Building Surveying (Top-Up) BSc (Hons)

In this Top-Up final-year degree, you’ll move beyond theory: you’ll do live surveying, hands-on building pathology, and work with real-world projects. The course is designed so that you don’t just learn what building surveyors do — you do it. You will carry out actual site visits, use survey equipment, prepare portfolio work, and most importantly work with industry-standard software. The aim is to get you ready for professional chartership (e.g. with RICS), so you build up the competencies that the profession demands.

You’ll be based in the Millennium Point campus, which has had a substantial investment (~£6.5 million) to equip built environment students with modern learning environments. Also, Birmingham city centre offers you a ‘living lab’ — ongoing redevelopment, HS2, regeneration projects — so many case studies and site projects are literally outside the classroom.

What You’ll Do, Facilities & Tools Provided:

Here are concrete features and opportunities — what you’ll use, visit, participate in:

• Surveys & Field Work: You’ll undertake site visits to real construction / building surveying sites with professional partners (for example, Taylor Wimpey and others) to apply techniques (defects, pathology, condition surveys) in real buildings.
• Project Work / Individual Project: There’s a 40-credit Individual Honours Project at Level 6 where you choose a topic, research it, and produce substantial output.
• Core Modules Linked to Practice: Modules like Commercial Building Pathology and Surveying, Construction Technology, Professional Practice, Urban Design Practice in Context, Project Management give technical, business, and legal skills that surveyors need.
• Software & Digital Tools:
  • You’ll have access to industry-standard software (AutoCAD, Revit) and visualization tools.
  • The Built Environment Space in Millennium Point provides software-equipped laptops for loan, and there’s virtual access (e.g. Windows Virtual Desktop) for certain tools so you can work off-campus.
• Large-scale campus & Labs: The Built Environment facilities include open studio / workspace (“Studio Space”) in Millennium Point where projects are shared, reviewed, changed, etc. Students in Building Surveying use this kind of studio environment.
• Living Lab & City Context: Because the campus is in Eastside, Birmingham, you’re close to large infrastructure projects like HS2, city regeneration, enabling you to observe, analyse, potentially get involved with current developments.
• Accreditation & Professional Connections: The course is accredited by RICS, CIOB, CABE. This means the curriculum, its assessments, project work are aligned with what professional bodies require. Also you get exposure to guest lectures / industry talks.

Graduates from this programme typically move into roles like:

• Building Surveyor
• Project Manager
• Property / Facilities Manager
• Specialist roles in Building Pathology, Conservation, Sustainability

These are roles where there’s demand, especially with UK-wide development and regeneration projects.

What the Programme Offers & Key Outcomes:

Here’s what I found from official BCU sources and trusted UCAS / graduate data, that show how well this course supports you and what you might expect after graduating:

• University & Professional Accreditation:
  The course is accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), and the Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE). This means your degree aligns with the core competencies needed in the profession.
• Industry Partnerships & Real-World Experience:
  You’ll get exposure via site visits (e.g. Taylor Wimpey and other housing developers), guest lectures, and working closely with industry bodies. BCU maintains strong links with regional and national firms, and survey practices.
• Facilities & Location Advantages:
  The course is delivered at the Millennium Point campus in Birmingham city centre. The city is undergoing major regeneration (e.g. HS2, large redevelopment plans), so you’ll literally be in a “living lab” — lots of nearby development projects, which means opportunities to see theory in action.
• Graduate Outcomes & Salaries:
  According to The Uni Guide and UCAS / LEO (Longitudinal Education Outcomes):
  • About 86% of graduates are employed or in further education within six months.
  • Around 78% are in roles where their degree is essential or beneficial.
  • Starting salaries tend to be around £23,000 in the first year after graduation, rising to approx £31,000–£34,000 by year 3–5 for many.
• University Support & Services that Help You Find Employment:
  • BCU’s careers / employability services, including help with placements, CVs etc. (these are standard in built environment programmes).
  • The Graduate+ programme (or equivalent) that helps you build soft skills—teamwork, leadership, communication—which employers often value highly.
  • Access via virtual learning environments or university job‐boards to internships and work‐experience opportunities.
• Long-Term Accreditation Value:
  Because this course is accredited by RICS, CIOB, and CABE, graduating should help you move toward full professional chartered status more smoothly. That adds value throughout your career journey.

What It Takes / What You’ll Do

Just to clarify: since this is a Top-Up degree, it’s aimed at people who already have relevant Level 4 and Level 5 qualifications (e.g. HND, DipHE, foundation degree) in a related field.

You’ll study core Level 6 modules like:

• Commercial Building Pathology & Surveying
• Professional Practice
• Project Management
• Urban Design Practice in Context
• Individual Honours Project

Further Academic Progression:

After finishing the BSc (Hons) Top-Up, here are a few paths you could follow:

• Move into postgraduate studies (e.g. MSc in Building Surveying, Construction Project Management, Sustainability in the Built Environment) to deepen your technical, managerial, or specialist knowledge.
• Complete the RICS Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) or similar chartership process with CIOB / CABE to gain full professional credentials.
• Possibly combine further academic study with research roles (e.g. Master’s with dissertation or PhD) if you are interested in innovation, building pathology research, or sustainability / retrofitting.
• Some graduates also pursue short courses or CPD certifications (e.g. in Building Information Modelling BIM, sustainability assessment, heritage conservation) to enhance employability or enter specialist roles.