Quantity Surveying BSc (Hons)

From day one, this course is designed so you’ll be working with real industry tools and in real construction environments, not just theory in the lecture hall. You’ll get practical experience in cost management, procurement, contract administration, measurement, value engineering, and more — using software and equipment that quantity surveyors use in practice. The campus itself is embedded in Birmingham’s dynamic development context — you’ll see construction sites, urban redevelopment projects, and infrastructure works around you, acting as your “living lab.” You’ll move from classroom to site, from drawing board to budget sheets, from digital modelling to contract negotiation.

Here’s how it’s structured in practice:

What You’ll Do — Tools, Projects, Placements & Facilities

• Software & Digital Tools
   • You’ll use BIM/CAD systems, cost estimating and measurement software (e.g. industry‐standard tools) for quantification, visualisation and cost planning. (BCU mentions access to “latest GIS, BIM and CAD software and surveying equipment” in their program description)
   • Integration with digital tools, modelling, and analysis to simulate cost, risk and project scenarios.
• Live Projects & Site Visits
   • You’ll visit construction sites and real projects around Birmingham so you can see building methods, materials, site practices, procurement in action.
   • You’ll work on “live” briefs (projects tied to real clients or real conditions) through modules, applying cost, measurement, risk, and management techniques.
• Professional Placement Year
   • There is an optional placement year available — after Year 2, you can spend a full year in industry putting your skills into practice.
   • You’ll be supported in finding placements through university networks and Careers services.
   • Some students even return to their placement employers after graduation.
• Industry & Professional Accreditation
   • The course is an RICS approved Partnership Centre, meaning the curriculum is aligned with what the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors expects.
   • Also tied to CIOB (Chartered Institute of Building).
• Collaborative & Group Learning
   • Many modules are delivered through group projects, reflecting real work environments where you coordinate with architects, engineers, contractors, and stakeholders.
   • Workshops and critiques, peer reviews and teamwork are built into the course.
• Access to University Facilities & Campus Context
   • The course is taught in Millennium Point, City Centre Campus, giving you easy proximity to industry, redevelopment zones, and infrastructure projects.
   • Birmingham’s evolving urban environment — construction, regeneration, transport projects — becomes your outdoor classroom and case study field.
   • You’ll have access to university computer labs, software suites, and surveying equipment to practice and test your skills.

Graduates from this programme step into roles that are central to the construction and built environment industries. You’ll be ready for jobs such as:

• Quantity Surveyor
• Cost Consultant
• Commercial Manager
• Project Manager

These roles often lead you to work with major contractors, developers, or consulting firms, with good potential for career growth, leadership, and specialization (e.g. in cost planning, risk management, procurement).

Why This Course Sets You Up Well: Employability & Key Details

Here’s what makes this degree strong — what’s offered, what you’ll gain, and what doors it opens:

• University Services & Practical Support:
  • Option of a Professional Placement Year after Year 2, supported by the Careers service, to get real-world experience.
  • Live projects and site visits, working with real clients.
  • Access to current software tools used in industry (CostX, Bluebeam, Navisworks etc.), which means learning tools you’ll use on the job.
• Accreditation & Professional Recognition:
  • Fully accredited by RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors), CIOB (Chartered Institute of Building), and CABE.
  • Being a “RICS approved Partnership Centre” gives you a strong path toward professional membership and chartered status.
• Industry Links & Live Opportunities:
  • Partnerships with employers such as Willmott Dixon, BAM, T&T, Arcadis, Mott MacDonald and Morgan Sindall.
  • Being in Birmingham gives you advantage: the city’s ongoing regeneration (“Our Future City Plan”) means many infrastructure and built environment projects you can learn from.
• Graduate Salaries & Growth:
  • As a Graduate Quantity Surveyor in the UK, typical starting salaries are around £28,000–£30,000 per year.
  • As you gain more experience, qualify, and possibly move into senior or management roles, salaries can rise significantly (often into the £50,000–£70,000+ range depending on role, location, and responsibility).
• Long-Term Value & Outcomes:
  • Graduates leave with both technical cost / commercial skills and exposure to regulation, law, contract management, sustainable practices. Helps in adapting to changing industry demands.
  • The degree is well-respected, giving you a solid foundation for both practice (working in industry) and for leadership positions later on.

Further Academic Progression:

After completing the BSc (Hons) in Quantity Surveying, here are paths you could follow to deepen or advance your career:

• Undertake a master’s degree (e.g. MSc in Quantity Surveying or Cost Management) to specialize or for people from other backgrounds.
• Work toward professional chartered status (for example, RICS Chartered Membership, CIOB membership), which often improves job prospects and salary.
• Possible roles in academia or research (e.g. specialising in sustainability, life-cycle costing, new materials or digital tools in cost management).