Construction Management and Surveying

Construction management and surveying equips you to work at the heart of the built environment industry, overseeing projects from planning through to completion and ensuring that buildings are delivered on time, within budget and to the required quality. These are disciplines that combine technical knowledge with organisational and commercial skills, requiring you to understand not just how buildings are put together but how the contracts, finances, programmes and teams that make construction happen are managed effectively.

At the University of Reading, the BSc programme develops your knowledge of construction technology, project management, procurement, building economics and the legal and contractual frameworks that govern the industry. You will learn to assess costs, manage risk, interpret drawings and specifications, and coordinate the work of designers, contractors and clients across complex projects. The three-year full-time course includes a foundation year, which provides a thorough grounding in the subject if you are entering with qualifications from a non-traditional background.

The programme also includes a sandwich year and a work placement, giving you substantial experience in the industry before you graduate.

Reading's location, close to London and the Thames Valley, gives ready access to a wide range of construction and property industry employers, from major contractors and consultancies to housing developers and public sector clients. The university has strong industry links, and placement opportunities reflect the breadth of the construction sector.

Graduates work in quantity surveying, project management, site management, commercial management, facilities management and property development. The qualification provides a strong foundation for professional accreditation with industry bodies, which is the expected route to full professional status in the UK construction sector. For those who want to specialise further, postgraduate programmes in construction management, project management or real estate are available.