Building Surveying BSc (Hons)
Subject and course type
- Engineering: Civil, Construction and Surveying
- Undergraduate
ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ’s Building Surveying BSc is accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and the Chartered Institution of Building (CIOB). Develop your specialist skills, deepen your understanding and gain new insights and perspectives.
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Elevate your technical skills and experience
Set your future as a chartered building surveyor in motion.
ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ’s Building Surveying BSc will help you to develop skills, understanding and knowledge. Our courses are the gateway to beginning a successful, well-paid career in building surveying.
This course will give you a detailed knowledge of everything from building maintenance and construction, to legal advice and technical design.
Expect state-of-the-art learning facilities, practice-focused teaching and even the chance to get hands-on experience with a year’s work placement.
You’ll get to grips with the theoretical, practical, legal and technical aspects of building care and structure. You’ll also cultivate independent research, evaluation and design skills.
Students will have the opportunity to get real-world industry experience with a work placement in their third year. There are also plenty of chances to apply practical skills and collaborate with professionals throughout the course.
If your sights are set on a varied career in the world of construction, this course is the perfect place to start. Take the first step towards a career as a surveyor, designer, project manager and beyond.
I chose the course because it is RICS accredited, with modules that keep up with current trends in the construction industry, giving me the necessary skills to succeed in my future career.
Facilities
Why choose this course
First and foremost, our course is accredited by the and the . This provides you with a brilliant foundation for pursuing a career in building surveying.
Learn in our vibrant Penrhyn Road campus, with access to learning facilities at the £20 million John Galsworthy building and the £9.8 million Eadweard Muybridge building.
Beyond campus-based learning, you’ll gain real-life experience. Examine why buildings fail and showcase your learning in comprehensive project work. You’ll give your career a head start with a year’s experience in the world of work.
At Kingston, we have industry links and associations that can strengthen your network. Boost your training and gain valuable experience through our strong professional links. Previous placement destinations include:
- DTZ
- Savills
- Franklin and Andrews
- Grosvenor Plc
- Jones Lang LaSalle
- Knight Frank
- London Borough of Wandsworth
- Montagu Evans
- WS Atkins
- Lambert Smith Hampton
In recent years, connection with CBRE has allowed us to give first year students private viewing of new developments in London. We’ve even run a pan-European business challenge, giving final-year real-estate students the chance to work across the continent.
ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ is ranked No.3 in London for Construction, Surveying and Planning (The Guardian University Guide 2024).
Professional accreditation
This course is accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and Chartered Institution of Building (CIOB).
Becoming a chartered surveyor
The most popular route is:
1. Complete a degree accredited by the RICS, such as this degree at ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ; and then
2. Successfully complete structured training, which ends in an assessment of your competence to practise (Assessment of Professional Competence [APC]).
We are actively involved in APC, including preparation courses, and several staff members are RICS assessors. This means that ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ can help you from the start of your undergraduate degree right through to your registration as a chartered surveyor.
Course content
You'll study the business and legal aspects of the property and construction industries. You'll learn how to advise clients of legal and financial implications resulting from the condition of buildings. Sustainable building design is also key to this course.
You'll also develop and practise skills for your future career, including: presenting yourself; working in teams; writing reports; debating current topics; applying IT to your discipline; and initiating and executing research projects.
Year 1
Year 1 explores design. You'll examine what makes a building well or poorly designed. You'll use both sketching and computer-aided design packages. You'll study the design process, the relationship of buildings to the environment and the need for design innovation and sustainability.
In the first year, students will be introduced to Navigate (a Future Skills module which aimed to assist students in making the transition to Higher Education, develop strong foundations of self-awareness, self-motivation and generate a sense of belonging to their course and ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ), sustainability, climate literacy, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs).
Core modules
30 credits
This module introduces you to the national and international construction industry. You'll learn about its structure, key stakeholders, and societal impact. The importance of the construction industry will be analysed along with contextual factors that regulate and influence its operation. The role of important players in the construction sector will also be examined.
You will be introduced to basic economic theory and its application to the industry as well as the fundamentals of the management of organisations. Professional ethics and rules of conduct and other closely related competencies will also be considered in this module.
The module will be delivered in a series of lectures and small group sessions including seminars, tutorials, and workshop sessions. You will be assessed through a mixture of coursework and exams.
30 credits
This is a core technology module where you will explore alternative construction materials and technologies used for low-rise built facilities. You will learn about the impact of construction methods and materials on important issues, including building regulations, health, safety and welfare regulations, sustainability and the environment.
