Summary
- Faculty of Education, Law & Social Sciences
- School
- School of Social Sciences
- Campus
- City North , Perry Barr
- Duration
- Full Time: 1 year
- Fees
- International Students: £13,770 per year
For information on UK postgraduate fees please contact the School directly: Tel: +44 (0)121 331 7300. Email: socialsciences@bcu.ac.uk
Overview
The course is aimed at graduates wishing to develop both a career in housing and gain professional membership of the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH). It focuses on current developments in housing policy and practice in the social housing and related sectors, such as the regeneration field. Emphasis is also placed on the development of academic skills and professional competencies relevant to housing work.
Birmingham City University is regarded by the CIH as a Centre of Excellence for delivering professionally accredited housing courses and is the only provider of postgraduate professional housing education in the West Midlands. The PG Diploma stage accords with the professional qualification requirements of the CIH for corporate membership, providing you have the requisite number of housing practice hours (400 hours).
Key Facts
This is a well-established course with an excellent reputation for launching and developing careers in the social housing and related sectors. The practice-orientated focus of the course engages with current developments in housing policy and practice in the social housing and related sectors, such as regeneration. Successful completion of the course provides you with an opportunity to complete APEX, the professional practice requirement of the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) and to gain corporate membership of the CIH.
Course Outline
Course Structure
The course requires a commitment to study over a full calendar year in order to complete the programme to Master’s level on a full-time basis. Attendance is two days a week during the taught programme. This is an intensive course and if you are thinking of studying full-time some experience of the housing or related sectors is essential in order to provide underpinning knowledge.
Part-time students can complete the course over two calendar years, including day release at the university during this period. Normally you would be working in the social housing or related sectors already.
Emphasis is also placed on the development of academic skills and professional competencies relevant to housing work as set out by the CIH in its expectations for corporate membership.
You will be joining a well-established course with a strong reputation and high completion rates. The course has a strong practice orientation and students undertaking the course tend to come from a range of housing organisations and practice settings including housing policy, estate management and housing advice. This diversity of experience is very much valued by students.
Significantly, a student from this programme was awarded the CIH National Student Prize in February 2009.
Modules
The course consists of the following subject areas:
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Trends, Change and Challenge
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Housing Development
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Law and Good Practice
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Delivering the Housing Service
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Housing Finance and Strategic Management
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Strategy into Action (with or without APEX)
You can also choose from options (subject to demand) in Project Management or Neighbourhood Renewal and Community Governance. In addition, for the Masters (MA), a dissertation or major project is required. Please note the programme is subject to review in 2009/10, so some modules are likely to be different to those listed. More detailed information on module content is available from the Social Sciences School Office.
Assessments
The course is assessed exclusively by coursework, including individual and group project work, essays, reports, design displays and seminar presentations. Your dissertation comprises a substantial, individual investigative piece of work.
Placements
A range of teaching methods is used in addition to traditional lectures and seminars. These include workshops, tutorial activity, and site visits. There may also be an opportunity for a study visit to another European country or the USA. Placements are not provided but advice and assistance on how to secure work experience alongside your studies will be given.
After your studies
Further Studies
Graduates who wish to study further can take up PhD level research or complete a MBA to continue their development. There are also other options for study at Master’s level within the University, such as MA Spatial Planning.
Details can be found on the courses section of the website.
Employment Opportunities
Access to membership of the CIH and a range of Midlands-based housing agencies will help you make the most of your studies and secure a rewarding job if you are looking to break into the social housing and related sectors.
Many graduates are now in senior management positions across the region, leading and driving forward change in a range of organisations.
How to apply
Entry Requirements
A good Honours degree (2:1 or above preferred) in a related discipline or an equivalent professional qualification (e.g. RTPI, RIBA). Some sector experience prior to entry at this level is preferable.
Application Details
Please apply direct to faculty.
For general information about applying to study at Birmingham City University, please refer to the Making your Application section.
International enquirers may contact the International Office for further help and advice.
Fees Notes
If you already have an equivalent level qualification, you may be charged a higher fee for your course. For further information visit the fees area of the Student Info section.
Further Information
Faculty of Education, Law and Social Sciences
Birmingham City University
City North Campus
Perry Barr
Birmingham
B42 2SU
Tel: +44 (0)121 331 7300
Email: socialsciences@bcu.ac.uk