Module Catalogue 2025/26

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

To provide students with an understanding of the contemporary inequalities in housing provision and governance.

To provide students with an advanced understanding of the key themes, concepts and theories that have characterised critical approaches to housing studies.

To explore the methods, thinking and practices that help us understand housing inequalities.

To discuss and critically evaluate the debates that have characterised geographical and other social science scholarship on housing.

Outline Of Syllabus

Housing is an important part of achieving sustainable cities and communities (UN Sustainable Development Goal 11) and overcoming inequality. Whist housing is a human right, and something we all have a relationship to, housing is also increasingly commodified and understood as an asset. The module will challenge students to think about housing and its geography, asking does everyone have equal rights to housing?

The course is organised through 3 blocks:
- Housing Governance & Policy
- Economies of Housing
- Housing Transformations


Topics to be covered may include:

Student housing & its politics
Methods to research housing
Housing rights and movements (for example in Brazil, Spain, UK and USA)
Governance of housing
Housing and society
Housing informality
The economics of housing (& financialisation)
Public, private and social housing
Housing actors
Housing policy and taxation

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

Upon completion of the module, students should be able to:

Identify and critically discuss current issues and debates about housing.

Demonstrate an awareness of key thinkers, concepts and theories in critical housing studies

Situate housing in broader social, political and economic context and in comparative international perspectives.

Intended Skill Outcomes

Upon completion of the module, students should have an ability to:

Communicate by means of well prepared and well written documents.

Work independently with initiative to solve problems.

Plan, organise and prioritise work activities and manage time effectively.

Critically engage with current issues and debates about concepts and theories of housing.

Synthesise and present housing evidence and to interpret and analyse its significance.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

The module is starts and ends with 1 hour introductory and conclusion lectures.
This is supported with a film screening and discussion in the first week to ground students understandings of key issues the Module will go on to consider.
2-hour weekly lectures will then begin, organised thematically in blocks.
Three 2-hour workshops will support students first assessment of a portfolio, offering both structured skill building and space for student-led discussion and skill development.
Two 1-hour assessment drop in will support both assessments.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

1x Portfolio (2000 words) (50%)

Responding to a series of issues, students will apply research skills and reflections to produce a portfolio. Students will be expected to show an ability to collate empirical material, and offer reflections grounded in key housing concepts.

1 x Essay (2000 words ) (50%)
Demonstrating students academic synthesis of housing issues and critical thinking skills.

General Notes

N/A