BSc Investment and Finance in Property

We expect you to work hard while you are with us but we hope that you find our teaching stimulating and rewarding.

Right from the start of your degree you will be involved in "real world" projects and we will give you the tools to become an independent and active learner.

Our project based work is designed to develop your research skills and introduce you to group working. This is a great way to meet the other people on the course, to share ideas and to work together to solve problems.

There is plenty of traditional class room based teaching and lectures to help re-enforce what you are learning through your own work. You will also have smaller group tutorials which will give you the opportunity to discuss issues in more depth.

Our staff are world leaders in their fields and you can expect to be taught by internationally renowned experts, with a wealth of academic and professional experience. All our lectures are given by academic members of staff or by visiting speakers from senior positions in the relevant professions.

As well as the core modules we offer additional career related activities. Our alumni association - the Reading Real Estate Foundation (RREF) - organises a series of evening lectures delivered by key industry people. These are not only an opportunity to hear up to the minute debate on relevant issues but also a great chance to network as free pizza is available after all the talks!

RREF maintains excellent links with our graduates in the industry and we offer all second and third year students the chance to have an industry mentor. This gives you a real insight into the world of work and is a great opportunity for one-to-one advice from someone already in work.

Above all, we create a stimulating academic environment; you will be encouraged to develop individual interests and general skills as a basis for a career in the property industry, a related field or for further study.

Jo-Ann Ciorra
BSc Investment & Finance in Property, now at CB Richard Ellis,

To sum up my experience at Reading; Real Estate students work as a team, have a great social life and know that what we learn is completely relevant to the industry we hope to join.

Emily Strong
BSc Investment and Finance in Property,

Having spent three years at Reading it is evident how it gained its strong reputation as one of the leading institutions in the country to study Real Estate and Planning. The course teaches a wide variety of subjects over its duration starting with a good theoretical grounding and becoming more applied in later years. Students are also given the opportunity to learn many vital vocational skills which are crucial in today's competitive work place. The strong participation of staff in cutting edge research ensures that students are always kept at the forefront of new industry developments. The staff are also friendly and approachable and although the students are not spoon fed, lecturers are always willing to help and point you in the right direction.

Fiona Cohen
BSc Investment & Finance in Property, now at Jones Lang LaSalle,

I have recently graduated from the three year BSc Real Estate and Planning course at Reading University. I chose to study this degree because it encompasses a variety of subjects, including law, economics and valuation - there is something for everyone! The diverse and vocational nature of the course also meant that there was a broad range of jobs where I could seek employment. The university was invaluable in helping me to secure my ideal job through the annual Real Estate Careers Fair, RREF evening lectures from leading experts in the industry and partnering with surveyors from all different firms. The course has also provided me with a great social life through group work and the Reading Real Estate Society. As a result, I have made life-long friends and have truly enjoyed my time at the university.

George Minns
BSc Investment & Finance in Property followed by MPhil Real Estate Finance, Cambridge and now at DTZ,

I chose Reading because of the reputation the Real Estate department has in providing the best education and career prospects in real estate. I wanted to do the course because it mixed different disciplines including economics and law, and because it was unapologetically 'about the real world', not abstract or irrelevant to people, places and the economy. In my 3rd year the sub-prime crisis happened and suddenly property finance took centre stage in the global recession. We got to see just how relevant the subject really is! The course was hard work, but genuinely really interesting. I got involved in the Reading Real Estate Foundation and we put on a ball and some other stuff including casual evenings with guest speakers. I was offered a job at DTZ in my third year, but deferred it to be a student for one more year, this time doing the same subject at Masters level at Cambridge University. I now work in corporate recovery for DTZ in London which is a great place to be.

Martin Moriarty
BSc Investment & Finance in Property, deferred employment one year and now with Montagu Evans,

After three years of study I can honestly state that the outstanding reputation entrenched with the Reading name is justified. The course consistently challenges and develops students academically whilst enhancing important interpersonal characteristics such as communication and team working skills. The professionalism and exceptional support of the teaching staff provides great inspiration; furthermore the institution's sustained link with the industry keeps the department in touch whilst creating strong prospects for graduates. My time was most certainly a worthwhile experience.

