Overview

Built for people

Building Surveyors have been described as the ‘jack-of-all-trades’ of the built environment. From building maintenance and sustainable retrofitting to project management and design, these multi-skilled professionals have the knowledge to provide advice and utilise their expertise on issues across every stage of the building lifecycle. These competencies make them a crucial asset, both to their employers and their clients.

UCEM’s Chartered Surveyor Degree Apprenticeship provides apprentices with the skills, training, and industry knowledge they need to become valued contributors to the surveying sector. Upon successful completion of this apprenticeship, students will become a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (MRICS).

Reasons why degree is for you

Apprentices will:

Be knowledgeable in the latest sustainability practices

Become Chartered on successful completion of this apprenticeship

Build a well-rounded foundation of knowledge applicable to various specialisms

Acquire the expertise and language to confidently work across many disciplines

About this apprenticeship

What can you expect?

This Level 6 Chartered Surveyor Degree Apprenticeship offers either a BSc (Hons) Building Surveying or MSc Building Surveying qualification as part of the apprenticeship. The route taken depends on previous qualifications held by the individual. See our entry requirements for more details. Both have different durations, but the end point assessment is the same.

Course accreditations

 

 

End-point assessment

This apprenticeship provides apprentices with the knowledge, skills and behaviours to meet the requirements of the end point assessment (EPA), the RICS Assessment of Professional Competence (APC). The APC pathway available as the end-point-assessment (EPA) is:

This pathway requires the employer to fill some of the knowledge gaps for apprentices. Talk to our Business Development team for more information.

More information about the EPA can be found in this RICS Apprenticeship Handbook.

Structure

Degree award

On successful completion, students will be awarded:

  • BSc (Hons) Building Surveying

or

  • MSc Building Surveying

and

  • Apprenticeship Completion Certificate

Delivery structure

This apprenticeship will be delivered online and include guided discussions and workshops as well as independent learning and reading.  

The required knowledge, skills and behaviours for all apprenticeships is achieved through a combination of workplace training provided by the employer and the off-the-job (academic) requirements provided by UCEM.

The BSc (Hons) route is 360 credits and the MSc route is 180 credits, both with the APC as the End Point Assessment.

The employer must be able to provide their employees with relevant workplace experience to meet the chosen APC competencies. 

Modules you will study

Undergraduate

Year 1

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.

Construction Technology 1

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.

Year 2

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.

Construction Technology 2

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.

Project and Contract Administration

Understanding the principles and practices associated with standard forms of construction contracts. Focusing on Building Surveying Practice, gain insight into the factors that influence contract selection and develop a holistic view of your responsibilities in ensuring effective contract execution.

Year 3

Building Control

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.

Year 4

Fire Safety

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.

Project Management in the Built Environment

Gain an understanding of the project management services provided by a building surveyor, including management, procurement, planning and programming, risk management and conflict avoidance.

Workbased Research Project

Develop your research skills in the context of the built environment, your workplace and your chosen career path. Reflect on your learning and knowledge by relating the practicalities of a case study to the academic concepts and ideas that underpin it.  Demonstrate your professional competence.

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.

Professional Building Surveying Practice

Explore the practice of professional building surveying, and develop your understanding in the fields of professional ethics, neighbour and boundary matters, dilapidations, and some international roles, regulations, and codes.

Postgraduate

Revalidation

To make sure our programmes are always high quality and relevant for our students we review and update our programmes on a regular cycle. This is known as “periodic review and revalidation” and this year our Postgraduate programmes will be going through this process. Therefore, the programme information presented here may change in Autumn 2025. Information about any changes will be published in Spring 2025.

Course Leaders

Undergraduate
Nicola Allen

GradDip, AssocRICS, ACABE, MAPM

Nicola Allen is a Building Surveyor and trained at the University of the West of England. Nicola is an Associate member of the RICS, Chartered Association of Building Engineers and a Member of Association of Project Management.

Recent experience in Higher Education academic teaching at UCEM and previously at Birmingham City University delivering teaching sessions and modules on a number of Building Surveying and Built Environment related modules.

Postgraduate
Dr Karen Clarke

BEng (Hons) PhD CEng MICE MCIOB C.Build MCABE AssocRICS FGS SFHEA

Karen is a Chartered Civil Engineer, Chartered Construction Manager and Chartered Building Engineer who has worked in Higher Education for the last twenty years. She was previously a Senior Lecturer at Kingston University teaching on Building Surveying, Construction Management, Civil Engineering and Foundation Year in Engineering courses.

