KA7035 - Real Estate Concepts and Research Methods

What will I learn on this module?

You will learn about some of the threshold concepts and key skills that are essential for Real Estate students to grasp before embarking on specialised property research and prepare and promote your employability as a graduate surveyor. The second half of the module is designed to develop your understanding, deployment and critical evaluation of research methods and to prepare you for conducting your own research project.

In the first semester you will undertake an initial project based on a building/site in Newcastle. The learning activities will include lectures to introduce key concepts; seminars to develop your understanding of these key concepts; workshops to apply your knowledge and practice skills; site visits to learn site inspection and measurement skills; guest speakers to provide insight to real estate markets. In the second semester you will learn about research methods and data analysis techniques in two hour workshop sessions in which a research resources will be signposted, research philosophies explored, data collection techniques evaluated and your own research skills and development reflected upon.

An indicative outline syllabus is as follows:
• Real Estate sectors and the role and professionalism of surveyors in global real estate markets
• Real Estate research and resources
• Property appraisal, professional report writing and presentation
• Individual skills audit and developing an action plan
• IT skills for Real Estate
• Philosophies of research and research ethics
• The research process: developing and implementing effective research strategies for data collection
• Quantitative and qualitative data analysis
• The reflective researcher: evaluating research processes and outcomes

How will I learn on this module?

The first part of the module will be delivered over a 2 week period at the start of the academic year, during which time no other modules will be studied. Participating in a shared, student centred experience allows you to get to know your fellow students at the start of the programme to develop new skill sets and through authentic ‘real life’ learning, at the end of which you will have created tangible outputs that will be shared with your peer group. Your learning will be task driven, based on the development of a real site/building in the North East, which offers the opportunity for you to interact with external real estate market data and market intelligence.

Learning activities will include:
-lectures introducing key Real Estate concepts, principles and practice
-Seminars and workshops within which to apply knowledge and practice skills:
-Academic writing workshops
-Independent learning tutorials
-IT lab sessions to learn how to use software
-Individual tutorials with your guidance tutor to assist with preparation of your personal skills audit
-Site visits and guest speakers

This will be supplemented by a series of recurrent and spiralling development workshops where students work on their employment and academic skills in partnership with staff and practitioners. This is in order to develop the necessary skills, and attributes, to engage with the dissertation and advanced practice project option (either live client project or research placement). This is supported by a community of learning where students at different entry points (September and January) engage with one another and support the learning process.

The remainder of the module is taught in two hour workshops in which you will be able to apply knowledge and understanding though a series of directed tasks. The workshops will encourage discussion and the sharing of opinions around the contested areas or research philosophy, methods and data analysis. You will reflect on research that you have conducted previously and demonstrate awareness in your own appraisal of your research skills and personal development needs. You will be encouraged to develop your own critique of the research process through review of recent and current research in the discipline area and through discussions with and Post Graduate research students and research active.

How will I be supported academically on this module?

The module team will provide support for students including answering student queries and providing guidance in relation to the module, including its assessment and the student’s academic progress. You can seek support in taught sessions and can also request guidance outside of class time via appointment.

What will I be expected to read on this module?

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

What will I be expected to achieve?

Knowledge & Understanding:

MLO1. Effectively source, interpret and analyse qualitative and quantitative data.
MLO2. Critically evaluate the concepts and principles of research methodologies and interpret and evaluate research processes and outcomes.

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:

MLO3. Conceptualise key real estate concepts and appraise property and develop real estate strategies.

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):

MLO4. Apply core principles of sound and justifiable, ethical practice in research.
MLO5. Interpret and evaluate research processes and outcomes and demonstrate the attributes of a reflective researcher.

How will I be assessed?

a. Summative assessment and rationale for tasks

The module will be assessed in two distinct parts:

1. Part A Development Proposal (20 Minute mixed media presentation (40%)): Working in groups, you will present a development proposal to a fictitious client based on a development scenario. (MLOs 1, 2, 3).

2. Part B, Research Proposal (60%/2000 words): You will create a portfolio of evidence to demonstrate engagement with a series of tasks on the topics covered in workshops reflecting on you own strengths and weaknesses as a potential employee and researcher. Your dissertation research proposal based on a topic of your own choice (MLOs 1, 2, 4 and 5).



The authentic learning activities will allow you to practice different skills and receive feedback from tutors on your development. The workshops will allow interaction and informal feedback on your engagement with discrete tasks that will contribute to your portfolio.

Pre-requisite(s)

None

Co-requisite(s)

None

Module abstract

This module offers you the opportunity to embrace core Real Estate concepts and employment opportunities essential to graduate surveyors, and to enhance your key transferable skills by engaging in personal development activities. It is designed to support dissertation study, advanced practice elements and transition into Advanced Practice. You will undertake an initial project based on a real building/site in the North East which offers you the opportunity to interact with external real estate market data and intelligence. Learning activities will include lectures introducing key concepts/principles, seminars/workshops within which to apply knowledge and practice skills, site visits and guest speakers. Reinforcing the conceptual learning foundations, learning and assessment will be actively designed in order to support students to develop their academic skills and independent learning. You will be assessed by a group based multi media presentation to a client. series of two hour workshops facilitated by a rich variety of people (staff and colleagues from practice), will signpost resources, develop employment strategies, network with employment routes, explore research philosophies, evaluate data collection techniques and encourage you to reflect on your own research skills and experience; assessment is a portfolio comprising completed workshop tasks and a final research proposal.

Course info

Credits 20

Level of Study Postgraduate

Mode of Study 2 years full-time (with advanced practice in second year)
2 other options available

Department Architecture and Built Environment

Location City Campus, Northumbria University

City Newcastle

Start September 2024 or January 2025

Fee Information

Module Information

All information is accurate at the time of sharing. 

Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning. Most courses run as planned and as promoted on our website and via our marketing materials, but if there are any substantial changes (as determined by the Competition and Markets Authority) to a course or there is the potential that course may be withdrawn, we will notify all affected applicants as soon as possible with advice and guidance regarding their options. It is also important to be aware that optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year.  

Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with possible restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors if this is deemed necessary in future.

 

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