How to get into property and real estate

Author
Daniel Higginbotham, Senior editor
Posted
September, 2025
View all property and construction jobs

The UK property sector is full of possibilities for students and graduates ready to make an impact. From guiding people to their dream homes, to managing commercial developments or shaping the cities of tomorrow - there's a career path for every ambition

The UK property sector at a glance

  • Over 12 million people work in the UK property sector.
  • The property management industry employs 346,000 people and is worth 拢33billion (IBISWorld 2025).
  • Although a specific property degree isn't required for entry, professional qualifications can aid career progression and boost credibility.
  • Many top property firms also offer apprenticeships and graduate schemes.

What does the property and real estate industry cover?

The sector is responsible for the buying, selling and management of:

  • Commercial property - company offices, hotels, retail stores, and leisure facilities.
  • Industrial spaces - factories, warehouses and data centres.
  • Residential property - homes, new build developments, the private rented sector, and social housing.

Get a full overview of the UK's property and construction industry.

What areas of property can I work in?

  • buying, selling and leasing
  • planning and urban regeneration
  • property and facilities management
  • property investment and funding
  • real estate development
  • surveying and valuation.

What are my employment prospects like?

The property and real estate sector is full of opportunities for graduates with the right combination of education, experience, and enthusiasm.

You have the chance to work in either the private or public sector, and with residential or commercial properties. Whether you're drawn to the commercial side, the technical aspects, or the social impact of housing and planning, there's a pathway for you.

Jobs are available from:

  • estate agencies
  • financial institutions
  • global consultancies
  • housing associations
  • local authorities.

The sector is evolving rapidly, with change being driven by:

  • Digital innovation - through technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality, e.g. virtual property tours and 3D models for immersive experiences. Consider how to get a job in AI.
  • Smart cities - where digital solutions are used to improve the lives of residents and businesses, e.g. adaptive street lighting in Manchester, smart grids, and the use of renewable energy in Bristol.
  • Sustainability - urban development in London is focused on becoming a net-zero city by 2030. Read more about sustainable careers.

What career paths and job roles are available?

You could get an entry-level position as an:

With experience and professional qualifications, you can progress to:

Explore the full range of property and construction jobs.

There are also opportunities for self-employment, particularly in the areas of:

  • estate agency
  • property development
  • property investment.

How can I get into the property and real estate sector?

Professional qualifications

While many construction management roles, such as project managers and town planners, require professional qualifications, this is not always the case for those working in property and real estate.

The two main careers that benefit from professional accreditation are surveyors and architects. Achieving chartered status from professional bodies like the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) is important in these fields.

Explore 9 graduate careers for surveyors and how to become an architect.

While the flexible qualifications from the leading professional body for property agents, Propertymark (formerly the National Association of Estate Agents), may not be essential, these two certificates can help you stand out from the competition and progress your career:

  • Level 3 Certificate in Property Agency - a 12-month distance learning qualification for property professionals working in sales, lettings and commercial.
  • Level 4 Certificate in Property Agency Management - a 24-month distance learning programme for estate agents looking to effectively manage a property business by building key leadership skills in auctions, commercial, lettings and sales.

The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) is a membership organisation for housing professionals that offers a range of qualifications from Levels 2 to 5 for those new to the sector, all the way to housing managers, including:

  • CIH Level 2 Award in Letting and Managing Residential Property
  • CIH Level 3 Certificate in Housing Practice
  • CIH Level 4 Certificate in Housing
  • CIH Level 5 Diploma in Housing.

In addition to gaining relevant qualifications, the continuing professional development (CPD) courses available from these organisations are essential for career progression in this sector. Discover CPD opportunities for graduates.

University degrees

While an undergraduate qualification isn't essential for becoming an estate agent, a degree in one of the following disciplines would certainly increase your chances of securing a job:

For example, the three-year, full-time BSc Planning and Real Estate at The University of Manchester would set you up for entering this competitive industry.

The course is accredited by RICS and is partially accredited by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) in a city experiencing fast-paced urban development and thriving real-estate markets.