Online learning

The future of study

1 2 3 4 5

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.

45

Directed study time (%)

25

Self-directed study time (%)

30

Assessment study time (%)

Support

For your studies

Entry

Qualifications required

Undergraduate entry

Academic requirements

96 UCAS tariff points or equivalent;

OR

  • Completed an Advanced Apprenticeship in Surveying or an Advanced Apprenticeship in Construction Technical through which a Construction and Built Environment Diploma with a minimum DD profile was obtained or through which a Construction and Built Environment Extended Diploma with a minimum MMM profile was obtained, or an equivalent qualification;

OR

  • A current Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Associate qualification (AssocRICS) and be in relevant employment;

OR

  • Successfully completed the UCEM BSc Access module programme;

English and mathematics requirements

GCSE Grade 4 (or C) or above in English and Mathematics or equivalent qualification

Requirements of the apprenticeship

  • Apprentices must have the right to work in England and meet the Education and Skill Funding Agency (ESFA) residency status requirements
  • Spend at least 50% of their working hours in England
  • Be 18 years or over at the start of the programme and be directly employed in a job role that will enable the requirements of the apprenticeship to be achieved

Find out more about how apprenticeships work

Providing evidence

Evidence is required in the form of certificate or statements. You should send photocopies that have been verified by someone in a professional occupation.

Applications are assessed in accordance with the UCEM Code of Practice on Admissions and Recognition of Prior Learning.

Postgraduate entry

Academic requirements

A Bachelor’s Degree with honours at lower second standard (2:2), or equivalent;

OR

  • A Bachelor’s Degree, or equivalent, plus experience in a relevant field;

OR

  • A Level 5 qualification as defined by Framework for Higher Education Qualifications for England, Wales and Northern Ireland (FHEQ) plus 5 years’ relevant experience;

OR

  • A professional qualification plus 5 years’ relevant experience;

OR

  • Successfully completed the UCEM Postgraduate Access programme at the first attempt.

English and mathematics requirements

GCSE grade 4 (or C) or above in English and mathematics

Requirements of the apprenticeship

  • Apprentices must have the right to work in England and meet the Education and Skill Funding Agency (ESFA) residency status requirements
  • Spend at least 50% of their working hours in England
  • Be 18 years or over at the start of the programme and be directly employed in a job role that will enable the requirements of the apprenticeship to be achieved

Find out more about how apprenticeships work

Providing evidence

Evidence is required in the form of certificate or statements. You should send photocopies that have been verified by someone in a professional occupation.

Applications are assessed in accordance with the UCEM Code of Practice on Admissions and Recognition of Prior Learning.

SDG's

Sustainability

Sustainability

How does this apprenticeship align?

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is the United Nation’s economic, social and environmental plan to achieve sustainable development. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) are central to this ambition, and must therefore be a critical part of built environment curriculums.

UCEM is currently undergoing an evaluation of how SDG’s relate to modules. This will be updated shortly.

Funding

and commitment

Time commitment for apprentices

The academic element of the apprenticeship requires 15-20 hours of study a week, based on studying two modules per semester. This is for a typical 20 credit module.

Time commitment for employers

You will need to provide your apprentice with the equivalent of one day off a week to study and to ensure that their job role enables them to fulfil the requirements of the apprenticeship.

Funding

The programme meets the criteria of the Chartered Surveyor Degree Apprenticeship standard. Levy paying organisations can use their levy for the fees below. Non-levy payers will need to secure apprenticeship funding from the government.

Undergraduate route: £28,000. Eligible organisations are able to use their levy fund for £27,000 of this fee.

Postgraduate route: £25,000. Eligible organisations are able to use their levy fund for the entirety of this fee.

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
Case Studies Slide 2
Online learning is
the future

Find out how it's right for you and your studies.

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.

Application deadlines

Spring 2025

Undergraduate route – 24 February 2025

Postgraduate route – 10 February 2025

Autumn 2025

Undergraduate route – 25 August 2025

Postgraduate route – 11 August 2025

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:


Meryl Bonser

Director of Business Development

+44 (0)7557 384942

Martin Cawley

Associate Director of Business Development

+44 (0)7747 030777