Requirements

Quantity surveyor - requirements

Quantity surveyors have strong analytical and problem-solving skills plus a firm understanding of mathematics, engineering and construction. They use this skill set to estimate and manage costs for construction projects. Learn more about what it takes to become a quantity surveyor here.

Know what you'll need to land a job below.

What qualifications do you need to be a quantity surveyor?

Getting a RICS-accredited degree will help you gain the necessary skills and knowledge you need to get a job as a quantity surveyor.

Subjects to consider include:

Employers may choose to hire someone without a relevant RICS-accredited degree and instead choose to pay for their postgraduate conversion course while they work. However, this isn’t a given and should’t be expected.

Please note this is a beta version. We'll continue to improve our suggestions here so that we show you the most relevant subjects.

Do you need a postgraduate qualification to be a quantity surveyor?

Quantity surveyors usually need an undergraduate degree in a relevant field to work in the industry. However, if you studied a different subject as your bachelor's, you can do a RICS-accredited postgraduate conversion course to qualify.

Examples of relevant taught and research MAs include:

Quantity surveying
Commercial building surveying
Quantity surveying and commercial management
Construction cost management
Real estate planning

What skills do you need to be a quantity surveyor?

One of the most important skills of any quantity surveyor is building professional relationships with colleagues and clients.

Hard skills usually include:

Construction
Quantity surveying
Civil engineering
Supply chain management
Health and safety
Procurement

Soft skills include:

Negotiation
Communication
Detail-oriented
Microsoft Excel
Organisation

Do you need work experience to be a quantity surveyor?

Work experience will set you apart from other candidates when applying for jobs. Employers want to see that you have an understanding of basic surveying processes. Many quantity surveying firms offer placements to help new starters gain experience. Many degrees also include placement years to give you experience before graduating.