Course details

Summary

The Bachelor of Surveying (BSurv) degree is the only academic qualification available in New Zealand that leads to full professional recognition as a Chartered Surveyor. It is also the only qualification that is recognised as being an appropriate foundation for Licensing by the Cadastral Surveyors Licensing Board of New Zealand.

Otago's BSurv degree is recognised for licensing in all Australian States, in both East and West Malaysia, Singapore, and Hong Kong. It is also recognised as a strong (and appropriate) professional degree for those seeking employment as a surveyor in the United Kingdom, the Middle East, and Africa.

The degree is four years in length and aims to produce a graduate skilled in the science of measurement, in the practical issues of land planning and development, and in the legal issues associated with land ownership and resource management. It also allows a student to pursue GIS studies and other specialist professional areas such as hydrographic surveying, photogrammetry, remote sensing, and the study of land tenure systems. The degree is characterized by its strong academic, practical and professional emphasis.

Structure of the Programme

Every programme shall consist of the papers worth not less than 522 points and shall normally be pursued over four years of full-time study.

Variations from the normal sequence of papers in the programme may be approved by the Dean of Surveying for candidates who have been granted exemptions from papers or who have been granted credit for papers on the basis of previous tertiary qualifications.

The Dean of Surveying may reduce the amount of practical work required for SURV 298, SURV 299, SURV 399, and SURV 499 in cases where students have relevant previous knowledge and experience.

Bachelor of Surveying with Honours (BSurv(Hons)) option also available.

While the general characteristics of the Bachelor of Surveying with Honours (BSurv(Hons)) are the same as for the BSurv, the Honours student is required to take a full Honours dissertation in the final year of his/her degree programme. The degree is more demanding than the BSurv and is restricted to students who maintain a minimum average grade of B throughout their academic career.

The specific aim of the BSurv(Hons) degree is to help students develop research skills and in so doing to provide a platform for an advanced professional or academic career.

Entry criteria

The minimum requirement for students is the completion of a high school qualification plus satisfactory completion of one year's study at an approved tertiary institution or successful completion New Zealand Foundation Year programme.

We also accept the following International qualifications: International Baccalaureate: IB Diploma with a minimum of 26 points; GCE Advanced Levels: minimum grade of 8.

English Language Requirements:

IELTS score of 6.0 in the academic module (with no individual band below 6.0); Internet-based TOEFL Score of 80 (writing 20); Paper-based TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score of 550 (TWE 4.5); CIE Cambridge International Examinations Grade E or better in AS English; Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) - Overall score of 176 (with no individual band below 169); Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) - Overall score of 176 (with no individual band below 169); GCE 'A' Level or 'AS' Level English Language or English Literature - grade C or higher; GCE 'AS' Level General Paper (English) - grade C or higher; APIEL (Advanced Placement International English Language) Examination - grade 3 or higher; IB International Baccalaureate - English at Higher or Standard level in Language A: literature, Language A: language and literature, or at Higher level in Language B; Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic - Overall score of 58 with no communicative skills score below 50.