Key information
- UCAS code
- K241
- Level
- Undergraduate
- Delivery type
- Full Time
- Degree qualification
- BSc (Hons)
- Mode of delivery
- On-Campus
- Duration
- 4 years
- Location
- Edinburgh
- Start date
- September
BSc (Hons) Quantity Surveying will give you the knowledge and skills necessary to become a professional quantity surveyor. Quantity surveyors provide clients of the construction industry with financial, contractual, and technical advice ensuring they receive value for money from the projects they invest in and the built assets they construct.
You’ll learn the fundamental elements of building construction before focusing on quantity surveying practice and learning how to manage the cost and legal elements of a project.
This industry-focused degree will ensure you have the knowledge, leadership, and management skills necessary to work as a professional quantity surveyor, involved in all stages of the design and construction process. This could include providing advice on business strategy, working with architects and design consultants, through to overseeing the onsite construction phase until completion of a built asset.
Your student experience
Your learning will be informed by the expertise of our research-active construction professionals, civil and structural engineers, industry-leaders, and academics. You’ll hear from several guest speakers from industry during the degree to engage further and build your professional network.
96% of Heriot-Watt University’s engineering research was classed as world-leading in the REF 2021 review, which ranked us 1st in Scotland and 3rd in the UK for engineering research through a joint submission with the University of Edinburgh.
Our BSc (Hons) Quantity Surveying programme is directly informed by the world class research carried out by Heriot-Watt’s Institute of Sustainable Built Environment (ISBE) which sits within the School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society (EGIS). EGIS is one of the United Kingdom’s leading institutions for multidisciplinary research and teaching in areas critical to economic development and societal equity. The institute’s academic team conduct high-value and high-impact research on fields covering sustainability, digital innovation, design, and management of the built environment. The research relevance of this undergraduate programme ensures your studies remain innovative and industry focused.
This School is also part of the Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Building Design, a leading body recognised by the Royal Academy of Engineering. The Centre is one of only four such centres established at United Kingdom universities that jointly form a national network to demonstrate and exchange best practice in teaching and research for the sustainable built environment.
Go Global
There are currently no Go Global opportunities for this particular programme. However, other Go Global opportunities may be available. Please contact studywithus@hw.ac.uk for more information.
Course content
September Intake - Edinburgh
Year 1
Mandatory September
- Management in a Global Context
- Construction Modelling
- Construction Technology: Small Scale Buildings
- Shaping Tomorrow Together A
Mandatory January
- Cost Control Principles
- Introductory Finance
- Human Geography & The City
- Shaping Tomorrow Together B
Year 2
Mandatory September
- Surveying and GIS
- Construction Technology: Structure and Fabric
- The Economy
Optional September
- Introduction to Accounting
- Fundamentals of Finance
- Employability and Professional Skills
Mandatory January
- Building Services Technology
- eConstruction
- Cost Modelling and Measurement
Optional January
- Environment and Behaviour
- Global Challenges 1
- Global Communication
Year 3
Mandatory September
- Design Cost Planning and Control
- Safety Management and Site Establishment
- Procurement and Contracts
- Construction Technology for Commercial Buildings
Mandatory January
- Design for Construction
- Measurement and Cost Evaluation
- Innovation in Construction Practice
Optional January
- Design Issues
- Energy and Buildings
Year 4
Mandatory September
- Cost and Value Management
- Design Project (CMS)
- Research Dissertation (CMS)
- Quantity Surveying Practice
Mandatory January
- Construction Information Management
- Design Project (CMS)
- Research Dissertation (CMS)
Optional January
- Social Sustainability
- Sustainable and Intelligent Buildings
- Environmental Planning
Programme Video
Built Environment at Heriot-Watt University
Fees and funding
| Status | Fee |
|---|---|
| Scotland | Paid by SAAS |
| England / Wales / N Ireland / Rep of Ireland | £9,535 |
| International | £19,456 |
- Status: Your residency status is usually defined as the country where you have been ordinarily resident for the three years before the start of your course.
- International: 'International' includes applicants from European Union countries who do not hold Pre-Settled or Settled status in UK. (This does not include students from the Republic of Ireland - see above).
Scholarships and bursaries
Bursaries for students from England, Northern Ireland or Wales
In addition to government loans and grants towards the costs of fees and living costs, we are offering generous financial support to attract and support eligible undergraduate students from England, Northern Ireland or Wales:
- Heriot-Watt University Bursary (up to £3,100 per year)
Entry requirements
We have standard entry requirements for all of our courses that you will have to meet.
Year 1
Standard entry requirements
- Highers ABBB (over two sittings).
- A-Levels BCC- BBB.
- International Baccalaureate 28 points.
- BTEC Extended Diploma MMM.
- HNC C in graded unit.
Please check that you meet our University-wide National 5/GCSE (or equivalent) English and Maths requirements.
Minimum entry requirements *
- Highers BBBC (over two sittings).
- A-Levels BCC.
- International Baccalaureate 28 points.
- BTEC Extended Diploma MMM.
- HNC C in graded unit.
* Minimum: under our Fair Access Policy, we will relax our standard entry requirements for some Scottish and Rest of UK status students depending on their circumstances. Our minimum requirements will apply if you:
- live in an area within the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation lowest 20% (SIMD20) or POLAR4 Quintile 1 regions (RUK)
- or are care experienced.
We can also make exceptions for some Scottish students with grades above minimum but below standard. Read more about our Minimum and standard entry requirements.
Year 2
- Advanced Highers BC, plus Higher ABBB.
- A-Levels BBB.
- International Baccalaureate 33 points.
- BTEC Extended Diploma DMM.
- HNC B in graded unit with 120 SCQF credit points.
- HND BC in graded units.
- Global College: Successful completion of our Engineering with Accelerator Programme
Year 3
- HND BB in graded units. HND must be in a relevant subject.
Additional information
- For all years, applications are welcomed from holders of non-school qualifications, mature candidates and overseas students.
- If you do not see your qualifications here please contact us at studywithus@hw.ac.uk
- For applicants studying HNC, HND or BTEC qualifications, when submitting your application please ensure you list in full all the units you are currently studying, as specific units (e.g. in Maths) may be required.
English language requirements
If your first language is not English, we'll need to see evidence of your English language ability.
The minimum English language requirement for entry to this programme is IELTS 6.0 (or equivalent) with no score lower than 5.5.
If you do not have IELTS 6.0, we offer a range of English language courses to help you meet the English language requirement for this programme prior to commencing your studies.
Please see our detailed English language requirements.
Why Heriot-Watt
We're the top university in Scotland for graduate outcomes which means that more of our graduates are employed or in postgraduate education than any other institution in the country and we ranked 5th in the UK.
We're also rated number one in the UK for CEO or MD roles, meaning more of our graduates go on to become CEOs or MDs than any other university in the whole of the UK. On top of that, we have beautiful campuses, across the globe, so you'll get a truly international education. Our Edinburgh Campus is home to Oriam, Scotland's National Sports Performance Centre combined with plenty of wellbeing resources, prioritising fitness and mental health for all students. Our Global Research Institutes look at solving real world issues such as climate change and saving our oceans as well as working on the next medical technological breakthrough and the future of AI and robots.
Employability
Work and study
Salary
Potential career paths
- Architects, Chartered Architectural Technologists, Planning Officers, Surveyors and Construction professionals
Student life
Explore facilities, and chat to staff and students
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