Overview
Built for people
Real estate is a people-focused industry. For professionals to succeed in this field, they need to communicate, engage stakeholders, build relationships effectively, and possess a strong commercial awareness. These competencies make them a crucial asset, both to their employers and their clients.
UCEM’s real estate apprenticeship provides apprentices with the skills, training, and industry knowledge they need to become valued contributors to the real estate sector. Upon successful completion of this apprenticeship, students will become a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (MRICS).
About this apprenticeship
What can you expect?
This Level 6 Chartered Surveyor Degree Apprenticeship offers either a BSc (Hons) Real Estate Management or MSc Real Estate qualification as part of the apprenticeship. The route taken depends on previous qualifications held by the individual. See our entry requirements for more details. Both have different durations, but the end point assessment is the same.
End-point assessment
This apprenticeship provides apprentices with the knowledge, skills and behaviours to meet the requirements of the end point assessment (EPA), the RICS Assessment of Professional Competence (APC). The APC pathways available as the end-point-assessment (EPA) are:
- Commercial Real Estate
- Valuation
- Land and Resources*
- Residential*
- Corporate Real Estate*
- Minerals and Waste Management*
- Rural*
- Planning and Development*
* These pathways require the employer to fill some of the knowledge gaps for apprentices. Talk to our Business Development Team for more information.
More information about the EPA can be found in this RICS Apprenticeship Handbook.
Course accreditations
Structure
Degree award
On successful completion, students will be awarded:
- BSc (Hons) Real Estate Management
or
- MSc Real Estate
and
- Apprenticeship Completion Certificate
Delivery structure
Development of the required knowledge, skills and behaviours for all apprenticeships happens through a combination of workplace training provided by the employer and off-the job training provided by UCEM.
The undergraduate route apprenticeship is 360 credits, plus an End Point Assessment (EPA) whereas the postgraduate route is 180 credits.
The employer must be able to provide their apprentices with relevant workplace experience for the requirements of the EPA to be met.
Modules you will study
Introduction to the Built Environment 1
Appreciate how legal, political and social issues shape our sector and its role in the economy. Understand the project lifecycle and the RIBA Plan of Work. Identify the industry’s stakeholders and professions and your chosen profession’s key responsibilities in meeting client objectives.
Introduction to Sustainability
Explore the causes of climate change and the challenges of sustainable development, with particular focus on the construction and property sector. Examine the relationship between property and the environment along with the criteria used to measure sustainability in relation to finished construction projects.
Professional and Business Practice
Gain an understanding of the organisational structures within the sector. Appreciate the role of business planning and the accounting concepts that support decision making. Consider the importance and benefits of client management, professionalism, ethical practice and diversity in the workforce.
Establish a foundation knowledge of buildings, the environment and technology, also considering them from a sustainability perspective. Develop your communication skills and construction literacy with real-world examples of construction projects, including traditional masonry and roof construction.
Introduction to Regulatory and Built Environment Law
Dive into the legal and regulatory requirements that relate to the construction and property sector, along with the legal environment in the context of planning, design and occupation and health and safety as it relates to both design and construction activity.
Apply basic economic theory to the four dimensions of property and construction sector activity: the market, the public policy, the temporal, and the spatial dimensions. Develop your analytical skills and recognise the relevance of economic analysis to property-related issues.
Learn the principles of land ownership (freehold and leasehold), including the acquisition and protection of third-party rights. Gain an understanding of common law and the statutory rules that govern the landlord and tenant relationship and develop an analytical approach to legal problem-solving.
Examine the role and purpose of planning and key planning principles and policies relating to housing, town centres, transportation, retailing and the countryside, with consideration given to social, economic and environmental aspects of sustainability.
Develop within a practice context, your understanding of the comparative, investment, profits and depreciated replacement cost methods of valuations. Explore the means of analysis, yield selection and risk considerations required by valuers.
Development Process and Appraisal
Examine the process of developing land and the factors that determine what can be developed. Undertaking authentic tasks, expand your understanding of valuation methods, such as residual appraisal and discounted cashflow, to reflect these factors in the valuation of development land.
Dive into the practice, principles and dynamics of estate agency and property marketing, focusing on residential and commercial property markets in England and Wales. Explore the client-agent relationship, company account analysis, the logic of location theory and how the sale price is determined.
Commercial Property Management
Examine the role that commercial property plays for both an investor and an occupier, considering the sustainable management strategies of property owners and how the commercial property manager helps develop and implement these strategies.
Investment Appraisal and Portfolio Management
Develop your ability to understand and analyse investments, so you can recognise property as an investment asset within the overall spectrum of other investment categories. Building the practical skills that will enable you to make informed investment decisions for clients.
Develop your research skills in the context of the built environment, your workplace and your chosen career path. Reflect on your learning and knowledge by relating the practicalities of a case study to the academic concepts and ideas that underpin it. Demonstrate your professional competence.
Apply valuation principles to more complex situations and explore rental growth explicit valuation concepts. Understand both the theoretical and practical limitations in valuing property and its environments and how these affect value. Consider professional ethics and the impact of sustainability.
Gain the knowledge and skills needed to carry out valuations for statutory purposes, specifically for compulsory purchase and compensation and taxation. Develop an understanding and expertise in both of these disciplines to provide appropriate and reflective advice and valuations to clients.
Course Leaders
Online learning
The future of study
Flexible study
Balance your study, work and home commitments, all while working towards your career goals
e-Library access
Full access to a comprehensive and valuable e-library with a wealth of resources to support your studies
Interactive
Study using a diverse range of interactive, modern and dynamic learning resources
Expert-led
Learning activities that have been designed by UCEM tutors and subject matter experts
Stay connected
Learn alongside a diverse community of students from all over the world
Time commitment and study breakdown
Studying two modules per semester requires an expected time commitment of 15-20 hours per week. If you study only one module per semester, the weekly time commitment will be less, depending on the module’s credit size. Most modules are typically 20 credits.
Directed study time (%)
Self-directed study time (%)
Assessment study time (%)
Why choose UCEM?
UCEM is a leading university for the built environment, providing flexible and accessible supported online education to all. Our commitment to become the most sustainable university in the world has led us to develop the way we teach, operate, and collaborate with others to ensure that sustainability is integrated into everything that we do.
Our apprenticeship offering is constantly growing to keep up with the demands of the sector. We are proud to have gained a reputation with our clients and industry partners for the excellent support we provide apprentices and employers.
- Rated 13th in the top 50 apprenticeship providers, Rate My Apprenticeship
- The largest provider of Chartered Surveyor apprenticeships, Gov.uk
- 'Good' Ofsted rating, 2021
- 91% of apprentices agreed that UCEM gave relevant training to help them perform their job better, ESFA
Application process
For employers
If you’re interested in developing your workforce with this apprenticeship, then please get in touch with our Business Development Team who will be able to guide you through the application process and support with any queries. Find the right apprenticeship candidate for your role through UCAS Talent Finder.
For prospective apprentices
If you are considering an apprenticeship but are not currently employed, you will need to search for an apprenticeship before applying.
Application deadlines
Undergraduate route – 24 February 2025
Postgraduate route – 10 February 2025
Undergraduate route – 25 August 2025
Postgraduate route – 11 August 2025
Contact us
To find out more about working with us you can email businessdevelopment@ucem.ac.uk or call one of our team.
You can also fill out the contact form below and someone will get back to you: