Quantity Surveying

Quantity surveying is the discipline concerned with managing cost, value, and risk in construction and the built environment. Quantity surveyors play a central role at every stage of a building project, from initial feasibility and budgeting through procurement and contract management to final accounts and dispute resolution. They act as the financial and commercial backbone of the construction industry, ensuring that projects are delivered within budget and that costs are controlled throughout the construction process.

The profession is both technically demanding and commercially minded, requiring an unusual combination of mathematical precision and professional judgment.

At the University of Portsmouth, this three-year, full-time BSc (Hons) is designed and delivered by practitioners with professional experience, ensuring the curriculum reflects current industry needs. You will learn cost planning, measurement, procurement, contract law, project management, and building economics, developing the technical skills and professional acumen that employers in the construction industry seek. The programme encourages entrepreneurial thinking alongside professional rigour.

A sandwich year, a year abroad, and a work placement are all available, giving you the opportunity to gain professional experience in real construction projects and to develop your industry networks before you graduate. The typical entry tariff of 104 points reflects an accessible approach to a professionally oriented degree.

Quantity surveying graduates are consistently in demand. The construction industry, commercial property sector, public sector infrastructure programmes, and specialist consultancies all employ quantity surveyors in large numbers. Many graduates go on to achieve chartered status with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, which provides international professional recognition and the foundation for senior roles in cost management, project management, and commercial leadership.

The skills developed through the degree are also transferable into related roles in facilities management, development consultancy, and infrastructure project delivery.