Quantity Surveying

Quantity surveying is the financial and contractual management of construction projects. Quantity surveyors play a central role in the built environment sector, responsible for ensuring that construction projects are completed within budget and that all parties to a contract understand their financial obligations. The work involves estimating the cost of construction at the design stage, producing bills of quantities, managing procurement and tendering, monitoring expenditure during construction, valuing work completed, and resolving financial disputes.

It is a discipline that combines mathematical rigour with legal and contractual knowledge, commercial awareness, and the ability to work collaboratively with architects, engineers, contractors, and clients.

At Southampton Solent University, this three-year full-time programme covers the fundamentals of construction cost management, from estimating project bids and analysing cash flow to managing contracts and understanding the full financial lifecycle of a construction project. You will develop practical skills in measurement, valuation, procurement, and contract administration, alongside the analytical and communication abilities needed to work effectively in the construction industry. The programme prepares you for the realities of professional quantity surveying practice, developing both the technical knowledge and the professional judgement that the role demands in live project environments.

Quantity surveying graduates are in consistent demand across the construction and property sectors. Roles include quantity surveyor, cost consultant, commercial manager, contracts manager, and project manager with construction firms, consultancies, developers, and clients in both the public and private sectors. The skills and professional knowledge the degree develops also underpin careers in facilities management, real estate, infrastructure project management, and construction law.

The degree provides a foundation for professional accreditation with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, which is the principal professional body for the quantity surveying profession. Postgraduate study in construction cost management, project management, or real estate is available for those who wish to develop their expertise further.