Property Development

Property development is the process by which land and buildings are transformed to create new economic and social value. It encompasses site acquisition, planning, finance, design coordination, construction management, and eventual sale or lease, and it requires practitioners who understand both the commercial pressures driving development and the regulatory and technical frameworks within which development takes place. Property development sits within the broader field of real estate, which includes investment, valuation, management, and agency, and a degree in the subject prepares you for a professionally oriented sector with strong long-term employment prospects.

At the University of Portsmouth, this three-year full-time programme is accredited and provides the commercial, managerial, technical, and creative skills needed to launch a career in real estate and property development. It includes a sandwich placement year, a year abroad, and work placement opportunities, giving you substantial professional and international experience alongside the core academic content. The sandwich year places you in a real property or development context, where you develop professional skills and build the networks that matter in this industry.

The year abroad adds an international perspective on real estate markets and development practice. You will study property law, planning and development, construction technology, valuation, finance, marketing, and project management, covering the full cycle from site identification through to completed development.

You will develop the ability to appraise development opportunities, manage risk, work collaboratively across professional disciplines, and understand the economic and regulatory forces that shape what gets built and where.

Graduates from property development programmes pursue careers as development surveyors, project managers, planning consultants, real estate agents, investment analysts, and construction managers. Many pursue professional qualifications through the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. Postgraduate study in real estate, planning, or construction management is also a common next step.