About this course
The Chartered Surveyor (Quantity Surveyor Pathway) Degree Apprenticeship, exclusively available through Morgan Sindall, offers the opportunity to gain a full honours degree. You'll gain professional Chartered status too, through the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). The course is accredited by RICS and CABE and successful completion would lead to the award of a degree in BSc (Hons) Quantity Surveying and Commercial Management.
This course is for those who want to be the centre of the management of construction procurement process. If you think logically, enjoy using your own initiative, are interested in financial matters and enjoy dealing with people then it's the perfect course for you. Module content links an understanding of the construction process with key numerical and cost-management skills. Through industry-relevant course material you'll develop a cohesive understanding of the role of the quantity surveyor, alongside other important skills, knowledge and experience.
Main image source: Morgan Sindall Group
-
This course is closely linked to our BSc (Hons) Quantity Surveying and Commercial Management degree. -
Learn from the experts — Land and Property Management at NTU is ranked 2nd in the UK for Teaching Quality (Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide, 2025).
What you’ll study
The apprenticeship consists of three key elements:
1. Degree course, taught and assessed by NTU
2. Employment and practical training, provided by your employer
3. Professional membership of the RICS, which is managed and assessed by the RICS
Together, these will provide you with the knowledge and competence to be a Chartered Quantity Surveyor.
Fundamentals of Construction (40 credits)
- This module will introduce you to the domestic construction industry and the technology associated with it, looking at modern and sustainable forms of construction.
- You'll develop an understanding of building materials and their properties, studying a range of building components, elements and forms.
Introduction to Measurement and Cost (20 credits)
- This module will introduce and develop your understanding of measurement principles, and your ability to apply measurement skills.
- You'll develop an understanding of how construction costs occur, learn how to prepare estimates of these costs, and how to manage their occurrence during the construction process.
Practice in the Workplace (40 credits)
- This module will introduce you to some of the important roles carried out by professionals in order to create the built environment.
- Focus will be on the structure of the industry, the professions within the industry and where you will fit into it - forming construction teams, tendering for construction work, and health and safety within the industry.
Architectural Science and Building Engineering Services (20 credits)
- This module will introduce you to the methods of providing comfortable internal thermal, visual and acoustic environments – the ways in which buildings are appropriately heated, cooled, quietened and illuminated.
- You'll study the basic principles underlying the operation and function of building engineering services: how buildings are provided with water supplies and concentrated energy, such as gas and electricity, and how waste and refuse are removed.
Measurement (20 credits)
- The ability to measure quantities is very important and much sought-after skill for a quantity surveyor. This module will cover the measurement of building works, building engineering services, and civil engineering works.
Construction Technology (20 credits)
- This module will primarily focus on industrial and commercial buildings. The key aim is for you to understand modern and traditional building technologies.
- It will also consider international construction methods and materials. Sustainability is an intrinsic driver in all construction matters, and its consideration will be an overriding requirement in this module.
Law (20 credits)
- This module will introduce you to the English Legal System, to help you understand how law is made, administered and enforced. You will also study health and safety, negligence, occupier's liability, and other relevant construction-related legal topics.
- The aim of this module is to develop your understanding of legal duties and responsibilities. One particular theme is effective decision-making for construction professionals, and in particular manager's duties in employment and business law.
Contract Administration: Control and Finance (20 credits)
- Contract administration is the study of construction contracts and practice. Construction related contracts are widely used in the industry and play an important role in your working practices.
- This module will develop your knowledge and understanding of this area by studying key topics related to the administration of construction-related contracts, and applying the practices and procedures to industry-related scenarios.
- These topics are crucial to any construction-related project, and represent the fundamental building blocks of a relationship between a client and a contractor, and will form a daily part of a future professional career in construction.
Cost Planning and Estimating (20 credits)
- This module aims to develop your understanding of how construction costs occur, your ability to prepare estimates of cost and to manage the occurrence of cost during the construction process.
