Finance and Real Estate (with CFA Level 1 Examination), MSc

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Finance and Real Estate (with CFA Level 1 Examination), MSc

Introduction

Open for September 2025 applications.

The Finance and Real Estate MSc is focused on the real needs of business and will equip you with the knowledge and skills required to succeed in this sector. With two leading industry qualifications built-in, this course is your foundation in the highest standards of the real estate world.

Study Information

At a Glance

Learning Mode
On Campus Learning
Degree Qualification
MSc
Duration
12 months or 24 months
Study Mode
Full Time or Part Time
Start Month
September

This programme bridges the gap between undergraduate studies and employment – combining the study of two complementary subject areas with leading industry accreditation and professional training to ensure you are industry-ready. The programme is designed to extend your capabilities in all financial aspects of real estate and property development with a particular focus on international real estate markets and commercial property valuation and investment.

This programme holds accreditation from Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), which allows graduates to go on to the RICS Assessment of Professional Competence. It also runs in parallel with the globally recognised qualification CFA Level 1, so you’ll have the opportunity to complete this leading professional qualification too. Not only that, the Investment Property Forum has included this programme on its selected list of graduate programmes that they consider to provide the relevant skills necessary for those operating in the property investment market. Finally, the Business School is also home to the internationally recognised Centre for Real Estate Research, which acts as a focus for interdisciplinary research in the area of Real Estate Investment and Property Market Analysis.

What You'll Study

Stage 1

Compulsory Courses

Quantitative Methods (BU5025)

15 Credit Points

This course develops a mathematical and statistical ‘toolbox’ for PGT students in the Business School. These tools will useful in understanding and implementing research in business- and economics-related fields both during a student’s academic career as well as after graduation. The first part of the course covers basic mathematical models common across these fields. The second part of the course develops standard data analysis methods, including multivariate regression. The final part of the course examines shortcomings in the standard model and describes ways of overcoming those shortcomings.

Accounting (BU5031)

15 Credit Points

Students will gain an understanding of what financial information is for and how it is controlled by government, the stock exchanges and other institutions. Students will explore financial accounting assumptions and conventions. They will develop their technical knowledge and skills to enable them to record business transactions and prepare financial statements. Finally, students will be introduced to financial statement analysis and the calculation of key metrics. This will allow them to explore how accounting information is used by stock market participants and the impact on users of current developments and issues in accounting practice, governance and standards.

Valuation and Finance (BU5035)

15 Credit Points

The course introduces the mathematics of valuation and investment and considers the principles underlying basic valuation and investment formulae. The distinguishing characteristics of the bond, equity and property market are critiqued. The five property valuation methods are discussed via a series of lectures supplemented by tutorials/workshops in which valuation problem-solving tasks are discussed, with an emphasis on the investment method of valuation. While the focus is on real estate, the course seeks to raise awareness of the range of investment opportunities. The course seeks to develop good numeracy and analytical skills.

Real Estate Economics (BU5036)

15 Credit Points

This course aims to provide an overview of basic economic models and recent developments regarding the working of real estate markets and urban land markets. The course is intended to enable students

i) To examine real estate as a set of linked markets, functionally divided between use, investment and development

ii) To understand the dynamics of specific types of real estate markets and appreciate real estate market modelling approaches

iii) To understand the location patterns of land use within urban areas and regional development

iv) To understand the role that regulations and planning play in real estate markets

Stage 2

Compulsory Courses

All of the courses for Stage 1 plus:

Portfolio Analysis (BU5526)

15 Credit Points

This course examines theories and issues relevant to portfolio analysis. Themes include: risk and return; investment motives; the application of modern portfolio theory (including the Capital Asset Pricing Model); information and market efficiency; portfolio analysis and asset pricing; bonds and equities; real estate and derivative markets.

Financial Analysis and Markets (BU5575)

15 Credit Points

Like football, this course is a game of two halves. The first half is financial analysis and builds your ability to analyse companies and think about the implications of financial performance for investors. We will be using Datastream and Bloomberg software. In the second half we will think about how stock markets work and how they are regulated.

