BSc Real Estate

We expect you to work hard while you are with us but we hope that you will 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.

James Latham
BSc Real Estate, now at Guildhouse UK ltd,

Enrolling on the BSc Real Estate and Planning degree course at the University of Reading was one of the best things I have ever done. Three years later, I find myself employed as an Assistant Development Manager in a commercial property development company in London.

In the first two years of the degree programme, you cover a vast range of subjects with everyone in the year group. This is a great foundation for any aspiring surveyor as it helps you to work out your strengths and weaknesses. I made the most amazing friends whilst working on a number of group projects and we all helped each other when the going got tough! Having discovered where my interests and strengths lay, I specialised in development and planning for my third and final year.

The property courses at the University of Reading open the doors to a number of opportunities, which I would never have thought possible. One such opportunity at the end of my second year was to work in Shanghai, China for 10 weeks. This was a joint Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and CB Richard Ellis (CBRE) work placement opportunity and to date, this remains one of the highlights of my time at university.

Hannah Bennett
BSc Real Estate, now at Lambert Smith Hampton,

I really don't think you can go wrong with the Real Estate & Planning course at Reading - it's very highly regarded amongst industry professionals, you will be taught by lecturers who are at the top of their field, and the course itself is very practical. I was originally attracted to the REP course because it has a business focus, and covers a breadth of broader areas such as Economics and Law, as well as more technical, property-focused topics such as valuation and investment appraisal. Plus the support you get from the REP department is invaluable - the mentoring scheme and careers advice service make a big difference and really helped me when it came to applying for jobs.

Jason Turner
BSc Real Estate, now at Deloitte Real Estate,

The course is highly regarded within the industry and so you can’t go wrong when you graduate with a Real Estate and Planning degree from Reading. The course sets you up for a career in a fantastic industry which is sociable and there are so many pathways you can take with different service lines and sectors to suit almost every individual. I would thoroughly recommend it!

Recruitment of Graduates

The HESA Graduate outcome survey states that between 90 to 98% of our UK full-time BSc students are in graduate level employment 15 months after leaving university.

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.