Overview
Built for safety
Legislation around the safety of buildings is of crucial importance. If businesses and building owners fall foul of these regulations, they could face significant legal, financial penalties and, at worst, place the lives of a building’s inhabitants in serious risk. The industry is crying out for more qualified inspectors to take on this responsibility and business must get better at succession planning for this to happen.
This apprenticeship has been designed to align with the Building Safety Act competency framework and the responsibilities of building control professionals. Upon completion, apprentices will be able to apply for professional membership of Chartered Institute of Building (MCIOB) or Chartered Association of Building Engineers (MCABE).
About this apprenticeship
What can you expect?
Apprentices will spend their time on this apprenticeship learning through a combination of on-the-job and off-the-job training.
The academic learning combines an understanding of construction and design with a conception of the laws and compliance that govern the built environment, giving apprentices the confidence and authority to enforce the crucial standards needed to keep their stakeholders safe.
Course accreditations
End-point assessment
The End-Point Assessment (EPA) is designed to assess the knowledge, skills and behaviours that an apprentice has developed during their academic and workplace learning.
The EPA for the Building Control Surveyor Degree Apprenticeship is integrated and is typically undertaken in the last six months of this apprenticeship, once the employer is happy that the apprentice is ready. It is taken as a 20-credit module, at the end of which an exam and interview are taken. UCEM are the End-Point Assessment organisation for this apprenticeship.
Professional membership of Chartered Institute of Building (MCIOB) or Chartered Association of Building Engineers (MCABE) may be offered as a result of an apprentice’s performance in the End-Point Assessment. If not offered, apprentices will be provided with information on the further actions required to achieve this.
Structure
Degree award
On successful completion, students will be awarded:
- BSc (Hons) Building Control
- Apprenticeship Completion Certificate
Delivery structure
This apprenticeship will be delivered online and includes guided discussions and workshops as well as independent learning and reading.
Development of the required knowledge, skills and behaviours for all apprenticeships happens through a combination of workplace training provided by the employer and off-the job training provided by UCEM.
The apprenticeship is 360 credits, including an 20-credit End-Point Assessment (EPA). The employer must be able to provide their apprentices with relevant workplace experience for the requirements of the EPA to be met.
Due to the nature of the apprenticeship, apprentices will only be awarded BSc (Hons) Building Control once they have successfully completed 360 credits, including the EPA.
Modules you will study
Introduction to the Built Environment 1
Appreciate how legal, political and social issues shape our sector and its role in the economy. Understand the project lifecycle and the RIBA Plan of Work. Identify the industry’s stakeholders and professions and your chosen profession’s key responsibilities in meeting client objectives.
Introduction to Sustainability
Explore the causes of climate change and the challenges of sustainable development, with particular focus on the construction and property sector. Examine the relationship between property and the environment along with the criteria used to measure sustainability in relation to finished construction projects.
Professional and Business Practice
Gain an understanding of the organisational structures within the sector. Appreciate the role of business planning and the accounting concepts that support decision making. Consider the importance and benefits of client management, professionalism, ethical practice and diversity in the workforce.
Establish a foundation knowledge of buildings, the environment and technology, also considering them from a sustainability perspective. Develop your communication skills and construction literacy with real-world examples of construction projects, including traditional masonry and roof construction.
Introduction to Regulatory and Built Environment Law
Dive into the legal and regulatory requirements that relate to the construction and property sector, along with the legal environment in the context of planning, design and occupation and health and safety as it relates to both design and construction activity.
Introduction to the Built Environment 2
Gain familiarity with your chosen discipline and develop basic discipline specific knowledge and skills. Undertake a discipline specific task that will develop your understanding of client’s objectives, industry sources of information and the benefits of collaborative practice.
The relationship between a building’s design, environment and occupants is complex. With the overarching theme of human comfort, break down the individual factors – heat, air moisture sound and light within these aspects of a building, and how each of these factors affect one another, in the context of domestic or office environments.
Retrofit is a crucial function for keeping existing buildings in use and fit for purpose. Explore the range of different retrofitting project types and associated issues while developing the knowledge and skills required to appraise and develop retrofit and refurbishment solutions.
