Housing Policy and Practice BA (Hons)

Year 1

• Housing law
  An introduction to all aspects of housing law and the legal environment in which it operates.The module equips students with basic knowledge and the relevant aspects of housing law and frameworks. It develops an understanding of housing law as created by legislation and case law. It assists students in developing their understanding of the law as it applies to housing issues and serves as the foundation for study of at an advanced level.  Assessment 100% coursework
• Managing finance: budgets & assets
  This module provides an introduction to financial management within social housing organisations. It will equip students in business planning skills including financial management, asset management, information collection and sharing within organisations. Assessed by coursework and multiple-choice exam.
• Housing and the customer
  The module will look at approaches to customer service and examine the use of customer feedback to develop a professional housing service that is responsive to the needs of diverse service users including vulnerable groups. It aims to develop the knowledge, skills and practice that build professional customer service in housing with an emphasis on the needs of diverse groups. Assessment: 100% coursework.
• Organisations
  The module provides an introduction to a range of academic analyses of how organisations and individuals operate and their management. Students are encouraged through theory to consider how organisational knowledge might be used to manage individuals effectively within organisations subject to rapid change. Assessment: 100% coursework.
• Housing history and context
  This module provides an introduction to the history and current context of the UK housing market. The links between housing, Town Planning, the environment and sustainability are explored. Students will be provided with a historical background to the changing nature of the UK housing market and housing policy, tracing the shift from 19th century slum housing and public health concerns through the changing role of the State to the current day. Assessment 100% coursework.
• Reflective portfolio or work placement
  These modules provide the opportunity for learners to apply theory to reflective practice within a housing organisation. Additionally the module will enable learners to understand the role of professionalism and manage their own professional development. Assessment: 100% coursework.

Year 2

• Researching housing policy
  In this module, students will develop their practical research skills by focusing on developing an in-depth understanding of the research design process, data collection and analysis. By engaging in research methods training for the housing profession, students will develop a range of skills in order to be able to undertake research projects. Assessment 100% coursework.
• Housing management and maintenance
  Enables students to critically examine current housing management and maintenance issues affecting housing organisations.  It will develop an understanding of the impact of different approaches to housing management at a local level. Additionally, the range of challenges and problems confronting housing management across different contexts and supported housing will be assessed. Assessment: 100% coursework.
• Housing development
  This module provides the students with an understanding of housing development strategies.  It will start by considering the context for development and it will then look at different housing strategies put forward by UK Governments over the last 20 years, focusing on the most recent ones. Assessment: 100% coursework.
• Society and welfare
  This module provides students with a broad introduction to the variety of social science perspectives on contemporary society, governance and welfare in the UK and how these impact upon the development of policy and practice. Assessment: 100% coursework.
• Comparative housing and sustainability
  This module deals with the housing systems and environmental sustainability policies and practices that are in place in the UK and the Netherlands. These are presented and developed to provide a basis for comparison with contemporary housing, sustainability and urban regeneration in the United Kingdom. Field study skills are developed used in a study visit to The Netherlands. Assessment: 100% coursework.
• Policy development
  This module develops an appreciation of housing policy to the application and evaluation of strategic planning in housing and the impacts of national and local strategies on social and economic environments.  The examples used throughout the module will illustrate the role of housing strategy, the realities and issues confronting housing practitioners and communities in relation to broader social policy. Assessment: 100% coursework.

Year 3

• Housing economics
  Provides the economic and financial background to housing finance as expressed at a national and organisational level and provides an essential underpinning of the framework within which housing organisations operate. Assessment: 100% coursework.
• Advanced housing law (option)
  This module equips students with advanced skills for dealing with housing issues and extends students’ knowledge of housing law. It deals with a range of complex problems by analysing complimentary areas of statutory approaches in relation to homeless people.  There will an emphasis on how recent legislation is developed and interpreted in practice. Assessment: 100% coursework.
• Housing and the Global South (option)
  The aims of this module are to enable students to understand the development and housing sectors of developing countries. This module will prepare students to apply the knowledge and principles acquired on the course in a developing-country setting, and will support students in understanding and planning for their potential role in the sector. Assessment: 100% coursework.
• Dissertation (double module)
  This is an intensive piece of student-devised learning which can include empirical research. Students choose their own research topic which must be in the field of their chosen degree and specialism.
• Contemporary issues in housing
  Examines the changing nature and role of social landlords, the nature of their strategic management and the main features of the operation of social landlords. This will include the necessary organisational responses to the increasingly commercial environment in which they must operate, such as business planning and strategic management. Assessment 100% coursework
• Housing and home
  The module introduces students to understandings of housing and home. The primary focus is upon developments within advanced capitalist societies during the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, however reference is made to other societies and historical contexts where appropriate. The module brings socio-cultural aspects such as home cultures and home consumption together with economic- & planning-related themes such as home ownership, the state and the housing market. Assessment: 100% coursework

This course is aimed at employees working within the housing profession and those who aspire to work in this field. It is specifically designed to enable students to enhance and develop their careers. The knowledge and critical skills provided by the course will enable such professionals to develop their existing roles and equips them for career development to more senior operational and later strategic positions in management, policy, development and research.

There are plenty of opportunities within the profession. Recent graduates from the degree have taken the following roles within the profession:

• Neighbourhood Housing  Management
• Property, Voids and Lettings Management
• Homelessness and Allocation advice and assessment
• Assets Management
• Incomes Management
• Resident Involvement Management
• Supported Housing Management
• Leasehold Management

Upon graduation, students have the opportunity to apply for further study at post graduate level, on our full time or part time programmes – MA Housing Strategy and Leadership or MA Housing and Society.

Employability Service

We are University of the Year for Graduate Employment for the second year in a row - The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2018, 2019.

