Quantity Surveying BSc (Hons)

Level 3 (foundation year)

• Foundation in Engineering, Computing and Technology

  This module will provide students with the necessary skills to begin studying at level 4 in Engineering, Computer Science and related courses. Students will be introduced to the core skills necessary to succeed in higher education, including thinking critically, researching and referencing appropriately, demonstrating appropriate numeracy and ICT skills, and communicating effectively verbally and in writing. In addition to these fundamental skills, Students will cover the subjects underpinning the technological disciplines. Fundamental mathematical skills will be covered, alongside pre-calculus, followed by an introduction to calculus and vector and matrix arithmetic. Students will also be introduced to Classical mechanics, and its application to real-world scenarios. Students will be introduced to the fundamentals of computer science, learning about the principles behind programming and applying them through a series of practical coding exercises. Students will undertake a multi-disciplinary group project as they learn about the collaborative nature of engineering, and design from a broader perspective of business. The module is made up of the following eight constituent elements: Interactive Learning Skills and Communication (ILSC); Information Communication Technology (ICT); Critical Thinking; Maths for Scientists; Maths for Engineers; Physics for Engineers; Fundamentals of Computing; Engineering Design.

Year one, core modules

• Elementary Survey Skills

  Develop the necessary site related survey skills for students entering the construction industry. You will gain a theoretical understanding as well as hands-on practice in the use of both traditional and contemporary instruments used to set-up and control the most common elements of construction. You will also learn the basic off-site calculations necessary to prepare the site, quality and/or survey documentation to meet specified tolerances and employer requirements. The skills you will gain here are expected from the most junior of site engineers and managers, so will be valuable for your future career.

• Elements of Construction Design

  This module is designed for students of construction, surveying and architecture to introduce them to some of the basic analytical concepts and processes involved in the design of structures. Students will develop analytical skills which will allow them to carry out basic structural calculations. Students will also be introduced to basic 2D drafting techniques using industry standard software. This will allow them to effectively interpret technical drawing and give them the skills which can be applied to their specialist discipline area in later modules. Skills in this medium are highly sought after in the construction industry. BIM will be introduced to the student and students will gain an appreciation of technology and the role of the designer in the construction process and have an understanding of the design process. The assessment for this modules will take the form of a portfolio which will include CAD drawings and basic structural analysis such as bending moments, shear forces and reactions. It is important that sketches are used in the portfolio as a means of communicating the concepts.

• Building Technology

  This module is designed for students of construction, surveying and architecture with little and/or no prior knowledge of building construction, services and material properties. Students will learn the common materials and methods of construction of both new and traditional housing, by considering in turn each of the main elements of a building's structure. They will also study the requirements of the internal environment, so as to understand how services installations contribute to user comfort. Other basic aspects such as the personnel involved, health and safety requirements and specialised terminology will be illustrated as appropriate to support this.

• IT and Communications

  Students entering Higher Education will need specific study skills to enable them to maximise their learning potential and take advantage of opportunities available both in the academic setting and workplace. This module is intended to be both preparatory and supportive, building a strong foundation for learning and later development. You will gain Information and Communication Technology (ICT) skills for information management and presentation purposes and will be encouraged to use contemporary ICT methods for research and for the production and presentation of reports, in a style suitable both for university coursework requirements and the commercial environment.

• Introduction to Civil Law and Legislation

  This module introduces you to the structure and processes of the English legal system, the sources of the law, and to basic legal concepts and skills you'll need to address more detailed legal issues later on. It's an essential foundation to the development of the legal skills necessary to give sound advice to clients in your professional career. You will focus in particular on the English Civil Law, as this is the branch of the law most relevant to you both in following modules and in professional careers after completing your course. Certain Criminal Law topics will be included where necessary, to understand or draw a distinction between processes in the two branches of the law. A key aim of the module is to develop your research skills, specifically in the field of legal issues affecting your work, together with your ability to analyse research material, and to marshal material and facts into cogent advice and reports.

• The Built Environment Work Sector

  Investigate the environments in which the work sector operates, its performance within these contexts and factors that influence the operation of organisations. You will focus on the role of the professions in the built environment sector and opportunities for employment and career progression. You will then examine people in the environment and their attempts to control the development of society politically, socially and economically through land use in both organic and planned terms from earliest civilisation to the present day. You will discuss multicultural perspectives and issues within built environment and the complications of the present day structure of the building and development industry.

• Construction Economics

  You will gain an understanding of basic microeconomic and macroeconomic principles and how they impact on firms in the built environment. This allows you to develop an appreciation of the importance of the economy on the industry you choose to go into at the end of your studies. The learning experience combines formal lectures with workshops and tutorial discussion to provide a foundation of understanding.

