Course overview

In this dual-accredited* course by CIOB (Chartered Institute of Building) and RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors), you will master essential techniques for quantity surveying and commercial management in construction. You will explore cost management challenges, sustainable practices, contract and risk management, digital applications, and real-world challenges whilst you experience Birmingham's urban development through guest lectures, site visits, and practical projects

A different path to your degree

Our Quantity Surveying Foundation Programme is designed to prepare you for degree-level study. Successful completion of the foundation year guarantees progression onto this undergraduate course.

“My lecturers were invaluable during my time at university. They were happy to help me, and their advice was key when trying to find placement and graduate roles.”

Verity Kelly

Graduate Quantity Surveyor, Kier

Why Quantity Surveying at Aston University?

Professionally accredited

Accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)

Gold standard teaching

Aston University was awarded Gold- the highest possible rating for Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF, 2023)

Ranked 5th overall in the UK for Building

Complete University Guide, 2026

Earn more

Our graduates are among the highest paid in the country, earning on average £42,700 five years after graduating (Longitudinal Education Outcomes, 2025)

Top 5% in the world

Top 5% of global evaluated institutions (QS World University Rankings 2026)

Professionally accredited*

Accredited by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB)

Careers and Placements

Whatever your Aston University journey, we're here to help. Discover what's possible with Careers and Placements.

ASTON POWER SKILLS

Built into every undergraduate degree

Gain the skills employers look for worldwide.

AI & Digital

Innovation & Entrepreneurship

Inclusive Leadership

Environmental Sustainability

Discover Power Skills

Course description

BSc (Hons) Quantity Surveying

You will master essential techniques for quantity surveying and commercial management in construction. Exploring sustainable practices, cost planning, scheduling, and real-world challenges whilst your experience Birmingham's urban development through guest lectures, site visits, and practical projects.

What we will provide
As part of your degree you will benefit from comprehensive support from both accreditation* bodies CIOB and RICS, including access to a wide range of resources. We help to facilitate your Construction Skills Certification Scheme attainment, an industry requirement for health and safety which is strongly desired when seeking placement opportunities. You’ll gain access to industry-standard software like costX and external certification collaborations will enhance your qualification opportunities and placement prospects, prioritising your learning and professional growth.

We are an Adobe Creative Campus meaning you will have access to top-notch software licenses, including Adobe and Solidworks, commonly used in industry. To find out more, visit here.

It is not mandatory to bring your own device for this course, however if you choose to do so please note will need laptop specifications of i5 or above (or AMD equivalent).

What you will provide
We value students who actively participate in industry lead events such as talks and networking, are happy to collaborate effectively across sectors, communicate proficiently, and embrace self-directed learning. Showing initiative and an openness to job shadowing are valuable assets, summer internships, and short placements help contribute to a comprehensive, industry-ready skill set.

What skills we teach
Your degree will cover vital skills needed for a successful career such as communication, ethics, social responsibility, inclusivity, and diversity. You'll develop report and writing skills as well as technical proficiency including construction technology, procurement, cost finance, software/cloud expertise, health and safety, materials, surveying, and digital construction for a comprehensive industry toolkit.

Placement year
Compulsory placements on this degree will enhance your course and portfolio experience. Notable success stories from previous years include placements at Turner and Townsend, Balfour Beatty, RG Constructions, and Atkins, this year within industry will ensure real-world experience and industry connections are established and give you a head start against others.

Career prospects
Our quantity surveying graduates are highly sought-after, often securing roles with their placement companies. The versatile skills you will gain are even appealing beyond the industry, offering opportunities in finance, management and logistics. Recent roles include Quantity Surveyor, Estimator, Commercial Manager, Project Manager with graduates excelling in notable companies like Kier, Balfour Beatty, Turner and Townsend, RLB, and Arcadis.

Professional accreditation
*This programme is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

How you will learn

Our teaching emphasises practical-based learning through industry-relevant methods. You will be taught through lectures, tutorials, and lab sessions for hands-on IT or civil engineering skills. Site visits, guest lectures, and assessments mirror real-world projects in Birmingham and beyond, helping you to obtain industry-level competencies.

If you wish to you can partake in extracurriculars with our built environment society. The society is student-led and often hosts CPD sessions, industry talks, and site visits, enhancing your practical knowledge and industry connections beyond the classroom.

Civil Engineering Now and Then

Dr Haris Alexakis talks about changes in Civil Engineering

Find out more

Facilities

Teaching won’t just be lectures, you’ll have workshops, guest lectures, and visits to relevant sites to make sure your understanding is grounded in industry, ensuring you are ready for the working world when you graduate.

Complete your practical work in our brand new, state of art laboratory facilities in highway engineering, materials and structures, the latest industry-standard engineering software packages, and a well-resourced and staffed library.

