Building surveyors are advisors for the property and construction industry, identifying defects and suggesting options for maintenance and repair. Core aspects of the role include the development of new buildings, alongside the refurbishment and restoration of existing properties. This course will provide you with the skills and knowledge to become a specialist in this field.
You will develop a detailed understanding of architectural styles and influences, the history of buildings and building techniques, the evaluation of building elements, and the performance of building materials. You'll learn to test and analyse all aspects of building performance, advise on alternative uses of existing buildings, supervise remediation and refurbishment projects, and to apply health and safety legislation.
Why study this course?
- You'll benefit from outstanding career prospects. 100% of our BSc (Hons) Building Surveying sandwich students are in work or further study, just six months after graduation (DLHE, 2015-2016).
- NTU is one of the leading providers of property education in the UK – we're ranked 5th in the UK for Building and Town and Country Planning (The Guardian University Guide, 2018).
- Benefit from our Building Blocks financial package, supporting you throughout your time at NTU and enabling you to make the most of your studies. As well as money towards the cost of your course materials, you'll also benefit from study trips and live projects, included in the cost of your course fees, and a pre-paid printing allowance.
- Our course is triple-accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), the Chartered Institute of Buildings (CIOB), and the Chartered Association of Building Engineers, recognising the quality and relevance of our course content.
- You'll join a course with excellent student satisfaction. 94% of our BSc (Hons) Building Surveying sandwich students are satisfied with the quality of their course (National Student Survey 2017).
- Gain vital skills and experience in the workplace by undertaking a one-year placement.
- Experience inspiring trips in the UK and abroad, the cost of which is included in your course fees. Previous trips have included visits to Prague, Malta, Milan and Berlin.
- Successful completion of our course is the professional route to becoming a chartered surveyor.
- Apply your learning to the real world, with opportunities to take part in site visits and live projects as part of the course. Previous projects have been set by companies such as Faithful+Gould and Gleeds.
- Benefit from our expert academic team, who have extensive professional practice experience, and links with industry and professional bodies. You'll also benefit from visiting industry experts who lecture as part of the course.
How you're taught
- Most content is delivered through practice-based teaching, which gives you the opportunity to understand the course material and its theoretical framework within the context of real professional practice and activity.
- Based on a 40 hour week during term time, approximately 12 to 15 hours is spent in scheduled learning. This includes lectures, seminars and tutorials, and field work that includes site visits, field trips and practical exercises.
- You will also be involved in self-directed project work with the support of NOW, our virtual learning environment.
- Outside of the timetabled sessions you will need to undertake self-directed independent study. This will include preparing for lectures, researching, completing coursework, and directed reading to expand your knowledge.
Trips and study visits
Site visits and field trips form an integral part of the learning process, allowing you to put theory into practice. Recent UK-based field trips have included:
- London – as part of the Law module, students visited the Houses of Parliament and the High Court, and were given a lecture by a London-based lawyer
- Savills – students visited their offices in the West End of London and were given a presentation on the current market and career development
- Nottingham Regeneration Ltd – guest lecture on regeneration projects around Nottingham train station.
You'll also go on a week-long European field trip in your second year, designed to help you investigate and research aspects of building surveying.
Recent destinations have included Berlin, Malta and Rome, with these trips being included within your course fees.
Assessment methods
You will be assessed through a mix of coursework, practical exercises, and exams. The coursework will make up the majority of your assessment and will consist of group and individual projects, reports, presentations to your peers, and essays. You'll receive feedback throughout each module.
Contact hours
A full-time student on average can expect to spend 1200 hours a year learning which will typically be broken down as follows:
Careers and employability
Our course is designed to prepare you to succeed in the property industry, through work placements, working on real projects from industry, input from industry professionals, and regularly updated course content. 100% of our BSc (Hons) Building Surveying sandwich students are in work or further study, just six months after graduation (DLHE, 2015-2016).
Where do Building Surveying graduates from NTU work?
NTU has a strong building surveying alumni community, with many graduates working in senior positions in leading national and international companies.
Recent BSc Hons) Building Surveying graduate destinations have included:
- Bailey Garner
- Deloitte
- EC Harris LLP
- Faithful+Gould
- Watts
- Savills
- Croudace Homes
- Gleeds
- Royal Households
- Cubitt Consulting
- CBRE.
Graduate roles include graduate surveyor, building surveyor, and site manager.
Getting your full RICS membership
If you aspire to become a RICS Chartered Surveyor, you will need to complete at least two years of relevant professional work experience – the Assessment of Professional Competence (APC). If you undertake a sandwich placement, this will normally count as the first year of your professional work experience (only for RICS), however at least 12 months of study must take place on a graduate training scheme. Find out more about how to complete your APC and become RICS qualified.
This course is designed to prepare you for future employment in a number of the RICS APC pathways.
Employability team
Our expert Employability team will work closely with you at every stage of your career planning, providing personal support and advice. You can benefit from this service at any time during your studies, and for up to three years after completing your course. Find out more about the service. Our Employability team runs a series of events throughout the year specifically for Property Management and Development students, including our Property, Design and Construction fair, bringing together our students with prospective employers.
Find out more about career options in the construction industry on the Chartered Institute of Building website.
Excellent placement opportunities
BSc (Hons) Building Surveying students have the opportunity to apply for a year-long work placement (minimum of 36 weeks in one or more organisations). This will give you real, hands-on experience within the industry, opening up exciting opportunities for future employment. Our sandwich route offers this year-long placement option, with a total course length of four years.
Where can I work?
Building Surveying students typically gain placements with consultancies, developers, real estate management companies and investors, as well as on the client side, looking after large retail and leisure estates.
Recent destinations have included: Baily Garner; Buckingham Palace; Cubit Consulting; Derbyshire County Council; Faithful+Gould; Great Ormond Street Hospital; Gleeds; Michael Dyson; Mitchells & Butlers; and Nottingham City Homes.
Typical job roles include: assistant building surveyor, trainee building surveyor, junior project manager, project assistant, and facility assessor.
Professional qualification
Successful completion of the 36 weeks leads to an extra qualification – the Diploma in Professional Practice, which will further enhance your CV.
Facilities
Facilities for Property students
The majority of your lectures and seminars will take place in the Newton building.
Dedicated resource centre
Students in the School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment have access to a dedicated resource centre. This centre, based in the Maudslay building, enables students to undertake private study in a facility equipped with computers, large format plotters and desk space, together with the latest, and archived, journals and publications.
This resource centre is open from 8 am to 8 pm, Monday to Friday.
IT resources
Our IT resource rooms and PC clusters are distributed across the City site, with PCs providing access to Microsoft Office, email, web browsing, networked file storage and high-speed online printing services (with a free printing allowance for each student). Resource rooms are available 24 hours a day.
Books and library resources
In the library, you will have access to an extensive and diverse range of books and periodicals that focus on specialist areas within the Built Environment. The library's OneSearch system provides access to all our electronic resources, journals and books.
Within the library there is a liaison librarian who has specialist subject knowledge. They can offer detailed help in finding and using print and electronic resources, and also support on things such as Harvard referencing and research skills.
