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    MSc
    2024 start September 

    Real Estate Planning and Development

    Department of Urban Studies and Planning, Faculty of Social Sciences

    Prepare yourself for a career in real estate. On this course you will enhance your understanding of the role of real estate in the wider economy, with a particular focus on the challenges and opportunities of new developments.
    People on a site visit

    Course description

    This course focuses on providing you with the knowledge and skills necessary to engage in highly strategic policy issues, as well as the more operational aspects of land and real estate use and development. You’ll develop the skills needed to analyse complex problems, recommend appropriate courses of action, take decisions and communicate effectively with professional audiences.

    By combining both property valuation and development knowledge with skills in planning and regeneration, you will gain a full perspective on the physical, social and environmental aspects of the built environment. You will therefore be well placed to address real world challenges such as advising on and promoting the effective use or reuse of land and buildings and delivering developments.

    This course is designed for students from a wide range of academic and professional backgrounds who wish to specialise in the planning and development process. Graduates from this masters course typically go on to careers in development, valuation and asset management both in the private and public sector.

    Accreditation

    The MSc is accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. This means you will benefit from a route to  chartered status through the Planning and Development pathway. The accredited degree enables graduates to apply to become a Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (MRICS), which will give you the title of chartered surveyor.

    Modules

    A selection of modules are available each year - some examples are below. There may be changes before you start your course. From May of the year of entry, formal programme regulations will be available in our Programme Regulations Finder.

    The focus of the first semester is on the acquisition and understanding of core knowledge and skills. Please note the Professional Skills Development module runs throughout the full academic year.

    Core modules:

    Planning Practice and Professional Ethics

    This module provides an introduction to state-led planning and the key principles that underpin how spatial planning systems seek to shape the built environment. It considers the administrative, legal and political contexts in which planning decisions are made and the role of different groups in mediating land-use development. The module will focus around work to understand how spatial planning systems are constructed and contested by different actors. It will use practical scenarios to explore action surrounding development, the ways in which the state is talked about and how it is organised, as well as the means by which the state makes and implements planning policies. The module also develops critical awareness of the potential impacts of development projects on people and places, introducing the importance of professional ethics for built environment professional practice in spatial planning and surveying.

    15 credits
    Applied Real Estate Valuation

    Students studying this module will be introduced to the five methods of valuation that form the basis for working in the surveying profession. Initially basic financial maths will be introduced and applied using client-related scenarios, subsequently using these building blocks within the five methods of valuation. Lectures will provide introductory examples and students will be able to practice using weekly problem-solving tasks and tutorials/help-sessions. Linked to the lectures, professional employability skills will be further developed through the coursework that focuses on providing advice to a client through the production of a valuation report and accompanying appendices, demonstrating adherence to professional standards.

    15 credits
    Perspectives on Spatial Planning and Development

    This module is seen as core in developing initial knowledge and understanding of planning and urban development. It critically explores the role of spatial ideas in planning policy and practice and plays a key part in developing critical skills and understanding of different contexts and environments relevant to that practice. The module covers urbanisation in a range of contexts and examines how spatial planning seeks to respond to key economic, environmental and social challenges.

    15 credits
    Real Estate Economics

    This course is concerned with the economic analysis of real estate markets. It examines the economic characteristics of property and the way in which these impact on the structure and operation of the property market. It also examines the functional divisions within the property market: use, investment and development and their interactions; and the role of property in the local, regional and national economy.

    15 credits
    Employability and Professional Skills

    This module aims to provide a range of supporting skills for home and international students, which will help you get the most out of your learning in Sheffield, and to prepare you for professional employment and career development at the end of your studies. The module has two elements: 1. Cultures of Learning and Professional Skills - understanding how we teach at Sheffield, how to get the most out of your study and how to develop key generic professional/soft skills 2. Employability Skills - preparing you for careers within planning, design, real estate, GIS and related professional areas.

