Key information
- Level
- Undergraduate
- Delivery type
- Full Time
- Degree qualification
- MA
- Mode of delivery
- On-Campus
- Duration
- 4 years
- Location
- Dubai
- Start date
- September
Our MA Real Estate Management and Finance degree is designed to set you apart from traditional real estate roles, focusing on creating value through strategic analysis, valuation, market research, and informed decision-making. This programme prepares graduates to lead the industry as visionary analysts and managers, equipped with the skills to drive the future direction of the real estate sector.
Real estate is a global industry that encompasses much more than just sales and agency roles. It includes the land and any buildings or improvements built on it, forming the built environment that surrounds us. From homes and schools to shopping centres and holiday destinations, real estate is integral to our daily lives and the places we preserve for future generations. This degree emphasises the importance of understanding who uses, owns, and invests in real estate, highlighting the critical role of real estate professionals in making strategic and operational decisions.
We recognise the importance of work-based learning and include industry placements in the fourth year of the programme. This hands-on experience ensures that our graduates are well-prepared for the real-world challenges they will face in their careers. Furthermore, we bring in adjunct staff from the industry to lead specialist courses and serve as guest speakers, providing students with invaluable insights and connections within the real estate sector.
The programme integrates advanced data analysis software, including GIS, Excel, and other analytical tools, ensuring graduates are equipped with cutting-edge technical proficiency. This technical expertise, combined with a comprehensive understanding of global best practices and standards, positions graduates to excel in the dynamic and evolving real estate industry. With accreditations from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in the UAE, our degree is recognised for its excellence and relevance in the global market
Your student experience
Heriot-Watt University, Dubai was the first and has the most respected real estate degree programme with the largest graduate network in the GCC. Our new undergraduate degree has been designed in response to employer demand and recognition that the property sector is now a central part of wider financial markets.
The sector locally in Dubai (UAE) is developing and very much conforming to global best practices. Recent additions to International Valuation Standards (IVS) and International Property Measurement Standards (IPMS) are two examples where our students would benefit from studying a relevant programme. Furthermore, discussions with major firms also highlight the need for graduates to have a holistic range of business and finance skills alongside the technical knowledge relevant to property (for instance financial modelling). To this end, particular emphasis is placed on ensuring that students are familiar with the latest concepts in mixed-asset portfolio analysis, risk management, financial and valuation modelling.
Heriot-Watt property programmes have been ranked as one of the leading programmes in the UK. Heriot-Watt takes an applied focus, going beyond textbook and theory to explore real-world issues and solutions. Our programme combines real estate with business analytics, management, and finance; and graduates have sought-after transferable skills in writing, research and critical evaluation. Our graduates will have career opportunities in business and property professions and are eligible for a broad range of postgraduate programmes across both disciplines. Students take part in a professional project that matches them with local practitioners and employers.
Go Global
There are currently no Go Global opportunities for this particular programme. However, other Go Global opportunities may be available. Please contact studywithus@hw.ac.uk for more information.
Course content
September Intake - Dubai
Detailed Course Guide
Year 1 combines a number of relevant business and finance courses so that students are equipped with the relevant background of data analysis and analysis of financial markets. Core subjects include economics; management and business. Urban geography and the built environment components offer a linkage of the economy to property and construction markets. These courses provides an introduction to academic study, to the built environment professions, and to the nature of the work carried out by property surveyors.
Mandatory September
- Management in a Global Context
- The Economy
- Real Estate and its Markets
- Shaping Tomorrow Together A
Mandatory January
- Technology for Business
- Sustainable Business
- Human Geography & The City
- Shaping Tomorrow Together B
Teaching staff
Fees and funding
AED 71,500 per year
- All tuition fees inclusive of VAT.
Entry requirements
We have standard entry requirements for all of our courses that you will have to meet.
- GCE A-Level - CCD (or BBBB at AS-Level)
- CBSE/Other Indian Boards - 65%.
- American High School Diploma/SABIS - 70% + SAT I – 1000 (500 English and 500 Math)
- Tawjihiyya - 80% or Elite/Advance - 75%
- International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 24 points (3 HL and 3 SL).
- BTEC Level 3 Ext Diploma - MMM
- FBISE grade 12 or equivalent – 70%
- Russian/Kazakhstan (Attestat) - Grades of 5 in every subject + IELTS 6.0
- African WAEC/NECO/WASSCE - B2
- French Baccalaureate - 13/20 + IELTS 6.0
- Lebanese Baccalaureate - 80% or 13/20 + IELTS 6.0
- Foundation year Successful completion of Heriot-Watt University Degree Entry Programme (Engineering/Management) with a CCCC.
- Compulsory subjects to include English.
To find out more about the specific entry requirements for your country, please refer to our International Entry Requirements.
To find out about the entry requirements for this programme, please send an email to dubaienquiries@hw.ac.uk
Why Heriot-Watt
As the first British university to set up a campus in Dubai in 2005, we have established ourselves as a pioneer in the higher education market in the UAE. The three consecutive five-star ratings by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) is a testament to our reputation for world-class teaching.
The futuristic Dubai campus is designed to offer interactive and collaborative learning experiences with innovative classroom styles fostering group work and engagement like Collaborative lecture theatres, Digitally Classrooms and Seminar rooms. The campus also has dedicated cutting-edge laboratories and workshops that span various engineering disciplines along with Psychology, IT, Photography, Design and Architecture.
Our practical, leading-edge research combined with strong links to business and industry, have made our graduates highly employable and sought after by the best organisations worldwide, with over 90% in graduate-level jobs or further study within six months of graduation. On top of that, we have beautiful campuses, across the globe, so you'll get a truly international education through our Go Global programme.
Employability
Graduates of this program are prepared for diverse career opportunities in high-demand roles such as Real Estate Analysts, Financial Analysts, Valuers/Appraisers, Market Research Analysts, Investment Analysts, Site Selection Managers, Development Managers, Finance Managers, Asset Managers, Investment Managers, Corporate Real Estate Managers, and Directors of Valuation. These roles are essential for organizations ranging from governments to major corporations in Dubai, such as Emaar Properties, Nakheel, Dubai Holding, Meraas, and shopping centre operators like Majid Al Futtaim. Additionally, real estate advisory firms such as CBRE, Knight Frank, Cavendish Maxwell, Savills, ValuStrat, Windmills, and Chestertons require skilled professionals to provide expert consultancy and advisory services.
Student life
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