Option for Placement Year
Option for Study Abroad
Do you ever look at a building or an empty plot of land and wonder how it can be used more profitably? Can you imagine using your entrepreneurial passion to meet the property demands of investors, tenants, communities, and global populations? Are you ready to use your resourcefulness to help landlords and occupiers reimagine their properties in response to the challenges of Covid and the new world of work? If you enjoy using creativity to solve complex problems and dream of a high earning career in Real Estate, then this course is for you.
Developed and delivered in collaboration with world-leading researchers, internationally recognised real estate firms, practitioners and professional bodies, the course offers a fast-track route into the surveying and built environment professions. You will work on real-life assessments and projects to gain cutting-edge knowledge and professional skills.
You are welcome to join this change direction Masters degree from any discipline or academic background. The course is geared towards professionals or graduates who are keen to gain Chartered Surveyor status or pursue a fast-track route into the property and construction industry.
In the second year, for one semester, you’ll undertake study in another country or join a research group. This valuable experience will enhance your employability and further develop your theoretical and practical skills.
During your time on the MSc Real Estate, you will cover a range of practical real estate topics, which includes:
The practical based learning and hands-on experience ensures that you will be fully competent and ready for the world of work upon graduation. The commercial and professional partnerships at the heart of this Masters course give you the opportunity to immediately network with industry contacts, learn from sector experts and have access to the latest professional development opportunities.
Accredited by the RICS, the MSc Real Estate provides all of the academic theory and professional knowledge you need to become a built environment professional. We consistently ensure that over 95% of our students are employed within 6 months of the course ending and most before this. Of these students, 85% are employed within the top 20 recognised international real estate firms. A median starting salary for graduate surveyors working in the built environment is around £26,900, going up to £48,000 once fully qualified.
Level of Study
Postgraduate
Mode of Study
2 years Full Time (with Advanced Practice in the second year)
1 other options available
Department
Architecture and Built Environment
Location
City Campus, Northumbria University
City
Newcastle
Start
September 2025 or January 2026
Fees
Fee Information
Modules
Module Information
Discover the funding options available to you.
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Cara Hatcher
Senior Lecturer
Dr Carolyn Gibbeson
Assistant Professor
James Charlton
Assistant Professor
Leo Moreton
Assistant Professor
Melanie Zhang
Assistant Professor
Dr Kevin Muldoon-Smith
Programme Leader
Rachel Williams
Assistant Professor
Dr Michael Crilly
Assistant Professor
Take a look at what Northumbria has to offer and discover what studying with us can do for you.
Architecture and Built Environment
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Take a look at what Northumbria has to offer and discover what studying with us can do for you.
Take a look at what Northumbria has to offer and discover what studying with us can do for you.
Take a look at what Northumbria has to offer and discover what studying with us can do for you.
Applicants should normally have:
A minimum of a 2:2 honours degree in any subject.
International qualifications:
If you have studied a non UK qualification, you can see how your qualifications compare to the standard entry criteria, by selecting the country that you received the qualification in, from our country pages. Visit www.northumbria.ac.uk/yourcountry
English language requirements:
International applicants are required to have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.5 with 5.5 in each component (or approved equivalent*).
*The university accepts a large number of UK and International Qualifications in place of IELTS. You can find details of acceptable tests and the required grades you will need in our English Language section. Visit www.northumbria.ac.uk/englishqualifications
Full UK Fee: £15,350
Full International Fee: £22,350
Scholarships and Discounts
ADDITIONAL COSTS
There are no Additional Costs
* At Northumbria we are strongly committed to protecting the privacy of personal data. To view the University’s Privacy Notice please click here
We are currently reviewing modules which provide opportunities to work with industry to gain real experience. Modules will be updated in due course.
Module information is indicative and is reviewed annually therefore may be subject to change. Applicants will be informed if there are any changes.
KA7009 -
Commercial Property Valuation (Core,20 Credits)
You will learn about the valuation of commercial property and develop a systematic understanding of the valuation process so that you are able to evaluate the valuation methods available and use them in complex situations, undertake valuations for commercial property for a variety of purposes and critically appraise their outcomes in accordance with latest academic and practice based research.
Within Commercial Property Valuation you will study a range of topics including:-
• The valuation process and the role of a valuer
• Analysis of market data and its application to valuation
• Valuation methodology and applying to different scenarios
• Secured lending valuation
• RICS reporting and advising clients
• Asset valuation
• Statutory valuation
• Modern methods of valuation and appraisal
• Using IT software for Real Estate appraisal
Throughout this module you will develop academic and professional skills relating to the use and analysis of data, understand real estate markets and the impact on appraisal, effective communication and be able to advice clients/stakeholders in accordance with RICS governance.
