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BSc Real Estate Finance

At a glance

Subject area(s)
Real Estate & Planning
Start Date
September 2024
Duration
3 year undergraduate (4 years with Study Abroad)
Attendance
Full-time
UCAS Code
N380
Programme Director
Richard Nunes 75e5pfiod
Richard Nunes

Overview

We are now pleased to announce our brand new undergraduate suite of programmes, including a Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) fully accredited BSc Real Estate Finance. This will give you the opportunity to study with us and be part of a world-leading department, business school and university. We adopt an applied research-led approach to teaching and problem-solving that will enable you to improve your knowledge and range of soft skills (e.g. writing, communication, negotiation, team-working) for a successful career in real estate finance.

In the first two years we will use a mix of lectures, small group tutorials and case studies to help you build a strong understanding of core subjects such as economics, finance, business management, planning, environmental, law and real estate valuation. In year three, you will develop a deeper understanding in real estate securities, portfolio management and quantitative and statistical methods. Choosing among several optional modules, you will also be able to form a concentration in areas such as: rural asset management, sustainability and resilience, data and technology, and business and financial management. Please see the course structure for a list of modules over the three years.

Join us at Henley Business School (University of Reading) and we will help you shape your journey into a dynamic profession that is eager to welcome you.

As part of the suite of programmes, you may also be interested in exploring: BSc Real Estate or BSc Real Estate with MSc/Dip Urban Planning & Development.

Your three years of study with us will give you the opportunity to deepen your knowledge in the subjects listed below and they will be structured as follows:

Year 1

You will complete 6 modules (120 credits), three in each semester:

  • RE1INTD - Introduction to Data Analysis (*NEW)
  • IC103 - Introductory Economics for Business and Finance
  • RE1PLRI - Property, Law, Rights and Institutions (*NEW)
  • RE1REV - Real Estate Valuation I (*NEW)
  • RE1ISS - Contemporary Issues in Real Estate and Planning
  • RE1ESD - Ethics and Sustainable Development (*NEW)

Year 2

You will complete 6 modules (120 credits), three in each semester, including one of your choice:

  • RE2ECON - Real Estate and Urban Economics (*NEW)
  • RE2REV - Real Estate Valuation II
  • RE2LAW - Real Estate and Planning Law
  • RE2ENT - Real Estate Entrepreneurship and Technology
  • RE2FIN - Real Estate Finance and Investment (*NEW)
  • Optional Module

Year 3

You will complete 6 modules (120 credits), three in each semester, including two of your choice:

  • RE3PM - Real Estate Portfolio Management
  • RE3QTS - Quantitative Techniques and Statistics
  • RE3RES - Real Estate Securities
  • RE3FINP - Project in Finance and Investment
  • Optional Module
  • Optional Module

Among the three Optional Modules, you will be able to choose from a range of real estate and planning related subjects (e.g. development appraisal and finance, housing, rural investment, asset management, urban regeneration, international real estate, planning theory and practice, …), as well as more broadly related topics (e.g. programming for finance, sustainable finance, climate risk and finance, fintech and cryptocurrencies, management information systems, risk management, leadership, corporate social responsibility, …).

*The module or course content descriptions set out on this page are correct for those being taught in the current academic year. Modules or course content marked as optional are indicative and may be subject to change. Please note, constraints in timetable scheduling may mean you are unable to take some optional modules at the same time as others.

Tuition fees for undergraduates at University of Reading are:

  • £9,250 a year, for the full course duration, for UK if you started your undergraduate course in September 2020 onwards*.

*This fee capped for the full duration of your course.

Your fees will be fully covered by a loan from the Student Loan Company, in line with its published repayment terms and conditions.

Government Funding

UK students can get government loans to help towards their living costs, known as ‘maintenance loans’. If you choose to take out both a fees loan and a maintenance loan, these will be rolled together and repaid only after graduation through the tax system, as a proportion of your income over £25,000.

UK/Republic of Ireland fee changes

UK/Republic of Ireland undergraduate tuition fees are regulated by the UK government. These fees are subject to parliamentary approval and any decision on raising the tuition fees cap for new UK students would require the formal approval of both Houses of Parliament before it becomes law.

EU student fees

With effect from 1 August 2021, new EU students will pay international tuition fees. For exceptions, please read the UK government’s guidance for EU students.


The International Undergraduate 2024/25 fee level for this programme is £27,650. There may be financial support available - consult your local British Council/Education Counselling Service.

Please see the University's financial pages for further information on international fees.

Typical offer

A Level: AAB

International Baccalaureate: 34 points overall

GCSE: Maths and English at grade B (5).

BTEC: DDD

Contextual offer

A Level: BBB

For more information on contextual offers, please visit the University of Reading webpage

Contact

Please direct any questions to Dr Richard Nunes - Undergraduate Programme Area Director

You can apply online for all of our courses via the national admissions service, UCAS.

Find out more

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

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).

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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.

Students in HB Ssmall

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.

Contact us

Undergraduate admissions

If you have any questions about admissions, please don't hesitate to contact us.

Email: ugadmissions@reading.ac.uk
Telephone: +44 (0)118 378 8372
“"I wanted to do the course because it mixed different disciplines including economics and law, and because it was unapologetically 'about the real world' - relevant to people, places and the economy."”
George Minns BSc Real Estate Finance
“"The participation of staff in cutting edge research ensures that you are always kept at the forefront of industry developments. The staff are also friendly, approachable and always willing to help."”
Emily Strong BSc Real Estate Finance
“"The course consistently challenges and develops students academically whilst enhancing important interpersonal characteristics such as communication and team working skills."”
Martin Moriarty BSc Investment and Finance in Property BSc Real Estate Finance
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