About this course
- Entry year: 2012/13
- Course code: K23012
- Applications: University
- Level: Postgraduate
- Department: Construction and Property
- Campus: Frenchay
- Duration: Graduate Diploma: nine months full-time plus six months by block release (total 15 months), or 21 months part-time by day release plus six months by block release (total 27 months).
- Delivery: Full-time, part-time block release, part-time day release
- Study Abroad: No
- Programme leader: Adrian Birch
Introduction
In the National Student Survey 2009, UWE Bristol was ranked equal 3rd for Building courses, measured by overall student satisfaction.
The Graduate Diploma in Building Surveying is an innovative course aimed at those who already hold a degree in another subject and who wish to follow an RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) accredited route to qualification as a Chartered Building Surveyor.
The course was established following extensive consultation with local and national employers. It is not a one-year quick fix but a comprehensive programme of study that builds on knowledge and skills developed through the course. It is because of this and our links with the profession both locally and nationally that we have earned the trust of employers, and maintain a high employability record for those applicants not in employment at the start of the course.
A high proportion of the full-time teaching staff are Chartered Building Surveyors with many years' experience in practice, supported by part-time visiting practitioners and external speakers. The course also draws upon the research and consultancy carried out in the Department's Construction and Property Research Centre.
The Graduate Diploma course aims to:
- Provide a coherent programme of study in building surveying, underpinned by staff research and consultancy;
- Provide a course that is firmly rooted in the needs of professional practice to enable you to become an effective member of a building surveying team within a short period of time;
- Offer a varied and flexible pattern of study, well suited to students and their employers;
- Provide an academic challenge and encourage you to develop the capacity for independent, analytical and reflective thought and judgement;
- Encourage you to examine the link between theoretical concepts, research outputs and the practice of building surveying;
- Develop your academic skills within a professionally defined framework in order to deepen knowledge in those fields regarded as core to the building surveyor, such as construction technology, building pathology and project management;
- Develop your understanding of the multi-disciplinary and multi-professional nature of the context in which building surveyors practice their profession;
The course gives you the opportunity to:
- Obtain a RICS accredited qualification
- Advance your career prospects
- Develop your managerial and technical skills
- Reflect on professional practice
- Benefit from highly rated teaching and associated research, consultancy and practice links
The role of a building surveyor
The following information is adapted from the RICS website www.rics.org
Building surveyors provide professional advice on property and construction for commercial companies and consultants, central and local government, and private individuals.
Building surveyors work in many areas of property and construction and no description of the services provided can be exhaustive. Building surveying firms, for example, are involved in areas such as planning and expert witness. Building surveyors can also work in local authority building control. However, a building surveyor operating in the property and construction sector will undertake the majority of the following:
Construction design and building works (including conservation and historic buildings)
From the inception of a project the building surveyor liaises with the client to determine their requirements, inspect the site and develop a brief. The building surveyor can provide advice on:
- Cost, timetable and legal approvals required to ensure that quality, time and cost requirements are met
- The selection of other consultants, such as designers and engineers
- The condition of an existing building.
Having decided to proceed with a project the building surveyor can:
- Prepare design sketches and drawings
- Advise on project costs and timetable
- Prepare specifications of work and contract documents
- Submit local authority applications
- Advise on legislative issues
- Suggest procurement routes, appropriate forms of contract and advise on tender lists
- Obtain prices for the work.
Once the project has started on site the building surveyor can administer the contract to ensure that it is built to the standards agreed and the contractual obligations are met, and agree the final cost on completion.
Building surveys and measured surveys
The building surveyor can undertake a building survey of a property and advise on matters such as the condition, defects and remedies, and the need for specialist investigation. Measured surveys can be produced to provide dimensional information on land or property or as a preliminary service before the start of building work.
Defect investigation and maintenance advice
A building surveyor can provide advice on the existing condition of a property and its future maintenance liability. She or he can review the effect on maintenance of life cycle costing, comparing the cost now against the future maintenance and replacement costs to match the anticipated building life and expenditure. The building surveyor can also prepare a planned maintenance programme and encourage preventative cost effective maintenance.
Insurance assessment and claims
The building surveyor can assist in preparing an assessment of the cost of replacing a building in accordance with a client's insurance policy. If a client needs to make a claim, the building surveyor can liaise with the insurer and loss adjuster.
Property legislation
Advice can be provided on many areas of property legislation such as planning, public health, historic buildings, boundary disputes and fire precautions and means of escape. The building surveyor can also act as an expert witness or an arbitrator if there is a dispute.
