Building Surveying

Building surveying is a professional discipline at the centre of how the built environment is managed, maintained, acquired, and developed. Building surveyors advise clients across both commercial and residential property on issues including structural assessment, building defects, contract administration, dilapidations, and the management of construction projects. They work with architects, engineers, and developers to ensure that buildings are constructed and maintained to the required standards, and they provide expert advice that protects clients from risk in property transactions and development projects.

The profession is a cornerstone of the property and construction sectors.

At Glasgow Caledonian University this part-time programme is designed to develop the technical knowledge and professional skills that building surveyors need. You will study construction technology, building pathology, contract law, project management, and property law, developing the ability to assess buildings, advise on their condition and value, and manage construction and refurbishment projects. The programme includes a sandwich year and a year abroad, alongside work placement opportunities, giving you extensive professional experience and an international perspective on how the built environment professions operate in different contexts.

Graduates from building surveying programmes work in property consultancies, construction companies, local authorities, housing associations, and the public sector. The professional routes in building surveying are well established, and many graduates work towards chartered status with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, which is the primary professional body for the discipline. Roles in project management, contract administration, building defect analysis, and property development are among the most common career destinations.

Some graduates pursue postgraduate study to specialise further in areas such as historic buildings conservation, sustainable construction, or project management.