Explore the core competencies of building control you’ll need to become a member of relevant professional bodies. Examine requirements for site inspections of building work, with reference to legislation like the Building Safety Act 2022, and apply these standards to different scenarios.
Building Pathology and Conservation Principles
Build an understanding of building pathology – the study of building decay, defects and performance failure. Develop your ability to effectively diagnose and evaluate a range of common building defects through inspection, testing, survey and analysis.
Design and Environmental Science
The relationship between a building’s design, environment and occupants is complex. With the overarching theme of human comfort, break down the individual factors – heat, air moisture sound and light within these aspects of a building, and how each of these factors affect one another, in the context of domestic or office environments.
Commercial Building Pathology and Practice
Analyse building pathology and surveying technologies in the context of commercial structures. Identify, examine and provide technical solutions to key defects in commercial buildings. Understand the role of technology and information management as they apply to building surveying services.
Fire safety is a key competency in the industry . Study the nature of fire, the relevant regulations and standards, methods of protection and means of escape in relation to domestic and commercial buildings.
Assessing the use of a building or venue to ensure public safety is a core skill of building control surveyors. Examine legislation and guidance and apply these principles to scenarios involving sports grounds, licensed premises and concert venues.
Develop your research skills and present your self-directed investigation and research in the form of a case study. Reflect on the knowledge, skills and behaviours you have developed during your studies and the experience and training you’ve received from your workplace.
Consolidate your knowledge and skills by working in multi-disciplinary groups in a project scenario. This project will help you identify the procedures required for the adaptation and refurbishment of a building based on a client’s brief.
Building Surveying and Maintenance Practice
Explore building surveying practice and enhance your ability to recognise, analyse and remedy building maintenance issues, so that you can provide professional advice regarding different types of surveys, and maintenance and building adaptation.
Develop your research skills and present your self-directed investigation and research in the form of a case study. Reflect on the knowledge, skills and behaviours you have developed during your studies and the experience and training you’ve received from your workplace.
Building Control End Point Assessment
Having achieved the mandatory requirements of the integrated apprenticeship programme, prepare for and undertake the EPA. Collate and present evidence to demonstrate your achievement of the Standard’s KSBs competencies. Attend a panel interview led by an independent assessor and industry expert.
Course Leaders
Online learning
The future of study
Flexible study
Balance your study, work and home commitments, all while working towards your career goals
e-Library access
Full access to a comprehensive and valuable e-library with a wealth of resources to support your studies
Interactive
Study using a diverse range of interactive, modern and dynamic learning resources
Expert-led
Learning activities that have been designed by UCEM tutors and subject matter experts
Stay connected
Learn alongside a diverse community of students from all over the world
Time commitment and study breakdown
Studying two modules per semester requires an expected time commitment of 15-20 hours per week. If you study only one module per semester, the weekly time commitment will be less, depending on the module’s credit size. Most modules are typically 20 credits.
Directed study time (%)
Self-directed study time (%)
Assessment study time (%)
Why choose UCEM?
UCEM is a leading university for the built environment, providing flexible and accessible supported online education to all. Our commitment to become the most sustainable university in the world has led us to develop the way we teach, operate, and collaborate with others to ensure that sustainability is integrated into everything that we do.
Our apprenticeship offering is constantly growing to keep up with the demands of the sector. We are proud to have gained a reputation with our clients and industry partners for the excellent support we provide apprentices and employers.
- Rated 13th in the top 50 apprenticeship providers, Rate My Apprenticeship
- The largest provider of Chartered Surveyor apprenticeships, Gov.uk
- 'Good' Ofsted rating, 2021
- 91% of apprentices agreed that UCEM gave relevant training to help them perform their job better, ESFA
- 12.5% of all current building control surveyors have studied or are studying with UCEM, 2024 UCEM LS research
Application process
For employers
If you’re interested in developing your workforce with this apprenticeship, then please get in touch with our Business Development Team who will be able to guide you through the application process and support with any queries. Find the right apprenticeship candidate for your role through UCAS Talent Finder.
For prospective apprentices
If you are considering an apprenticeship but are not currently employed, you will need to search for an apprenticeship before applying.
Contact us
To find out more about working with us you can email businessdevelopment@ucem.ac.uk or call one of our team.
You can also fill out the contact form below and someone will get back to you: