MPlan Real Estate Development and Planning

Compulsory modules

Introduction to Data Analysis

Use statistical terminology and basic concepts to systematically analyse and describe quantitative data. You'll focus on applications in a real estate and planning context using Microsoft Excel, including data visualisation and the integrated use of AI, enabling you to interpret, display and explore data, understand the concept of probabilities, and conduct simple hypothesis testing.

Introductory Economics for Business and Finance

Understand how businesses are affected by developments in specific markets, as well as by changes at the level of the entire economy. You'll analyse forces of supply and demand in the determination of prices and the economics of consumer behaviour,  the characteristics and variability in economic output and profit under different forms of competition, the methods for calculating national income for closed and open economies, and determinants of business cycles and economic effects, interactions and policies connected to inflation, unemployment, interest rates and foreign exchange rates.

Property, Law, Rights and Institutions

Examine the legal and conceptual basis of property and the legal, institutional, and stakeholder aspects of land, property and property rights. Consider what is involved and understood by the label 'property rights', how the planning system and related institutions operate, the repercussions for different stakeholders, and the fundamental principles of land law governing the ownership, use and enjoyment of property as relevant to real estate professionals.

Real Estate Valuation 1

Discover the pricing of equities, bonds, mortgages and real estate assets, and apply models to assess investment decisions.

Contemporary Issues in Real Estate and Planning

Develop an understanding of the local, national and global challenges and potential solutions directly and indirectly affected by the real estate industry and planning system, as well as the diversity of stakeholders involved. You'll critically reflect on aspects such as climate change, housing quality, affordability, future ways of working and building, and growing inequality.

Ethics and Sustainable Development

Explore the human and non-human considerations of sustainable development goals and implications for responsible business practices in real estate and planning, including urban and architectural design, development, construction, operation, refurbishment, retrofitting, and regeneration. 

These are the modules that we currently offer for 2025/2026 entry. They may be subject to change as we regularly review our module offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods. 

Please note that the University cannot guarantee that all optional modules will be available to all students who may wish to take them. 

You can also register your details with us to receive information about your course of interest and study and life at the University of Reading.

Compulsory modules

Real Estate and Urban Economics

Use basic economic principles and models to analyse urban dynamics and property markets. You'll develop a foundational understanding of economic forces shaping urban growth and land use allocation within cities, equilibrium adjustment processes in demand and supply of real estate, and broader perspectives for the analysis of real estate markets.

Real Estate and Planning Law

Gain a thorough grounding in the key legal and regulatory principles and concepts underpinning the operation of landlord and tenant law, leasehold relationships, and planning processes.  

Real Estate Entrepreneurship and Technology

Explore the key concepts of business start-ups and become a disruptor in the real estate sector. You'll entrepreneurial management studies will span design thinking, business model creation, entrepreneurial finance, marketing, and technological trends, including the responsible use of AI.

Planning Theory and Practice

Discover the theory and practice of spatial planning, and its interrelationship with the development of real estate. You'll study a range of contemporary issues and tools for planning implementation, including addressing climate change and sustainability, the role of plan-making, and how planning shapes different built and natural environments.

Real Estate Valuation 2

Develop your understanding of the underlying principles of valuation and the various approaches to, and methods of, real estate valuation. You'll study the processes, procedures and practices necessary to value real estate, particularly commercial property investments, as well as the valuation process, including regulatory framework, role of the valuation, and different concepts of value.

Optional modules

Climate Change and Finance

Examine the scientific consensus on climate change, together with its projected social and economic consequences to understand how the financial sector can help mitigate and manage these impacts.

Introduction to the Management of Information Systems

Explore the management of business information systems (IS) and the interplay between management, organisational, and information technology IS dimensions You'll study enterprise applications, the symbiotic relationship between company information infrastructures and business capability, and the fundamentals that underline the design, implementation, control, evaluation, and strategic use of information systems in modern business.

Comparative International Management

Focus on management variations across the globe, from national variations in business systems, innovation and organisational behaviour to how these differences influence firm performance. You'll examine globalisation, governance, education, and industrial relations at the country level, using examples including the USA, China, Japan, Britain, France and Germany to explore different contexts, cultures and behaviour of business management.

Trends in Finance

Contextualise current issues and debates in finance by placing them in the historical evolution of finance. Understand how finance has evolved over time and where it may develop in the future.

Real Estate Finance and Investment

Gain insight into the operation of commercial real estate markets within a broader capital market setting. You'll understand key theoretical concepts in finance, be able to appraise critically published work in the field, and apply this knowledge to the analysis of practical real estate problems.

Understanding Leadership

Gain a deeper understanding of leadership models and concepts as you explore different leadership styles and the associated ethical challenges. You’ll consider potential obstacles for leaders and learn how they can develop their leadership capabilities to deal with them.  

These are the modules that we currently offer for 2025/2026 entry. They may be subject to change as we regularly review our module offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods. 

Please note that the University cannot guarantee that all optional modules will be available to all students who may wish to take them. 

You can also register your details with us to receive information about your course of interest and study and life at the University of Reading. 

Compulsory modules

Development Appraisal and Finance

Evaluate and appraise the financial viability of real estate development projects. You'll develop key skills and knowledge related to the ways in which land value, how the risks and rewards associated with real estate development activity might be shared, and the range of debt and equity investments in real estate development projects.

Development Process

Gain an understanding of models of the real estate development process, the nature of real estate development projects, patterns in real estate development, the operation of development land markets, the structure of the real estate development sector, the delivery of real estate development projects, the risks involved in real estate development and the role of different institutions and agents in the development process.   

Urban Design in the Development Process

Examine the core principles of urban design and its role in the development process. You'll consider academic debates and policy challenges surrounding the practice of urban design, its contemporary relevance or value to real estate development and place-making, and the practice of urban design where it concerns both the creation and maintenance of places as part of sustainability transitions and/or regeneration processes toward more resilient futures. 

