Quantity surveying

The specialist knowledge in cost planning and management you get from a quantity surveying degree can prepare you for a career across the property and construction sector

Job options

Jobs directly related to your degree include:

• Architectural technologist
• Building surveyor
• Commercial/residential surveyor
• Construction manager
• Estimator
• Planning and development surveyor
• Project manager
• Quantity surveyor
• Site engineer

Jobs where your degree would be useful include:

• Arbitrator
• Building control surveyor
• Building services engineer
• Consulting civil engineer
• Contracting civil engineer
• Estates manager
• Financial manager
• Rural practice surveyor
• Urban designer

Remember that many employers accept applications from graduates with any degree subject, so don't restrict your thinking to the jobs listed here.

Work experience

Gaining practical industry experience alongside your studies can greatly increase your employment prospects. Some quantity surveying degrees include a year-long work placement which can lead to job offers for once you've graduated. Employers may also consider sponsoring you for the remainder of your degree, giving you a part-time job while you complete your studies.

Large companies often run summer internship programmes or shorter placements. Check firms’ websites for details. Smaller companies also often have opportunities but may not advertise them widely. It's therefore useful to make direct speculative applications to those you’re interested in. Use the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Find a Surveyor facility for company contact details.

Search for placements and find out more about work experience and internships.

Typical employers

Common employers of quantity surveying graduates include:

• quantity surveying consultancies
• construction companies, contractors and consultancies
• architects
• project management consultancies
• civil engineering contractors and consultancies
• property firms
• house builders and housing associations
• local authorities
• specialist surveying practices
• specialist tax consultants.

You can apply for graduate job opportunities on job sites and company websites. You can also apply to companies speculatively.

There are also opportunities to work in commercial and operations management or in a project management role with a wide range of companies.

Find information on employers in property and construction, accountancy, banking and finance and other job sectors.

Skills for your CV

Studying quantity surveying provides you with specialist knowledge in cost planning, procurement processes and the management of construction projects. You'll also gain an understanding of health and safety, legal, financial, political and economic issues and how these impact on construction processes, as well as ethical practices and sustainability.

In addition, you develop many transferable skills that are vital for a range of jobs. These skills include:

• numerical skills
• problem-solving ability
• analytical and data interpretation skills
• negotiation and dispute resolution skills
• the ability to organise your work and meet deadlines
• teamwork and interpersonal skills
• the ability to work independently
• written and verbal communication skills
• presentation skills
• project management skills
• confidence with business management systems
• IT skills and digital literacy.

Further study

On completion of a RICS-accredited quantity surveying degree, you can start to work towards achieving chartered surveyor status in your job. To become chartered and a professional member of RICS, you'll need to complete the Assessment of Professional Competence (APC). The APC is a structured training programme that usually lasts around two years (unless you've got significant work experience already).

There are also opportunities to undertake postgraduate study in various areas depending on the direction you'd like your career to take. These include quantity surveying, commercial management, construction project management, strategic project management, and construction law and dispute resolution.

Alternatively, you could consider postgraduate study in related areas including facilities management and town and regional planning.

For more information on further study and to find a course that interests you, see Masters degrees and search postgraduate courses in quantity surveying.

What do quantity surveying graduates do?

The vast majority of quantity surveying graduates (84%) in employment in the UK are working as architects, chartered architectural technologists, planning officers, surveyors and construction professionals 15 months after graduation. Business associate professionals, business, research and administrative professionals, functional managers and directors and production managers and directors are also among the top five roles reported.

Find out what other graduates are doing after finishing their degrees in What do graduates do?

Graduate destinations data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.