By the end of the module, you should have developed a fundamental knowledge of building types, and be able to interpret drawings, produce sketches and appreciate the reasons for the selection and use of different construction materials and service solutions.
15 credits
This module give you an overview of the modern English legal system, with a specific focus on key legislative and regulatory frameworks. It covers essential aspects of contract law and introduces elements of tort law relevant to the construction industry.
Additionally, you will explore regulations and statutory acts that are applicable in the UK construction sector. You will learn to employ appropriate legal methodologies to address scenario-based legal problems.
15 credits
You will be introduced to your course learning aims and will consider your learning targets from now until graduation. You'll take ownership of your personal academic journey through the development and application of academic skills aligned to Kingston's Graduate Attributes and your discipline-specific professional body learning outcomes.
You'll be tutored in a range of 'learning to learn' techniques. You'll be introduced to assessment for learning and the roles of feedback, reflection and feedforward as integrated parts of your learning journey. This will be supported through active engagement in Kingston's Navigate Programme.
15 credits
This module introduces you to the principles of measurement of construction work. It focuses on the detailed quantification of simple buildings so you can gain an understating of industry rules and conventions for measuring construction work and their application. Upon completion, you should be able to competently measure the building envelope of simple residential buildings to address related issues. The module is taught by a series of lectures, tutorials and workshops in which you will be expected to take an active role.
15 credits
This module explores insights into human resource management and organisational behaviour to develop the knowledge, understanding and skills relevant to managing employees and organisations in the built environment.
Insights from this module support your appreciation of socioeconomic and other cultural characteristics of construction organisations. These could include recruitment and selection, leadership, employee motivation, team dynamics, and organisational cultural shifts.
Year 2
Year 2 examines construction – how and why buildings fall apart. This is a key component of the knowledge base for chartered building surveyors. In the Building Maintenance and Management module you will learn how to keep buildings in use. Practical knowledge on pre/post-contract financial and contract administration as well as digitisation in construction (i.e. using REVIT and BIM related software), construction technology including its environmental services will be introduced.
Core modules
15 credits
The module provides an in-depth understanding of digital technologies and construction-related information modelling in the built environment context. You will learn how digital construction has revolutionised the construction industry and how Building Information Modelling (BIM) and its closely related digital technologies are used as tools for the realisation of the Construction Industry 4.0.
The course covers various aspects of digital design, construction, and operation and maintenance, including the knowledge and use of tools related to BIM, virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and geographic information system. You will learn about BIM software, collaboration techniques, and project delivery methods.
You will also develop digital skills and knowledge such as data management, quantification, project team collaboration and cost analysis.
15 credits
This module introduces you to procurement strategies for executing construction projects and the intricacies of contract administration. The course identifies the various procurement routes for different project circumstances. The module further extends your critical knowledge and understanding of the contract administration and financial management duties of the project manager.
Although there will be lectures, the teaching and learning emphasis will focus on developing your core knowledge and interpersonal skills using scenarios, workshops and a day field trip to an ongoing project in a major city in England. This will help increase your problem-solving competencies and communication skills development. The module will be assessed by coursework.
15 credits
This module provides insights into the construction of commercial and other buildings. The module will extend your knowledge and skills in construction technology and services, from the basic types of construction to framed and more complex commercial structures.
By the end of the module, you should have developed a critical knowledge of building types, be able to interpret drawings, produce sketches and appreciate the reasons for the selection and use of different construction materials and services solutions.
15 credits
This module considers the principles and practices for the design and management of engineering projects. The nature of engineering project management is discussed in the context of constraints on quality, time, risk, and sustainability. The module broadens your knowledge of how organisations undertake and monitor projects.
30 credits
This module helps you gain an understanding of material science properties and specification. You will be introduced to basics of building design and the development of the design process, from concept to tender documents.
In this module, you will develop proficiency in using a Building Information Modelling platform (Revit) to produce digital architectural 3D models as well as technical drawings for construction.
The module is taught by mix of lectures, computer labs and practical sessions and is typically assessed by a design project portfolio.
30 credits
This module provides you with a critical understanding of legal and regulatory compliance related to the built environment. You will study regulations relating to retrofit and maintenance decisions. You will develop knowledge of the strategic and practical aspects for effective and efficient management and maintenance of buildings.