Real Estate Development and Appraisal (BU5578)

15 Credit Points

This course applies the principles of valuation to more complex real world examples. Topics covered include rent reviews, compulsory purchase, property investment, property development and national taxation. Students are encouraged to critique traditional approaches to valuation and to consider contemporary alternatives. Numeracy and analytical skills are further developed along with expertise in the use of Excel. In addition, the course also covers professional surveying practice, including ethics, and stimulates discussion on contemporary issues and debates in the real estate industry.

Optional Courses

(BU5848) Studies in Finance || Compulsory for non-CFA Route
Or
(BU5849) Professional Finance || Compulsory for CFA Route

Studies in Finance (BU5848)

15 Credit Points

If you do not wish to undertake the CFA exam, then you will be choosing this course. This is designed for those seeking a more theoretical rather than professional edge to their MSc. You will be teamed with a member of faculty to develop a literature review of a mutually agreed area of finance research.

Professional Finance (BU5849)

15 Credit Points

Becoming a Certified Financial Analyst charter holder is the aspiration of every finance industry professional. This course covers the CFA syllabus courtesy of our friends from FitchLearning who will teach you week by week and prepare you for the CFA level 1 exam. You will also write an essay reflecting on professional and academic approaches to finance

Stage 3

BU5951/5952/5953/5954 Asian Cities Tour

or

BU591T Real Estate Internship

* Students choosing the Real Estate Internship option will be responsible for finding their own internship in a real estate organisation based in the UK. (Where a student does not hold a UK passport, the student will be responsible to check whether they are eligible to work in the UK given any Visa regulations that might apply to them.)

or

BU5955 Real Estate Dissertation

Optional Courses

Asian Cities - Hong Kong (BU5951)

15 Credit Points

This is one of four courses that comprise the Asian Cities module. Students travel to six Asian cities (Hong Kong, Singapore, Shanghai, Beijing, Seoul and Tokyo) over approximately thirty days in July. This intense program involves daily meetings and seminars with key real estate investment and development professionals. Participants will complete four case studies based on current development projects and investment scenarios in four of six cities visited. This program follows a rigorous schedule with students engaged in site visits, lectures, discussions and seminars for upwards of 8 hours a day, 5 days a week over the month long course.

Asian Cities - Seoul / Tokyo (BU5952)

15 Credit Points

This is one of four courses that comprise the Asian Cities module. Students travel to six Asian cities (Hong Kong, Singapore, Shanghai, Beijing, Seoul and Tokyo) over approximately thirty days in July. This intense program involves daily meetings and seminars with key real estate investment and development professionals. Participants will complete four case studies based on current development projects and investment scenarios in four of six cities visited. This program follows a rigorous schedule with students engaged in site visits, lectures, discussions and seminars for upwards of 8 hours a day, 5 days a week over the month long course.

Asian Cities - Singapore (BU5953)

15 Credit Points

This is one of four courses that comprise the Asian Cities module. Students travel to six Asian cities (Hong Kong, Singapore, Shanghai, Beijing, Seoul and Tokyo) over approximately thirty days in July. This intense program involves daily meetings and seminars with key real estate investment and development professionals. Participants will complete four case studies based on current development projects and investment scenarios in four of six cities visited. This program follows a rigorous schedule with students engaged in site visits, lectures, discussions and seminars for upwards of 8 hours a day, 5 days a week over the month long course.

Asian Cities - Shanghai / Beijing (BU5954)

15 Credit Points

This is one of four courses that comprise the Asian Cities module. Students travel to six Asian cities (Hong Kong, Singapore, Shanghai, Beijing, Seoul and Tokyo) over approximately thirty days in July. This intense program involves daily meetings and seminars with key real estate investment and development professionals. Participants will complete four case studies based on current development projects and investment scenarios in four of six cities visited. This program follows a rigorous schedule with students engaged in site visits, lectures, discussions and seminars for upwards of 8 hours a day, 5 days a week over the month long course.

