Quantity Surveying BSc

Quantity surveyors manage the commercial aspects of construction and civil engineering projects, from the initial calculations to the final figures. Their aim is to minimise costs and enhance value for money, delivering projects to the required quality and on time.

Our Quantity Surveying programme, which is part of the civil engineering and infrastructure cluster here at Aston, examines the economic and operational issues related to the construction industry.

What you’ll learn

On our course you’ll gain a working knowledge of the techniques, and an understanding of the skills, required by quantity surveyors and commercial managers within the construction industry. With sustainable construction methods and technology at the centre of your learning, you’ll also learn about cost planning and estimating, scheduling projects and building engineering and management.

In addition, as you’ll be learning and living in the middle of Britain’s second city, you’ll gain invaluable, real-life experience of the challenges and opportunities faced by the people and organisations responsible for developing our built environment. To help bring this to life there will be regular opportunities for engagement with local projects through a series of guest lectures, site visits and real-life projects.

The skills you will gain are in high demand and, as a graduate, you will be able to contribute to the ongoing development of the build environment in which we live and work.
 

Modules

Year 1

•    Introductory Accounting for Business 
•    Construction Materials and Surveying 
•    BIM for Construction 
•    Study and Research Skills
•    Building Professional Relationships
•    Construction Contract Management and Administration 1
•    Introduction to Business

Year 2

•    Construction Quantification and Costing
•    Building Information and Digital Construction
•    Health, Safety and Risk Management
•    Construction Contract Management and Administration 2
•    Building Design and Construction Technology 2
•    Procurement and Cost Management

Year 3 - Placement Year

Find out more about the Aston placement year.

One of the following modules:

•    EPS Study Placement Year 
•    EPS Industrial Placement Year 
•    EPS Study/Work Placement Year 

Final Year 

•    Final Year Research Project 
•    Construction Technology 3 
•    Commercial Management - Advanced Quantification and Costing
•    Construction Design, Costing and Scheduling Project 

Accreditation 

Our quantity surveying course is accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and the Chartered Institute of Builders (CIOB).

International students

Aston University is a diverse, close community and welcomes international students on many of our undergraduate programmes. Students from over 120 countries choose to study with us every year and Aston is not only a great place to study, based in the centre of Birmingham, it’s also a great place to live.

Aston’s professional work placements can improve your chance of securing a graduate job. Placements give you experience, confidence and opportunities and as an Aston student, you’ll be better prepared for your future career. One of the great things about Aston is our focus on employability and our close links with businesses, industries and professions make this possible.

Choosing to start your Aston journey with one of our foundation programmes will help you develop specialist knowledge to ensure that you are fully prepared to study your chosen undergraduate course. During your foundation year, you’ll have excellent support from academics and group projects will give you the chance to meet new people, make new friends and build a network of peers who will share your university journey.

We also have a Learning Development Centre that can provide additional support and offer pre-sessional English language programmes.

For International Students intending to do a foundation year, visit ONCAMPUS.

Typical offers:

A Levels

ANY SUBJECTS: BBC
Standard offer BCC: If the student is also presenting either Core Maths or Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) grade B BCC: Contextual offer*. 

OR; INCLUDING A SCIENCE OR TECHNICAL SUBJECT: BCC: including a science or technical subject
Standard offer CCC: If the student is also presenting either Core Maths or Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) grade B CCC: Contextual offer*. 

Science or technical subjects include: Chemistry, Physics, Maths, Biology Further Maths, Design Technology, Engineering Science and Electronics, Geography and Geology.

*For details on our Aston Ready contextual offer scheme, please see here.

IB

• 29 points and above with 5, 5, 4 in higher level subjects if no science or technical subject studied.
   
• 28 overall points with 5, 4, 4 in higher level subjects including a science or technical subject. 

BTEC, Access & other

BTEC

• Construction and the Built Environment or Building Services Engineering preferred but not essential
   
• Extended Diploma and National Extended Diploma: DDM
   
• National Diploma and Diploma: DM plus 1 A-level at minimum Grade B
   
• Foundation or 90 credits Diploma: DM plus 2 A-level at minimum grade B National
   
• Extended Certificate or Subsidiary Diploma: M plus 2 A-level minimum Grade B
   
• Certificate/ National Certificate Level 3: Not accepted.

Access to Higher Education

• Access (science or technical subject preferred but not essential) with at least 30 Distinctions and 15 Merits at level 3.

Non-standard qualifications

Degree: 

• Year 1 entry: We may consider applicants for year 1 entry who are undertaking a 1st year degree elsewhere. You must meet the GCSEs and A level (or equivalent) requirements as listed. In order to be considered you will need to submit a UCAS application as we do not accept direct applications and this must include an academic reference.
   
