91Pro

Course overview

This course is also available to start in January 2025. 

The MProf REALM (Rural Estate and Land Management) course provides a first step on the route to qualification as a chartered surveyor. All prospective chartered surveyors must complete the Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) offered by RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors), and the programme provides the academic foundation for candidates wishing to pursue the rural APC.

Modules cover the main areas required for professional practice, in particular providing the necessary legal foundations for practice, and covering the all-important areas of the UK planning system, land tenure, rural valuation, primary production in agriculture and forestry, countryside and environmental management. A wide choice of modules means that you can tailor the programme to your own requirements.

The Chartered Surveyor (Rural) degree apprenticeship MProf route gives graduates and mature students the opportunity to make their first step into the Chartered Surveyor profession.  The apprenticeship allows you to work towards your APC whilst studying relevant modules and working within the industry.

Feedback from students shows that the intensive modular structure is well-received, along with the practical slant of many of the assignments. This is underpinned by the professional standing of many of the tutors, who are active with the profession at the highest levels nationally and act as Assessors for the APC.

How will it benefit me?

The MProf will enable you to analyse a range of stakeholder interests and their influence, generally and site specifically, in rural land management. You will become competent in a range of techniques for rural land management and appraisal, be able to appraise the value and worth of rural land and review the role of property in organisations.

Apprentices also become skilled at evaluating and exploiting the latest developments in technology and developing performance indicators in rural estate management and strategy. You will learn to formulate land management strategies which meet objectives for sustainable management while taking into account legislature, regulations, ethics and morals, the environment, amenities and commercial needs.

You will also learn to evaluate how previously implemented land management strategies have achieved their objectives, and adapt them to new requirements within an evolving economic, social, legal and political framework, with due regard to developments in sustainable development and biodiversity. You will become competent in professional methodologies used by chartered surveyors to manage and appraise rural land and property.

End Point Assessment (EPA)

Each apprenticeship works towards an independent End Point Assessment where the apprentice will be assessed to see if they have achieved and can demonstrate the knowledge, skills and behaviours required in their occupational role.

Preparation for the End-Point Assessment process will be tailored to the apprenticeship and will begin in the final year of studies. Successful completion of EPA will lead to the award of the qualification (where applicable) and the apprenticeship certificate. End Point assessment typically involves submitting a work-based project and professional discussion to confirm competence but will vary for each apprenticeship. The course leader will provide more information about your programme requirements. 

Block-based study

Modules are largely delivered in one-week blocks on campus, with a small number of modules having an increased online presence and fewer days on campus. You will know in advance which weeks require physical attendance as they’ll be scheduled on the timetable. In addition to this, you will be required to allocate time within the workplace to complete the assignments associated with each of the modules.

Careers

Employment prospects in rural practice are good. Apprentices will be employed in a wide range of jobs on rural estates and with local and national firms of rural surveyors and agricultural valuers. 

Accreditation