BSc (Hons)

Quantity Surveying and Commercial Management

Take the next steps to becoming a quantity surveyor and changemaker in the dynamic world of construction. You’ll be equipped with key skills and ideas through our industry-aligned and flexible degree.

How to apply Apply through UCAS Book an Open Day Chat to Us

Key Course Details

  • UCAS Code

    KN21

  • Start Date

    September

  • Location

    Pontypridd

  • Campus Code

    A

Fees

  • Home students

    £9,790*

  • International students

    £17,200*

  • Full-time fees are per year. Part-time fees are per 20 credits.

  • Start Date

    September

  • Location

    Pontypridd

  • Campus Code

    A

Fees

  • Home students

    £1,589*

  • Full-time fees are per year. Part-time fees are per 20 credits.

Develop the infrastructure of tomorrow with our accredited degree. You’ll grow your expertise and your skills through our cutting-edge teaching methods and digital technologies including building information modelling (BIM), drones, and high-definition site capture.

DESIGNED FOR

This course is ideal for problem-solvers who have a keen eye for detail, whether you have an existing background in quantity surveying or you’re looking to contribute to a dynamic and growing construction industry. Learn all about the industry as you explore how quantity surveyors shape and develop the world around us.

Accredited by

  • Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)

Career paths

  • Contractor quantity surveyor
  • Professional quantity surveyor
  • Commercial manager
  • Estimator
  • Cost manager

Skills taught

  • Quantification and costing
  • Leadership
  • Critical thinking and problem solving
  • Project planning and management
  • Contract management and administration

An ariel view of a building site with equipment

Course Highlights

Professionally Accredited

Our course is accredited by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

Study full or part-time

Study in a way that works for you, whether that’s full-time or balancing your degree with work by studying part-time.

Develop in-demand skills  

Graduate with highly sought-after skills in the construction industry, giving you a competitive edge.

Career-focused  

Gain experience through guest speakers, site visits and valuable work placements to prepare you for your career.

Earn while you learn

This degree is offered as a Degree Apprenticeship and through the Network75 scheme.

Module Overview

Learn about the fundamentals of built environment and the construction industry, including quantity surveying and cost management. Explore authentic construction projects, from design and building to ethical and legal considerations.

Built Environment Principles in Practice
You’ll explore how the UK construction industry shapes the built environment while developing professional skills, ethical awareness, sustainability principles and digital know-how. You’ll investigate career roles and technologies like drones, laser scanning and VR.

Planning and Development
You’ll learn how planning shapes development in the built environment, exploring planning permission, land use and stakeholder roles. The module also introduces urban regeneration, inclusive design and the legal principles guiding UK planning decisions.

Built Environment and Economics Law
You’ll gain an introduction to the economic and legal forces shaping the built environment, exploring market trends, valuation and investment basics alongside contracts, health and safety, and professional responsibilities guiding ethical construction practice.

Principles of Domestic Construction and Digital Drafting
You’ll explore how homes are designed and built, learning about construction methods, materials and building systems. The module develops your understanding of regulations, sustainability and detailing, while building practical drawing, CAD and technical communication skills.

Examine key processes and laws involved in construction projects as you explore the use of technology and data to assist projects. Build your communication and technical skills as you solve real industry challenges.

Commercial Construction and Technology and BIM Management
You’ll learn how commercial buildings are designed and constructed, exploring structural systems, materials and build sequencing. The module develops your digital modelling skills, introduces BIM workflows, and highlights sustainable, high-performance solutions for modern commercial projects.

Quantity Surveying Practice and Procedures
Explore the principles of early-stage cost management, elemental cost planning, and financial control in quantity surveying. See how design decisions impact on a project’s viability and financial performance as you learn to develop cost plans and bills of quantities.

Tendering and Procurement
Explore different roles in construction teams as you learn about key contractual processes, like letters of intent, tendering procedures, and post-tender activities. Create informed contract and project decisions using procurement routes, risk allocation and contract strategies.

Health and Safety Management (optional)
You’ll develop essential knowledge of health and safety management, exploring legislation, risk assessment and safety culture. Through real-world scenarios and teamwork, you’ll learn how to promote safe, ethical and sustainable practice in professional environments.

Applied Artificial Intelligence (optional)
You’ll explore how artificial intelligence works and how it’s used across industries. Through practical activities, you’ll apply AI techniques to real-world problems while considering the ethical, sustainable and responsible use of intelligent systems.

The Green Economy and Sustainable Development (optional)
You’ll explore sustainability, the circular economy and carbon reduction, examining how organisations respond to climate challenges. You’ll also apply global frameworks such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and work towards Carbon Literacy certification with the Carbon Literacy Trust.

Data Analytics (optional)
You’ll learn how to collect, analyse and interpret data to support decision-making. The module develops your statistical, visualisation and communication skills, helping you turn real-world datasets into meaningful insights for professional practice.

Applied Professional Experience (optional)
You’ll complete a short or summer optional placement, internship or civic project, gaining real-world experience. With university support, you’ll reflect on your learning, build professional skills and enhance your employability through practical industry or community engagement.

