BSc (Hons)

Quantity Surveying and Commercial Management

Play your part in developing the infrastructure of tomorrow. Hone your skills and gain vital knowledge for a career in Quantity Surveying and Commercial Management.

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Key Course Details

  • UCAS Code

    K242

  • Start Date

    September

  • Location

    Pontypridd

  • Campus Code

    A

Fees

  • Home students

    £9,000*

  • International students

    £15,260*

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

  • Start Date

    September

  • Location

    Pontypridd

  • Campus Code

    A

Fees

  • Home students

    £1,500*

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

  • UCAS Code

    K243

  • Start Date

    September

  • Location

    Pontypridd

  • Campus Code

    A

Fees

  • Home students

    £9,000*

  • International students

    £15,260*

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

Quantity surveyors understand all aspects of construction, are in high demand and earn attractive salaries. They are the financial managers of the construction industry and need to manage costs effectively whilst considering quality, sustainability and the needs of the client. It is a rewarding and well-paid career.

DESIGNED FOR

Studying Quantity Surveying and Commercial Management at USW will give you the necessary skills and adaptability required in an increasingly dynamic sector. We accept students straight from school, and those who have significant experience working within the Built Environment wanting to extend their knowledge and job prospects.

Accredited By

  • Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)

Career Paths

  • Contractor Quantity Surveyor
  • Professional Quantity Surveyor
  • Commercial Manager
  • Estimator
  • Cost Manager

Skills Taught

  • Communication
  • Problem solving
  • IT digital skills
  • Working with others
  • Employability

Miranda Thomas, Built Environment Lecturer, talking to camera in classroom

Course Highlights

Professionally Accredited

The Quantity Surveying and Commercial Management course is accredited by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

Full Time and Part Time Delivery Modes

Students can complete their studies full-time or part-time whilst gaining valuable industry experience

Focus on Employability

We engage Industry as a key stakeholder in developing our course material, inviting them in to deliver industry-relevant guest lectures.

Desirable Skills Which Address Industry Shortages

You will develop skills in communication, problem solving, IT digital skills, and collaboration.

Module Overview

On this course you will gain the skills to manage the range of tasks involved in quantity surveying, learning to develop commercial acumen, think independently, and practice sought-after quantity surveying skills such as Measurement, Estimating, Procurement, Tendering & Contract Management Practice.

Built Environment Law

The purpose of this module is to enable students to appreciate the wide range of laws applicable to the UK construction industry and the built environment.

Built Environment Economics

This module is designed to introduce the general economy and the Built Environment economy to help them begin to develop a holistic view of economic activity and economic theory:

Built Environment Principles

The purpose of this module is to introduce students to the concept of the Built Environment and the impact that construction has upon it.

Digital Technologies 

During this module students gain experience of using several different technologies to Survey, Draw, Measure and Analyse.

Technology includes 3D Laser Scanner, Laser Measurer, Drone and VR (Virtual Reality) headsets.

Development and Society   

The module explores the ways in which space and the built environment evolve over time. It considers how development is constrained and challenged through social, political and geographical processes.

Construction Technology    

The purpose of this module is to introduce students to the function, performance fundamentals and common construction techniques used for the major components of domestic dwellings.

Measurement

Students will gain an understanding of the technique of measurement (from drawn information) and its application into Bills of Quantities as used by various members of the Project Team.

Project Finance

Study of the factors that affect the construction cost of a development site. Students gain knowledge of tendering and estimating; basic rate build-ups and composite rate calculations relating to projects.

Contract Management Practice

This module aims to develop student understanding of Contact Administration procedures related to the Management of Construction Contracts in Practice during pre and post-contract stages.

BIM & Data Management   

Students are introduced to Building Information modelling( BIM) and Common Data Environment, and will use software packages involved within a BIM Project from Design through Construction and through its Occupancy.

Project Management and Professional Practice This module content is designed to develop knowledge of project management and professional practice, providing the ability to apply these in several differing scenarios within the sector.

Advanced Construction Technology Consolidate knowledge of construction technology of the function, performance fundamentals and common construction techniques extending their understanding for the major components of commercial high-rise buildings.

