Quantity Surveying and Commercial Management with Foundation BSc Honours

Overview

Our degree courses with Foundation year offer the opportunity to prepare you for advanced study before you progress on to a full honours degree at the University of Westminster.

Whether you do not feel ready for degree-level study, don’t have the right qualifications, want to change your subject specialism or return to study after an absence from education, we aim to encourage a broad range of students to undertake our Foundation year in order to progress onto their full honours degree with us.

The Foundation year is designed to give you the opportunity to explore new ideas, opening up new perspectives on the key debates within your chosen field. Core modules accelerate your academic and professional development, bringing together like-minded students to think about the ‘big ideas’ within your discipline. You will also take modules from areas closely related to your chosen field, giving you the chance to develop a cross-disciplinary perspective on your course.

On successful completion of the Foundation year, you will be able to move on to study for the Quantity Surveying and Commercial Management BSc Honours degree over a further three years study.

The growth in global construction is fuelling the demand for professional quantity surveyors and construction commercial managers who can take a holistic view of construction projects – overseeing costs, contractual and procurement matters – from inception to completion. Our project-based approach to learning exposes you to live and past construction projects from the outset, preparing you to accurately predict and control project costs.

This professionally focused degree will prepare you to confidently and effectively manage the commercial aspects of building and civil engineering projects across the property and construction industries. Whether you’re already working in construction or looking to enter the industry, you can start your journey to becoming a certified quantity surveyor or commercial manager.

Fully accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) and the Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE), it will equip you with the professional and technical skills to ensure projects are delivered on time, to the required quality and within budget. This involves early cost planning, procurement evaluation, tendering, estimating, contractual routes, project cost control and commercial management.

Our central London location and numerous industry contacts, which include Great Portland Estates, Mace, Lendlease, The Portman Estate, Wilmott Dixon, Multiplex, Transport for London and The Crown Estate, enable us to invite practising professionals to give guest lectures and regularly contribute to the course. They provide buildings as case studies for coursework, learning materials (drawings, reports, clients briefs etc.) and come into the University to give face-to-face formative feedback on students’ work. We aim to create authentic learning activities to ensure you are business-ready for employment or can further progress in your existing careers.

Course Structure

This course provides you with knowledge and understanding of the context, core concepts and theories relevant to quantity surveyors and commercial management in the design, creation and maintenance of a sustainably built environment to meet the needs of clients both nationally and internationally. Ever mindful of your route to professional practice, we pay particular attention to developing the behaviour and attitudes required of modern construction professionals.

Core modules cover subjects that cross the industry, such as health and safety, site practice, construction technology, design and form, materials and building science, structures and digital construction. Specific modules covering course and profession specific content are delivered as study progresses.

The following subjects are indicative of what you will study on this course.

• Foundation
• Year 1
• Year 2
• Placement Year
• Year 3

Subjects of study include:

• Construction Methods, Materials and Technologies
• Critical Thinking for Academic and Professional Development
• Design and Development
• Introduction to Academic Practice
• Property, People and the Economy
• Sustainable Environments

Credit Level 3

You will be introduced to the key theories and concepts of building design, building science, construction technology, the built environment, and digital construction. You will develop your knowledge of theses core theories and concepts. Right from the start, you will be introduced to real-world projects and case studies: we try to take you out of the classroom to visit building sites and learn about quantity surveying and commercial management in the field. You also attend events and exhibitions, for example, at The Building Centre and Futurebuild. Most of the topics are around simple construction at this level.

Subjects of study include:

• Building Design
• Building Science and Structures
• Construction Technology and Services
• Introduction to the Built Environment
• Project, Commercial and Organisational Environment
• Site Engineering and Management

Credit Level 4

As the course develops, you will move on from simple construction to look at high rise and wide span building, looking at their structure and fabric and how to procure and manage their design, develop costings and procure construction services. You will look at the measurement, quantification and estimating of building costs together with the principles underlying project financial, contractual and site management. In future, we hope to offer a European field trip to highlight different international practices within construction and other manufacturing and production industries.

Subjects of study include:

• Advanced Measurement
• Construction Engineering Technology
• Construction Project Based Learning
• Environmental Science and Services
• Project and Commercial Management
• Project Procurement, Management and Law

Credit Level 5

Between Years 2 and 3 (Levels 5 and 6), you may choose to undertake either a professional placement year in the UK or an international experience year.

