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Highly ranked for teaching and research

Study at one of the UK’s top-ranking institutions for teaching and research in the built environment.

We're ranked 1st for Architecture, Building and Planning in the Daily Mail University Guide 2025, 3rd for Building in the Complete University Guide, 2025, and 5th for Building in the Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide, 2025.

Extensive links with industry

We have long-established relationships with construction firms and industry professionals all over the world. This means our teaching continually reflects the latest thinking and that we can support our students to find exciting placement opportunities. 

We help you to build up a strong network of industry contacts during your studies and develop strong foundations for a sustainable career.

Flexible degree courses 

The flexibility of our surveying and construction courses allows you to acquire in-depth knowledge across all disciplines before you decide to specialise in your final year.  It also means you can evolve with the needs of the construction-related industries. 

If you choose to study any of our courses, including architectural engineering, you have the option to add a year in industry to your degree.

A sociable, supportive environment

You'll find that our School has a friendly, collegiate atmosphere, thanks to the full-time nature of our courses, our campus-based teaching, and our supportive community of staff, students and alumni. 

You'll have many opportunities to meet new friends in class or at social events organised by Reading University Construction Society. 

 

Find out more about life in the School

Studying at Reading was the best three years of my life, both socially and academically.​Putting the effort in allowed me to become more connected and meant that the academics were always willing to help.

Josh Smith

BSc (Hons) Quantity Surveying graduate

A global outlook

When you study with us you’ll join a globally-connected community. Our students join us from all over the world, and we also have an international alumni network.  

Our staff draw on their wide range of expertise and international experience to feed directly into our degree courses and research activities. Many are engaged in overseas construction projects, or working to influence policy around the globe.

Professional accreditation

Our surveying and construction degrees are accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB). 

Our BSc (Hons) Quantity Surveying is also accredited by the Board of Quantity Surveyors Malaysia (BQSM). 

This means you can be assured that your learning is professionally relevant and top quality, and that your qualification will be recognised by industry.

Aerial view of a power station

Sustainability focus 

Sustainability themes are embedded throughout our courses, from the materials and energy used in construction, to the design and engineering that influences how we operate within the built environment. 

In choosing to study and work in the built environment sector, you will join us in tackling the challenges of resource use and climate change, and in making a positive impact on the transition to a more sustainable future.

Succeed in your career

You’ll have the opportunity to graduate with the skills, vision and ambition that employers are looking for.

In the latest Graduate Outcomes Survey, 98% of graduates from Construction Management and Engineering are in work or further study within 15 months of graduation; of those in full-time employment, 97% are in graduate-level roles (based on our analysis of HESA data © HESA 2024, Graduate Outcomes Survey 2021/22; includes first degree Construction Management and Engineering responders).

Most of our graduates, who wish to start their professional career straight after graduation, secure employment before completing their studies. They find roles in leading firms around the world, including:

  • AECOM
  • Arcadis
  • Balfour Beatty
  • Berkeley Group
  • Core Five LLP
  • Costain Group
  • Cushman & Wakefield
  • JLL
  • Mace
  • Turner & Townsend.

(Based on HESA data © HESA 2020 - 2024, Graduate Outcomes Survey 2017/18 - 2021/22; includes undergraduate responders from the School of Construction Management and Engineering) 

Our graduates work in a range of careers, including: 

  • quantity surveyors
  • project managers
  • building surveyors
  • cost managers
  • commercial managers
  • building information modelling (BIM) managers
  • construction managers
  • procurement managers
  • energy engineers
  • building designers
  • facility managers
  • facility engineers.

Meet our experts

Our world-class academics have a range of international expertise and experience in industry and policymaking, bringing this into their teaching and research.

Our research

The University of Reading has been ranked 6th in the UK for research power in Architecture, Built Environment and Planning (Times Higher Education, Institutions Ranked by Subject, based on its analysis of the latest REF 2021).

Portrait of Adrian Tagg, Associate Professor in Building Surveying at the University of Reading

Read Adrian's story

If students dare to dream, they can take their skills anywhere in the world. This profession and this University can potentially take you anywhere.

Adrian Tagg

Associate Professor in Building Surveying

Athena SWAN Silver Award
Board of Quantity Surveyors Malaysia logo
Chartered Institute of Building logo
Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors logo