BSc in Building Surveying
Birmingham City University
Key Information
Campus location
Birmingham, United Kingdom
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
3 - 5 years
Pace
Full time, Part time
Tuition fees
GBP 9,250 / per year *
Application deadline
Request info
Earliest start date
Sep 2024
* UK students: £9,250 per year | international students: £13,980 per year
Scholarships
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Introduction
Looking to become a Building Surveyor? This course is founded on the core competencies of the Building Surveying profession, preparing you to pursue your journey to full professional chartership. Much of your learning will be hands-on, you’ll carry out survey work using a range of equipment and you will also be provided with the latest CAD software.
What's covered in this course?
Our Building Surveying course matches the needs of industry, based on real-life building practice, building pathology, construction technology, and the legal framework for industry, risk management and building surveying practice.
The course not only encompasses the conservation, re-purposing and adaptation of the existing built environment but also embraces innovation, preparing you to contribute to the success of the profession and supporting the development of a sustainable society for the twenty-first century and beyond.
During this course, you will develop a range of academic and technical skills relevant to the building surveying profession. As in industry itself, this course demands a broad range of technical and creative skills.
Our course is fundamentally based upon the core competencies which are outlined by our accrediting partners, RICS and CIOB, which give you a good foundation for your future career. We focus on the core technical knowledge, such as building pathology, construction technology and sustainability, as well as the legal framework knowledge required for a career in building surveying.
We also believe that as the industry changes and adopts new approaches, we also, working with our industry partners, should give our students the opportunity to learn about the innovative changes which are impacting the industry today.
The BSc Building Surveying degree aims to produce building surveyors with a well-rounded ability to mix technical, creative and business skills, ready to join an equally fast-moving built environment. You will therefore be industry-ready and can look forward to a fulfilling and enjoyable career as a building surveyor.
Professional placement year
This course offers a professional placement year. This allows you to spend a whole year with an employer, between the second and third years of your degree and is a great way to find out more about your chosen career. Some students even return to the same employers after completing their studies.
The University will draw on its extensive network of local, regional and national employers to support you in finding a suitable placement to complement your chosen area of study. If you do not find a suitable placement, you will be automatically transferred back to the standard, non-placement version of the course.
Please note that fees are payable during your placement year, equivalent to 20% of the total full-time course fee for that year (£1,850 for UK students).
Why choose us?
- Accredited course - Accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB).
- Subject league table - We are 6th for Land and Property Management in the Complete University Guide 2023.
- Industrial placement year option - Gain desirable employability skills and work experience with the option of an industrial placement year, that will take place between your second and final year of the course.
- Site visits and industry talks - These opportunities enhance your learning experience and help explain how to gain employment within the built environment world.
- State-of-the-art facilities - You will be based at our Millennium Point campus in City Centre, where our facilities have undergone a £6.5 million investment to provide you with the very best learning experience.
- We are an Autodesk Training Centre (ATC) - This national and international recognition will give you access to on-campus training by certified Autodesk instructors, providing you with digital skills that will be highly sought after by employers. Autodesk applications play an important part in supporting the digital transformation of Architecture, Engineering and Construction.
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Curriculum
Year One
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following core modules (totalling 120 credits):
- Built Environment Technology 1
- Integrated Digital Design: Residential
- Professional Environmental and Materials Science
- Introduction to the Built Environment
- Law
- Design and Surveying Skills
Year Two
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following core modules (totalling 120 credits):
- Built Environment Technology 2
- Integrated Digital Design: Commercial
- BIM and Facilities Management
- Design Practice
- Building Pathology
- Advanced Design and Surveying Skills
Professional Placement Year (Optional)
In order to qualify for the award of BSc (Hons) Building Surveying with Professional Placement Year a student must successfully complete the following module.
- Professional Placement Year
Final Year
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following core modules (totalling 120 credits):
- Commercial Building Pathology and Surveying
- Professionalism and Citizenship
- Urban Design Practice in Context
- Individual Honours Project
- Digital Design Practice with Existing Buildings
Program Outcome
Enhancing your employability skills
Our graduates have a thorough skillset, and understanding of complex legal issues, building design, contract administrative procedures, building maintenance and business systems.
Engaging with industry and gaining work experience during your studies is essential if you are going to be taken seriously in the job market. Getting work experience in building surveying can be challenging, so we encourage you to be agile and engage with the broad range of opportunities available. We support you through our virtual learning environment, Moodle, where we have a dedicated page which is regularly updated with potential opportunities for experience, placement opportunities and employment offers for students at all levels of your degree.
The University is eager to recognise students who have made the effort to gain industry experience and stand out from the typical graduate, and thus it offers a range of options for you to get extra awards and recognition for your work in the industry.
You have the option to undertake an assessed sandwich year between your second and third years, which will provide you with valuable work experience and give you the real-life skills you need.
The University has a Graduate+ programme, an extracurricular awards framework that is designed to augment the subject-based skills that you’ve developed throughout the programme with broader employability attributes, which will enhance your employability options upon graduating.
Placements
There is a range of opportunities for students to gain industry experience, examples of student activities include:
- Working part-time for a building surveying practice
- Doing a placement year between the second and third year of the course
- Working directly for clients