To be accepted onto the programme, you'll need to achieve ABB at A-level and grade 4/C in GCSE English language and mathematics.

Once you've completed a degree, you could look to join a property or real estate graduate scheme offered by major companies such as:

Postgraduate study

If you studied an unrelated Bachelors degree and are interested in property and real estate conversion courses and specialist postgraduate programmes, consider these RICS-accredited Masters degrees:

To be eligible for most of these courses, you'll require a 2:2 or above in any subject.

Other postgraduate options include:

  • MSc Environmental Planning
  • MSc Heritage Conservation
  • MSc Urban Planning
  • an MBA with a property focus.

Real estate apprenticeships

Apprenticeships in surveying and estate agency are available from Level 2 (intermediate) to Level 6 (degree), depending on what stage you're at in your career. These offer a practical route into the industry, allowing you to earn a salary while gaining a relevant qualification.

For instance, if you don't have any formal qualifications or have recently left school, the government-approved Level 2 Junior Estate Agent Apprenticeship, which is equivalent to achieving five GCSEs at grades 9 to 4, is the perfect introduction to the industry. Explore your post-16 options.

At the other end of the scale, the Level 6 Chartered Surveyor Apprenticeship is aimed at 18 to 19-year-old school and college leavers with A-levels (or equivalent) who want to reach the professional standard for surveyors.

Here is a selection of leading employers that run dedicated property and estate management programmes:

  • Barratt Redrow - this residential property development firm offers higher and degree apprenticeships in real estate, with salaries of 拢23,500 to 拢26,000 (depending on location and experience). This stream is perfect for those interested in becoming land buyers or land managers. Apprenticeships in quantity surveying are also available.
  • CBRE - this real estate degree apprenticeship provides an opportunity to work in commercial property and gain the professional Chartered Surveyor qualification.
  • Savills - apprentices will work as junior estate agents in residential sales for this prestigious real estate company. It gives you the chance to gain experience of the role by arranging viewings and making site visits to properties.
  • Wates - the property services company advertises higher apprenticeships in a variety of areas, including development management. On this specific programme, you'll work with the Project and Land team to source new land opportunities, while being involved in consultant and stakeholder management and planning.

Get the lowdown on property and construction apprenticeships. You can also consider trade apprenticeships.

Industry work experience

Relevant work experience is crucial for most jobs in this industry. Employers value candidates who understand the commercial and client-facing nature of the work.

Keep an eye out for:

  • Internships and work placements available during your undergraduate or postgraduate degree, e.g. the one to two-week summer internships at Carter Jonas.
  • Part-time jobs in customer service or sales. You can also enquire at local estate agents to see if you can spend a few hours job shadowing someone and get a feel for the role.
  • Volunteering with housing charities or community planning groups.
  • University societies to join related to business, geography, or sustainability.

Entry-level jobs

While it's harder to enter the industry without any relevant qualifications and start from the ground up, you could seek out property and lettings assistant roles by searching job boards and contacting local estate and lettings agencies directly.

Property and real estate jobs are regularly advertised at:

What skills do property and real estate employers look for?

  • analytical thinking and attention to detail
  • commercial awareness and client care
  • IT proficiency, including Excel, GIS (Geographic Information Systems), and property databases
  • project and time management ability
  • strong communication and negotiation skills.

Discover the 5 skills you'll gain from customer service jobs.

The following soft skills are also highly valued:

  • adaptability
  • resilience
  • teamwork.

Read more about the skills employers want.

Do you have any tips for getting a job in property?

  • Start early - attend career fairs, network with property professionals, and show prospective employers you're keen to work for them by connecting on LinkedIn or social media. Get tips on networking in a digital world.
  • Use your university's careers service - they can help with tailored CVs and cover letters, offer guidance on making job applications, and guide you towards finding the right opportunities.
  • Stay informed - keep up to date with property industry news, building legislation, and current market trends by reading trade articles online, listening to podcasts, and subscribing to newsletters.

Find out more

Written by Daniel Higginbotham, Senior editor

蘑菇视频黄片 · September 2025

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