About this course
Building surveyors are advisors to the property and construction industry, identifying defects and suggesting options for maintenance and repair. They work on the development of new buildings, as well as restoring properties across residential, commercial, industrial and heritage projects.
On this course, you'll develop a thorough understanding of the architectural styles and influences that inform building surveying. You'll tackle subject such as the history of buildings, building techniques, evaluation of building elements, and performance of building materials.
You'll learn to test and analyse all aspects of building performance and become an expert in advising on alternative uses of existing buildings, supervising remediation and refurbishment projects, as well as how to apply crucial health and safety regulations.
We also offer this course as a Degree Apprenticeship.
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2nd most sustainable university in the world (UI GreenMetric World University Rankings 2024). -
Study in the heart of Nottingham — one of Europe’s top 25 student cities, and home to over 75,000 learners (QS Best Student Cities, 2025). -
Acquire vital workplace skills by undertaking a one-year placement on our sandwich route. Previously students have spent their placements at companies such as Baily Garner, Paragon and Innes England. -
Building subjects at NTU are ranked 4th in the UK for Teaching Quality (Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide, 2025).
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What you’ll study
Through your modules, you'll learn to diagnose, investigate, analyse and test all aspects of building performance and deterioration, enabling you to advise on relevant processes, including maintenance, refurbishment and restoration.
Modules on this course include:
Year One
- Professional, Academic and Business Skills (20 credits)
- Surveying Skills (20 credits)
- Construction (20 credits)
- Economics and Valuation (20 credits)
- Law (20 credits)
- Planning and Land Use (20 credits)
Year Two
- Structural Appraisal (20 credits)
- Contract Administration and Procurement (20 credits)
- Building Design Project (40 credits)
- Property Development: Principles and Practice (20 credits)
- Employability and Commercial Awareness (20 credits)
Year Three
- Sandwich placement year or Study abroad
Final Year
- Heritage and Conservation (20 credits)
- Building Surveying Practice (40 credits)
- Building Pathology (40 credits)
- Research Project (20 credits)
Professional, Academic and Business Skills (20 credits)
- This module provides you with an introduction to academic study, to the built environment professions, and to the nature of the work carried out by surveyors.
Surveying Skills (20 credits)
- This module will provide you with an introduction to practice and surveying skills that will be developed throughout the course of your degree and in the workplace.
Construction (20 credits)
- This module introduces you to a range of technical, practical and environmental principles involved in the construction of a range of traditional and nontraditional buildings.
- It provides a framework for understanding the environmental impact of buildings and introduces the concept of building pathology, which examines why buildings fail.
Economics and Valuation (20 credits)
- This module introduces property economics and the links between the economy and the property market, as well as giving you a overview of property valuation.
- By the end of the module, you will be able to use economic concepts and the theory of supply and demand to explain activities in the construction and property market.
Law (20 credits)
- This module introduces you to the English legal system with a focus on civil law affecting the property industry. You will gain an understanding of how this law operates and an introduction to how it impacts on society and the property professions.
Planning and Land Use (20 credits)
- This module introduces the concepts and principles of the planning system.
- The content of the module is underpinned by the concept of sustainable development. and it considers the impact of climate change on how cities will evolve and adapt in the future.
Structural Appraisal (20 credits)
- This module develops your knowledge of the performance of buildings and their component parts.
- You will gain an understanding of the modes of failure and different construction materials, and be introduced to basic structural design, disrepair, and methods of remediation.
Contract Administration and Procurement (20 credits)
- In this module you will analyse the procurement process involved in appointing consultants and contractors for building projects.
Building Design Project (40 credits)
- During this module you will work in the studio to explore options in the selection of building materials, construction methods, and environmental services.
- You will develop your proficiency at carrying out a range of surveys associated with land and buildings.
Property Development: Principles and Practice (20 credits)
- This module introduces you to the development process and the commercial drivers behind them.
- You will examine the roles of various participants in the development process and how they affect its end product.
Employability and Commercial Awareness (20 credits)
- This module provides guidance for gaining, and preparing for, employment within the property sector.
- You will be introduced to the requirements for the RICS Assessment of Professional Competence and the principles of employment law, Health and Safety at Work regulations, and related procedures.
Sandwich placement year
In your third year, you'll get the opportunity to take a year-long, full-time placement. This will give you real, hands-on experience and open exciting opportunities for your future employment. Many students return to their placement company after graduation.
