University of the Built Environment

The University of the Built Environment, formerly University College of Estate Management (UCEM) and the College of Estate Management (CEM), is an independent UK-based higher education institution which provides courses by distance learning in real estate, construction, planning and architecture to students worldwide. As of 2013, the university had educated over 150,000 students.

University of the Built Environment

Coat of arms
Motto	Latin: Ex cultu robur
Motto in English	Strength through knowledge
Established	c. 1919; 106 years ago (1919)
Chairman	Peter McCrea OBE
Vice-Chancellor	Ashley Wheaton
Academic staff	46 FTE
Students	c. 4,000 (2019)
Location	Reading, Berkshire , England
Affiliations	CABE CIOB RICS
Website	ube.ac.uk

Since June 2025, the University has been trading as the University of the Built Environment, following approval from the Office for Students (OfS), and will adopt the new name once it is recognised by the Privy Council.^[1]

History

The College of Estate Management was founded in 1919 by the "Chartered Auctioneers' and Estate Agent's Institute" (which later became the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, RICS).^{[citation needed]} The college was formed specifically to serve the property-related estate management and construction industry sectors. The scale of British lives lost in the First World War had led to a shortage of trained staff to manage the country's estates. In 1938 the College gained recognition from the University of London to provide tuition for its internal degree. An association with the University of Reading goes back to 1967 and the College relocated from Kensington in London to the University of Reading's Whiteknights Campus in 1972.

The University of the Built Environment is an independent self-funded charity. It was granted Taught Degree Awarding Powers in its own right by the Privy Council in January 2013. On 11 November 2015, it was awarded university college status by the Privy Council and changed its name to the University College of Estate Management. In September 2013, the college appointed Ashley Wheaton as its ninth Principal, taking over the role from Ann Heywood, who retired.

Formerly located at the University of Reading's Whiteknights Campus,  the university moved premises in September 2016 to 60 Queens Road, Reading, Berkshire. Charles III has been patron of the university from 1998 to present (2025). In March 2019, to celebrate the university's centenary year of existence, Prince Charles visited the institution’s building in Reading, to meet students and staff. (See Talk)

On 9 June 2025, UCEM successfully changed its name to University of the Built Environment after receiving approval from the Office for Students.

Courses and qualifications offered

University College of Estate Management, 60 Queens Road, Reading, Berkshire

A large variety of courses are offered, including programmes accredited by professional bodies such as the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and the Chartered Institute of Building. The University's degree courses include real estate, building surveying, construction management, quantity surveying, building control, urban planning, architectural design technology and sustainability. At any one time University of the Built Environment has between 3500 and 4000 students participating from over 100 different countries.

Alumni

Notable alumni include:

• Albert Costain – Conservative MP Folkestone & Hythe 1959–1983 ^[2]
• Irene Barclay – first woman in Britain to qualify as a chartered surveyor, following the passage of the Sex Disqualification Removal Act 1919. She was an active social reformer, focusing on improving housing conditions in the St Pancras slums in London between the First and Second World Wars for which she received an OBE. 1894–1989.^[3]

• Alison Nimmo – chief executive of the Crown Estate 2012 - 2019;^[4][5]
• Angus MacDonald – Scottish SNP MSP (2011-2021)
• Baron Mais – former Lord Mayor of London 1972–1973
• Desmond Plummer – former English Conservative politician and the longest serving Leader of the Greater London Council 1967 - 1973 ^[6]
• Gerald Bowden – Conservative MP Dulwich 1983–1992
• Sir John Henry Ritblat – honorary president and formerly chairman and CEO of The British Land Company PLC
• Paul Morrell – Government Chief Construction Adviser Nov 2009-Nov 2012^[7]
• William Hurst Rees – original editor of "Valuation: Principles into Practice" [1st Edition 1978] (a leading handbook for students on UK valuation)^[8][9]
• Robbie Moore – Conservative MP for Keighley since 2019. ^[10]

Research

The University of the Built Environment conducts independent, applied research within the industries it serves, which is available as a resource to students and alumni.^[11]