Building Surveying with International Foundation Year

Building surveying is the profession concerned with the construction, condition, value and management of buildings and the built environment. Building surveyors advise on the design, procurement and management of construction projects, inspect buildings to assess their condition and identify defects, provide expert guidance on contractual and legal matters in construction, and manage the maintenance and adaptation of existing buildings across residential, commercial and public sectors. The profession sits at a critical junction between technical knowledge of construction and the legal, financial and management skills that property and construction require.

At the University of Reading this four-year programme begins with an international foundation year, providing a structured academic pathway for students who have completed international secondary education and need to develop the English language skills and academic grounding appropriate for degree-level study in the UK. Reading is one of the UK's leading institutions for surveying and real estate, and the programme benefits from strong industry connections, excellent facilities and a curriculum designed to prepare graduates for professional practice. You will study construction technology, building pathology, law, contracts, project management, economics and the professional context of surveying, developing both technical knowledge and the professional and commercial skills the role demands.

Graduates are eligible to pursue the Assessment of Professional Competence with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, leading to chartered surveyor status, which is the standard professional qualification in the field. Building surveyors work in private practice, property companies, construction firms, local authorities, the NHS, housing associations and central government. The profession offers a wide range of specialisms and strong career progression.

Chartered surveyors are consistently among the highest-earning professionals in the built environment sector, and Reading graduates are well regarded by employers in both the UK and internationally.