Over the last few years there has been an increasing demand for suitably qualified graduates in the wider property field and in particular for employees with more than the traditional, specialist training in Valuations or Real Estate. The property industry needs staff with a broad, general business background, together with skills in specialist areas such as valuations, real estate, investment management and consultancy or property finance, and many other related disciplines such as planning, architecture, building, surveying and construction economics.

About one-half of the national wealth is real estate related, and the decision-makers therefore need the backing of a high degree of knowledge and property related professional skills. It is clear from trends over the last thirty years that the situation is becoming more complex, and will continue on this path, keeping pace with rapid technological advances, to the twenty-first century.

For over thirty years, RMIT has been pre-eminent in the field of real estate, and has been a real part of the emerging sophistication in the marketplace. Its traditional strengths have been in real estate and valuations, and over the period has offered a number of courses. Currently there are three levels of study available: from the Technical and Further Education (TAFE) level, through undergraduate degree standard, to graduate level -Graduate Certificates, Graduate Diplomas, Masters and Doctorate degrees. The TAFE level course can also be undertaken at other selected campuses around Melbourne and at Geelong, however the higher level courses are only offered at RMIT, through the Faculty of Business.

RMIT Business is committed to providing educational programs in the property field, allowing graduates not only to achieve high levels of professional development, but also the fulfilment of useful and socially responsible community roles. The Faculty's staff have a proven and continuing commitment in meeting the professionals' needs as circumstances change - which given the dynamic nature of the property industry is continual.

Whilst RMIT Business provides the academic base or training, there are a number of professional bodies which not only draw practitioners together, but strive to uphold professional integrity and excellence within the various sectors. These bodies, specifically the Australian Institute of Valuers and Land Economists Inc, the Real Estate Institute of Australia, its State bodies (In Victoria, the Real Estate Institute of Victoria) and the Building Owners and Managers Association, operate within the overall property field and, together with numerous statutory regulations, bodies and licensing boards, provide a comprehensive code of ethics and standards of professional expertise and integrity, as followed by the practitioners.

This booklet sets out information on the various courses available at RMIT, the relationships between them, where they might lead in terms of employment, and brief commentaries on the various bodies mentioned.

Whilst every effort is made to provide accurate information at the time of publication, you should take steps to verify the information contained in this booklet should you decide to pursue any of the courses of study described.