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CONTENTS

1. What’s Building?

2. What Building degrees can you study?

3. What do you need to get onto a Building degree?

4. What topics does a Building degree cover?

5. How will you be assessed?

6. Why study Building?

7. Are scholarships and bursaries available?

8. What do Building graduates do and earn?

9. What jobs can you get as a Building graduate?

10. What are the postgraduate opportunities?

11. Similar subjects to Building

12. Have any questions?

What’s Building?

A Building degree covers the study of building materials, techniques, building economics, management, quantity surveying and property development, among other things. You’ll gain a broad knowledge of construction and surveying, ready to take on a wide choice of careers.

What Building degrees can you study?

Undergraduate degrees in Building include:

• Architectural Technology BSc
• Building Services Engineering BEng
• Construction Management and Surveying BSc
• Construction Project Management BSc
• Interior Architecture BA

Degrees may have an integrated foundation year, and placements abroad and in the UK.

What do you need to get onto a Building degree?

Must have

Entry requirements will depend on the university, ranging from 88–141 UCAS tariff points, this could include:

• A Levels: BBB–CCD
• BTECs: DDM–MMM
• Scottish Highers: ABBBB–BBCC
• International Baccalaureate: 30–26
• Universities usually ask for Maths and/or science at A Level (or equivalent)

Good to have

• Work experience or shadowing jobs in a related area, like an architectural practice, planning department or construction company
• Some understanding of businesses or careers that interest you and awareness of professional bodies within the construction business

What topics does a Building degree cover?

Modules cover a range of subjects, from construction management to architectural technology and engineering services. They could include:

• Construction science
• Construction technology
• Economics for construction and engineering
• Management in the built environment
• Construction contract law
• Design integration
• Digital design and modelling
• Architectural design and technology
• Construction engineering technology
• Fluid mechanics
• Control systems and mathematics
• Theory including thermodynamics
• Mechanical engineering
• Electrical and lighting systems

How will you be assessed?

 Courses are assessed in a variety of ways, depending on the module and degree:

• Case studies
• Coursework
• Exams
• Portfolios
• Presentations
• Project work

Why study Building?

Career-specific skills:

• Building project management skills
• Knowledge and specific skills in construction technology and engineering

Transferable skills:

• Problem solving
• Digital literacy
• Critical and analytical thinking
• Team working

Professional accreditation and organisations:

• Degrees in architectural technology may be accredited by the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT)
• Construction management degrees may be accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) or Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors (CICES) and the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), providing a pathway to membership
• Engineering degrees may be accredited by the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) or Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE), leading towards Chartered Engineering (CEng) status

Are scholarships and bursaries available to students studying Building?

Some universities offer students specific scholarships, bursaries, or grants to encourage diversity so it’s worth seeing if you are eligible, how to apply and what it covers e.g., materials, tuition fees and/or living costs.

What do Building graduates do and earn?

Building graduates can expect a starting salary of £20,000–£28,000, depending on the area they enter. It’s worth investing in professional qualifications or chartered status as you will earn more.

What jobs can you get as a Building graduate?

• Assistant architecture technologist
• BIM manager or coordinator
• Building control surveyor
• Construction manager
• Construction planner
• Contract manager
• Design manager
• Facilities manager
• Project manager
• Site engineer

What are the postgraduate opportunities?

Examples of taught master’s and research degrees at postgraduate level include:

• Building Design Management MSc
• Building Technology PhD
• Concrete Structures MSc
• Construction Management MSc
• Asset Management & Development MSc

Similar subjects to Building

If you’re interested in the built environment, you could also consider these subjects:

• Architecture
• Civil Engineering
• Geography & Environmental Science
• Town & Country Planning and Landscape Design

Have any questions?

If you’ve any questions about studying Building, you can email our experts at ask@thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk. We’ll be happy to hear from you!