We may update our courses to reflect best practices and academic developments. If we do, we’ll let you know of any changes at the earliest opportunity by updating our course webpages. If you have already received an offer, we’ll write to you directly to let you know of the changes.

Course objectives

Provide you with the opportunities to realise their academic potential through appropriately conceived learning
experiences;
Provides a thorough grounding in the basic principles and associated practices required by the construction industry with particular emphasis on relevant quantity surveying skills;
Provides you with an appropriately structured curriculum, combining teaching in theoretical and knowledge based principles with practical skills training;
Produces you with the qualities and skills that are in demand by potential employers and who are able to make a valuable contribution to society in general;
Offers you the opportunity to obtain relevant industrial experience by providing the option of a sandwich year; and provide you with a working knowledge of the techniques and an understanding of the skills required by quantity surveyors and commercial managers within the construction industry.

Modules

Modules and learning outcomes

Year 1 modules

In your first year you will study the following core modules:

Module Title	Credits
Introduction to Business Management	15
Construction Materials	15
Engineering Surveying	15
Introductory Programming for Engineering and Physical Sciences	15
Power Skills	15
Building Professional Relationships	15
Law for the Built Environment	15
Interdisciplinary Design Project	15
Total	120

Year 1 outcomes

On successful completion of the first year, you will be able to:

Demonstrate knowledge of the basic principles of science, programming, and mathematics required for construction.
Explain the fundamental concepts, technology and principles of construction.
Analyse the business and legal context relevant to construction.
Demonstrate knowledge of fundamental professional skills.
Create a solution as part of (interdisciplinary) teams to a design problem subject to identified constraints, evaluate the design and make improvements, using appropriate design tools and techniques.
Evaluate and interpret data using industry-standard methods and communicate information effectively to ensure data-driven approaches to decision-making in solving complex problems.
Use sustainable development strategies that reflect a deep understanding of the Circular Economy, Net-Zero strategies, Design and Systems Thinking, and Global Social Responsibility and lead to solutions that are ethically sound and
globally relevant.
Employ integrated problem-solving skills to analyse challenging and
multifaceted problems considering professional, social, and ethical contexts.

Year 2 modules

In your second year you will study the following core modules:

Module Title	Credits
Construction Quantification and Costing	15
BIM for Construction	15
Digital Construction	15
Health, Safety and Risk Management	15
Construction Contract Management and Administration	15
Building and Construction Technology	15
Procurement and Cost Management	15
Financial Management in Construction	15
Total	120

Year 2 outcomes

On successful completion of the second year, you will be able to:

Apply industry standard procedures to appraise, measure and cost construction projects.
Evaluate alternative construction and digital technologies for construction project delivery.
Investigate the contract and risk management practice within the construction project environment and propose reasoned solutions.
Apply the principles of conflict avoidance, management and dispute resolution
Evaluate the financial and procurement challenges and develop effective strategies for construction project delivery
Evaluate the role and responsibilities of the professional construction project manager in construction.

Placement year modules

You will spend your third year on placement. You will be fully supported throughout the process by our award-winning Careers and Placements team.

Placement Year

Module Title	Credits
Placement Year	120

Placement year outcomes

On successful completion of the placement year, you will be able to:

Apply the programme's discipline-specific and generic content to the world of work.
Practice team-working skills.
Develop independent learning skills to facilitate professional development.

Final year modules

In your final year, you will study the following core modules:

Module Title	Credits
Final Year Project	30
Building Services and Advanced Construction Technology	30
Commercial Management and Quantification	30
Integrated Project – Quantity Surveying	30
Total	120

Final year outcomes

On successful completion of the final year, you will be able to:

Evaluate the technological, social, environmental, economic and business environment within which the construction industry operates
Deploy commercial management skills to tackle commercial challenges
Apply advanced cost management skills to secure financial performance of construction projects
Plan, conduct and report on a programme of work leading to an end-product
Integrate and critique knowledge and methods from a variety of sources to undertake research into real-world construction problems
Critically evaluate the principles and applications relevant to quantity surveying practice during the life cycle of a project

ASTON POWER SKILLS

Built into every undergraduate degree

Gain the skills employers look for worldwide.
As an Aston student, you will develop expertise in four key areas:

AI & Digital

Join the rise of the humans. Don't fear AI, master it and use it for good. Develop digital skills for the future, whatever career you want to pursue.

Innovation & Entrepreneurship

Don't follow the rules, rewrite them. Today’s fast-changing world needs original thinkers. Creators. Innovators. Risk takers. So get ready to think smart and reach the next level.

Inclusive Leadership

Make space for every voice to be heard. Be the one who brings people together with a shared vision. Learn to break down barriers and be the leader the future needs.

Environmental Sustainability

It's not game over for our planet. It's game on. Together we can create a greener tomorrow. The world urgently needs graduates who can shape more sustainable and ethical ways of working. The future depends on it.

