MSc in Real Estate

Overview

The MSc in Real Estate will equip you with a broad background in real estate investment, appraisal and development. The core modules cover a wide variety of topics including; real estate finance, valuation, development, market analysis and economics.

The course is aimed at students from a non-cognate background who wish to obtain a high quality route into the real estate industry. This Masters programme applies the most up-to-date rigour in the analysis of real estate and allows entry into a wide variety of career paths.

Cass's location has enabled us to establish links with leading companies in this field, and you will often be exposed to thinking and presentations from such companies. This also provides outstanding networking and career opportunities.

Both the careers service and course office work proactively from day one. They organise events and fairs to ensure that every student gets maximum exposure to job opportunities. Recruitment experts are also on hand to talk to us about how to prepare for interviews. Jones Lang LaSalle gave a presentation on campus at Cass and I ended up applying for, and getting, a job with one of their companies.
Kieran O'Flynn, MSc in Real Estate

Individual Appointments

If you would like to arrange an individual appointment to discuss this programme please email: donna.coombs.1@city.ac.uk

Course content

We review all our courses regularly to keep them up-to-date on issues of both theory and practice. Therefore, there may be some change to the detailed content of the modules and occasionally to module titles.

To satisfy the requirements of the degree programme students must complete:

Eight core courses
Three electives
Business Research Project

Whilst Cass teaches you the basics of property, the real appeal for me is learning more complex features and practices of how the property world operates. For example, the frequent use of excel lab tutorials to learn how to construct complex spread-sheets will undoubtedly prove to be extremely useful when starting work. Henry Buxton, MSc in Real Estate

Two Induction Weeks The MSc Real Estate starts with two compulsory induction weeks, focused on:

an introduction to careers in real estate and the opportunity to speak to representatives from over 75 companies during a number of different industry specific fairs.
a refresher course of basic financial mathematics, statistics, computing and electronic databases

Term 1

Four core modules (30 hours each)

Property Valuation

This module will provide students with an overview of current valuation techniques commonly used and the legal background to both the valuation process and to the real estate markets generally. Classes discuss current UK and international valuation methodologies, examining both the similarities and differences in approaches. The module also covers legal issues in the valuation process.

Real Estate Economics

This module introduces students to the principles of economics, and the primary ways in which those principles are useful in the analysis of real estate performance and real estate markets. Particular attention will be paid to the impacts of changes in the economy on rental values, development activity, real estate returns and its returns relative to other assets.

Real Estate Asset Management

This module provides comprehensive coverage of the management of real estate as an asset. While the module will examine many aspects of asset management from a portfolio perspective it will also examine other issues. The module will look at the asset management of properties and how investors can add value. It will also examine real estate's role from the perspective of a corporate occupier.

Quantitative Techniques in Investment

This module introduces investment mathematics and statistical techniques. The module seeks to introduce techniques and concepts within the context of investment and portfolio research. The techniques learnt in this module will be applied and expanded on in other modules.

Term 2

Real Estate Investment & Financial Analysis

This module introduces students to the primary issues in the evaluation of real estate investments. The course considers the primary valuation techniques, the financial modelling of investment appraisal of properties and also provides an introduction into the importance of financing structure. Students will examine alternative sources of capital and the impact on investment appraisals and performance.

Plus any three of the following modules:*

Real Estate Finance

This module enables students to develop an appreciation of the various techniques available in commercial real estate finance, to identify the different sources, both of debt and equity finance and to examine how risk and reward can be shared.

International Real Estate

This course is concerned with the considerations real estate investors and developers need to examine when looking at investing in international markets. The module covers the differing risk factors involved in global investment, such as market maturity, transparency, country risk and political risk. The module will also consider differences in valuation methods and market structure.

Landlord and Tenant Law

Provides a sound knowledge of legislation and case law affecting the commercial property market in order to enable students to apply the legislation when undertaking valuations and appraisals of such premises.

Real Estate Development & Planning

The aim of this module is to examine the various techniques used to analyse real estate developments. Students will examine real estate through the development and redevelopment process, the principals of development market analysis and appraisal, the importance of financing on the development process and the legal structures in place due to planning/zoning legislation.