Real Estate Dissertation (BU5955)

60 Credit Points

The dissertation is an independent piece of work. The choice of topic is largely your own but approval must be obtained from the course coordinator and your dissertation supervisor. The dissertation should contain a large degree of original work and allow you to demonstrate in depth the skills and knowledge you have acquired on the MSc. The dissertation should be around 15000 words in length. You will be expected to show competence for independent work and to demonstrate a clear definition of the problem or subject area to be studied and the formulation and expression of a logical, workable solution.

We will endeavour to make all course options available. However, these may be subject to change - see our Student Terms and Conditions page.

Fee information
Fee category Cost
UK £15,700
Tuition Fees for 2024/25 Academic Year Students are also required to pay a CFA registration and exam fee, which is not included in the tuition fee. CFA regulations require students to pay this directly to CFA. CFA fees are available at this website, and will change each year. https://www.cfainstitute.org/programs/cfa/exam/fees
EU / International students £26,250
Tuition Fees for 2025/26 Academic Year Students are also required to pay a CFA registration and exam fee, which is not included in the tuition fee. CFA regulations require students to pay this directly to CFA. CFA fees are available at this website, and will change each year. https://www.cfainstitute.org/programs/cfa-program#fees-calendar

Fee Information

There may be additional costs for field trips such as the Asian Cities tour, students doing these options must note that they are responsible for their own travel and accommodation expenses in addition to tuition fees. All fees are subject to annual review.

Additional Fee Information

  • In exceptional circumstances there may be additional fees associated with specialist courses, for example field trips. Any additional fees for a course can be found in our Catalogue of Courses.
  • For more information about tuition fees for this programme, including payment plans and our refund policy, please visit our Tuition Fees page.

Funding Opportunities

The University of Aberdeen provides an Alumni Discount Scheme:

The University of Aberdeen is very pleased to offer a 20% discount on postgraduate tuition fees for all alumni who have graduated with a degree from the University of Aberdeen. More Information can be found here.

Scholarships

Self-funded international students enrolling on postgraduate taught (PGT) programmes will receive one of our Aberdeen Global Scholarships, ranging from £3,000 to £8,000, depending on your domicile country. Learn more about the Aberdeen Global Scholarships here.

To see our full range of scholarships, visit our Funding Database.

How You'll Study

The programme assesses the competency and skills that you’ll need in the financial and real estate world in a number of ways. You’ll give individual and group presentations, prepare reports, write academic essays, sit traditional exams, and complete a dissertation. Or you can choose to travel to Asia and study property investment and development case studies, instead of doing a dissertation.

Learning Methods

  • Field Trips
  • Group Projects
  • Individual Projects
  • Lectures
  • Research
  • Seminars
  • Tutorials

Assessment Methods

By course work, group work, presentations, by written examination or by a combination of those, as prescribed for each course.

Why Study Finance and Real Estate (with CFA Level 1 Examination)?

You’ll gain a deep understanding of the latest theoretical thinking, leaving with essential knowledge on the economics of land markets, commercial property valuation and development, portfolio investment and finance. This programme will help you to:

• Gain the practical experience you need to succeed in real estate
• Acquire multi-disciplinary skills in economics, quantitative methods, valuation and finance
• Ranked 4th in the UK for Accounting and Finance in the Guardian University Guide 2025
• Secure the gold standard in finance, the CFA Level 1 qualification
• Gives you the opportunity to study UK, European and Asian property markets
• Enhance your future career with a globally recognised programme

The University of Aberdeen has been ranked 3rd in the UK, 4th in Europe and 19th in the world for its real estate research (EduRank 2024).

Entry Requirements

Qualifications

The information below is provided as a guide only and does not guarantee entry to the University of Aberdeen.

This programme is open to graduates from any discipline, and does not require business or management study to be completed at undergraduate level.

Our minimum entry requirement for this programme is a degree at 2:2 (lower second class) UK Honours level (or a degree from a non-UK institution which is judged by the University to be of equivalent worth).

