top of page
Introduction
Why choose this course?
Overview
Designed for professionals from across real estate, finance and business sectors, this course will extend your expertise of real estate as a financial asset in the investment market.
This course is tailored to offer you a flexible and innovative way to study from home. You’ll develop and expand your knowledge of the practices that underpin the sector by studying:
 The Real Estate Investment Market
 Applied Real Estate Valuation
 Real Estate Investment and Finance
 Legal and Regulatory Considerations.
You’ll learn by studying and applying your learning to scenarios that are rooted in real world examples and led by industry developments. You’ll be challenged to think critically and develop robust expertise that can be applied across the industry. Throughout your studies you’ll have lots of opportunities to develop your network and connect with professionals across the globe.
The structure of the course enables you to start at any of the four entry points throughout the year. Each module is organised to allow you to work at your own pace and keep track of your learning.
Modules
Compulsory modules
The Real Estate Investment Market (30 credits)
This module aims to provide an understanding of the fundamentals and principles of the real estate investment market via six learning packages:
 Investment Mathematics
 Assets, Markets and Drivers
 The Development Process
 Asset Management
 Property Portfolio Management
 Property Financial Management
Applied Real Estate Valuation (30 credits)
This module compares and contrasts the perspectives of real estate valuer and capital market valuation when doing a valuation of real estate via the following learning packages:
 Valuation concepts and the appraisal process
 Valuation standards
 Valuation techniques
 Valuation modelling
 Sustainability and property valuations
 Due diligence
Real Estate Finance and Investment (30 credits)
This module provides the framework for developing an understanding of the financial and business context in which a real estate organisation functions. The learning packages include:
 Financial reporting and the property business
 Interpreting the Financial Performance of Property Businesses
 Sources and costs of capital
 Investment appraisal and management of risk
 Property-backed securities
 Property taxation
Legal and Regulatory Considerations (30 credits)
This module brings together a number of regulatory and tax principles, as well as issues that are implicit in many of the topics covered in the other modules via the following learning packages:
 Legal structures
 The Regulatory Environment and Regulatory Bodies
 The Regulations
 The Listing Process and On-Going Compliance
 Foreign Investment Considerations and Unlisted Funds
 Money Laundering Prevention and Taxation
Applied Research Methods (10 credits)
This module is only compulsory for students studying for the full MSc. Through the development of research skills, this module complements the overall MSc programme by providing students with the opportunity to draw on all of the core modules to inform and direct the choice of dissertation subject.
Final Project
Compulsory modules
Dissertation (50 credits)
The aim of the dissertation is to enable students to carry out and write up an extended piece of research focused on their chosen area. Students are encouraged to undertake research in an area of interest to their employers where appropriate.
Learning and teaching
The REIF programme has been specifically tailored to enhance your online-learning. You can share work and study experiences, take part in presentations and receive feedback on assignments. Recordings of the Webinars will be available as part of each module. To enable you to get to know other students and discuss your studies informally, we have set up designated groups.
Teaching methods include:
Formally:
 Online Webinars
 Virtual Office Hour
 Discussion Board
 Email
Informally:
 Linkedin
 WhatsApp
 Virtual Coffee
Entry Criteria
ENTRY REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
Home Office Share Code
For EU students only.
IF no Qualification
Please provide CV with at least 2 years of work experience, and employee reference letter.
Entry requirements
Specific entry requirements
MSc/PGDip REIF is open to applicants who hold a 2.1 undergraduate honours degree (or international equivalent) or above. It is also desirable to have at least two years relevant experience in the workplace.
We will actively consider applications from candidates who hold a 2.2 undergraduate honours degree (or international equivalent), who can evidence strong and relevant professional experience.
Applicants working in the sector, who hold suitable professional qualifications - which can demonstrate ability to study at master's level, are also welcome to apply.
