Housing
Why study housing?
We’re facing a global housing crisis: homes are becoming less affordable, homelessness is rising, and housing isn’t fit for a net-zero future. The system is under real pressure, and there’s a growing need for leadership that is strategic, compassionate, and future-focused.
That’s why we’ve created the MSc and PgDip in Housing Leadership Our qualifications are designed for practitioners who want to step up, shape the system, and make housing work better; not just for today, but for the long term.
Whether you’re working in local government, a housing association, the third sector or are new to the field, our courses aim to give you the tools, knowledge and community to lead with purpose and impact for the future of the sector. You'll contribute to better outcomes for the residents you serve and help to transform housing inequalities. Plus, you'll learn from highly qualified, research-active academic staff who are pioneering change with their work on Healthy Housing Initiatives.
Why study Housing at Huddersfield?
We are a Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) approved study centre. The CIH is the awarding organisation for nationally recognised housing qualifications and provides high-quality, industry-relevant education for all housing professionals.
The University of Huddersfield is graded Outstanding for apprenticeship provision. You can study a Level 4 Apprenticeship in Senior Housing and Property Management with embedded CIH Level 5 Diploma, giving you the skills to make a real-world impact throughout your career.
If you already have a Level 6 qualification (equivalent to an undergraduate degree), you can prepare for a future career in leadership and management with Housing Leadership MSc (Distance Learning).
Aligned with the social housing Competence and Conduct Standard
This course has been mapped against the knowledge areas within the Competence and Conduct Standard for social housing (from October 2026), including governance, leadership, regulation, tenant engagement, equality and inclusion, and professional practice.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has indicated that, based on the programme information provided, it has not identified any concerns regarding alignment with the requirements set out in the policy statement. Please note, MHCLG does not formally approve or endorse qualifications and responsibility for compliance with the Standard remains with registered providers.
Advance Your Housing Career with an online MSc in Housing Leadership
Join us to discover how this fully online Master's course can help you step into leadership roles within the housing sector. Led by Dr Jamie Halsall, Reader in the Department of Social and Psychological Sciences, this webinar will introduce the Housing Leadership MSc (Distance Learning) at the University of Huddersfield. You’ll gain insight into the course structure, the skills you’ll develop, and how flexible online study can fit around your professional commitments.
Our experts:
We have many experts in Housing at the University of Huddersfield. Here are a few of them:
Professor Philip Brown
Professor of Housing and Communities
Philip is an interdisciplinary researcher with over 20 years of experience in housing research and education. He is the lead for the Healthy Housing Initiative, and his expertise includes housing, migration, social inclusion, and energy efficiency.
Dr Tom Simcock
Research Fellow
Tom is Research Manager of the Healthy Housing Initiative. A Chartered Psychologist and Chair of the Housing Studies Association, he specialises in housing and public sector reform, leading impactful research and transformative policy initiatives.
Dr Jamie Halsall
Reader in Social Sciences
Director of Graduate Education Jamie has extensive experience in teaching, research, and leadership. He holds a PhD, is a Chartered Geographer and his research focuses on housing, social policy, social enterprise and public health, and he has published widely.
Dr Santokh Gill
Senior Lecturer in Housing Studies
Dr. Santokh Singh Gill has over 20 years of experience in sociological teaching and research. His expertise includes housing, race, ethnicity, migration, and masculinity. He is currently researching refugee housing experiences in Yorkshire and Humber.
Dr Pratichi Chatterjee
Policy Fellow
Dr. Pratichi Chatterjee is a Policy Fellow at the University of Huddersfield, specialising in urban and human geography, housing, and homelessness among non-UK nationals. She completed her PhD at the University of Sydney.
Housing Leadership (Distance Learning)
Why study with us? Hear from our expert academic team and learn how our course could help future-proof your career in the housing sector.
Find out more about our Housing Leadership MSc (Distance Learning)
How to apply
Here is what you need to know about applying to the University of Huddersfield.
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