Real Estate - BSc (Hons) - 2024/25 Entry (2024)

Want to enter the exciting world of property? Discover our BSc (Hons) Real Estate course. This degree is for you if you are interested in the study of the built environment and in the acquisition, disposal, management and valuation of land and buildings.

This real estate course has been developed in the UK in accordance with the requirements of Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), the leading international professional body for surveying, our course meets the needs of potential employers in the public, private and third sectors. You will complete your undergraduate degree with the most current and relevant insights.

This course is open to International students.

You will gain a detailed understanding of real estate, alongside learning to make an expert analysis of the processes of its ownership, development, occupation, valuation and management. You’ll also examine economics and finance, property valuation and management, development, construction, urban planning and law, ensuring you are equipped with the attributes you’ll need for a successful career.

The course integrates technological, financial, legal and management issues, and you will connect the theories and practice of real estate to a range of real-life case studies, helping you understand the complex world of property.

We will prepare you for a career in real estate, developing your collaborative skills and ensuring you are not only able to practise effectively within the global real estate industry, but that you are also sensitive to the needs of the diverse cultures that you come into contact with in your work.

Especially relevant for the would-be chartered surveyor, this course offers a detailed study of the built environment alongside an expert analysis of the acquisition, disposal, management and valuation of land and buildings.

Benefiting from our staff's close links with industry, the course thoroughly prepares you for the enormously varied work of a general practice surveyor.

Professional Placement Year

This course offers an optional professional placement year. This allows you to spend a whole year with an employer, following successful completion of your second year, and is a great way to find out more about your chosen career. Some students even return to the same employers after completing their studies.

If you choose to pursue a placement year, you will need to find a suitable placement to complement your chosen area of study. You will be able to draw on the University’s extensive network of local, regional, and national employers, and the support of our Careers teams. If you are able to secure a placement, you can request to be transferred to the placement version of the course.

Please note that fees are payable during your placement year, equivalent to 20% of the total full-time course fee for that year.

Accredited By

This course is accredited by:

Why Choose Us?

• Accredited course - Fully accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), which ensures our course remains fresh and relevant, as well as providing key industry links and insight.
• Subject league table- We are 6th for Land and Property Management in theComplete University Guide 2023
• Employable Graduates - Our graduates have progressed into roles with companies such as; IP Global, Lambert Smith Hampton, CBRE, Cushman & Wakefield. Read Tsvetomira’s story.
• State-of-the-art facilities-You'll be studying at Millennium Point, with access to £6.5 million facilities. You will also benefit from high quality equipment and regular site visits which give you a close-up view of professional practice and an industry perspective on your studies.
• Undertake a Professional Placement Year - You can choose to take a one-year work placement between your second and final year, providing you with valuable work experience.

These entry requirements apply for entry in 2024/25.

All required qualifications/grades must have been achieved and evidenced at the earliest opportunity after accepting an offer to help confirm admission and allow for on-time enrolment. This can also include other requirements, like a fee status form and relevant documents. Applicants can track their application and outstanding information requests through their BCU mySRS account.

Essential requirements

Personal statement

UK / EU students are required to submit a personal statement as part of their application for this course.*

The personal statement gives you a crucial opportunity to say why you’re applying and why the institution should accept you.

Here are the key areas you’ll need to address:

• Course choice - Why does this course appeal? What areas are of particular interest?
• Career plans - If you have a specific career in mind, say how your chosen course will help you pursue this goal.
• Work experience - Mention any work that is relevant to your subject, highlighting the skills and experience gained.
• School or college experience - Highlight skills gained at school/college, eg summer schools or mentoring activities.
• Non-accredited skills or achievement - eg Duke of Edinburgh Award, Young Enterprise scheme.

You should also mention your future plans – if you’re planning to take a year out, don't forget to give your reasons. Talk about any subjects you’re studying that don’t have a formal assessment and any sponsorships or placements you’ve applied for. And don't be scared to add in details about your social, sports or leisure interests.

Worried about Personal Statements?

If you've got no idea where to start or just want to check you're on the right track, we’ve got expert advice and real examples from our students to help you nail your personal statement. You can even download our ultimate personal statement guide for free.

Get personal statement advice

*Non-EU students are not required to submit a personal statement when applying for this course.

Download course specification

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Course Structure

In your first year, you’ll be introduced to the built environment, learning about building technology and innovation, valuation and economics, and the fundamentals of property law.

In year two, you will build on your previous learning and learn about development, planning and data management, as well as enhancing your skills in property management.

For your final year, you will study more detailed and complex valuation, property investment and corporate property management, supporting your final research project and dissertation.

Assessment takes the form of examinations, essays, written assignments, posters, oral presentations and an e-portfolio, as well as workshops, online quizzes and more. Learning on the course will come from classroom sessions such as lectures, workshops and small group discussions.

This course is accredited by the following organisations:

Enhancing your employability skills

We are committed to practice-led learning and teaching, ensuring that you get vital experience of the world of work through relevant activities. These could include voluntary work, live projects, problem solving, case studies, site visits and opportunities to interact with visiting professionals.

The University also has its Graduate+ programme, which is an extracurricular awards framework that will enhance the subject-based skills you’ll develop on the course with broader employability skills. Graduate+ will help you with CV writing, crafting personal statements and interview techniques, as well as helping you to source jobs.

Birmingham City University is a vibrant and multicultural university in the heart of a modern and diverse city. We welcome many international students every year – there are currently students from more than 80 countries among our student community.

The University is conveniently placed, with Birmingham International Airport nearby and first-rate transport connections to London and the rest of the UK.

Our international pages contain a wealth of information for international students who are considering applying to study here, including:

• Details of the entry requirements for our courses
• Some of the good reasons why you should study here
• How to improve your language skills before starting your studies
• Information relevant to applicants from your country
• Where to find financial support for your studies.

Built Environment facilities

Our staff