Tutor and students looking at a technical drawing
BSc (Hons) Placement year available

Building Surveying

Start an exciting professional career as a building surveyor, advising clients about sustainable property, retro-fit and building adaptions and improvements.

Learn how to evaluate the design, specification and performance of buildings. Develop skills in building inspection and analysis, and use industry-standard equipment to recognise and tackle defects, and identify technical problems in construction.

There are opportunities to get hands-on in specialist labs for materials and testing, environmental science and design, and surveying. You’ll also work in design and AutoCAD studios.

You’ll work independently and as part of larger teams, helping you understand where building surveyors ‘fit in’. Together, you’ll go on site visits, attend talks given by professionals, and learn how to manage projects. This puts you in a strong position for employment in this interesting and varied field.

  • Building surveyor checking levels

    Hear more about our BSc (Hons) Building Surveying degree in Chelmsford.

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Why ARU?

  • Gain a full range of skills, from converting buildings to performing surveys and valuations.

  • Use specialist facilities and equipment, including AutoCAD studios and testing and surveying labs.

  • Bring the world of work to life through Live Briefs; developed with employers to give you exposure to ‘real world’ problem-solving.

  • Benefit from strong industry links with professional institutions, local firms and building surveying experts.

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Study at an award-winning university

We were named Times Higher Education University of the Year 2023. We've also been awarded a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework – a reflection of the outstanding education we offer our students.

Course options

You have the option to take this course as a four-year degree with foundation year. If you choose this option, you'll study with our partner, ARU College, in either Cambridge or Chelmsford for Year 1, then Chelmsford for years 2-4.

Key facts

Looking for different course options?

Modules are subject to change and availability, and may vary by location. If you have the choice of optional modules, these are indicated with a *.

Year 1
  • BIM and Dimensional Control (30 credits)
  • Technology and Structures (30 credits)
  • Health and Safety Project Control and Resourcing (30 credits)
  • Law and Economics (30 credits)
  • Into ARU
Year 2
  • Management Practice (15 credits)
  • Project Administration (15 credits)
  • Building Inspection and Analysis
  • Property and Land Law (15 credits)
  • Advanced Technology and Environmental Impact (30 credits)
  • Building Surveying Documentation (15 credits)
  • Ruskin Module (15 credits)
Year 3
  • Conversion and Adaptation of Buildings (15 credits)
  • Building Surveying Practice I (15 credits)
  • Building Surveying Practice 2 (15 credits)
  • Building Pathology (15 credits)
  • Project Evaluation and Development (15 credits)
  • Risk, Value and Environmental Impact (15 credits)
  • Major Project (Surveying) (30 credits)
Module details

To prepare you for university study, you can take a foundation year at the start of this course. Find out more about foundation years.

Year 1
  • Interactive Learning Skills and Communication
  • ICT Skills
  • Critical Thinking
  • Maths for Scientists
  • Maths for Engineers
  • Physics for Engineers
  • Engineering Design
  • Fundamentals of Computing
Module details

You can choose to take an optional placement year as part of this course. Placements typically happen in Year 3, and your course will take four years overall. Find out more about placement years.

Year 3
  • Work Placement School of Engineering and the Built Environment (120 credits)
Module details

It's possible to study this course part-time. You'll take the same modules as BSc/BA (Hons) students, but sometimes in a different order or in different years.

As a part-time student you'll typically study for twice as long as full-time students; for example if the BSc/BA (Hons) course takes three years, you can expect to study over six years, though for some courses the part-time length may differ.

Read profiles of teaching and research staff on this course.

Facilities

As a student at ARU you’ll use industry-standard equipment to learn how to conduct site surveys and property inspections.

Facilities include design and AutoCAD studios, a materials and testing laboratory, environmental science and design laboratory, and a surveying laboratory. You'll also benefit from extensive library and IT resources.

Your Personal Development Tutor will offer support you throughout your time at university; and you can also access support with careers and employability, study skills, health and wellbeing, and more.

Take a guided tour and meet our students.

 

Accreditation

Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors

Our course is accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). When you graduate, you can take your Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) and qualify as a Chartered Surveyor.

Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors logo

Careers

As a skilled Building Surveying graduate, you’ll be in demand.

Our hands-on course offers several opportunities to experience construction environments, enhancing your employability and giving you a taster of some of the places you could choose to work as a building surveyor.

If you study in Chelmsford, our Building Surveying degree course is accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), so when you graduate, you can take your Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) and qualify as a Chartered Surveyor.

Or you might decide to stay at ARU, and study a postgraduate degree such as our MSc Construction Project Management. It’s a great opportunity to build upon your knowledge or develop a specialism. Take advantage of our Alumni Scholarship.

Employability and personal career development

Informed by employers, our courses support an integrated approach to employability. You’ll have opportunities to develop the skills and abilities they are looking for and gain a deeper understanding of how your academic learning relates to the world of work through Live Briefs and Ruskin Modules.

To amplify your career ambition, you will need to actively dedicate time outside of your studies, whether you choose to explore placements, internships or volunteering. Or you could make a social impact by collaborating with our partner organisations through our volunteer scheme Students at the Heart of Knowledge Exchange (SHoKE). These all give you an edge, providing you with experience that you will be able to evidence on your CV and talk about in interviews.

Our Employability and Careers Service offers a range of expert advice and support to build your unique professional profile, including tailored career appointments, advice on writing your CV, and help to complete job applications. You’ll have 24/7 access to the Careers Centre, our comprehensive online digital resource, which empowers you to start building a Personal Career Development Plan from the very start. Design your future at ARU.

Surveyinng and construction students in high-vis jackets on a construction site

"I have enjoyed every aspect of the course. I'm constantly learning from informative and instructive lectures and can't wait to exercise my knowledge in the workplace."

David

BSc (Hons) Building Surveying student

Entry requirements

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