There are a number of post-graduate university courses that we recognise as providing the relevant skills necessary for those operating in the property investment market. Details are given below.

STUDENT BENEFITS

Student Membership is free to students studying on any of the below post graduate courses.  Graduates of these programmes are invited to become IPF members provided that the graduate has a minimum of two years relevant experience in the property investment industry (this could be part time whilst they were studying). To apply for student membership, please download and complete the application form below. 

Student Membership Application Form

DIssertation prize

The IPF awards an annual prize of £500 for the best dissertation from each of the recognised courses. Submissions for these prizes are made through the respective course directors.

IPF Dissertation Prize 2023

FAST TRACK MEMBERSHIP

If you already have one of the below qualifications, you are eligible for fast-track membership on completion of a membership application form, providing you have the required two years' professional experience.

Former IPF Student Fast-Track Application Form

IPF-recognised university courses

MSc Finance and Real Estate
This one year full-time programme is run by the University of Aberdeen Business School. The programme covers modules on the principles of finance and economics, asset markets and investment, portfolio management, and real estate valuation and prepares students for the CFA level 1 exams. The MSc Finance and Real Estate is accredited by the RICS, allowing graduates to proceed to the RICS APC and full professional membership of the RICS.

MSc Real Estate Investment
The MSc in Real Estate Investment is run by Bayes Business School. It's designed for those seeking to enhance their careers in property fund management, investment and development as well as finance and funding. This is a Masters degree and students have the choice of attending either one-year full-time, or two years, part-time.

MPhil Real Estate Finance
Run by the University of Cambridge, this MPhil covers advanced finance, economics and law as they relate to commercial real estate markets. The Programme was designed with input from leading international academics and property industry professionals. It can be completed in 10 months over three terms.

MSt in Real Estate
Run by the University of Cambridge, the part-time masters in real estate focuses on investment and finance aspects of real estate alongside research into a range of long-term themes and strategic issues. It is aimed at experienced professionals and those identified as future leaders in the real estate industry and combines academic rigour with significant industry input. It is a research-based degree which takes two years to complete but is designed to enable students to continue their careers whilst studying. 

MSc Real Estate Investment and Finance
The MSc in Real Estate Investment and Finance at Heriot Watt University provides students from varied professional and academic backgrounds with an entry into the real estate profession while also enhancing the knowledge and skills of those already employed in the field. Supported by complementary courses in other aspects of economics, development and the built environment, this programme gives students an intensive, focused learning experience, facilitating career opportunities in fund management, advisory and valuation of commercial real estate. The programme, however, has been discontinued by the University and entry to the course is no longer available to new applicants.

MSc Real Estate Economics and Finance
This one year full-time or two year part-time programme is on offer at London School of Economics. There are a number of units offered - applied urban and regional economics, asset markets, real estate finance, real property market practice and a dissertation. There are options to do an additional finance half-unit course or other suitable and relevant half unit courses. The approach of the MSc programme overall is by means of a rigorous exposition of relevant analytical and quantitative tools rather than introducing theory as a supplement to the practice of real estate professionals.

MSc International Real Estate Investment and Finance 
This course by Nottingham Trent University, and accredited by the RICS, can be studied full-time over one year, or part-time over two years. It is aimed at UK/EU and international students wishing to pursue a professional career as a chartered surveyor in the UK or overseas, with particular specialism towards valuation, investment and finance aspects of real estate. Optional international and interdisciplinary field activity, together with opportunity to integrate a period of work experience or internship with academic and professional studies, form exciting components of the course, and facilitate development and practice of important academic, professional and employability skills.

MSc Real Estate Investment Finance
This programme is run by Oxford Brookes University and fully accredited by RICS. It has been developed in close consultation with key specialists working in the industry in Asia. The course contents are practically oriented by using real life case studies.  Another key feature of the programme is its online delivery, which offers students a flexible and innovative way to study.  In addition, students can enrol at four different points (Jan, Apr, July and Sep) throughout a year. The programme offers a series of network seminars for students as an opportunity to have face-to-face contact with experts in the field, and share experiences. It is ideal for real estate professionals as well as fund managers and investment bankers who would like to gain a better understanding of real estate as a financial asset in an investment portfolio.

MSc Real Estate Investment & Finance
This programme offered by Henley Business School, University of Reading, aims to provide students with the specialist knowledge and skills necessary to enhance their careers in the International and UK real estate sector. Its programme is delivered on a part time block release basis. Its specific objective is to provide students with a structured but flexible learning framework to enable students to fully understand real estate investment and financing decisions. The MSc Real Estate Investment and Finance Flexible programme is a blend of academic rigour and applied practical analysis.

MSc Real Estate Finance
This one year full-time programme is offered jointly by the School of Real Estate and Planning, University of Reading and the ICMA Centre. It is designed to prepare students for careers in real estate finance, investment management and the securitised real estate markets. The programme not only examines investment in the underlying real estate sector but also provides extensive coverage of the REIT, mortgage backed security and property derivative markets. The MSc Real Estate Finance is accredited by RICS.

MSc Real Estate Finance and Investment
This programme run by the University of the West of England has been developed with industry and, uniquely, features a module taught by professionals from CBRE and Lloyds Banking Group. It can be taken full-time (1 year), part-time (2 years) or by distance learning (2 years), and complements the University’s MSc Real Estate Management. The programme is fully RICS-accredited and is ideal for students wishing to pursue a professional career as a chartered surveyor with specialist knowledge of real estate finance, investment and valuation. Students also study relevant aspects of economics, development and property law, as well as strategic estate management, and complete an in-depth research project (dissertation) on a relevant topic of their choosing. Individual modules can be studied on a CPD basis.