Program Overview

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Real Estate, MSc

Introduction

A vocational Masters, open to students from any background, any discipline who wish to kick start a career in the chartered surveying profession - valuation, property investment, development. Fully accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) for worldwide recognition.

Study Information

At a Glance

• Learning Mode: On Campus Learning
• Degree Qualification: MSc
• Duration: 12 months or 24 months
• Study Mode: Full Time or Part Time
• Start Month: September
• Location of Study: Aberdeen

The degree is a 12 month full time ’conversion’ programme for students with a wide range of first degrees who want to fast-track a career path into the real estate profession. With proven academic credentials, this Master's degree has been running at the University of Aberdeen for over 20 years, underpinned by our world-renowned strengths in valuation, property investment, economics and finance. Combining academic rigour with the professional edge, the degree has become highly regarded by employers throughout the world.

The programme includes a London or European city field trip in Term 2. In the third term students have a choice of three options which open up opportunities for a commercial or an international focus of study, either by writing a traditional dissertation, visiting a range of cities in Asia as part of the Asian Cities course with associated reports based on learning from the trip or undertaking a work placement in professional practice.

The University of Aberdeen is a leader in teaching and research in the field of real estate and this programme builds on our considerable strengths in these areas. The Business School is home to The Centre for Real Estate Research (CRER). Since inception in 1995, the CRER has matured into an established and internationally recognised research grouping: it supports members in the development of collaborative research activity and seeks to shape the rapidly emerging international research agenda in real estate, including the role of real estate for global problems such as carbon emissions, the problem of population growth and ageing populations and the use of AI and technology in Real Estate. Many of our staff are engaged in active research ensuring that the course content remains at the forefront of current thinking and gives our students the great advantage of accessing a wealth of powerful data.

What You'll Study

Semester 1

• Compulsory Courses:
  • Property Law and Institutions (15 credit points)
  • Valuation for Surveyors (15 credit points)
  • Real Estate Economics (15 credit points)
  • Getting Started at the University of Aberdeen (PD5006)
• Optional Courses:
  • The Leadership Challenge (BU501H)
  • Digital Marketing (BU506E)
  • Negotiation and Cross - Cultural Management (BU5072)

Semester 2

• Compulsory Courses:
  • Real Estate Development (15 credit points)
  • Sustainable Development (15 Credit points)
  • Real Estate Investment and Appraisal (15 credit points)
  • Real Estate Portfolio Investment (15 credit points)

Semester 3

• Optional Courses:
  • Students must choose one of the following:
    • Asian Cities Tour
    • Professional Work Placement (60 credit points)
    • Real Estate Dissertation

Fee Information

• EU / International students: £26,250
• UK: £11,900
• Tuition Fees for 2025/26 Academic Year: Self-funded international students commencing eligible postgraduate programmes in 2025/26 will receive a £8,000 tuition waiver.
• Graduates of the University of Aberdeen are eligible for the Alumni Postgraduate Scholarship, which reduces the tuition fee to £7,000, in line with the current tuition fee loan amount offered by the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS).

Funding Opportunities

• The University of Aberdeen provides an Alumni Discount Scheme: The University of Aberdeen is very pleased to offer a 20% discount on postgraduate tuition fees for all alumni who have graduated with a degree from the University of Aberdeen.
• Scholarships: All eligible self-funded international Postgraduate Masters students starting in September 2025 will receive an £8,000 scholarship.

How You'll Study

• Field trips to London or a European city and Asian cities provide insights from key players in the international real estate business.
• Learning Methods:
  • Field Trips
  • Field Work
  • Lectures
  • Research
  • Seminars
  • Tutorials
• Assessment Methods: By course work, group work, presentations, by written examination or by a combination of those, as prescribed for each course.

Why Study Real Estate?

• This Master's degree is underpinned by the University’s world-renowned strengths in valuation, property investment, economics and finance.
• Combining academic rigour with the professional edge, the degree has become highly regarded by employers throughout the world.
• You will:
  • acquire considerable quantitative skills in economics, finance and business
  • understand the institutional, legal and policy environment of real estate
  • learn about property management, investment and development
  • gain analysis and problem-solving skills in a strategic business context
  • network with employers from a range of national and multi-national companies

Careers

• Our graduates achieve notable employment success with many enjoying lucrative careers spanning surveying, investment, property valuation, planning and development, and property management.
• Industry Links: Our business connections mean we provide opportunities to network with, present to, brainstorm with and do work for industry, including;
  • the chance to have your work seen by eminent members of your profession
  • work and network with employers from a range of national and multi-national companies through our visiting speaker programme
  • ‘live’ projects for and site visits to prestigious companies or institutions
  • project work and workshops with visiting lecturers and industry specialists

Accreditation

• Accreditation and world-wide recognition from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) allows graduates to proceed to the RICS Assessment of Professional Competence (APC).
• The Business School is EQUIS accredited, placing it among a select group of globally recognised institutions.

Entry Requirements

• Qualifications: Our minimum entry requirement for this programme is an undergraduate degree at UK Honours level (or a degree from a non-UK institution which is judged by the University to be of equivalent worth).
• English Language Requirements:
  • IELTS Academic: OVERALL - 6.5 with: Listening - 5.5; Reading - 6.0; Speaking - 5.5; Writing - 6.0
  • TOEFL iBT: OVERALL - 90 with: Listening - 17; Reading - 21; Speaking - 20; Writing - 21
  • PTE Academic: OVERALL - 62 with: Listening - 59; Reading - 59; Speaking - 59; Writing - 59
  • Cambridge English B2 First, C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency: OVERALL - 176 with: Listening - 162; Reading - 169; Speaking - 162; Writing - 169

Document Requirements

• Degree Certificate: a degree certificate showing your qualifications
• Degree Transcript: a full transcript showing all the subjects you studied and the marks you have achieved in your degree(s) (original & official English translation)

International Applicants

• Additional details for international applicants, including information specific to your country or territory, are available here.

Our Experts

• You will be taught by and have access to a number of experts, many of whom are internationally renowned within their respective fields.
• Programme Leader: Fiona Stoddard

World Class Facilities

• The University of Aberdeen, established in 1495, is Scotland’s third oldest and the UK’s fifth oldest University.
• The university’s ancient campus reflects its long-standing academic tradition, with historic buildings such as King's College, which dates back to the 15th century.
• The Sir Duncan Rice Library is listed in the “Top 20 spellbinding University libraries in the World”.