Programme overview
The New Zealand Diploma in Construction (Quantity Surveying) prepares you with the specific knowledge and skills you’ll need to assist with all stages of quantity surveying under the supervision of an experienced practitioner.
You’ll learn to measure and estimate building work and carry out financial administration associated with construction projects, including ensuring that construction costs and production are managed as efficiently as possible.
This diploma will help you develop the following trade-specific skills:
- Analysing and presenting feasibility information and preliminary estimates to clients
- Assembling quantity surveying documentation relevant to specialist and specific trade sectors, measuring quantities, and preparing a schedule of quantities for small and medium building projects of an individual trade.
- Using tender process knowledge, collating all priced components into a tender submission for small, medium, and large buildings.
Highlights
- Apply learning to real-world scenarios using the latest construction costing and finance technologies. Emphasis on real-world applications using the latest technologies in construction costing and finance.
- Nationally recognized qualification. This qualification is nationally recognised by professional organisations like the NZ Insitute of Quantity Surveyors.
- Graduate work-ready. You’ll gain key skills and knowledge that will enable you to move confidently into work, assisting with all stages of quantity surveying under the supervision of an experienced practitioner.
- Prepare for Site 2 License. Once you’ve graduated, you can apply to get a Licensed Building Practitioner (LBP) Site 2 License, which recognises you as a competent professional in your chosen field.
- Move into further study. Easy transition into Unitec's Bachelor of Construction in any of our three majors: Construction Management, Construction Economics, or Property Development. Cross-credits are available.
Develop the necessary skills to succeed.
It’s our job to ensure that when you walk across that graduation platform, you’re prepared and work-ready. Alongside specialist knowledge and skills in construction management, you’ll need a solid foundation in building and construction – and that’s exactly what you’ll gain in this diploma:
- Technical knowledge. Develop an understanding of contract analysis and selection, ongoing planning, and monitoring, how to evaluate and select materials and finishes for their environmental impact, and apply knowledge of the structure and structural principles.
- Communication. Effectively communicate with all parties involved in a construction contract using organisational principles, digital technologies, and industry best practices.
- Industry preparedness. Apply knowledge of the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders to administer and manage a construction contract while operating within New Zealand building and construction legislative and regulatory frameworks.
Create your future in quantity surveying.
New Zealand’s construction industry has seen continued growth over the past decade and is one of the country’s largest employers. However, despite there being over 170,000 people employed in this sector in the first quarter of 2021, there has been a significant rise in quantity surveyors in recent years. Employment is forecast to grow 3.3% per year to 2023 and 2.3% per year to 2028*. This should mean there are good opportunities for new quantity surveyors to enter the profession.
*Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment
Become a qualified quantity surveyor
You'll learn additional management skills with further study, like Unitec’s Bachelor of Construction (Construction Economics). You can work independently in many jobs, including as a qualified quantity surveyor.
With additional training and/or experience, you may also be able to work as a:
- Senior quantity surveyor
- Registered quantity surveyor
- Estimator
- Quantity surveying consultant/contractor
- Procurement manager
- Senior/cost manager
- Quantity surveying tutor
Preparing for study
You'll need the right equipment to meet health and safety requirements for on-site visits. This includes:
- Safety boots (steel-capped shoes)
- High visibility vest
- Hard hat
Admission requirements
What you will need to study this programme.
Domestic students
International students
Academic requirements
As a part of this requirement, you must be at least 16 years of age and meet one of the following;
- All applicants must be at least 16 years of age when they begin their studies, and they should meet the country-specific admission requirement or
- Successful completion of relevant programme
And English entry requirements;
If English is not your first language, you will also need at least one of the following qualifications:
- Evidence of an IELTS (Academic) band score of at least 6 with no band score lower than 5.5 or
- Evidence of English language proficiency as outlined in the NZQA Rules on the Unitec English Language Requirements for International Students Web-page.
Don’t meet these Academic requirements?
- If you don’t meet the academic criteria, our Bridging Education Programmes can help you qualify. Simply apply online, and we’ll discuss your next steps.
- If you don’t meet the above criteria, special or discretionary admission may apply; your eligibility will be determined at the interview.
For more information, download the programme regulations (PDF 172 KB)
Courses and timetables
For more details on the courses including timetables, please click on the course names below.
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| Courses | Credits | Aim |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Construction(CONS5001TP) | 15.0 credits (0.125 EFTS) | The aim of this course is to develop knowledge of roles, responsibilities, documentation and communication in the construction environment. |
| Materials and Structural Principles(CONS5002TP) | 15.0 credits (0.125 EFTS) | The aim of this course is to develop knowledge and skills of structural principles and the properties of materials and finishes applicable to building projects. |
| Environment(CONS5003TP) | 15.0 credits (0.125 EFTS) | The aim of this course is to develop the knowledge and skills to evaluate site and building limitations including environmental impacts and sustainable methods of construction. |
| Services(CONS5004TP) | 15.0 credits (0.125 EFTS) | The aim of this course is to develop knowledge and skills relevant to the purpose, operating principles, coordination, and legislative requirements required to manage a range of services in small, medium, and large buildings. |
| Construction 1 Residential(CONS5005TP) | 15.0 credits (0.125 EFTS) | The aim of this course is to develop and apply knowledge and skills related to structures, building envelope and the interior for a small building. |
| Law and Construction Contracts(CONS5006TP) | 15.0 credits (0.125 EFTS) | The aim of this course is to develop knowledge of Aotearoa New Zealand legislative and regulatory frameworks and to relate these frameworks to professional practice within a construction and consulting environment. |
| Introduction to Measurement and Estimation(CONS5007TP) | 15.0 credits (0.125 EFTS) | The aim of this course is to develop the knowledge and skills to measure and estimate costs for inclusion in tenders for building projects. |
| Estimation(CONS5508TP) | 15.0 credits (0.125 EFTS) | The aim of this course is to develop the knowledge and skills to estimate costs for inclusion in tenders for medium and large building projects. |
| Measurement 1(CONS5509TP) | 15.0 credits (0.125 EFTS) | The aim of this course is to develop the knowledge and skills to assemble quantity surveying documentation and measure schedules of quantities for a small building project. |
