Option for Placement Year
Option for Study Abroad
The work of a building surveyor is varied with no two days being the same and requires a technically minded pragmatic thinker who will become very adaptable.
On our Building Surveying course you can expect to use your technical and legal expertise in projects ranging from brand new multi million pound commercial developments to small-scale refurbishments and conversions of residential buildings in a variety of different roles including project manager, designer and contract administrator. Building pathology skills and knowledge will be regularly tested in the preservation of fragile or historic structures and the survey and inspection of a range of properties. As a building surveyor you will have a rewarding and fulfilling career due to the breadth of skills, knowledge and abilities you will gain.
This professional course focuses heavily on employability with many of our graduates being retained by their placement employers for post-graduation employment across many different sectors from national consultancies, international employers to local practices and public sector employers. Our strong links with industry mean you will get to experience site visits and hear from professionals within industry to contextualise your academic studies. You will attend a residential trip field study visit to one of the UK major cities to compare practices. Through our building and surveying course you will begin to develop the core competencies required to become a Chartered Building Surveyor along with some of the softer skills required within industry.
See other similar courses you may be interested in: Quantity Surveying BSc (Hons) or Real Estate BSc (Hons) or check out our undergraduate Architecture & Built Environment Courses.
UCAS Code
K230
Level of Study
Undergraduate
Mode of Study
3 years Full Time or 4 years with a placement (sandwich)/study abroad
Department
Architecture and Built Environment
Location
City Campus, Northumbria University
City
Newcastle
Start
September 2025
Fees
Fee Information
Modules
Module Information
Architecture and Built Environment encompasses all of our teaching, research and enterprise in Architecture, Interior Architecture, Quantity and Building Surveying, Real Estate and Housing.
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112 UCAS Tariff points
From a combination of acceptable Level 3 qualifications which may include: A-level, T Level, BTEC Diplomas/Extended Diplomas, Scottish and Irish Highers, Access to HE Diplomas, or the International Baccalaureate.
Find out how many points your qualifications are worth by using the UCAS Tariff calculator: www.ucas.com/ucas/tariff-calculator
Northumbria University is committed to supporting all individuals to achieve their ambitions. We have a range of schemes and alternative offers to make sure as many individuals as possible are given an opportunity to study at our University regardless of personal circumstances or background. To find out more, review our Northumbria Entry Requirement Essential Information page for further details www.northumbria.ac.uk/entryrequirementsinfo
Subject Requirements:
There are no specific subject requirements for this course.
GCSE Requirements:
Applicants will need Maths and English Language at minimum grade 4/C, or an equivalent.
Additional Requirements:
There are no additional requirements for this course.
International Qualifications:
We welcome applicants with a range of qualifications which may not match those shown above.
If you have qualifications from outside the UK, find out what you need by visiting www.northumbria.ac.uk/yourcountry
English Language Requirements:
International applicants should have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.0 with 5.5 in each component (or an approved equivalent*).
*The university accepts a large number of UK and International Qualifications in place of IELTS. You can find details of acceptable tests and the required grades in our English Language section: www.northumbria.ac.uk/englishqualifications
UK Fee in Year 1: £9,535
* The University may increase fees for subsequent years of study at our discretion in line with any inflationary uplift as decided by the UK Government up to the maximum amount for fees permitted by UK law or regulation for that academic year. To give students an indication of the likely scale of any future increase, the UK government has recently suggested that increases may be linked to RPIX ( Retail Price Index excluding mortgage interest payments)
International Fee in Year 1:
ADDITIONAL COSTS
Occasionally field trips are arranged. Not participating will not adversely affect your course performance but if you do want to participate, you may need to contribute approximately £200 per annum.
* At Northumbria we are strongly committed to protecting the privacy of personal data. To view the University’s Privacy Notice please click here
Module information is indicative and is reviewed annually therefore may be subject to change. Applicants will be informed if there are any changes.
KA4001 -
The Evolution of the Built Environment (Core,20 Credits)
You will learn about how buildings evolved from antiquity to the modern age, with the intent of your being able to identify differing architectural and constructional styles. Supporting this, you will learn to identify how key developments in materials and technologies led to new ideas on construction and planning for urban living. You will also learn about the surveying professions that work within and look after the built environment, and how you can use academic skills to communicate your ideas and responses within various individual and group assessments, and support your own learning, essential to your success at university.