- The ability to produce residual valuations, life-cycle costing and cost plans is very important as a quantity surveyor. This module will cover most of the pre-tender stage estimating techniques.
Sustainable Technology with Environmental Control (20 credits)
- In this module you will explore the techniques of sustainability used in building technology and environmental engineering.
- You will also learn about providing internal environments within buildings using both active and passive control methods.
Quantity Surveying Project (40 credits)
- This module aims to integrate knowledge and skills derived from the study programme, through application to a specific project scenario. It draws on industry practice to provide an overview of the fundamental principles of the construction development and delivery process.
- You will further develop your analytical, problem-solving and creative-thinking skills, and your ability to work both independently and in teams, with minimal reliance on close supervision, preparing you for your role in the construction industry.
Contract Practice (20 credits)
- Construction-related contracts are used widely in the industry, and play an increasingly important role in your everyday working practice.
- This module will develop your existing knowledge so that you're able to undertake contract practice duties, and give reasoned professional advice on matters relating to construction contracts.
- By drawing on relevant statute, case law and research, the module aims to allow you to develop a critical, rounded knowledge base of the key issues.
Project and Financial Management (20 credits)
- This module aims to develop your knowledge and understanding of the UK and international construction industry, and the strategies which can be adopted by clients to successfully procure and manage construction projects.
- You will develop the ability to interpret the particular needs of different client groups, to develop relevant procurement strategies, and to apply tools and techniques to support the implementation of those strategies - both procedural and financial.
Dissertation (40 credits)
- This module offers an opportunity to develop and utilise a range of research skills to produce a thesis based on a topic you have selected.
- Through intensive research and knowledge of appropriate theory, you'll develop an extended research dissertation, guided by your dissertation supervisor.
The RICS Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) is undertaken alongside the last 3 years of the degree programme, and also forms your end point assessment. The APC is managed by the RICS, with support from NTU, and runs alongside the degree programme during the final three years of study, with up to 12 months after completion of the practical study period.
This consists of the following:
- Diary and log book of experience over the three-year period
- 3 monthly assessments of competence by apprentices’ supervisor and counsellor
- End point assessment
The end point assessment aspect consists of the following:
- A 5500 word summary of experience
- A 3000 word case study
- A record of at least 48 hours of CPD over the last 2 years prior to submission
- A final presentation and interview
Apprentices will need to successfully complete and pass all credits of their BSc (Hons) degree before they are able to apply for final interview. The decision as to when the apprentice is ready to take the end point assessment will be made by the apprentice’s supervisor and counsellor who must confirm that they have satisfied the RICS APC competencies for their chosen pathway.
Support for the end point assessment will be provided through the Level 6 modules of the degree programme provided by NTU, but none of the APC or end point assessment are assessed by NTU.
More information about the RICS APC process and the roles of the counsellor and supervisor can be found on the RICS website.
We regularly review and update our course content based on student and employer feedback, ensuring that all of our courses remain current and relevant. This may result in changes to module content or module availability in future years.
How you're taught
Work Based Tutor Support
Periodic workplace visits by your workplace tutor will allow opportunity for review and feedback on all aspects of the apprenticeship. These meetings will normally include the Workplace Mentor as well.
Workplace visits will normally take place at a minimum of every 12-weeks, and will be arranged between the employer, the apprentice, the workplace tutor. At least one visit will preferably take place in person, though most will be conducted remotely, by Microsoft Teams.
Contact hours
The mode of study will be block release, which will be supplemented by a range of blended learning materials. It is intended that there will be four, 1-week learning blocks each year.
The provisional dates for attendance at NTU’s City Campus are as follows:
Block 1 – 20 January 2025
Block 2 – 11 March 2025
Block 3 – 16 June 2025
Block 4 – 8 September 2025
The dates for the block weeks in Years 2, 3, 4 and 5 will be shared in due course, however they will follow a similar pattern of 4 x 1-week blocks.
