Course overview

Property is an important, high-value business asset and sound professional advice on its development and use is increasingly sought. Working in the quantity surveying sector makes for an interesting, challenging and exciting career. It is well paid and very sociable. It gets you out of the office and you will meet and work with all sorts of interesting people. The best thing about working in construction is the sheer variety. No two days are ever the same.

Our MSc Quantity Surveying is intended for undergraduate students who are interested in following a career in quantity surveying, as well as those already working in this sector who want to gain a formal qualification. It allows those from a non-technical background to study alongside students with knowledge of the construction industry and you can study this course in either full-time (12 month) or part-time (24 month) mode.

Course aims

This course aims to enable you to:

• extend skills of critical analysis, reflection, evaluation, decision making and problem solving so you are able to operate professionally within a frequently changing setting
• develop practical skills needed for everyday work in setting objectives, advising clients and working professionally
• demonstrate levels of research understanding that enable analysis and evaluation of published work and undertake a research project
• develop knowledge and understanding of contemporary issues related to the construction sector as a basis for evidence of informed practice
• demonstrate the ability to offer appropriate advice on the financial management of construction costs and the efficient management of the built environment

Professional accreditation

The University of Portsmouth and the School of Civil Engineering and Surveying has been designated 'partnership status' by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). We are therefore able to offer a number of undergraduate and postgraduate property courses that carry this accreditation, including the MSc Quantity Surveying. Upon successful completion of this course and subject to a minimum of two years employer-based training, you will be able to take the Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) and become a Chartered Surveyor and use the designation MRICS after your name.

Course content

The course develops the themes of quantity surveying through the taught subject areas of:

• construction technology
• safety and management
• measurement of building works
• tender documentation
• pre- and post-contract administration
• construction law

There is also an opportunity to carry out and complete an independent dissertation project during the final stage of the course. All these may be studied in either full-time (12-month) or part-time (24-month) mode.

Teaching and assessment

Most lectures are supported by a set of tutor-prepared study guides that are increasingly accessible electronically. Whilst classroom-based learning has its place, by its very nature this course requires a proactive and hands-on approach that encompasses site visits and fieldwork.

All students are also assigned to a personal tutor who holds frequent group tutorial sessions, where issues raised in the course can be discussed. You will also be expected to complete a dissertation project, in a subject of your own choice, which will be developed and conducted with the advice and guidance of your assigned supervisor.

We encourage all of our students to become active learners in order to take full advantage of the many learning resources that are available while they are students here in Portsmouth. This friendly, modern and supportive learning environment will give you the opportunity to maximise your academic potential.

In addition to the more traditional forms of assessment, this course is assessed in a variety of different ways that will provide you with valuable skills and experience in activities such as teamwork, report production, making presentations and document preparation.

You will be taught by staff from a wide range of commercial, construction and quantity surveying practice, including quantity surveyors, architects, project managers, construction lawyers and structural engineers. Their hands-on experience is reflected in the modern and diverse nature of this course, which provides you with a flexible Master's programme allowing you to tailor the course to suit your own interest and accommodate existing work commitments. You will gain a range of skills that will be of direct benefit in the workplace.

Input from industry

The School's property development lecture series provides you with the opportunity to attend and contribute to topical debates that surround emerging property and business issues. Delivered by specially invited professional practitioners, the lecture series provides an opportunity for business updates and a first-hand perspective on both local and national property environments. In addition, whenever numbers permit, you may join other RICS members attending the Continuing Professional Development seminars that are provided as part of our commitment to local RICS membership and other professionals.

Career prospects

Working in the quantity surveying sector makes for an interesting, challenging and exciting career. It is well paid and very sociable. It involves work out of the office and meeting all sorts of interesting people. The best thing about working in construction is the sheer variety. No two days are ever the same.

Property is an important, high-value business asset and sound professional advice on its development and use is increasingly sought. In fact, the University experiences high demand for its quantity surveying students. Despite the challenging economic conditions, there is every prospect that such demand will continue.

Facilities and features

You will be based in the award-winning Portland Building. The acclaimed futuristic design of the building incorporates many of the principles of effective and environmentally sensitive property development. Apart from being a fantastic place to learn and study, the building provides an example of how important buildings are in creating an environment that is conducive to learning.

Part of the building is given over to a learning resource centre that includes printing resources and computer facilities. We also provide online access to an extensive range of subscription-only professional database and reference sources. The Portland Learning Resource Centre is staffed by a dedicated librarian who is able to provide expert support and guidance.

The University Library holds a full collection of construction and quantity surveying texts, has a mapping library and is able to provide to scale on demand Ordnance Survey printouts. As a postgraduate student, you will also benefit from online access to a wide number of technical catalogues, journals and indexes.

Entry requirements

The entry requirements for MSc Quantity Surveying are shown above, for more detailed information please contact:

Department: The School of Civil Engineering and Surveying
Tel: +44 (0)23 9284 2555
Email: technology.admissions@port.ac.uk