Quantity Surveying

Quantity surveying is the commercial and contractual backbone of the construction industry, responsible for managing costs, contracts, and financial risk across the full lifecycle of construction and infrastructure projects. It is a profession that combines technical understanding of how buildings and structures are measured, specified, and costed with skills in contract law, procurement strategy, and commercial negotiation. Effective quantity surveyors are essential to ensuring that projects are delivered within budget and on legally sound commercial terms, making the discipline central to the successful operation of the built environment sector.

At Edinburgh Napier University, this four-year full-time programme gives you a thorough grounding in measurement, cost planning, procurement, contract administration, and the financial management of construction projects. You will study the standard methods of measurement, commercial management, construction law and contract, risk management, and the use of digital tools that are increasingly central to professional practice. The programme includes a sandwich year with a work placement and a year abroad, providing exceptional scope for professional and international experience.

The placement year takes you into a professional quantity surveying environment, whether in a consultancy, contractor, or client organisation, giving you real commercial experience that is directly relevant to your studies and your career. The year abroad broadens your understanding of how the built environment sector operates in other countries and regulatory contexts.

Quantity surveying graduates work in cost consultancy firms, construction contractors, property developers, and public sector organisations including central government, local authorities, and housing associations. Chartership with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors is a common professional goal, and the programme provides an excellent foundation for this. Many graduates move into roles in commercial management, project management, or development as their careers progress.