KA7010 -
Property Markets, Investment and Finance (Core,20 Credits)
The module has been developed in partnership with regional, national, and international practitioners to authentically reflect the real life demands and challenges faced in the contemporary real estate sector, with a particular focus on stranded assets and divestment strategies. Practitioners work in partnership with staff, co-teaching the module in a live learning conversation with the real estate industry. You will learn about and examine the global economics of real property in the context of markets, cities, investment, and finance. The module aims to evaluate concepts of global property market economics, investment and finance and analyse their application to inter-related markets in real estate. These will include the behaviour of occupiers, investors, financiers, developers, and contractors. You will be introduced to a range of economic principles relevant to global commercial real estate markets, and develop an understanding of real estate investment finance. You will appraise global real estate investment assets and their performance from the perspective of a range of stakeholders and investor types. The module will enable you to recognise the crucial role of the investment sub-market within the wider property market, and how it influences real estate activity, development, and values.
Indicative syllabus:
• Global Real estate markets and interaction with the economy
• Property cycles and demographics
• Urbanisation and the future city
• Stranded assets and contemporary concerns with environment, social and governance objectives
• Real estate investment markets
• New property technology and market disruption
• Infrastructure and real estate
• Regulating property markets
• Real estate investment yields, measuring returns and risk
• Real estate compared to other investment asset classes
• International investment and capital markets
• Financialisation
• Direct and indirect real estate investment vehicles
• Real estate portfolio diversification
• Real estate finance, real estate as collateral for debt
• Future trends in real estate investment and finance
KA7021 -
Urban Planning and Development (Core,20 Credits)
You will learn about the planning and development process in an urban context focusing on the management of pre-construction decision-making and the evaluation of projects including site investigation, planning and development control, viability assessment and development appraisal. The module aims to help you understand the complex social, economic and physical environment and market conditions within which real estate development takes place, develop your knowledge of the management of the development process, acquisition of development sites, identification of sources of development finance and allow you to recognise the crucial role that surveyors play in the real estate development process.
Indicative syllabus:
1. Introduction to sustainable urban development
2. Contemporary planning policy
3. Real Estate development process
4. Site evaluation and investigation
5. Development control and management
6. Development finance and funding
7. Brownfield and contaminated land
8. Construction procurement and risk
9. Development viability and appraisal
KA7035 -
Real Estate Concepts and Research Methods (Core,20 Credits)
You will learn about some of the threshold concepts and key skills that are essential for Real Estate students to grasp before embarking on specialised property research and prepare and promote your employability as a graduate surveyor. The second half of the module is designed to develop your understanding, deployment and critical evaluation of research methods and to prepare you for conducting your own research project.
In the first semester you will undertake an initial project based on a building/site in Newcastle. The learning activities will include lectures to introduce key concepts; seminars to develop your understanding of these key concepts; workshops to apply your knowledge and practice skills; site visits to learn site inspection and measurement skills; guest speakers to provide insight to real estate markets. In the second semester you will learn about research methods and data analysis techniques in two hour workshop sessions in which a research resources will be signposted, research philosophies explored, data collection techniques evaluated and your own research skills and development reflected upon.
An indicative outline syllabus is as follows:
• Real Estate sectors and the role and professionalism of surveyors in global real estate markets
• Real Estate research and resources
• Property appraisal, professional report writing and presentation
• Individual skills audit and developing an action plan
• IT skills for Real Estate
• Philosophies of research and research ethics
• The research process: developing and implementing effective research strategies for data collection
• Quantitative and qualitative data analysis
• The reflective researcher: evaluating research processes and outcomes
KA7036 -
Real Estate Law & Asset Management (Core,20 Credits)
You will learn about the key areas of law, which are relevant to the surveying profession and examine the nature of relationships between commercial landlords and tenants. You will explore current methods utilised for the marketing of real estate including:
• The English Legal System, including legal research.
• Ownership of land.
• Third party and public rights affecting land.
• Rights, obligations and liabilities of land owners and occupiers.
• Contract law.
• Marketing of property and heads of terms.
• Laws affecting the work of surveyors, in particular professional negligence and regulations affecting the sale of land.
• The process of the sale of land.
• Commercial Property leases including key landlord and tenant obligations.
• Landlord and Tenant Law, including the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954.
• Methods of adding value to real estate including re-gearing leases, rent reviews and tenant mix strategy.
• Leasehold exit strategies, including; surrender, break clauses, assignment and sub-letting.
• Corporate real estate strategies and markets.
