Quantity Surveying

Quantity surveying is the discipline at the heart of construction economics, concerned with managing the financial and contractual dimensions of built environment projects from the earliest stages of design through to completion and beyond. Quantity surveyors act as the critical link between designers and contractors, advising on costs, managing budgets, procuring works, valuing progress, and resolving disputes, all while ensuring that projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to the standards required. They operate across every sector of the built environment, from housing and commercial development to infrastructure, schools, hospitals, and large-scale regeneration.

At Glasgow Caledonian University, this part-time programme allows you to study at a pace suited to your circumstances, making it an accessible route for those already working in the construction sector or related fields. You will develop knowledge of measurement, cost planning, procurement, contract administration, and project economics alongside an understanding of the legal and professional frameworks that govern construction practice. A sandwich year and work placement opportunities are built into the programme, giving you substantial professional experience in a surveying or construction environment during your studies.

A year abroad option is also available, offering exposure to construction practice and quantity surveying in an international context.

Graduates of quantity surveying programmes are well-placed for careers as cost consultants, project surveyors, contract managers, commercial managers, and development surveyors in private practice, contracting companies, public sector organisations, and property developers. Many pursue professional membership of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, which opens the path to chartered status and senior roles across the profession. The financial management and analytical skills the degree develops are also valued in adjacent fields such as project management, property development, and facilities management.