Professional Experience

You’ll have the option to take a placement year in industry. During the year, you’ll identify goals to work towards achieving whilst on placement; carry out research to develop awareness of the sector you are working in and gain the commercial skills required within the contemporary business environment.

International Experience

Alternatively, you may choose to undertake an international experience year at one of our partner overseas institutions. During the year, you’ll study and reside in the country of a host institution. The content of your study is agreed through a Learning Agreement between you, the home institution and Westminster Business School.

Study focuses on the frameworks and contractual arrangements under which construction takes place to further develop your knowledge and skills in the areas of project evaluation and development, cost information systems, whole life costing and supply chain management. You will also look at professionalism and the requirements of the professional bodies, together with sustainable design and construction to ensure students are ready for the workplace and to carry on their journey to achieve professional recognition. Students also investigate a current issue of their choice in the final year. During this year, you have the option to take part in a week-long trip abroad to look at building and infrastructure projects, with some free time to explore the area that you are visiting.

Subjects of study include:

• Construction Technology and Innovation
• Contract Administration and Practice
• Current Issues in the Built Environment
• Professional Practice
• Project Evaluation and Development
• Project Management

Credit Level 6

Professional Recognition

This course is fully accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), the world's leading professional body for qualifications and standards in land, property, infrastructure and construction. Successful completion fulfils the academic requirements to become a professional member with the designation MRICS after gaining experience in the workplace and passing the Assessment of Professional Competence. Additionally, the course is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), which has granted Westminster Business School ‘Accredited Centre Status’. Graduates from this course can apply, with appropriate experience, for membership of CIOB and the designation MCIOB. The course is also accredited by the Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE).

Entry Requirements

• UK
• International
• A levels – DDD (72 UCAS Tariff points)
• T levels – 72 UCAS Tariff points
• International Baccalaureate – 72 UCAS Tariff points from all components of the Diploma Programme. International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme will be considered on a case-by-case basis
• BTEC Extended Diploma – MMP
• BTEC Diploma – DM
• Access – 72 UCAS Tariff points from the Access course

In addition to one of the above, you should have:

• GCSE English Language grade 4/C – IB grade 4 Higher level ,GCSE Maths grade 4/C – IB grade 4

If your first language is not English, you will need an IELTS of 6.0 overall, with 5.5 in each component.

We also welcome applications from students who are taking a combination of qualifications listed above. For further information, please contact Course Enquiries.

Fees and Funding

• UK
• International

UK tuition fee: £9,535 (Price per academic year)

Please note that if you defer your place, the first year’s tuition fees will be those of the academic year in which you enrol, which may be higher than the fee shown for this year.

Fees are subject to UK Government Parliamentary procedure.

Find out how we set our tuition fees.

International tuition fee: £17,600 (Price per academic year)

When you have enrolled with us, your annual tuition fees will remain the same throughout your studies with us. We do not increase International tuition fees.

Please note that if you defer your place, the first year’s tuition fees will be those of the academic year in which you enrol, which may be higher than the fee shown for this year.

Find out how we set our tuition fees.

Careers

With our focus on professionalism and international practice, this accredited course will provide you with the principal skills needed to become Quantity or Commercial Manager and, with further education and experience, you can progress towards full professional qualification with the RICS and CIOB. There is a wide choice of careers open to you, including professional quantity surveying, commercial management, project and facilities management, value and risk management, procurement management, property investment and development, arbitration and dispute resolution, capital allowances and tax consultancy and property development.

Our graduates have developed careers with many types of organisations including surveying firms; property consultancies; commercial companies; central government; local authorities; and large property-owning organisations, such as housing associations, retailers and leisure groups. Others have also pursued further studies at Masters level, either on a full-time or part-time basis, typically in areas such as construction or project management, Construction Law or Commercial Management.

The University's Careers and Employability Service has built up a network of over 3,000 employers around the world, helping all our students explore and connect with exciting opportunities and careers.

