MA or MSc: which property postgraduate course is right for you?

Staying at university to complete a postgraduate course might seem like a good idea but it's important to be sure it's the right choice for you before committing to further study.There’s a wide range of postgraduate options in property. They include conversion courses for graduates from non-property related disciplines who want to enter the property industry (often MA courses) to more specialised courses for property graduates and mid-career professionals who want to focus on a particular area, change career direction or do research. These latter tend to be MSc courses.

Whatever option is the one you plan to take, make sure you’ve researched it carefully. ‘Ask yourself how you work best,’ advises Paul Royston, head of property management and development at Nottingham Trent University. ‘Are you disciplined enough to complete a distance learning course or would the more communal experience of studying either full time or part time on day release help to motivate you?’

Also think about what you want to get out of a postgraduate course and be clear about your objectives from the start. ‘Go in with your eyes open,’ adds Paul. ‘Research your options and find out as much as possible about the profession and your potential career options. Use the web and wherever possible get information from contacts in the industry. If you don’t have any, get some!’

Choose your study options

Once you’ve decided if and why staying in academia is the right way to go, you’ll need to pick a qualification and a study method. Your main options are:

• taught courses – introduce new subjects and may have close links with employers. Courses normally last one year full time, but part-time courses are available.
• research degrees – ideal if you have a burning desire to investigate a topic in more detail. Courses are usually three years of full-time study.

Distance-learning courses, often web-based, are growing in popularity, and some universities offer modular courses which can take anything from two to six years to complete. These can be useful if you are combining work and study.

‘You should plan as far in advance as possible to give yourself time to research and find the right course and university,’ says Paul. ‘It’s important to check application deadlines, as popular courses can fill up early. Plus, the earlier you apply, the more chance you have of obtaining funding.’

The normal requirement for most courses is a good 2.1, although candidates with a lower classification who can offer something else – for example, work experience – are often accepted. Generally, the classification of the degree is more important than the subject area.

Find your course

Remember, where you study is just as important as what you study. Make sure you pick the best course for you. Factors to consider include:

• course accreditation – find out if the course is approved by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
• entrance requirements – good course providers will interview applicants and have minimum entrance requirements.
• employer links – find out if there are opportunities to complete industry placements.

Then there are more intangible factors to consider. ‘Wherever possible, talk to course tutors and existing students,’ suggests Paul. ‘Tutors may be happy to put you in touch with previous students who are now working in the industry. Use this as an opportunity to get a feel for the culture of the university and whether or not you like the town or city.’ You can meet representatives from firms at careers fairs and events, too. They may visit universities to run student workshops or attend postgraduate fairs such as the Reading Real Estate Fair and the Built Environment and Property Careers Fair at Nottingham Trent University.

Fund it

Unfortunately there is little financial support available to postgraduate students and, with fees of over £10,000 for a one-year full-time course, this can be a problem. Most students fund themselves with a career development loan or sponsorship from an employer. There are a limited number of scholarships and bursaries available, and your university will give you details once they have offered you a place on a course. For some lucky students doing a conversion course, there is help from their employer.

It’s also important to compare value in terms of what’s included: ‘Check what facilities are available for postgraduate students, such as dedicated resource rooms and IT suites, and find out whether field trips are included in the fees or an additional cost,’ recommends Paul. Competition for funding opportunities can be tough so get in early by approaching potential sources in the first term of your final year.