Land Economy

Fitzwilliam is one of the main Land Economy colleges, aiming to admit five students to read the subject each year. Our results are impressive: in 2008/9 two of our four finalists graduated with first-class honours (one coming top of the year and winning two academic prizes).

Resident Director of Studies

Fitzwilliam Land Economy students are directed in their academic work by Ms Mary Young, who is a Fellow and Tutor at Fitzwilliam as well as being active in departmental teaching, lecturing on four papers in the undergraduate course. Ms Young personally supervises all Fitzwilliam students and advises on course selection and other academic matters.

The Cameron Society

Fitzwilliam's connections with Land Economy have a long and glorious history -  Professor Gordon Cameron was an influential and modernising Professor of Land Economy from 1980 until his death in 1990, and was also Master of Fitzwilliam College from 1988.  It is in his honour that the Fitzwilliam Land Economy Society, The Cameron Society, is named. The Cameron Society provides a focus for extra-curricular academic and social events within College, bringing speakers to talk on issues of interest and offering subsidised field trips that are course-related. We are also delighted that Fitzwilliam Land Economists remain connected with The Cameron Society after graduation, offering our current students valuable contacts and advice.

Careers after Land Economy

Land Economy graduates have one of the strongest employment records across the University, reflecting the emphasis on interdisciplinary analysis of real issues and on important generic skills. Employers welcome the high intellectual and academic content of the course in addressing practical questions. Success in the programme brings possibilities of fast-tracking, or partial exemption from examinations, for various professional bodies, including The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, the Bar Council and the Law Society. Many graduates go into financial, business or management careers, and others enter public service with national or international organisations.

The Land Economy Tripos

The Land Economy course offers an intellectually challenging programme and a qualification that opens up many career opportunities. The relationship of law and economics to resource management and the natural and built environments forms the heart of the course, but other related topics are explored, such as principles of business regulation, financial aspects of real estate, public policy analysis and issues of international development.

The subject is relevant to the contemporary world, in which environmental management and the use of scarce resources have a profound impact upon all of us. The distinctive multi-disciplinary nature of the course attracts students with different interests and diverse backgrounds. Arts or sciences (or a mixture) are equally acceptable: previous study of law or economics is not required.  A typical offer at Fitzwilliam College is A*AA at A level (or equivalent qualification). 

The first year provides a foundation for the programme of study, including courses in economics, law and data analysis, and an introduction to elements of land economy and the determinants of land use patterns. The second and third years offer choices within a broad range of courses, dealing with basic principles and practical applications in both private and public land use decision-making.  Assessment is by written examination and course work, with a dissertation in the final year. Recent dissertation topics include land reform in Zimbabwe, housing policy in the Lake District, regeneration in Liverpool, environmental economic modelling, impacts of new planning laws in England, and ownership of the waves and foreshore in Fiji.

Ran Wang, one of our final year students, writes:

Read her experiences here