Dilapidations
The building surveyor can advise on the extent of a tenant's liabilities under a lease, and negotiate a financial settlement at lease expiry.
CDM regulations: CDM Co-ordinator's role
Under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations most construction work requires the appointment of a CDM Co-ordinator to ensure that health and safety is considered throughout the design and construction process. In this role the building surveyor will ensure that a Health and Safety Plan governing the conduct of the works on site, and a Health and Safety File, containing information for future use, are produced in accordance with the Regulations.
Project management and monitoring
Building surveyors can also act as a Project Manager/Employers Agent for larger projects, co-ordinating the design team and providing strategic advice on all construction issues. She or he can also act on behalf on investment funds and banks to appraise the work, monitor its progress and authorise payments.
Miscellaneous services
Other services provided by building surveyors:
- Approval of plans submitted by lessees and inspection of the building works
- Acting as an Approved Inspector; examining building or proposed plans and work on site to ensure that they comply with the Building Act and Building Regulations
- Working in local authority building control
- Surveying a property to see if it meets the requirements of The Equality Act 2010
- Providing energy efficiency advice.
Structure
Content
Pre-Enrolment Learning
If you do not have a related first degree and/or relevant work experience and therefore do not have knowledge of domestic construction, law, economics, environmental science or materials science, you will be required to undertake directed reading and work to prepare you for the course. The Pre-Enrolment Learning (PEL) is equivalent to a 15 credit undergraduate module: it is studied by distance learning and is assessed through coursework, exam and an interview (viva). If required to undertake the Pre-Enrolment Learning, you must pass the assessment before joining the Graduate Diploma course. There will be a fee of around £320 for the learning materials and assessment.
Level 2 and 3 modules
Building Defects and Property Surveys (20 credits) investigates the ways in which buildings deteriorate and explores the range of investigative and reporting techniques that the building surveyor employs.
Building Services (10 credits) looks at the issues affecting the design, selection criteria and performance characteristics of the services incorporated in commercial buildings.
Design and Performance of Commercial Buildings (20 credits) covers the issues that relate to the detailed design, construction and performance of commercial buildings.
Property Development Economics (20 credits) explores the range of economic and market variables that influence the feasibility of property development schemes.
Property and Construction Law (20 credits) covers the legal issues arising from the ownership and occupation of commercial property and the administration of construction contracts.
Refurbishment and Renewal (20 credits) explores the design, construction and social issues influencing the refurbishment and redevelopment of residential property in the private, social housing and public sectors.
Professional Practice and Risk Management (10 credits) focuses on the legal and practical risks that are faced by the construction professional, considering procedures to avoid or minimise such risk while maintaining appropriate professional standards.
These Level 2 and 3 modules are studied over one year full-time, or over two years part-time by day release.
Level M (Master's) modules
Building Surveying Integrating Project (30 credit core module) is taught over semester 3 of year 1, from June to September. It is delivered jointly with practitioners enabling you to gain experience within real-life situations.
The following two Level M modules will be taught over the first semester of year 2 (from September to December full-time) in 10 blocks of two days each.
Conserving Built Cultural Heritage (15 credit core module) is an introduction to the ideas, principles and practice of conserving the built heritage. It includes an academic consideration of conservation values.
Estates and Strategic Management (15 credit core module) studies the management of an organisation's built estate assets in relation to their corporate goals while also considering various environmental factors.
You would normally be expected to have found relevant employment before undertaking the Level M study. We will assist you to find relevant employment where we can.
You can top up the Graduate Diploma to an MSc by taking the Research for Policy and Practice module and producing a 60 credit dissertation. You would register for the MSc at the same time as starting the M Level study.
The modules listed are regularly reviewed to ensure that they remain up to date and relevant, so some of them may change before the course starts or whilst you are on it, but the overall aims and broad content of the course will remain the same.
Teaching and learning
Teaching methods are varied depending on the module; lectures, project work and tutorials all have a part.
The teaching staff provide a friendly, enabling environment for learning. They are also actively engaged in research or professional practice, ensuring that you learn directly from the latest academic and business developments.
There are currently around 800 postgraduate students on taught courses, and about 60 postgraduate research students.Graduate students have a dedicated space on the main campus, with teaching rooms and informal areas. Each course has a student adviser who provides pastoral support and general advice. The Student Handbook is also an essential source of information.