On a broader level, the module will also consider how a building relates to its location, considering the social, economic and environmental consequences of retrofit solutions. You will also develop skills in building appraisal so you can evaluate a building's performance.
The module will cover the principles of setting up and managing maintenance and small improvements works, and monitoring and evaluating building performance from owner and occupier perspectives. It will consider legislative and financial considerations and the increasing importance of managing carbon and energy, as well as general aspects of property management related to works, health and safety, landlord and tenant relations, and all matters associated with the smooth running of properties.
The module is taught by lectures, tutorials, and workshops/seminars.
Year 3/4
Final year students will be guided to interact with professional and learning communities beyond the University and reflect on these interactions through Applied (a Future Skills module) where students will demonstrate the ability to apply their developing professional skills competencies in their chosen area and prepare students for employment and entrepreneurship.
Year 3 has modules in Project Management, Inspection and Building Pathology along with a workshop and a study trip. It culminates in a major group project, along with an independent research project. You will have the opportunity to combine and present all your learning from the course.
Core modules
15 credits
You will demonstrate the ability to apply your professional skills in your chosen area, and gain a broad understanding of the business environment in which professional activities are undertaken. The module will develop the technical, management and interpersonal skills required to perform in a team environment, and prepare you for employment and entrepreneurship.
You will participate in ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ's Bright Ideas competition where you will work as a team to develop a business idea. To do this you will need to interact with relevant stakeholders outside the University.
You will be guided to interact with professional and learning communities beyond the University and reflect on these interactions. This may include participation in co-curricular events such as subject-specific and career development events, and networking opportunities offered by subject-specific professional bodies. You'll leverage interactions with professionals in the development of your final year research project, and reflect on the co-benefits of these interactions.
15 credits
This module introduces you to project management processes and tools and provides an overview of the project manager's role and function at different stages of the project life cycle.
Standards of professional and ethical conduct will be explored. You'll consider the appraisal of options leading to the developing of a business case and feasibility report as well as pre-construction planning and site establishment.
You will attend a series of lectures and practical sessions and are expected to take an active role by applying your knowledge to practical scenarios. The module is assessed by a client report.
15 credits
The module provides an in-depth understanding of Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Construction Information Management System (CIMS) in the construction industry. It covers various topics related to BIM and CIMS, including their application, benefits, challenges, and future developments.
The module will begin by recapping the fundamental concepts of BIM and CIMS, including the evolution of BIM and its importance in the construction industry. It will then delve into the different stages of BIM and CIMS, including modelling, collaboration, documentation, and analysis. The module will cover various software tools that are commonly used in BIM and CIMS, such as Autodesk Revit, Navisworks, and BIM 360.
This module aims to enable you to apply and evaluate the key principles of BIM. You will undertake a collaborative interdisciplinary project to apply and develop your skills in a scenario-based group project.
Finally, the course will discuss the future trends and developments in BIM and CIMS, such as the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and Virtual Reality (VR) in construction.
15 credits
This module aims to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the legal aspects related to construction projects. It is designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the legal framework governing the construction industry, particularly in contract administration and management.
This module enhances your analytical and critical thinking abilities when confronted with legal and professional practice challenges. It promotes a holistic comprehension of sustainability in the context of the built environment and provides an in-depth examination of construction disputes and the commonly employed methods of dispute resolution.
You will acquire practical techniques for effective time management, develop proficiency in locating, interpreting, using and referencing legal sources, and cultivate essential attributes valued by the construction industry, including collaboration, team building, critical and analytical thinking, problem-solving, effective communication, initiative and creativity.
30 credits
This module provides you with a critical understanding of inspection and building pathology. You will study the legislative and regulatory bodies for building control and explore the current applications to survey, evaluate and diagnose different building pathologies.
You will also study different building materials in order to provide professional advice regarding building defects, considering environmental, legislative and societal factors.
The module is taught through lectures, seminars, workshop discussions and site visits, and is assessed through coursework which may include a report and exhibition and an open book examination.
30.00 credits
The individual project is an opportunity to explore a subject of your own choice. You will initiate, design and execute a small-scale research project under supervision. Your project will draw upon material from all modules previously or currently taught and provide a culmination to your degree. This allows you to develop and practice your research skills that will be invaluable for the future.