Students can take a Sandwich year and go on placement in Industry.

Built Environment Dissertation

This module will enable the student to undertake a detailed, research project relevant to their chosen subject area.

Construction Cost Management     

This module will develop students' understanding of the cost management process and analyse the techniques that are available to ensure a construction project's financial success throughout its life cycle.

Commercial Management and Enterprise  Students undertake industry-linked challenge-based learning linked to commercial management as well as aiming to enhance management and business skills in the context of construction and development.

Sustainability and Decarbonisation for the Built Environment

This module aims to develop an understanding of the issues involved within environmental sustainability and the built environment.

Advanced Measurement

This module requires the student to undertake measurement of a more advanced nature (roofing, reinforced concrete, foundations/groundworks, masonry inter alia) in accordance with NRM2 measurement rules.

Course Highlights

How you’ll learn

The Quantity Surveying and Commercial Management degree is taught through a combination of lectures, seminars and tutorials.

You will get the chance to participate in site visits to local companies, allowing you to see how theory is applied in a professional setting. You will work independently to prepare for classes and complete project work.

We don’t believe you can learn vital skills like analytical decision making and problem solving by just reading about them. That’s why we offer practical activities that help you understand and apply theory you learn in lectures.

 

Teaching staff

The BSc (Hons) Quantity Surveying and Commercial Management offers an Open-Door policy, whereby students have access to staff at all times. We also offer a Personal Academic Coach for each of our students for the duration of their studies.

Placements

We recommend you spend a year working in the construction industry as part of your degree. During this sandwich year, you’ll get hands-on experience that will make you a more attractive candidate to employers and will inform your studies in your final year.

Our dedicated careers placement officer can assist you in finding placements during the holidays.

 

Facilities

For added experience, you’ll use industry-standard facilities on campus. These include computing laboratories with engineering software such as Revit, ArchiCAD, AutoCAD, Autodesk QTO, CostX, Synchro, and Navisworks.

You will also be introduced to the latest digital technologies such as drones, thermal imaging, Virtual and Augmented Reality.

 

quantity surveyor Anna Chappell standing in front of a building site wearing an hi-vis jacket and hard hat

Top in Wales

Building courses at USW are top in Wales for Student Satisfaction.

National Student Survey 2024

Innovation Hub at USW

A student observes a robot arm with a claw on the end on a desk while sat at a computer at the Innovation Hub in an engineering workshop at the Treforest campus

Careers and Employability

Graduate careers

Quantity Surveying and Commercial Management is a thriving profession in the UK and internationally. By the time you graduate, you will have the skills and confidence to progress in Quantity Surveying.

When you graduate, you’ll have the ability and confidence to begin a graduate career in Quantity Surveying and Commercial Management and work towards corporate membership of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors.

 

Possible career paths

Possible career paths
Construction is one of the largest industries in the world, and none of it would be possible without surveyors and project managers. Our strong industrial and commercial links mean we know what employers want from you when you graduate. We have a proud history of developing industry-ready graduates for over four decades. 

Our quantity surveying graduates are widely respected. They work in all sectors of construction from housing to major infrastructure projects throughout the UK and internationally. This course is also available through Network75, a combined work and study route.

 

 

 

Careers support

As a USW student, you will have access to advice from the Careers and Employability Service throughout your studies and after you graduate. The Built Environment has a dedicated careers advisor who will support you.

We also have extensive online resources for help with considering your career options and presenting yourself well to employers. Our employer database has over 2,000 registered employers targeting USW students, you can receive weekly email alerts for jobs.

 

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

UCAS points: 96 (or above)

Typical qualification requirements:

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

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 72 overall and a minimum of 18 in reading, 17 in listening, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing 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 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

£9,000

per year*
International Full-time Fee

£15,260

per year*
International Full-time Fee

£15,260

per year*
UK Part-time Fee

£1,500

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. 

Investing in your future

We are investing in the future of STEM at USW with an exciting new Computing, Engineering and Technology building at 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.