Bachelors Programmes -
BSc Building Surveying
School of the Built Environment
Heriot-Watt University

What are Building Surveyors?

Building surveyors are involved in the design, construction and maintenance of buildings. They offer advice on building maintenance, adaptation, refurbishment and conservation to owners/users of new and historical structures. A sound knowledge of construction, material properties, structures and construction contract practice is required to fulfil this role.

The variability of the type of properties the Building Surveyor can be investigating, advising on or building is immense and makes the job extremely interesting and rewarding. From historic listed buildings, constructed using traditional materials and techniques to modern innovative structures that use new materials; both require maintenance regimes to prevent accelerated building deterioration. The scope of work undertaken by Building Surveyors ensures variety of work with potentially everyday being different.

The Course:

This course aims to equip students with the relevant skills, knowledge and understanding of how buildings are constructed, adapted, repaired, refurbished and maintained. It also aims to ensure that students have a thorough understanding of the construction industry in general, surveying, environmental science and building pathology.
This is designed especially those working as M&E Managers, M&E Engineers, Building Maintenance professionals,    

A Building Surveyor is able to:

• Provide structural, material and construction advice for existing and new buildings, from
  inception, during construction and once completed and in use.
• Undertake property surveys which demonstrate a sound knowledge of construction
  technology, material science and building pathology.
• Provide advice on property maintenance to ensure buildings remain an asset and provide
  functionality in every changing environmental surroundings.
• Act as consultants and/or negotiators in providing strategic property advice regarding
  property portfolio investment, planning, building control legislation and the building
  regulations governing the construction industry.
• Work collaboratively with a team of professionals to bring a building project to completion
  within competing time, cost, quality and environmental criteria.

Skills required

• To assess problems using a practical and enquiring mind 
• A methodical approach to projects and an ability to evaluate issues in a logical manner
• Team working
• Understanding complex and competing project requirements
• IT capability
• Communicating with and organising people
• Good understanding of construction technology, materials science, contract and
  procurement

On graduating from this course you will be able to:

• convey knowledge and understanding of buildings and apply specialist skills within scientific, technical and business areas of building pathology, consistent with the training requirements of chartered building surveyors.
• draw upon a sound foundation of knowledge and understanding of the practice and procedure of surveying buildings and the construction industry.
• demonstrate sophisticated intellectual and research skills proficient for a professional career.
• apply a range of transferable skills including essay and report writing skills but with particular emphasis on information technology, communication and team working in the pursuit of a variety of tasks and problems.
• evaluate complex problems and formulate original ideas and proposals relevant to the built environment.
• appreciate the values, ethics, responsibilities and rules governing professional building surveying, and the need for professional integrity when advising client

Download the Course Fact Sheet
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