Gain the skills to contribute greatly to the booming building industry, at our Auckland Campus on Queen St. Meet the surging demand for construction professionals by learning technical, work-ready skills to price and manage construction projects. This degree broadens your skills in business and construction law and management.
The New Zealand Diploma in Construction (Quantity Surveying) forms the first two years of the Bachelor of Construction (Quantity Surveying). Learners can choose whether to enrol in the Diploma or the Degree.
Graduates of the New Zealand Diploma in Construction (Level 6) (Construction Management) or (Quantity Surveying) will be credited the courses they have completed up to a maximum of 240 credits.
New Zealand offers residency under a number of categories including for those who have completed their study in New Zealand. To learn more about your specific situation, please refer to the Immigration New Zealand website or engage with a licensed immigration adviser.
Around 37.5 hours per week. Class time will decrease, and self-study time will increase in your third year.
Gain in-demand skills to enter one of the fastest-growing industries in New Zealand.
Better pay
According to NZ Talent.com, the average salary of quantity surveyors in New Zealand is $100,000. Entry-level positions start at about $74,000 per year and soar to up to $144,000 per year for experienced workers.
High job prospects
Construction is the fifth largest sector in New Zealand’s economy, employing just over a quarter of a million people. Around 4,800 new jobs a year will be created in construction in the years to 2028, according to the government’s medium to long-term employment outlook.
The skills of Quantity Surveyors are highly sought-after in New Zealand – as there are quantity surveyor shortages throughout the country, and demand is growing.
Auckland represents over a third of New Zealand's construction activity, especially for its extensive housing projects. However, there are opportunities elsewhere including various roading projects, Christchurch's rebuild, and Wellington's earthquake strengthening, ensuring there are plenty of opportunities all over New Zealand.
International Students
Quantity surveyors are on New Zealand’s skill shortage lists, so if international graduates have a full-time job offer – and the right experience and qualifications – it may be easier to apply for a visa.
Source: Immigration NZ
If you are under 20, you will need to have NCEA Level 3 including 14 credits at Level 3 or above in three NZQA-approved university entrance subjects, and Literacy: 10 credits at Level 2 or above, made up of 5 credits in reading and 5 credits in writing, and Numeracy: 12 credits at Level 2 or above, made up of: specified achievement standards available through a range of subjects OR package of three numeracy unit standards (26623, 26626, 26627- all three required).
If you are over 20, you need to show evidence or industry experience and/or alternative relevant qualifications.
Additional Requirements
If you don't meet the academic entry criteria, you may still be given provisional entry to year one at the discretion of the Programme Leader.
English
If English is not your first language you must provide a New Zealand University Entrance or an Overall Academic IELTS 6.0 with no individual band score lower than 5.5 (achieved in one test completed in the last two years), or acceptable alternative evidence of the required IELTS (see here for NZQA proficiency table and here for list of recognised proficiency tests).
For those under 20
For those over 20
If you need to improve your English Language skills, we offer a wide range of English programmes.
We do not accept international learners under the age of 18 at the time of enrolment.
You will study financial feasibility studies, budgets and cost planning. When you graduate, you will be able to price and manage construction projects.
During the programme, you will focus on:
Construction Costs
You will learn to measure and estimate the costs of construction work and prepare quantity surveying related documentation such as schedules of quantities and tender proposals. Gain the skills to prepare preliminary financial feasibility studies and detailed cost plans through analysing legislative, physical and financial constraints as well as cost and revenue streams discounted to net present value.
You will learn to critically evaluate design proposals in terms of initial and whole-lifecycle costs, sustainability, and buildability implications.
Treaty of Waitangi
You will find out how to incorporate knowledge of mātauranga Māori and the Treaty of Waitangi into land development and construction-related decisions. During the first year, you will study the relationship between the TOW and property development, including why iwi consultation is important when working with land issues and the broader construction industry context. In the second year, you will study alternative forms of procurement, including partnerships, inherent in which is partnerships with iwi.
Administration and Management
Learn how to financially administer construction contracts including preparing and managing contractual claims. You will gain the knowledge to apply principles of project management to plan and manage construction projects, including planning and teamwork and integrating knowledge areas such as scope, time, budget, risk, stakeholders, procurement, sustainability, resources, communication, quality, and health and safety.
Evaluation
You will learn to critically evaluate procurement pathways and contractual arrangements and critique contracts in terms of clarity, obligations, and risk allocation and draft new and amend existing contract terms. Gain the skills to critically evaluate construction processes through applying research skills with a view to improving performance in terms of time, quality, cost, sustainability, and client satisfaction.
Professional development
We will teach you how to maintain professional competency and currency and have the ability to progress toward further post-graduate study and specialise in fields such as commercial management, project management, or construction law, including exploring new and emerging technologies.
Graduate Diploma in Construction Project Management
Postgraduate Diploma in Construction- Building Technology, Construction Law, Construction Project Management, Facilities Management, Quantity Surveying
You will have access to classes each week where you can ask your lecturers questions about your assessments and learning.
Will this qualification be recognised in the industry where I will work?
Yes, this qualification is NZQA approved and recognised by New Zealand employers.
What will I earn after graduating with this qualification?
The average estimator salary in New Zealand is $80,000 per year or $41.03 per hour. Entry-level positions start at $57,179 per year, while most experienced workers make up to $120,250 per year. The average consultant salary in New Zealand is $83,414 per year or $42.78 per hour. Entry-level positions start at $50,000 per year, while most experienced workers make up to $162,000 per year.
What do my job prospects look like?
You will learn in-demand skills for this rapidly growing industry with Aotearoa in the midst of a construction boom. The Christchurch rebuilds and a shortage of housing stock, particularly in Auckland, have fuelled this growth over the past decade.
I have so many commitments. I am concerned I may not be able to complete the programme.
Please feel free to reach out to our Student Services team and find out how you will be supported during your learning.
Will this programme prepare me adequately for the workplace?
Yes, you will become work-ready through the use of authentic simulation. This includes developing budgets, claims, claim schedules, construction programmes, cost estimates, methodologies, schedules of quantities and tender bids. You will have project-based learning including teamwork to reflect industry practice. You will work with authentic project-based documentation including drawings, specifications, reports, subcontractor quotes and supplier rates.
Where is the nearest library to the Auckland campus?
Our Auckland campus on Queen St has a small library. You can visit the Auckland City Library nearby. You will have access to a range of scholarly articles through relevant databases during the programme.
Will I be doing group work with other students?
You will be doing both individual and team-based assessments. You can share learning and respond to other learners' questions during online discussion forums. The ability to work collaboratively in project-based teams reflects the project-based nature of the construction industry.
Gain a Level 7 qualification in three years: Bachelor of Construction (Quantity Surveying) (Level 7)
The Bachelor of Construction provides pathways into professional body membership such as the New Zealand Institute of Building (NZIOB) and, for quantity surveying graduates, into the New Zealand Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NZIQS).
The next step from the degree is a Post Graduate Diploma or Master’s qualification in a related field. These include the Graduate Diploma in Construction Project Management or the Postgraduate Diploma in Construction.