Applied Valuation & Taxation

Examines the statutory aspects of appraisal. Rating law and procedures, and taxation, particularly capital gains and value added tax, are also studied in depth.

*Modules must have a minimum of 15 students to run.

Term 3

Three electives and a Business Research Project

Electives

You may choose from a wide variety of electives. For example:

Building, Project Management & Procurement
European Real Estate Markets
Financial Regulation
Real Estate Investment Law
Real Estate Portfolio & Fund Management
Residential Investment
Securitisation & Structuring of Vehicles
Work Space Planning

Accreditations

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) accredits the course, enabling graduates to enter the RICS Assessment of Professional Competence (APC).

MSc Research Project

The Project will be of approximately 8,000 words. This offers an opportunity to specialise in a contemporary real estate topic related to students' future careers. The Project should be based on independent research either in the context of a single organisation or using third-party sources.

Students are encouraged from the start of the course to think about a topic for their Project. A member of academic staff supervises the project, and the student may choose whom they would like to work with. The Project must be submitted by the end of August. Company sponsored projects are encouraged and a number of such projects may be available.

Many students use this opportunity to complete a project in conjunction with an organisation they might want to work for. This gets their foot in the door and can lead to permanent employment post programme, whilst earning course credit. Cass Careers Service works to coordinate projects with organisations and students.

Some recent projects:

Property Investment Vehicles and the Trade Off between Liquidity and Tax Efficiency
A Case Study of Sustainable Development
Exit Strategies for a Mixed-use Development in Bucharest, Romania
Residential Property Investment in Singapore
German Open Ended Funds
Property Valuation: Does it Pay to Develop?
Corporate Real Estate Ownership and Shareholder Value: The Empirical Evidence of South Korean Companies
The Refinancing Process in the Russian Market
Affordable Housing Policy in London: Myth or Reality ?
Tax-Credit and Regeneration
Financing a Commercial/Retail Investment - A Case Study
The Nature of the UK Commercial Property Lending Market
Life Insurance Companies Exposure to Real Estate in the European Union

Entry requirements

English Requirements

Every year we welcome students from around 100 different nations to study with us here at Cass. It is essential that all students have an excellent command of English in order to participate fully in the collaborative learning process. We therefore require all students who have not previously studied in English to sit an IELTS or TOEFL exam. If you are not a native English speaker but have studied or are studying in English at degree level, please submit a copy of your most recent English language test along with your application.

IELTS

The required IELTS level is an average of 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 in writing.

TOEFL

For TOEFL we require 107 (Internet Based Test)

Our TOEFL code is 7650, department code 02

We do not offer a pre-sessional English class as an alternative to achieving these scores. Any pre-sessional course should be viewed as a way of settling into living and studying in the UK and not as a way of topping up an IELTS or TOEFL score.

Other qualifications

To be accepted for these courses you will need a good Bachelors degree, usually a UK 2.1 or above or the equivalent from an overseas institution. Some level of previous study in finance or quantitative techniques is preferred for applications to the MSc in Real Estate Investment.

Applicants will need to submit two references, one of which MUST be an academic reference. No work experience is required, but please provide details of relevant experience that might enhance your profile.

Tuition fees and term dates

Tuition fees 2012/13

£17,000 Currency Converter

Term dates 2012/13

Compulsory Induction Period
17 September 2012 - 28 September 2012

Please note that these dates are provisional and are subject to change. Contact the MSc office before making any travel arrangements.

Term I
1 October 2012 - 7 December 2012
Term I exams
14 January 2013 - 25 January 2013

Term II
28 January 2013 - 5 April 2013
Term II exams
29 April 2013 - 10 May 2013

Term III
13 May 2013 - 28 June 2013
Term III Assessments
25 June 2013 - 12 July 2013

Business Research Project submission deadline
2 September 2013

Official Course End Date
30 September 2013

Career opportunities

Graduates from the Cass Real Estate Masters are highly sought after and you will be well placed to take up positions in many areas within real estate. These include valuation, investment, finance and asset management.

Major real estate advisory firms visit the Business School and present to our students. Many of the large investment houses, management consultants and other businesses based within the City make similar presentations to students across the School.