BSc Hons Quantity Surveying and Commercial Management

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Oxford Brookes University

Program Overview

If you’re someone who enjoys balancing creativity with logic — managing big construction ideas while keeping budgets realistic — this course could be your perfect fit. The BSc (Hons) Quantity Surveying and Commercial Management at Oxford Brookes University teaches you how to manage the financial, legal, and technical sides of construction projects from start to finish. You’ll learn how to turn design plans into well-costed, well-managed buildings that deliver real value.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1 – Building Your Foundation

In your first year, you’ll explore how buildings come together — both physically and financially. Modules like Introduction to Construction Practice, Building Design and Construction, and Quantity Surveying Practice I introduce you to key concepts such as materials, measurement, and sustainability. You’ll also take Construction Communication and IT, where you’ll use digital tools for design and documentation, and Integrative Project I, working collaboratively on real-world design challenges.

Year 2 – Developing Professional Skills

Your second year dives deeper into the business and technical aspects of construction. You’ll study Construction Procurement and Law, Construction Practice and Procedure, and Quantity Surveying Practice II — gaining confidence in contract administration, tendering, and financial control. Modules such as Construction Technology and Design and Administration help you connect technical design knowledge with real commercial management decisions. Team projects in Integrative Project II give you a taste of industry collaboration.

Year 3 – Placement Year (Optional but Highly Encouraged)

You’ll get the chance to spend a year working in the construction industry, applying what you’ve learned in the classroom to live projects. Whether you’re assisting in cost estimation, managing contracts, or shadowing project managers, this placement experience is a major boost to your employability — and often leads to graduate job offers. Brookes’ dedicated placement team helps connect you with top firms like Turner & Townsend, AECOM, or Balfour Beatty.

Year 4 – Becoming Industry-Ready

In your final year, you’ll step into advanced territory — managing complex projects and commercial risks. You’ll take modules such as Project Financial Control, Advanced Procurement and Dispute Resolution, and Financial Appraisal and Commercial Management. Your final Dissertation Project lets you research a topic you’re passionate about, while Facilities and Maintenance Management gives you insight into the long-term value of built assets.

Focus Areas: Cost estimation, construction law and contracts, financial planning, procurement strategy, lifecycle management

Learning Outcomes: You’ll graduate knowing how to manage project finances, negotiate contracts, assess commercial risks, and ensure construction projects stay profitable, sustainable, and on track.

Professional Alignment: Fully accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) — your degree will put you directly on the path toward becoming a Chartered Quantity Surveyor or Commercial Manager.

Reputation & Employability: Oxford Brookes ranks among the UK’s Top 10 for Quantity Surveying and Commercial Management (Complete University Guide 2025). Graduates have gone on to work for major global firms such as CBRE, Crossrail, Mace, AECOM, and Turner & Townsend, benefiting from Brookes’ strong employer partnerships and placement support.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At Oxford Brookes, you won’t just learn about construction management from textbooks — you’ll experience it firsthand. From your very first semester, you’ll step into the real world of quantity surveying through site visits, digital simulations, and collaborative industry projects. The course is designed so that every year builds your practical confidence, whether you’re measuring costs on a live project, visiting an active construction site, or analysing project data using professional software.

Here’s how you’ll gain real-world experience throughout the program:

Site visits from day one: You’ll visit construction projects across Oxford — and later even abroad — to see how design, cost, and sustainability come together on site.
Hands-on group projects: You’ll work with classmates on simulated construction challenges, practising tendering, cost estimation, and contract negotiation under real commercial conditions.
Professional placement year: In your third year, you can spend 12 months working in the industry — often in paid roles — with firms like AECOM, Turner & Townsend, or Balfour Beatty. Many students return to these companies after graduation.
Digital and technical training: You’ll use tools such as Building Information Modelling (BIM) software, measurement platforms, and project management systems that mirror real industry practice.
Practical assessments: Learning is reinforced through workshops, lab-based sessions, and presentations — so you’re constantly building the skills employers look for.
Access to modern facilities: The Oxford Brookes campus offers up-to-date laboratories, computing suites, and project studios tailored to the School of the Built Environment, ensuring you can work with the same resources used in professional practice.

You’ll leave the program not only with strong technical knowledge but also with the confidence and experience to handle complex, real-world projects — a combination that makes Brookes graduates stand out in the construction industry.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduating from Oxford Brookes opens the door to a wide range of exciting careers in the built environment. This course prepares you to step confidently into professional roles such as Quantity Surveyor, Commercial Manager, Cost Consultant, or Project Manager — whether that’s with a global construction firm, a consultancy, or your own venture. Because the course blends technical knowledge with hands-on experience, you’ll be ready to handle complex projects, manage budgets, and lead commercial decisions from day one.

Here’s how Brookes helps you turn your degree into a successful career:

Personalised career support: The Brookes Careers team works closely with students, offering 1-to-1 guidance, networking events, mock interviews, and job fairs. You can also access these services for up to three years after you graduate.
Strong graduate outcomes: Around 90% of Brookes graduates are employed or in further study within 15 months. Many start on salaries around £31,000, progressing to £41,000–£52,000 within a few years as they gain experience.
Real employer connections: Thanks to Brookes’ long-standing links with companies like AECOM, Balfour Beatty, Turner & Townsend, and CBRE, many students secure placement roles or even graduate job offers before finishing their degree.
Accredited and career-ready: The program is fully accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) — giving you a clear route toward becoming a Chartered Professional, one of the highest recognitions in the industry.
Excellent graduate destinations: Most graduates go into highly skilled roles within the construction and property sectors, often managing multi-million-pound projects or progressing into leadership and consultancy positions.

Further Academic Progression:
After completing your bachelor’s degree, you can continue developing your expertise through postgraduate study — such as a Master’s in Quantity Surveying, Construction Management, or Real Estate Finance. Brookes also offers opportunities for research degrees (MPhil/PhD) if you’re interested in areas like sustainable building, digital construction, or project innovation.