Campus and facilities
Our Facilities
We have a vast range of specialist tools, software, workshops and other facilities to help students in the School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment create their very best work.
Your lectures and seminars will take place on our City Campus. You'll also benefit from dedicated lab spaces in the Maudslay building, including a hydraulics lab and a concrete testing lab.
IT resources
Our IT resource rooms and PC clusters are distributed across the City site, with PCs providing access to Microsoft Office, email, web browsing, networked file storage, and high-speed online printing services (with a free printing allowance for each student). Resource rooms are available 24 hours a day.
Books and library resources
In our Boots Library, you will have access to an extensive and diverse range of books and periodicals that focus on specialist areas within the Built Environment. The library's OneSearch system provides access to all our electronic resources, journals and books.
Within the library there is a liaison librarian who has specialist subject knowledge. They can offer detailed help in finding and using print and electronic resources and also support on things such as Harvard referencing and research skills.
Entry requirements
UK students
In order to be eligible to undertake an Apprenticeship, you must ensure the following are in place prior to the start date of the course:
- You are a UK resident or have the right to work in the UK.
- Have a job or a job offer from an employer who will support you to complete your apprenticeship.
- Will spend at least 50% of your working week in England over the duration of the apprenticeship. This also applies to remote and hybrid workers
Make sure to read the course-specific entry requirements in the additional requirements section below.
Additional requirements for UK students
Applicants for this course will need to meet the standard BSc (Hons) Quantity Surveying and Commercial Management FT/SW entry qualifications.
- Alevels – BBB; or
- BTEC Extended Diploma – DDM; or
- 120 UCAS Tariff points from three A-levels or equivalent qualifications; and
- GCSEs – English and Maths grade C / 4.
Applicants applying without A-levels will have their qualifications assessed for subject compatibility.
All successful applicants must meet the criteria for Apprentices set by the Education Skills Funding Agency (ESFA).
Other relevant or prior experience may also be considered as an alternative. NTU will liaise with the employer to determine their requirements.
Other qualifications and experience
NTU welcomes applications from students with non-standard qualifications and learning backgrounds, either for year one entry or for advanced standing beyond the start of a course into year 2 or beyond.
We consider study and/or credit achieved from a similar course at another institution (otherwise known as credit transfer), vocational and professional qualifications, and broader work or life experience.
Our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy outlines the process and options available for this route. If you wish to apply via Recognition of Prior Learning, please contact the central Admissions and Enquiries Team who will be able to support you through the process.
Getting in touch
If you need more help or information, get in touch through our enquiry form.
International students
In order to be eligible to undertake an Apprenticeship, you must ensure you can fulfil the following prior to the start date of the course:
- You have been ordinarily resident in the UK and Islands for at least the previous 3-year period on the first day of your apprenticeship.
- Your ordinary residence in the UK and Islands has not during any part of that period been wholly or mainly for the purpose of receiving full-time education.
- You have permission granted by the UK government to live in the UK and such permission is not for education purposes only.
- You must be able to complete the apprenticeship in the time you have available (e.g. your Visa must last for the duration of the apprenticeship as well as your contract of employment).
Make sure to read the course-specific entry requirements in the additional requirements section below.
Additional requirements for international students
Applicants for this course will need to meet the standard BSc (Hons) Quantity Surveying and Commercial Management FT/SW entry qualifications.
- Alevels – BBB; or
- BTEC Extended Diploma – DDM; or
- 120 UCAS Tariff points from three A-levels or equivalent qualifications; and
- GCSEs – English and Maths grade C / 4.
Applicants applying without A-levels will have their qualifications assessed for subject compatibility.
All successful applicants must meet the criteria for Apprentices set by the Education Skills Funding Agency (ESFA).
Other relevant or prior experience may also be considered as an alternative. NTU will liaise with the employer to determine their requirements.
Policies
We strive to make our admissions procedures as fair and clear as possible. To find out more about how we make offers, visit our admissions policies page.
