COURSE GUIDE

Foundation in Quantity
Surveying
Foundation in Quantity Surveying

Duration: 8 months enrolment duration

Language: English

CPD: 150 hours

Market sector: Residential, built environment and construction

Course type: Blended training programme

Welcome
We are very excited that you have chosen to study foundation in quantity surveying.

This guide provides essential information and tips to help you make the most out of this
course, including details about your course materials.

First steps
1. Familiarise yourself with the guidance materials provided on the main page of your course

2. Bookmark the course page

3. We recommend that you use Google Chrome

4. Disable pop-up blockers in the settings of your Internet browser

Mode of study
This online training programme is designed to be flexible around your professional and
personal commitments. You can progress at your own pace until the end of your enrolment
period.

The course combines interactive eLearning modules with plenty of examples and professional
tips, supplementary reading materials, case studies, consolidation sessions, end of module
quizzes and a final exam at the end of the course. Additionally, there is a discussion forum
available to encourage peer interaction and enable direct communication with the course
tutor for any questions or concerns.

Duration of study
You will have access to the course for a total of 8 months, which includes the period for the
final exam.

What support do you receive?

Your course tutor will remain accessible via the discussion forum throughout the entire
course. Expect tutor responses within 3 to 5 working days.

A dedicated support team will be on hand to help you with any questions that you may have.
You can reach the OLA team at onlineacademy@rics.org.

Course description
Help to shape the world we live in. Prepare for a dynamic career in an ever-changing industry as
Quantity Surveyor with our 8-month foundation level programme.

Providing you with foundation level training in the principles and practices this distance and
blended learning programme teaches you the essential of quantity surveying.

Through this interactive course you will broaden your skills in the practice of cost estimating and
tendering, procurement methods and process used in the pricing of construction works.

The foundation level course is made up of the following 6 modules and an exam covering the
practices and principles of quantity surveying.

Course structure

Introduction to the Certificate in Quantity Surveying Practice

• Course overview, structure, learning activities and requirements for each technical unit

Module 1 - Construction technology and environment

• Part 1 - The Stages of Design, From Inception to Completion

• Part 2 - How the Various Elements of The Building Work Interrelate

• Part 3 - Impact of Current Legislation and Regulations

• Part 4 - Building Information Modelling (BIM)

• Part 5 - Appreciating How Design Solutions Vary for Different Types of Building

• Part 6 - Understanding Alternative Construction Details

Module 2 - Design economics and cost planning

• Part 1 - The Stages of Design, From Inception to Completion

• Part 2 - How the Various Elements of The Building Work Interrelate

 • Part 3 - Impact of Current Legislation and Regulations

• Part 4 - Building Information Modelling (BIM)

• Part 5 - Appreciating How Design Solutions Vary for Different Types of Building

• Part 6 - Understanding Alternative Construction Details

Module 3 - Quantification and costing of construction works

• Part 1 - The Stages of Design, From Inception to Completion

• Part 2 - How the Various Elements of The Building Work Interrelate

• Part 3 - Impact of Current Legislation and Regulations

• Part 4 - Building Information Modelling (BIM)

• Part 5 - Appreciating How Design Solutions Vary for Different Types of Building

• Part 6 - Understanding Alternative Construction Details

Module 4 - Procurement and tendering

• Part 1 – Procurement and tendering

• Part 2 - The main types of procurement used in both the public and private sectors

• Part 3 – Procurement routes - selection

• Part 4 - Tendering and negotiation processes involved in procurement

• Part 5 – Tender documentation and reporting

• Part 6 – The Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU)

Module 5 - Contract practice

• Part 1 – Introduction to contract law

• Part 2 – Standard forms of contract and contract documentation

• Part 3 – Other legal documents and securities

• Part 4 – Contractual mechanisms and procedures

• Part 5 – Insurance

• Part 6 – Dispute resolution

Module 6 - Project financial control reporting

• Part 1 - The reporting and forecasting of costs during the construction phase

• Part 2 - The principles of provisional sums, contingencies, and risk allowances

 • Part 3 - Using cash flows in financial management

• Part 4 - Implementing change control procedures within the contract

• Part 5 - Corporate strategy and business planning

• Part 6 - RICS Rules of conduct and ethics

Exam

Learning outcomes
By the end of the course, you will be able to:

• Apply the practices and procedures of international Quantity Surveying

• Demonstrate forms of construction for various property types

• Evaluate the factors which affect the cost of a building

• Apply cost planning methods to control the financial aspect of a project

• Undertake the quantification and costing of construction works

• Evaluate the sources of cost data relating to construction

• Differentiate between the types of procurement strategies

• Identify general contractual provisions for a construction project

• Identify the contractual requirements and procedures relevant construction finances

• Report and forecast costs during the construction phase

• Manage various aspects of a project, including change procedures and accounts

• Apply the implication of Building Information Modelling to QS project

Learning resources
The resources in each technical module include various learning components to ensure you
achieve the right level of knowledge for each competency.

eLearning module

Interactive and responsive eLearning modules deliver the technical content of the learning
objectives. The content will be delivered in bite-size chunks, including examples, top tips,
scenarios and interactive activities. Please select the 'Exit course' button at the top right-hand
corner of the screen before closing the eLearning. This is to ensure your progress is saved and
you can resume where you left off when you return.

Reading materials
The eLearning is supported by structured essential reading materials such as professional
guidance and standards, videos or the latest insight articles and research. You must view the
essential reading for this activity to be marked as completed.

Discussion forum

The forum is the place for you to interact with your peers and trainers. There is one forum for
each module and trainers will reply within 3 to 5 working days.

Case study

This is an assignment based on simulated projects for you to put the theory into practice. Model
answers are provided for case studies and reviewed within the consolidation sessions. You must
submit your case study to mark this activity as completed.

Consolidation session

These are live 1.5-hour live web classes that consolidate learning from the eLearning modules,
reading materials, case studies and common questions that have been raised in the forum. You
do not need to mark this activity as completed.

End of module quiz

A short quiz tracks how much of the learning has been absorbed and acts as a progress tracker
for you. Quizzes do not require a passing grade, but you must attempt them to have the activity
marked as completed.

Exam

Upon completion of all the eLearning modules and quizzes, you will unlock the programme
examination.

• The exam consists of 50 multiple-choice questions.

• The passing grade is 50% and you have 70 minutes to complete it.

• You are allowed 2 attempts; however, the second attempt is only released 24 hours after
the first attempt.

• A certificate of completion will be granted upon successful completion.