What does a quantity surveyor do?
A quantity surveyor (QS) manages all financial and contractual aspects of a construction project – estimating costs, preparing bills of quantities, procuring contractors, valuing work in progress and settling final accounts. They work across residential, commercial and infrastructure sectors for either contractors or clients.
The role is usually split into two stages of a project:
- Pre-contract – feasibility, cost planning, tender pricing, procurement and contract drafting.
- Post-contract – cost control, valuations, change management, claims, dispute resolution and the settling of final accounts.
QSs are employed by main contractors, sub-contractors, consultancies and large client organisations such as developers, local authorities and infrastructure operators.
What does “RICS-accredited degree” mean?
RICS stands for the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors – the professional body that regulates surveying in the UK. A RICS-accredited degree is one that RICS has formally reviewed and confirmed as covering the academic competencies needed to progress to chartered status.
For quantity surveying, the recognised academic qualification is a BSc (Hons) Quantity Surveying at Level 6 of the Regulated Qualifications Framework – the standard bachelor’s-degree level. Graduates of a RICS-accredited degree then complete the Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) in the workplace to be admitted to RICS as MRICS – chartered surveyor status.
Choosing a RICS-accredited degree at the start saves a top-up assessment later, so it is the standard route for serious quantity surveying careers.
Are quantity surveyors paid well?
Yes. Quantity surveying is consistently ranked as one of the better-paid construction careers in the UK, with a clear salary progression tied to experience and chartered status.
Typical earnings stages:
- Graduate / trainee QS – entry-level salary after a RICS-accredited degree.
- Project / intermediate QS – with two to four years of experience.
- MRICS chartered QS – on completing the APC; the most significant uplift in the QS career.
- Senior / commercial manager / director – leading commercial teams or running their own consultancy.
For current pay benchmarks, refer to the most recent RICS UK Rewards & Attitudes Survey and ONS earnings data. RICS chartered status (MRICS) is the primary driver of long-term salary progression.
UCAS points explainer: 240, 72 and the Access route
Many older UCAS offers were expressed in the old tariff (240 points). Under the current UCAS tariff, the comparable figures are slightly different, but the underlying picture is the same: universities are looking for around three A Levels at BBC – or an equivalent Level 3 qualification – for a typical QS BSc offer.
How the main Level 3 routes compare:
- Three A Levels at BBC – traditional school-leaver route.
- Access to HE Diploma with a Merit / Distinction profile – widely accepted by UK universities in place of the equivalent UCAS-tariff requirement.
- BTEC Extended Diploma in a built-environment subject – another commonly accepted Level 3 route.
For the full conversion picture see our UCAS points explained guide and university entry requirements pillar.
Can you become a QS without a degree?
Yes – but with caveats. The non-degree routes into the profession exist, and many practising QSs entered without a degree. The two main alternatives to a RICS-accredited BSc are:
- RICS Associate (AssocRICS) – a level of RICS membership designed for surveyors without a chartered-level degree, assessed on workplace competence and a portfolio.
- Quantity Surveying degree apprenticeships – employer-sponsored routes that combine paid work with a part-time degree leading to MRICS.
However, full chartered status (MRICS) – which unlocks the highest salaries and the most senior roles – still relies on a RICS-accredited degree or equivalent academic qualification, plus the APC. For most adults targeting MRICS, a RICS-accredited BSc remains the most direct and widely recognised pathway.
The learndirect Access to HE pathway into QS
For adults without A Levels, the Access to HE Diploma is the recognised route into a RICS-accredited BSc. The relevant pathway is the Access to HE Diploma (Built Environment) or a closely related construction pathway, all at RQF Level 3.
The Access to HE route gives adult learners three things UK universities expect from QS BSc applicants:
- A recognised Level 3 qualification – regulated by Ofqual via the QAA and Access Validating Agencies.
- Coverage of the academic and quantitative skills QS degrees rely on, including mathematics for the built environment and construction technology.
- Evidence of recent academic study – the key hurdle for adult learners returning to education after years away.
See our Access to HE Diplomas pillar for the full Access route picture, and the Access to HE faculty for the live pathways at learndirect.
Quantity surveyor degree entry requirements
QS degree entry requirements vary by university, but a typical offer for a RICS-accredited BSc (Hons) Quantity Surveying includes:
- Three A Levels at around BBC – or an accepted Level 3 equivalent.
- An Access to HE Diploma with a recognised Merit / Distinction profile, particularly where it covers built environment or construction units.
- GCSE English and Maths at grade 4 / C or higher – or Functional Skills English Level 2 and Functional Skills Maths Level 2 as the recognised adult alternative.
Always check the specific entry requirements on the individual university course page before applying. Some universities interview QS applicants or set additional aptitude tests.
Progression: from Access Diploma to MRICS
The full route from a standing start to chartered surveyor looks like this:
- 1 – Access to HE Diploma (Built Environment) – around one year at Level 3, studied online with learndirect.
- 2 – BSc (Hons) Quantity Surveying at a RICS-accredited UK university – typically three years full-time, or longer part-time.
- 3 – Graduate QS role – building the workplace experience required by RICS for chartership.
- 4 – Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) – the RICS chartered-status assessment, structured around competencies developed in the workplace.
- 5 – MRICS chartered surveyor – followed by progression into senior, commercial-manager and director-level roles.
For the deeper career view – sectors, day-to-day duties, specialisation routes – see the quantity surveying careers pillar.