KA7040 -
Sustainable Construction and Technology (Core,20 Credits)
In this module you will learn the fundamentals of construction technology in the context of a society’s aim of mitigating climate change. The syllabus includes the processes and technology of commercial and domestic construction, both current and of the recent past to equip graduates with the knowledge to manage the construction, maintenance and development of property assets. The importance of the environmental impact of materials and the use of life cycle costing to enhance sustainability will supplement the teaching of low carbon construction technology and energy sources.
Within each of these areas you will study a range of topics to support this:
• Construction technology
o The structural elements, finishes and services found in typical low rise domestic construction.
o The structural elements, finishes and services found in commercial and industrial property.
• Low carbon design
o Site selection and building orientation
o Passive low carbon design in the domestic and commercial field
o Water conservation
o Green roof and wall applications
o Sustainable urban drainage
• Renewable energy applications
o Photovoltaic applications
o Biomass heating
o Ground and air source heat pumps
o Solar water heating
o Wind energy
On completion of this module the knowledge and understanding acquired forms part of the broader contextual framework for the study of your academic programme.
You will develop, throughout this module, academic and professional skills relating to the use and evaluation of data; effective communication; self-direction and personal responsibility.
KA7056 -
Academic Language Skills for Architecture and Built Environment (Core – for International and EU students only,0 Credits)
Academic skills when studying away from your home institution can differ due to cultural and language differences in teaching and assessment practices. This module is designed to support your transition in the use and practice of technical language and subject specific skills around assessments and teaching provision in your chosen subject area in the Department of Architecture and Built Environment. The overall aim of this module is to develop your abilities to read and study effectively for academic purposes; to develop your skills in analysing and using source material in seminars and academic writing and to develop your use and application of language and communications skills to a higher level.
The topics you will cover on the module include:
• Understanding assignment briefs and exam questions.
• Developing academic writing skills, including citation, paraphrasing, and summarising.
• Practising ‘critical reading’ and ‘critical writing’.
• Planning and structuring academic assignments (e.g. essays, reports and presentations).
• Avoiding academic misconduct and gaining credit by using academic sources and referencing effectively.
• Listening skills for lectures.
• Speaking in seminar presentations.
• Giving discipline-related academic presentations, experiencing peer observation, and receiving formative feedback.
• Speed reading techniques.
• Discussing ethical issues in research, and analysing results.
• Describing bias and limitations of research.
• Developing self-reflection skills.
KA7032 -
Dissertation (Real Estate) (Core,60 Credits)
This module is designed to support you in independently designing and conducting a substantive original research project on a built environment topic of your own choice and aims to provide you with an opportunity to design and conduct a substantive piece of investigative work that is directly related to your programme of study. You will consolidate and apply your independent research skills developed whilst studying your first degree and on the Real Estate Concepts and Research Methods module KA7035) to answer a research question or test a hypothesis of your choosing. You will assemble and review relevant scholarly literature and data to present a cogent, reasoned and objective critique of published scholarly work on your chosen topic, in order to define a precisely focus for your research. Ultimately you are required to submit an original 12,000 word dissertation that is analytical and demonstrates an accurate interpretation and clear presentation of original research findings.
In the course of the module you will develop expertise in the following:
• identifying an appropriate research topic
• critically reviewing relevant academic literature;
• formulating research questions/hypotheses and appropriate methods of inquiry;
• collecting your own data and/or using existing datasets and literature
• analysing and interpreting your results using appropriate quantitative, statistical and/or qualitative techniques,
• relating your findings to existing and up-to-date literature and theory;
• objectively appraising the ethical considerations of conducting research; and
• independently managing and implementing your own research project.
KA7057 -
Advanced Practice Semester (Core,60 Credits)
This 60 credit module is designed for all full-time postgraduate programmes within the Faculty of Engineering and Environment and provides you with the opportunity to undertake a Live Project (including the possibility of live research project work with staff). for one semester as part of your programme. This experience gives you the opportunity to apply skills and knowledge acquired during the taught part of your programme and to acquire new skills and knowledge in an alternative learning environment. Specific learning will be defined in a personal learning contract.
Your Advanced Practice semester will be assessed on a pass/fail basis and as such, it does not contribute to the classification of your degree. However, when taken and passed it is recognised both in your transcript as a 60 credit Advanced Practice Module and in your degree title.
The following alternative study options are available for this course:
Sep start
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Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning. Most courses run as planned and as promoted on our website and via our marketing materials, but if there are any substantial changes (as determined by the Competition and Markets Authority) to a course or there is the potential that course may be withdrawn, we will notify all affected applicants as soon as possible with advice and guidance regarding their options. It is also important to be aware that optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year.
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