Heriot-Watt University

MSc Spatial Planning and Real Estate Development

Heriot-Watt UniversityEdinburgh, United Kingdom

Course overview

The MSc Spatial Planning and Real Estate Development course at Heriot-Watt University is designed to give students the key knowledge and skills needed to work as a development surveyor or planner. It deals with the many detailed parts of property development, covering important areas such as how money works in property, how to value property, planning rules, relevant laws, and ideas about sustainability. The course aims to make sure that the skills students learn meet the requirements of top professional groups in the industry, preparing them well for jobs in both public and private organisations.

Students learn through a mix of structured lessons, interactive group discussions, and practical tasks. This ensures they gain a full understanding of the subjects. Their progress is checked using examinations, coursework, and a major individual project. This allows students to use their knowledge and build important research abilities.

Key highlights

  • Ranked 1st in the UK for Building (Good University Guide 2026)
  • Top 200 worldwide for Architecture and Built Environment (2026 subject rankings)

Entry requirements

  • Degree: 2:2 — to include any academic subject; or above

Scholarships

  • Alumni Discount Scheme

    A 20% discount is applicable to postgraduate taught courses across all of our global campuses.

    Up to 20% of fees

  • Coaching Scholarships Programme

    Varies – up to a 100% Tuition fee Reduction (dependent on experience and number of coaching hours across the year).

  • Heriot-Watt Actuarial Scholarship For Academic Excellence

    The Heriot-Watt Actuarial Scholarship For Academic Excellence awards the successful recipient(s) with a 20% reduction on their tuition fees.

    Up to 20% of fees

  • Remission of Fees (Families of Staff)

    Please contact the provider.

  • Staff Scholarships

    Please contact the provider

  • The Brodie Family Scholarship (PGT)

    The Brodie Family Scholarship provides financial support of £2,500 per year (or £2,000 per year for students enrolled in a five-year programme) to four undergraduate students.

  • The Island Scholarship Programme - Orkney Campus (UK) (International)

  • The New Dawn Energy Scholarship

    The New Dawn Energy Scholarship provides £1900 towards living costs to two students enrolling on our MSc in Petroleum Engineering in September 2026.

    Up to £1,900

Careers this course leads to

  • Town planner
  • Planning consultant
  • Real estate development manager
  • Development surveyor
  • Property investment analyst
  • Regeneration officer

Career opportunities

Graduates of the MSc Spatial Planning and Real Estate Development programme can pursue careers such as:

  • Urban Planner
  • Regeneration Officer
  • Property Consultant
  • Spatial Planning Specialist
  • Real Estate Analyst

Cost of study

For the September 2025/January 2026 intake, the tuition fees for the MSc Spatial Planning and Real Estate Development programme are: £19,816 (full-time), £9,908 (Part-Time)

Admission

Applicants can apply for this course directly through the university's online forms or speak to our trained counsellors always available to help.

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