Overview

Quantity surveyors play a vital role in shaping the built environment. Acting as the link between designers and contractors, they help turn plans into successful construction projects, managing costs, contracts and resources from the early stages through to completion.

Our BSc (Hons) Graduate Apprenticeship in Quantity Surveying allows you to develop the technical, financial, legal and managerial expertise needed for this role while continuing in paid employment.

Your day-to-day work is central to your learning. You’ll connect what you study at GCU directly with your role, developing practical skills and applying your knowledge to real projects and challenges within your organisation.

Develop your knowledge across areas including:

financial and cost management
construction law and contracts
project management
digital construction
Building Information Modelling (BIM)
sustainability
digital measurement.

The course curriculum is co-created with employers, helping ensure your learning reflects current industry needs. You’ll also benefit from experienced academics and staff expertise in emerging construction technologies and practices.

The degree is fully accredited by:

Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)
Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB)
Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE)
Chartered Institute of Civil Engineering Surveyors (CICES).

It supports your professional development and provides a pathway towards Chartered status.

By graduation, you’ll have combined academic knowledge with several years of workplace experience. You’ll be equipped to take on greater responsibility for managing costs across building and civil engineering projects, from feasibility through to final account, while continuing to develop your professional career.

What is a Graduate Apprenticeship?

A Graduate Apprenticeship combines university study with paid employment, allowing you to work towards a degree while continuing to develop in your role.

Graduate Apprenticeships are fully funded by the Scottish Funding Council, so there are no tuition fees for you or your employer. You’ll continue earning your salary while working towards your degree.

To take a Graduate Apprenticeship, you must live and work in Scotland in a role related to your course.

If you’re already working in a suitable role, you can apply with the support of your employer.

If you’re not currently in a relevant role, you can search and apply for Graduate Apprenticeship job opportunities through Apprenticeships Scotland. Once you secure a suitable role, you can apply for the degree with your employer’s support.

Find out more about how the Graduate Apprenticeship works in the Additional Information section below.

Employer benefits

Supporting a Graduate Apprentice allows you to develop quantity surveying and commercial capability within your organisation while investing in an existing employee.

Your employee will apply their learning throughout the degree, developing knowledge and skills across cost management, contracts, project management, digital construction and sustainability. They can bring this learning directly into their role and apply it to projects and challenges within your organisation.

As their knowledge and workplace experience develop, they’ll be equipped to take on greater responsibility for project costs, contracts and resources, supporting the effective commercial management of your construction projects.

Why study Graduate Apprenticeship Construction and Built Environment (Quantity Surveying) at GCU?

Earn while you learn on a fully funded Graduate Apprenticeship. Work towards an honours degree while continuing in paid employment and developing your skills with the support of your employer.
Apply your learning directly in the workplace. Develop your knowledge of costs, contracts and project management while building practical experience through your role and contributing to projects within your organisation.
Study a degree fully accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE), and the Chartered Institute of Civil Engineering Surveyors (CICES) providing a pathway towards professional recognition and Chartered status.
Develop digital skills for modern quantity surveying. Build your knowledge of Building Information Modelling (BIM), digital measurement and emerging construction technologies used across the industry.
Study a course co-created with employers, helping ensure your learning reflects current industry needs and supports your professional development.

Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors

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The Chartered Institute of Building

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Chartered Association of Building Engineers

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Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors

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What you will study

Year 1

Construction Technology 1

Professional Orientation and Practice

Property Economics

Construction Contracts 1

Construction Materials

Work Based Learning 1

Year 2

Work Based Learning 2

Construction Technology 2

Construction and Development Economics

Construction Contracts 2

Digital Construction (GA)

Measurement 1

Year 3

Construction Cost Studies

Measurement 2

Estimating

Construction Technology 3

Contemporary Quantity Surveying Practice

Work Based Learning 3

Year 4

Dissertation

Project Management

Construction Contracts 3

Value and Risk Appraisal

Construction and Project Commercial Management

Please note that full module information is in the process of being finalised for publication and will be made available here shortly.

In the meantime, you can view and download the Programme Specification at the bottom of this page. This document provides an overview of the course structure, including indicative modules, learning content and further key information. The modules listed on the Programme Specification are for the current academic year and are intended to give you an idea of what you may be able to study on this course.

Careers

Quantity surveyors play a central role in the commercial success of construction projects, managing costs and helping ensure projects deliver value from initial planning through to completion.

This Graduate Apprenticeship allows you to develop your quantity surveying career while continuing to build experience with your employer. You’ll strengthen your commercial, technical and management expertise, preparing you to take on greater responsibility as your skills and experience develop.

Your skills can be applied across areas including:

major development projects
housing and commercial property
rail, road, power and water infrastructure
renewable energy
construction and consultancy.

The degree can support career development in roles such as:

quantity surveyor
cost manager
cost consultant
commercial manager
project manager
estimator.

