Level 6 Diploma in Quantity Surveying – Three Years (360 Credits)

This qualification includes eighteen key topics designed to develop technical quantity surveying, commercial, analytical, and professional competence:

1. Construction Environment and Quantity Surveying Practice: Understanding the construction industry, project life cycle, principal stakeholders, quantity surveying functions, and the professional role of the quantity surveyor.

2. Construction Technology and Environmental Services: Understanding building systems, construction methods, environmental services, materials, and their implications for project cost and performance.

3. Digital Applications for Construction Information: Applying digital construction information, computer-based measurement, information management, and digital technologies used within quantity surveying practice.

4. Measurement and Estimating: Applying measurement principles, estimating techniques, construction quantities, pricing information, and preparation of cost estimates.

5. Quantity Surveying Practice: Applying professional quantity surveying procedures across pre-contract and post-contract activities.

6. Construction Law and Legal Frameworks: Understanding legal principles, statutory requirements, contractual relationships, and legal frameworks affecting quantity surveying practice.

7. Construction Economics and Sustainability: Evaluating construction economics, project cost influences, sustainability requirements, and the relationship between cost and environmental performance.

8. Design Economics and Cost Planning: Applying cost planning, design economics, value considerations, and cost control throughout the design development process.

9. Advanced Construction Technology: Evaluating construction technologies and methods in more complex building and infrastructure environments.

10. Contract Administration and Practice: Applying contractual procedures, contract administration principles, payment processes, variations, and contractual obligations.

11. Measurement and Quantification of Construction Work: Producing systematic quantities and measurement information for construction works using recognised measurement principles.

12. Procurement and Tendering: Evaluating procurement routes, tender documentation, tender procedures, contractor selection, and commercial implications.

13. Programming and Planning: Understanding construction programming, planning processes, resource coordination, project sequencing, and time-related commercial considerations.

14. Commercial Management of Construction: Critically evaluating commercial management principles, cost control, financial performance, and commercial decision-making.

15. Contemporary Quantity Surveying Practice: Applying modern quantity surveying techniques, digital technologies, sustainability considerations, and changing professional practices.

16. Advanced Measurement and Post-Contract Cost Control: Applying advanced measurement, valuation, cost reporting, change control, interim payments, and final account procedures.

17. Quantity Surveying Research Methods: Developing research questions, selecting appropriate research methods, analysing evidence, and investigating contemporary issues affecting quantity surveying.

18. Quantity Surveying Research and Professional Project: Undertaking an applied research and professional project addressing a significant quantity surveying, construction cost, commercial, or project-management issue.

• Develops advanced competence in measurement, estimating, cost planning, procurement, contract administration, and post-contract cost control.

• Strengthens analytical and commercial skills required to manage construction costs, project finances, tendering, and contractual obligations.

• Enhances career opportunities across quantity surveying, cost consultancy, commercial management, contracting, construction, and infrastructure sectors.

• Builds professional capability in contemporary digital practice, sustainability, risk awareness, stakeholder communication, and evidence-based decision-making.

• Provides a structured foundation for advanced postgraduate study, professional development, and progression toward relevant quantity surveying and construction professional pathways.

• Quantity surveying technicians and construction professionals seeking advanced academic and professional development in quantity surveying.

• Cost consultants, commercial professionals, estimators, contract administrators, and construction personnel seeking formal qualification in construction cost management.

• Engineers, project staff, and built-environment professionals moving into quantity surveying, commercial management, or construction cost consultancy.

• Learners progressing from Level 4 or Level 5 built-environment qualifications toward advanced quantity surveying and commercial-management careers.

• Assessment Format: Written examinations, measurement exercises, cost-planning assignments, tendering exercises, contract case studies, professional reports, research assignments, presentations, and an applied final project.

• Total Questions: 120

• Passing Score: 60%

• Duration: 3 Hours for written examinations, with practical, portfolio, and project assessments completed according to the assessment schedule.

• Certification: HiQual UK Level 6 Diploma in Quantity Surveying

To deliver this Qualification, HiQual UK Approved ATPs must demonstrate the capability to deliver, assess, and internally quality assure qualifications in line with recognised regulatory principles and the expectations of the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF).