Our standard entry requirement is three A-levels or equivalent qualifications. In some cases, courses have specific required subjects and additional GCSE requirements. In addition to A-levels, we accept a wide range of other qualifications including:
 the Welsh Baccalaureate
 the Access to Higher Education Diploma
 a BTEC National Certificate, Diploma or Extended Diploma at a good standard and in a relevant subject
 the International Baccalaureate Diploma
 the European Baccalaureate Diploma
 Scottish qualifications – five subjects in SCE with two at Higher level or one at Advanced Higher level, or three subjects in Scottish Highers or two at Advanced Higher level
 a recognised foundation course
 T-levels*.
 * T-levels are a relatively new qualification but are already included in the UCAS tariff. We welcome prospective students who are taking this qualification to apply. For some programmes with specific required subjects, particular subject areas or occupational specialisms may be required.
English language requirements
If your first language is not English you will require a minimum academic IELTS score of 6.5 overall with 6.0 in all components OR an equivalent English language qualification acceptable to the University.
If English is not your first language then you will need to show that your English language skills are at a high enough level to succeed in your studies.
The entry requirement for your course will be expressed as an IELTS level and refers to the IELTS Academic version of this test. We are now also accepting the IELTS Indicator test, you can find out more about the test on the IELTS Indication site. The University however does accept a wide range of additional English language qualifications, which can be found below.
The university’s English language requirements in IELTS levels are as follows:
Course IELTS level
All other undergraduate courses 6.0 overall with 6.0 in reading and writing, 5.5 in listening and speaking
Law, Architecture, Interior Architecture, English Literature (including combined honours), English Literature and Creative Writing 6.5 overall with 6.0 in reading and writing, 5.5 in listening and speaking
Health and Social Care courses 6.5 or 7.0 overall with 6.5 or 7.0 in all components (see individual entries for course details)
Nutrition BSc (Hons) 6.5 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in each component
Built Environment Foundation,
Computing Foundation,
Engineering Foundation 6.0 with 6.0 in reading and writing, 5.5 in listening and speaking
International Foundation Business and Technology,
International Foundation Arts, Humanities and Law 5.5 overall with 5.5 in all skills
International Foundation Diploma 5.0 overall with 5.0 in all skills
If you need a student visa you must take an IELTS for UKVI test.
International Foundation Diploma (Extended pathway) 4.5 overall with 4.5 in all skills
If you need a student visa you must take an IELTS for UKVI test.
Assessment
ASSESSMENT METHODS
1. INTERNAL ENGLISH TEST if you don't have an English accredited certificate
2. Academic Interview
Learning and assessment
This is a flexible, distance learning (online) course.
The CPD Certificate (CREIF) and PG Diploma can be completed within a minimum period of one year. Or spread out to a maximum of two years.
The MSc can be completed within a minimum period of 18 months, or extended to a maximum period of five years.
The programme consists of four subject modules which are taken by CPD, PG Diploma and MSc students. There are then two additional research modules for students who are taking the MSc REIF. Each subject module has been designed around six learning packages and is a ‘stand-alone’ module so you can start the course at any point.
Assessment
There are no formal exams. To reflect the practical nature of the REIF programme, each module is assessed with a combination of:
 online tests
 coursework
 presentations.
Research
Most of our teaching staff are involved in academic research and/or professional/commercial consultancy work.
The Land, Design and Development (LDD) group brings together about 20 research-active academics working on different aspects of real estate, land policy, urban design, urban development and pedagogy.
LDD members undertake a wide range of innovative and interdisciplinary research in areas of economic globalization; property development; housing policy; public space; place identity; urban design and heritage; urban morphology; townscape and city centre management; urban regeneration and sustainability; infrastructure delivery; healthy cities and healthy ageing; and pedagogical methods and digital technologies.
Peter Dent, Michael Patrick and Ye Xu authored ‘Real Estate Property Markets and Sustainable Behaviour for the Natural and Built Environment Series’ (Routledge 2012).
Career Opportunities
This programme has been designed for real estate professionals across all sectors, as well as fund managers and investment bankers who would like to gain a better understanding of real estate as a financial asset in an investment portfolio.
The MSc REIF is accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), so after the MSc, graduates are entitled to apply for RICS graduate pathway to membership.
bottom of page