Intro

Building surveyors are involved in the development, management, conservation, refurbishment, and maintenance of all types of real estate. Their technical and business expertise, and insights into legal aspects of construction, provide valuable contributions to the overall success of a building project.

Our Building Surveying degree develops skills in science, technology, and management you need for a career in this industry, and raises your awareness of sustainable development.

You will have access to our specialist facilities, including professional software like Building Information Modelling (BIM). Field trips and site visits, and live-brief projects with students from related courses gives you experience that reflects the working environment.

Key facts

Location 91快活林: Moulsecoomb

UCAS code K230

Full-time 3 years
With placement year 4 years
Part-time 4–6 years

Accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and Chartered Association of Building Engineers

What are my next steps?

Open days are the best way to find out about your course, the campus where you'll be based, and get a feel for the University of 91快活林.

Book your place: Moulsecoomb campus open day 23 November

Or if you're ready,

Entry criteria

Entry requirements

A-levels or BTEC
Entry requirements are in the range of A-level BBB–BCC (120–104 UCAS Tariff points), or BTEC Extended Diploma DMM–MMM. Our conditional offers typically fall within this range.

International Baccalaureate
26 points, with three subjects at Higher level.

Access to HE Diploma
Pass with 60 credits overall. At least 45 credits at level 3, with 24 credits at merit or above.

T-level
Merit in the Design, Surveying and Planning T-level. Other T-level subjects are not accepted.

GCSE (minimum grade C or grade 4) 
At least English language, maths and a science.

Studied before or got relevant experience?
A qualification, HE credits, or relevant experience may count towards your course at 91快活林, and could mean that you do not have to take some elements of the course or can start in year 2 or 3. 

English language requirements
IELTS 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each element. Find out more about the other English qualifications that we accept.

Foundation degree/HND
International foundation may be considered. Applicants with an HND or foundation Degree may be considered for year 2 entry.

Mature students
Applications from mature candidates with built environment experience are welcome but are subject to RICS requirements. Contact us for details.

Studying part-time
Part-time students should apply direct to the university.

International requirements and visas

International requirements by country
Country name
Albania
Algeria
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Belarus
Belgium
Bermuda
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
Bulgaria
Burma (Myanmar)
Cameroon
Canada
Chile
China
Colombia
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Ecuador
Egypt
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Guyana
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kosovo
Kuwait
Latvia
Lebanon
Liechtenstein
Libya
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Malaysia
Malawi
Malta
Mexico
Moldova
Montenegro
Morocco
Namibia
Nepal
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nigeria
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Palestinian National Authority
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Romania
Russian Federation
Saudi Arabia
Serbia
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Sri Lanka
Syria
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Tanzania
Thailand
Tunisia
Turkey
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United States
Uzbekistan
Venezuela
Vietnam
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe

We can help you meet our English language or academic entry requirements.

View our English language courses

For pre-sessional English preparation courses.

For degree preparation courses.

Visas and immigration advice

Applying for a student visa

Check out our step-by-step guidance.

Contextual admissions

Grades are never the whole picture, at 91快活林 we're interested in your creativity, resourcefulness, persistence and ability to think big. That's why we treat everyone who applies as an individual, accept a wide range of qualifications and we will consider your other achievements and experiences along with your grades.

We know that not everyone's background provides the same advantages and for some students achieving our required grades may be more challenging because of circumstances outside of their control. If you meet our contextual admissions criteria we will make you an offer which is at least 16 UCAS points lower than our standard offer. Find out about contextual admissions at 91快活林

If you receive a contextual offer you may also qualify for extra financial support from us through our 91快活林 Boost cost of living package. Find out about the 91快活林 Boost

Graphic with the text 'Potential + possibility'

Course content

Why choose 91快活林?

