Introduction
HND in Quantity Surveying and Construction Economics
Quantity Surveying is a superb career for men and women who have the desire to involve themselves in the exciting world of construction and development. In a highly pressurized world of spiraling costs and large scale development, the role of the quantity surveyor is currently more vital than when the profession was originally established in England in 1785. Quantity Surveyors work on projects ranging from office blocks, schools, hospitals, factories to bridges, railways, oil and mining development, shipbuilding and large process engineering works such as refineries. Anywhere that major construction work is carried out. The Quantity Surveyor, also known as a Construction Economist, or Cost Manger, is one of a team of professional advisors to the construction industry.
As advisers they estimate and monitor construction costs, from the feasibility stage of a project through to the completion of the construction period. After construction they may be involved with tax depreciation schedules, replacement cost estimation for insurance purposes and, if necessary, mediation and arbitration. Quantity surveyors are employed predominantly on major building and construction projects as consultants to the owner, in both the public and private sectors. They may also work as academics in the building and construction disciplines and in financial institutions, with developers and as project managers. Quantity Surveyors work closely with architects, financiers, engineers, contractors, suppliers, project owners, accountants, insurance underwriters, solicitors and Courts and with all levels of government authorities.
Quantity Surveyors get their name from the Bill of Quantities, a document which itemizes the quantities of materials and labour in a construction project. This is measured from design drawings, to be used by the contractors for tendering and for progress payments, for variations, changes and ultimately for statistics, taxation and valuation.
Entry Requirements
| GCE O/L | 6 Pass including English and Maths Credit passes |
| GCE A/L Stream | Maths / Bio / Commerce or equivalent |
| GCE A/L Results | 2 Passes |
| GCE O/L English | Credit Pass |
| GCE A/L English | Minimum Pass |
| Other | |
| Age | 18+ |
Pearson/Edexcel/BTEC
Pearson is one of the major awarding bodies in UK. It has built a process to measure effectiveness of educational products. The innovative force in education and training is vital in this modern era. Edexcel was formed in 1996 by the merger of two of the leading examination and assessment boards in the UK: the Business and Technology Council (BTEC) which offered widely recognised vocational qualifications and, the University of London Examinations and Assessment Council (ULEAC).
This amalgamation made Edexcel the first awarding body for both academic and vocational qualifications. They offer qualifications in a vast range of subjects that offer breadth and depth of knowledge and which are welcomed by universities and employers alike.Each of their qualifications has been developed in consultation with the UK Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, and will certify you for success in the modern and changing world.
Edexcel is part of Pearson, the world’s leading learning company which has an educational heritage rooted in names like Longman, Heinemann and Prentice Hall.
Edexcel is the UK’s largest awarding organization, offering academic and vocational qualifications and testing to schools, colleges, employers and other places of learning in the UK and internationally.
Edexcel vocational qualifications include NVQ and BTEC from entry level to Higher National Diplomas. BTECs are recognised in more than 80 countries worldwide, and in 2009/10 over 1.1 million learners were registered onto a BTEC.
BTEC originally stood for the Business & Technology (formally Technician) Education Council, but as of 1996, when it merged with the University of London Examinations & Assessment Council (ULEAC) to become Edexcel, the initials ‘BTEC’ have remained a brand name for a range of respected vocational qualifications – e.g. BTEC Higher National.People around the world, look towards BTEC from Edexcel international, when considering vocational qualifications.
Whether you want to leave college with a certified record of achievement or go on to study at university or aim for a higher position in your career, BTEC vocational qualifications will equip you with the skills you need to succeed in the ever changing work environment.
