Building Surveying

Building surveying is a profession built on technical knowledge, professional judgement, and a detailed understanding of how buildings work, how they fail, and how they can be maintained, adapted, or restored. Building surveyors advise clients across the full life cycle of property, from the investigation of defects in existing structures to the management of new construction and the sensitive handling of heritage assets. It is a discipline where science, law, economics, and practical expertise meet, making it one of the most versatile professions in the built environment sector.

This four-year full-time programme at Nottingham Trent University covers the breadth of knowledge that professional building surveyors need. You will study construction technology, materials science, building pathology, and the identification and analysis of defects in a wide range of building types. Contract administration, project management, and the legal frameworks governing property and construction are all central to the curriculum.

You will also develop an understanding of the different sectors in which building surveyors work, including residential, commercial, industrial, leisure, and heritage projects, each of which brings its own technical and regulatory challenges. With a typical entry tariff of 104 points, the programme is accessible to students from a range of academic backgrounds who are motivated by the built environment and practical problem-solving.

Building surveying graduates are well placed for careers in private practice, in house with property companies, or with local authorities and government agencies. The core roles involve advising on building condition, managing maintenance and repair programmes, overseeing refurbishment and development projects, and working with the conservation and restoration of historic buildings. Many graduates pursue membership of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, the principal professional body for the discipline, which is a widely recognised mark of professional standing.

Graduates also move into related areas such as project management, facilities management, property development, and insurance surveying. For those who wish to specialise further, postgraduate study is available in building conservation, construction project management, and related fields.