Applied Built Environment Research URBAN5155

  • Academic Session: 2025-26
  • School: School of Social and Political Sciences
  • Credits: 10
  • Level: Level 5 (SCQF level 11)
  • Typically Offered: Semester 2
  • Available to Visiting Students: Yes
  • Collaborative Online International Learning: No
  • Curriculum For Life: No

Short Description

The course introduces the types of applied research methods used by planners, real estate surveyors and housing professionals working in the built environment sector. It seeks to equip students with the research skills necessary to undertake a Major Project or Dissertation.

Timetable

18 hours of timetabled on-campus teaching in Semester 1 delivered in 3 hourly blocks (1hr lecture + 2hr workshop), once per week, over 6 consecutive weeks.

Requirements of Entry

Mandatory Entry Requirements:

None

 

Recommended Entry Requirements:

None

Excluded Courses

None

Co-requisites

None

Assessment

Major Project Proposal or Dissertation Proposal (100%) (2,500 words) exploring how research is employed in planning and real estate practice and justifying what methods will be used in the conduct of a major project.

 

*Students can elect to complete a Major Project or Dissertation for MSc City Planning, MSc Real Estate and MSc City Planning and Real Estate Development in discussion with their Programme Convenor

Course Aims

The course aims to introduce students to the methods used in built environment practice and research in the city planning, real estate and housing sectors so they can undertake a Major Project or Dissertation. It will enable students to think critically about social science research methodologies, understand how and why different methods are used in built environment practice and research, and support them in developing a research proposal for a Major Project or Dissertation involving qualitative and quantitative data collection and applied analysis.

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

By the end of this course students will be able to:

 

■ Critically evaluate the nature and purpose of applied built environment research in the planning, real estate and housing sectors and analyse the quality and application of research in practice.

■ Understand and apply the discrete characteristics of social science methodological approaches and methods and appreciate the importance of appropriately framing a research problem.

■ Demonstrate and critically assess the research design skills required in the specification and development of a research problem and apply qualitative and quantitative research methods and technniques to a research proposal.

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.

 

Minimum requirement for award of credit for students on MSc City Planning, MSc Real Estate and MSc City Planning and Real Estate Development is D3 or above.

 

University standard regulations apply to students on other qualifications.