Why Study/Key Benefits

• The Bachelor of Construction with a Quantity Surveying major prepares students for professional work in the financial, contractual, measurement and management aspects of construction projects.
• Students learn to work on construction projects from initiation through completion, helping manage project costs and financial performance.
• The programme combines construction knowledge with business, finance, accounting, mathematics, law, estimating, measurement, procurement and project management.
• Digital technology is embedded throughout the programme, including computer-aided drawing (CAD), building information modelling (BIM), augmented reality and virtual reality. Quantity surveying courses also use digital measurement and costing software.
• A compulsory minimum of 600 hours of approved industry work experience gives students practical exposure alongside academic study.
• The final year can be completed in distance mode, allowing students to combine study with relevant employment or work experience.
• The Quantity Surveying major is accredited by the New Zealand Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NZIQS) for graduate membership and by the Pacific Association of Quantity Surveyors (PAQS). The Bachelor of Construction is also accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).
• Successful graduates can progress to further construction study, including Massey’s Postgraduate Diploma in Construction or Master of Construction.

Programme Structure and Subjects/Topics

The degree is parts-based and requires completion of Part One before progressing to Part Two and then Part Three, subject to Massey’s progression regulations. The Quantity Surveying major accounts for 240 credits.

Part One – foundation year

Students normally complete 120 credits of foundation courses. The current typical pattern includes:

• 115112 Accounting for Business Decisions
• 115114 Finance for Business and Life
• 218101 Building Materials, Elements and Regulation
• 218102 Construction Technology and Services I
• 218103 Construction Design and Drawings
• 218104 Mathematics and Structural Principles
• 218105 Integrating Design & Delivery in Built Environment
• 218106 Construction Health, Safety & Wellbeing
• 218110 Construction Industry Work Experience I

The first year introduces construction materials and methods, building design, estimating and project costing, sustainable construction, computer-aided drawing, finance, accounting and mathematics.

Part Two – Quantity Surveying

Students select 120 credits from the approved Quantity Surveying courses. Current options include:

• 127241 Property Markets and Planning – property markets, planning and New Zealand/international property and planning contexts.
• 152252 Project Management – project management theory and methods.
• 218201 Construction Technology and Services II – commercial building construction, materials, services and 3D digital environments.
• 218203 Principles of Measurement and Estimation – measurement, estimating and cost planning.
• 218204 Construction Contracts and Legal Principles – construction contracts, contract and tort principles and dispute resolution.
• 218220 Measurement I – building measurement, quantity take-offs and Bills of Quantities using computer-aided measurement and scheduling packages.
• 218224 Construction Technology and Services III – infrastructure construction, services and lifelines.
• 218226 Planning and Digital Built Environment for Quantity Surveyors – project planning, cost information and digital simulation of design, construction and building operation.

Part Three – advanced Quantity Surveying

Current options include:

• 218320 Civil & Services Measurement – measurement of civil engineering projects and building services, including 2D and 3D quantity take-offs.
• 218321 Construction Estimation & Risks – advanced estimating, tendering, margins and construction risk.
• 218323 Measurement II – advanced building measurement and professional Bills of Quantities using industry-standard software.
• 218325 Post Contract Financial Administration – progress claims, variations, fluctuations, extension-of-time claims and final accounts.
• 218326 Quantity Surveying Capstone – consolidation and application of knowledge and skills through a capstone project.
• 218327 Sustainability and Construction Innovation – sustainable development, environmental legislation, circular economy and innovation throughout the building lifecycle.
• 218328 Construction Professional Practice and Ethics – construction law, professional ethics, liabilities, contract administration and dispute resolution.
• 218330 Construction Procurement and Tendering – procurement, e-procurement, e-tendering, tender documents, contractual risk assessment and tender analysis.

