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Summer School

The Summer School is a four day, fully funded residential course held on campus at Henley Business School, University of Reading. During the four days you will get a real insight into the property sector and learn about different career routes into the industry.

Our next Summer School will be on 2nd - 5th July 2024. Applications will open on January 1st 2024 and close on 2nd June 2024. Click here to apply.

Site Visit 1

Over the four days you will get to:

  • Sit in on taster lectures, exploring current themes in property, with the chance to interact with the lecturers and other participants
  • Visit various development sites and learn about how they operate
  • Take part in a group project, culminating in a group presentation at the end of the event
  • Learn about the great career opportunities available from some of the top employers in the industry
  • Get to hear from recent graduates and apprentices about their experience of the industry
  • Hear first-hand from current Real Estate and Planning students about what it is like to study property and go to university
  • Develop key skills needed in the workplace such as networking, presentation skills and confidence

The Summer School is free to complete, with all accommodation, food and travel costs covered by Pathways to Property.

Who can apply?

All our programmes are open to Year 12 students from a state funded school/college in the UK. Insight Days held between September and December will also be offered to Year 13 students.

Places will be offered to those who best meet the following criteria:

  • Attend and have always attended a state funded, non-fee paying school or college
  • Students from neighbourhoods with low overall progression rates to Higher Education and/or high levels of socioeconomic deprivation
  • Students with no immediate family working in the real estate sector
  • Students who have no parental experience of University
  • Students who have been eligible to receive Free School Meals while at secondary school
  • Students who have been looked after or in care
  • Students with Refugee status
  • Students of parents in the military

Our programmes are open to aspirational students of varying academic ability who are looking for the opportunity to find out more about a career in property. We do take into account academic grades during the application process but have no set grade entry requirements.

What happens after Summer school?

After summer school we will continue to support you by providing work experience in the October half term, e-mentors, webinars and financial assistance.

If you have attended any one of our programmes (Summer School, Insight Day or Spring into Property) then you are guaranteed to receive a conditional contextual offer if you apply to the University of Reading for any of our Real Estate courses. This means your offer will be 2 grades below the advertised requirements of the A level grades of AAB/BTEC extended diploma grades of DDD or equivalent qualification. You will still need to meet the GCSE requirements of a Grade 5 in Maths and English.

All Pathways students will be able eligible to apply for a bursary of £30,000 should they go on to study a Real Estate related course at any UK University. In addition to this any student that comes to study Real Estate at the University of Reading will automatically be given a £2500 welcome bursary (no need to apply for this).

Further information on property related courses at Reading University can be found here.


“'Previously I had thought that real estate was just the buying and selling of homes, but Pathways to Property amazingly opened my eyes a lot more to the sector – an adventure I greatly enjoyed and will never forget'”
Leo, Summer School Participant

Work Experience placements

All Summer School participants will be offered the opportunity to complete a one week work experience placement over October half term in a leading real estate firm. This is a great chance to learn more about the industry and experience office life. Each participant will be provided with a bursary to cover travel and subsistence costs for the week.

“‘My work experience showed me there is more to property than selling and buying houses…it has given me a feel of what it is like in a professional work place and how important it is to build and maintain interpersonal relationships. The experience has confirmed that this is the area I would like to work in.’”
Favour, Work Experience attendee

E-Mentoring

Each Summer School participant can sign up to our e-mentoring programme through the online platform ‘Brightside’. You will be matched with a current student studying real estate and planning who can support you through decision-making about careers, routes into the industry and university life.

Financial Support

The Pathways to Property programme is fully funded so no student shall be left out of pocket. Further to this, if any Summer School participant chooses to study Real Estate and Planning at Henley Business School, University of Reading they shall receive a £2500 Welcome Bursary upon enrolment.

In addition, any Summer School participant who would not be able to study a property related degree at University without financial support is eligible to apply for a bursary of up to £30,000 over three years of study. By doing so we hope we can remove any financial barriers to entry to Higher Education and reduce the pressure on students during their studies.

Contact
Email:pathways2property@henley.ac.uk