Approved centres must operate effective systems to ensure the validity, reliability, fairness, consistency, and security of assessment.

1. Centre Recognition and Legal Compliance

Centres must be formally recognised by HiQual UK prior to the delivery or assessment of any qualification. To maintain recognition, centres must: Be a legally constituted organisation operating in compliance with applicable legislation and regulatory requirements. Demonstrate effective governance, management oversight, and clear lines of accountability. Comply with all HiQual UK policies, procedures, and conditions of centre recognition. Notify HiQual UK promptly of any material changes that may affect delivery, assessment, or internal quality assurance arrangements.

2. Resources, Facilities, and Learning Environment

Centres must ensure that sufficient and appropriate resources are in place to support learning and assessment. This includes: Learning environments appropriate to the mode of delivery, including classrooms and, where applicable, specialist or practical facilities. Access to learning and assessment resources that enable learners to meet qualification outcomes. Secure systems for managing learner data, assessment records, and certification claims. Arrangements that support equality of access and reasonable adjustments for learners where required.

3. Staff Competence and Occupational Expertise

Centres must ensure that all staff involved in delivery, assessment, and internal quality assurance are competent and suitably qualified. Centres must: Appoint tutors with appropriate subject knowledge, teaching competence, and relevant occupational or professional experience. Ensure assessors are trained and competent in applying HiQual UK assessment requirements and standards. Appoint a qualified Internal Quality Assurer (IQA) responsible for monitoring assessment practice and decisions. Maintain records of staff qualifications, experience, training, and continuing professional development (CPD).

4. Assessment Practice and Internal Quality Assurance (IQA)

Centres must operate robust internal quality assurance systems to ensure assessment integrity. Centres must: Ensure assessment is valid, fit for purpose, and conducted in line with HiQual UK requirements. Implement effective IQA procedures to monitor assessor performance and confirm the consistency of assessment decisions. Maintain accurate, complete, and auditable records of learner registration, assessment evidence, and outcomes. Carry out regular internal reviews and standardisation activities to support continuous improvement.

5. Integrity, Risk Management, and Malpractice

Centres must take appropriate measures to protect the integrity of assessment. Centres must: Maintain policies and procedures for the prevention, identification, and management of malpractice and maladministration. Ensure secure handling, storage, and retention of assessment materials and learner evidence. Report any suspected or confirmed malpractice to HiQual UK in accordance with published procedures.

6. Health, Safety, Safeguarding, and Learner Protection

Centres must provide a safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environment. Centres must: Comply with applicable health and safety and safeguarding legislation. Conduct risk assessments for learning activities, particularly where practical or technical work is involved. Maintain procedures to safeguard learner welfare and wellbeing.

7. Learner Information, Support, and Fair Treatment

Centres must ensure learners are informed, supported, and treated fairly. Centres must: Provide clear and accurate information on programme requirements, assessment methods, and certification. Ensure learners receive timely and constructive feedback on assessment outcomes. Operate transparent complaints and appeals procedures aligned with HiQual UK requirements. Manage learner information securely in compliance with data protection legislation.

Successful learners who achieve the HiQual UK Level 6 Diploma in Quantity Surveying may progress to:

HiQual UK Level 7 Diploma in Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management, Construction Project Management, Construction Management, or another related advanced qualification.

Postgraduate-level programmes such as postgraduate certificates, postgraduate diplomas, MSc Quantity Surveying, MSc Construction Management, MSc Commercial Management, MSc Project Management, or related master's programmes, subject to the entry and credit-recognition requirements of the receiving institution.

Professional qualifications and specialist development in areas such as quantity surveying, cost management, commercial management, contract practice, procurement, construction measurement, project financial control, risk management, and dispute resolution.

Professional competency pathways with relevant professional bodies such as the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE), and Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors (CICES), subject to each organisation's academic, experience, competency, membership, and assessment requirements. UCEM's current Quantity Surveying degree is recognised by RICS, CIOB, CABE, and CICES, illustrating the professional-body landscape relevant to the discipline.