• Professional Surveying Practice

  Learn about the roles and work of the Chartered Surveyor throughout the development process, the history and background of the surveying professions and the RICS, along with the types of organisations in which surveyors are employed. You’ll then focus specifically on your chosen discipline and apply your knowledge to this.

Year two, core modules

• Advanced Construction Technology

  You will develop a broad understanding of the way we build our commercial and industrial buildings. Leading on from the study of domestic construction, you will consider the functional requirements of single-storey industrial sheds and multi-storey framed structures in concrete and steel. In addition, you will examine the affects on the construction process of the latest legislation in relation to fire and health and safety. You will receive a great deal of guidance to help develop your skills.

• Environmental Building Performance

  The main approach for this module is a scientific one, focusing on the analysis of a problem or set of problems, followed by the synthesis of a solution. Considerable emphasis is placed on the use of environmental criteria to assess a building’s thermal, visual and aural performance. You will explore a number of scientific methods, with a limited amount of practical experiment-based work; technical solutions for lighting, heating, ventilation and air conditioning a building; and the passive design features of a building.

• Construction Contract Law

  This module will develop your understanding of the legal context of your work, specifically in the field of construction contracts. You'll develop skills within the framework of the legal principles of common law contracts, and get the knowledge and analytical skills relevant to standard forms of building contract. We'll cover the essential features and principles of creating a legally enforceable contract, and the principles of breach and remedies. We'll generally concentrate on the provisions of the Joint Contract Tribunal Standard Form of Building Contract 2005, although you'll be required to analyse and draw comparisons between the provisions in the various available standard forms of construction contract where appropriate.

• Quantification and Measurement

  Gain an understanding and appreciation of quantification and measurement through the various stages of the development process of a building project. You’ll develop skills in interpreting drawn and written information and presenting that material in appropriate quantified descriptive form to facilitate the analytical processes necessary for accurately assessing the cost of construction works. You’ll gain knowledge, skills and competences in quantifying a range of construction and civil engineering work in accordance with the relevant standard forms of measurement from project initiation through to design completion. Finally, you’ll interpret and apply the principles and rules contained within the appropriate measurement rules and demonstrate an understanding of the need to quantify work at the various stages of design development.

• Management Practice

  You'll gain an understanding of management concepts and their application in the construction industry. Your primary focus will be on developing practical and conceptual approaches to managing in a built environment firm. You'll start by focusing on the principles and processes of management and apply the concepts learnt to a practical context through case studies. You'll consider construction markets and organisations, their culture and structure, looking at staff and functional relationships together with chain of command and span of control. You'll demonstrate how the theory relates to practice and study management techniques and their application, considering work planning, monitoring and progress control. Computer software will be used to solve construction related problems. You'll also consider the importance of quality standards applied to the construction process. Finance plays an important part in the construction industry and you'll develop an understanding and working knowledge of budgets and cost control by undertaking financial problems and present solutions. The module will also consider management within a professional setting and issues relating to the unique nature of practice within the Built Environment.

• Construction Procurement

  Examine the process of procurement and tendering for construction works, analysing the decisions made throughout the project life cycle which affect the commercial strategy used to procure the project. We'll consider traditional 'selective competitive tendering' procedures for the full range of contractual arrangements; the content and impact of published reports and legislation; and the development of team-working, partnering, PFI, PPP and other arrangements in the procurement process for construction works in the UK. We'll analyse the application of research and statistical analysis to bidding and marketing, and the concepts of risk and uncertainty throughout the process, in the context of deciding an appropriate commercial strategy for any particular project. We'll also compare UK procedures with those in the EU and USA, considering their main features and differences.

• Quantification and Costing

  Gain an understanding and appreciation of the production of costs associated with a range of construction operations and projects. You’ll study the principles and methodology in the computation of construction costs throughout a project’s life cycle, including relevant commercial factors and risk etc. You’ll identify and assess all direct and indirect costs related to construction work as well as understand the factors required to be considered at tender adjudication. You’ll also gain an understanding of the measurement and pricing of maintenance and repair work involved in the running and upkeep of buildings using the relevant measurement rules and recognised good practice. Finally, you’ll consider the use of Building Information Modelling within project development.

• Quantity Surveying Practice I

  Take typical scenarios and problems encountered during the construction process and analyse and define problems, develop a range of standard and innovative solutions then provide professional advice to clients. You’ll focus on the development and provision of professional, industry-standard solutions and create reports, documents, letters, etc. and communion output produced by professional surveyors. You’ll develop your professional and developmental skills, including personal, interpersonal, professional practice and business skills that are essential to all quantity surveyors. You’ll also focus on ethical issues, professional responsibilities, liabilities and rules of conduct.