To facilitate this, the module will create a platform for you to learn some important academic, study and professional skills in relation to your degree programme.. You will learn how to undertake academic work and be able to assess your own and others’ role, responsibilities and contribution via reflective practice.
You will study a range of topics to support the above including:
The history of the built environment
The roles of different Built Environment professionals, including introductory presentations from different professionals and practitioners.
An introduction to academic, study and professional skills.
On completion of this module the knowledge and understanding acquired forms part of the broader contextual framework for the study of your discipline specific programme. The programme is accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. The academic content and skills development within the module is aimed at developing you both in terms of your current and future career aspiration.
KA4014 -
Development and Construction Economics (Core,20 Credits)
The demand for construction and property is generated from the global, national and regional economy. In this module you will learn how the surveyor works within the economic environment to provide the good and services demanded by society. You will learn about the basic and fundamental economic concepts such as demand and supply theory, market mechanism and macroeconomic objectives in order to develop an understanding of economic theory as applied to the construction industry and property. These fundamentals will be developed to help you understand money supply, the concept of risk and return and investment finance. Practical exercises will help you understand the components of value in property, property development and the construction process. You will learn about the role, key activities and the basic skills of the surveying and construction professions in different stages of the development and construction process with introductions to the key functions, professional practice techniques and concepts that are commonly deployed within the built environment such as property valuation, cost estimating and property procurement methods.
More informationKA4015 -
Construction Technology (Core,20 Credits)
This module seeks to provide you with a fundamental understanding of how construction and structural technologies can be employed to address key principles of building, and to satisfy performance and regulatory requirements. You will also be introduced to the aesthetic, environmental, economic and legislative factors that influence the choice of technologies in the construction industry. In particular, you will develop an understanding of the following aspects of technologies for small-scale buildings:
- the construction team and their specific roles in technological decisions
- structural principles
- foundations and groundworks
- principles of enclosure
- principles of environmental control
- building envelope as a climatic modifier
- daylight and lighting need; room conditions and sound transfer
- air transfer mechanisms
- alternative sources of energy
-principles of heat loss
- material properties and choices
- external wall construction methods
- internal walls floors and stairs
- fixtures, fittings and furniture
- principles of sustainability and the impact of construction on the built and natural environments
- health and safety in the construction and use of buildings
- building regulations and associated legislation
- communications and graphical standards in construction technology
KA4016 -
Law for Surveyors (Core,20 Credits)
You will learn about the key areas of law, which are relevant to the surveying profession, and also start to develop professional skills. Topics include:
• Introduction to the English Legal System and how the law affects the work of surveyors
• Sources of law, reviewing a case, interpreting legislation, legal research and problem solving techniques
• Contract Law
• Land law; land ownership, land registration, public and private rights affecting land and adverse possession.
• The sale of land; overview of the conveyancing process, different methods of sale including auctions and tenders.
• Tort : Negligence, Professional Negligence, Occupiers' liability, nuisance and Trespass.
• Landlord and Tenant Law; reading a lease, key lease obligations and remedies for breach of covenant.
KA4026 -
Property Surveying (Core,20 Credits)
This module is designed as part of a package of first year modules to provide you with the key skills and knowledge to embark on a programme of study leading to professional qualification as a chartered surveyor. The module will draw on and supplement the module on Construction Technology.
The module will be introduced by exercises to identify the characteristics of property matching them to occupier demands. You will learn and experience land and building surveying and measurement, instructed in the use of surveying equipment and be able to apply these techniques in real building surveys. In addition you will learn how to analyse building defects and specify and supervise their remediation, in the context of the contractual obligations imposed in property purchase and leasing transactions.
It is essential that the property professions make a contribution in combating climate change and as such you will be taught a range of low carbon design and construction philosophies and the application of renewable energy technologies. Property refurbishment and enhancement can also make a substantial contribution to minimising the environmental impact of property occupation, you will apply the techniques taught to the refurbishment of a range properties.