Please enter your country to view country-specific entry requirements.

English Language Requirements

To study for a Postgraduate Taught degree at the University of Aberdeen it is essential that you can speak, understand, read, and write English fluently. The minimum requirements for this degree are as follows:

IELTS Academic:

OVERALL - 6.5 with: Listening - 5.5; Reading - 6.0; Speaking - 5.5; Writing - 6.0

TOEFL iBT:

OVERALL - 90 with: Listening - 17; Reading - 21; Speaking - 20; Writing - 21

PTE Academic:

OVERALL - 62 with: Listening - 59; Reading - 59; Speaking - 59; Writing - 59

Cambridge English B2 First, C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency:

OVERALL - 176 with: Listening - 162; Reading - 169; Speaking - 162; Writing - 169

Read more about specific English Language requirements here.

Document Requirements

You will be required to supply the following documentation with your application as proof you meet the entry requirements of this degree programme. If you have not yet completed your current programme of study, then you can still apply and you can provide your Degree Certificate at a later date.

Degree Transcript
a full transcript showing all the subjects you studied and the marks you have achieved in your degree(s) (original & official English translation)
Personal Statement
a detailed personal statement explaining your motivation for this particular programme

Aberdeen Global Scholarship

Eligible self-funded postgraduate taught (PGT) students will receive the Aberdeen Global Scholarship. Explore our Global Scholarships, including eligibility details, on our dedicated page.

Aberdeen Global Scholarships

Careers

This programme provides a credible platform for both finance and real estate career options – preparing your for rewarding posts in real estate finance or real estate portfolio management. Our graduates are employed in a wide range of professional organisations across real estate, finance, consultancy, research and the public sector.

Industry Links

The Real Estate Group has strong links with the profession with practitioners regularly involved in workshops and field trips

Accreditation

Accreditation and world-wide recognition from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) allows graduates to proceed to the RICS Assessment of Professional Competence (APC).

This degree is also recognised by the well-respected Investment Property Forum (IPF). All of which gives you strong advantages in the jobs market.

The Business School is EQUIS accredited, placing it among a select group of globally recognised institutions. Out of over 15,000 business schools worldwide, only around 200 schools across 45 countries have attained this distinction.

This degree holds accreditation from

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RICS and CFA Accreditation

Study two complementary disciplines offering both RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) accreditation and the leading professional finance qualification, CFA level 1, during the course.

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Graduate Outcomes Survey 2024

Our results speak for themselves with 97.9% of graduates from the University of Aberdeen Business School in employment or further study 15 months after graduation (Graduate Outcomes Survey 2024)

What our Alumni Say

Kristoff Kunst

Kristoff Kunst

Kristoff Kunst

Job Details
Consultant - Advisory Transactions: Valuation & Strategy
Graduated 2016

I'm confident that my studies at the University of Aberdeen Business School helped me in having such a successful start to my career and enabled me to think outside the box and achieve a higher quality outcome for my company and our clients.

Our Experts

Programme Leader
Fiona Stoddard, The University of Aberdeen

Information About Staff Changes

You will be taught by a range of experts including professors, lecturers, teaching fellows and postgraduate tutors. However, these may be subject to change - see our Student Terms and Conditions page.

World Class Facilities

  • 24 hour access to our online Learning Support provided via our Virtual Learning environment MyAberdeen
  • Membership of the University Library, learning materials including access to core text book
  • The Business School is home to the biggest societies on campus including the Economics and Business Society, InternNetwork, Aberdeen University Consulting Group, the Trading and Investment Club, AIESEC, and the Fintech and Blockchain Club.
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Sir Duncan Rice Library

Sir Duncan Rice Library

The University’s award winning Sir Duncan Rice Library is listed in the “Top 20 spellbinding University libraries in the World”. It contains over a million volumes, more than 300,000 e-books and 21,000 journals.

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Get in Touch

Contact Details

Address
Business School
University of Aberdeen
MacRobert Building
King Street
Aberdeen
AB24 3FX