Students develop practical problem-solving skills and gain an in-depth theoretical insight into the national and international housing debate; students learn to: apply knowledge to practical situations; have step-off points at postgraduate certificate and postgraduate diploma levels; they gain academic membership of the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) within 2 years (on completion of the CIH professional practice requirement); the course covers community participation and regeneration issues as well as core housing areas such as finance, development and management.