Heriot-Watt University

Go Global:

  • Inter-Campus Transfer

The course

UCAS code
K241
Duration
4 years
Location
Edinburgh
Delivery type
Full-time

Heriot-Watt's top ranking reputation leads to great career prospects in the construction industry.

Find out how to apply More about this subject area

Contact

Overview

Our Quantity Surveying course will give you all the skills and knowledge necessary to become a successful quantity surveyor. Quantity Surveying provides clients of the construction industry with financial, contractual and technical advice ensuring they get value for money from the buildings they construct. The modern quantity surveyor is a construction professional who may be involved at all stages of the design and construction process, from providing business strategy and advice, working with architects and design team consultants, through to overseeing the onsite construction phase.

While studying Quantity Surveying at Heriot-Watt you will learn the fundamental elements of building before focusing on QS practice and learning how to manage the cost, legal and economic elements.

To find out where our Quantity Surveying course could take you, watch this RICS video which explains the role in more detail.

Facilities

The School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society (EGIS) has a suite of unique state-of-the-art built environment facilities and software systems that are used by all of our undergraduate students throughout their studies as well as postgraduate and research students. For Construction and Surveying purposes students have access to:

  • Light Structures Lab using the Denison Machine to test steel rods to destruction.
  • Immersive Virtual Reality System A unique system showing the value of immersive technology within industry.
  • Autodesk Revit a modelling software to design buildings and structures in 3D.
  • Synchro a 4D virtual construction software to create simulations.

Go Global

Option to study at our Malaysia campus through Heriot-Watt’s Go Global course.

Accreditation

Our Quantity Surveying degree is accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) for the purpose of graduate membership.

Go Global

This United Kingdom-based course has the following 'Go Global' options:

Detailed course information

Course content

Learn to manage construction projects from inception to the point at which a building is occupied through all the stages of the design and construction process.

Learn about the management and supervision of construction sites and the resource planning associated with large-scale projects.

This course has a strong emphasis on construction technology with module options that give students a background in valuation and procurement.

Detailed course guide

Year 1

8 mandatory modules

In the first year, students learn the fundamental and basic themes of building as well as the roles of the relevant professions. Topics include construction modelling, construction technology, management practice, cost control principles, the built environment and microeconomics.

  • Walking tour of Edinburgh viewing the architecture of the Old and New Town.

Year 2

6 mandatory modules | 2 optional modules

Further developing the economical, legal and managerial elements of the course, mandatory modules include commercial law, facilities management principles and cost modelling and measuring. While the optional modules allow students to choose from various language courses as well as principles of property valuationand introductory microeconomics.

  • Take part in a week-long field course, Constructionarium, that gives hands-on experience working with industry professionals.

Year 3

6 mandatory modules | 2 optional modules

Students will gain knowledge in subjects such as, safety management, procurement and contract, design cost planning and control while selecting 2 modules from 5 options including design issues, property development and energy and buildings.

  • Field trip to a European city looking at the construction of some of the world’s most recognisable buildings.
  • Participate in an industry mentoring scheme, CEMENT, which links students with industry professionals.

Year 4

Dissertation | Design project | 4 mandatory modules

Students complete an individual research dissertation and 4 core modules which include, QS practice, cost and value management, innovation in construction practice and construction project management.

  • Undertake a week long collaborative design project working with students from across disciplines within the school.

Employability

Managerial/professional position

  • 100% of those working are in a professional/managerial position six months after graduating.

Salary

  • The average salary of students six months after graduating: £25000
  • The average UK salary of students six months after graduating from a similar course: £24000

Jobs

These are the most common jobs students go into six months after graduating:

  • Architects, town planners and surveyors

Entry requirements

Year 1

Standard entry requirements
  • Highers AABB/BBBBC
  • A-Levels BBC
  • Int. Baccalaureate 29 points
  • BTEC DMM (in relevant subject)
  • HNC B in graded unit (in a relevant subject area)

Minimum entry requirements*

  • Highers BBBC
  • A-Levels BCC

* Minimum: under our Fair Access Policy, we will relax our standard entry requirements for some Scottish 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
  • 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 BBBBC at Higher
  • A-Levels ABB
  • Int. Baccalaureate 34 points
  • HNC A in graded unit (in a relevant subject area)
  • HND BB in graded units (in a relevant subject area)
  • BTEC DDM (in relevant subject)

Year 3

  • HND AB in graded units (in a relevant subject area)

Additional information

English language requirements

  • If English is not your first language, you have to show that your English is good enough to succeed on your course. Please see our English language requirements.

Fees

Tuition fees for 2020 entry (by residency status)
Status* Scotland / EU** England / Northern Ireland / Wales*** International
Fee Paid by SAAS £9,250 £15,080

* 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. Find out more about tuition fees.

** European Union countries (not including England, Northern Ireland or Wales).

*** 'Rest of the UK' (RUK) students entering at Level 1 receive a fee waiver of one year's tuition fee. Normally this will be the final year, or a year during which students study abroad (either at a partnership institution, or at one of Heriot-Watt's overseas campuses).

4 years for the price of 3

If you live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, study with us and save £9,250 over your 4-year degree.

Additional costs

You may incur additional costs in the course of your studies at Heriot-Watt over and above tuition fees in an academic year. Depending on your programme of study, these may include: protective equipment, field trips, professional memberships, studio fees, required course texts or other study resources.

Scholarships and bursaries

Featured scholarships

Bursaries for students from England, Northern Ireland or Wales starting undergraduate degree courses in 2020

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 students from England, Northern Ireland or Wales:

Merit Awards for international students starting undergraduate degree courses in 2020

If you are an international fee-paying, self-funded offer holder you may be eligible for:

View our full range of undergraduate scholarships.