Housing Studies

Housing is one of the most fundamental social and political issues in contemporary Britain. The supply, affordability, quality and management of housing shapes the life chances of individuals and communities in profound ways, influencing health, education, employment and social mobility. Housing Studies is a professional and academic discipline that examines housing policy, markets, management and design from multiple perspectives, including economics, law, planning, sociology and public policy, and it prepares graduates to work in an industry and policy environment of considerable complexity and social significance.

At Leeds Beckett University, this part-time programme develops your understanding of housing markets, policy and management across both the public and private sectors. You will study housing law, property management, urban policy, development finance, planning and community development, engaging with the full breadth of issues that housing professionals encounter in practice. Field trips support your learning and give you direct experience of different urban and cultural environments, and joint fieldwork with students from other universities develops your teamworking, communication and planning skills.

A year abroad is also available, giving you the opportunity to study housing policy and practice in an international context.

Graduates of Housing Studies programmes move into careers in social housing management, housing association work, local government, property development, private sector lettings and management, housing policy, homelessness services, and community regeneration. Many pursue professional qualification through the Chartered Institute of Housing alongside or after their degree, achieving chartered status that supports career progression. The range of organisations that work in housing is wide, spanning the public, private and voluntary sectors, and the skills you develop are relevant across all of them.