Quantity Surveying (BSc, HND, HNC)

As Caroline Gumble (the CEO of the CIOB in 2020) states, “The construction industry affects everyone, influencing productivity and wellbeing, creating the homes, hospitals, schools, workplaces, and infrastructure essential for a good quality of life,” and goes on to say that construction is a “highly complex but extremely exciting and innovative industry”.

Just those working on construction sites account for 6% of the UK economic output, but if you also include the services such as quantity surveyors, architects and engineers as well as plant hire and building suppliers then the output is closer to double.  This is a large percentage of the UK economic output.  The construction industry provides jobs for about 2.3 million people, which is over 7% of the UK total. Construction jobs are also well-paid earning on average 5% more than other industries, and graduates in this field have opportunities in the UK and overseas in a variety of rewarding careers.

Year One – Level 4 (HNC, HND & BSc)

• Digital Surveying (20 credits; compulsory)
• Estimating & Measurement of Work within a Construction Environment (20 credits; compulsory)
• Fundamentals of Construction Technology (20 credits; compulsory)
• Introduction to Contract and Legal Responsibilities within the Built Environment (20 credits; compulsory)
• Material Science and Building Services (20 credits; compulsory)
• Professional Skills and Health & Safety in Construction (20 credits; compulsory).

Year Two – Level 5 (HND & BSc)

• Modern and Traditional Construction: Managing the Design and Construction Process (20 credits; compulsory)
• Principles of Measurement and Estimating (20 credits; compulsory)
• Project Control & Contract Administration (20 credits; compulsory)
• Self-Development, Professional Practice and the Management of Construction Personnel (20 credits; compulsory)
• The Management of Sustainable Construction (20 credits; compulsory)
• Work Based Project (20 credits; compulsory).

Year Three – Level 6 (BSc)

• Advanced Construction & Civil Engineering Technology (20 credits; compulsory)
• Construction Management (20 credits; compulsory)
• Design Economics (20 credits; compulsory)
• Independent Project (40 credits; compulsory; Graduate Attributes Framework module)
• Integrated Group Project (20 credits; compulsory).

Assessments used within these Programmes are normally formative or summative and are designed to ensure students become aware of their strengths and weaknesses. Typically, such assessment will take the form of practical exercises where a more hands-on approach shows student’s ability on a range of activities. Traditional formal time-constrained assessment is by means of tests and examinations, normally of two-hour duration.

Examinations are a traditional method of verifying that the work produced is the students’ own work. To help authenticate student coursework, some modules require that the student and lecturer negotiate the topic for assessment on an individual basis, allowing the lecturer to monitor progress.

Some modules where the assessment is research-based require students to verbally/visually present the research results to the lecturer and peers, followed by a question and answer session. Such assessment strategies are in accord with the learning and teaching strategies employed by the team, that is, where the aim is to generate work that is mainly student-driven, individual, reflective and where appropriate, vocationally-orientated. Feedback to students will occur early in the study period and continue over the whole study session thereby allowing for first-class value added to the student’s learning.

This Framework aims to develop your professional skills and competence alongside your academic subject knowledge. You’ll study up to 40 credits per level throughout your programme from the Graduate Attributes Framework.

The Graduate Attribute modules are designed to enable you to develop, and evidence, a range of career-focused skills related to your subject area. These skills include digital competency, research and project management, as well as such personal competencies as communication, creativity, self-reflection, resilience and problem-solving. 

• Find out more about the Graduate Attributes Framework

• Dr Deborah Hughes
• Lindsay Richards

Quantity Surveying (HND)
You will need 96 UCAS Tariff points from A levels or their equivalent (previously 240 UCAS tariff points).

Quantity Surveying (BSc)
You will need 96 UCAS Tariff points from A levels or their equivalent (previously 240 UCAS tariff points).

Foundation Year in STEM (Environmental Stream)

Grades are important, however, our offers are not solely based on academic results. We are interested in creative people that demonstrate a strong commitment to their chosen subject area and therefore we welcome applications from individuals from a wide range of backgrounds. To assess student suitability for their chosen course we normally arrange interviews for all applicants at which your skills, achievements and life experience will be considered as well as your qualifications.

Quantity surveyors in the UK are in high demand but also in short supply.  The ageing demographic of the UK workforce and the impact of Brexit will make it vital that the skills shortage is addressed.  Just in Wales alone, it is estimated that the industry will need 1,300 recruits annually to fill gaps left in the industry due to retirement.  This degree course aims to produce graduates with the necessary quantity surveying skills to fill the gap in the UK construction industry. 

Construction contributes about £132 billion to the fixed assets that underpin the UK economy.  As described by CIOB (2020) we have more than 28 million homes, ¼ of a million miles of roads, 46 airports 350,000 miles of sewers and 10,000 miles of national rail. Increasingly as an industry, we are seeing the effects of digital technologies on the way we work such as drones and virtual and augmented reality.  The construction industry also has an important role to play in the move towards greater energy efficiency and sustainability.

This programme is designed with the above issues in mind. For example, module outcomes address concerns such as sustainability, energy efficiency, facilities management along with the more familiar outcomes such as management theories, literacy, problem-solving and client needs. Supplementing these is a range of higher-level skills which have been designed to integrate with module outcomes.

This programme will meet industry demands and in doing so provide a sound intellectually demanding vocational learning experience linked to industry and professional body a requirement that satisfies the needs of both students and employers. Furthermore, the programme team has developed the aims of the programme to enhance the development of technical competence and training at a level, which is capable of meeting the industry’s current requirements for middle management.

Graduates of the Quantity Surveying Programme will find employment in either the consultant side of the industry as Quantity Surveyors, advising clients on the economics of their development projects or in roles such as Commercial Managers within the contracting side of the industry.  At the end of the course, it is anticipated that graduates will have acquired sufficient skills to be able to fulfil the role of a graduate quantity surveyor in either of these sectors. We have an excellent record of employment for our graduating students.

It is possible to complete this programme of study without any additional costs.

Students may wish to purchase materials for modules, such as major project but this is not a requirement and will have no bearing on the final grade. 

• Architecture (BSc)
• Architectural Technology (BSc, HND)
• Building Surveying (BSc, HND, HNC)
• Civil Engineering (BSc, HND, HNC)
• Construction Management (BSc, HND, HNC)

Scholarships and Bursaries

Visit our Accommodation section to find out more.