Information on this page is for Australian residents
Course not available to international students
Duration: 
1 year full time or longer for part time
Location: 
Online Real Time
Delivery mode: 
Online Real Time
Start dates:
24 February 2025
28 April 2025
28 July 2025

View all start dates
Application due dates:
Direct applications are due on 16 February 2025 for our next intake which starts on 24 February 2025.
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Overview

Become a building surveyor – with in-demand expertise in building regulations, construction compliance and inspection processes – with a Graduate Diploma in Building Surveying from Victoria University.

Building surveyors are responsible for assessing plans, conducting inspections, issuing building permits such as occupancy permits, and interpreting building and construction regulations for buildings of any size and complexity.

To work in this role, you need knowledge of building legislation and auditing, building codes, sustainable construction techniques and materials, fire-safety design, inspection procedures, building services and professional practice.

By the end of the course, you'll have the expertise to carry out the following tasks:

  • plan, implement and manage the delivery of efficient and effective building surveying strategies over the course of the approval and construction process
  • interpret the appropriate building documentation and regulations
  • assess building construction documentation for compliance with building legislations, codes and standards
  • communicate with technical professionals such as builders, architects and engineers regarding design objectives. 

Professional Accreditation

This course is accredited by the Australian Institute of Building Surveyors (AIBS) to meet the educational requirements for Building Surveyor (unlimited) Level 1 registration with AIBS. 

Commonwealth Supported Places in 2023

Fees are heavily subsidised and HECS-HELP loans available for eligible students in 2023. Apply now or register your interest - there's never been a better time to study!

Following the overwhelming success of the revolutionary VU Block Model with undergraduate students, we rolled out the Block Model to our postgraduate courses.

This course is delivered in eight-week mode, which means you study two units (subjects) at a time over eight weeks (or one unit at a time over eight weeks for part-time study), rather than juggling several units at once. And with its focused timetables and smaller, collaborative classes, VU’s Block Model gives you more time to connect with your peers, lecturers and industry partners, helping you to build strong professional networks.

The VU Block Model has improved our student results and engagement, and has won multiple international awards for innovation and excellence.

Australia is experiencing a shortage of building surveyors across all states and territories. The average age of qualified building surveyors in Australia is 55 and industry experts state things need to dramatically change.

By completing the Graduate Diploma in Building Surveying course, you'll be well-placed to find work, due to current strong industry demand.

This course is designed as a postgraduate qualification for graduates from the Bachelor of Building Surveying (NBBS) course. Besides these students, the program is also available to graduates from similar disciplines, including, but not limited, to:

  • construction management
  • building design
  • quantity surveying
  • architecture
  • civil/structural engineering.

We welcome graduates from any university in Australia.

Need some advice?

Request a call back from one of our experienced VUHQ course advisers to get your questions answered.

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Careers

On graduation, you will have a wide range of employment opportunities, in both the private and public sectors.

You can start your own business, offering building surveying services, or apply for roles with:

  • building proprietors
  • contractors
  • developers
  • government bodies
  • consultancy practices
  • self-employed entrepreneurs.

As a key professional in the construction industry, you will work closely with other professional disciplines, industry groups and development authorities.

Course structure

To attain the award of Graduate Diploma in Building Surveying students will be required to complete:

- 96 credit points of Core studies

On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

  1. Plan, implement and manage the delivery of efficient and effective building surveying strategies over the course of building planning and construction processes in diverse contemporary contexts using independent thinking and judgement;  
  2. Generate creative solutions to a range of complex building surveying problems, considering issues of compliance with relevant codes and standards, performance-based building codes, fire safety design, building construction process, technical and innovative changes, ethics and environmental sustainability (commercial and environmental) with initiative and professional judgement;  
  3. Critically evaluate sources and validity of information and use established processes for information management;  
  4. Advocate building surveying objectives and outcomes effectively to specialist and non-specialist stakeholders using a variety of professional oral and written forms;  
  5. Exemplify collaboration and requisite interpersonal and supervisory skills and characteristics to influence personal work, community and networks;  
  6. Apply personal and interpersonal competencies including organisational and collaborative skills necessary to operate within broad parameters in the immensely divergent and complex global and Australian cultures;  
  7. Advocate, respect and value cultural diversity and indigenous rights and develop capacities and creative solutions to contribute to a sustainable world; and  
  8. Exhibit responsibility and accountability for own learning and professional practice in collaboration with others and within broad parameters.  

