Postgraduate Real Estate 2023-2024

Corporate Real Estate (CRE) professionals play a role in the whole life cycle of an organisation's property portfolio with their  responsibilities covering the analysis and strategic planning of property requirements and managing property in a way that ensures it is occupied to its maximum benefit. The course topics include  business alignment  & planning, building pathology, change management & space planning, inspection & measurement, property management, sustainability and  research methodologies & techniques. The RICS recognise The role of Corporate Real Estate within the Profession and there is a dedicated Pathway for graduates seeking to achieve their APC and Membership (MRICS) in this discipline.

This module aims to examine the legal and professional environment of property.  The module introduces key concepts from property law to explain the framework within which property can be held, used and traded. Planning law and policy is considered as part of the regulatory system through which land use and development are promoted and/or controlled.

The course focuses on Scots law and institutions, but students have the opportunity, where appropriate, to draw upon their own comparative perspectives.

This course covers the legal basis of land tenure; land registration; property ownership; landlord and tenant relationships; obligations and restrictions, and planning.

The course introduces the mathematics of valuation and investment and considers the principles underlying basic valuation and investment formulae. The distinguishing characteristics of the bond, equity and property market are critiqued. The five property valuation methods are discussed via a series of lectures supplemented by tutorials/workshops in which valuation problem-solving tasks are discussed, with an emphasis on the investment method of valuation. While the focus is on real estate, the course seeks to raise awareness of the range of investment opportunities. The course seeks to develop good numeracy and analytical skills.

This course aims to provide an overview of basic economic models and recent developments regarding the working of real estate markets and urban land markets. The course is intended to enable students

i)  To examine real estate as a set of linked markets, functionally divided between use, investment and development

ii) To understand the dynamics of specific types of real estate markets and appreciate real estate market modelling approaches

iii) To understand the location patterns of land use within urban areas and regional development

iv)  To understand the role that regulations and planning play in real estate markets

The course covers two key aspects of real estate, namely development and international investment. While development is an intrinsically local activity, the drivers of demand to occupy and invest in real estate are increasingly global. Thus, the course first deals with the process of development and then provides the context of globalisation of economies and real estate markets, which underlies the demand for real estate occupation and investment. The course involves a European field trip.

This course applies the principles of valuation to more complex real-world examples. Topics covered include rent reviews, compulsory purchase, property investment, and national and local taxation. Students are encouraged to critique traditional approaches to valuation and to consider contemporary alternatives. Numeracy and analytical skills are further developed along with expertise in the use of Excel.  In addition, the course also covers professional surveying practice, including ethics, and stimulates discussion on contemporary issues and debates in the real estate industry.

This course applies the principles of valuation to more complex real world examples. Topics covered include rent reviews, compulsory purchase, property investment, and property development, local and national taxation. Students are encouraged to critique traditional approaches to valuation and to consider contemporary alternatives. Numeracy and analytical skills are further developed along with expertise in the use of Excel.  In addition, the course also covers professional surveying practice, including ethics, and stimulates discussion on contemporary issues and debates in the real estate industry.

Residential real estate is the major component of real estate assets in many countries. Correspondingly, a sizable segment of the real estate industry engages in the private and public residential sector. The course deals with many aspects that are relevant to those who work in this area.

The course introduces students to concepts of portfolio management and recent developments regarding real estate investment vehicles. The course takes a financial economics viewpoint and places real estate investments within this context. The course covers such important aspects as securitization of initially illiquid real estate assets, the management of building portfolios and the use of index swap contracts for risk management purposes. The course discusses also real option theory and applies it to land development and the pricing of lease contracts.

The student will be required to successfully secure an internship in a real estate organisation based in the UK. The student will be required to complete a period of real estate relevant work experience (minimum 150 hours) plus complete an associated research-based research report examining connections between theories, principles and professional practice in real estate. The internship maybe paid or unpaid. Where the student does not hold a UK passport, it will be the student’s responsibility to check whether they are eligible to work in the UK given visa regulations.

This is one of four courses that comprise the Asian Cities module.  Students travel to six Asian cities (Hong Kong, Singapore, Shanghai, Beijing, Seoul and Tokyo) over approximately thirty days in July. This intense program involves daily meetings and seminars with key real estate investment and development professionals. Participants will complete four case studies based on current development projects and investment scenarios in four of six cities visited. This program follows a rigorous schedule with students engaged in site visits, lectures, discussions and seminars for upwards of 8 hours a day, 5 days a week over the month long course.

This is one of four courses that comprise the Asian Cities module.  Students travel to six Asian cities (Hong Kong, Singapore, Shanghai, Beijing, Seoul and Tokyo) over approximately thirty days in July. This intense program involves daily meetings and seminars with key real estate investment and development professionals. Participants will complete four case studies based on current development projects and investment scenarios in four of six cities visited. This program follows a rigorous schedule with students engaged in site visits, lectures, discussions and seminars for upwards of 8 hours a day, 5 days a week over the month long course.

This is one of four courses that comprise the Asian Cities module.  Students travel to six Asian cities (Hong Kong, Singapore, Shanghai, Beijing, Seoul and Tokyo) over approximately thirty days in July. This intense program involves daily meetings and seminars with key real estate investment and development professionals. Participants will complete four case studies based on current development projects and investment scenarios in four of six cities visited. This program follows a rigorous schedule with students engaged in site visits, lectures, discussions and seminars for upwards of 8 hours a day, 5 days a week over the month long course.

This is one of four courses that comprise the Asian Cities module.  Students travel to six Asian cities (Hong Kong, Singapore, Shanghai, Beijing, Seoul and Tokyo) over approximately thirty days in July. This intense program involves daily meetings and seminars with key real estate investment and development professionals. Participants will complete four case studies based on current development projects and investment scenarios in four of six cities visited. This program follows a rigorous schedule with students engaged in site visits, lectures, discussions and seminars for upwards of 8 hours a day, 5 days a week over the month long course.

The dissertation is an independent piece of work.  The choice of topic is largely your own but approval must be obtained from the course coordinator and your dissertation supervisor. The dissertation should contain a large degree of original work and allow you to demonstrate in depth the skills and knowledge you have acquired on the MSc. The dissertation should be around 15000 words in length. You will be expected to show competence for independent work and to demonstrate a clear definition of the problem or subject area to be studied and the formulation and expression of a logical, workable solution.