Study time
You may study the Level 2 and 3 modules full-time over one year, or part-time (one day each week) over two years.
Assessment
Assessment is achieved through a balance of coursework and examinations. Examinations are held in either January or May/June. Coursework will comprise a variety of essays, reports, surveys, design projects, teamwork or progress tests.
You are encouraged to do 'formative work' to prepare for assessments: this does not count towards your marks but the feedback which you receive will help you to improve your performance.
Special Features
Professional accreditation
The course satisfies the academic requirements for entry to the RICS Building Surveying School. Students are required to spend a minimum of two years in practice, and pass the Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) set by the RICS before gaining full membership. Both full and part-time students can start the APC after their first year of study, if in relevant employment, which means that they may become members of the RICS within two years of graduation. Details of RICS membership requirements can be found at www.rics.org
Fieldwork
We offer a comprehensive two-day residential team-building and induction programme featuring a range of speakers and the RICS Regional Training Adviser. Venues change yearly.
There are visits to development projects and historic buildings. Field trips are organised to visit alumni working at firms in London or partnership organisations in Europe.
Study facilities
You may use the well equipped laboratories for concrete and environmental services, environmental physics, earth sciences, spatial analysis (including mapping and Geographical Information Systems) and surveying technology, each with specialist technicians supporting both teaching and research. An audio-visual group provides support for photography, digital imaging, filming and sound recording.
The Department has invested in online and offline computer-based resources to support modules, and especially those offered by distance learning. You also have access to a vast number of journals and databases online through the UWE Bristol library. The library and some computer labs on campus are open 24 hours, and the Department's suite of computer rooms supports software for word processing, data analysis, spatial analysis, computer aided design and other specialist software required by our students.
Careers/further study
Building Surveying encompasses a wide range of activities related to design, construction and property management. Whilst emphasis is placed on existing buildings, building surveyors are involved in all aspects of buildings, from conception, feasibility, design and construction to their strategic and tactical management, repair refurbishment, conversion and conservation.
Entry
Entry requirements
We normally require a first degree of 2:2 or above.
We welcome applications from students without the conventional entrance requirements but who do have substantial relevant work or other experience and whose motivation and skills would enable them to succeed on the course.
We also welcome applications from people with disabilities, and we are happy to arrange visits for disabled applicants to find out whether the course is suitable and discuss what support is appropriate.
If you hold a degree in architecture, architectural technology, construction management, quantity surveying or another closely related subject, you can apply for direct entry to the MSc.
As this is a vocational course, applicants are expected to express a strong interest in becoming building surveyors. You would normally be expected to have had work-shadowing experience prior to induction and be in relevant employment when undertaking the Level M study.
This course mainly focuses on UK policy and practice, and it may therefore be less suitable for international students intending to return to work in their home countries.
Fees
The Pre-Enrolment Learning Programme costs around £320.
Full details of fees for this course can be found on our postgraduate fees pages.
For funding options, please see our funding and scholarships information.
How to apply
Please see the general information about applications.
Pre-Enrolment Learning
The Pre-Enrolment Learning (PEL) programme covering fundamental principles is compulsory for those without approved prior knowledge of the subject: see the section above about PEL. The PEL is assessed through coursework, exam and viva (interview). The PEL involves around 150 hours which, if you are also working, may take three months to complete.
Students with disabilities
We welcome applications from people with disabilities.
Following is a list of the types of activities that the course normally involves. We are committed to supporting students with disabilities, and wherever possible we will make reasonable adjustments to these activities to enable students with disabilities to successfully complete the course. We encourage applicants to disclose any disabilities or support needs in their application forms, so that we can offer information, advice and support. There is a Disability Service at UWE Bristol and a Disability Support Co-ordinator in the School.
- Use a computer
- Read and produce drawings, plans and maps
- Visually inspect buildings and locations, including physical movement around and through buildings and locations
- Visually inspect construction sites, including physical movement around and through construction sites
- Participate in field courses or activities away from the University
- Measure distances and sizes of buildings, materials or sites
- Team working and negotiation
- Laboratory work involving observations and physical manipulation
- Take part in discussions and presentations
Open days
We run open days throughout the year, when you can meet lecturers and current students, see the facilities and resources that we offer, and visit the student accommodation.
For further information regarding the course, you are welcome to contact: Adrian Birch (Programme leader) Adrian.Birch@uwe.ac.uk or the Admissions team fet.admissions@uwe.ac.uk +44 (0)117 32 84242.
For further information
Page last updated 14 December 2011