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. We are ranked 1st in the UK for Building in The Complete University Guide 2021.

Find out how to apply More about this subject area

Contact

Overview

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.

Our Quantity Surveying course will give you all the skills and knowledge necessary to become a successful quantity surveyor. While studying quantity surveying (QS) 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.

Facilities

We have a suite of built environment facilities including: a light structures lab, an Instron Universal testing machine, an immersive virtual reality system, Autodesk Revit software and Synchro 4D virtual construction software to create simulations.

Highlights

In year 1 you can participate in a walking tour of Edinburgh viewing the architecture of the Old and New Town.

In year 2 you have the opportunity to participate in Constructionarium, which provides hands-on construction working alongside professional engineers and tradesmen to construct scaled down versions of bridges, buildings, dams and civil engineering projects from all around the world.

In year 3, you have the opportunity to gain work experience via the Culture of External MENToring (CEMENT) scheme, which links students with professionals in practice to offer work placements, graduate employment opportunities and site visits. There are also field trip opportunities to a European city looking at the construction of some of the world’s most recognisable buildings.

In year 4, students undertake a week long collaborative design project working with students from across the built environment disciplines.

Accreditation

Our Quantity Surveying degree is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and the Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors (CICES).

Go Global

With Go Global, Heriot-Watt's global student programme, you can carry your studies to new places and experience new cultures, expanding your horizons on the way.

You'll discover what it means to be a true global citizen and emerge prepared for wherever your career journey will take you.

Course content

Detailed course guide

Year 1

Note that the below course structure is subject to developmental change.

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.

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 valuation and introductory microeconomics.

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.

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.

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 ABBB 
  • A-Levels BCC
  • Int. Baccalaureate 28 points
  • BTEC MMM (in relevant subject)
  • HNC C 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 ABBB at Higher
  • A-Levels BBB
  • Int. Baccalaureate 33 points
  • HNC B in graded unit (in a relevant subject area)
  • HND BC in graded units (in a relevant subject area)
  • BTEC DMM (in relevant subject)

Year 3

  • HND BB 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:

View our full range of undergraduate scholarships.