Recent placement destinations have included CBRE, Michael Dyson Associates, Lambert Smith Hampton, Faithful+Gould, Arcadis, Tower Surveys, Watts Group, and more. The majority of these roles come with a salary, with some students earning up to £20,000 for their year. Roles have included Building Surveyor, Trainee Technical Adviser, Assistant Project Officer, and many more.
The majority of companies are RICS accredited, which means the year counts towards your RICS Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) and becoming a Chartered Surveyor.
Study abroad
If you're studying on our sandwich route you can also opt to study abroad for a full academic year, or for a semester, during Year Three. This is an optional and additional period of study that complements your degree at NTU as an alternative to taking a work placement.
This is an exciting opportunity to experience a different national culture, teaching and learning styles and subjects in an international environment. The destination university must be a year abroad / exchange partner of NTU or member of a formally recognised scheme such as the International Student Exchange Programme (ISEP).
Our NTU Global and student mobility team will support you in finding the right opportunity from one of the many international partners available around the world.
Successful completion of a period of international study will earn you a standalone award – an International Study Certificate (minimum six weeks) or the International Study Diploma (minimum 36 weeks).
Heritage and Conservation (20 credits)
- This module develops your knowledge and skills in relation to architectural history and conservation, and heritage philosophy and practice.
- You will learn how to identify different architectural styles, appraise culturally significant buildings, and manage proposed uses and interventions in line with current legal, technical and procedural considerations.
Building Surveying Practice (40 credits)
- This module develops your knowledge of the performance of buildings and their component parts.
- It will provide an understanding of the current best practice in terms of building management and maintenance. You will be taught how to identify and diagnose complex defects in existing buildings and suggest methods of remediation.
- You will also look at the drawing up of schedules of planned and programmed maintenance work, gaining an understanding of budgetary control.
Building Pathology (40 credits)
- This module develops your knowledge of building pathology so that you can diagnose, assess and classify defects in low-rise buildings in a practical setting.
- The aim is that you will be able to apply your knowledge to practical situations and specify the use of appropriate methods of diagnosis to deal with hidden defects and sensitive locations.
Research Project (20 credits)
- This module requires you to investigate a topic of your choice in an extended project.
- You will critically analyse existing literature, recommend and apply suitable research methods, analyse data, and produce conclusions and recommendations.
We regularly review and update our course content based on student and employer feedback, ensuring that all of our courses remain current and relevant. This may result in changes to module content or module availability in future years.
Don’t just take our word for it, hear from our students themselves
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How you're taught
You’ll learn through a mix of:
- lectures - covering the key theories
- seminars - smaller-group sessions perfect for learning key skills and collaborative working
- project work - develop your team working skills, as well as self-directed study 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.
A placement year may be taken between year 2 and year 3 of study.
Study trips
In the second and final year of your studies, you may have the opportunity to go on a field trip.
Field trips and study visits are an important part of your learning. Trips may include site visits and visits to practices, museums, exhibitions and events. Where a trip is mandatory it will be aligned to your modules and inform project work, and substantive costs – including travel and accommodation – will be paid for by the school.
Optional trips may also be organised which can provide additional opportunities to enhance your knowledge and experience. Optional trips may incur a cost to the student. A valid passport and any associated visas will be required for any trips outside of the UK. Where there are unforeseen circumstances outside of our control, trips may not run.
Research informed teaching
Our research is tackling real-world issues – and the people working on this research will be teaching you. It also informs the subjects you’ll be studying with us so you can be sure your knowledge will be cutting-edge in your field. In the last Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021) – the UK’s system for assessing the quality and impact of research in universities – we’re proud that 100% of research submitted by the Centre of the Built Environment was assessed to be either world-leading or international excellent.
How you're assessed
People excel in different ways, and we want everybody to have the best possible chance of success. You will be assessed through:
- coursework, will consist of group and individual projects, formal reports, presentations, and essays
- projects, such as research projects, and individual and group presentations
- exams, including formal exams and written tests.
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.
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:
- EC Harris LLP (Arcadis)
- Savills
- Croudace Homes
- Cubit Consulting
- CBRE
- NG Chartered Surveyors.
Graduate roles include graduate surveyor, building surveyor, and site manager.
What our accreditations mean for you
This degree is accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) and the Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE). These accreditations represent seals of approval that the course delivers the highest standards of teaching, and signify the quality and relevance of the course content.
Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)
The RICS accreditation enables you to progress to Chartered Surveyor status once you have completed your studies. To become a Chartered Surveyor, you'll 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.
Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB)
The CIOB accreditation ensures that successful students have a clear route to become full members of the CIOB (MCIOB). To become Chartered you must apply directly to the body, and demonstrate your knowledge, skills and experience in key areas of occupational, managerial and professional competence through reviews and assessments.
As a Chartered member of CIOB, you will be part of the world's largest and most influential professional body for construction management and leadership, with nearly 50,000 members in more than 100 countries.
Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE)
All students on a CABE accredited course can apply for free Student Membership, and after graduating can apply for Graduate Membership (Grad CABE). Graduate Membership is a developmental grade on the pathway to becoming a fully qualified Building Engineer.
CABE is an internationally recognised professional body. As a member, you'll show your peers, employers and the public that you are a competent and ethical professional who can be relied upon to strive for the highest possible standards.
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. Our Employability team runs a series of events throughout the year specifically for Property Management and Development students, including our Built Environment Jobs Fair, bringing together our students with prospective employers.
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
- Nottingham City Homes
- NHS Foundation Trust (Property Services).
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.
NTU Enterprise
You'll also have the opportunity to turn your ideas into a viable business with help from NTU Enterprise, NTU's purpose-built Centre for Entrepreneurship and Enterprise, a support centre to help students create, develop and grow their own businesses.
Campus and facilities
Facilities for Property students
The majority of your lectures and seminars will take place in the Newton building, which is at the heart of our City Campus.
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.
IT resources
Our IT resource rooms and PC clusters are distributed across the City Campus, 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).
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.
Entry requirements
UK students
- Standard offer: 112 UCAS Tariff points from up to four qualifications (two of which must be A-level equivalent).
- Contextual offer: 104 UCAS Tariff points from up to four qualifications (two of which must be A-level equivalent).
To find out what qualifications have tariff points, please use our tariff calculator.
Additional requirements for UK students
There are no additional requirements for this course.
Contextual offers
If you don’t quite meet our entry requirements, we might be able to make you a lower offer based on a range of factors, including your background (such as where you live and the school or college you attended), your experiences and your individual circumstances (you may have been in care, for example). This is called a contextual offer, and we get data from UCAS to help make these decisions. We do this because we believe everyone with the potential to succeed at NTU should have the opportunity to do so, no matter what barriers you may face.
Meeting our entry requirements
Hundreds of qualifications in the UK have UCAS Tariff points attached to specific grades, including A-levels, BTECs, T Levels and many more. You can use your grades and points from up to four different qualifications to meet our criteria. Enter your predicted or achieved grades into our Tariff calculator to find out how many points your qualifications are worth.
Other qualifications and experience
NTU welcomes applications from students with non-standard qualifications and learning backgrounds, either for year one entry or for advanced standing beyond the start of a course into year 2 or beyond.
We consider study and/or credit achieved from a similar course at another institution (otherwise known as credit transfer), vocational and professional qualifications, and broader work or life experience.
Our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy outlines the process and options available for this route. If you wish to apply via Recognition of Prior Learning, please contact the central Admissions and Enquiries Team who will be able to support you through the process.
Getting in touch
If you need more help or information, get in touch through our enquiry form.
International students
- 112 UCAS Tariff points from up to four qualifications (two of which must be A-level equivalent).
We accept equivalent qualifications from all over the world. Please check your international entry requirements by country.
Additional requirements for international students
If you need help achieving the academic entry requirements, we offer a Foundation preparation course for this degree. The course is offered through our partner Nottingham Trent International College (NTIC) based on our City campus.
English language requirements
View our English language requirements for all courses, including alternative English language tests and country qualifications accepted by the University.
If you need help achieving the language requirements, we offer a Pre-Sessional English for Academic Purposes course on our City campus which is an intensive preparation course for academic study at NTU.
Other qualifications and experience
If you have the right level of qualifications, you may be able to start your Bachelors degree at NTU in year 2 or year 3. This is called ‘advanced standing’ entry and is decided on a case-by case basis after our assessment of your qualifications and experience.
You can view our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy which outlines the process and options available, such as recognising experiential learning and credit transfer.
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Getting in touch
If you need advice about studying at NTU as an international student or how to apply, our international webpages are a great place to start. If you have any questions about your study options, your international qualifications, experience, grades or other results, please get in touch through our enquiry form. Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world.
Policies
We strive to make our admissions procedures as fair and clear as possible. To find out more about how we make offers, visit our admissions policies page.