KA4027 -
Professional Practice (Core,20 Credits)
You will learn how to use BIM software as a way of recording and communicating proposed and existing buildings and develop practical and technical surveying skills in extracting and/or communicating buildings and assets. You will learn how to work as part of a team to produce solutions to a project related problem/ scenario, to work to tight deadlines and presentation skills for surveyors. You will be able to assess your own and others’ role, responsibilities and contribution in completing a task.
On completion of this module the knowledge and understanding acquired form part of the broader contextual framework for the study of your discipline specific programme. The programme is accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. The academic content and skills development within the module are aimed at developing you both in terms of your current and future career aspirations.
KA5041 -
Academic Language Skills for Architecture and Built Environment (Core – for International and EU students only,0 Credits)
Academic skills when studying away from your home country can differ due to cultural and language differences in teaching and assessment practices. This module is designed to support your transition in the use and practice of technical language and subject specific skills around assessments and teaching provision in your chosen subject. The overall aim of this module is to develop your abilities to read and study effectively for academic purposes; to develop your skills in analysing and using source material in seminars and academic writing and to develop your use and application of language and communications skills to a higher level.
The topics you will cover on the module include:
• Understanding assignment briefs and exam questions.
• Developing academic writing skills, including citation, paraphrasing, and summarising.
• Practising ‘critical reading’ and ‘critical writing’
• Planning and structuring academic assignments (e.g. essays, reports and presentations).
• Avoiding academic misconduct and gaining credit by using academic sources and referencing effectively.
• Listening skills for lectures.
• Speaking in seminar presentations.
• Presenting your ideas
• Giving discipline-related academic presentations, experiencing peer observation, and receiving formative feedback.
• Speed reading techniques.
• Developing self-reflection skills.
KA5023 -
Design and Specification (Core,20 Credits)
In responding to a client brief and understanding the request is a key attribute of the Building Surveyor. You will become used to interrogating the client and responding to physical and statutory constraints to produce a workable design solution. You will call upon historical and contemporary influences on Architecture and technological solutions to suit the practicalities of both construction and maintenance throughout the life cycle of a building. Further, emphasis will be given to communication of design logic and rationale, and communication of design choices.
More informationKA5024 -
Sustainable Building Technologies (Core,20 Credits)
You will learn about the ways in which buildings impact on the local and global environment through the choice of construction materials, energy and carbon emissions. This module builds on and develops what you will have learned about construction technology from the previous level. You will discover the importance of energy efficiency and how the performance of buildings can be improved through sustainable design of both new build and refurbishment works. Topics include:
• Global environmental problems and climate change.
• How heat transfers through materials, how to assess heat loss and energy efficiency in buildings.
• Legislation and regulations relating to the environmental performance of buildings.
• The construction technology of older buildings and how this affects sustainability.
• Principles of sustainable building design.
• Sustainable refurbishment and adaptation of buildings.
• The environmental impact of building services including renewable energy options.
• Carbon footprinting and the environmental impact of building materials.
KA5025 -
Planning and Building Legislation (Core,20 Credits)
You will examine the inter-relationship between the planning and development control systems. You will also examine the agencies, policies and programmes involved in planning, development frameworks and their role in the current development control system, urban regeneration, and conservation and development site briefs.
The module focuses on legislation relating to the enforcement of planning and building controls. This will involve studying the liaison between planning and building control, fire and environmental health legislation.
The administration of both public sector and private sector building control bodies is also studied to give an indication of how the building control “industry” operates in the UK by explaining the duties and responsibilities of building control surveyors.
Aspects of the practical implication of these controls are addressed through an illustrative introduction to the elements of the Equality Act relating to disabled access, and the aspects of fire legislation in England.
KA5026 -
Contract Administration and Practice (Core,20 Credits)
You will gain an understanding and examine the role of the Building Surveyor in managing property, construction contracts and the design process. You will learn to identify and analyse the key theories and procedures within construction projects including procurement, tendering and contract selection. You will understand how these are integrated within the roles and duties of the contract administrator and health and safety practice. Design principles and practice along with specification writing learnt will further enhance your practical skills and compliment the theoretical knowledge learnt.