  • Close links with industry, from our Industrial Advisory Board to guest lecturers, provide networking opportunities and bring learning to life.
  • Option of a paid placement year to gain valuable work experience and build your confidence.
  • Specialist facilities including hydraulics lab, modelling studio, dynamics lab, heavy structures lab, surveying equipment and professional software including BIM and CAD.
  • Opportunities to get involved in active research projects.
  • Accredited by RICS and CABE.Shared first year with our building and construction courses covers key aspects of learning across the industry.
  • Tailor option modules to your interests as you progress through your course.
  • Flexibility to study full- or part-time.
Student with long hair in front of computer working a robot arm

Year 1

In your first year you will explore fundamental elements relating to the industry.

Modules

  • Introduction to the Built Environment

    This module will introduce you to the roles of construction professionals throughout the lifecycle of construction projects. You will research the design, construction and operation of buildings with a particular focus on your chosen discipline, widening your perspective of the processes involved at each stage and the statutory regulations that must be complied with. You will also take part in a residential field course, where you'll work in teams to gain an appreciation of the construction process and the different roles within this.

  • Building Technology and Design 1

    Explore the fundamental principles of building technology and architectural drawing. Through lectures and practical guided workshops, you'll be introduced to the main principles of design and construction of low-rise residential buildings, and the architectural drawing needed to represent technical information.

  • Building Technology and Design 2

    Build upon your understanding of building technology and regulations developed in Building Technology and Design 1. You'll take part in lectures, drawing studios and CADD workshops and apply your knowledge to develop an individual architectural project using hand-drawing. You'll learn to use an industry-standard CADD drawing package and develop skills which are essential in professional practice.

  • Indoor Environment and Building Services 1

    This module will introduce you to environmental science of heat, light and sound in the context of domestic buildings and to building services. You'll develop an appreciation of services provision to meet the comfort criteria of domestic buildings and an awareness of smart control and sustainable services design.

  • Land and Construction Surveying

    This module will introduce you to the equipment and methods used in both land and construction engineering surveying. The module will provide you with a thorough grounding in both the theoretical and practical aspects of surveying and covers a range of surveying topics from basic measurement of heights, distances and angles, to setting out coordinate positions on site. As a result of the nature of the content, there is a focus on practical skills with much of the delivery taking place in a practical setting.

  • Construction Materials for Built Environment

    This module covers basic material science relating to construction materials such as timber, steel, concrete, masonry, polymers and bituminous materials. You will develop an understanding of commonly used construction materials and evaluate the performance of different materials and to identify a variety of failure types. You will have the opportunity to test some of the main properties of basic construction materials through laboratory sessions.

Three students walking outside carrying a total station

Year 2

In your second year of this building surveying degree, you will build on the knowledge and skills you have gained in your first year and begin to explore aspects of building surveying in more depth.

Modules

  • Building Surveying Professional Practice
  • Cost and Contract Administration
  • Construction Methods and Technology
  • Indoor Environments and Building Services 2
  • Building Surveying
  • Building Information Modelling (BIM) 
Student in the computer room using BIM

Placement year

A placement year offers an excellent opportunity to gain work experience, build a professional network, increase your confidence, develop existing skills and discover new ones. The experience also significantly enhances your CV.

Students have been on placement in organisations including Johnson Gillies Chartered Building Surveyors and Building Consultants, Baily Garner LLP and Portsmouth City Council. 

Student on a building site in high vis

Final year 

In your final year you will develop and complete your individual research project. You will also choose from option modules, giving you flexibility to specialise in areas that interest you most.

Modules

  • Advanced Building Surveying
  • Honours project
  • Building Pathology and Life Care

Option modules*

  • Construction Risk and Financial Analysis
  • Project Planning and Analysis
  • Sustainable Construction
  • Environmental Impact Assessment
  • Waste Management and the Circular Economy

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

Two students discussing work in the computer lab

Building Information Modelling (BIM) 

At 91快活林, you will have the opportunity to learn Building Information Modelling (BIM). The industry standard BIM application is widely used in the UK construction industry to manage and deliver building construction projects from concept to completion. Gaining skills and experience in BIM, as part of your studies, can help to give you a professional advantage when you graduate.

You will begin to develop your knowledge and skills in BIM by gaining a comprehensive understanding of modelling a building in a 3D environment, applying contractual requirements and learning about the building lifecycle. 

