The Complete Guide to Studying Real Estate Management in Malaysia
Interested in studying real estate management in Malaysia? Discover the programme, its entry requirements and more in this comprehensive guide.
Did you know that many of the world’s richest individuals are involved in real estate in one way or another? Property and real estate have become a popular form of investment over the last few decades, with a number of wealthy Malaysians making lucrative gains.
That aside, there will come a time where many of us (if not all) will come to face a life-changing decision of buying a property – either for a living or as an investment.
If you are interested in gaining deep insights into the property market, a Real Estate Management course may be one to consider!
Read on to find out more about what to expect from studying Real Estate Management in Malaysia and determine if this is the right course for you.
Universiti Malaya-Wales (UM-Wales)
Bachelor of Real Estate Management & Auction (Hons)
✓Only institute in Malaysia that incorporates real estate auction in its syllabus, allowing you to pursue a career as an Auctioneer
#1. The Basics of Real Estate Management
a) What Is Real Estate Management?
Broadly, Real Estate Management, or sometimes known as Property Management, is about managing land and real estate, typically covering both commercial property (offices, factories, shopping malls, etc.) and residential property (houses, condos, apartments, etc.).
The real estate market is relatively large, given the fact that every individual requires a place to live, work, study or unwind.
Not to mention, a property can be a large expense for many parties concerned. A property developer needs to plan out a development project, comply with property law and manage the construction, while a potential buyer needs to assess the value of the property and figure out if it is a worthwhile investment.
A Real Estate Management course will equip you with the relevant professional and practical skills related to the property industry while providing you with crucial business skills.
This course will pave the way for a number of career options, such as real estate agent, real estate valuer and property fund manager, just to name a few.
DID YOU KNOW
Property Management courses are generally the same as Real Estate Management courses. Both terms - property and real estate - can be used interchangeably as they both point to the same definition.
#2. Studying a Real Estate Management Course
a) Entry Requirements & Qualifications
You will need to meet the minimum entry requirements set by the colleges / universities in order to take up a Real Estate Management course.
(i) Diploma in Estate Management
The entry requirements for a Diploma in Real Estate Management are:
- SPM / O-Level: Minimum 3 credits including Mathematics and a pass in 2 other subjects.
A Diploma in Real Estate Management is generally 2.5 years long, where you will be prepped with all the essential knowledge about property management and real estate agency practices.
You can choose to start work immediately as a Real Estate Agent after completing your Diploma studies. To do this, you’ll need to pass Part I & II of the Written Estate Agents Examination and then apply for a Probationary Estate Agency License from The Board of Valuers, Appraisers, Estate Agents and Property Managers Malaysia (BOVAEAP). After working for 2 years under the supervision of a Registered Property Agent and passing the Test of Professional Competence, you will be eligible to become a Registered Property Agent and open your real estate agency.
Alternatively, you can continue with your Degree studies, automatically entering 2nd year of a Degree in Real Estate Management.
(ii) Degree in Real Estate Management
In order to pursue a Real Estate Management Degree, you will be required to have completed your SPM or equivalent, AND completed a Pre-University or a Foundation course.
In general, the entry requirements that you need to meet in your Pre-University or Foundation programmes are:
- A-Level: Minimum 2Ds
- STPM: Minimum 2Cs or CGPA 2.00
- Diploma: Minimum CGPA of 2.00
- Foundation in Science, Arts or Built Environment: Minimum CGPA of 2.00
In addition, you also need to have a credit in Mathematics at SPM level or equivalent.
A Degree in Real Estate Management is usually 3 – 3.5 years long. Some universities may require you to participate in industrial training / internship in order to complement your theoretical education in this field of study.
Important Note: Certain universities may have higher entry requirements, so it’s best that you do your research.
To pursue a professional career as a property agent or valuer, it is important to take a course that is recognised by BOVAEAP. Otherwise, you may not be able to practise professionally.
b) How Does Your Education Pathway Look Like?
Upon completion of your SPM or an equivalent qualification, you will have a choice to pursue a Pre-University programme (such as, A-Level, STPM, etc.) or a Foundation course (Arts or Science). Alternatively, you can also choose to take up Diploma in Estate Management.
Completing one of the courses above will allow you to progress to a Degree in Real Estate Management. From there, there are two career pathways that you can choose.
(i) Real Estate Agent
Completing a diploma or degree recognised by BOVAEAP will enable you to register as a Probationary Real Estate Agent. To do so, you’ll need to pass Part I & II of the Written Estate Agents Examination. Subsequently, you must gain at least 2 years of working experience under the supervision of a Registered Property Agent and sit for the oral examination (Test of Professional Competence or TPC). Only upon passing the TPC will you qualify to be a Registered Real Estate Agent.
(ii) Real Estate Valuer
Graduates with a recognised Degree will be able to register as a Probationary Real Estate Valuer. Upon registration, you will need to gain at least 2 years of working experience under the supervision of a Registered Property Valuer and pass the Test of Professional Competence (Valuer).
Upon meeting these requirements, you can proceed to register as a Registered Property Valuer and practise as a property valuer.
Universiti Malaya-Wales (UM-Wales)
Foundation in Arts
✓Focused streams that will give you more exposure to your area of interest
c) What Will You Study in Real Estate Management?
