Bachelor of Construction

(Quantity Surveying)
Level
Level 7
Duration

3 years full-time

BCon FS

Want to become an expert in construction project management?

Gain the skills to contribute greatly to the booming building industry, at our Auckland Campus on Queen Street. Meet the surging demand for construction professionals by learning technical, work-ready skills to price and manage construction projects. This degree broadens your skills in business and construction law and management.

The New Zealand Diploma in Construction (Quantity Surveying) forms the first two years of the Bachelor of Construction (Quantity Surveying). Learners can choose whether to enrol in the Diploma or the Degree. Graduates of the New Zealand Diploma in Construction (Quantity Surveying) will be credited the courses they have completed up to a maximum of 240 credits. 

New Zealand offers residency under a number of categories including for those who have completed their study in New Zealand. To learn more about your specific situation, please refer to the Immigration New Zealand website or engage with a licensed immigration adviser.

This qualification is provided through a sub-contracting arrangement.

  • What will I learn?

    You will study financial feasibility studies, budgets and cost planning. When you graduate, you will be able to price and manage construction projects.

    During the programme, you will focus on:

    Construction Costs

    You will learn to measure and estimate the costs of construction work and prepare quantity surveying related documentation such as schedules of quantities and tender proposals. Gain the skills to prepare preliminary financial feasibility studies and detailed cost plans through analysing legislative, physical and financial constraints as well as cost and revenue streams discounted to net present value.

    You will learn to critically evaluate design proposals in terms of initial and whole-lifecycle costs, sustainability, and buildability implications.

    Treaty of Waitangi

    You will find out how to incorporate knowledge of mātauranga Māori and the Treaty of Waitangi into land development and construction-related decisions. During the first year, you will study the relationship between the TOW and property development, including why iwi consultation is important when working with land issues and the broader construction industry context. In the second year, you will study alternative forms of procurement, including partnerships, inherent in which is partnerships with iwi.

    Administration and Management

    Learn how to financially administer construction contracts including preparing and managing contractual claims. You will gain the knowledge to apply principles of project management to plan and manage construction projects, including planning and teamwork and integrating knowledge areas such as scope, time, budget, risk, stakeholders, procurement, sustainability, resources, communication, quality, and health and safety.

    Evaluation

    You will learn to critically evaluate procurement pathways and contractual arrangements and critique contracts in terms of clarity, obligations, and risk allocation and draft new and amend existing contract terms. Gain the skills to critically evaluate construction processes through applying research skills with a view to improving performance in terms of time, quality, cost, sustainability, and client satisfaction.

    Professional development

    We will teach you how to maintain professional competency and currency and have the ability to progress toward further post-graduate study and specialise in fields such as commercial management, project management, or construction law, including exploring new and emerging technologies.

    You will study

    You will focus on financial feasibility studies, budgets and cost planning and graduate with the ability to price and manage construction projects.

    Courses Year 1 (Compulsory)

    Course Description Level Credits
    Introduction to Construction Studies Develop knowledge and skills related to construction roles, responsibilities, documentation and communication. 5 15 credits
    Material and Structural Principles Develop knowledge and skills of structural principles and the properties of materials and finishes applicable to building projects. 5 15 credits
    Law and Construction Contracts Develop knowledge of Aotearoa New Zealand legislative and regulatory frameworks and to relate these frameworks to professional practice within a construction and consulting environment. 5 15 credits
    Construction 1 Residential Develop and apply knowledge and skills related to structures, building envelope and the interior for a small building. 5 15 credits
    Services Develop knowledge and skills relevant to the purpose, operating principles, coordination, and legislative requirements required to manage a range of services in small, medium, and large buildings. 5 15 credits
    Construction 2 Commercial Develop the knowledge and skills to select and incorporate foundation methods, structural systems, building envelope and the interior for medium and large buildings. 6 15 credits
    Environment Develop knowledge and skills to evaluate site and building limitations including environmental impacts and sustainable methods of construction. 5 15 credits
    Introduction to Measurement and Estimation Develop the knowledge and skills to measure and estimate costs for inclusion in tenders for small building projects. 5 15 credits

    Courses Year 2 (Compulsory)