In your third year you’ll learn to confidently manage projects, including contracts, finances and producing official documents. You’ll demonstrate your investigative and analysis skills through a research project based on a real industry challenge.

Managing Construction Projects and Professional Practice
You’ll develop skills in managing projects, contracts and finances, exploring leadership, risk, procurement and dispute resolution. You’ll work with contracts such as NEC, JCT and FIDIC to support effective decision-making.

Built Environment Project
You’ll complete an independent research project on a real built environment challenge, developing investigation, analysis and project management skills. Your work will align with industry priorities and global goals such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Quantification and Costing
Develop your construction measurement, quantification and costing practice expertise in quantity surveying and wider construction projects. Produce accurate official documents using the New Rules of Measurement and industry-standard tools as you learn to make accurate pricing decisions.

Sustainability and Commercial Management
You’ll develop commercial and enterprise skills for built environment leadership, exploring innovation, ESG, net zero and governance. Through challenges, you’ll create a business proposal while strengthening financial and professional skills.

Course Highlights

How you’ll learn

Explore quantity surveying through live construction project case studies, site visits, stakeholder engagement and industry partners collaboration. You’ll learn from industry experts through various methods including interactive lectures, practical workshops, pitches, reflective practice, digital construction simulations, and collaborative teamwork exercises based on real-world construction scenarios.

Our course is industry-centred meaning you can expect guest lectures, employer-led workshops and project mentoring as you keep up with emerging trends within quantity surveying.

How you'll be assessed

You’ll be given the opportunity to demonstrate your theoretical knowledge and practical expertise through a variety of assessments that reflect professional quantity surveying practice.

You’ll complete portfolio assignments to demonstrate your skills like procurement, tendering and cost management, contract administration, risk management, and use of digital tools. You’ll mirror professional working environments and decision-making scenarios as you complete practical assessments, take-offs and industry-aligned reports. You’ll also deliver industry pitches, work on team projects and develop self-reflective skills.

Placements

Participate in site visits and work placements to hone your skills and enhance your knowledge. Site visits will show you construction in action and help you begin to build a list of industry contracts. Gain real-world experience by undertaking a 70-hour summer placement, an internship or civic project through our Applied Professional Experience module.

Alternatively, you can complete a sandwich year placement between your second and third year, where you’ll work on building sites, gathering relevant experience and making valuable connections. A dedicated careers placement officer is on hand to help you find a sandwich year placement and work experience during the holidays.

Personalise your degree

Year two is where your foundation becomes professional capability, advancing your expertise in commercial construction, modern building technologies and BIM, applied architectural technology in surveying practice, and the legislation, regulation, and professional standards shaping today’s built environment.

You will also personalise your experience with a choice of optional modules aligned to today’s fastest-growing industries. Choose from Artificial Intelligence, Data Analytics, Commercial Management, Project Management, the Green Economy, or Health & Safety to expand your expertise beyond your core discipline. Each module builds practical, forward-focused skills that employers value most. It’s more than extra learning; it’s a strategic way to future-proof your career and stand out.

Facilities

You’ll have access to a dedicated built environment project room, transformative learning spaces and bespoke computer labs with the latest software, such as Revit, ArchiCAD, AutoCAD, Autodesk QTO, CostX, Synchro, and Navisworks.

You can also take advantage of our latest digital technology including VR equipment, drones and thermal imaging cameras – all of which are increasingly used within construction.  The Built Environment and Sustainability subject area is based in our new, state-of-the-art £60 million Calon building, a centre of excellence for STEM learning, research and innovation.

Accredited By

Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)
quantity surveyor Anna Chappell standing in front of a building site wearing an hi-vis jacket and hard hat
  • Building courses at USW are top in Wales for overall student satisfaction. (National Student Survey 2025)

98%

of USW Built Environment and Civil Engineering graduates are in employment and/or further study 15 months after graduation 

(Graduate Outcomes Survey 2021/22)
  • Building courses at USW are top in Wales for overall student satisfaction. (National Student Survey 2025)


Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Accredited

RICS is a globally recognised and highly regarded professional body that promotes positive change in the built and natural environments.


Innovation Hub at USW

A photo thumbnail for the

Careers and Employability

Graduate careers

Our graduates progress in their careers as quantity surveyors and cost managers in the private, public and third sector.

As a Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) accredited programme, this course allows you to gain the technical knowledge to begin your journey towards Chartered Surveyor (MRICS) recognition.  You will need to have relevant industry experience and complete the RICS Assessment of Professional Competencies.

Industry partners

We’ve worked with various organisations to shape our degree, from our teaching to work experience opportunities. You’ll engage with real construction projects sourced from strategic partners, including local authorities, housing associations, contractors, and consultancy firms. Some of our industry partners include the NHS, Welsh Water, Balfour and Beatty, the local council and Transport for Wales.

Careers support

Whether you have a set career path in mind or not, we’re here to help you. Our Careers and Employability Service is on hand with advice throughout your studies and after you graduate, helping you refine your CV and support with job applications. We’ll also support you in building industry links and securing invaluable work placements.

