MSc Real Estate Development / Course details

MSc Real Estate Development is a fast-track conversion course that will allow you to gain the necessary framework of knowledge, understanding and skills to enable you to pursue a successful career in real estate development, in the UK or internationally.

Core course units are shared with our MSc Real Estate Asset Management and will provide a solid grounding in real estate from the perspectives of investor, developer, occupier and the wider global society.

Optional course units allow you to develop deeper knowledge of real estate in areas of particular interest to you.

This course has normally included a residential fieldtrip to London, and an optional fieldtrip to another major international city.

You will:

• develop commercial awareness whilst building your technical real estate knowledge base;
• develop your analytical and communication skills to present sound, well- justified arguments and solutions to complex problems;
• gain a global perspective on the challenges facing the real estate profession.

• This course has normally included a short residential fieldtrip to London. The cost of this field trip is included in the course fee.
• This course has normally offered an optional international fieldtrip to explore current urban issues in a city. Past locations include Seattle, Toronto, Berlin, Barcelona or Amsterdam.
• Opportunity to work alongside industry-mentors on a real-life project.
• Based in the `living laboratory' of Manchester, enjoy site visits and expert presentations on industry-leading schemes.
• Have the flexibility to specialise or mix discipline units, choosing from a wide range of options across real estate, environmental management and planning.
• Develop practical skills using specialist real estate, statistical or spatial analysis software.
• Benefit from close staff-student relationships and guided one-to-one supervision.
• Opportunity to take part in a range of business competitions and entrepreneurship activities.

Important notice: factors affecting fieldwork and placements

The School of Environment, Education and Development (SEED) recognises the value of fieldwork and placements. However, the safety and wellbeing of our students and staff remains our priority.

The School will assess on a regular basis the viability of any travel and fieldwork and communicate any significant changes to our students at the earliest possible opportunity.

The role of SEED

• changes to the rules and guidance on travel and activities implemented and published by the UK and overseas governments;
• a risk assessment conducted by or on behalf of the University identifying unmanageable risk;
• changes that enhance the educational value and student experience of the activity;
• changes to the situation of a placement provider (for example, which cause them to be unable to accept students);
• the unavailability of appropriate insurance cover;
• the unavailability of appropriate travel and accommodation and any significant changes to their financial costs;
• where fieldwork and placements are a compulsory element of the Programme, they will be replaced with something academically similar;
• where a trip or placement is not a compulsory element of the Programme, it may not be replaced.

We will consult with affected students at the earliest possible opportunity and explore the options available to them.

The duty of students

Preparation, attendance and conduct

Attendance at preparatory classes is a compulsory pre-requisite of the fieldwork and placements to ensure safety and learning outcomes are met.

Students who do not attend the compulsory preparatory classes may be prevented from participating in the fieldwork or placement. It is the duty of students to discuss any attendance issues with the field course or placement convenor.

Students are representatives of the university during their fieldwork or placement. Behaviour deemed by the convenor to be unacceptable may result in students being sent home.

Where a student is unable to attend or complete the fieldwork or placement (e.g. due to mitigating circumstances), is prevented from attending due to absence from compulsory preparatory classes, or returned home due to poor conduct:

• a suitable alternative assessment will be offered (as appropriate) to ensure that the programme ILOs are met, and that the student is not academically disadvantaged;
• the University accepts no responsibility for any costs incurred by the student in relation to the fieldwork or placement.

Immigration, passport and visa requirements

It is the responsibility of the individual student to ensure they have:

• a valid passport to enter the destination country (including sufficient months prior to expiry);
• a valid visa (where required) and comply with its requirements.

The School cannot guarantee that visas required for fieldwork or a placement will be granted by the relevant authority. Please note that countries may change their immigration and visa regulations at short notice.

Where a student is unable to attend fieldwork or a placement because they do not have the required visa or passport:

• a suitable alternative assessment will be offered to ensure that the programme ILOs are met and that the student is not academically disadvantaged;
• the University accepts no responsibility for any costs incurred by the student in relation to the fieldwork or placement.

The taught elements of the course are assessed on a continuous basis by a variety of methods, including essays, presentations, online tests, topic papers and project reports.

Traditional examinations are not used in the core real estate units.

Most assessment is based on individual work with an element of collaborative project work.

A 15,000-word dissertation is prepared on an approved topic, which is discussed and chosen at the beginning of the second semester and a suitable supervisor allocated.

Initial work focuses upon an overview of the chosen topic, a literature review and the design of the methodology to be adopted.

During the latter part of Semester 2 and the summer, you undertake the necessary research and analysis, culminating in the writing of your dissertation.

Find out how our students feel about studying at The University of Manchester by visiting our student spotlights page.

You can develop your practical skills in our project rooms and computer suites with specialist real estate, statistical and spatial analysis software.

For more information, see Facilities .