At the University of Reading studying the BSc building Surveying will prepare you for a successful career in building surveying. You will benefit from the Department's strong links with industry and the surveying profession. Additionally, the degree is accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and the Chartered Institute of Building. As with all of our surveying and construction courses, the programme structure provides an opportunity to explore a range of construction-related disciplines prior to specialising in the final year. You will be able to transfer onto other courses, such as Quantity Surveying or Construction Management, at the end of your second year if you wish to do so. A particular emphasis is placed on transferable skills and University of Reading graduates are renowned for rapid progression to senior positions within professional firms.
You will study in an internationally-renowned department with strong industry links and an outstanding employability rating. Many members of staff within the School are active in research and consultancy. This ensures that the course reflects not only the very best of current practice, but also the latest developments in areas such as Building Information Modelling (BIM) and sustainability.
During your first two years you will develop a comprehensive understanding of the disciplines which underpin construction management and the surveying professions. This will include subjects such as economics, law, professional practice and building technology. Recurring themes throughout the course include the application of digital technologies, extending from working with hand-held tablets to the use of aerial drones for roof surveys. There is an especially strong focus on project work and interdisciplinary collaboration. Recent projects have included a school in the Gambia and another in Malawi. Furthermore, we place a strong focus on employability and you will have the opportunity to network with industry professionals throughout the course. You will also be encouraged to take up a placement over the summer between your second and final years, for which you will gain credits which contribute towards your degree. Additionally, there is an option to spend a year in industry, in the UK or abroad.
In the final year of the BSc Building Surveying course you will develop the technical and practical skills needed for the inspection and analysis of buildings. You will also complete a dissertation on a research topic of your choice and a building surveying project, in which you will survey a building in need of repair and refurbishment and will produce a viable recommendation of proposed work for a client. Additionally you can explore areas of interest through optional modules on subjects such as intelligent buildings, historic built environment, construction contract law, and modern languages.