Bachelor of Construction (Quantity Surveying)
Take a leading role in the construction industry. 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.
Domestic
About the programme
Take a leading role in the construction industry.
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.
You'll have a range of career opportunities. You can work as a project manager, quantity surveyor, estimator or contract administrator. Graduates can also join professional bodies such as the New Zealand Institute of Quantity Surveying (NZIQS).
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.
What you'll learn
- budgeting and financial administration of construction projects, including whole life-cycle costing
- law, contracts and contractual risk analysis
- planning and managing of construction projects
- site logistics and project management (managing time, costs, quality and client satisfaction)
- people management and negotiation skills, and
- construction business management.
You'll study this programme through a blended learning delivery. This includes face-to-face teaching, online study, work experience and student-managed learning.
Third-year research project
In the third year of this programme, you will undertake a 'capstone' course called 'Research Project'. Here you will explore a unique topic aimed at enhancing products, processes or practices within the construction industry. Through this, you will develop essential research skills by:
- conducting in-depth literature reviews
- crafting research proposals
- defining methodologies
- gathering data through surveys or interviews
You will then analyse your findings and present insightful discussions on key outcomes. All research projects are guided by experienced academic supervisors who hold doctoral qualifications from leading international universities, ensuring you receive high-quality mentoring throughout your research journey.
Studying part-time
We understand that studying full-time isn't always possible. You can study this programme part-time, over six to seven years.
International
April
July
October
About the programme
Take a leading role in the construction industry.
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.
You'll have a range of career opportunities. You can work as a project manager, quantity surveyor, estimator or contract administrator. Graduates can also join professional bodies such as the New Zealand Institute of Quantity Surveying (NZIQS).
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.
What you'll learn
- Budgeting and financial administration of construction projects, including whole life-cycle costing
- Law, contracts and contractual risk analysis
- Planning and managing of construction projects
- Site logistics and project management (managing time, costs, quality and client satisfaction)
- People management and negotiation skills, and
- Construction business management.
You'll study this programme through a blended learning delivery. This includes face-to-face teaching, online study, work experience and student-managed learning.
Our Dunedin programme has a February intake. Our Auckland programme has intakes in February, April, July and October.
What You Study
Quantity Surveying courses
| Year 1 | Course Name | Credits |
| Introduction to Construction | 15 | |
| Materials and Structural Principles | 15 | |
| Construction 1 Residential | 15 | |
| Law and Contracts | 15 | |
| Services | 15 | |
| Construction 2 Commercial | 15 | |
| Environment | 15 | |
| Introduction to Measurement and Estimation | 15 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Financial Administration | 15 | |
| Procurement | 15 | |
| Programming | 15 | |
| Estimation | 15 | |
| Measurement | 15 | |
| Cost Planning | 15 | |
| Measurement 2 | 15 | |
| Regional Project Quantity Surveying | 15 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| People Management | 15 | |
| Project Risk Management | 15 | |
| Construction Business Management | 15 | |
| Value Management and Building information Modelling (BIM) | 15 | |
| Property Investment and Development | 15 | |
| Claims Management | 15 | |
| Research Project | 30 |
Further study options
When you graduate, you'll 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).
Workload
Your workload
Dunedin programme (for domestic and international students)
If you're studying full-time, you'll need to be able to commit to 37.5 hours of study per week.
You can study this programme part-time over six to seven years. Part-time paths of study are planned with each learner individually so you can fit your studies around work.
Auckland programme (for international students only)
You will be expected to spend about 38 hours per week (or 300 hours per Study Block) on your course work. This includes both scheduled class time and self-directed study.
Entry
Entry requirements
Academic 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).
For those over 20
- You must supply evidence of industry experience and/or alternative relevant qualifications.
- Provisional entry is possible.
International requirements and equivalence
To enter Otago Polytechnic's undergraduate certificates, diplomas and degrees, you need to have achieved a secondary school qualification that is equivalent to New Zealand's NCEA levels (National Certificate of Educational Achievement).
This information is available by country on our Equivalent academic entry requirements page.
English Language requirements
If English is not your first language, you must provide:
- New Zealand University Entrance OR
- Overall Academic IELTS 6.0 (academic, no band score lower than 5.5) achieved in one test completed in the last two years, OR
- Acceptable alternative evidence of the required IELTS (see here for internationally recognised proficiency tests and proficiency outcomes for international students).
If you need to improve your English Language skills, we offer a wide range of English programmes.
Please note: Graduates of the New Zealand Diploma in Construction (Level 6) (Construction Management) (Quantity Surveying) will be credited the courses they have completed up to a maximum of 240 credits.
Don't meet the entry requirements?
If you don't meet the requirements to enter this programme, our bridging programme is the perfect option (this is advertised as the bridging option into our engineering diploma but is a highly suitable pathway into this degree as well).
Alternatively, you could complete the New Zealand Certificate in Construction Trade Skills (Level 3) (Carpentry).
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 and study part-time to complete it alongside your employment from anywhere in New Zealand.
The remaining degree courses can be studied through a combination of online learning and by attending contact courses in Dunedin over a two-to-three year duration.
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 or Construction Management from any other NZ institution: you can enter Year 3 of the Bachelor of Construction (Quantity Surveying), but you'll have to do up to four Year 1 and 2 courses.
This degree is accredited by the New Zealand Institute of Quantity Surveyors and will make you eligible for Graduate Membership status.
Want your existing skills recognised?
If you have extensive knowledge and skills due to practical experience in this area, please ask us about our recognition of prior learning process. You may have already gained credits towards this qualification and could achieve it in a shorter timeframe. Please email info@op.ac.nz or call 0800 762 786.
Fees
Domestic fees
International fees
Additional costs
You'll need a range of equipment and textbooks for this programme.
Multi-year fees
The tuition fees shown above are approximate only. There may be a slight fee increase per year once Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) rules and guidelines are applied. These fees also don’t include additional costs or living costs.
Studylink
Visit Welcome to StudyLink studylink.govt.nz to apply for a student loan to cover your course fees, course-related costs or living costs, or to apply for a student allowance.
If you are eligible for Fees Free you may not need to borrow for course fees, but you may still wish to apply for course-related costs, living costs or student allowance.
Student Services Fee
For most students, your tuition fee shown above includes a Student Services Fee – also known as the Student Levy. This compulsory fee covers your access to the student services we offer. This cost is tailored depending on how you're studying.
The international tuition fee does not include your Student Levy. This will be calculated when you enrol with us.
Click below to find out more about the Student Levy costs and services provided.
Fees Free
Starting tertiary study or work-based learning for the first time? You may be able to get Fees Free after you complete your first eligible qualification or programme.
Fees Free covers the cost of your fees for the final year of study or final two years of work-based learning, up to $12,000.
When you enrol, you will need to pay your fees. To help you cover this cost, you may wish to apply for a student loan. Find out more at Student loan – StudyLink.
For more information on the eligibility requirements and when it is best to apply for Fees Free, visit Fees Free – Inland Revenue.
Scholarships for international students
We have a range of Scholarships to support our international students.