At LSBU, we want to set you up for a successful career. During your studies – and for two years after you graduate – you’ll have access to our Employability Service, which includes:

• An online board where you can see a wide range of placements: part-time, full-time or voluntary. You can also drop in to see our Job Shop advisers, who are always available to help you take the next step in your search.
• Our Careers Gym offering group workshops on CVs, interview techniques and finding work experience, as well as regular presentations from employers across a range of sectors.

Our Student Enterprise team can also help you start your own business and develop valuable entrepreneurial skills.

BA housing Policy and Practice is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH).

Established in 1916 the Chartered Institute of Housing aims to give everyone working in housing the advice, tools and knowledge they need to be brilliant.

We regularly invite guest speakers in from the statutory and voluntary sectors housing organisations to speak to our undergraduate students. Speakers come from:

• Government departments and agencies
• London Housing Federation
• Chief Executives and Senior Executives from various housing associations.

Placements

Employability is a strong focus within the programme and the Division of Urban, Environment and Leisure Studies. Students have the opportunity to undertake the following modules on the programme:

• Reflective Portfolio offered to students currently employed in the housing industry

or

• Work Placement module offered to students not currently employed the in the housing profession the opportunity to undertake a work placement scheme of 60 hours.

Both the Reflective Portfolio and Work Placement module will provide an opportunity for learners to apply theory to reflective practice within a housing organisation and will enable the housing professional to understand their role within the profession and the expectations for continuing professional development.

The academic team comprises of both academics and practitioners who are actively involved in the industry and leading on housing related research. Committed to delivering research and practice-informed teaching, our team is currently working on a range of areas, including, welfare reform and housing law, housing and property development, and the growing financialisation of housing.

All modules are assessed through a combination of essays, project-based coursework, problem solving exercises/case studies, oral presentations, student-led seminars, individual and group projects, and reflective practice.

I recently graduated from London South Bank University and the whole process has been life changing. Right from the start the teaching staff for the housing course at LSBU set the expected standard and ensured us all that support would be available throughout the course. The teaching styles and teaching methods remained relevant throughout the course and the lectures were always very willing to go through anything the class was unsure of.

Karen Balogun, Former Student

Moodle

University’s Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) strategy seeks to support students’ learning on modules through Moodle, a virtual learning environment (VLE). Students will be able to  access core information concerning modules through Moodle sites for each module.

Skills development

Students are offered continued support during the degree programme, to develop academic writing and referencing, oral presentations, data collection and presentation.

Personal Tutoring

As an undergraduate Law and Social Science student, you will be allocated a named tutor during your first semester at LSBU.  The role of your tutor is to be your primary contact for academic and professional development support.

Your tutor will support you to get the most of your time at LSBU, providing advice and signposting to other sources of support in the University.   They should be the first person at the university that you speak to if you are having any difficulties that are affecting your work. These could be academic, financial, health-related or another type of problem.

You will have appointments with your personal academic tutor at least three times a year for up to 30 minutes throughout your course.  You can contact your tutor for additional support by email.

• A Level BCC (106 UCAS points) or:
• BTEC National Diploma MM or:
• BTEC National Diploma Extended MMM or:
• Access courses – Pass with a minimum of 45 credits at Level 3 (48 UCAS points)
• Applicants must hold 5 GCSEs A-C including Maths and English, or equivalent (reformed GCSEs grade 4 or above)

Mature students (over 21) without the above may be admitted on the basis of relevant voluntary or paid work experience in a housing organisation.

We welcome qualifications from around the world. English language qualifications for international students: IELTS score of 6.0 or Cambridge Proficiency or Advanced Grade C.

International students

International (non Home/EU) applicants should follow our international how to apply guide.

For full-time courses, please send your applications through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) using our code L75. UCAS is the organisation responsible for managing applications to higher education courses in the UK.

For part-time courses, you can apply directly to the University.

For more details on how to apply (full-time and part-time) see our how to apply page.

Accommodation

Once we have made you an offer, you can apply for accommodation. You can rent from LSBU and you’ll deal directly with the university, not third party providers. That means we can guarantee you options to suit all budgets, with clear tenancy agreements and all-inclusive rents that include insurance for your personal belongings, internet access in each bedroom and on-site laundry facilities.

Or, if you’d rather rent privately, we can give you a list of landlords – just ask our Accommodation Service.

Read more about applying for accommodation at LSBU.

Finance

You don't need to wait for a confirmed place on a course to start applying for student finance. Read how to pay your fees as an undergraduate student.

For more information, including how and when to pay, see our fees and funding section for undergraduate students.

Please check your fee status and whether you are considered a Home, EU or International student for fee-paying purposes and for our regulatory returns, by reading the UKCISA regulations.

Possible fee changes

The University reserves the right to increase its fees in line with changes to legislation, regulation and any government guidance or decisions.

The fees for international students are reviewed annually and the University reserves the right to increase the tuition fees in line with the RPIX measure of inflation up to 4 per cent.

Scholarships

We offer several types of fee reduction through our scholarships and bursaries. Find the full list and other useful information on our scholarships page.

• 

  The housing crisis: perspectives from LSBU

  Alumni and staff of LSBU share their views on the housing crisis currently affecting the UK.

• 

  Adding value in the affordable housing sector

  LSBU research investigates how to minimise building costs without compromising on quality.

Applicant events

After you’ve received your offer we’ll send you emails about events we run to help you prepare for your course.

Welcome Week

Before you start your course we’ll send you information on what you’ll need to do before you arrive and during your first few days on campus. You can read about the process on our Welcome Week pages.

Suggested reading list

• Lowe, S. (2011) The Housing Debate, Policy Press: Bristol.