Quantity surveying is also an internationally recognised profession, and the skills developed through the degree can be relevant to construction and infrastructure projects in the UK and internationally.

As your experience grows, you can progress towards more advanced commercial, project and management responsibilities within your organisation and continue your professional development towards Chartered status.

For employers

The Graduate Apprenticeship provides a structured way to develop existing employees towards greater commercial and professional responsibility.

As their knowledge and experience develop, they’ll strengthen their ability to manage project costs, contracts and resources, while building expertise in areas including digital construction and sustainability. This can help them take on more complex responsibilities and contribute to the effective commercial management and delivery of your projects.

Course information

Award	Mode of study	Duration	Start date	Location
BSc (Hons)	Blended Learning	4 Years	Sep 26	Glasgow	Enquire
Award	Mode of study	Duration	Start date	Location
BSc (Hons)	Blended Learning	4 Years	Sep 27	Glasgow	Enquire Apply

Please note that admission to GCU is considered on a competitive basis, and the academic entry requirements stated here may be the minimum required to be eligible for an offer.

International students can get information on entry requirements specific to their country in our International Study section.

Standard entry requirements

For new employees applying directly from school:

All applicants must be working in full-time employment in a role commensurate to the programme of study. Applicants should also have the support of their employer.

UCAS Tariff: 96

Scottish Higher: BBCC or equivalent

Foundation Apprenticeships

We accept selected Foundation Apprenticeships, in combination with Qualifications Scotland Highers, for entry to our degree programmes. Your Foundation Apprenticeship will take the place of one Qualifications Scotland Higher qualification for our standard entry requirements and will be treated as equivalent to a B grade at Higher.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

For applicants with prior work experience and professional qualifications, there is a possibility to be considered through the university’s flexible entry system through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).

This process allows prospective graduate apprentices to claim credit(s) against previously assessed and certificated learning, including informal learning, to be considered and recognised for academic purposes and credit within their course.

Advanced entry may also be granted through RPL. Skills, knowledge, academic qualifications and experience will all be used to inform which year of the degree you will enter into.

Additional requirements

Candidates must be employed in the same field as the course of study and must supply a supporting letter from their employer as part of the admissions process.

You must be living and working in Scotland in the same field as the Graduate Apprenticeship course you are applying to.

About Graduate Apprenticeships

As a Graduate Apprentice, you’ll combine university study with learning and development in your workplace.

Most of your learning will take place online and through your workplace, with only a small number of on-campus teaching days at GCU across the duration of each trimester.

You’ll apply what you learn directly to your job, while your workplace experience will contribute to your learning and development throughout the degree. This allows you to build your practical skills, confidence and professional experience alongside your academic knowledge.

As a GCU student, you’ll have access to the same University facilities, services and student support as other students. Throughout your studies, you’ll also receive additional support from your employer and workplace mentor.

Teaching and assessment methods

The course combines face to face and workplace learning.

Teaching is delivered by experienced academics and industry specialists, with an interactive approach that helps you connect your university learning with your workplace experience.

Teaching includes:

lectures
tutorials
workshops.

You’ll complete a range of assessments designed to reflect the types of challenges you may encounter in professional practice, including:

reports
case studies
Presentations
group work
exams
project work.

You’ll receive feedback directly from your tutors to support your learning and development throughout the course.

Professional recognition

The degree is fully accredited by:

Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)
Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB).
Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE)
Chartered Institute of Civil Engineering Surveyors (CICES).

This means the course meets the professional standards set by these organisations and provides a pathway towards professional recognition.

After successfully completing your degree, you’ll be eligible to apply for Graduate Membership of the above professional bodies.

Achieving full Chartered status, such as MRICS, MCIOB, MCABE or MCICES, requires further structured workplace experience and professional assessment. This is normally completed while working in professional practice.

Related courses

BSc (Hons)

Quantity Surveying

Play a vital role in shaping the built environment and get the technical knowledge and professional skills to manage construction costs, contracts, and resources from project start to completion.

BSc (Hons)

Environmental Civil Engineering

Focus on how civil engineering principles and environmental priorities work together. You'll gain the skills needed to design and manage projects, while adapting to different environmental contexts and minimising ecological impact.

Download the programme specification

In addition to the core modules that all students must undertake, some courses offer students a choice from a selection of optional modules to shape the focus of their degree. Optional modules where available, form part of the overall credit structure of the course.

Download the programme specification for a detailed breakdown of the course structure, including modules, what you'll learn and other useful information.

Terms and Conditions

Details of the University’s terms and conditions are available here.

Overview

What is a Graduate Apprenticeship?

Employer benefits

Why study Graduate Apprenticeship Construction and Built Environment (Quantity Surveying) at GCU?

Accreditations

What you will study

Careers

For employers

Course information

Quantity Surveying

Environmental Civil Engineering