School of the Built Environment
School of the Built Environment
Our School, which has campuses in the UK and Malaysia, is internationally renowned for its research and education relating to the design, construction and operation of the buildings and places within which we live, work and play. Our areas of expertise include surveying and construction, project management, digitalisation in construction and sustainability across our two campuses.
We have a strong orientation towards interdisciplinary, real-world challenges, ensuring our students are equipped with the skills and knowledge to meet the needs of the industry. Through close engagement with professional bodies such as the Board of Quantity Surveyors Malaysia (BQSM), the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) and the Pacific Association of Quantity Surveyors (PAQS), and partnerships with leading firms across Malaysia and the ASEAN region, our programmes are both professionally accredited and globally recognised.
As part of the University of Reading, one of the UK’s top-ranking institutions for building and the built environment, we share in the strong reputation of being ranked 1st for Architecture, Building and Planning in the Daily Mail University Guide 2026, 2nd for Building in the Complete University Guide 2026, 4th for Building in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026 and top 150 in the world for Architecture and Built Environment in the QS World University Rankings by subject, 2025. We are also ranked 6th in the UK for research power in Architecture, Built Environment and Planning (Times Higher Education, REF 2021), with 100% of our research assessed as being of international standing and 100% of our research impact rated as ‘outstanding’ or ‘very considerable’.
One of the First
Established in 1972, the School of Built Environment at the University of Reading was one of the first to be established in the field and remains of the most recognised within the profession and industry. In fact, the first quantity surveying firm for which records are available came from the town of Reading, UK, in 1785.
Top-tier Ranking
Our School is internationally renowned for its research and education relating to the design, construction and operation of the buildings and places within which we live, work and play.
The School is consistently ranked as one of the UK’s leading institutions. Our areas of expertise include surveying and construction, energy systems and environmental engineering across our two campuses. We have a strong orientation towards interdisciplinary 'real-world' problems, and have a proud track record of active engagement with our professional accredited bodies, industry, practitioners and our wider alumni networks.
We are one of the UK’s top-ranking institutions for building and the built environment. We are ranked:
- 2nd for Building in the Complete University Guide 2026
- 4th for Building in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026
- Top 150 in the world for Architecture and Built Environment in the QS World University Rankings by subject, 2026.
A Track-record of Graduate Success
The School has an established track-record of graduate success. Many of our alumni have gone on to become captains of industry including Malaysian Dr Ong See Lian who was the first non-British member to be elected Global President of RICS, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, in 2011-2012.
Industry-aligned Curriculum and Skills
We focus on ensuring that our graduates have the right blend of technical, digital and managerial skills that will enable them to rise quickly in their career. We prepare our graduates so they are well-equipped to handle the responsibilities that come with management positions relatively early in their careers. Recognising the impact of digitisation in the industry, students also develop appropriate digital skills in Building Information Modelling (BIM).
Esteemed World-class Faculty
The School is blessed to have a team of world-class faculty that includes professors who are recognised as the leading authorities such as:
- Professor John Connaughton
- Professor Roger Flanagan
- Professor Will Hughes
- Professor Martin Sexton
- Professor Runming Yao
Visit our UK website to learn more about faculty.
Programmes at the Malaysia Campus
The Malaysia campus offers six of the School’s programmes catering to the industry and talent needs of Malaysia and the Asian region.
The programmes follow the same curriculum and quality standards as on our UK campus, so students in Malaysia benefit from the same learning experience. Students receive exactly the same University of Reading degree.
Academic Team in Malaysia
Our academic team in Malaysia is comprised of qualified academic and seasoned industry practitioners.
Academic Team
Sr Dr. Noor Azeyah Dato' Khiyon
Head of Built Environment
Dr. Mustafa Klufallah
PhD Programme Lead | Associate Professor in Built Environment
Sr Dr. Maizon Hashim, CQS
Associate Professor in Built Environment | Lecturer
Dr Sivaraman Kuppusamy
Associate Professor in Built Environment | Programme Lead of MSc Project Management | Lecturer
Ts Nurul Syahidah Mazlan
Programme Lead of BSc Quantity Surveying | Lecturer in Built Environment
Mohamad Shaiful Hisham Zulhizam
Lecturer in Built Environment
Dr Kek Hong Yee
Lecturer in Built Environment
Dr. Ong See Lian
Visiting Fellow
Research
Our faculty members are active researchers across the various disciplines of built environment, often working with international research scholars and across Malaysia. Undergraduate students experience real research through participation, placement opportunities, and as researchers themselves in the final year.
Areas of expertise:
- Digitalisation in construction
- Construction project management
- Value engineering
- Contract and cost management
- Sustainability in construction
- Environmental Engineering