Sandwich years

A sandwich year enables you to apply the knowledge gained during your degree to real-world work situations. You’ll equip yourself with a transferable skillset and gain invaluable work experience that will help you to stand out to potential employers in future job applications. A sandwich year also provides a fantastic opportunity to network and, if you impress your employer, you may even find you have a job waiting for you when you graduate. Many employers like to take on dedicated employees as showcased via a sandwich year placement scheme.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

UCAS points: 96 (or above)

Typical qualification requirements:

  • A Level: CCC 
  • BTEC: Merit Merit Merit
  • Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate: C in the Skills Challenge Certificate and CC at A Level 
  • Access to HE: Pass the Access to HE Diploma with a minimum of 96 UCAS tariff points.
  • T Level: Pass (C and above)

Additional requirements include:

The University normally requires a minimum 5 GCSEs including Mathematics/Numeracy and English at Grade C or Grade 4 or above, or their equivalent, but consideration is given to individual circumstances. 

International applications welcomed:

We welcome international applications with equivalent qualifications of our entry requirements. For more details related to your country of residence, please view our dedicated country pages.

English language requirements

International applicants will need to have achieved an overall of IELTS 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each component/TOEFL 4 overall and a minimum of 4 in each component or equivalent.

Equivalents can be located on our English Language pages.

If you have previously studied through the medium of English, IELTS might not be required, please visit our country specific page for further details. If your country is not featured, please contact us.

If you do not meet the English entry criteria, please visit our Pre-Sessional course pages.

Contextual offers

We may make you a lower offer based on a range of factors, including your background (where you live and the school or college that you attended, for example), your experiences and individual circumstances (as a care leaver, for example). This is referred to as a contextual offer, and we receive data from UCAS to support us in making these decisions.

USW prides itself on its student experience and we support our students to achieve their goals and become a successful graduate. This approach helps us to support students who have the potential to succeed and who may have faced barriers that make it more difficult to access university.

 

We're here to help

Whether you a have a question about your course, fees and funding, the application process or anything else, there are plenty of ways you can get in touch, and we'd love to talk to you. You can contact our friendly admissions team by phone, email or chat to us online.

 

Fees and Funding

UK Full-time Fee

£9,790

per year*
International Full-time Fee

£17,200

per year*
UK Part-time Fee

£1,589

per 20 credits*

Further Information

Studying at university is one of the most significant investments you'll ever make. Whilst you’re studying, you’ll have two main financial obligations – tuition fees and living costs. There’s lots of financial help available from the University of South Wales and external funding sources, that may provide loans (which have to be paid back) and grants, scholarships and bursaries (that don't).

*Full-time fees are per year. Part-time fees are per 20 credits. Once enrolled, the fee is anticipated to remain at the same rate throughout the duration of your study on this course except as described below.

Please be aware that we may increase the maximum fee for home students on full-time undergraduate courses only where the Welsh Government increases the permitted level of inflation of fees. Fees for all students (including part-time, postgraduate and international students) may be amended in accordance with our applicable Fees and Debt Management Policy.  We will ensure that students are given clear, intelligible, unambiguous and timely information about our courses and costs in good time, ahead of the next academic year.

 

Fees and Funding Scholarships and Bursaries Cost of Living Support

Additional Costs

As a student of USW, you’ll have access to lots of free resources to support your study and learning, such as textbooks, publications, online journals, laptops, and plenty of remote-access resources. Whilst in most cases these resources are more than sufficient in supporting you with completing your course, additional costs, both obligatory and optional, may be required or requested for the likes of travel, memberships, experience days, stationery, printing, or equipment. 

Introducing Calon

We are investing in the future of STEM with the exciting new Calon building at the heart of our Pontypridd Campus.


University Quality Assurance

At USW, we regularly review our courses in response to changing patterns of employment and skills demand to ensure we offer learning designed to reflect today’s student needs and tomorrow’s employer demands.

If during a review process course content is significantly changed, we’ll write to inform you and talk you through the changes for the coming year. But whatever the outcome, we aim to equip our students with the skillset and the mindset to succeed whatever tomorrow may bring. Your future, future-proofed.

How to apply

All applications for full-time undergraduate courses or foundation degrees should be made via UCAS. Take the next step: Apply through UCAS. You can apply to us directly for all part-time undergraduate courses, if you’re seeking advanced entry or you’re an international student. To apply directly, please choose the application form below for your preferred start date and mode of study (full-time or part-time).

Advanced entry

If you already have a relevant qualification or experience related to the course you're applying for, you may be eligible to start at a later stage of the course. For example, students from partner colleges can ‘top up’ their qualifications to a degree by joining us in Year Two or Year Three of a course. This process is known as ‘advanced entry’, you can apply directly to the University for 'advanced entry' using the application forms provided above.

Applicants accepted through advanced entry may study a different combination of modules to those advertised, as they will be joining a course already in progress. You will be contacted and advised about these modules once your application has been processed and an offer made.

International admissions

International applicants can apply to us directly. If the University has an in-country team in your region, your application will be assigned to them for assistance.
 

Work, earn and learn!

This course is also available through Network75, a combined work and study route.

Learn more