Awards

Target Award

Award Description:Master of Science - MS
Alternative Exit
Alternative Exit

Accreditation

Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)

Programme Offerings

Part-Time

F2F-JMU-SEP

Educational Aims of the Course

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.

Learning Outcomes

1.
Analyse and evaluate the performance requirements of buildings and facilities.
2.
Describe and critically evaluate the technical factors affecting the design, construction and refurbishment of buildings.
3.
Recognise and evaluate the impact of differing design options in the construction and refurbishment of buildings.
4.
Describe and evaluate building technologies employed in the construction of domestic, industrial and commercial buildings including modern methods of construction.
5.
Recognise, analyse and evaluate the pathological processes resulting in the degradation and failure of building components and materials.
6.
Apply surveying methods, and synthesise building surveying knowledge and skills in order to systematically detect building defects.
7.
Recognise, evaluate and recommend broad approaches and options for the management, repair and maintenance of buildings and facilities.
8.
Identify and analyse the impact of legal and regulatory requirements for the effective design, construction and occupancy of buildings and facilities.
9.
Critically analyse and evaluate a range of technical issues and problems and justify an appropriate strategy or reasoned course of action.
10.
Apply critical understanding and evaluation of the impact of climate change on the built environment, and the implementation of zero-energy, or low-carbon strategies for building management, repair and maintenance.
11.
Understand and evaluate the professional and ethical frameworks associated with the development and use of buildings and facilities.
12.
Apply critical understanding and empathy of the principles and processes that deliver an inclusive environment recognising the diversity of user needs by putting people (of all ages and abilities) at the heart of the building surveying process.
13.
Apply critical understanding and evaluation of the interaction between people and buildings, including their health, productivity, sustainability, comfort, and movement.
14.
Effectively use general and specific IT tools and software in building surveying tasks, projects and presentations.
15.
Manage resources and apply time management skills in working independently to meet deadlines.
16.
Apply research design knowledge and skills to collect, analyse, evaluate and synthesise information and data to complete a dissertation of appropriate depth on a topic related to the building surveying discipline.
17.
Work effectively and proactively as a member of a collaborative interdisciplinary project group.
18.
Communicate effectively via different methods including written reports, portfolios and verbal presentations.
19.
Evaluate the ethical expectations and conduct requirements of a Building Surveyor in professional practice.

Teaching, Learning and Assessment

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.

Opportunities for work related learning

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

Programme Structure

Programme Structure Description

The Postgraduate Diploma and Postgraduate Certificate are alternative exit awards and do not recruit directly. A total of 60 credits is required for a PG Certificate and 120 credits for a PG Diploma (excluding the dissertation). 7400BEPG Research Methods must be passed prior to the submission of the Dissertation 7401BEPG.

Entry Requirements

IELTS
RPL
Undergraduate degree

HECoS Code(s)

(CAH13-01) architecture, building and planning