Programme Structure
| Year | Semester | Modules | GL Hours | Credits |
| 1 | 1 | Building Construction Technology | 60 | 15 |
| Measurements | 60 | 15 | ||
| Mathematical Application & Statistics | 60 | 15 | ||
| Fundamentals of Drawing & Surveying | 60 | 15 | ||
| 2 | Advanced Construction Technology | 60 | 15 | |
| Advanced Building Measurements | 60 | 15 | ||
| Construction Materials & Structural Design | 60 | 15 | ||
| Management | 60 | 15 | ||
| 2 | 3 | Civil Engineering Measurements | 60 | 15 |
| Tender Estimation | 60 | 15 | ||
| Pre-Contract Management | 60 | 15 | ||
| Economics | 60 | 15 | ||
| Communication Skills | 60 | 15 | ||
| 4 | Financial Management | 60 | 15 | |
| Building Economics | 60 | 15 | ||
| Post-Contract Management | 60 | 15 | ||
| Law & Contractual Procedures | 60 | 15 | ||
| Industrial Training | 90 | 20 |
Scope of Syllabus
| Module Name | Scope |
| Building Construction Technology | This unit is designed to provide the fundamental knowledge in building construction. Successful functions of a Quantity Surveyor require a sound fundamental knowledge and thorough understanding of the composition of building elements and their construction methods. This knowledge and understanding is mandatory for measurements, estimation and cost management, preparing the tender documents & project planning. This unit will enable learners to understand, apply and analyze the site investigation methods, structural elements and method of construction. |
| Measurements | The ability to analyse and measure construction work is a major technical skill of Quantity Surveyors in quantification and valuation of construction work. To maximize the ability, this unit introduces and develops analytical and problem solving skills relating to measurement and quantification of construction work, following a SMM for small scale building projects. The unit adopts a competency based learning approach to the development and assessment of analytical and quantification skills of the students. |
|
Fundamentals of Drawings & Surveying |
This unit provides the knowledge on the fundamentals of engineering drawings and the theory and practice of site surveying procedures. Engineering drawings play a vital role in the engineering field. Professionals in this arena need to be acquainted with these drawings for successful operation. This module provides a fair knowledge in understanding the basic concepts of engineering drawings. The component in land surveying provides an opportunity for the learner to understand the uses of surveying equipments and develops the knowledge needed to perform surveying calculations. |
| Mathematical Applications and Statistics | This unit provides the learner with the Fundamental Mathematical and Statistical knowledge needed in survey computations, construction and management which in turn enables the students to carry out the work effectively in advanced mathematical techniques. The contents are designed to cover the relevant aspects and to appreciate the art of solving problems in mathematics and statistics. |
| Construction Materials and Structural Design | The knowledge of materials used in Construction and Engineering are identified as a prime requirement for a person seeking advancement in the field of Buildings & Civil Engineering. This unit develops the understanding on different options and selection of alternative materials. Part of this unit covers structural design which helps the learner to understand the basic principles of reinforced concrete design. |
| Advanced Building Measurements | This module builds up the knowledge, understanding and skills of taking off quantities for Multi-storey buildings & steel structures and Building Services work and to prepare Bills of Quantities. The module has been designed to enable learners to measure elements pertaining to high-rise/complex buildings and Building Services. The students will use the information and drawings for appropriate projects to assist in the understanding of production of Bills of Quantities along with preambles, specification and preliminary items. |
|
Management |
This unit provides an introduction to basic management principles and the functions of a manager. It embraces the skills and attributes a manager needs to acquire for effective and efficient performance in accomplishing the goals. The unit is designed to cover management theories in the spheres of human resource management and organizational management. The profession of quantity surveying is multi-disciplinary in nature that requires constant communication with all stakeholders of the project. Understanding management principles will help building up amicable relationship among the stakeholders enabling smooth functioning of a project. |
| Advanced Construction Technology | This unit provides the students with an understanding of incorporating services in buildings such as plumbing, drainage and sewerage systems. It also covers pre-cast and pre-stressed construction, steel structures and the basic principles and practices of road work. |
| Pre-contract Management | This module basically focuses on pre – contract management activities in a given construction project. Pre-contract Management involves preparing a contract by considering the individual tasks required to be undertaken in the competitive tendering process till the award of contract. Hence, it deals with Tender Documentation, Tendering Process, Tender Evaluation and the Contractor’s activities on Decision to Tenders and collection of information. |
| Tender Estimation | This unit aims to develop the knowledge and skills required to estimate the price of construction projects in a very detailed and precise manner. This unit enables the learner to prepare quotations with a large quantity of products and services. This unit offers standard pricing techniques that include different items and types in pricing: raw materials, labour, sub-contractor, compound products (recipes), sections and standard sub-sections, and so on.
