Want a qualification but not sure which one you need? James Hughes translates the letters
For more information, visit the NHF at www.housing.org.uk; the CIH at www.cih.org; or Quorum Training at www.quorumtraining.co.uk
Courses are three or four years full-time and five years part-time. Undergraduates learn the basics of housing including construction, organisational structures, policy, decision-making, development and management. The final year usually involves study of housing law, markets and institutions, policy-making, international housing and planning and regeneration, as well as a dissertation. Where to study
De Montfort, Salford, Ulster and Northumbria universities. Cost
拢800-1100 a year (full-time) Qualifications needed
Five GCSEs at grade C and above, including maths and English; two A levels or four AS levels or advanced GNVQ equivalent. Verdict
Stephanie Doyeland, executive assistant for Flagship Housing Group, says: 鈥淢y degree certainly stood me in good stead. I got to learn about the subject in far better detail and the variety of subjects I got to do, such as housing management, development issues and law gave me good insight.鈥�
National Vocational Qualifications and Scottish Vocational Qualifications are undertaken in the workplace. Although there is no time limit in theory, students usually take between nine months and two years to complete a level. There are three levels: level 2 is equivalent to GCSE; level 3 is equivalent to A Level and level 4 is equal to an HNC. In most cases, your employer needs to be registered as an NVQ/SVQ centre for you to do this. However, there are some NVQ centres that will take on external candidates. Where to study
Derby College, City of Bristol College, Greenwich Housing Services, Sanctuary Housing Association and Wakefield NVQ centre. Cost
拢65-500, depending on where you study and to what level
This suits those in, or wanting to get into, management. Where to study
Henley Management College, Cranfield Management College and Strathclyde and Leeds universities. Cost
Most cost 拢11,000-拢15,000. Qualifications needed
No one takes on an MBA without at least five years鈥� experience in housing. Candidates are vigorously interviewed to check suitability.
Students enhance their communication and management skills through practical tasks such as role-playing. The course takes a year full-time and two years part-time. Where to study
London School of Economics, Salford University, University of the West of England. Cost
拢3270 full-time, 拢2980 part-time Qualifications needed Two to four A levels and a BSc in a related subject. Verdict
鈥淚t meant I could do my job better,鈥� says John Snape, operations manager at Manchester Methodist Housing Association, who has just finished a two-year diploma at Salford University.
The Chartered Institute of Housing鈥檚 level 3 certificate is for people who want to work in the housing frontline, dealing with a specific aspect such as management or finance. The course lasts one year. Where to study
Hull and Middlesex universities and Stoke-on-Trent College. Cost
拢400-600 Qualifications needed At least five GCSEs at grade D or above and at least one A level or a minimum of two years鈥� experience in housing.
This two-year part-time course is aimed at people in work. Students learn about social housing policy and law, how different tenures are financed, developed, maintained and managed. At the end, students have the option to carry on for another year and getting a BA. Where to study
Doncaster College, Peterborough Regional College, Worcester College of Technology, Hackney Community College in east London. Cost
拢1000-1400 (part-time/full-time) Qualifications needed
One A level or an NVQ in housing up to level 4. Verdict
Julia Nundy, assistant area manger for rents and estates at Chester and District Housing Trust, did aHNC course with the CIH and union UNISON. She says: 鈥淭he best part was that it was a good way to network and meet other people from organisations in your area.鈥�
One-day course on the aims of housing organisations, finance, development, management and the relationship with local authorities and the Housing Corporation. The course is run by the National Housing Federation in Bury St Edmunds and costs 拢160-210. Understanding the Development Process
Two-day course on housing association property development. Students are given an overview of the key tasks. Run by the NHF in London, the course costs 拢385-475. Accounts of Housing Associations
One-day course for association finance staff needing an update on reporting and accounting developments or those preparing association accounts for the first time. Run by Quorum Training, this course costs 拢440.
