BSc Building Surveying

Overview

With BSc Building Surveying you will analyse building performance and material lifecycles to establish the cause and effect of building defects.

This course is designed to prepare you for a successful career in building surveying. You will benefit from the Department’s strong links with industry and the surveying profession. Additionally, the degree is accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and the Chartered Institute of Building. (Accreditation is reviewed periodically. Successful completion of courses accredited by CIOB and RICS satisfies the academic requirements for membership of CIOB and RICS.) As with all of our surveying and construction courses, the programme structure provides an opportunity to explore a range of construction-related disciplines prior to specialising in the final year. You will be able to transfer onto other courses, such as BSc Quantity Surveying or BSc Construction Management, at the end of your second year if you wish to do so. A particular emphasis is placed on transferable skills and University of Reading graduates are renowned for rapid progression to senior positions within professional firms. 100% of our research impact has been classed ‘outstanding’ or ‘very considerable’ (Research Excellence Framework 2021, combining 4* and 3* submissions – Architecture, Built Environment and Planning). Many members of staff within the School are active in research and consultancy. This ensures that the course reflects not only the very best of current practice, but also the latest developments in areas such as Building Information Modelling (BIM) and sustainability. Your first two years are designed to develop a comprehensive understanding of the disciplines which underpin construction management and the surveying professions. This will include subjects such as economics, law, professional practice and building technology. Recurring themes throughout the course include the application of digital technologies, extending from working with hand-held tablets to the use of aerial drones for roof surveys. There is an especially strong focus on project work and interdisciplinary collaboration. Recent projects have included a school in the Gambia and another in Malawi. Furthermore, we place a strong focus on employability and you will have the opportunity to network with industry professionals throughout the course. You will also be encouraged to take up a placement over the summer between your second and final years, for which you will gain credits which contribute towards your degree. Additionally, there is an option to spend a year in industry, in the UK or abroad. (Placements and study abroad opportunities are subject to availability and eligibility guidelines.) The final year of the BSc Building Surveying course is designed to develop the technical and practical skills needed for the inspection and analysis of buildings. You will also complete a dissertation on a research topic of your choice and a building surveying project, in which you will survey a building in need of repair and refurbishment and will produce a viable recommendation of proposed work for a client. Additionally you can explore areas of interest through optional modules on subjects such as green innovation, historic built environments, construction contract law, and modern languages.

Placements

Between your second and final year you can carry out a paid industrial training placement, lasting a year or a shorter period. This experience not only provides you with an insight into industry, but is also a valuable opportunity to get to know a range of industry professionals. Placements can be located anywhere in the UK, and sometimes take place abroad in locations such as the USA, the Far East or the Caribbean. Firms offering places to our students in the past include Deloitte, Faithful and Gould, Lambert Smith Hampton, Rider Levett Bucknall, and Savills. You will be given advice and support in finding the ideal placement, writing a CV and interview skills, by our dedicated placements officer (Placements and study abroad opportunities are subject to availability and eligibility guidelines).

Entry requirements

Typical offer

BBB

International Baccalaureate

30 points overall

BTEC National Diploma

DDM

Fees

New UK/Republic of Ireland students: £9,250 New international students: £24,500

Careers

After graduation you will be well-placed to move into either consultancy or contracting. The vast majority of our graduates move into careers in building surveying, although some choose to move into other roles within or related to construction such as quantity surveying, project management or estate management. Alternatively, you can choose to move on to postgraduate study. 93% of leavers are in work and/or study 15 months after the end of their course; of those in full-time employment, 98% were in graduate level roles. [1]. [1] Graduate Outcomes Survey 18/19; First Degree responders from Construction Management and Engineering. deadlines We process applications all year round but recommend applying as early as possible to ensure you can have a place in your chosen degree. Please be aware that to ensure there is enough time to complete all administrative procedures, and VISA requirements, applications may need to be submitted no later than a month (or longer) before the start of the courses.