Overview
The Bachelor of Surveying (BSurv) degree is the only academic qualification available in New Zealand that leads to full professional recognition as a Registered Professional 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 to carry out land title definition surveys for lodgement with the government.
Otago's BSurv degree is recognised for licensing 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, USA, the Middle East, and Africa.
The degree takes four years 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 characterised by its strong academic, practical and professional emphasis.
Contact
For any enquiries about the Bachelor of Surveying please contact:
Mick Strack
Head of Undergraduate Studies
Rm 110, 310 Castle Street
64 3 479 7603
mick.strack@otago.ac.nz
Bachelor of Science (BSc) majoring in Land Planning and Development
| Level |
Papers |
Points |
| 100-level |
SURV 120 Surveying and Spatial Science
SURV 130 People, Place and the Built Environment
MATH 130 Fundamentals of Modern Mathematics 1
|
18
18
18
|
| 200-level |
ENGL 228 Writing for the Professions
SURV 203 Land Development Engineering 1
SURV 204 Land Development Engineering 2
SURV 205 Statutory Planning 1
SURV 206 Land Tenure 1
SURV 220 Geographic Information Science
Note: ENGL 228 should be taken in the second semester of the first year of study.
|
18
18
18
18
18
0
|
| 300-level |
SURV 303 Urban Design 1
SURV 304 Land Development Engineering 3
SURV 455 Statutory Planning 3
At least two of SURV 306, SURV 309, SURV 319, SURV 329, SURV 450, SURV 453, SURV 454, PMAN 401
|
18
18
18
36
|
| Plus |
126 further points.
Up to 90 points may be taken from outside Science
Notes:
These requirements apply to students who are commencing this programme in 2023. Students who enrolled in this programme in 2022 or earlier will normally complete the programme under the regulations in force when they first enrolled. Pre-2023 programme requirements can be found in the 2022 University of Otago Calendar and the 2022 Guide to Enrolment.
If you have any questions regarding the structure of your degree, please contact surveying.advice@otago.ac.nz for further information.
|
126 |
| Total |
|
360 |
Bachelor of Science (BSc) majoring in Surveying Measurement
| Level |
Papers |
Points |
| 100-level |
SURV 120 Surveying and Spatial Science
SURV 130 People, Place and the Built Environment
MATH 130 Fundamentals of Modern Mathematics 1
|
18
18
18
|
| 200-level |
ENGL 228 Writing for the Professions
SURV 201 Surveying Methods 1
SURV 202 Surveying Mathematics
SURV 220 Geographic Information Science
SURV 298 Introductory Field Camp
Notes: ENGL 228 must be taken in the second semester of the first year of study.
Admission to SURV 201 and SURV 298 is limited and applications must be submitted by 15 November.
|
18
18
18
18
0
|
| 300-level |
SURV 301 Surveying Methods 2
SURV 302 Geodetic Reference Systems and Network Analysis
SURV 314 3D Reality Capture
SURV 320 Spatial Analysis and Visualisation
SURV 399 Third Year Field Course
Two of SURV 206, SURV 306, SURV 319, SURV 322, SURV 329, SURV 413, SURV 450, SURV 451, SURV 452, SURV 459, SURV 462, SURV 463, PMAN 401
|
18
18
18
18
0
36
|
| Plus |
126 further points.
Up to 90 points may be taken from outside Science
Notes:
A Bachelor of Surveying degree is also offered.
These requirements apply to students who are commencing this programme in 2023. Students who enrolled in this programme in 2022 or earlier will normally complete the programme under the regulations in force when they first enrolled. Pre-2023 programme requirements can be found in the 2022 University of Otago Calendar and the 2022 Guide to Enrolment.
If you have any questions regarding the structure of your degree, please contact surveying.advice@otago.ac.nz for further information.
|
126 |
| Total |
|
360 |
Bachelor of Surveying (BSurv)
| Year |
Papers |
Points |
| 1st year |
SURV 120 Surveying and Spatial Science (or an approved equivalent)
SURV 130 People, Place and the Built Environment (or an approved equivalent)
ENGL 228 Writing for the Professions (or approved equivalents)
MATH 130 Fundamentals of Modern Mathematics 1
54 further points
|
18
18
18
18
54
|
| 2nd year |
SURV 201 Surveying Methods 1
SURV 202 Surveying Mathematics
SURV 203 Land Development Engineering 1
SURV 204 Land Development Engineering 2
SURV 205 Statutory Planning A
SURV 206 Land Tenure 1
SURV 220 Geographic Information Science
SURV 298 Introductory Field Camp
|
18
18
18
18
18
18
18
0
|
| 3rd year |
SURV 301 Surveying Methods 2
SURV 302 Geodetic Reference Systems and Network Analysis
SURV 303 Urban Design 1
SURV 304 Land Development Engineering 3
SURV 306 Land Tenure 2
SURV 307 Cadastral Surveying 2
SURV 314 3D Reality Capture
SURV 399 Third Year Field Course
|
18
18
18
18
18
18
18
0
|
| 4th year |
SURV 320 Spatial Analysis and Visualisation
PMAN 401 Project Management
SURV 450 Professional Practice
SURV 455 Statutory Planning B
SURV 499 Vacation Employment
|
18
18
18
18
0
|
| Plus |
Additional papers worth at least 54 points from SURV 309, SURV 319, SURV 322, SURV 329, SURV 413, SURV 418, SURV 451, SURV 452, SURV 453, SURV 456, SURV 457, SURV 458, SURV 459, SURV 462, SURV 463, SURV 465, SURV 469, SURV 470, SURV 480 including at least 36 400-level points. |
54 |
|
Further papers in any subject to make a total of 522 points
Notes:
Approved equivalent papers may be substituted for any of SURV 120, 130, ENGL 228, MATH 130.
Those candidates who have taken and passed 24 units of English at NCEA Level 3, at an appropriate standard, may be exempt the ENGL 228 requirement.
These requirements apply to students who are commencing this programme in 2023. Students who enrolled in this programme in 2022 or earlier will normally complete the programme under the regulations in force when they first enrolled. Pre-2023 programme requirements can be found in the 2022 University of Otago Calendar and the 2022 Guide to Enrolment.
If you have any questions regarding the structure of your degree, please contact surveying.advice@otago.ac.nz for further information.
|
18 |
| Total |
|
522 |
Regulations for the Degree of Bachelor of Surveying (BSurv)
Find out more about the Regulations for entering Bachelor of Surveying (BSurv).
Fees for Surveying Students
Surveying students are required to pay excursion and field camp fees for SURV298 and SURV399, in addition to the regular university tuition fees. A list of all additional costs is available from the School of Surveying and is also shown in the Surveying Student Handbook.
This information must be read subject to the statement on our Copyright & Disclaimer page.
Regulations on this page are taken from the 2023 Calendar and supplementary material.
