MSc/PgDip Building Surveying

Program Overview

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MSc Building Surveying

Overview

The MSc Building Surveying postgraduate degree course is designed to prime you for a graduate surveyor role, with Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and Chartered Association of Building Engineers (Cabe) accreditation. The course is available with full-time, part-time, and distance learning pathways.

Introduction

In the post-pandemic recovery, the construction industry will build back better and grow greener. Repurposing buildings into sustainable new spaces is at the heart of this strategy. If you are considering a career where you can reimagine a building's potential, our MSc Building Surveying masters degree is your next step.

Course Details

Course Delivery

Our MSc Building Surveying course is delivered through a range of industry-aligned modules. The 180-credit MSc award comprises eight taught modules plus a dissertation. The 120-credit PgDip comprises eight taught modules. The 60-credit PgCert award comprises four specified taught modules.

Flexibility is at the heart of our learning approach. You can choose to study this postgraduate course full-time or part-time on campus, or part-time via distance learning:

• As a campus-based full-time student, you will complete four 15-credit taught modules in each of the first two trimesters. In the final trimester, you will complete a dissertation worth 60 credits.
• As a campus-based part-time student, you will complete two 15-credit modules in each of the first four trimesters. In two additional trimesters, you will complete a dissertation worth 60 credits.
• As a distance learning student, you will complete two 15-credit taught modules in each of your first four trimesters. In two additional trimesters, you will complete your dissertation online, with tutor support.

Learning Experience

There are few better places to study building surveying. Located just over a mile from Manchester city centre, we're at the heart of the UK's largest architecture, engineering, and construction market outside of London, with plenty of live case studies and a strong network of industry partners where you can find career opportunities once you graduate.

If you are studying on campus, you will have opportunities to visit live construction sites and assess potential development sites. Distance learning students will also experience our Collaborate Ultra virtual learning environment, supported by real-time and on-demand interactive sessions. Module assessment is driven by real-world problems aligned to your workplace or role.

Alongside gaining a strong understanding of real-world practice, you will develop your building surveying knowledge in topics such as planning and development, legal frameworks, procurement, and information modelling. You will also strengthen your research and analytical skills by completing a dissertation on a topic of your choice.

Course Team

Our Building Surveying postgraduate programme is delivered by an academic team with extensive research and subject knowledge. The team is part of a global built environment community with prominence in shaping construction industry best practice.

Modules

• Trimester one (and Trimester two for part-time and distance learning):
  • Building Law Principles
  • Building Procurement and Contract Administration
  • Building Information Modelling
  • Building Surveying Practice
• Trimester two (Trimesters three and four for part-time and distance learning):
  • Building Technology
  • Building Adaptation
  • Building Pathology
  • Plan-making for Place-shaping
• Trimester three (trimesters five and six for part-time and distance learning):
  • Dissertation

Employment and Stats

Employment

This course will equip you for a rewarding career as a building surveyor in the construction industry. The life of a building surveyor is varied and challenging, and it is highly likely that you'll have plenty of opportunities to travel, and that you'll play a key role in shaping the built environment.

With an extensive understanding of buildings, the law, property, and construction, you will be well-equipped to pursue roles in a variety of areas, including:

• Building defect diagnostics
• The conservation of historic buildings
• Acquisition and condition surveying
• Refurbishments, alterations, and extensions
• The specification and supervision of construction work
• Dilapidations, party walls, and rights to light work
• The design of new buildings

Opportunities exist for building surveying graduates in a range of private and public sector environments. These include surveying and architectural professional practices, property and construction companies, and the estates departments of major organisations with substantial property holdings.

Our building surveying graduates have found employment with a number of organisations, including:

• B&Q
• Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council
• Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• Gleeds Construction Consultants
• Manchester City Council
• Mansell Construction Services
• National Grid
• Network Rail
• Property Tectonics Ltd
• STMC Building Control Ltd

Further Study

You might also choose to take your subject interest further with postgraduate research. Our Centre for Urban Processes, Resilient Infrastructure, and Sustainable Environments is home to PhD and Research Master's opportunities exploring how we can enhance our built environments at local, national, and international scales.

Requirements

Applicant Profile

Designed to provide a career focus, the course is open to graduates from a broad range of subjects, including the arts, sciences, law, or business. This course is also recommended for current professionals who want to formalise their existing building surveying skills.

No prior knowledge of building surveying, property, or construction is required, however, it is important that you are prepared for the scope of the course content. Building surveyors have a passion for historic and modern buildings, possessing practical, creative, business-focused skills, and able to operate in a professional environment. Possessing these qualities will enhance your learning experience.

