To qualify as a quantity surveyor and become part of a global profession with a huge variety of exciting, well-paid career opportunities, you need to complete a quantity surveying degree or a surveying HND – a higher education course accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). Studying to become a quantity surveyor is a smart option given the shortages in today's construction industry.
So, how can you become a chartered quantity surveyor? From full-time degrees and master’s courses to apprenticeships and distance learning options, here’s how you can get into this fascinating career.
undergraduate degree courses
If you’re looking to study for an undergraduate degree, taking an RICS-accredited degree is the first step to becoming a chartered surveyor. You can study for a quantity surveyor degree at almost 30 different institutions in the UK alone with over 50 undergraduate courses that are accredited by RICS.
The courses are at credible universities too – such as Loughborough, Aston University, Heriot-Watt, Nottingham Trent and Reading. These accredited degree courses are all relevant to the industry which means your qualification will be recognised by employers as a seal of quality.
postgraduate degree options
If you already have an undergraduate degree, you can do a range of master's courses to bolster your knowledge and credibility when searching for a quantity surveyor role. Some of the options include surveying or construction cost management as well as over 60 courses available across the UK at top institutions. These include University College London, University of Manchester and Queens University Belfast.
Hear how experienced quantity surveyor, Calum started with a degree in geography before transitioning to a construction-related master's:
degree apprenticeships
You can also do a quantity surveyor degree apprenticeship. In 2015, the Government rolled out the degree apprenticeship programme which was developed as part of the higher apprenticeship standard.
The programme is equivalent to a master’s or bachelor's degree. Training for it includes working in a full-time job as well as studying at a partner university or training provider. Candidates must already have a level three qualification such as an advanced apprenticeship, A-levels or an International Baccalaureate (although some programmes may require further training).
There are currently almost 20 of these available across 17 different universities from Edinburgh Napier, Glasgow Caledonian, and Heriot-Watt in Scotland. You’ll also find degrees south of the border at the University of West England in Bristol, the University of Portsmouth as well as London South Bank and the University of Westminster in the heart of the capital.
distance learning
If you want to study for a quantity surveying-related degree but the university lifestyle does not appeal to you, distance learning could be a solution. There are almost 30 courses available for distance learning at universities such as:
- Robert Gordon
- University of Salford
- Northumbria University
- Heriot-Watt
- Glasgow Caledonian
- University College of Estate Management
- Leeds Beckett University
- Oxford Brookes
- University of Central Lancashire
There are also undergraduate options with The University College of Estate Management in Reading and Heriot-Watt being the only two institutions to offer a BSc in Quantity Surveying.
flexible learning options
There are some flexible learning routes into quantity surveying, although the postgraduate opportunities are limited and there are fewer undergraduate options.
University College London’s Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment offers an MSc in Construction Economics and Management with flexible learning. So too does the School of Construction Management and Engineering at the University of Reading offer a flexible MSc in Construction Management. The final option for flexible learning is the School of Computing, Engineering and Built Environment at Glasgow Caledonian University offers a flexible BSc in Construction Management.
sandwich courses
A sandwich degree is either a four-year undergraduate course as part of a bachelor's degree or a five-year postgraduate course as part of a master's degree. It will include a placement year or internship within the industry which usually occurs after the second year at university. Some sandwich degrees involve multiple shorter placement or internship periods rather than a full year away from your studies.
There are approximately 35 different sandwich courses run by universities across the UK. The University of Greenwich offers a degree in Quantity Surveying and the University of Brighton offers a BSc in Project Management for Construction.
what jobs can you do with a quantity surveying degree?
Once you’ve completed a quantity surveying degree, you’re not limited to a career in quantity surveying. There are many other career paths you can follow should you change your mind including:
how to become a quantity surveyor without a degree in the UK
It’s not compulsory to have a formal qualification under your belt. Even if you don’t have a degree, you can get a role as an apprentice quantity surveyor and work your way up. There are no specific requirements to begin training although most entrants will have A-Levels.
Once you're on the quantity surveyor ladder, you’ll have a clear career path to follow. This will most likely include becoming an assistant quantity surveyor, then a chartered quantity surveyor and finally a senior quantity surveyor. Each role brings new and exciting challenges to keep the job feeling fresh at all times.
applying for a quantity surveyor role
Whether you’ve already got a degree or you simply want to know the process, applying for a quantity surveyor role is easy. Begin by creating a Randstad profile the find a role that appeals to you in our latest temporary and permanent quantity surveyor vacancies. Next, fill out your details and attach your CV and cover letter to the application and you’re good to go.
Need support with your application? We can help. Get in touch with one of our recruitment experts today or check out all our job search tips.
