March 31, 2026
Key facts
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Title
Master of Science in Real Estate HWZ with a Major in Sustainable & Digital Value Creation
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Part-time degree programme
Designed to accommodate employment of up to 90% (minimum 50%)
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Start
March 2027
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Fees
CHF 7,900 per semester
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Duration
4 semesters
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Language of instruction
German, partly English
Target audience
The MSc Real Estate HWZ is aimed at professionals and managers who wish to develop their strategic skills in the property sector and take on responsibility in a dynamic market environment. The programme addresses key developments such as ESG requirements, decarbonisation, changing capital markets, and digital transformation, placing these within a comprehensive real estate context.
Part-time study with maximum flexibility
The MSc Real Estate HWZ is designed entirely to be compatible with professional employment.You can generally maintain your workload at 80–90%, allowing you to combine your studies optimally with your professional commitments.Compared to reducing your workload to 50%, this approach allows you to avoid significant loss of income.
Programme objectives
Strategic positioning of key developments in the real estate market (ESG, digitalisation, capital markets)
Further development of specialist and leadership skills in the real estate context
Assuming responsibility in a dynamic and evolving market environment
Who is this degree programme suitable for?
The MSc Real Estate HWZ is aimed at professionals and managers who hold a bachelor’s degree and have several years of work experience in the property sector or related fields. It is particularly suited to specialists in areas such as asset and portfolio management, property development, real estate finance, or corporate real estate who wish to further develop their expertise.
Career changers
Career changers are also welcome. Professionals from related fields such as banking and finance, as well as from areas like architecture, civil engineering or geomatics, have the opportunity to develop their expertise in real estate management in depth.
Your benefits
You will develop the ability to strategically assess key developments in the property market, such as ESG, digitalisation, and changing capital markets, and to make well-informed decisions in real estate management.
You will enhance your expertise in the evaluation, development and management of properties and portfolios, and strengthen your ability to take on responsibility in a dynamic market environment.
You are able to consider complex issues in real estate management from a holistic perspective and to integrate different viewpoints from strategy, finance, sustainability and digitalisation.
Your advantages
Part-time study programme with a workload of up to 80–90%
No additional ECTS requirements for admission
Strong practical focus through case studies, transfer projects and a master’s thesis in collaboration with industry partners
Focus on future-oriented topics such as ESG, decarbonisation, digitalisation and artificial intelligence
Interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary structure with a holistic competence profile
Programme overview
The MSc Real Estate HWZ covers key areas of expertise across the entire property lifecycle. You will combine strategic, financial, sustainable and digital perspectives, developing a thorough understanding of real estate and portfolios.
During the programme:
Analyse market mechanisms and develop location and market strategies in the context of real estate economics and capital markets
Deepen your expertise in real estate finance, valuation and investment, and develop a sound ability to assess business cases and financing structures.
Manage properties and portfolios throughout their entire lifecycle and optimise their performance.
Translate ESG requirements and decarbonisation into concrete strategies and measures
Make use of PropTech, BIM, data-driven approaches and AI applications for analysis, planning and management
Module structure by semester
The MSc Real Estate HWZ is structured around the entire property lifecycle and delivers its content over four consecutive semesters.
In the first semester, you will lay the foundation for a deeper understanding of the property market. You will analyse interest rate, inflation, and demand cycles in the Swiss property market and develop location and market strategies.
You will acquire foundational knowledge in property financing, valuation using discounted cash flow, as well as in asset and portfolio management. The semester is complemented by an introduction to ESG principles and data-driven decision-making models.
Practice-oriented workshops and case studies enable the direct application of the knowledge acquired.
In the second semester, you will deepen your knowledge of finance, performance management, and the life cycle management of real estate, with a particular focus on repositioning, conversion, and replacement construction.
You will develop decarbonisation roadmaps and learn how to integrate ESG measures into financial models. At the same time, you will work with digital models, PropTech applications, and the use of artificial intelligence in real estate practice.
Interdisciplinary teamwork and practical simulations strengthen your ability to put knowledge into practice.
The third semester focuses on innovation and international perspectives. You will explore topics such as generative AI, digital twins, and green finance, and analyse the impact of ESG on investment decisions.
An integral part of the semester is an International Week at selected international partner institutions, where you will gain practical insights into global market dynamics, decarbonisation, and digital innovation.
You will also deepen your knowledge of data-driven decision-making approaches, data protection, and the integration of technology into business models.
In the fourth semester, the focus is on integrating all competencies. You will develop and finalise strategic approaches for portfolios and transformation projects, while deepening your understanding of topics such as reporting, prioritisation, and financing.
The programme concludes with the master’s thesis, in which you work on a practice-oriented assignment for an industry partner and present your results to a panel of experts.
Study Week
As part of your studies, you will take part in an International Week with selected international partners and think tanks. This will provide you with insights into global market mechanisms, decarbonisation, and digital innovations in the real estate sector.
Study format
Each semester, you will attend 15 online input sessions on Tuesday evenings, as well as 4 workshops, each lasting 3 days from Thursday to Saturday. Online sessions and workshops do not take place in the same week. Between these dates, you will work on transfer and know-how assignments.
Didactics
The programme is designed in a practice-oriented way and delivers tangible outcomes in each session, such as DCF models, KPI dashboards, investment committee memos, roadmaps, and data and AI concepts. Interdisciplinary team projects foster the transfer of knowledge into practice.
The master’s thesis is conducted as a case study in collaboration with a practice partner. You will develop an actionable strategy, including ESG and digital levers, and present it to an expert panel.
Assessment
Assessment takes the form of a group-based case study with a practice partner. You will analyse a real-world situation, develop data- and finance-based options for action, and derive concrete strategies, including ESG and digital levers.
The results are documented in writing and presented, discussed and defended in front of the practice partner and a panel of experts.
Admission
To be admitted to the MSc Real Estate HWZ, the following admission criteria apply. If you have any questions or uncertainties, please do not hesitate to contact us for further clarification.
Bachelor’s degree
3–5 years of professional experience
Personal interview
No “sur dossier” admissions
Career changers welcome
Fees
The tuition fees are CHF 7,900 per semester.
Additional costs for international modules (such as flights and accommodation) are not included in the tuition fees. For the International Week, you should expect additional costs of approximately CHF 1,300 to CHF 1,600 for accommodation and flights.
Further information
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Part-time degree programme
Designed to accommodate employment of up to 90% (minimum 50%)
-
Title
Master of Science in Real Estate HWZ with a Major in Sustainable & Digital Value Creation
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Recognition
90 ECTS credits
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Teaching format
Each semester, you will attend 15 online sessions on Tuesday evenings, as well as 4 workshops, each lasting 3 days from Thursday to Saturday. Online sessions and workshops do not take place in the same week. Between these dates, you will work on transfer and know-how assignments.
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Admission
To be admitted to the MSc Real Estate HWZ, the following admission criteria apply. If you have any questions or uncertainties, please feel free to contact us for further clarification. - Bachelor's degree - 3–5 years of professional experience - Personal interview - No “sur dossier” admissions - Career changers welcome
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Start
March 2027
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Duration
4 semesters
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Location
Zurich; Sihlhof (directly by the main station)
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Fees
The tuition fees are CHF 7,900 per semester. Additional costs for international modules (such as flights and accommodation) are not included in the tuition fees. For the International Week, you should expect additional costs of approximately CHF 1,300 to CHF 1,600.
