Learning methods include lectures, seminars, tutorials, project work and independent study. Teaching is organised around the component modules, involving a total of around 20 hours of teaching time per week over each 12-week teaching semester.
The semester system requires examinations to be taken at the end of each teaching period. It is a very intensive course and you undertake a substantial amount of private study and project work.
The Real Estate Markets module draws together the different subjects taught on the programme and incorporates a number of field trips in the UK and Europe.
Approach to assessment
Each module is assessed individually, through coursework such as submission of reports and presentations, and/or formal written examination.
Specialist facilities
Students taking the MSc Real Estate programme benefit from the allocation of a dedicated base-room in the Abercrombie Building.
Field trips
One of the most important elements of the MSc Real Estate programme is the field trip schedule, which helps you to build on your learning by giving you the opportunity to see how things are done in practice. These start in the induction week with trips around Oxford and London.
In the autumn, there are further day trips to London and a three-day residential field trip to another major city in the UK. In the spring we have further day trips, and in the summer we have a five-day residential trip to a major European city.
In each case, the intent of the field trips is to 'add flesh to the bones'. In the classroom, we can talk about how things should be done. It is only when on these trips that a student can appreciate how things are done in practice.
The cost of field trips is included in the programme fees.