Work placement (optional placement year)

Year three, core modules

• Quantity Surveying Practice II

  Our module is a problem-solving module that takes typical scenarios and problems encountered during the construction process. You’ll analyse and define problems, develop a range of standard and innovative solutions then provide professional advice to clients. You’ll focus on the application of theory to practice and develop the knowledge and understanding gained from the study of other modules, with additional knowledge from this module to solve problems. You’ll place emphasis on the development and provision of professional, industry-standard solutions and use deliverables in the form of reports, documents, letters, etc. that provide usable information to clients. You’ll place importance on the form and presentation of these written documents, and the professionalism that they communicate; often the only tangible output produced by professional surveyors. You’ll produce all written documents to a professional standard and develop your professional skills, including personal, interpersonal, professional practice and business skills that are essential to all quantity surveyors. You’ll also develop your cognisance of ethical issues, professional responsibilities, liabilities and rules of conduct.

• Commercial Management

  Develop your understanding of the commercial management function performed by quantity surveyors, particularly in a contractor position. You’ll learn the procedural, legal and practice issues involved in all aspects of the commercial management of construction projects, together with the ability to apply these in a recognised commercial form. We’ll enhance your ability to produce professional quality advice and to communicate it effectively to clients, including cost and financial management, cash flow, value engineering, procurement and management of sub-contractors, dispute resolution. Workshops will analyse and examine a wide range of commercial management scenarios and situations with a view to establishing the principles involved, alternative methods available and the selection of preferred courses of action. We’ll also focus on the form, presentation and usability of the documents used to communicate advice and information.

• Major Project (Surveying)

  This module represents the culmination of your development through learning on your course. It provides an opportunity for you to demonstrate your ability to undertake a substantial original study to investigate a subject, issue, or problem and to produce a usable outcome. You'll carry out an original piece of work that may be either an expert study or a research study. Advice will be offered on choosing a research topic and producing a proposal in a briefing session delivered towards the end of the academic year prior to that in which you'll undertake the dissertation. You'll conduct your research under the supervision of an academic member of staff but the early part of the module in semester one is also supported by taught classroom sessions. These taught sessions enable you to develop research and study skills in respect of reviewing and analysing literature, developing a research question, collecting, presenting and analysing data, and managing the research process. In addition to the taught sessions, a minimum of four supervision tutorials will take place during the academic year in which the module is studied. It's your responsibility to make contact with your tutor to arrange appointments. 10% of the marks for the dissertation/major project are for attendance and performance at these tutorials which must be recorded in an appendix to the dissertation.

• Design Economics

  You’ll be provided with a working knowledge of the factors that affect the economics of building design and the cost of buildings. You’ll learn the background necessary for offering advice to clients or the design team on matters concerning economy, cost or price at the various stages of the design process. The range of possible scenarios is envisaged and a 'tool kit' of principles, concepts and technologies is provided to allow a range of scenarios to be managed. The sources of data to assist the surveyor is explored. You’ll develop cost models from these. Our module is relevant for a practitioner in a private practice or in construction as increasing amounts of design work is carried out by construction firms. This is largely a practical module and there’ll be opportunities to develop appropriate skills and techniques. You’ll be assessed through a case study report and an exam.

• Project Management

  Develop your knowledge of basic management theories, and demonstrate your relevance and application in the planning, organisation and control of construction projects. You will research appropriate theories, skills and competencies related to the life cycle of a project from the client's conceptual vision, through the project identification and definition stages, applying appropriate project implementation, execution and control processes to effect successful closure of a project. You will also research and develop operational techniques used in the planning, scheduling and control of projects. You will consider the holistic integrated nature of the project management role on a construction project develop the specialist techniques which question the usual functional and organisational boundaries. This will help you appreciate the strategic relevance of project management, and the unique features of project management which distinguish it from other forms of management.

• Quantity Surveying Practice III

  Use your problem-solving skills in typical scenarios and problems encountered during the construction process. Analyse and define problems, develop a range of standard and innovative solutions then provide professional advice to clients. You’ll apply theory to practice and focus on the development and provision of professional, industry-standard solutions. You’ll produce reports, documents, letters, etc. that provide useable information to clients and understand the professionalism that they communicate; often the only tangible output produced by professional surveyors. Developing your professional skills, you’ll focus on personal, interpersonal, professional practice and business skills that are essential to all quantity surveyors. You’ll also improve your knowledge of ethical issues, professional responsibilities, liabilities and rules of conduct.

• Risk and Value Management

  You’ll be introduced to the risk and value management process and distinguish between risk and uncertainty and the influence these issues may have on the technological, managerial and financial aspects of the project life cycle. You’ll understand value engineering techniques along with the concept of value management workshops and how these can be used throughout the project life cycle. You’ll also focus on the concept and use of the risk management workshop, and how these workshops are used to identify and distribute project risks to members of the project team throughout the project life cycle. You’ll apply your knowledge to real life situations with case studies.