BSc (Hons) Building Surveying
USW's Built Environment degrees are rated best in Wales (Building, Complete University Guide 2023)
Building Surveyors are required to advise on and manage all aspects of the ever growing Built Environment. As we utilise our buildings more efficiently and demand more from our urban spaces, the role of the building surveyor is becoming increasingly important.
You will learn how to advise on a range of topics from building control, building conservation, building defects, the planning system and the construction process. You’ll be able to take responsibility for delivering buildings that are sustainable and designed to comply with all the necessary legal and regulatory requirements.
This course has been developed specifically to provide students with the skills required to fill an identified shortage in the Built Environment sector.
This course is also available through Network75, a combined work and study route.
A third of this course can be studied through the medium of Welsh, and specific scholarships, including the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol Scholarships are available to students who choose to do so.
Building Surveyors will study construction technology which is fundamental to the role. This knowledge is then developed through the legal and regulatory framework, such as building regulations, health and safety requirements and conservation issues. Sustainability and the efficient use of buildings is explored, alongside learning about the role of public and private housing providers and the wider provision of Welsh Housing Quality Standards.
You will develop core building surveying skills such identifying building defects, advising on suitable remedies, advising on planning applications and home purchases. Undertaking stock condition surveys, facilities management, developing maintenance schedules and dealing with conservation enquires.
Year One: Building Surveying Degree
- Built Environment Law
- Construction Technology 1
- QS Practice and Procedure
- Project Management Practice and Procedure
- Built Environment Economics
- Integrating Project 1
Year Two: Building Surveying Degree
- Design Economics
- Contract Management
- Construction Technology 2
- Management of Buildings
- BIM in Construction
- Building Surveying
Year Three: Building Surveying Degree
- Built Environment Dissertation
- Sustainable Technology
- Commercial Management and Enterprise
- Building Pathology
- Building Control
- Supervised Work Experience (SWE)
Mae modiwlau cyfrwng Cymraeg yn cynnwys | Welsh Module options are:
Blwyddyn Un
- Cyfraith Amgylchedd Adeiledig
- Technoleg Adeiladwaith
- Tirfesureg Pur-Ymarfer a Gweithdrefn
- Economeg Amgylchedd Adeiledig
Blwyddyn Dau
- Economeg Dylunio
- Rheoli Cytundebau
- Technoleg Adeiladu 2
Blwyddyn Tri
- Traethawd Estyngedig
Teaching
The Building Surveying degree is taught through a combination of lectures, seminars and tutorials.
You will also get chance to participate in numerous site visits to local companies allowing you to see how the theory is applied in a professional setting. In addition to this, you will work independently to prepare for classes and complete project work.
Your studies here won’t confine you to a classroom. We don’t believe you can learn vital skills like analytical decision making and problem solving by just reading about them. That’s why we offer practical activities that help you understand and apply the theory you learn in lectures.
Assessment
Your assessments will involve examinations, coursework and problem-based exercises taught using real-life scenarios.
There are various employment opportunities in this field, nationally and internationally. You could work in private practice, property departments, construction and development companies, or with government organisations. You will also have the technical, legal, economic and construction skills to work in a variety of professional Built Environment roles.
Facilities
Built Environment students have access to a range of facilities across the University and School of Engineering. These include computer labs, the Learning Resourses Centre and a dedicated Built Environment Project Room.
Lecturers
The Built Environment subject offers an Open Door policy, whereby students have access to staff at all times. We also offer a Personal Academic Coach for each of our students for the duration of their studies.
Students can expect to be taught by some of the below academic staff:
We regularly revalidate courses for quality assurance and enhancement
At USW, we regularly review our courses in response to changing patterns of employment and skills demand to ensure we offer learning designed to reflect today’s student needs and tomorrow’s employer demands.
If during a review process course content is significantly changed, we’ll write to inform you and talk you through the changes for the coming year. But whatever the outcome, we aim to equip our students with the skillset and the mindset to succeed whatever tomorrow may bring. Your future, future-proofed.
The entry criteria below reflect our standard entry requirements for the course for September 2023. However, all applications received by the University are reviewed holistically and individually. Entry criteria for September 2024 is changing and will be published on ucas.com from 8th May 2023. Entry criteria for September 2024 will be updated on our website from the end of October 2023.