Project in Development and Planning

Apply key concepts, technical knowledge, and relevant research to the analysis and evaluation of practical problems and situations for making development happen, as well as developing wider professional / business skills.

Optional modules

Work-based Learning

Undertake a four-week work placement (as a minimum) to reflect on professional practice in the workplace, develop your skills and competencies, explore your future career options, and extend the knowledge gained throughout your studies.

Housing Markets and Policy

Study the economic principles that underpin residential property markets and relevant government policies. You'll examine why global, national, and local housing markets operate as they do, and the implications this has for economies and societies more generally, as well as how different types of policy – town planning, fiscal, and monetary – can shape housing markets. 

Urban Regeneration

Discover urban regeneration policy and practice, with a focus on the UK context, developing your critical thinking related to the models and theories that underpin regeneration processes and the outcomes of regeneration activities.  

Dissertation in Real Estate and Planning

Conduct a substantial research study on a topic of relevance to property and real estate, supported by your dissertation supervisor.

New Directions in Business and Corporate Social Responsibility

Develop your awareness and understanding of contemporary debates and practices of corporate social responsibility, and reflect on the wider role of business in societal and global sustainable development.  

Investment in Rural Assets

Demonstrate technical knowledge in various areas of rural asset management and investment, from an understanding of the core influences on rural land as an asset class to the ability to analyse and project long-term financial performance. You'll gain the ability to use a range of financial, economic and asset management skills to offer strategic advice in this area. 

International Real Estate

Understand how commercial real estate markets work in an international context, focusing on three distinct, but interrelated areas: international market analysis, analysis of European real estate markets, and global market analysis. Critically evaluate the functioning and principal characteristics of commercial real estate markets, key global players, and the real estate sectors in both established and emerging markets. 

Real Estate Valuation 3

Explore the variety of valuation processes and valuation methods, at both theoretical and applied levels, for different market contexts, real estate assets, and purposes.

Comparative International Planning

Gain an understanding of planning practices and systems in different countries and draw lessons from them. You’ll explore the advantages and problems of different planning systems set against their political, economic, social and cultural contexts.

Rural Property Law and Valuation

Examine the legal relationship that exists between rural landlords and their tenants. You'll explore the financial, technical, and market context of the appraisal of rural property value. Additionally, you'll also develop an understanding of the legal codes that apply to different types of rural property, and investigate the agricultural land market.

These are the modules that we currently offer for 2025/2026 entry. They may be subject to change as we regularly review our module offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods. 

Please note that the University cannot guarantee that all optional modules will be available to all students who may wish to take them. 

You can also register your details with us to receive information about your course of interest and study and life at the University of Reading. 

Compulsory modules

Planning 1 – Policy, Theory and Governance

Learn the process of preparing a policy framework. You’ll also explore the application of planning theory and understand how this might influence the plan-making process.

Planning 2 – Law, Negotiation and Ethics

Analyse a site-specific scenario, assessing it within the context of planning law, regulation and policy and exploring its implications for different stakeholders. You’ll gain knowledge around professionalism, ethics, planning law, negotiation and judgement, complemented by guest lectures addressing contemporary issues in spatial planning.

Independent Study in Planning and Development

Choose and define a research proposal, and develop core academic and professional skills. You’ll discover research philosophies and methods in both qualitative and quantitative methods. A field trip to a European city will give you the opportunity to apply these research methods in a controlled environment.

Optional modules

Quantitative Analysis of Data in Environmental Science

Explore commonly used statistical and graphical techniques for environmental data analysis. Acquire the skills to interpret and apply outputs from both classic and modern statistical methods using Minitab, along with freely-available remote-sensing toolboxes.

Environmental and Waste Management

Examine how environmental and waste management are applied in professional settings and understand motivations for businesses and organisations. You’ll study environmental impact assessments and explore systems for minimizing environmental issues.

Environmental and Resource Economics

Acquire a foundation in resource and environmental economics, and the essential tools to apply economic principles to real-world challenges at the intersection of people, the economy, and the natural environment.

Ecosystem Services and Nature-Based Solutions

Discover the role of ecosystem services, their consumption, management, and conservation, and explore nature-based solutions. Our researchers will share cutting edge information and knowledge and introduce you to case studies on the topic.

Environmental Planning and Policy

Gain an understanding of the range of issues and tools deployed to address environmental planning challenges using a blend of theory and practice-based examples.

Heritage and Development

Learn about the significance of historic buildings and sites as part of the built environment. Many will be hundreds of years old, but there are also more modern buildings considered as heritage. The construction industry’s work is evenly split between new-build and work to existing buildings, some of which will have some statutory protection, such as being listed.

Comparative International Planning

Compare planning practices and systems worldwide and draw lessons from such comparisons. You’ll learn to appreciate and critique different systems of planning as well as compare planning systems.

Sustainability and Real Estate

Gain a conceptual understanding of sustainable development principles and their applications in real estate markets. You’ll focus on the adoption of sustainability and environmental, social and governance principles in the UK property industry throughout real estate life cycles, including how this is relevant to and manifests itself at various life cycle stages.

Housing Markets and Policy

Develop an awareness of the economic principles that underpin residential property markets and relevant government policies. You’ll learn how housing markets affect almost everything, including financial market stability, wealth inequalities, national productivity, and rates of childbirth.

Urban Regeneration

Focus on the relationship between the economic, social, environmental and political forces shaping approaches to urban regeneration. You’ll gain an overview of the evolution of urban regeneration policy and practice, particularly in the UK context.

These are the modules that we plan to offer for 2026/27 entry. They may change for your year of study as we regularly review our module offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.