This specialisation prepares you for a career in real estate – a sector with strong demand for skilled professionals. Although real estate markets are global, local differences remain profound. That’s why this programme combines financial, economic, and spatial perspectives to give you a complete understanding of real estate dynamics. The specialisation in Real Estate and Housing Economics also teaches you how to analyse large (spatial) datasets. What makes this programme unique is that it combines real estate and housing economics with courses in urban and regional economics—which is highly relevant given that the core principle of real estate is that ‘location, location, location’ drives real estate values.
- In Period 1 (Sep–Oct), you’ll take foundational courses in Microeconomics and Econometrics. These courses equip you with the theoretical and empirical tools needed for advanced economic analysis.
- In Periods 2 and 4 (Nov–March), you’ll take a set of core courses that focus on the economic dimensions of real estate and housing. Housing Economics and Finance explores how housing markets function and the role of finance within them. Real Estate Finance and Investment covers investment strategies, property valuation, and financial instruments. Regional and Urban Economics examines how spatial factors and urban dynamics influence economic outcomes and property values. A recommended technical course is Geographical Information Systems (GIS), which trains you to interpret building-level spatial data and conduct spatial analysis.
- Throughout the year, you can choose electives that align with your interests — for example, in environmental economics or transport economics.
- The specialisation places strong emphasis on applied work, (geographical) data analysis, and policy evaluation.
- In Periods 5 and 6 (Apr–Jun), you’ll write your master's thesis, with close supervision from a lecturer. This is your opportunity to conduct original research on a topic of your choice, often in combination with an internship at an external organisation or research institute.
The start date of this programme is September 1st.