Why Study / Key Benefits

The qualification is designed to develop advanced knowledge for quantity surveying and commercial management within the construction industry. Massey describes it as a pathway towards more in-depth research at master's level.

Key benefits include:

• Advanced quantity surveying and commercial management knowledge.
• Development of construction cost-planning and financial-administration skills.
• Knowledge of construction procurement, tendering, contracts and contract administration.
• Training in construction law and dispute-resolution processes.
• Research-methods training relevant to built-environment research.
• Development of skills for providing cost advice and procurement advice.
• Preparation for roles involving project and resource management.
• Knowledge relevant to arbitration, adjudication, mediation, negotiation and expert-witness work in construction disputes.
• Potential progression to the Master of Construction, subject to meeting the master's admission and academic requirements. Credits gained in the diploma may be credited towards the master's qualification if approved.

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The Quantity Surveying endorsement requires 75 credits of compulsory specialist study.

218717 Research Methods in Built Environment – 15 credits

This course develops research capabilities relevant to the built environment. Topics include:

• Literature analysis and synthesis
• Literature review
• Research methodologies
• Data-collection methods
• Data-analysis techniques
• Application of research methods to construction research
• Evaluation of research findings.

218730 Construction Project Management – 15 credits

This course covers advanced principles and practices of construction project management.

218764 Construction Contracts and Administration – 15 credits

The course covers specialist areas including:

• Construction law
• Contractual risk analysis
• Comparative construction contracts
• Contract administration
• Modern plain-English contract drafting
• Subcontracting
• Contemporary dispute-resolution methods.

218780 Quantity Surveying Practice – 15 credits

This is a core specialist Quantity Surveying course covering pre-contract practice, including:

• Feasibility studies
• Preliminary estimates
• Cost plans
• Cash-flow forecasting
• Life-cycle costing
• Measurement.

218781 Construction Financial Administration – 15 credits

This course focuses on post-contract financial administration, including:

• Construction procurement
• Tendering
• Interim payments
• Variations
• Claims
• Final accounts.

Additional courses

The qualification is flexible, so students use the remaining 45 credits from approved Postgraduate Diploma in Construction courses, subject to the regulations, prerequisites and course availability. Examples listed within the qualification include:

• 218769 Energy-Efficient Building Design
• 218770 Advanced Construction Technology
• Other approved construction-management, built-environment and related courses.

Disciplines / Specialisations

The formal specialisation is Quantity Surveying within the Postgraduate Diploma in Construction.

Other current Postgraduate Diploma in Construction specialisations include:

• Construction Law
• Construction Project Management
• Digital Built Environment
• Quantity Surveying
• Sustainable Built Environment
• Without Specialisation

The regulations also list Building Technology and Facilities Management, but these are marked as having no new enrolments.

Within Quantity Surveying, the programme focuses particularly on:

• Quantity surveying practice
• Cost estimating
• Cost planning
• Construction finance
• Procurement
• Tendering
• Contract administration
• Construction law
• Commercial management
• Project management
• Construction research
• Dispute resolution.

Programme Highlights

• Postgraduate qualification at NZQF Level 8.
• 120 credits.
• One-year full-time structure.
• Quantity Surveying endorsement requiring at least 75 specialist credits.
• Auckland campus and distance/online options.
• International students can study on campus in New Zealand or online from outside New Zealand.
• Advanced focus on quantity surveying and commercial construction management.
• Strong emphasis on cost planning, procurement, financial administration and contracts.
• Research-methods training supports progression to master's-level research.
• Potential pathway to the Master of Construction if the student meets the relevant academic requirements.
• Massey describes the qualification as one of the early construction-focused management qualifications in New Zealand.

Career Outcomes

Massey identifies career opportunities including employment with:

• Construction businesses
• Quantity surveying consultancies
• Project management consultancies
• Construction contractors
• Commercial construction organisations
• Property and development organisations
• Organisations involved in construction procurement and financial management.

Potential professional activities include:

• Quantity surveying
• Construction estimating
• Cost planning
• Project budgeting
• Tender preparation
• Contract documentation
• Procurement advice
• Project appraisal
• Tender planning and adjudication
• Contract administration
• Subcontractor management
• Arbitration
• Expert-witness work
• Negotiation
• Construction dispute resolution. 

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

The current official regulations confirm that the Quantity Surveying endorsement remains available within the Postgraduate Diploma in Construction and requires at least 75 credits within the endorsement.

Important current points for applicants are:

• The qualification requires a Bachelor of Construction/equivalent, or a relevant bachelor's degree followed by a relevant postgraduate certificate/equivalent.
• Official transcripts from universities other than Massey must be supplied.
• At least 120 credits must be at 700 or 800 level.
• Students may need to attend block courses, workshops, tutorials or laboratories where required.
• Individual course options are subject to availability.
• Satisfactory completion may allow progression to the Master of Construction, but master's admission requirements still apply.

International Student Visa Requirements

International students travelling to New Zealand for on-campus study will generally require a Fee Paying Student Visa, subject to their individual circumstances.

Current Immigration New Zealand requirements include:

• Offer of place from an approved education provider.
• Evidence of sufficient funds to pay tuition fees or an appropriate scholarship.
• Evidence of sufficient money for living costs or an acceptable sponsor.
• Acceptable medical and travel insurance.
• Meeting health, character and genuine-intention requirements.
• Evidence that the student intends to leave New Zealand when their authorised stay ends, where required.