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MA/PgDip
Housing Studies

Location
Southwark

Duration
2 or 3 years (part-time)

Start date
September

Number of places
20

Simple timetable info
1 day per week (part-time)

LSBU code
Part-time: 1394

Course contacts
For admissions form and general queries:
John Lindley
Admissions Officer
lindleja@lsbu.ac.uk – 020 7815 6120

For academic enquiries:
Diane Paice

Course Director
Paiced@lsbu.ac.uk – 020 7815 7352

Non-standard entry requirements
Non-graduates or non-cognate graduates will be considered if they have substantial experience at a senior level in a housing or housing-related organisation. They will be interviewed by the Course Director on application.

Course units
All units are core units.

Year 1

– The New Housing Professional (double unit)

– Comparative Housing and European Study Visit

– The Reflective Practitioner

Year 2

– Housing Economics and Finance

– New Directions in Housing Policy

– Neighbourhood Management and Renewal

– Housing and Urban Development

Year 3

– Dissertation


Course description

The PgDip consists of seven Masters level units over two years part-time study. Six of these units have credits of 15 CATS points and one is a double unit of 30 CATS points, delivered over two semesters. This unit, The New Housing Professional, has three parts worth ten CATS points each.

In Year One the three units concentrate on housing policy and the changing role of the New Housing Professional, the development of research skills is explored through the unit The Reflective Practitioner, and a Comparative Housing unit. This is explored more fully on a European study visit to the Netherlands.

In Year Two students take another four units which explore Housing Economics and Finance, Housing and Urban Development processes, New Directions in Housing Policy, and Neighbourhood Management and Renewal (which includes a residential field study visit within the UK).

The MA element, in Year Three consists of the submission of a 20,000 word dissertation. Students are expected to attend a series of three research workshops (as well as individual supervision) designed to provide tutor group support through discussion and directed reading and progress reports by individual students.
Career opportunities

As this is a part-time course, our students are usually already working in housing organisations. As well as achieving promotion within their own organisations, graduates have gone on to work for organisations including: Central Government and the Housing Corporation, the Audit Commission (as part of the Housing Inspectorate), the Housing Ombudsman Service and Chief Executive of a New Deal for Communities partnership (NDC).

Typical background of applicant

Typically at officer or middle management level wishing to consolidate their professional experience with structured learning through the course, in order to advance within their profession, and take on a more strategic policy and management role.

Professional contacts/industry links

The course is accredited as fulfilling the academic requirements for the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) and the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors. Our students can register
as student members and go on to become full members after completion of the Institutes’ professional experience requirements. Students applying for full membership of the CIH must have work experience in a housing-related field.

Recent guest lecturers

– Bob Brett, Housing Consultantand formerly Director of Housing, Tower Hamlets and Islington

– Aidan Oswell, Director, Tyne and Wear Housing Partnership

– Niall Bolger, Director of Urban Environment and Planning, London Borough of Haringey

– Symon Sentain, Chief Executive, The Bridge NDC