Disciplines/Specialisations

The Bachelor of Construction currently has three majors:

• Construction Management
• Design Management
• Quantity Surveying

The Quantity Surveying curriculum focuses particularly on:

• Construction measurement
• Cost planning
• Estimating
• Bills of Quantities
• Construction economics
• Construction contracts
• Procurement and tendering
• Post-contract financial administration
• Construction risk
• Digital built environments
• Project management
• Sustainability and construction innovation

Programme Highlights

• NZQF Level 7 bachelor’s qualification.
• 360-credit, three-year full-time degree.
• 240-credit Quantity Surveying major.
• Auckland campus plus distance/online study.
• International students can study on campus in New Zealand or online from outside New Zealand.
• Minimum 600 hours of approved industry work experience.
• Strong integration of digital construction technology, including CAD, BIM, AR and VR.
• Third-year block-mode delivery supports combining study with employment or industry experience.
• Quantity Surveying major accredited by NZIQS for graduate membership.
• Bachelor of Construction accredited by RICS.
• Quantity Surveying major accredited by PAQS.
• Students can progress to postgraduate construction qualifications, including the Postgraduate Diploma in Construction and Master of Construction.

Career Outcomes

Massey identifies a wide range of career opportunities for Quantity Surveying graduates, including work with construction companies and quantity surveying/project management consultancies.

Potential career areas include:

• Quantity surveying
• Cost estimation
• Construction estimating
• Cost planning
• Tendering and procurement
• Contract administration
• Construction project management
• Property development
• Construction consultancy
• Commercial management
• Insurance valuation and rebuild-cost assessment
• Construction claims
• Dispute resolution
• Arbitration
• Expert-witness work
• Negotiation
• Subcontractor management

Latest Updates/Special Requirements

• The current qualification is a 360-credit Bachelor of Construction at NZQF Level 7.
• Quantity Surveying is one of three current majors, alongside Construction Management and Design Management.
• A minimum of 600 hours of approved industry work experience is compulsory.
• Students must complete the required work-experience reports associated with 218110 and 218210.
• Students should have mathematics knowledge to at least Year 12 level. A foundation mathematics course may be required where the background is insufficient.
• Students must satisfy course prerequisites and progression requirements before moving between programme parts.
• Some courses have restrictions or prerequisites, so course planning is important.
• The final year includes block-mode study and online learning components.
• The Quantity Surveying major has current professional accreditation/recognition from NZIQS and PAQS, while the Bachelor of Construction is RICS-accredited.
• IPU-specific Quantity Surveying admission, credit-transfer, articulation and programme scholarship information: Not publicly specified – please confirm with IPU.

International Student Visa Requirements

An international student physically studying the Bachelor of Construction in New Zealand would generally apply for a Fee Paying Student Visa.

Current Immigration New Zealand requirements and conditions include:

• An offer of place from an approved education provider.
• Evidence of sufficient funds to pay tuition fees, or an acceptable scholarship.
• Evidence of sufficient living funds or an acceptable sponsor.
• Acceptable medical and travel insurance.
• Meeting applicable health and character requirements.
• Genuine intentions to study in New Zealand.
• Evidence that the student can leave New Zealand at the end of their stay or otherwise has an appropriate lawful status.
• The visa application is submitted online.
• Current cost: from NZD 850.
• Visa length: up to 4 years, depending on the circumstances and period of study.
• Immigration New Zealand currently states that 80% of applications are processed within 8 weeks.
• Students are advised to apply at least 3 months before intended travel.

Living-funds requirement:

• For tertiary study of one year or more, students paying their own living costs must currently show NZD 20,000 for each year of study.
• Evidence can include bank statements, an education loan, scholarship evidence, fixed-term deposits or acceptable sponsorship arrangements.

Work rights:

• Depending on the conditions attached to the individual student visa, eligible students may work up to 25 hours per week while studying.
• Eligible students may also work full-time during scheduled holidays/breaks.
• Immigration New Zealand specifically notes that a course worth 120 credits can be relevant when determining eligibility for full-time work rights during scheduled holidays, subject to the other visa conditions.