More informationKA5028 -
Building Performance and Pathology (Core,20 Credits)
You will learn about existing building technologies and infrastructure, the reasons for using these technologies and how these technologies perform throughout a building life cycle. From this, you will gain an understanding of the mechanism of degradation for these various technologies, developing your skills in identifying the defects coupled with underlying diagnostic skills to accurately analyse the defect cause. You will learn remediation techniques specific to the mechanism of degradation or failure and have an ability to carry out straightforward calculations in support of changes in existing building infrastructure.
More informationKA5040 -
Business and Professional Development (Core,20 Credits)
This module will teach you about the surveying profession, the governing bodies and give you an understanding of the skill set required to succeed within the profession to allow you to consider the direction of your future career. You will learn how to develop your professional CV and how to conduct yourself within an employment interview through a mock interview. You will also look at the RICS Assessment of Professional Competence in order to understand the process to become a Chartered Surveyor to be able to start planning a learning strategy.
More informationKA5041 -
Academic Language Skills for Architecture and Built Environment (Core – for International and EU students only,0 Credits)
Academic skills when studying away from your home country can differ due to cultural and language differences in teaching and assessment practices. This module is designed to support your transition in the use and practice of technical language and subject specific skills around assessments and teaching provision in your chosen subject. The overall aim of this module is to develop your abilities to read and study effectively for academic purposes; to develop your skills in analysing and using source material in seminars and academic writing and to develop your use and application of language and communications skills to a higher level.
The topics you will cover on the module include:
• Understanding assignment briefs and exam questions.
• Developing academic writing skills, including citation, paraphrasing, and summarising.
• Practising ‘critical reading’ and ‘critical writing’
• Planning and structuring academic assignments (e.g. essays, reports and presentations).
• Avoiding academic misconduct and gaining credit by using academic sources and referencing effectively.
• Listening skills for lectures.
• Speaking in seminar presentations.
• Presenting your ideas
• Giving discipline-related academic presentations, experiencing peer observation, and receiving formative feedback.
• Speed reading techniques.
• Developing self-reflection skills.
KA5044 -
Work Placement Year (Optional,120 Credits)
This module is designed for all standard full-time undergraduate programmes within the Faculty of Engineering and Environment to provide you with the option to take a one year work placement as part of your programme.
You will be able to apply and evaluate placement experience to develop and enhance appropriate areas of your knowledge and understanding, your intellectual and professional skills, and your personal value attributes, relevant to your programme of study, as well as to accreditation bodies (e.g RICS, CIOB, RIBA) within appropriate working environments. Due to its overall positive impact on employability, degree classification and graduate starting salaries, the University strongly encourages you to pursue a work placement as part of your degree programme.
This module is a Pass/Fail module so does not contribute to the classification of your degree. When taken and passed, however, the Placement Year is recognised both in your transcript as a 120 credit Work Placement Module and on your degree certificate.
Your placement period will normally be full-time and must total a minimum of 40 weeks. This may comprise more than one placement, where appropriate.
KA5045 -
Study abroad year (Optional,120 Credits)
This module is designed for all standard full-time undergraduate programmes within the Faculty of Engineering and Environment and provides you with the option to study abroad for one full year as part of your programme.
This is a 120 credit module which is available between Levels 5 and 6. You will undertake a year of study abroad at an approved partner University where you will have access to modules from your discipline, but taught in a different learning culture. This gives you the opportunity to broaden your overall experience of learning. The structure of study will be dependent on the partner and will be recorded for an individual student on the learning agreement signed by the host University, the student, and the home University (Northumbria).
Your study abroad year will be assessed on a pass/fail basis. It will not count towards your final degree classification but, it is recognised in your transcript as a 120 credit Study Abroad module and on your degree certificate in the format – “Degree title (with Study Abroad Year)”.
KA5041 -
Academic Language Skills for Architecture and Built Environment (Core – for International and EU students only,0 Credits)
Academic skills when studying away from your home country can differ due to cultural and language differences in teaching and assessment practices. This module is designed to support your transition in the use and practice of technical language and subject specific skills around assessments and teaching provision in your chosen subject. The overall aim of this module is to develop your abilities to read and study effectively for academic purposes; to develop your skills in analysing and using source material in seminars and academic writing and to develop your use and application of language and communications skills to a higher level.
