Diploma Program in Urban Land Economics (DULE)

The DULE is a sophisticated, technical and specialized program. It has been designed for practitioners already employed in the real estate industry who want to upgrade their education, and for highly-motivated people seeking to join the industry. DULE students complete a core curriculum that builds a foundation in real property law, economics, financial math, statistics, and valuation. Students can then specialize in one of five areas of practice: Appraisal, Assessment, Real Estate Management, Development, or Brokerage.

The DULE is designed for flexibility. Most Diploma courses are offered two or three times per year. Students can complete the program at a pace that best suits their busy schedules. By taking one course per term, the Diploma Program can be completed in just four years, although many students can accelerate completion to two years or less by taking more than one course per semester.

Getting Started: Admissions and Program Planning

Students embarking on this Program will first need to be formally admitted to UBC - this application for admission must be made directly to the Real Estate Division (NOT to UBC's central admissions office). Please visit the Admissions webpage for more information. In general, applicants must have their grade 12 or equivalent standing and must submit their official high school transcript. Students who have not graduated from high school may be eligible for admittance as a mature student. For details on mature student admissions, please click here.

Students may apply for transfer credit on the basis of previous post-secondary education which is substantially  similar to courses in this program. Where exemptions have been granted, a student must complete at minimum 50% of the total program credits to be eligible for a UBC credential. Please reference Course Equivalencies and Transcript Reviews for more information.

Note: As the program is continually being updated, requirements for completion may change from year to year.

The Diploma Program is offered via distance learning. The DULE requires 11 courses, each of which are approximately 13 weeks in length. Students begin with core courses that establish a broad foundation in the principles underlying real property markets. The program advances to focus on specialized professional and applied topics.

The courses include a set of printed materials plus online resources. Students are assessed on a series of multiple choice assignments, written projects, examinations, and case studies. Most courses include webinars and instructional videos.

BUSI 100 Micro Foundations of Real Estate Economics
BUSI 101 Capital Markets and Real Estate (Prerequisite BUSI 100)
BUSI 111 BC Real Property Law and Real Estate Ethics (Required for Brokerage Option)
OR BUSI 112 Canadian Real Property Law and Real Estate Ethics
BUSI 121 Foundations of Real Estate Mathematics
BUSI 300 Urban and Real Estate Economics (Prerequisite BUSI 100, Recommend BUSI 121)
BUSI 330 Foundations of Real Estate Appraisal (Recommend BUSI 121)
BUSI 331 Real Estate Investment Analysis and Advanced Income Appraisal (Prerequisite BUSI 121 & 330)

In addition to the seven core courses, four specialization courses are required. The specialization courses are either in Appraisal, Assessment, Real Estate Management, or Real Estate Development.

Students completing the Brokerage Option typically meet the course and examination requirements for the Real Estate Trading Services Licensing Course, the Broker's Licensing Course, the Rental Property Management Licensing Course (requires BUSI 451), and Mortgage Brokerage in British Columbia (requires BUSI 221). As the BCFSA Guidelines can change from time to time, students should confirm all course and exam licensing requirements with the BCFSA.

All of the core courses are available in both Winter Term I: September to December and Winter Term II: January to April. BUSI 111, 112, 121, 330, 331, 344, 400, 401, and 443 are also available in Summer Term I: June to September. Subject to prerequisites, students may take the courses in any order. 

Students can get help from Real Estate Division academic staff and industry specialists, by e-mail or telephone. There are also many other helpful resources available to students on the course website.

Workload

Students should expect to commit at least ten hours per week to their studies and assignments. The material is not easy. Diligence, organization, and self-discipline are essential. Each course has a set schedule for assignments, projects, and examinations -- please note there are fees imposed for late submissions of assignments and projects, as well as for deferral of examinations or transferring to subsequent terms.

Additional Course Requirements

The Hewlett Packard (HP) 10BII+ calculator will be used in the demonstration of analytical techniques in the program of studies; however, there are a variety of pre-programmed financial calculators on the market, some of which will perform more sophisticated calculations or have greater programming capacity. You may use any financial calculator for the course and examination, providing it is silent, cordless, handheld and not alphanumeric and programmable. Many stationary and department stores sell the 10BII+ and you are encouraged to "comparison" shop because discount or sales prices are often available. If you are unable to locate the calculator in your area, one can be purchased online at the Real Estate Division Bookstore.

All students taking Real Estate Division courses must have high-speed access to the internet. Most course materials including videos and learning resources are available online, and all assignments and projects are also submitted online.  Access to a high-quality  printer is also beneficial as it is sometimes necessary to print certain materials from Real Estate Division website.

Program Regulations

View a copy of the full program regulations from the Real Estate Division Student Handbook: Credit Courses.

Examinations

Most Real Estate Division courses end with a final examination. For more information on exam scheduling, availability, and registration, go to Examinations.

Awards

A number of awards are available to students in the Real Estate Division’s credit programs.

Course Offerings
Course Equivalencies/Transcript Reviews
Course Descriptions
Important Dates
Tuition and Additional Fees
Advanced Studies in Real Estate (ASRE) Program
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