You will then have the opportunity to further investigate BIM's capabilities. The UK government currently states that all publicly-funded projects must now meet the BIM protocol, which has resulted in a push for a fast adoption of BIM in the industry, meaning there will be a growing demand for professionals who have BIM experience.

Students studying architectural diagrams on the computer

Meet the team

, course leader

My teaching encompasses a range of subjects across the built environment and civil engineering disciplines, including introduction to the built environment (focusing on regulations and legislation within the construction industry and practical construction skills), surveying practice, construction surveying, construction management and project management for construction.

My teaching is underpinned by real-life projects and examples, incorporating site visits, field courses and practical workshops where possible. I use engaging and interactive teaching methods and blended learning to appeal to a wide range of learning styles. In one of my modules in particular I use flipped teaching – lectures are pre-recorded and watched by the students at their own pace before attending a tutorial-based face-to-face session – this has proved very effective, appealing to students with a wide range of abilities and interests.

Dr Hannah Wood

Dr Hannah Wood

More about this subject at 91快活林

Careers

Professional accreditation  

Our Building Surveying degree course BSc(Hons) is accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and the Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE).

Accreditation from RICS shows that our course meets a globally-recognised standard of surveying education, is relevant to industry and is recognised by employers as the benchmark of quality.

This is the first step to becoming a chartered surveyor. You will be required to complete relevant work experience and professional assessment after graduation to achieve chartered status.

CABE accreditation gives you access to free student membership and the benefits associated with being a member of the professional body.

RICS logo

Prepare for your career

In your career you need a combination of knowledge, skills, personal qualities and relevant experiences – and you’ll get all of this from your degree.

  • Work on interdisciplinary projects with students from related courses that reflect the professional working environment
  • Gain insight into professional practice and see live projects up-close on site visits
  • Connect with our professional networks, from visiting lecturers who share their knowledge with you to placement opportunities in 91快活林 and beyond
  • Develop technical skills and experience managing and delivering construction projects outside the classroom during activity weeks
  • Gain a competitive advantage when you graduate by learning Building Information Modelling which is widely used in industry
Mariyana Stoyanova working on site with hard hat

Placement 

There are lots of advantages of taking a placement year. You get to:

  • apply your learning to real-life situations and challenges
  • gain new skills which can help in your career
  • explore career options, helping you think about what you don’t want to do as well as what you do
  • boost your confidence and organisational skills
  • build your network of professional contacts 
  • come back for your final year more focused, more organised and more confident

And it can count towards your professional experience to become chartered after you graduate.

Facilities 

You’ll have access to our specialist labs and facilities supported by our skilled and knowledgeable technicians. This includes:

  • Hydraulics lab
  • Modelling studio
  • Dynamics lab
  • Heavy structures lab

Take a 360 tour to find out more.

Civil engineering laboratory 360 tour

Industry links 

Senior representatives of construction companies, architects and surveyors from around the region meet regularly at our industry advisory board to review our courses, ensuring they remain up-to-date and relevant to industry.

Guest lecturers from industry share their insight and knowledge with you giving you the opportunity to network

Our links with local and national industry provide site visit and placement opportunities and can help with employment after graduation.

Graduate destinations 

Graduates are working for companies such as Malcolm Hollis, CBRE, Mace, Portsmouth City Council, Stile Harold Williams, Clifford Dann and Coppard Giles. 

Further study 

At 91快活林 opportunities for further study at postgraduate level in construction include our Construction Project Management MSc.

Supporting your employability 

Outside of your course, our Careers Service is here to support you as you discover (and re-discover) your strengths and what matters to you. We are here for you throughout your university journey as you work towards a fulfilling and rewarding career.

Connect with our careers team

  • Find part-time work that you can combine with your studies.
  • Find, or be, a mentor or get involved with our peer-to-peer support scheme.
  • Develop your business ideas through our entrepreneurial support network.
  • Get professional advice and support with career planning, CV writing and interview top tips.
  • Meet potential employers at our careers fairs.
  • Find rewarding volunteering opportunities to help you discover more about what makes you tick, and build your CV.

