Course Catalogue

Building surveying is a professional discipline dealing with the inspection, maintenance and refurbishment of existing buildings. Building surveyors also advise clients about sustainable design, building management and regulations. As the construction and property industry continues to evolve and engage with new technologies and face new challenges such as sustainability and fire safety, demand for versatile highly skilled building surveyors is increasing. This programme is designed to provide a route to RICS membership and for those wanting to progress to a masters’ qualification. It aims to attract non-cognate graduates including those from disciplines unrelated to construction, who wish to become Building Surveyors. With this in mind the programme therefore aims to provide such students with the professional and technical knowledge of building surveying from a commercial perspective in order that they can gain employment on completion of the course and possess the professional skills that commercial building surveying practices seek. The specific aims of the programme are: 1. Ensure sound technical knowledge, in the context of the overall role of the building surveyor, including management skills. 2. Provide a coherent programme of study in building surveying, underpinned by staff research, consultancy and professional practice. 3. Provide a programme that is academically challenging and encourages students to develop the capacity for independent, analytical and reflective thought and judgement. 4. Encourage students to examine the link between theoretical concepts, research outputs and the practice of building surveying. 5. Develop students’ academic skills within a professionally defined framework in order to deepen knowledge in those fields regarded as core to the building surveyor, such as building technology, property law and dilapidations. 6. Develop students’ understanding of the multi-disciplinary and inclusive nature of the context in which building surveyors practice their profession. 7. Encourage the development of transferable skills such as investigation, problem-solving, analysis, sustainable decision making, evaluation and effective communication.

Teaching sessions include lectures and tutorials; workshop sessions in a classroom or PC-lab; practical property surveying sessions on site, or off-site on an organized site visit; participation in a group project. Assessment methods include examinations; written essays and reports; oral presentations; preparation of posters; visual designs using Revit.

Real world case studies and project scenarios are used wherever possible across the programme. For example in completing the Sustainable Design Management module, students will typically meet built environment professionals on-site to help contextualise passive design theory with practice. In the Surveys and Dilapidations module students will work on actual buildings with practitioners to analyse building performance, identify problems and recommend solutions. There is a Building Surveying Industrial Liaison Panel that meets on a regular basis to help inform the curriculum to maintain currency and practical relevance. The programme and wider School also has active links with the professional body (RICS) and typically students at all Levels will benefit from an organised professional body guest speakers and meetings to help prepare students for professional practice and employment