Entry requirements

A Levels

BBC (any subject) or BCC when including one STEM* (b) subject
BCC (any subject) or CCC when including one STEM* (b) subject (with an EPQ at grade B)
BCC (any subject) or CCC when including one STEM* (b) subject (contextual offer)

List of *STEM (b) subjects: Maths, Further Maths, Statistics, Physics, Design Technology, Chemistry, Engineering Science, Computer Science, Biology, Electronics.

Contextual offers

Aston Ready is our contextual offer scheme that could reduce your undergraduate offer by one or two grades. Assessed at the point of application, there are no additional forms to fill in.

Contextual offer criteria

BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma and National Extended Diploma (any subject): DDM.
1 BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate or Subsidiary Diploma (any subject): M, plus 2 A-levels at grade B.
2 BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificates or Subsidiary Diplomas (any subjects): DM, plus 1 A-level at grade B.
BTEC Level 3 National Diploma and Diploma (any subject): DM, plus 1 A-level at grade B.
BTEC Level 3 Foundation or 90 credits Diploma (any subject): DM, plus 2 A-levels at grade B.
Level 3 Extended Diploma in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering with an overall grade of Distinction.
Level 3 Diploma in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering with an overall grade of Distinction, plus 1 A-level at grade C.
Certificate/ National Certificate Level 3: Not accepted.

29 overall with 5, 5, 4 in any Higher Level subjects.
OR
28 overall with 5, 4, 4 in Higher Level subjects, including 1 STEM (b) subject.

We accept the QAA-recognised Access Diploma which must consist of at least 15 Distinctions and 30 Merits at Level 3.
OR
15 Distinctions, 21 Merits and 9 Passes at Level 3, including 15 credits in STEM (b) subject units.

Please note that we do not accept the English and Maths components within the Access qualification and you must meet the GCSE entry requirement.

The following T levels are accepted qualifications for this course:

Accounting Grade D
Agriculture, Land Management and Production Grade D
Animal Care and Management Grade D
Building Services Engineering for Construction Grade D
Catering Grade D
Craft and Design Grade D
Design and Development for Engineering and Manufacturing Grade D
Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction Grade D
Digital Business Services Grade D
Digital Production, Design and Development Grade D
Digital Support Services Grade D
Education and Childcare Grade D
Engineering, Manufacturing, Processing and Control Grade D
Finance Grade D
Hairdressing, Barbering and Beauty Therapy Grade D
Legal Services Grade D
Maintenance, Installation and Repair for Engineering and Manufacturing Grade D
Management and Administration Grade D
Media, Broadcast and Production Grade D
Onsite Construction Grade D
Health Grade D
Healthcare Science Grade D
Science Grade D

Additionally to our Level 3 requirement each applicant must meet a GCSE (level 2) requirements:

GCSE English Language or Literature minimum grade C/4
GCSE Mathematics minimum grade C/4

Non-standard qualifications

Degree

Year 1 entry: We may consider applicants for year 1 entry who are undertaking a 1st year degree elsewhere. You must meet the GCSEs and A level (or equivalent Level 3) requirements as listed. In order to be considered you will need to submit a UCAS application as we do not accept direct applications and this must include an academic reference from your current institution.

Year 2 entry: Please note that second-year transfers are not part of the standard admissions process and is up to the discretion of the admissions team and tutor. Applications are only considered if there is space in that year of the programme.
Typically, applicants for second-year entry must meet the GCSEs and A level (or equivalent) requirements as listed. Alongside this you must have successfully passed (or be expected to pass) your first year with 120 credits on an equivalent programme at another recognised university with very similar module content.

The equivalency of the programme is reviewed by the Admissions Tutor and you will be required to provide an official copy of the programme specification of this. In order to be considered you will need to submit a UCAS application as we do not accept direct applications and this must include an academic reference from your current institution.

Year 3: We will not be able to consider any application for Year 3.

International students

Aston University is a diverse, close community and welcomes international students on many of our undergraduate programmes. Students from over 120 countries choose to study with us every year. Based in the centre of Birmingham, Aston is not only a great place to study, it’s also a great place to live.

Qualifications in your country

Applicants whose first language is not English will be required to provide evidence of an English language qualification.

English language requirements

International students can enter at Year 2 of this course having completed an undergraduate year one programme at the required academic level with approved teaching partners ONCAMPUS Aston or NCUK.

Aston University provides a range of opportunities for international students to join our community and study on our campus. A key part of our strategy is our relationships with teaching partners, providing multiple pathways to Aston.

Aston’s professional work placements can improve your chance of securing a graduate job. Placements give you experience, confidence and opportunities and, as an Aston student, you’ll be better prepared for your future career. One of the great things about Aston is our focus on employability. Our close links with businesses, industries and professions make this possible.

