BSc (Hons) Quantity Surveying

With a broad construction curriculum, this course will make you fully equipped to take up professional responsibility in a management role within the construction industry. We’ll cover: management and business practice, law, economics, construction technology and materials, measurement and project management. You can choose to take an optional year in industry in your third year.

Methods of assessment for course overall: A combination of written examinations, student-led seminars, written and analytical exercises, and individual and group assignments

Year 1

• Building services and environmental science
  This module focuses on building services and the environmental performance, and develops an understanding of how buildings perform in the areas of acoustics, heat and moisture transfer, lighting, ventilation and air conditioning design. The underlying principles of each topic will be covered, together with more advanced applications, enabling you to demonstrate an understanding of building performance to other professionals within the industry. Assessment methods: 50% coursework, 50% exam.
• Building survey and inspection
  This module focuses on the principles and application of surveying in the construction industry using both traditional and modern surveying technology, including the establishment of horizontal/vertical control and basic setting out techniques and processes. Assessment method: 100% coursework.
• Construction technology and materials
  This unit will introduce you to the study of building materials and how buildings are pieced together (i.e. building technology). Assessment methods: 50% coursework, 50% exam.
• Construction technology and structures
  This module will introduce you to the study of building technology associated with larger, more complex buildings, as well as to the fundamentals of structural analysis. Assessment methods: 50% coursework, 50% exam.
• Legal and economic context
  The legal content of this module will introduce the sources and basic rules of UK law, including common law and statute law, as it affects construction and property professionals. It will provide an introduction to construction contract law, and tort and restitution law as they affect professionals. It will explain the differences between common law and equity and criminal law, and their relevance to construction and property professionals. It will establish the legal and ethical framework of Health and Safety regulation. The economics content of the module will introduce you to micro and macro economics, and will examine the theoretical and empirical framework of economics, including price formation, the theory of the firm, degrees of competition, Government economic objectives, monetary policy, behavioural economics, contract theory, inflation and unemployment. Assessment method: 100% coursework.
• Construction practice
  This module aims to provide you with the knowledge of the interrelationships between industry, professional bodies and education, and an understanding of key professional and research requirements. It will provide you with a roadmap for your professional career, and will enable you to prepare for employment in the construction discipline. Assessment method: 100% coursework.

Year 2

• Measurement 1 and documentation
  This module provides an understanding of the fundamental concepts underlying the requirement to quantify and specify construction work. You'll establish the underlying principles required for the independent production of tender documents. The module will also provide the basic practical skills in measurement required for private practice, contracting and public service. Assessment method: 100% coursework.
• Building economics
  This module is about the economics of the construction and property sectors. It focuses on providing a description of the construction sector and an economic explanation of markets and industries, as well as some of the major features of construction products. Furthermore, it briefly provides an economic analysis of how investment, property and construction link together and to the wider economy. It also examines the role of regulation in dealing with negative externalities. Aspects of European construction will be examined, and flexible production in the context of construction organisations will be discussed. Assessment methods: 50% coursework, 50% exam.
• Construction contract law
  This module examines the various types of construction contracts, including families of standard construction contracts, and the common law and legislation and administrative procedures which govern them. It provides a working knowledge and understanding of construction contract legal problems, and related applicable law, such as non-contractual liabilities. It examines when a dispute arises in legal terms, and how dispute resolution methods may be employed to resolve problems and disputes. Assessment method: 100% coursework.
• Project Appraisal and Cost Control
  The module will focus on the QS techniques for appraising projects, developing cost plans, project budget and cashflow, controlling contract costs, valuation procedures and dealing with the administration of contracts and payments. The aims of this module are to develop a critical understanding of the range of appraisal techniques used by quantity surveyors, commercial managers or cost consultants and to understand the QS work patterns and use of these techniques at different project stages and the RIBA Plan of work. The aims of this module are to develop a critical understanding of the range of appraisal techniques used by quantity surveyors, commercial managers, or cost consultants and to understand the QS work patterns and use of these techniques at different project stages and the RIBA Plan of work. Assessment method: 100% coursework
• Cost planning and tender process
  The focus of this module is on the Professional Office Quantity Surveyor advising clients on procurement systems, undertaking cost planning exercises, preparing expected prime costs, procuring and assessing principal contractors’ estimates, tendering process and tender evaluation, and evaluating claims for loss and expense. Assessment method: 100% coursework.
• Advanced measurement
  This module is designed to provide you with a comprehensive grounding in measurement and analytical estimating to both be able to apply measurement skills to more advanced forms of construction and perform measurement and estimating duties in the role of a junior quantity surveyor in a practitioner’s office. Assessment methods: 50% coursework, 50% exam.