• Year 2 entry: Please note that second year transfers are not part of the standard admissions process and is up to the discretion of the admissions team and tutor. Applications are only considered if there is space on that year of the programme.
  
  Typically, applicants for second year entry must meet the GCSEs and A level (or equivalent) requirements as listed. Alongside this you must have gained (or be expected to gain) 65% overall and 120 credits  on an equivalent programme at another recognised university. The equivalency of the programme is reviewed by the Admissions Tutor and you will be required to provide an official copy of the programme specification of this. In order to be considered you will need to submit a UCAS application as we do not accept direct applications and this must include an academic reference.
   
• Year 3: We will not be able to consider any application for Year 3.

All candidates are considered on an individual basis and the whole application is reviewed which includes previous and predicted qualifications, any experience, references and motivation.

T Levels 

The following T levels are accepted qualifications for this course:

Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction Grade D

Digital Production, Design and Development Grade D

Building Services Engineering for Construction Grade D

Onsite Construction Grade D

Digital Business Services Grade D

Digital Support Services Grade D

Health Grade D

Healthcare Science Grade D

Science Grade D

GCSEs

Additionally to our Level 3 requirement, you will also need to have achieved:

GCSE Maths Grade B/5 and English Grade C/4 and above. 

If the Level 3 qualification completed includes a preferred subject, the GCSE requirement is lowered to Maths Grade C/4 and English Grade C/4.

Our Admissions Policy

View our Admissions Policy

Whilst the grades listed here are our entry requirements, we understand that predicted grades are only an estimate. We will therefore consider applicants with predicted grades that fall below these entry requirements if the application is of a high standard (however, initial offers will not be lower than stated above).

Entry onto our Foundation Year maybe offered as an alternative to the degree course if lower entry grades are achieved.

*For details on our Aston Ready contextual offer scheme, please see here.

The information contained on this website details the typical entry requirements for this course for the most commonly offered qualifications. Applicants with alternative qualifications may wish to enquire with the relevant admissions teams prior to application whether or not their qualifications are deemed acceptable. For less commonly encountered qualifications this will be judged on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the academic admissions tutor.

International students

Applicants whose first language is not English will be required to provide evidence of an English language qualification. Find out more about our English language requirements. For more information about qualifications view our Aston in your country webpage.

Teaching won’t just be lectures, you’ll have workshops, guest lectures and visits to relevant sites to make sure your understanding is grounded in industry, ensuring you are ready for the working world when you graduate.

More information

*Tuition fees are reviewed annually and may increase in subsequent years in line with inflation linked to the Retail Price Index (RPI) to take account of the University’s increased costs of delivering the Programme. When undertaking a placement year a placement year fee applies.

More information on fees

Scholarships

At Aston University we are committed to supporting the most talented and hardworking students to achieve their potential by providing a range of scholarships to help lower tuition and living costs. Find out more about our scholarships here.

Our quantity surveying graduates are in high demand, with many securing permanent positions with the companies they worked with during their degree.

The transferable management and technical skills developed during your studies will also be attractive to other professions and there is potential for graduates to go into diverse fields such as finance, logistics and general management, as well as quantity surveying and construction industries.

Here are just some of the roles are recent graduates have gone on to:

• Quality Engineer
• Risk Advisory Consultant
• Building control surveyor
• Structural engineer

Many of our graduates have secured excellent positions in a huge variety of leading organisations, including:

• Jaguar Land Rover
• Royal Mail
• Ministry of Transport
• Caterpillar

Why study quantity surveying at Aston?

Quantity surveyors are in high demand as the construction industry continues to grow and thrive. This accredited course will give you the skills and experience you need to lead a successful and fulfilling career in quantity surveying. 

What will I be doing on the quantity surveying course at Aston? 

You will learn the key techniques and skills you need to become a surveyor, including cost estimating and scheduling. You’ll gain knowledge and experience based on real life examples and companies, giving you the skills you need to begin your career in this exciting area. 

Why is it compulsory to take a year out in industry? 

We think that the knowledge you gain through your studies are best applied to real life and the most effective way to do this is by working in a company. As well as the opportunity to apply what you’ve learned, you’ll also gain invaluable communication and team skills. 

We have excellent links with industry and will help to arrange this placement for you. 

Why should international students choose Aston University? 

Aston University is a diverse, close community and welcomes international students on many of our undergraduate programmes. Students from over 120 different countries chose to study with us every year and Aston is not only a great place to study, based in the centre of Birmingham it’s also a great place to live. 

Aston’s professional work placements can improve your chance of securing a graduate job. Placements give you experience, confidence and opportunities and as an Aston student, you’ll be better prepared for your future career.  

Choosing to start your Aston journey with our foundation programme will help you develop specialist knowledge to ensure that you are fully prepared to study your chosen undergraduate course.