Find out more about applying

We look for potential, not just grades

If you are passionate about quantity surveying but don't meet the standard entry requirements listed above, you still have a path forward. Our Foundation Programme is designed to bridge the gap, providing the academic grounding you need to transition confidently into Year 1.

Explore the Foundation Programme

Fees and scholarships

Course fees

UK students
(2026/27)

Annual tuition fees:	£9,790*
During placement year:	£1,250

International students
(2026/27)

Annual tuition fees:	£22,575
During placement year:	£2,500

UK students (Home Undergraduate):

On 20 October 2025, the Government announced that tuition fees in England will be increased annually in line with inflation, starting in 2026. The Government have since confirmed that it intends to determine the inflation-linked increase using the Retail Price Index, although this is subject to parliamentary approval.

According to the Department for Education’s Policy Paper published on 26 November, the annual tuition fee for the Programme commencing in the academic year 2026/7 is expected to be £9,790, subject to parliamentary approval. If you are holding an offer at Aston, when the annual tuition fee for your Programme for the 2026/27 academic year has been confirmed, we will write to update you. We will also provide as much information as we can about the inflation-linked increase in tuition fees for future academic years.

The duration of your programme is set out at the top of this webpage and you will be responsible for the payment of an annual tuition fee in each of these years. The University reserves the right to increase tuition fees annually in accordance with its Terms and Conditions and subject at all times to the maximum tuition fee caps set by Government from time to time. This means that your total tuition fee may be higher than stated above. An increase in fees will allow the University to cover the increased costs of delivering the course and ensure it is able to maintain high standards of education and facilities.

International students (Overseas Undergraduate):

The duration of your programme is set out at the top of this course page and you will be responsible for the payment of an annual tuition fee in each of these years. The University reserves the right to increase tuition fees annually in accordance with its Terms and Conditions and subject at all times to the maximum tuition fee caps set by Government from time to time. This means that your total tuition fee may be higher than stated above, but your total tuition fee will never increase by more than 6% year on year. An increase in fees will allow the University to cover the increased costs of delivering the course and ensure it is able to maintain high standards of education and facilities.

Scholarships

At Aston University we are committed to supporting the most talented and hardworking students to achieve their potential by providing a range of scholarships to help lower tuition and living costs.

Explore our scholarships

Assessment

The way we assess you will be diverse, blending exams with coursework, portfolio submissions, and digital design on platforms. Assessing you through different practices will help gain an overall understanding of your knowledge.

Career prospects

Our quantity surveying graduates are in high demand, frequently landing positions with their placement firms. Recent graduate roles include Quantity Surveyor, Estimator, Commercial Manager, Project Manager roles. Notable companies like Kier, Turner and Townsend, RLB, Atkins and Arcadis have hired previous Aston University graduates who are enjoying fantastic careers.

Be part of our community

Once you have joined us at Aston University, you’ll always be part of our community, even beyond graduation.

Alumni Services

Frequently Asked Questions

Why study Quantity Surveying at Aston?

Quantity surveyors are in high demand as the construction industry continues to grow and thrive. This accredited course will give you the skills and experience you need to lead a successful and fulfilling career in quantity surveying.

How will a placement year benefit me?

We think that the knowledge you gain through your studies are best applied to real life and the most effective way to do this is by working in a company. As well as the opportunity to apply what you’ve learned, you’ll also gain invaluable communication and team skills.

We have excellent links with industry and will help to arrange this placement for you.

Is Birmingham a good place to study?

Our campus is based in the centre of Birmingham, the youngest major city in Europe and a great place to live, work and study.

Great music and entertainment with a vibrant nightlife. Bars, clubs, pubs, live music, festivals, concerts. Whatever your tastes, there's something here for everyone.
Fantastic food. Birmingham's diverse community means you can try anything from the famous Balti triangle, the Chinese Quarter, high street chains, halal and vegan food, and Michelin-star dining.
World-class shopping. The Bullring and Grand Central is a shopper's paradise. From the world's biggest Primark to luxury brands at the Mailbox.
Arts and culture. Museums, galleries, theatres, concerts and Birmingham's art collection is as wide as it is impressive - not to be missed.
Green, open spaces. One of the greenest cities in Europe, Birmingham has hundreds of publicly accessible parks and green spaces across the city.
Sporting action. Birmingham has some of the most exciting venues for watching or participating in sport in the UK.

Discover Birmingham

What if I don't meet the entry requirements?

If you are passionate about this course but do not meet the standard grades, or if you are missing essential subjects like Mathematics or Physics, you may be eligible for our Foundation Programme. Managed by the Aston Foundation Centre, this one-year course is designed to bridge the gap between your current qualifications and undergraduate study. You will be fully integrated into university life from day one, and successful completion guarantees your progression onto Year 1 of this degree.