Year 3

• Optional placement year

Year 4

• Research paper
  This module provides you with the opportunity to undertake an independent piece of research, investigating in depth a subject in which you have a particular interest and of your own selection. You'll have to submit a dissertation of between 6,000 and 10,000 words. Assessment method: 100% coursework. 
• Project management
  In recent years the specialism of construction project management has been developed by construction professionals working within construction companies, construction consultancies and the public sector. This specialism is required to achieve effective and efficient management of the whole construction process from inception to completion. This module seeks to support this response by introducing the theory underlying project management and applying this to practical issues and problems in the construction industry. Assessment methods: 50% coursework, 50% exam.
• Management of the firm
  This module looks at the role of the entrepreneur and how to set up a business, forms of ownership, the management and marketing of a business, in addition to understanding the financial accounts and risk management. Assessment method: 100% coursework.
• Contract practice and administration
  This module provides the knowledge necessary for the execution of the contractual duties of the quantity surveyor and commercial manager in contracting and development companies, consultancy practice, public service and private corporations. It's designed to build on and apply knowledge obtained from a study of construction law. The module is an introduction to the period of professional training necessary to qualify as a professional and covers key areas of practice. Assessment methods: 50% coursework, 50% exam.
• Quantity surveying project
  This module holistically integrates learning from all Level 4 and 5 modules on the BSc Commercial Management and Quantity Surveying courses. It sets learning in a realistic project environment and simulates practice problem solving and task management. Assessment method: 100% coursework.
• European construction and property
  This module takes an international perspective on the built environment by focussing on current developments in Europe in the property and construction economic sectors. The module offers a field trip to a major European city, which includes company visits and professional presentations and provides the basis for the summative assessment. Assessment method: 100% coursework.

For those interested in construction and wanting a professional level job, quantity surveying could be ideal. Quantity surveyors have to make sure that projects meet legal and quality standards, as well as ensuring clients get good value for money. Understanding organisational structure and cost control aspects of construction projects are essential for quantity surveyors.

Take a look at some potential careers, including quantity surveyor, in our Prospects section.

Recent graduates have become quantity surveyors/estimators, site managers, construction project managers and commercial managers. And, of course you can choose to extend your qualifications by taking on further postgraduate study.

Employability Service

At LSBU, we want to set you up for a successful career. During your studies – and for two years after you graduate – you’ll have access to our Employability Service, which includes:

• An online board where you can see a wide range of placements: part-time, full-time or voluntary. You can also drop in to see our Job Shop advisers, who are always available to help you take the next step in your search.
• Our Careers Gym offering group workshops on CVs, interview techniques and finding work experience, as well as regular presentations from employers across a range of sectors.

Our Student Enterprise team can also help you start your own business and develop valuable entrepreneurial skills.

Your Lecturers are leading practitioners in their fields, so everything we do is industry relevant. Inspiring guest speakers from renowned arts organisations and theatre companies will give you further industry insight and build your professional connections.

Personal Tutoring

As a Built Environment and Architecture student, you will be allocated a named tutor during your first three weeks at LSBU.  The role of your tutor is to be your primary contact for academic and professional development support.

Your tutor will support you to get the most of your time at LSBU, providing advice and signposting to other sources of support in the University.

Your tutor should be the first person at the university that you speak to if you are having any difficulties that are affecting your work. These could be academic, financial, health-related or another type of problem.

You will have appointments with your personal tutor at least once a year for approximately 30 minutes throughout your course.  You can contact your tutor for additional support by email or phone.

• A Level BBB or;
• BTEC National Diploma DDM or;
• Access to HE qualifications with 24 Distinctions 21 Merits or;
• Equivalent level 3 qualifications worth 128 UCAS points
• Applicants must hold 5 GCSEs A-C including Maths and English or equivalent (reformed GCSEs grade 4 or above).
• We welcome qualifications from around the world. English language qualifications for international students: IELTS score of 6.0 or Cambridge Proficiency or Advanced Grade C.

Advanced entry

If you have already completed some studies at another university, we may be able to consider you for advanced entry. Please see our advanced entry page for more information.

• A surveying/building related BTEC HNC/HND/Foundation degree. Contact our admissions team for specific grades

The individual Tuition Fee for this course is shown below. For full details, including how and when to pay, see our fees and funding section for undergraduate students.

Scholarships

We offer students considerable financial help through scholarships, bursaries, charitable funds, loans and other financial support. The majority of our scholarships are given as direct Tuition Fee discounts and we encourage all eligible students to apply for our National Scholarship Programme (NSP). The NSP features 100 full scholarships that exempt students from all Tuition Fees, and there are many more partial scholarships. Find out more about scholarships and fee discounts for undergraduate students.

The individual fee for this course is shown above. For more information, including how and when to pay, see our fees and funding section for postgraduate students.

See our Tuition Fees Regulations (PDF File 391 KB) and Refund Policy (PDF File 775 KB).

We have a range of PhD Scholarships available in partnership with businesses and organisations; read notices of PhD studentships.