Advice on Real Estate and rural surveying degree options

[GrumpyMuleFan]

DS is looking at Real Estate degrees. Does anyone have any experience or advice to share? He was v interested in commercial but wants to keep options open as has also realised that he likes the idea of rural surveying /estate management. He’s not that academic, but will be ok with hard work and predicted DD for BTECs and C for an A Level.

He has his top three organised (RICS with sandwich year) but now wants to add two more agricultural courses - Harper Adams and Royal Agricultural University. I know nothing about them apart from google and their reputation - Cirencester’s is a bit daunting. It seems very small and I wonder if the stereotype is true. It really threw me as I couldn’t see the appeal. Harper Adams seems much more down to earth?

How much does calibre of university count? He’s going well on work experience and I think that will continue as he’s been asked back to two places. Does it matter if the course is broad - as long as RICS?

If he wants to achieve chartered surveyor status, the RICS is the most important thing. Harper Adams has been teaching in this area for 40-odd years and is considered a leader in the rural surveying field. The real estate course is newer but the principles are the same and the RICS accreditation is there. The way their courses are structured and with their industry links (you can't turn anywhere in the agricultural and rural industries without meeting an ex-Harper student, they are everywhere!) mean they always rate highly for graduate employment. Have you been to a Harper Adams open day? I went a couple of years ago and the course team (REALMies) as they are known, spent loads of time with DD, explaining everything. The campus is lovely, too. Everyone was very friendly.

Thank you @mamtorhymewithjam that is really helpful info. I think we will def go to an open day but unfortunately can't go before his form needs to be in. I really like the sound of their graduates being everywhere - very useful! Also the employability side as that is my main worry... Thanks so much for replying. Hope your DD is getting on well. 🌺

You can submit the form with only a couple of courses and add others later. As long as they are all in before the equal consideration deadline, it makes no difference (excluding early application courses/unis).

Thank you Seeline, I didn't know that. V useful as it's a busy autumn with lots on!

I can second Harper Adams. It has been ranked as the safest Uni in the UK on one study I saw. It's very well thought of and is full of the Young Farmers set, so great socially and for networking. My DC is there and loves it. They mentioned that the estate management students seem to have a higher than average percentage of the Spotted Schoffel set, which made me laugh.

Agree Harper Adams and RAU best if he’s set on rural. Maybe do the Real Estate if he wants to be open to commercial? Mine went to Northumbria to keep options open and loved it as wanted to go more residential/ commercial. Can I just say THE most important thing is work
experience. Very relational industry and I would strongly recommend most holidays whilst at uni getting a few days or a weeks work experience in estate agents/ land agents/ on estates. Mine also worked in a busy estate agent whilst at uni doing viewings. Ended up getting an unadvertised job post graduation due to work experience. Fab degree!
Oxford Brookes also does it. Can put 5 on UCAS form and look at them post offers before he has to decide.

@Supportbritishfarmers that made me laugh - he is surgically attached to his imitation-Scoffel and I suspect would dearly love to be part of the set!

Great to hear two really positive experiences of HA. We’re def going to an open day.

We are not farmers - his step brother is and my extended family used to be dairy farmers (but are retiring and selling). His older step-brother did really well at his local agricultural college at 16 and is thriving in his career - but he grew up on a farm and has so much cultural-capital in that world. He doesn’t really appreciate all that yet, but if it’s the career he wants, it sounds like a really supportive environment. I was v taken by their compulsory sandwich year and the networks they have to support that.

Thank you so much for all the advice and intel.

@Elderflower2016 that’s v interesting as Northumbria is in his top 3 as it does cover both and as also much closer to us geographically.

So pleased to hear that your dc has got a great job - huge congrats. Also about the work experience and part-time work. This is exactly what my DS would love to do as really enjoys working and feels the more experience/networking he can do the better.

Can I pick your brain a bit more? What do Northumbria students go on and do? Is it a genuine mix of commercial/residential/rural? How easy did they find it to get a placement year? Also, do you know anything about support for dyslexic learners?

His other choices are Leeds Beckett and Sheffield Hallam.

Mine went to the RAU but totally different subject so I can't comment on the course. He is ND and was supported well there (also had DSA), loved the town and area (he is a very outdoors, countryside person and didn't want a big city uni). He said the student population was somewhat divided into two halves, the very MC background, Conservative, rugby, farming, pro-hunting types etc and the quieter, more left-leaning ecology types but it is on the whole a very MC uni. Prince Edward's son is about to start there. Everyone seemed to find their tribe, he made good friends there. From following their social media for several years it seems to me that it has strong ties with many of the industries associated with it's courses, really encourages entrepreneurship and actively partners with other similar institutions for research etc. They have recently obtained planning permission for a large land-based innovation village..

From what I remember I dont think Northumbria has that much teaching on rural, more commercial and residential. However a lot of farm kids doing the course and I think you can tailor your essays/ case studies/ work experience for what you’re interested in. But being RICS they want to make sure all the bases are covered.
Not many managed to get placement year so most carried on with third year and did work exp/ jobs over the holidays. This hasn’t impacted getting jobs post grad.
All my child’s friends have got jobs since graduating this summer in related industries. There’s lots of “grad schemes” but these are v competitive eg bidwells, Savills, strutt and Parker but more likely to get work with the local
companies doing the same thing.
She got her uni job through agents contacting the uni as they employ students every year.
Good dyslexia support- get DSA and it’s smooth sailing. Newcastle fab uni town- they all live in Jesmond for 2nd/3rd yr and all mixed with Newc Uni.
So a positive experience for us.

My son Is doing a degree apprenticeship with Bidwells and goes to Harper Adams one week a month. He loves it.

Harper Adam’s is definitely highly regarded & been around for many many years.
The Environment Agency take on apprenticeship graduate surveyors and support them through the APC a friend of friends kid did it. Also Forestry commission have a network of Land Agents.