    The content of our courses is reviewed annually to make sure it's up-to-date and relevant. Individual modules are occasionally updated or withdrawn. This is in response to discoveries through our world-leading research; funding changes; professional accreditation requirements; student or employer feedback; outcomes of reviews; and variations in staff or student numbers. In the event of any change we'll consult and inform students in good time and take reasonable steps to minimise disruption.

    Open days

    An open day gives you the best opportunity to hear first-hand from our current students and staff about our courses.

    Find out what makes us special at our next online open day on Wednesday 17 April 2024.

    You may also be able to pre-book a department visit as part of a campus tour.Open days and campus tours

    Duration

    1 year full-time

    Teaching

    The course will provide you excellent analytical abilities, including the capacity to analyse data using statistical techniques, comprehend financial accounts, and create financial models. In the real estate sector, where data analysis is a key component of decision-making, these talents are highly appreciated.

    Case studies, site visits, and guest speakers throughout the course provide students real experience. Real-world initiatives, real estate transaction analysis, and interactions with business experts are all opportunities you'll have.

    You'll get the information and abilities you need to excel in the real estate sector as a result of this experience.

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    Dr Olayiwola Oladiran talks about the modules he teaches on our Real Estate courses

    Assessment

    You’re assessed on your coursework and a dissertation.

    Your career

    The employability of our graduates is of paramount importance to us. The development of skills, knowledge and personal attributes that enhance your career underpins our programme design. We have a dedicated Employability Manager, Amy Woolley, to support you. We’ll prepare you for employment after graduation.

    How we'll help you prepare for your future career

    Department

    Department of Urban Studies and Planning

    Geography and Planning building
    Geography and Planning building

    We are the top-rated Royal Town Planning Institute accredited planning school in the UK (REF 2021), with an intellectual reputation for theoretical strength, especially in the fields of urban inequalities and social justice. Study with us and become part of a new and exciting group of urban professionals and change makers.

    As a student at Sheffield, you'll develop the knowledge and skills to build a successful career in planning and related urban and environmental professions. You'll be taught by world-leading academics whose cutting-edge research feeds directly into the seminar room. You'll learn using the latest technology in our dedicated teaching spaces; visualising complex data through Geographical Information Systems (GIS) software and using virtual and augmented reality to explore how people interact with urban spaces.

    You'll be at the heart of a vibrant academic community and will benefit from an excellent staff-student ratio, resulting in a genuinely friendly and inclusive academic environment. Our open-door policy means you can drop in on your lecturers at any time during their office hours, without an appointment. We believe this will help with your wellbeing and encourage your intellectual curiosity.

    We work with national governments, international bodies such as the UN, research councils, private business, the voluntary sector, and local communities to shape policy and inspire change in urban environments. Join us to explore the pathways to creating fair, just and sustainable places.

    Entry requirements

    Minimum 2:1 undergraduate honours degree.

    We may also consider your application if you do not meet the standard academic requirements but you have relevant professional experience.

    We also consider a wide range of international qualifications:

    Entry requirements for international students

    Overall IELTS score of 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each component, or equivalent.

    Pathway programme for international students

    If you're an international student who does not meet the entry requirements for this course, you have the opportunity to apply for a pre-masters programme in Business, Social Sciences and Humanities at the University of Sheffield International College. This course is designed to develop your English language and academic skills. Upon successful completion, you can progress to degree level study at the University of Sheffield.

    If you have any questions about entry requirements, please contact the department.

    Apply

    You can apply now using our Postgraduate Online Application Form. It's a quick and easy process.

    Apply now

    Contact

    usp-admissions@sheffield.ac.uk
    +44 114 222 6900

    Any supervisors and research areas listed are indicative and may change before the start of the course.

    Our student protection plan

    Recognition of professional qualifications: from 1 January 2021, in order to have any UK professional qualifications recognised for work in an EU country across a number of regulated and other professions you need to apply to the host country for recognition. Read information from the UK government and the EU Regulated Professions Database.