An international student case study with Vanson Fan
張貼於： 2026-05-05
‘A British degree is the gold standard’
For international professionals, studying for a British degree has traditionally meant high fees and relocation. Vanson Fan, an MSc Quantity Surveying graduate from Macau, explains how the University of the Built Environment’s online learning model offered a more flexible and accessible route to a highly respected qualification.
Average read time: 10 mins
Vanson Fan, a master’s graduate in 工料測量學, proudly posed with our University’s mace bearer at the sumptuous graduation ceremony in Reading in January. He had flown nearly 6,000 miles to attend the day as he hails from Macau, a Special Administrative Region of China, known as the ‘Vegas of Asia’ for its huge gaming industry.
It is also the most densely populated region in the world, with over 20,000 people per square km, throwing up built environment challenges of severe land shortages with the need for rapid, high-rise urban development.
“It is highly dynamic,” said Vanson, a quantity surveyor with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. “Macau has a unique construction landscape with large-scale hospitality, entertainment, and infrastructure projects, which requires rigorous cost control and a deep understanding of complex contracts.”
Within this environment, quantity surveyors are essential to managing project cost risk, administering contracts, and analysing data to determine financial viability on complex projects.
Why I love quantity surveying
It’s an industry that 28-year-old Vanson is proud to be a part of.
“The built environment offers a tangible impact on society,” he said. “As a quantity surveyor, I enjoy the intersection of commercial management, contract administration, and project delivery, ensuring that large-scale projects are financially viable and contractually sound.”
Vanson has a busy workload, so when it came to the option of studying for a master’s, he chose online study with the University of the Built Environment.
“I also chose the University because of its strong reputation and direct alignment with RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) pathway,” he said.
“A British institution carries significant weight in the surveying profession globally, and a British degree is highly regarded in Macau and Hong Kong.
“It is widely recognised by employers and is often seen as the gold standard, particularly because it aligns seamlessly with international professional bodies like RICS.”
An international community
Vanson is one of nearly 800 international students enrolled with the University of the Built Environment in the past five academic years, including 28 from Macau.
His comments about employability chime with a recent study from Universities UK, which found that seven in 10 international students said they are progressing further, enjoying swifter promotions, and earning more thanks to their UK education.
Furthermore, unlike traditional universities in the UK that charge fees up to three times more for international students, the University of the Built Environment has a flat fee no matter where in the world the student is from.
Undergraduate fees for international students at a UK university can go up to £26,000 per year, particularly at top-tier universities, according to Times Higher Education. That amount is similar to the total fee paid to study for a degree with the University of the Built Environment.
A University offering online study was ‘essential’
Culturally speaking, Vanson’s decision to study via an online format might come across as an unusual choice for an Asian student.
Face-to-face campus learning is usually the strong preference in Asia due to cultural values emphasising direct teacher-student interaction, immediate feedback, and the social ‘college experience’. However, scholarly research indicates that, globally, online learning has undergone “significant infrastructural improvements as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic requiring students to attend classes at home”.
Furthermore, for students who are already busy professionals and whose days are thus taken up with their jobs, the University of the Built Environment’s online learning offering is a welcome – even a crucial – choice.
“The online-only model was essential for me,” Vanson said, “as it provided the flexibility to continue working full-time while advancing my academic qualifications.
“Without the online model, I would not have been able to balance my full-time role at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, my APC (Assessment of Professional Competence) preparation, and my personal commitments.”
He added:
“While campus learning is traditionally popular in East Asia, I found online study to be equally, if not more, effective for a working professional.
“The flexibility completely outweighs the lack of a physical campus, especially when the curriculum is designed specifically for online delivery.”
Benefits of online learning
One of the key benefits of online learning for an undergraduate or postgraduate degree in the same field as your career is that one continually informs the other.
Vanson said: “Unlike traditional campus learning, the online model allowed me to immediately apply the theoretical concepts I learned in my evening studies directly to my workplace the next day.”
The practical relevance of the coursework was also a “major highlight”.
“The modules provided a solid foundation that directly supported my daily responsibilities and helped me structure my professional development,” he said.
“I felt particularly glad when studying the contract administration modules. The depth of the material helped me navigate real-world contractual clauses I was dealing with at work, validating my decision to choose a specialised institution.”
The University prides itself on offering a ‘digital campus’, fostering an engaged community of students, academics, and staff as well as maintaining a wealth of up-to-date online resources to facilitate each programme of study.
“The digital library, online forums, and structured module materials made it easy to access support whenever needed, regardless of the time zone difference,” said Vanson of how he felt supported during his study time.
The University also offers pastoral care, a disability support team, and other support teams to ensure no student feels isolated or lost.
For Vanson, attending the graduation ceremony in Reading marked a milestone not only in his studies but also his career prospects.
“Completing the MSc has significantly boosted my professional confidence,” he said.
“It serves as a crucial stepping stone as I prepare for my RICS APC interview. It has also allowed me to take on more complex analytical and contractual responsibilities at work.”
Advice to other international students
And what advice does Vanson have for other international students considering online study with the specialist University of the Built Environment?
“Embrace it,” he said. “Studying online requires strong self-discipline and time management, but it is highly rewarding. Plan your time meticulously, stay disciplined, and take full advantage of the online resources. The global recognition of the degree makes the hard work worthwhile.”
He added he would “highly recommend” the University to prospective students in East Asia, “particularly to anyone aiming for professional chartership”.
“The flexibility, combined with the rigorous standard of a British curriculum, makes it an ideal choice for ambitious professionals in the region,” he said.
And let’s not forget the perk of attending a traditional graduation ceremony in England, full of traditional British pomp and circumstance.
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