Bachelor of Construction

(Quantity Surveying)
Level
NZQA Level 7
Duration

3 years full-time

Con 2

Take a leading role in the construction industry with a Bachelor of Construction (Quantity Surveying).

You'll be in high demand as a construction professional and have the technical, work-ready skills to price and manage construction projects and challenge the status quo to improve processes and drive efficiencies.

The programme develops skills in budgeting and financial administration for construction projects, including whole-of-life costing. Students also gain knowledge of construction law, contracts and contractual risk analysis, along with planning and managing construction projects. Other key areas include site logistics and project management, with a focus on managing time, costs, quality and client satisfaction, as well as people management, negotiation skills, and construction business management.

This programme is offered by Future Skills Academy due to a sub-contract arrangement with Otago Polytechnic.

This qualification is provided through a sub-contracting arrangement.

  • What will I learn?

    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's the weekly workload?

    You will be expected to spend about 300 hours per Study Block on your course work. This includes both scheduled class time and self-directed study.

  • What are the entry requirements?

    If you are under 20

    You must have:

    • 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).

    If you are over 20

    • You must supply evidence of industry experience and/or alternative relevant qualifications.  

    • Provisional entry is possible. 

    International students 

    Will be individually assessed to ensure they meet degree-level entry requirements. Click here for equivalent academic entry requirements by country. 

    If English is not your first language, you must provide:

  • What could I study next?

    Upon successful completion of this programme, you will be able to gain entry into relevant postgraduate qualifications. Possible programmes include the Graduate Diploma in Construction Project Management (at Unitec) or the Postgraduate Diploma in Construction - Building Technology, Construction Law, Construction Project Management, Facilities Management, Quantity Surveying (at Massey).

  • Got a diploma and already working in the industry?

    If you already hold a diploma in Quantity Surveying or Construction Management, you could get credit recognition toward the third year of this degree. 

    Recognised diplomas

    • Otago Polytechnic New Zealand Diploma in Construction (Quantity Surveying): you can get direct entry to Year 3 of the Bachelor of Construction (Quantity Surveying).

    • Diploma in Quantity Surveying from another NZ institution: Can apply for cross-credits; please contact our admissions team at aklregistry@op.ac.nz.

    This degree is accredited by the New Zealand Institute of Quantity Surveyors and will make you eligible for Graduate Membership status.

  • Cancellation of a programme  

    Any programme of study, course or course occurrence may be cancelled or postponed where there are insufficient numbers. As far as is practically possible, we avoid cancelling or making other significant changes less than two weeks before the programme starts (or five working days for short courses). If this happens, we will do our best to suggest alternative study options for you. If you don’t want to do the alternative programme, we will give you a full refund. If a programme change affects your visa status, we will let you know and support you to find an alternative option. We also advise Immigration New Zealand of any programme change that will affect international students.  

Career outcomes

You'll have excellent career opportunities as a construction professional. You can work as a project manager, quantity surveyor, site manager, estimator, or contract administrator. Graduates of the Quantity Surveying strand can also join the New Zealand Institute of Quantity Surveying (NZIOB) and work as a consultant QS.  

With experience, you may become a senior project manager, site manager or quantity surveyor, a commercial or divisional manager, or operate your own consultancy. With further study, you could specialise in the field of construction law and dispute resolution. 

 

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