ObjectivesThe primary aim of the course is to enable people involved in the development and management of housing in south-east Asia and other countries to become ‘reflective practitioners’. This involves providing knowledge of the operation of housing and related markets in the region and elsewhere,
as well as developing an understanding of the context in which they are operating. This is combined with knowledge of the general principles of housing development and management and how they are implemented in different countries and contexts, with particular reference to the British situation. Crucially, the aim is to encourage the development of analytical skills that will enable professionals to decide the best way to approach particular issues in the individual context within which they will be working.
Entry requirementsEntry Requirements:
The programme is suitable for those working or wishing to work in the fields of housing planning, development or management and for international students, as well as for UK students, interested in comparative housing. The programme is appropriate for graduates from social sciences, geography, humanities and business studies. Applicants with good degrees in other relevant disciplines and/or mature students with a relevant professional background will also be considered.
Candidates should possess or expect to obtain a first or second class UK Honours degree or equivalent in an appropriate subject. All candidates are required to demonstrate competency in English language (at least 6.5 in IELTS or a TOEFL score of 575/232).
Academic titleInternational Housing (MSc)
Course descriptionCourse Description:
The modules are assessed through continuous assessment (a variety of seminars, essays, project work and practical exercises) and examinations.
Special features of this course:
* Professionally recognised by the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH), which means that students successfully completing the programme are fully exempted from the examinations for the Professional Qualifications of the CIH and are eligible to become corporate members of the Institute after completing the practical experience
* Combined study of Britain and a number of other countries.
* Many modules on the course will be shared with either International Planning students who are from a wide range of countries, or with British students on the MSc in Housing. This should help to broaden experience and allow the sharing and comparison of experience.
Introduction
Meeting the housing challenges of the changing urban structure in developing economies.
The primary aim of the course is to enable people involved in the development and management of housing in south-east Asia and other countries to become "reflective practitioners". This involves providing knowledge of the operation of housing and related markets in the region and elsewhere as well as developing an understanding of the context in which they are operating. This is combined with knowledge of the general principles of housing development and management and how they are implemented in different countries and contexts with particular reference to the British situation. Crucially, the aim is to encourage the development of analytical skills that will enable professionals to decide the best way to approach particular issues in the individual context within which they will be working. The course will not attempt to describe the details of practice in particular countries or to train people in the practice of housing development or management. People who wish to attain this knowledge and skill would be better receiving this within the national context in which they intend to work.
The course objectives are to provide an understanding of:
* the development of cities and the place of housing in this development;
* the different scope and forms of state housing policy and the impacts this can have;
* the strategic role of local government in the prediction, regulation, control and management of the housing situation in cities and the possibilities of working with other agencies to achieve social and economic objectives;
* the development process for new housing and other forms of property and the context within which it operates;
* the management of housing and other property;
* the role of housing in urban regeneration;
* research and survey methods; and
* the management of public and voluntary sector organisations.
Many of the modules on the course will be shared with either International Planning students who are from a wide range of countries, or with British students on the Housing MSc. This should help to broaden experience and allow the sharing and comparison of experience.
Course Recognition
The course is professionally recognised by the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) which means that students successfully completing the programme are fully exempted from the examinations for the Professional Qualifications of the CIH and are eligible to become corporate members of the Institute after completing the practical experience requirements. Practical experience can be gained in the UK or in other countries covered by a CIH branch such as Hong Kong and China.
Accreditation by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) is being sought for the 2009-10 academic year.
Course Structure
The rationale of the course is that students will cover the context of changing cities in the first semester and gain an introduction to the different ways that the state can organise the housing system. They then cover the core areas of housing management and housing development. In the second semester, students cover the social problems that can occur in transitional cities. They gain an introduction to the management of public and voluntary sector organisations such as local authorities and voluntary housing agencies.
The course is built around seven core modules complimented by a choice of option modules. In addition students undertake a dissertation.
The course is for one year full-time and no part-time route is available.
Teaching and Assessment
Our teaching methods are critical in meeting the course's aims and objectives. Our philosophy is to develop reflective practitioners who are capable of critical and analytical thinking and who possess basic skills and abilities which are of value to professional practice within the context of contemporary problems and issues facing housing policy and practice.
To achieve this it is necessary to actively involve students in learning to develop their skills and to draw on their experiences (either as part-time students working from the practice training which full-time students undertake). To this end lecturing is interactive and workshops are used extensively.
Assessment is by a wide variety of methods including group and individual projects, essays, reports, presentations and examinations. The aim is to provide students with varied opportunities to test their skills and demonstrate their capabilities.
Applications/Entry Requirements
This MSc is suitable for graduates with a good degree in a relevant discipline or for those aged 25 or over with at least two years housing experience in a position of responsibility. All students will be required to demonstrate competency in English prior to arrival in the UK. We look for the following standards: IELTS 6.5, TOEFL 570 (230 in computer based test).
Core Modules
* Comparative Housing Policy
* Development and Urbanisation Processes
* Housing Practice
* International Property Development
* Management in the Public Sphere
* Research and Survey Methods: Dissertation Design
* Transitional Cities: Housing and Urban Development
Option Modules
* Accommodating Difference
* Difference and Equality
* Housing and Urban Renewal
* Field Study Visit: Housing and Urban Renewal
* Housing Development
* Housing Policy and Strategy 1
* Housing Strategies and Choices
* Physical Regeneration
* Public Sector Housing Management 1
* Public Sector Housing Management 2
* Site Planning, Design and Development