You will work independently, studying a topic in depth, reviewing previous work, and collecting, interpreting and analysing information. This is also intended to develop your ability to communicate clearly and succinctly orally, graphically and in writing. In undertaking the work, you should demonstrate knowledge and competence in reviewing literature and in using one or more of a range of research methods to collect and analyse data and draw well-founded conclusions.
To support you, a series of workshops will be given along with individual one-to-one supervision. Assessment is by submission of an initial formative research statement and summative assessments comprising an interim report and the completed project.
Foundation Year in Built Environment
Our Foundation Year in Built Environment is ideal if you would like to join one of our civil engineering, construction or surveying honours degrees but need a preparatory period of study.
It provides an alternative entry route if you do not meet our standard entry requirements but have the ability to succeed at degree-level study.
Future Skills and career opportunities
Get a RICS-approved qualification
This degree is a RICS-approved academic qualification. RICS is the leading source of land, property, construction and related environmental knowledge. The organisation:
- Supports 120,000 members worldwide
- Promotes best practice
- Represents consumers' interests
- Provides impartial advice to society, businesses, governments and global organisations.
Boost your employability
Every course at ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ teaches a range of Future Skills. From problem-solving and adaptability to digital competency, these are the attributes you’ll need to get the edge in the job market and a head start on your career.
Prepare for postgraduate opportunities
Keen to go on to postgraduate study after your undergraduate? Alumni can get a 10% discount on our postgraduate course tuition fees.
Follow in the footsteps of Building Surveying graduates:
Our recent graduates have secured jobs across the construction industry. Career opportunities include:
- Building control surveyor
- Building surveyor
- Architectural designer
- BIM manager
- Assistant quantity surveyor
- Facilities management
- Party wall surveyor
- Operations analyst
- Project manager
- Quantity surveyor
What’s more, graduate roles needn’t be restricted to a single industry. Take a look at these examples of employers you could work for:
- Faithful & Gould
- Turner & Townsend
- Malcolm Hollis
- Arcadis
- Savills
- Countrywide Surveyors
- Osborne
- NHBC
- Historic Royal Palaces
- Allen Build Ltd.
- Shaw and Co Chartered Surveyors
- Dron & Wright
- ENGIE
At ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ, we're not just keeping up with change, we're creating it
For more information on how Kingston prepares you for the future job market, visit our Future Skills page.
Teaching and assessment
Scheduled learning and teaching on this course includes timetabled activities including lectures, seminars and small group tutorials. It may also include placements, project work, workshops, workshops in computer labs, and laboratory workshops.
Outside the scheduled learning and teaching hours, you will learn independently through self-study which will involve reading articles and books, working on projects, undertaking research, preparing for and completing your work for assessments. Some independent study work may need to be completed on-campus, as you may need to access campus-based facilities such as studios and labs.
Our academic support team here at ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ provides help in a range of areas.
When you arrive, we'll introduce you to your personal tutor. This is the member of academic staff who will provide academic guidance, be a support throughout your time at Kingston and show you how to make the best use of all the help and resources that we offer at ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ.
A course is made up of modules, and each module is worth a number of credits. You must pass a given number of credits in order to achieve the award you registered on, for example 360 credits for a typical undergraduate course or 180 credits for a typical postgraduate course. The number of credits you need for your award is detailed in the programme specification which you can access from the link at the bottom of this page.
One credit equates to 10 hours of study. Therefore 120 credits across a year (typical for an undergraduate course) would equate to 1,200 notional hours. These hours are split into scheduled and guided. On this course, the percentage of that time that will be scheduled learning and teaching activities is shown below for each year of study. The remainder is made up of guided independent study.
- Year 1: 22% scheduled learning and teaching
- Year 2: 22% scheduled learning and teaching
- Year 3: 19% scheduled learning and teaching
The exact balance between scheduled learning and teaching and guided independent study will be informed by the modules you take.
Your course will primarily be delivered in person. It may include delivery of some activities online, either in real time or recorded.
Types of assessment
- Year 1: Coursework 81%; practical 19%
- Year 2: Coursework 88%; practical 12%
- Year 3: Coursework 76%; exams 13%; practical 11%
Please note: the above breakdowns are a guide calculated on core modules only. If your course includes optional modules, this breakdown may change to reflect the modules chosen.
We aim to provide feedback on assessments within 20 working days.
Your individualised timetable is normally available to students within 48 hours of enrolment. Whilst we make every effort to ensure timetables are as student-friendly as possible, scheduled learning and teaching can take place on any day of the week between 9am and 6pm. For undergraduate students, Wednesday afternoons are normally reserved for sports and cultural activities, but there may be occasions when this is not possible. Timetables for part-time students will depend on the modules selected.