Recruitment of Graduates

We are proud of our outstanding employment record, with more than 95% of our students entering graduate level jobs within 6 months of leaving.

The most highly regarded firms in the industry continue to employ Reading graduates. The majority of our graduates have been able to secure employment before they finish their degree course.

As well as offering a direct route in to the property and planning professions, our programmes offer a solid foundation on which to build a career in a wide range of other fields such as finance, law, general management or consultancy.

We have a professional Careers Development Advisor, Jane Batchelor, who helps our students with every aspect of the career development process, including identifying work placement, internships and permanent career opportunities. She is available to help with the preparation of CVs and application letters and works with the Reading Real Estate Foundation to develop our evening lecture series delivered by key industry speakers and our annual Careers Fair which is attended by the major firms.

Jane also co-ordinates our new work-based learning module which enables students to gain credits towards their degree from relevant work experience undertaken while at University.

Connections with Industry

Our degree courses are very well supported by the industry. A number of important organisations actively participate in the teaching programme and supplement the resources available. These include the British Property Federation and the Investment Property Forum.

The Reading Network

The Reading degrees in property have been running for more than forty years and there are now almost five thousand graduates. Similarly, Reading has educated town planners for more than 20 years. Many of our alumni have reached influential positions within their industry. As much of the work in the property and planning fields is based on personal contacts, having a ready network to tap into is very valuable.

Our graduates have gone on to work for a wide range of leading UK and global employers including:

• AXA Real Estate
• Barton Willmore
• Berkeley Homes
• Bilfinger GVA
• BNP Paribas Real Estate
• CBRE
• Colliers International
• Cushman & Wakefield
• Deloitte Real Estate
• EC Harris
• The Environment Agency
• Gerald Eve
• Grosvenor
• Hammerson
• JLL
• Knight Frank
• Land Securities
• LSH
• The National Trust
• PwC
• Savills
• SEGRO
• Strutt & Parker
• TH Real Estate
• Vail Williams
• Valuation Office Agency

The University's award-winning Careers Advisory Service (CAS) also offers career advice for those wanting to pursue a career in academia or another field.

Accreditations

All our degree programmes have full accreditation from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and our Planning programmes offer dual accreditation from the RICS and the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI).

A thriving community

As part of the School of Real Estate & Planning you will belong to a diverse and friendly community, giving you the chance to work alongside and make friends with peers from around the world.

Through the expertise and support of our staff we hope to inspire you to share our ambitious ethos and maximise your potential. Staff are easily contactable during regular office hours, by telephone or email.

Networking

Networking and social interaction are vital business skills. We encourage our students to join a wide range of societies and groups. In addition to the sporting and social societies run by the University and the Students' Union, you can join those directly aligned to your degree course. These groups provide an ideal opportunity to meet like-minded students from various departments and a wide range of backgrounds.

The Reading Real Estate Foundation has a thriving Student Society which organises events for current Real Estate & Planning students throughout the year. These include an evening lectures series, an annual student ball, and regular sporting fixtures.

Facilities and resources

In addition to the facilities offered by the University, we fund a professionally staffed Business Library. Here we keep copies of all course reading material together with key texts and current journals. We also have a comprehensive collection of property market reports and structure and development plans, and offer free access to relevant online databases.

Real Estate & Planning students have exclusive access to two computer labs which are equipped with more than 40 networked PCs running relevant specialist software packages.

Evening lectures

Working with the Reading Real Estate Foundation we host a series of evening lectures on campus. These are delivered by key industry people, often our alumni. These are not only an opportunity for students to hear up-to-the-minute debate on relevant issues but also a great chance to network, as free pizza is available after all the talks!

Beyond property...

As well as offering a direct route in to the property and planning professions, our programmes offer a solid foundation on which to build a career in a wide range of other fields such as finance, law, general management or consultancy.