Program start date | Application deadline |
2023-09-19 | - |
Program Overview
Building all-rounder
Whether you’re looking to start a career in building surveying, or are an established professional, this course will give you new routes into the construction and property practice industries. This fully accredited course was developed alongside industry professionals. You’ll study a strong core of technology, alongside sustainable construction, property law and business management. If you study full-time, there’ll be the chance to carry out a work placement in the third year, improving your employment prospects further. This course is also available as part of an apprenticeship programme, find out more about our apprenticeships.
Why study Building Surveying at LSBU?
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History: we’ve been educating building professionals for over 100 years – and have strong industry connections
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Graduate surveyor level is an excellent foundation for then progressing to chartered status through RICS-approved APC training.
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Flexible study: study full-time or part-time one day a week.
Program Outline
With a broad construction curriculum, this course will help to develop the skills and expertise to feel confident working within the building surveying industry. We’ll cover: construction technology; project management; law; economics; asset management; management and practice skills; and inspection, repair and maintenance. You can choose to take an optional year in industry in your third year.
Methods of assessment for course overall: 68% coursework.
Year 1
This module focuses on building services and the environmental performance, and develops an understanding of how buildings perform in the areas of acoustics, heat and moisture transfer, lighting, ventilation and air conditioning design. The underlying principles of each topic will be covered, together with more advanced applications, enabling you to demonstrate an understanding of building performance to other professionals within the industry. Assessment methods: 50% coursework, 50% exam.
This module focuses on the principles and application of surveying in the construction industry using both traditional and modern surveying technology, including the establishment of horizontal/vertical control and basic setting out techniques and processes. Assessment method: 100% coursework.
This unit will introduce you to the study of building materials and how buildings are pieced together (i.e. building technology). Assessment methods: 50% coursework, 50% exam.
This module will introduce you to the study of building technology associated with larger, more complex buildings, as well as to the fundamentals of structural analysis. Assessment methods: 50% coursework, 50% exam.
The legal content of this module will introduce the sources and basic rules of UK law, including common law and statute law, as it affects construction and property professionals. It will provide an introduction to construction contract law, and tort and restitution law as they affect professionals. It will explain the differences between common law and equity and criminal law, and their relevance to construction and property professionals. It will establish the legal and ethical framework of Health and Safety regulation. The economics content of the module will introduce you to micro and macro economics, and will examine the theoretical and empirical framework of economics, including price formation, the theory of the firm, degrees of competition, Government economic objectives, monetary policy, behavioural economics, contract theory, inflation and unemployment. Assessment method: 100% coursework.
This module aims to provide you with the knowledge of the interrelationships between industry, professional bodies and education, and an understanding of key professional and research requirements. It will provide you with a roadmap for your professional career, and will enable you to prepare for employment in the construction discipline. Assessment method: 100% coursework.
Year 2
This module examines the various types of construction contracts, including families of standard construction contracts, and the common law and legislation and administrative procedures which govern them. It provides a working knowledge and understanding of construction contract legal problems, and related applicable law, such as non-contractual liabilities. It examines when a dispute arises in legal terms, and how dispute resolution methods may be employed to resolve problems and disputes. Assessment method: 100% coursework.
This module will give you a practical insight into managing property. The roles and responsibilities of both landlords and tenants will be considered in property management, as well as financial calculations informing property management decisions. Assessment methods: 50% coursework, 50% exam.
This module examines the structure and role of development controls within the development process. Planning policy and building regulations are looked at in order to understand how planning and building controls influence the success of a development, as well as its compliance with development policy. Assessment method: 100% coursework.
This module focuses on the range of techniques used by building surveying professionals in the undertaking of different types of surveys on commercial and large residential properties. It also focuses on the development of planned maintenance programmes and reviews financial controls and planned roll-out programmes of work, facility and asset management, building and fire safety legislation, post occupancy legislation incl. the Party Wall etc Act. Assessment method: 100% coursework.
This module is an in-depth review of key aspects of architecture theory, modern design and conservation through the study of selected British case studies. Assessment method: 100% coursework.
This module looks at the increasing important role of energy and environmental factors that are increasingly impacting on buildings, their use, and their occupants. Assessment methods: 50% coursework, 50% exam.
Year 3
Year 4
This module provides you with the opportunity to undertake an independent piece of research, investigating in depth a subject in which you have a particular interest and of your own selection. You'll have to submit a dissertation of between 6,000 and 10,000 words. Assessment method: 100% coursework.
In recent years the specialism of construction project management has been developed by construction professionals working within construction companies, construction consultancies and the public sector. This specialism is required to achieve effective and efficient management of the whole construction process from inception to completion. This module seeks to support this response by introducing the theory underlying project management and applying this to practical issues and problems in the construction industry. Assessment methods: 50% coursework, 50% exam.
This module looks at the role of the entrepreneur and how to set up a business, forms of ownership, the management and marketing of a business, in addition to understanding the financial accounts and risk management. Assessment method: 100% coursework.
This module provides the knowledge necessary for the execution of the contractual duties of architects, building surveyors, property and construction managers in contracting and development companies, consultancy practice, public service and private corporations. It's designed to build on and apply knowledge obtained from a study of construction law. The module is an introduction to the period of professional training necessary to qualify as a professional and covers key areas of practice. Assessment methods: 50% coursework, 50% exam.
This module takes an international perspective on the built environment by focussing on current developments in Europe in the property and construction economic sectors. The module offers a field trip to a major European city, which includes company visits and professional presentations and provides the basis for the summative assessment. Assessment method: 100% coursework.
This module focuses on introducing you to the various principles of law and valuation that are relevant to surveyors working in the construction and property industries. Assessment method: 100% coursework.