University in United Kingdom
Reading, England, United Kingdom
University profile
The University of the Built Environment (UBE), known until June 2025 as the University College of Estate Management (UCEM), is a specialist university for real estate, property, construction, surveying, planning and architecture. Founded in London in 1919 as the College of Estate Management, it is a registered charity (no. 313223) with its head office at Horizons, 60 Queen's Road, Reading. It describes itself as the leading online university in the built environment, with more than 4,000 students from more than 100 countries studying at any one time.
Teaching is almost entirely online. Students study part-time (and on some degrees full-time) through a Virtual Learning Environment that holds lecture recordings, live sessions and course materials, backed by an e-Library of journals, reports and books. Graduates attend an in-person ceremony in Reading. The one exception to online delivery is The London School of Architecture (LSA), a specialist school within the university since a merger in May 2025, which teaches its postgraduate architecture programme through studio-based learning in London.
Undergraduate study centres on part-time BSc (Hons) degrees in Quantity Surveying, Building Surveying, Construction Management, Real Estate Management, Building Control and Architectural Design Technology, alongside CertHE, access and single-module routes. Postgraduate programmes include MSc conversion degrees in Building Surveying, Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, Real Estate and Urban Planning for graduates of other disciplines, a specialist MBA for the construction and real estate sectors, an MSc in Renewable Energy and AI (new for 2026), and the LSA's Part 2 MArch in Designing Architecture. Most degrees have two intakes a year.
The university is a major provider of apprenticeships, including the Chartered Surveyor Degree Apprenticeship, other Level 6 degree apprenticeships and Level 4 higher apprenticeships. Short courses and CPD are offered through its Online Academy.
Programmes are accredited by professional bodies including the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), the Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE), CMI, ICES, HKICM and ISEP. The LSA programme is RIBA and ARB accredited. The university holds Taught Degree Awarding Powers, granted in 2012 and renewed in 2018.
International students study from their home countries without needing a UK visa, and pay the same fees as UK students. The university has been active in Hong Kong for 40 years, keeps a Hong Kong office; more than 4,000 Hong Kong students have studied with the institution. International qualifications are assessed through Ecctis (UK ENIC).
Fees are the same for UK and international students and are charged per semester according to the modules studied; fees are fixed for continuing students on the same programme.
A failed assessment can normally be resubmitted free of charge in the following semester; a full retake requires the module fee again. Fees can be paid by card or through Flywire in local currency.
For new undergraduate students from any country who can show financial need, the bursary gives a discount on fees for the whole bachelor's programme. Applicants must first hold an offer, then complete the bursary application form and send proof of income to [email protected]. Deadline: 28 August for autumn 2026 entry.
A discount of up to 50% of the programme fee for a limited number of new MSc and MBA students in any country with outstanding academic records (for example a first or 2:1) and financial need. Applicants need an offer, then submit the scholarship form, evidence of academic excellence and financial evidence; shortlisted applicants have a virtual interview. Not available for single modules or employer- or apprenticeship-funded study. Deadline: 3 August for autumn 2026 entry.
Funded with the Chartered Surveyors Training Trust, it covers 50% of the BSc Access Module fee for UK and international applicants who most need help to start a built environment career. Deadline: 28 August for autumn 2026 entry.
Students living in England, Wales and Northern Ireland can apply for a tuition fee loan for undergraduate programmes (choosing Distance Learning as the mode of study); maintenance loans and grants are not available for online study. Postgraduate Loans of up to £12,858 (courses starting on or after 1 August 2025) are available for MSc and MBA programmes and are paid to the student after registration and the first fee payment. This funding is not available to students living in Scotland. Disabled Students' Allowances are available to eligible students.
Browse the scholarships listed for University of the Built Environment and check each award’s eligibility.
View scholarships for University of the Built Environment →Applications go directly to the university through its online application form, with copies of qualification certificates and transcripts uploaded for assessment; documents should be photocopies verified by someone in a professional occupation. Most BSc and MSc programmes have two intakes a year, in autumn (September) and spring (March); for 2027 entry the BSc Quantity Surveying starts on 30 March 2027 (deadline 22 February 2027) and 27 September 2027 (deadline 23 August 2027), and the MSc Construction Management starts on 30 March 2027 (deadline 8 February 2027) and 27 September 2027 (deadline 9 August 2027). Offers can take up to 10 working days once all documentation is supplied. Applicants must be 18 or over at the start of their programme.
For BSc (Hons) degrees such as Quantity Surveying, entrants need 96 UCAS tariff points (or equivalent attainment through qualifications outside the tariff), or an Advanced Apprenticeship in Surveying or Construction Technical with a Construction and Built Environment Diploma at DD or Extended Diploma at MMM, or a current AssocRICS qualification with relevant employment. GCSE Mathematics at grade 4 (C) or an equivalent Level 2 qualification is also required. Applicants who do not meet the standard requirements are considered individually by the Programme Leader, taking account of professional and life experience. A contextualised admissions policy supports applicants who have faced barriers in education. For the intensive full-time route a member of the academic team may contact applicants to discuss their application.
The BSc Access Module is a six-month, 20-credit online module (about seven to ten hours of study a week) for applicants with non-standard qualifications or too few UCAS points; it leads to the BSc degrees in Building Surveying, Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, Real Estate Management and Building Control. The CertHE in Built Environment Studies and undergraduate and postgraduate single-module study also lead into degree programmes.
Entry requirements are the same for UK and international students. The academic level of qualifications outside the UCAS tariff is assessed through Ecctis (UK ENIC). Applications from Hong Kong are assessed by the Dean of School (International) and may require a personal statement or an employer or mentor reference. Because study is fully online, students do not need a UK visa.
All programmes are taught and assessed in English. Undergraduate applicants need GCSE English Language or Literature at grade 4 (C) or an equivalent Level 2 qualification, IELTS Academic 5.5 with at least 5.5 in reading and writing, TOEFL 79 (internet-based), 213 (computer-based) or 550 (paper-based), AS-level English at grade C, or a cognate Level 5 qualification taught in English from the University of Hong Kong or City University of Hong Kong. Postgraduate applicants need IELTS Academic 6.0 with at least 6.0 in reading and writing, TOEFL 88 (internet-based), 230 (computer-based) or 570 (paper-based), GCSE or AS-level English at grade 4 (C), or HKDSE grade 3 or equivalent Hong Kong qualifications; degrees taught in English can support an application.
MSc conversion programmes, such as Construction Management, require a bachelor's degree with honours at lower second class (2:2) or equivalent, or a bachelor's degree plus relevant experience, or a Level 5 qualification plus five years' relevant experience, or a professional qualification plus five years' relevant experience. Non-standard applications are considered individually by the Programme Leader. Applications to The London School of Architecture's MArch are made through the LSA.
Student services include a student advice team, support tutors, the Disability and Welfare team, safeguarding support, a careers and employability adviser, SilverCloud online wellbeing programmes, a virtual Female Networking Group, Student Officers and an Alumni Association. Student Central handles student enquiries at any time.
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