Land and Property programmes at Oxford Brookes University were placed second nationally in The Times Good University Guide League Table for 2005. The university has offered degree courses in Real Estate Management, recognised by RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors), since 1975. The Department of Real Estate and Construction offers strong links with the property industry, an impressive research base, and excellent standards in teaching. The department was assessed by the Quality Assurance Agency in 1998 and was awarded the excellent mark of 23 out of 24.

The university’s mission focuses on four key areas – student centredness, quality, innovation and service to the community. Students are the first priority of both the department and the university.

The BSc (Hons) Real Estate Management is an internationally recognised course designed to provide an in-depth education for the property professional. This three-year programme provides a general real estate education. The focus of the programme is on helping to develop both a theoretical and a practical base to real estate knowledge. This is achieved
through study of real estate as a physical, legal, financial, social and political asset.

The BA (Hons) Business of Real Estate is delivered by both the Department of Real Estate and Construction and the Business School this is a partnership accredited course combining property professionalism with broader management and marketing skills.

This three-year programme provides a real estate education in the context of business environments. It uses practical learning approaches to fundamental problems encountered by organisations in their use, valuation and appraisal of real estate.

The BSc (Hons) Real Estate Management/ Diploma in Planning Joint Route is a twin-track professionally accredited route to secure an in-depth skills base in both property and planning. This four-year programme combines the requirements of RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) and the RTPI (Royal Town Planning Institute) to provide a linked programme of study. The first three years of the programme will cover similar ground to the BSc (Hons) Real Estate Management with additional planning modules. The fourth year concentrates exclusively on modules which lead to the award of the Diploma in Planning.

The MSc Real Estate Management provides a further educational opportunity for graduates from non-cognate disciplines wishing to increase their knowledge of the property industry and become members of RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors). Students on the programme will acquire a high quality real estate education through study and research.

The programme is currently sponsored by the leading international property consultants – Cluttons, DTZ, Debenham Tie Leung, King Sturge, Knight Frank, and Lambert Smith Hampton – who seek to recruit its high quality graduates. The MSc Real Estate Management provides the opportunity to develop future career prospects within the property industry.

Applicants should hold a good honours degree, or its equivalent, in a non-cognate discipline.

The MSc International Real Estate provides a further educational opportunity for graduates from non-cognate disciplines wishing to increase their knowledge of the property industry and enter the property profession. Students will acquire a high quality real estate education through one year of full-time study and research. Graduates of the course will be exempt from the academic entrance requirements for membership of RICS.

The programme is similar in many ways to the MSc Real Estate Management. However, the focus is more on property in international settings specifically in emerging markets. Case study material for the programme will use current international research being undertaken by staff within the department as well as relevant published material from elsewhere.

Applicants should hold a good honours degree, or its equivalent, in a non-cognate discipline.

MSc Project Management in the Built Environment
This programme accommodates the needs of those recently engaged in built environment employment (a buoyant, dynamic sector) from cognate and non-cognate disciplines. It covers more than just ‘construction project management’ and includes numerous types of project and the overall process of realising ideas. Distance learning (in a modern web-harnessing form) allows those working in the UK and elsewhere to participate and collaborate, while minimising costs.

Novel features include problem-based learning (PBL) with input from professionals and use of a ‘virtual learning environment’; also use of facilities such as collaborative writing tools (e.g. ‘wikis’), social learning spaces and email discussion groups. Periodic online ‘quizzes’ foster engagement alongside more conventional assessment methods (but coursework only).

PBL is effective, more stimulating than traditional approaches and develops vital skills. It’s real-world focussed - not ‘academic’.

See www.brookes.ac.uk/schools/be/rec/ for content and more.