Building Surveying, BSc (Hons) Degree Course draft

Program Overview

This RICS-accredited Building Surveying degree offers a practical, problem-solving approach. Students gain hands-on industry experience through site visits and an optional placement. Assessment includes reports, projects, and presentations based on real-life scenarios. Graduates are highly sought after, securing positions in major organizations and private practice.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

Develop the analytical and intellectual skills you’ll need for a successful career in Building Surveying. Step outside of the classroom and gain hands-on, real-world industry experience. You’ll spend time out and about in the local environment and on construction sites. Assessment of your work is balanced between the academic requirements of a degree and the practical nature of your chosen career. Rather than writing academic essays, you’ll be producing reports and projects based on real-life scenarios. The course is delivered flexibly, including part-time delivery just one day per week, allowing you to study whilst in employment. There’s an optional 48-week sandwich placement in industry for full-time students between Year 2 and Year 3.

Outline:

Year 1

• Compulsory Modules:
• Construction Technology 1:
This module introduces you to the principles of the construction methods used in, low rise construction in the UK. You'll look into the properties of materials used in construction.
• Sustainability and Science: This module aims to review key environmental and service requirements for building services systems in buildings.
It will help you gain an understanding of the settlement of disputes through the court structure, and the legal principles considered will be applied, particularly to the construction industry.
• Professional Practice: The module aims to develop key and degree-specific personal and professional competencies.
This will support your subsequent years of study and your personal development.
• Interdisciplinary Project: The module aims to develop your understanding of the complex issues involved in a construction project.
It provides the professional competencies which support your subsequent years of study and career.

Year 2

• Compulsory Modules:
• Construction Technology 2:
This module will consider the provision of construction knowledge necessary to develop a greater awareness of the technology involved in the construction of framed buildings and multi-storey developments including a focus on material technology and structural analysis.
• Building Services: This module investigates the integration of building services in medium and high rise structures.
You will study sustainable energy generation and monitoring techniques. You will learn about building services science and the requirements of high rise buildings.
• Production Economics: On this module you'll become critically aware of the cost implications of resource allocation in construction procurement.
You'll look at the factors involved in the identification and pricing of construction work both at the tender stage and during the construction period.
• Contract Administration: This module relates the application of the legal environment to the construction process and practice within the construction industry.
It examines the role of the professional in interpreting the requirements of the law and their application to the construction process. The teaching programme will present a general understanding of the forms of contract used in the construction industry and consider their application to the procurement and coordination of construction work.
• Management and Project Planning: You'll receive an introduction to project management systems, through identification, co-ordination, integration and analysis of construction project resources.
You'll investigate sustainable and safe approaches to construction in the planning and management of site activities and resources.
• Town Planning & Development Control: This module will introduce you to the legal framework and current policy and practice in land use planning and development control.
Project themes may be shared across these modules. The module will consider project design and organisation with respect to the requirements of the Building Surveyor. The theme of careers education/professional development in Professional Practice (A), will be developed through further guided self-study.

Year 3

• Compulsory Modules:
• Maintenance Management:
This module will develop your understanding of repair and maintenance of existing buildings. You will examine the problems set in the care and management of existing buildings and decide whether they can be refurbished, reused or demolished. The module focuses on principles, legislative framework, policy issues, and funding. You will also be exposed statutory, policy, practical problem and technical issues that can lead to potential conflict with the principles of sustainability and conservation.
• Project Analysis and Appraisal: This module is designed to acquaint you with the overall concept of “a project” by considering its phases and constituent parts from inception to completion.
The analysis and appraisal of the project will be considered in relation to the four aspects of Whole Life-Cycle Appraisal: Project Design Appraisal, Project Value Appraisal, Project Cost Appraisal and Project Environmental Impact Appraisal and in relation to new-build, refurbishment and regeneration projects.
• Professional Practice: This module will develop your understanding of component performance and the appraisal of remedial or design solutions to degradation processes.
You'll also develop your understanding of practice-relevant issues, such as the awareness of requirements of codes of professional conduct, ethics and the fundamentals of practice management.
• Dissertation: You will complete an independent study using theoretical, experimental or investigative analysis (or a combination of these).
The nature of dissertation is to challenge you to produce original work as solutions will not be readily available.
• Optional Modules:
• Facilities Management:
Concepts of total facilities management will be introduced and explored in this module. This course will place an emphasis on the development of a managerial role for the Building Profession working within corporate environments.
• Owning and Leasing Land: You will explore and distinguish types of land ownership.
You will also explore the contemporary and historical legal issues surrounding land ownership and landlord-tenant relations. You will be able to apply relevant knowledge to legal scenarios and draw conclusions to the issues raised or advice sought

Assessment:

Assessment of your work is balanced between the academic requirement of a degree and the practical nature of the profession. Reports and projects based on real-life scenarios rather than academic essays, along with individual and group presentations, laboratory experiments and examinations.

Teaching:

We’ll take you out into the local environment and on construction sites to gain valuable exposure to the workplace. Expect plenty of team building activities to help you acquire the skills to develop successful working relationships. We’re committed to delivering academic learning of the highest quality, helping you to stretch your mind and fulfil your university ambitions. This model of teaching delivery enables subject experts to share their knowledge and experience across degree programmes, enhancing your student experience. For example, the specific building surveying content of the degree is delivered by five Chartered Building Surveyors with substantial experience in both academia and practice. The professional knowledge and expertise of the staff delivering the programme is reflected in the coursework undertaken by students. It’s often based on real-life projects and case studies. That enables you to use a problem-based learning approach to achieve the specific learning outcomes of the course. Staff have active research interests in conservation, regeneration, project management, sustainability and construction law. These interests are incorporated into the delivery of the degree.

Careers:

Our Building Surveying graduates have secured employment with large organisations such as BAE Systems, Eric Wright Construction and EC Harris. Read more Academic and practical experience, paired with close involvement with employers, means our graduates are highly-regarded in the workplace. Graduates progress to high-level positions, including private practice partner or senior manager in an organisation with a large property portfolio.

Other:

You can take a one-year industrial placement during your studies to increase your employability. Most placements are UK-based, but opportunities exist for global placements. This course has been accredited by the RICS, the globally recognised professional body which promotes the highest international standards in land, real estate, construction and infrastructure. Accreditation can lead to high level career opportunities in large organisations and private practice. This course has been accredited by the CIOB, the globally recognised professional body for construction and leadership. Accreditation can lead to high level career opportunities in large organisations and private practice.

| ------- | -------- | | UK Full-time | £9,250 per year | | International Full-time | £16,500 per year |