BSc/BA
What you learnCourses are three or four years full-time and five years part-time. Undergraduates learn the basics of housing including construction, organisational structures, policy, decision-making, development and management. The final year usually involves study of housing law, markets and institutions, policy-making, international housing and planning and regeneration, as well as a dissertation. Where to study
De Montfort, Salford, Ulster and Northumbria universities. Cost
拢800-1100 a year (full-time) Qualifications needed
Five GCSEs at grade C and above, including maths and English; two A levels or four AS levels or advanced GNVQ equivalent. Verdict
Stephanie Doyeland, executive assistant for Flagship Housing Group, says: 鈥淢y degree certainly stood me in good stead. I got to learn about the subject in far better detail and the variety of subjects I got to do, such as housing management, development issues and law gave me good insight.鈥�
NvQ
What you learnNational Vocational Qualifications and Scottish Vocational Qualifications are undertaken in the workplace. Although there is no time limit in theory, students usually take between nine months and two years to complete a level. There are three levels: level 2 is equivalent to GCSE; level 3 is equivalent to A Level and level 4 is equal to an HNC. In most cases, your employer needs to be registered as an NVQ/SVQ centre for you to do this. However, there are some NVQ centres that will take on external candidates. Where to study
Derby College, City of Bristol College, Greenwich Housing Services, Sanctuary Housing Association and Wakefield NVQ centre. Cost
拢65-500, depending on where you study and to what level
MBA
What you learnThis suits those in, or wanting to get into, management. Where to study
Henley Management College, Cranfield Management College and Strathclyde and Leeds universities. Cost
Most cost 拢11,000-拢15,000. Qualifications needed
No one takes on an MBA without at least five years鈥� experience in housing. Candidates are vigorously interviewed to check suitability.
MSc/Postgrad Diploma
What you learnStudents enhance their communication and management skills through practical tasks such as role-playing. The course takes a year full-time and two years part-time. Where to study
London School of Economics, Salford University, University of the West of England. Cost
拢3270 full-time, 拢2980 part-time Qualifications needed Two to four A levels and a BSc in a related subject. Verdict
鈥淚t meant I could do my job better,鈥� says John Snape, operations manager at Manchester Methodist Housing Association, who has just finished a two-year diploma at Salford University.
CIH Certificate
What you learnThe Chartered Institute of Housing鈥檚 level 3 certificate is for people who want to work in the housing frontline, dealing with a specific aspect such as management or finance. The course lasts one year. Where to study
Hull and Middlesex universities and Stoke-on-Trent College. Cost
拢400-600 Qualifications needed At least five GCSEs at grade D or above and at least one A level or a minimum of two years鈥� experience in housing.
BTEC HNC/HND
What you learnThis two-year part-time course is aimed at people in work. Students learn about social housing policy and law, how different tenures are financed, developed, maintained and managed. At the end, students have the option to carry on for another year and getting a BA. Where to study
Doncaster College, Peterborough Regional College, Worcester College of Technology, Hackney Community College in east London. Cost
拢1000-1400 (part-time/full-time) Qualifications needed
One A level or an NVQ in housing up to level 4. Verdict
Julia Nundy, assistant area manger for rents and estates at Chester and District Housing Trust, did aHNC course with the CIH and union UNISON. She says: 鈥淭he best part was that it was a good way to network and meet other people from organisations in your area.鈥�
Short courses
An Introduction to Social HousingOne-day course on the aims of housing organisations, finance, development, management and the relationship with local authorities and the Housing Corporation. The course is run by the National Housing Federation in Bury St Edmunds and costs 拢160-210. Understanding the Development Process
Two-day course on housing association property development. Students are given an overview of the key tasks. Run by the NHF in London, the course costs 拢385-475. Accounts of Housing Associations
One-day course for association finance staff needing an update on reporting and accounting developments or those preparing association accounts for the first time. Run by Quorum Training, this course costs 拢440.
Source
Housing Today
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