Robert Leslie - MSc Property Development

I’ve worked in sales and I’ve been a teacher, but after realising that neither of these were something I wanted to do for the rest of my life, I decided that gaining a new qualification was the solution.

I chose the Master's course in Property Development after spending time doing up my own property and helping friends with theirs. It got me thinking about what it would involve doing it on a larger scale as a career. Some friends of mine were already studying at Portsmouth and looking through a copy of the prospectus I found exactly what I was looking for.

It’s a full-time course but I’ve managed to fit in my studies around part-time work and it’s working out really well. I’ve enjoyed the mixture of lectures, seminars and a number of excellent sessions by visiting lecturers from different areas of the industry which have brought the real world into the classroom.

You learn that decision-making and problem-solving are just as important as developing the practical skills needed for a job involving project planning, setting objectives and advising clients etc.

We study valuation and property law amongst other things and there’s an opportunity to specialise in one particular area such as building surveying or valuation of properties or development schemes. You’re given the toolbox of skills necessary to operate as a professional surveyor.

The course is one of the few in the country intended for people who want to become chartered surveyors as it’s professionally accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), which means it’s recognised by the industry.

This year I’ve realised that it’s possible to leave a job behind and start a brand new career in a completely different profession. I’m job hunting now while I finish my dissertation and I’m looking forward to securing my first position and getting stuck in!