English Language Requirements

All of our courses are taught and assessed in English. If English is not your first language, you must meet our minimum English language entry requirements. An IELTS score of 6.0 (no element below 5.5) is proof of this, however, we do accept a range of equivalent qualifications.

International Applications

Please check international intakes for the latest information and application dates.

Course Accreditation

The full masters award is accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). Accreditation enables exemption from some academic entry requirements.

Fees

Type of Study

Type of Study	Year	Fees
Full-time home	2025/26	£9,800 per year
Full-time international	2025/26	£17,000 per year
Part-time	2025/26	Calculated on a pro-rata basis
Distance learning	2025/26	£1,635 per 30 credits

The credits for each qualification work as follows: 180 credits for Masters, 120 credits for PGDip, and 60 credits for PGCert.

Additional Costs

You should consider further costs, which may include books, stationery, printing, binding, and general subsistence on trips and visits.

International Student Scholarships

If you are a high-achieving international student, you may be eligible for one of our scholarships. Learn more about our latest international scholarships.

Program Outline

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Degree Overview:

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Name:

MSc Building Surveying

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Level:

Postgraduate

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School:

School of Science, Engineering and Environment

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Awarding Body:

University of Salford

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Accredited by:

Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)

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Program Length:

• Full-time: 1 year
• Part-time: 2.5 years
• Distance Learning: 2.5 years

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Start Dates:

September 2024, January 2025, September 2025

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Objectives:

• Equip graduates for a career as a building surveyor in the construction industry.
• Develop the knowledge and skills needed to understand and assess existing buildings.
• Consider current industry trends in refurbishment, conservation, and adaptation.

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Program Description:

This program is designed for both graduates and experienced professionals looking for a career conversion route in building surveying. It covers all the core technical skills needed for success in the field, including understanding the fabric of buildings, building deterioration, and how buildings can be brought back into use. Students will also explore the legal, professional, and statutory aspects of being a building surveyor, including planning permission, construction contracts, and professional conduct.

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Outline:

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Module Structure:

• Full-time students complete 4 modules each in the first 2 trimesters and a 60-credit dissertation in the final trimester.
• Part-time students complete 2 modules each in the first 4 trimesters and a 60-credit dissertation in the final 2 trimesters.
• Distance learning students complete 2 modules each in the first 4 trimesters and a 60-credit dissertation online in the final 2 trimesters.

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Modules:

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Trimester 1:

• Building Law Principles
• Building Procurement and Contract Administration
• Building Surveying Practice
• Building Technology (part 1)

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Trimester 2:

• Building Technology (part 2)
• Sustainable & Energy Efficient Buildings
• Planning and Development Control
• Building Adaptation

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Trimester 3:

• Dissertation

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Assessment:

Assessment is primarily through coursework (100%), which includes:

• Design projects
• Essays
• Case study analysis
• Precedent studies
Continuous informal assessment by tutors also contributes to the final grade.

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Teaching:

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Teaching Methods:

• Lectures
• Tutorials
• Project work
• Directed study
• One-to-one tutorials (by appointment)
• Guest lectures from industry professionals
• Field trips

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Faculty:

The program is delivered by an academic team with extensive research and subject knowledge, who are also prominent in shaping construction industry best practices.

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Unique Approaches:

• Building Surveying Industry Mentoring Scheme: This initiative helps students transition from academic study to working life by connecting them with mentors who have already made the transition.
• Online learning environment for distance learning students: Weekly online tutorials encourage student participation and self-directed study materials allow students to learn at their own pace.
• Focus on real-world problems: Learning is driven by real-world issues faced in the workplace.

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Careers:

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Career Opportunities:

Graduates can pursue careers in various areas, including:

• Building defect diagnostics
• Conservation of historic buildings
• Acquisition and condition surveying
• Refurbishments, alterations, and extensions
• Specification and supervision of construction work
• Dilapidations, party walls, and rights to light work
• Design of new buildings

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Employment Sectors:

Graduates can find employment in both private and public sectors, including:

• Surveying and architectural professional practices
• Property and construction companies
• Estates departments of large organizations with substantial property holdings

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Example Employers:

• B&Q
• Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council
• Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• Gleeds Construction Consultants
• Manchester City Council
• Mansell Construction Services
• National Grid
• Network Rail
• Property Tectonics Ltd
• STMC Building Control Ltd

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| Type of study | Year | Fees | |---|---|---| | Full-time home | 2024/25 | £9,450.00 per year | | Full-time international | 2024/25 | £16,380.00 per year | | Part-time | 2024/25 | £1,575 per 30 credits | | Distance learning | 2024/25 | £1,575 per 30 credits | | Full-time home | 2025/26 | £9,800.00 per year | | Full-time international | 2025/26 | £17,000.00 per year |