Master of Science
MSc Real Estate Finance and Investment
Due to high demand for this course, we operate a staged admissions process with multiple selection deadlines throughout the year, to maintain a fair and transparent approach.
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Fees and funding
Fees
For entry in the academic year beginning September 2027, the tuition fees are as follows:
-
MSc (full-time)
UK students (per annum): £18,200
International, including EU, students (per annum): £34,200
Additional expenses
This course has normally included a residential field trip which is an optional part of the course.
Please note there is a student contribution towards the cost of the trip.
Policy on additional costs
All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).
Scholarships/sponsorships
We know that student finance can be complicated. The links below provide further information to help guide you.
Learn more about - student finance options for UK students.
Learn more about - fees and finance for international students.
Graduates of The University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University can receive a 10% discount on their master's degree tuition fees as part of our Manchester Alumni Loyalty Discount scheme.
Course unit details:
Advanced Real Estate Finance
| Unit code | PLAN60292 |
|---|---|
| Credit rating | 15 |
| Unit level | FHEQ level 7 – master's degree or fourth year of an integrated master's degree |
| Teaching period(s) | Semester 2 |
| Available as a free choice unit? | No |
Overview
The course unit will build on the knowledge and skillsets acquired in the pre-requisite course unit - PLAN60191 Real Estate Investment and Finance in Semester 1. It will cover various sources of funding and their pricing mechanisms. In terms of debt funding, the coverage will include private lending, mortgages, venture capital and hybrid forms of financing. Through the case studies and discussions in the lectures and workshops, the students will be equipped with knowledge of the real estate capital markets. Students will develop an overall awareness of a wide range of issues related to financing decisions and associated risks and uncertainty relevant to real estate.
Pre/co-requisites
| Unit title | Unit code | Requirement type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Real Estate Investment and Finance | PLAN60191 | Co-Requisite | Compulsory |
Aims
The unit aims to:
• apply finance and capital market theories to real estate funding decision-making process;
• develop a familiarity with the different sources of funding for real estate investments and
development projects;
• analyse the structure and pricing of each funding sources;
• incorporate funding choices within investment decision-making process;
• understand risk and uncertainty associated with real estate investment decisions
• build an excel-based interactive model to evaluate financial viability and perform appropriate
sensitivity analysis;
• critically analyse the implications of funding choices for various market participants
Syllabus
The content of the course unit will be delivered through the following indicative weekly structure:
Week-01: Principles underlying decisions about capital structure, debt and equity financing
Week-02: Analysis of sources and implications of real estate financing
Week-03: Risk vs uncertainty in investment decision process; Monte Carlo Simulation
Week-04: Probabilistic Scenario Analysis using Decision Trees
Week-05: Value of choice in real estate investment; Real Options
Week-06: Real Options Analysis: using business cases
Week-07: Foundations of financial modelling in excel
Week-08: Building an excel-based project finance model
Week-09: no lecture (PEM field trip week: date varies from year to year)
Week-10: Model cash flows for a real estate development project
Week-11: Sensitivity analysis for a project’s exposure to key drivers
Week-12: Revision session and assignment briefing
** 2-hour workshops in computer labs are tentatively planned for weeks 6, 8, 10 and 11.
Teaching and learning methods
Students will acquire detailed knowledge and skillsets through a combination of lectures, seminars and independent study with materials delivered through in-class contact hours and online platform.
A range of teaching and learning methods will be adopted to introduce the topics and build skills in a structured and sequential manner. Workshops in computer labs will be used to develop familiarity and competence in using financial modelling platform and software with real world information.
All unit material will be made available online. Formative feedback will be provided through Q&A, discussion forums and interactive activities within lectures and workshops. Verbal feedback will be available on coursework discussed during consultation hours. Where appropriate, the discussion board on the VLE will be used as a repository for FAQs related to the course unit content and assignment.
** Resources needed for this course unit are computing time in semester 2 in computer labs and financial modelling platforms with information, tools and spreadsheet templates.
Knowledge and understanding
Students should be able to:
• Develop a solid understanding of fundamental concepts in finance relevant to real estate
• Demonstrate a full knowledge of the theory and practice of financing real estate projects
• Develop critical insights in appraising financial decisions and modelling outcomes along with clear identification of their risks and uncertainties
• Develop competence and understanding to be able to apply modelling tools in real world scenarios with confidence
• Fo
Intellectual skills
Students should be able to:
• Have a critical opinion about the finance and capital market theories and issues related to their application in real estate;
• Systematically approach the construction of potential solutions and evaluate applicability to real world problems
• Produce logical arguments supported by sound empirical evidence
• Be aware of limitations of using financial modelling and be mindful of their sensitivities
Practical skills
Students should be able to:
• Apply appropriate tools and techniques to evaluate options for financing real estate investment and development projects
• Design analytical framework and develop conclusions based on evidence and make considered choice of inputs leading to sound modelling outputs
• Work with different methods and a variety of analytical and modelling concepts commonly used in practice
Transferable skills and personal qualities
Students should be able to:
• Manage complex tasks in a goal-oriented environment and deliver to strict deadlines
• Write reports that are based on sound research, objective, coherent and logically structured
• Develop quantitative and computing skills
Assessment methods
Written assignment (3000 words) 100% weighting
Feedback methods
Final summative feedback via VLE in line with faculty requirements.
Recommended reading
Baum, A. and Hartzell, D. (2011): Global Property Investment - Strategies, Structures, Decisions, Oxford: Wiley Blackwell
Collier, N. S., Collier, C. A., & Halperin, D. A. (2007). Construction funding: the process of real estate development, appraisal, and finance. John Wiley & Sons.
Coval, J., Jurek, J., & Stafford, E. (2009). The economics of structured finance. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 23(1), 3-25.
Fabozzi, F. J. (Ed.). (2001). Accessing capital markets through securitization (Vol. 76). John Wiley & Sons.
Gau, G. W., & Wang, K. (1990). Capital structure decisions in real estate investment. Real Estate Economics, 18(4), 501-521.
Geltner, D., Miller, N. G., Clayton, J., & Eichholtz, P. (2001). Commercial real estate analysis and investments (Vol. 1). Cincinnati, OH: South-western.
Geltner, D., & De Neufville, R. (2018). Flexibility and real estate valuation under uncertainty: a practical guide for developers. Wiley Blackwell.
Lea, M. J. (1990). Sources of funds for mortgage finance. Journal of Housing Research, 1(1), 139-161.
Ling, D. C., & Naranjo, A. (1999). The integration of commercial real estate markets and stock markets. Real Estate Economics, 27(3), 483-515.
Riddiough, T. J. (2004). Optimal capital structure and the market for outside finance in commercial real estate. Real Estate Finance, 21(3), 3.
Trigeorgis, L. (Ed.). (1995). Real options in capital investment: Models, strategies, and applications. Greenwood Publishing Group.
Yavas, A., & Sirmans, C. F. (2005). Real options: Experimental evidence. The Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics, 31(1), 27-52.
Study hours
| Scheduled activity hours | |
|---|---|
| Lectures | 20 |
| Practical classes & workshops | 8 |
| Project supervision | 2 |
| Independent study hours | |
|---|---|
| Independent study | 120 |
Teaching staff
| Staff member | Role |
|---|---|
| Anupam Nanda | Unit coordinator |
Additional notes
Private study: 60 hours
Directed reading: 60 hours
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