The topics you will cover on the module include:
• Understanding assignment briefs and exam questions.
• Developing academic writing skills, including citation, paraphrasing, and summarising.
• Practising ‘critical reading’ and ‘critical writing’
• Planning and structuring academic assignments (e.g. essays, reports and presentations).
• Avoiding academic misconduct and gaining credit by using academic sources and referencing effectively.
• Listening skills for lectures.
• Speaking in seminar presentations.
• Presenting your ideas
• Giving discipline-related academic presentations, experiencing peer observation, and receiving formative feedback.
• Speed reading techniques.
• Developing self-reflection skills.
KA6000 -
Building Advice Centre (Core,20 Credits)
You will learn how to develop a client brief on a real project and then progress a professional surveying assignment through to the production of a concluding report. This will take the form of defect appraisals, feasibility studies and asset management planning for both residential and commercial properties and portfolios. You will learn how to work both individually and as part of a team and be able to assess your own and others role, responsibilities and contribution via reflective practice.
More informationKA6030 -
Design And Construction Economics (Core,20 Credits)
You will learn the management theories and systems used throughout the design, construction and operational phases of a building. This will include the implications of design decisions and construction processes and the impact such decisions have on construction and operational costs, including life cycle costing, cost planning and value engineering. You will learn how to work both individually and as part of a team to carry out building surveys and produce feasibility reports for real commercial projects. On completion of the module, your improved ability to link theory, practice and application will serve to enhance your future employment prospects.
More informationKA6031 -
Heritage And Conservation (Core,20 Credits)
You will learn about the principles of protecting, maintaining and conserving buildings of value and significance. You will develop an appreciation of the importance of heritage buildings as part of our cultural heritage and of the legislation that enacted to protect them. You will gain specialist knowledge that will enable you to work with heritage buildings, designing appropriate alterations, repairs and conservation work enhancing your employability. Topics covered include:
• Methods for surveying and recording heritage buildings.
• Philosophy of conservation including the use of appropriate materials and repair techniques in accordance with Historic England Principles of Repair.
• Adaptation and re-use of redundant heritage buildings.
• Heritage property management.
• Legislation, guidance and dealing with heritage at risk.
KA6032 -
Surveying Dissertation (Core,40 Credits)
This module is designed to support you in independently pursuing an original piece of research on a built environment topic of your own choice and aims to provide you with an opportunity to design and conduct a substantive piece of investigative work that is directly related to your programme of study. You will draw upon and develop your independent research skills to answer a research question or test a hypothesis of your choosing. You will assemble and review relevant scholarly literature and data and to present a cogent, reasoned and objective critique of published scholarly work on your chosen topic, in order to define a precisely focus for your research.
You will develop expertise to achieve the following:
• identify an appropriate research topic
• critically review relevant academic literature;
• formulate research questions/hypotheses and appropriate methods of inquiry;
• collect your own data and/or using existing datasets and literature
• analyse and interpret your results using appropriate quantitative, statistical and/or qualitative techniques,
• relate your findings to existing and up-to-date literature and theory;
• objectively appraise the ethical considerations of conducting research; and
• independently manage and implement your own research project.
KA6049 -
Advanced Building Appraisal (Core,20 Credits)
You will learn about the professional role of the Building Surveyor in the appraisal of buildings and property. You will discover the specialised surveys and inspections that are carried out in practice and develop skills in using a variety of surveying instruments and methods. Topics include:
• Appraising buildings in relation to building physics and energy efficiency including deep retrofitting, moisture transfer in solid masonry and interstitial condensation
• Specialist surveys undertaken by building surveyors relating to Schedules of Dilapidations, the Party Wall Act and Technical Due Diligence Surveys
• Modern methods and digital technologies for surveying and providing information including; BIM, drones, laser scanning, point clouds, virtual reality and thermal imagery.
• Professional ethics for Building Surveyors
To start your application, simply select the month you would like to start your course.
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