This unit allows to easily configure the compound products (recipes), following standard procedures (methods). The defined teaching method in this unit can be adjusted according to the specific needs of the project, simply and instantly, allowing them to create an estimate with realistic and precise costs. |
| Economics | This unit is designed to enable students to acquire knowledge and understanding of the fundamental economic concepts necessary for a better understanding of how the macro economic climate and the market conditions influences the cost and the price of a construction project, and to understand the sensitivity of construction industry to the overall economy. National and international economic climates influence business conditions. Consequently quantity surveyors need to provide information to project managers or other business managers to make critical decisions within the overall economic environment. The first half of the subject focuses on micro economics. |
| Civil Engineering Measurements | This module builds up the knowledge, understanding and skills of taking off quantities for Civil engineering work and to prepare Bills of Quantities. The module has been designed to enable learners to measure elements pertaining to Civil Engineering works. The students will use the information and drawings to assist in the understanding of production of Bills of Quantities along with preambles, specification and preliminary items for civil engineering work. |
| Communication Skills | This unit intends to develop the ability to communicate effectively and to be competent, to build self confidence and to be fluent in the spoken language. The objective behind this is to provide students with the logical system of sending and receiving messages clearly either in writing or in spoken language. This will equip students to comprehend and transmit their thoughts on a one-to-one basis so that they will be able to generate responses as they become more effective; enabling them to be effective listeners during lectures and prompt them to be more interactive in the learning process throughout their course of study. |
| Building Economics | This unit prepares the general background to the quantity surveyor’s work by describing the various members of the design team and their interrelationships, the design process and the quantity surveyor’s role within it. The unit will also discuss the control of the cost of projects throughout the design process and examine the quantity surveyors role in the cost control process. |
| Post-contract management | This unit focuses mainly on managing the contract sum that is vulnerable to changes in the post-contract stage. Post contract management is the stage where the active contract management takes place and involves the monitoring of a contract. Effective contract monitoring requires efficient two-way communications between parties. This will usually be the one used for main Construction Contract, but could comprise a number of different Contracts, major and subsidiary and any modification to it; the length of the Contract in terms of the Start Date, Completion Due Date and any modification to the latter. Various Documents are produced and actions performed to administer and track these modifications in the form of tangible records will also play a significant role in managing the claims and the contract sum. |
| Financial Management | This unit will develop student’s knowledge, understanding and skills to analyze and interpret financial problems and data to make prudent financial decisions. The unit will cover financial statements, Budgeting, Cash Flow Forecasting and Cash Flow Statements, Working Capital Management and Financial Structure of Organization. Case studies will be used extensively together with a current working knowledge of business practices in the construction industry to identify best practices. |
| Law & Contractual Procedures | This unit examines the impact of law on the construction industry and construction contracts giving students the ability to make decisions on legal, commercial and managerial matters. This defines the legal framework within which the management and administration of construction contracts operate. The legal system, the law of contract, Land and property Law and the law of tort as they relate to the production of the construction project are described and the rights, duties, liabilities and obligations of the parties on the contract as dictated by the standard form of contract are evaluated. |
| Industrial Training | Industrial training is an opportunity provided to the students to utilize the knowledge and skills they have acquired during the first two semesters in relation to practical work and to gain experience on real-life situations. This will provide the student an opportunity to gain exposure to the working environment, especially to the work of a quantity surveyor. The students are expected to, but not limited to gain exposure to quantity surveying practice. A thorough observation of the construction technology is complementary and would enrich their career. In addition, students are expected to observe and accustom them selves to the working environment of the organization, and learn to work in a team. Further, wherever opportunities prevail, students are encouraged to support site activities. It is a must that the students maintain a daily log, certified by relevant authorized personnel. On completion, the students are expected to prepare and submit a comprehensive report covering their experience and observations. |
Assessment/ Academic Standards and Quality
The focus of HND is on practical knowledge; all units are evaluated through continuous assignments and assessments, projects built into the programme and tests for authentication of knowledge gained.
Tests and assignments are set up and evaluated by BCAS (approved centres of Edexcel) within the framework provided by Edexcel. It is done not only to evaluate the Academic skills of the candidates but also incorporate the necessary arrangements to evaluate the ability and achievement of the common skills areas of the students. Common skills are an integral part of Edexcel philosophy.
Assignments, tests and their assessments are audited by Edexcel’s External Standard Verifiers continuously to maintain standards.
Edexcel has a strong quality assurance system which includes Quality Audit, External Standard Verification and regular visits to the centers by UK and regional staff.
Panel of Lecturers
The lecture panel consists of well qualified and experienced members of lecturers including Industry Experts professionals with M.Sc qualifications. They have also been well trained in latest teaching techniques and multiple assessment methodologies.
Programs and Awards
– BTEC Higher National Diploma in Quantity Surveying and Construction Economics
Career Prospects
A Higher National Diploma award allows graduates of this course to transfer to the final year of the BSc (Hons) Quantity Surveying or similar courses in more than 100 universities worldwide.
Graduates of HND Quantity Surveying can get opportunities infollowing areas
– All types of Building constructions
– Hotels, Residential apartments, other commercial buildings etc…
– Roads/Highways and Bridges constructions
– Petrochemical complexes (specially in abroad)
– Renovations and Maintenance works in major properties
– Harbours and airport constructions.
– Oil & Gas projects
– Any type of proposed construction projects….
Extra-Curricular Activities
– Industrial Training at recognized institutes
– Site visits
– Exhibitions, debate competition
– Students Council Activities such as Sports meet, football/Cricket Tournaments, cultural events, Talent hunts, etc.
Duration and Course fee
| Duration | Full Time | Monday to Saturday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm – 18 Months ( without Industrial training) |
| Part Time | Saturday & Sunday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm – 24 Months ( without Industrial training) | |
| Course Fee: | Rs. 264,500.00 | |
| Registration Fee: | Rs.12,000.00 Rs.43,500.00 (Edexcel Fee / subject to change) | |
| Initial payment
Installments: |
Initial Payment Rs. 52,000.00 + Rs.12,500 x 17 Months | |
Application and Further Details
All applications should be submitted to the Administrative Officer of the respective centre directly or through post/email ( admissions@bcas.lk ) . You can collect the application form at the respective centre or one can be download here ( www.bcas.lk ).