Contextual offers
We may make you a lower offer based on a range of factors, including your background (where you live and the school or college that you attended for example), your experiences and individual circumstances (as a care leaver, for example). This is referred to as a contextual offer and we receive data from UCAS to support us in making these decisions. USW prides itself on it’s a student experience and we support our students to achieve their goals and become a successful graduate. This approach helps us to support students who have the potential to succeed and who may have faced barriers that make it more difficult to access university. Here is a link to our Contextual Admissions Policy.
Other qualifications and experience
We can also consider combinations of qualifications and other qualifications not listed here may also be acceptable. We can sometimes consider credits achieved at other universities and your work/life experience through an assessment of prior learning. This may be for year one entry, or advanced entry to year two or three of a course where this is possible.
To find out which qualifications have tariff points, please refer to the UCAS tariff calculator.
If you need more help or information or would like to speak to our friendly admissions team, please contact us here
Typical A-Level Offer
BCC
Typical Welsh BACC Offer
Grade C and BC at A Level
Typical BTEC Offer
BTEC Extended Diploma Distinction Merit Merit
Typical Access to HE Offer
Pass Access to HE Diploma with a minimum of 104 UCAS Tariff points
Additional Requirements
GCSEs: The University normally requires a minimum 5 GCSEs including Mathematics/Numeracy and English at Grade C or Grade 4 or above, or their equivalent, but consideration is given to individual circumstances.
Full-time fees are per year. Part-time fees are per 20 credits. Once enrolled, the fee will remain at the same rate throughout the duration of your study on this course.
August 2023 - July 2024 Fees
Full-time UK: £9000
Full-time International: £14400
Part-time UK: £740 per 20 credits
August 2024 - July 2025 Fees
Full-time UK: TBC
Full-time International: TBC
Part-time UK: TBC
Student Perks
At the University of South Wales, you’re investing in so much more than a degree. We strive to provide our students with the best possible experience, no matter what you chose to study. Whether it’s access to top of the range mac books and PCs, state-of-the-art facilities packed with industry-leading equipment and software, masterclasses and events led by industry experts, or a wide range of clubs and societies to meet likeminded people, better tomorrows start with extra perks.
Each course also has their own unique student benefits to prepare you for the real word, and details of these can be found on our course pages. From global field trips, integrated work experience and free course-related resources, to funded initiatives, projects working with real employers, and opportunities for extra qualifications and accreditations - at USW your future, is future-proofed.
Click here to learn more about student perks at USW.
Additional Costs
As a student of USW, you’ll have access to lots of free resources to support your study and learning, such as textbooks, publications, online journals, laptops, and plenty of remote-access resources. Whilst in most cases these resources are more than sufficient in supporting you with completing your course, additional costs, both obligatory and optional, may be required or requested for the likes of travel, memberships, experience days, stationery, printing, or equipment.
Funding
Funding to help pay for (or cover) course tuition fees and living costs
Whilst you’re studying, you’ll have two main financial obligations – tuition fees and living costs. There’s lots of financial help available from the University of South Wales and external funding sources, that may provide loans (which have to be paid back) and grants, scholarships and bursaries (that don't).
To learn about course fees, funding options, and to see if you are eligible for financial support, visit our Fees and Funding pages.
Welsh Medium Scholarships
The University offers scholarships between £250 - £1000 to students studying part of their course through the medium of Welsh. The University is also part of the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol's scholarship scheme, which offer scholarships up to £3000. More information here: Welsh-Medium Scholarships | University of South Wales
UK students
Apply via UCAS if you are a UK residing applicant, applying for year one of a full-time undergraduate degree, Foundation Year, Foundation Degree or HND and you have not applied through UCAS before. If you are applying to study part-time, to top up your Foundation Degree or HND, or to transfer to USW from another institution, please apply directly.
International and EU students
Apply directly to the University if you live outside the UK.
There are various employment opportunities in this field, nationally and internationally. You could work in private practice, property departments, construction and development companies, or with government organisations. You will also have the technical, legal, economic and construction skills to work in a variety of professional Built Environment roles.
Some possible career options for graduates include:
- Building Surveyor
- Maintenance Manager
- Building Inspector
The Pontypridd Campus is made up of two sites: Treforest and Glyntaff. Our students love the community atmosphere, as well as living and studying in the same place. It’s quieter than the cities, with green open spaces and views across the valley.
It’s the community and friendships you’ll build that make this place special. Outside your studies you can experience our amazing sport facilities and Students’ Union.
Living in Halls is a great way to meet new people and make friends. We have high quality accommodation in Treforest, Cardiff and Newport.