What's a unit?

A unit or 'subject' is the actual class you'll attend in the process of completing a course.

Most courses have a mixture of compulsory 'core' units that you need to take and optional elective units that you can choose to take based on your area of interest, expertise or experience.

Credits

Each unit is worth a set amount of study credits based on the amount of time you study. Generally, 1 credit is equal to 1 hour of study per week.

Fees & scholarships

Fee type for this course: Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP)

Fee type definitions

The amount you pay for your course depends on whether you’re offered a Commonwealth supported place (CSP) or a full fee-paying place.

Students who enrol in a:

In addition to your tuition fees, you may also be charged a Student Services & Amenities Fee (SSAF).

Scholarships & assistance

Apply for a scholarship to help with your study costs.

We can help with fee assistance and advice.

Admission & pathways

Meeting the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee you entry into this course. Some courses receive more applications than the number of places available. In this situation we will also assess your education, work and other relevant experience.

If you do not meet the minimum requirements you may be eligible for one of our special admission programs. We also encourage you to explore our study pathways to help you reach your goal.

Find out more about how to apply for our courses, and our commitment to admissions transparency.

Entry requirements

Completion of an Australian Bachelor degree or equivalent in a cognate discipline including but not limited to building surveying, construction management, building design, quantity surveying, architecture, civil/structural engineering;
OR
Completion of the Victoria University Graduate Certificate in Performance-Based Building and Fire Codes course;
OR
A combination of qualifications deemed to be equivalent to any of the qualifications listed in the AIBS Scheme for Level 2 (Limited) Building Surveyor plus minimum five years of approved building surveying experience.

There are many ways you can start your education journey at VU. Pathways offer an easy transition between courses at different levels, so that you can start with a certificate and progress right through to postgraduate study.

Find out more about pathways and credits.

Use our credit calculator to find out how much credit you could get towards your course, based on your previous study.

If you have completed study with another university or institution and believe you are eligible to receive credit for skills and past study, you can apply for advanced standing.

Applications for advanced standing can be made after a discussion with your course chair or academic adviser.

Credit Calculator

Find out how much credit you could get towards your course, based on your previous study.

CALCULATE YOUR CREDIT

How to apply

Available start dates:
  • 24 February 2025
  • 28 April 2025
  • 28 July 2025
  • 29 September 2025

Before you apply

Before applying, you should consider whether you also want to apply for:

  • Special admission programs: Depending on your life circumstances you may be eligible for special consideration of your application.
  • Advanced standing: If you have significant experience or studies elsewhere you may be eligible for credit for some units of your course and not have to undertake them.

Find out more about applying for our courses.

Apply direct to VU

Direct applications are due on 16 February 2025 for our next intake which starts on 24 February 2025.

Apply direct to VU

Already a VU student?

If you are already a VU student, apply direct to VU using our Admissions centre to transfer into this course. Remember it’s best to be accepted into your new course before withdrawing from your current one.

After you apply

  • It’s important to check for emails from us (which may go to your spam/junk folder).
  • Complete any requests for information by the given dates, otherwise your application may not be considered

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Get help

At Victoria University, we aim to display accurate and complete course information online. However, we are unable to guarantee that every course change is currently displayed. You may contact the University directly on +61 3 9919 6100 to confirm the most up-to-date course fees, pathways and credit transfer, recognition of prior learning, admission and enrolment procedures, examinations and services available to our students.