To give you an indication of class sizes, this course normally enrols 15 students and lecture sizes are normally 15Â-105Â. However this can vary by module and academic year.
Fees and funding
| Fee category | Fee |
|---|---|
| Home (UK students) | £9,535* |
| International | |
| Year 1 (2025/26): | £18,500 |
| Year 2 (2026/27): | £19,200 |
| Year 3 (2027/28): | £19,900 |
The tuition fee you pay depends on whether you are assessed as a 'Home' (UK), 'Islands' or 'International' student. In 2025/26 the fees for this course are above.
For courses with Professional Placement, the fee for the placement year can be viewed in our Fees and Funding section. The placement fee published is for the relevant academic year stated in the table. This fee is subject to annual increases but will not increase by more than the fee caps as prescribed by the Office for Students or such other replacing body.
* For full-time programmes of a duration of more than one academic year, the published fee is an annual fee, payable each year, for the duration of the programme. Your annual tuition fees cover your first attempt at all of the modules necessary to complete that academic year. A re-study of any modules will incur additional charges calculated by the number of credits. Home tuition fees may be subject to annual increases but will not increase by more than the fee caps as prescribed by the Office for Students or such other replacing body. Full-time taught International fees are subject to an annual increase and are published in advance for the full duration of the programme.
Eligible UK students can apply to the Government for a tuition loan, which is paid direct to the University. This has a low interest-rate which is charged from the time the first part of the loan is paid to the University until you have repaid it.
Scholarships and bursaries
For students interested in studying this course at Kingston, there are several opportunities to seek funding support.
Additional course costs
Some courses may require additional costs beyond tuition fees. When planning your studies, you’ll want to consider tuition fees, living costs, and any extra costs that might relate to your area of study.
Your tuition fees include costs for teaching, assessment and university facilities. So your access to libraries, shared IT resources and various student support services are all covered. Accommodation and general living expenses are not covered by these fees.
Where applicable, additional expenses for the Building Surveying course may include:
Our libraries have an extensive collection of books and journals, as well as open-access computers and laptops available to rent. However, you may want to buy your own computer or personal copies of key textbooks. Textbooks may range from £50 to £250 per year. And a personal computer can range from £100 to £3,000 depending on your course requirements.
While most coursework is submitted online, some modules may require printed copies. You may want to allocate up to £100 per year for hard-copies of your coursework. It’s worth noting that 3D printing is never compulsory. So if you choose to use our 3D printers, you’ll need to pay for the material. This ranges from 3p per gram to 40p per gram.
ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ will pay for all compulsory field trips. Fees for optional trips can range from £30 to £350 per trip.
Your tuition fees don’t cover travel costs. To save on travel costs, you can use our free intersite bus service. This route links the campuses and halls of residence with local train stations - Surbiton, Kingston upon Thames, and Norbiton.
Specific courses may require uniforms, specialty clothing, or specific equipment like lab coats and safety shoes. As a student of Building Surveying ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ will supply you with a lab coat, hard hat and safety goggles at the start of the year. You’ll also get a £10 voucher to help cover the cost of the safety boots when purchasing with our supplier, Activity Work Wear. Safety boots can cost between £25 and £100. You may need to purchase equipment for site visits. The total cost of this should be around £50 for the whole course.
If you choose to do a placement year, travel costs will vary depending on your location. These costs could be up to £2,000.
Some courses may require professional memberships.
Course changes and regulations
The information on this page reflects the currently intended course structure and module details. To improve your student experience and the quality of your degree, we may review and change the material information of this course. Find out more about course changes
for the course are published ahead of each academic year.
Regulations governing this course can be found on our website.
What our students say
I chose Kingston because the locality to London allowed me to stay at home whilst also allowing me to work in a part time role within the industry alongside my studies.
Degree apprenticeship route
The Building Surveying (Hons) Degree Apprenticeship programme provides a strong platform for pursuing and achieving a varied and interesting career in Building Surveying and incorporates recent developments in industry and education as well as the curriculum and teaching principles from research and academic.
Typically you spend one day a week at university rather than your place of employment. There will also be learning activities and training in your workplace.
Find out more about our degree apprenticeships.
Key information
The scrolling banner below displays some key factual data about this course (including different course combinations or delivery modes of this course where relevant).
