Module catalogue: RL6000

RL6000 - Commercial Real Estate Practice (2025/26)

Module specification

Module approved to run in 2025/26

Module title

Commercial Real Estate Practice

Module level

Honours (06)

Credit rating for module

School

School of the Built Environment

Total study hours

300

60 hours	Assessment Preparation / Delivery
168 hours	Guided independent study
72 hours	Scheduled learning & teaching activities

Assessment components

Type	Weighting	Description
Coursework	25%	Individual report 1,480 words
Coursework	50%	Individual portfolio 2,250 words
Individual Presentation	25%	10 minute professional discussion around Professional Development Journal

Running in 2025/26

(Please note that module timeslots are subject to change)

No instances running in the year

Module summary

This module draws on students’ prior learning of economics, valuations, planning and development, asset management and finance and accounting, bringing the knowledge together to consider property as an investment, investment risks and returns, how investment is financed and various financial models. You will compare property against other investment classes and appreciate the nature of property investors and the role of institutional investors in the market. You will then apply this learning to the techniques of investment appraisal, learning how to evaluate performance, risks and returns. The knowledge will be applied to different property types, including multi-asset portfolios.

As well as UK markets, you will examine global property markets and reflect upon global financial events which have influenced or been influenced by real estate investment.

Throughout the module sustainable investment and finance will be considered. Future trends and the influence of big data and proptech will form part of the module debate. You will be required to contribute to discussion from your own experience, research and keeping abreast of current economic issues and performance of financial markets. The module will enable you to develop strong analytical skills to apply to practical industry scenarios and to critically evaluate the investment performance of property assets. These are valuable skills which will be of benefit to your career and are competencies required for professional body membership.

Syllabus

• Property as an investment asset class (LO1)
• Global property markets (LO1, LO3)
• Types of finance and debt structures (LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4)
• Techniques of investment appraisal (LO3)
• Investment risks and returns (LO3)
• Property investment portfolios (LO3, LO4)
• Indirect investment vehicles (LO3)
• Measuring performance (LO3)
• Future trends and predictions (LO2, LO4)
• Environment, sustainability and governance (ESG) (LO4)
• Professional Development Journal (PDJ) reflecting on the module and own experience (LO5)

Balance of independent study and scheduled teaching activity

In your lectures you will recap on some of the learning from other modules and learn more about real estate investment and finance, applying this learning to real estate investment situations in smaller group tutorials.

Study will be supported via lectures, seminars, workshops, and guided asynchronous activities. Where appropriate, activities, will be captured and made available to allow asynchronous access. The value of this blended approach is that you will be able to continue to explore topics beyond the classroom and interact with your cohort to expand on discussions and debates.

You will receive formative feedback at regular intervals. Formative means that the feedback will not go towards your final mark for the module, but you will be able to use the feedback to learn, improve your knowledge of key topics and to develop your academic writing skills. Students will be given the opportunity to self-assess their learning in class and asynchronously via Weblearn.

You will be asked to do independent and guided reading and research to support your learning, this will help you to build a wider knowledge of the subject area. You will be expected to read industry related reports, professional journals, and will benefit from keeping abreast of current news, economic outlooks and financial markets.

Learning outcomes

On completion of the module the learner, operating independently and applying their knowledge and skills, should be able to:
1. Appraise property as an investment asset and the underlying economic principles which influence decision making.
2. Analyse data to support investment decision making and justify proposed solutions.
3. Evaluate investment strategies and objectives, accounting for risks and uncertainty, over a range of different circumstances.
4. Scrutinise real estate investment decisions in relation to environmental, social and governance values.
5. Critically reflect on personal professional development.

Bibliography

There is no single text currently in publication that provides a comprehensive coverage of all aspects of this module. There are several books, publications and online resources which cover various parts of the module in some detail, and these are included in the core text list.