Quantity Surveyor Course

Lesson 1 • The Quantity Surveying Profession

Defines the QS role, its historical development, and its scope of practice. It connects professional identity to the broader construction and real estate industries.

Lesson 2 • Construction Industry Overview

Maps the construction sector's structure, key stakeholders, and project delivery models. It provides the context in which QS services are applied.

Lesson 3 • Construction Documentation Basics

Introduces the drawings, specifications, and contract documents used in construction. It builds the document literacy essential for all subsequent measurement and cost work.

Lesson 1 • Measurement of Finishes and Services

Covers the measurement of internal finishes, fittings, and building services. It completes the full building take-off sequence introduced in earlier sections.

Lesson 2 • Measurement of Substructure Works

Covers the measurement of excavation, foundations, and below-ground elements. It introduces trade-specific rules for earthworks and concrete substructures.

Lesson 3 • Standard Methods of Measurement

Explains internationally recognised measurement rules and their application. It establishes the framework that governs how quantities are classified and described.

Lesson 4 • Measurement of Superstructure Works

Addresses the measurement of structural frames, floors, roofs, and external walls. It builds on substructure skills to cover above-ground construction elements.

Lesson 1 • Types and Stages of Cost Estimates

Distinguishes between order-of-magnitude, elemental, and detailed estimates by project stage. It aligns the selection of estimating method with the available design information.

Lesson 2 • Cost Monitoring and Control

Covers techniques for tracking design changes against the approved budget. It establishes the cost control discipline that continues through project execution.

Lesson 3 • Unit Rate and Elemental Cost Planning

Teaches floor-area and elemental rate methods for early-stage budgeting. It connects measurement skills to cost benchmarking using published cost data.

Lesson 4 • Pricing and Rate Buildup

Explains how unit rates are built from labour, plant, and material components. It develops the analytical pricing skills used in both estimating and tender evaluation.

Lesson 1 • Assembling the Tender Package

Guides the compilation of all documents required for a complete tender invitation. It connects bill preparation to the broader procurement process introduced in Chapter 1.

Lesson 2 • Structure and Purpose of Bills of Quantities

Explains the function, format, and legal status of bills of quantities in tendering. It builds on measurement skills to show how quantities become formal contract documents.

Lesson 3 • Abstracting and Billing Quantities

Covers the process of transferring take-off data into a formatted bill. It develops accuracy and consistency in translating raw measurements into priced documents.

Lesson 4 • Preliminaries and Preambles

Details the content and drafting of preliminary items and trade preambles. It ensures that tenderers understand site conditions, constraints, and specification requirements.

Lesson 1 • Procurement Strategy Selection

Covers criteria for choosing between traditional, design-and-build, and management routes. It links the choice of procurement to client risk appetite and project characteristics.

Lesson 2 • Contract Conditions and Risk Allocation

Analyses key contract clauses governing time, cost, and quality risk. It develops the ability to identify and advise on contractual risk exposure.

Lesson 3 • Standard Forms of Contract

Introduces widely used standard contract families and their key provisions. It builds the contractual literacy needed for contract administration and claims management.

Lesson 1 • Interim Valuations and Payment Certificates

Teaches preparation of interim valuations and the certification process. It directly applies measurement and pricing skills to live construction payment cycles.

Lesson 2 • Variations and Change Management

Covers identification, valuation, and agreement of contract variations. It builds on contract knowledge to manage scope changes without disputes.

Lesson 3 • Extension of Time and Delay Analysis

Explains entitlement assessment, delay analysis methods, and EOT claim preparation. It develops skills to protect client and contractor interests on delayed projects.

Lesson 4 • Contract Administration Roles and Duties

Defines the QS role within the contract administration team and the key procedural duties. It establishes accountability and communication protocols for project execution.

Lesson 1 • Dispute Resolution Processes

Introduces negotiation, adjudication, arbitration, and litigation as resolution options. It prepares students to advise clients on the most appropriate resolution pathway.

Lesson 2 • Loss and Expense Quantification

Covers methods for calculating prolongation costs, disruption, and additional expenses. It develops quantification skills essential for both claimant and respondent roles.

Lesson 3 • Contractual Claims Framework

Establishes the legal and contractual basis for contractor claims. It connects contract conditions from Chapter 5 to practical claim entitlement assessment.

Lesson 1 • Life Cycle Cost Modeling

Guides the construction of a structured life cycle cost model for a building asset. It applies discounting and cost component knowledge to produce a client-ready model.

Lesson 2 • Whole-Life Cost Principles

Introduces the concept of total cost of ownership beyond initial capital expenditure. It shifts the student perspective from construction cost to long-term asset value.

Lesson 3 • Discounting and Time Value of Money

Covers net present value, discount rates, and cash flow discounting techniques. It provides the financial mathematics underpinning all investment appraisal methods.

Lesson 4 • Sustainability and Green Cost Analysis

Evaluates the cost implications of sustainable design choices over the asset life. It connects economic analysis to environmental performance and regulatory compliance.