Building Surveying

Building surveying is the professional discipline concerned with the design, condition, construction, and alteration of buildings throughout their lifetime. Surveyors are the people who assess whether a structure is sound, advise on refurbishment and maintenance strategies, manage building contracts, and ensure that construction and alteration work complies with legislation. As the UK faces a significant challenge in improving its ageing housing stock and achieving net zero targets for the built environment, skilled building surveyors are increasingly central to the profession's response.

At the University of Brighton, this programme is offered on a part-time basis, which makes it particularly suitable for those who are already working in the built environment and wish to gain formal professional qualifications while remaining in employment. The course covers the technical and legal frameworks that underpin surveying practice, including construction technology, pathology and defect diagnosis, contract administration, and the law relating to property and construction. You will develop the ability to assess building condition systematically, communicate findings clearly to clients, and advise on appropriate courses of action across a range of property types.

The programme includes a sandwich placement and work placement element, embedding professional practice directly into your studies. For part-time students, this is often integrated with existing employment, allowing you to draw on real workplace experience and apply your learning in context from the outset.

Graduates typically work in private practice surveying firms, local authorities, housing associations, construction companies, and property consultancies. The profession is regulated, and graduates who pursue the Assessment of Professional Competence with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors can achieve chartered status, which opens senior and leadership roles. Further study at postgraduate level is an option for those interested in research or specialist areas such as project management, conservation, or facilities management.