Whatever your career needs, we are here to help. And that's not just while you are a student, our support carries on after you've graduated.

Find out more about our Careers Service...

You also have the option to enrol on this course part-time, giving you more flexibility in the way you choose to study.

Coloured background with the words Be More, Connected, Skilled, Employable

Fees and costs

Course fees

UK (full-time) 9,250 GBP

International (full-time) 15,900 GBP

If you choose to take the professional placement (sandwich) year offered on this course you will pay a reduced fee during this year. Our fee for the professional placement year is £1,500 for UK students and £2,280 for international students. This fee may be subject to small increases, in line with inflation.

Fee information for this course for 2025 entry will be updated here no later than December 2024.

The fees listed here are for the first year of full-time study if you start your course in the academic year 2024–25.

You will pay fees for each year of your course. Some fees may increase each year.

UK undergraduate and some postgraduate fees are regulated by the UK government and increases will not be more than the maximum amount allowed. Course fees that are not regulated may increase each year by up to 5% or RPI (whichever is higher).

If you are studying part-time your fee will usually be calculated based on the number of modules that you take.

Find out more

What's included

You may have to pay additional costs during your studies. The cost of optional activities is not included in your tuition fee and you will need to meet this cost in addition to your fees. A summary of the costs that are included and any extras that you may be expected to pay while studying a course  in the School of Architecture, Technology and Engineering in the 2022–23 academic year are listed here.

  • Travel and accommodation costs are included for all mandatory taught residential field trips, but you’ll need to provide your own food and drink.
  • There will be opportunities to attend additional study trips or optional taught residential field trips throughout the school, but these are not required to pass your course. Normally, a contribution will be required towards expenses such as travel, entrance fees and accommodation. This will vary depending on where and how long the trip is, but you should budget around £1,500.
  • Where optional international field trips are offered, these are not required to pass your course. You should expect to budget £300–£500 for these, to cover flight, accommodation, food and entrance to museums. The total amount spent would be based on location and number of trips taken.
  • If you choose to take an optional paid placement, you’ll be expected to cover your own travel, accommodation, food and drink.
  • Some students require specialist outdoor equipment and/or personal protective equipment (PPE) and should budget up to £150.
  • You will have access to computers and necessary software; however, many students choose to buy their own hardware, software and accessories. The amount spent will depend on your individual choices, but this expenditure is not essential to pass any of our courses. Find out what free software is available from the University of 91快活林.
  • Course books are available from the university, but you may wish to budget from £15 to £100 per year to buy your own copies and subscribe to design magazines.
  • In most cases coursework submissions are electronic but students may wish to print notes which would involve an extra cost.
  • Costs of up to £50 are included in the fees for students on engineering courses to pay for materials for their final year projects. On rare occasions where material costs exceed £50, they will need to be paid for by the student.

Architecture, interior architecture, design and product design additional costs

  • Students should budget around £25 for printing and binding dissertations in their final year.
  • In your first year of studies, you will need to buy a drawing and modelling toolkit. Each course will suggest a list of items of which some will be essential, and others optional. You should budget around £100–£250 for these.
  • For most courses you will need to budget between £100 to £300 per year for printing and portfolio costs. Costs will vary depending on type of printer and type and size of paper used. Some students tend to work digitally, spending more on printing and some by hand, spending more on materials so these costs vary widely between students.
  • For most courses you will need to budget between £10 and £100 for material costs per design project. Costs will vary depending on how and what you use to make models. You are encouraged to recycle used materials where possible.
  • You will need to budget between £5–£50 to exhibit work for the end-of-year show. Fundraising by the student society, BIAAS, normally helps towards this cost.

You can chat with our enquiries team if you have a question or need more information. Or check our finance pages for advice about funding and scholarships as well as more information about fees and advice on international and island fee-paying status.