    Course Description Level Credits
    Measurement 1 Develop the knowledge and skills to assemble quantity surveying documentation and measure schedules of quantities for a small building project. 5 15 credits
    Estimation Develop the knowledge and skills to estimate costs for inclusion in tenders for medium and large building projects. 5 15 credits
    Programming Develop the knowledge and skills to effectively programme and monitor activities, resources and contingencies for a medium building. 6 15 credits
    Measurement 2 Develop the knowledge and skills to assemble and measure schedules of quantities from project information for medium and large buildings. 6 15 credits
    Financial Administration Develop the knowledge and skills to analyse and conduct a valuation and prepare account statements for work carried out on a construction site. 6 15 credits
    Procurement Develop knowledge and skills relevant to a range of procedures, types of contracts, methodologies and processes for the procurement of building projects. 6 15 credits
    Cost Planning Develop the knowledge and skills to analyse and prepare preliminary estimates, elemental cost plans and preliminary cashflow statements for medium and large building projects. 6 15 credits
    Regional Project Quantity Surveying Develop the knowledge and skills to act as quantity surveyors by studying selected aspects of regional construction practice, emerging construction technologies and professional practice. 6 15 credits

    Courses Year 3 (Compulsory)

    Course Description Level Credits
    People Management Enable learners to develop people management strategies relevant to the construction industry. 6 15 credits
    Project Risk Management Develop quality assurance procedures and develop risk management and site safety planning documentation for a medium size construction project. 6 15 credits
    Property Investment and Development Learn to critically evaluate a property development opportunity. 7 15 credits
    Construction Business Management Develop basic risk-reduction strategies for a small to medium sized construction enterprise (SME). 6 15 credits
    Value Management and BIM Critically reflect on the use of building information modelling (BIM) for evaluating building design. 7 15 credits
    Claims Management Interpret and draft basic construction contracts. 7 15 credits
    Research Project Conduct a research project in a construction industry context. 7 30 credits
  • What are the entry requirements?

    For those under 20

    • NCEA Level 3 including:
      • 14 credits at Level 3 or above in each of three NZQA-approved university entrance subjects, and
      • 10 literacy credits at Level 2 or above, made up of: 
        • 5 credits in reading, and
        • 5 credits in writing, and 
      • 12 numeracy credits at Level 2 or above, made up of:
        • specified achievement standards available through a range of subjects OR
        • package of three numeracy unit standards (26623, 26626, 26627- all three required).
      • Click here for equivalent academic entry requirements by country. 

    For those over 20

    • You must supply evidence of industry experience and/or alternative relevant qualifications.  
    • Provisional entry is possible. 

    We do not accept international learners under the age of 18 at the time of enrolment.

  • What could I study next?

    Graduate Diploma in Construction Project Management.

    Postgraduate Diploma in Construction- Building Technology, Construction Law, Construction Project Management, Facilities Management, Quantity Surveying.

  • What should I know about the industry?

    Gain in-demand skills to enter one of the fastest-growing industries in New Zealand.


    Better pay

    According to NZ Talent.com, the average salary of quantity surveyors in New Zealand is $100,000. Entry-level positions start at about $74,000 per year and soar to up to $144,000 per year for experienced workers.

    High job prospects

    Construction is the fifth largest sector in New Zealand’s economy, employing just over a quarter of a million people. Around 4,800 new jobs a year will be created in construction in the years to 2028, according to the government’s medium to long-term employment outlook.

    The skills of Quantity Surveyors are highly sought-after in New Zealand – as there are quantity surveyor shortages throughout the country, and demand is growing.

    Auckland represents over a third of New Zealand's construction activity, especially for its extensive housing projects. However, there are opportunities elsewhere including various roading projects, Christchurch's rebuild, and Wellington's earthquake strengthening, ensuring there are plenty of opportunities all over New Zealand.

    International Students

    Quantity surveyors are on New Zealand’s skill shortage lists, so if international graduates have a full-time job offer – and the right experience and qualifications – it may be easier to apply for a visa.

    Source: Immigration NZ

     

Career outcomes

This programme can lead to successful careers as Estimators, Consultants, Contract Administrators, Contract Managers and Junior Quantity Surveyors.

Other programmes