In general, you will study a multitude of subjects that will help you engage in valuation, planning and development, managing, acquiring and selling of properties. You will be exposed to the basics of business management, economics, law and other property-related subjects.
Here are some of the essential subjects that you will learn in a Real Estate Management course:
- Investment Valuation
- Property Management
- Land Economics
- Statutory Valuation
- Property Law
- Town and Country Planning
- Real Estate Agency
- Principles of Accounting
d) Cost of Studying Real Estate Management in Malaysia
The estimated cost to study for a Diploma in Real Estate Management is between RM20,000 to RM35,000.
However, the total estimated fees to study for a Real Estate Management degree may range from RM40,000 to RM125,000.
#3. Why Should You Study Real Estate Management?
Whether it’s because you have a keen interest in the real estate industry, or because you find fulfilment in helping someone find their dream home, here are some reasons why you should take up a course in Real Estate Management.
(a) You have an interest in the property sector
Why does the value of certain properties climb year after year, while others stay stagnant for decades? How does location and accessibility influence the price of a building? What makes this property a better investment than that one which is located a couple of streets away?
If these are some of the questions that you’ve always had, and if you want to learn how to make smart judgements, negotiate deals and make better investment decisions related to property, Real Estate Management might be the right course for you.
(b) You want a job that doesn’t tie you to an office desk
Whether you’re a real estate agent, a valuer or a property fund manager, being in the property industry will allow you to break free from the strict confines of an office cubicle. You will be expected to go on-site and visit property premises to understand more about a property and its surroundings so that you can advise your clients accordingly.
If the thought of a desk-bound job makes you yawn, this course should be up for consideration!
(c) You like talking and dealing with people
Part and parcel of being in the real estate industry is meeting people. As a realtor, you will be acting as the middle person between buyers and sellers to make sure a transaction goes through. Property fund managers will find themselves speaking to various parties involved in a property, from developers and regulators to building maintenance and tenants.
From making connections and building relationships to finding the best property deal, Real Estate Management is great if you like meeting people.
#4. What Skills Do You Need for a Real Estate Management Course?
Requiring more than just common sense, Real Estate Management can be a challenging course. Below are some of the skills you may need to excel in this field of study.
Universiti Malaya-Wales (UM-Wales)
Bachelor of Real Estate Management & Auction (Hons)
✓Only institute in Malaysia that incorporates real estate auction in its syllabus, allowing you to pursue a career as an Auctioneer
(a) Ability to communicate effectively
As part of a Real Estate Management course, you will find yourself having to create reports and give presentations on your findings. Therefore, learning how to get your points across in a clear and concise manner is important, not just for your grades but for work later on too!
Clients and investors will seek your professional views and opinions about the real estate market, and having the ability to communicate effectively could land you lucrative deals for work.
(b) Adaptable and self-driven
In addition to gaining insights about the property industry, you will also be learning a broad range of interrelated subjects, including business, finance, law and market research. Being versatile and learning to apply all this knowledge spanning multiple fields will help you excel in this course.
This will serve you well when you enter the workforce, as you will need to constantly keep yourself updated with the latest trends, as well as changes in government regulation (a regular occurrence in the property sector) and how it may impact your clients and investors.
(c) Ability to think critically and perform independent research
Studying Real Estate Management will test your critical thinking skills. After all, many property dealings are business transactions, and in the world of business, the answers are never clear cut. You'll need to be able to analyse and evaluate information critically to make sound decisions, taking into consideration various factors such as legal, economic and planning variables.
From understanding how the economy and government policy influences the property market to developing strategies for a property investment portfolio, these are just some of the areas that will require you to flex those mental muscles.
Don’t worry if you have not mastered these skills yet. Pursuing Real Estate Management can help you hone these skills for a successful career in the property industry. Just make sure you're prepared for the unrelenting demands & challenges of a Property Management course!
#5. What Career Options Do You Have with a Real Estate Management Degree?
Upon completion of your Real Estate Management degree, you can generally build your career in construction, property consultancy, property investment or property research firms.
Here are some of the career options that are highly-linked with your qualification in Property Management.
- Real Estate Agent
- Real Estate Investment Agent
- Real Estate Valuer
- Property Consultant
- Property Fund Manager
- Property Marketer
- Project Coordinator
- Property Inspection Officer
- Land Economist
Apart from these, you can also seek career opportunities in other industries, such as in banking firms, fund & asset management companies, statutory boards and even oil & gas companies!
#6. Where Can You Study Real Estate Management in Malaysia?
Here are some of the most popular universities for Real Estate Management in Malaysia.
Universiti Malaya-Wales (UM-Wales)
Kuala Lumpur Campus, Kuala Lumpur
Bachelor of Real Estate Management & Auction (Hons)
Intake
Feb, Jul, Sep
Tuition Fees
RM51,240
Fees indicated include a fee waiver of RM2,000 that is available for all EduAdvisor students enrolling in this programme. T&C applies. Contact us to find out more.
View other institutions
Where else can you study Real Estate Management in Malaysia? Check out our comparison table for Real Estate Management degrees! You can also compare institutions for Foundation in Science and Foundation in Arts.