Course Leaders

• Olayinka Omoboye
• Dr Miu Yee Rose Wong

Teaching and Assessment

Below you will find how learning time and assessment types are distributed on this course. The graphs below give an indication of what you can expect through approximate percentages, taken either from the experience of previous cohorts, or based on the standard module diet where historic course data is unavailable. Changes to the division of learning time and assessment may be made in response to feedback and in accordance with our terms and conditions.

How you'll be taught

Teaching methods across all our undergraduate courses focus on active student learning through lectures, seminars, workshops, problem-based and blended learning, and where appropriate practical application. Learning typically falls into three broad categories:

• Scheduled hours: examples include lectures, seminars, practical classes, workshops, supervised time in a studio
• Placement: placement hours normally include placement opportunities, but may also include live projects or virtual activity involving employers
• Independent study: non-scheduled time in which students are expected to study independently. This may include preparation for scheduled sessions, follow-up work, wider reading or practice, completion of assessment tasks, or revision

Year

Year

F

24%Scheduled hours76%Independent study0%0% Placement

Year

1

24%Scheduled hours76%Independent study0%0% Placement

Year

2

28%Scheduled hours72%Independent study0%0% Placement

Year

P

2%Scheduled hours15%Independent study83%Placement

Year

3

24%Scheduled hours76%Independent study0%0% Placement

Scheduled hoursIndependent studyPlacement

How you'll be assessed

Our undergraduate courses include a wide variety of assessments.

Assessments typically fall into two broad categories:

• Practical: examples include presentations, videos, podcasts, lab work, creating artefacts
• Coursework: examples include essays, reports, in-class tests, portfolios, dissertation

Year

Year

F

34%Practical66%Coursework

Year

1

0%0% Practical100%Coursework

Year

2

4%Practical96%Coursework

Year

P

0%0% Practical100%Coursework

Year

3

4%Practical96%Coursework

PracticalCoursework

Data from the academic year 2024/25

Facilities

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• The Learning Platform
• Lecture theatres
• Library
• Bloomberg Financial Market Suite
• Digital Marketing Lab
• Meeting spaces
• Cafe

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Course Location

In the heart of London, our Marylebone Campus is home to the Westminster Business School and our Architecture, Planning and Tourism courses. Specialist workshops, dedicated digital and architecture studios, and our extensive Marylebone Library offer students everything they need for academic success.

Marylebone Campus is opposite Baker Street tube station and within easy walking distance of Regent's Park and Marylebone High Street.

For more details, visit our Marylebone Campus page.

Westminster Business School

Based in the heart of London's political, media and financial services, Westminster Business School has excellent industry links and a strong commitment to social enterprise.

Our courses are accredited by professional bodies including the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

Our practical teaching relates learning to the real world, and we develop graduates who are ready to respond to contemporary business challenges.

Find out moreGo to Westminster Business School page

Related Courses

• Construction Management with Foundation BSc Honours
• Real Estate with Foundation BSc Honours

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Term dates

Semester One teaching
23 September – 13 December 2024

Semester Two teaching
20 January – 11 April 2025

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University of Westminster

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Overview:

University of Westminster is a public university located in London, England. It offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs across various disciplines. The university is known for its focus on practical learning and its strong connections to the industry.

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Services Offered:

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Student Life and Campus Experience:

The university has four campuses across London, providing students with a vibrant and diverse campus experience. Students have access to various facilities, including a cinema, gallery spaces, and sports facilities. The university also offers a range of student support services, including career guidance, academic support, and mental health services.

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Key Reasons to Study There:

Location:

The university's location in London provides students with access to a wealth of cultural and professional opportunities.

Practical Learning:

The university emphasizes practical learning, with many programs incorporating work placements and industry projects.

Industry Connections:

The university has strong connections to industry, providing students with opportunities for networking and career development.

Diverse Student Body:

The university has a diverse student body, creating a welcoming and inclusive environment.

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Academic Programs:

The university offers a wide range of academic programs, including:

Undergraduate courses:

A broad range of undergraduate courses in various disciplines, including business, design, creative industries, and liberal arts.

Postgraduate courses:

A variety of postgraduate study options, including master's degrees, research degrees, and short courses.

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Other:

The university has a strong commitment to research and innovation, with a focus on areas such as sustainability, social justice, and digital technologies. It also has a dedicated alumni network, providing support and opportunities for graduates.