Location and student life

Campus where this course is taught

Moulsecoomb campus

Two miles north of 91快活林 seafront, Moulsecoomb is our largest campus and student village. Moulsecoomb has been transformed by a recent development of our estate. On campus you'll find new Students' Union, events venue, and sports and fitness facilities, alongside the library and student centre.

Over 900 students live here in our halls, Moulsecoomb Place and the new Mithras halls – Brunswick, Goldstone, Hanover, Preston and Regency.

Moulsecoomb has easy access to buses and trains and to all the exciting things happening in our home city.

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Accommodation

We guarantee an offer of a place in halls of residence to all eligible students. So if you applied for halls by the deadline you are guaranteed a room in our halls of residence.

91快活林: Moulsecoomb

Halls of residence
We have self-catered halls on all our campuses, within minutes of your classes, and other options that are very nearby.

You can apply for any of our halls, but the options closest to your study location are:

  • Mithras Halls are stylish new high-rises in the heart of the student village at our revitalised Moulsecoomb campus with ensuite rooms for more than 800 students.
  • Varley Park is a popular dedicated halls site, offering a mix of rooms and bathroom options at different prices. It is around two miles from Moulsecoomb campus and four miles from the city centre, and is easy to get to by bus.

Want to live independently?
We can help – find out more about private renting.

Relaxing in halls

Modern accommodation at Moulsecoomb

Mithras halls room with a view

Relaxing in halls near the campus

Student Union social space

Student Union social space at Moulsecoomb

Local area

About 91快活林

The city of 91快活林 & Hove is a forward-thinking place which leads the way in the arts, technology, sustainability and creativity. You'll find living here plays a key role in your learning experience.

91快活林 is a leading centre for creative media technology, recently named the startup capital of the UK.

The city is home to a national 5G testbed and over 1,000 tech businesses. The digital sector is worth over £1bn a year to the local economy - as much as tourism.

All of our full-time undergraduate courses involve work-based learning - this could be through placements, live briefs and guest lectures. Many of these opportunities are provided by local businesses and organisations.

It's only 50 minutes by train from 91快活林 to central London and there are daily direct trains to Bristol, Bedford, Cambridge, Gatwick Airport, Portsmouth and Southampton.

Map showing distance to London from 91快活林
91快活林 Beach sunset

Maps

Moulsecoomb campus map

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Support and wellbeing

Your course team

Your personal academic tutor, course leader and other tutors are all there to help you with your personal and academic progress. You'll also have a student support and guidance tutor (SSGT) who can help with everything from homesickness, managing stress or accommodation issues.

Your academic skills

Our 91快活林 Student Skills Hub gives you extra support and resources to develop the skills you'll need for university study, whatever your level of experience so far.

Your mental health and wellbeing

As well as being supported to succeed, we want you to feel good too. You'll be part of a community that builds you up, with lots of ways to connect with one another, as well having access to dedicated experts if you need them. Find out more about how we support your wellbeing.

Sport at 91快活林

Sport 91快活林

Sport 91快活林 brings together our sport and recreation services. As a 91快活林 student you'll have use of sport and fitness facilities across all our campuses and there are opportunities to play for fun, fitness or take part in serious competition. 

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Sports scholarships

Our sports scholarship scheme is designed to help students develop their full sporting potential to train and compete at the highest level. We offer scholarships for elite athletes, elite disabled athletes and talented sports performers.

Find out more about sport scholarships.

Students playing frisbee

Stay in touch

Ask a question about this course

If you have a question about this course, our enquiries team will be happy to help.

01273 644644

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Statistics

Find out more about how the academic year and degree courses are organised, and about learning and assessment activities you might get to grips with at 91快活林. More specific information about this course is detailed in the programme specification (linked below). You can find out also about the support we offer to help you adjust to university life.

Course and module descriptions on this page were accurate when first published and are the basis of the course. Detailed information on any changes we make to modules and learning and assessment activities will be sent to all students by email before enrolment, so that you have all the information before you come to 91快活林.

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Course specification

Course specifications are the approved description of each course. They contain a breakdown of the content and structure of the course, learning outcomes and assessment. Course specs are updated following course changes.

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