Quantity Surveying with International Foundation Year

Quantity surveying is the discipline responsible for managing the financial and contractual aspects of construction projects, from initial cost planning and procurement through to final account settlement. Quantity surveyors work at the intersection of engineering, law, finance, and project management, ensuring that buildings and infrastructure are delivered within budget, that contracts are properly administered, and that risks are identified and allocated appropriately. It is a profession that plays an essential role in every significant construction project, and one that consistently offers strong graduate employment prospects.

At the University of Reading, this four-year full-time programme includes an International Foundation Year, which provides a structured and supported entry route for students who need to build their academic and English-language skills before progressing to the main degree. The foundation year is integrated into the degree structure and ensures that you are fully prepared for the quantitative, legal, and technical demands of the quantity surveying programme. You will learn about the mechanisms that determine the cost and price of construction, how projects are procured and managed, how contracts are administered, and how disputes are resolved.

Building information modelling, construction law, measurement, and project economics are all part of the curriculum.

The typical entry tariff is 104 UCAS points. Graduates from quantity surveying programmes go on to careers as quantity surveyors, cost managers, project managers, and commercial managers in construction, property, infrastructure, and consultancy. Most pursue professional membership of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, for which this programme provides strong preparation.

Further study options include postgraduate programmes in quantity surveying, project management, and construction law.