Undergraduate Programmes

CONSTRUCTION ECONOMICS & MANAGEMENT (QUANTITY SURVEYING) / EACNAMAÍOCHT FOIRGNÍOCHTA & BAINISTÍOCHT (SUIRBHÉIREACHT CHAINNÍOCHTA) DT111

Qualification awarded: BSc (CONSTRUCTION ECONOMICS & MANAGEMENT) Level 8 / BSc (EACNAMAÍOCHT FOIRGNÍOCHTA & BAINISTÍOCHT) Leibhéal 8
Duration of programme: 4 years
Type of programme: Honours Degree
Number of places: 40 approx.

What is Construction Economics & Management?

This programme prepares students for a career in the construction industry. It is designed for those who wish to work as quantity surveyors and economic advisors/managers in the construction industry or as building development co-ordinators and managers.

What will I study on this programme?

The programme provides a sound general education in the different aspects of this field with emphasis on practical construction economy and, in consequence, the programme incorporates much project work. Students are encouraged to gain industrial experience during the summer vacations and in this way they are introduced to applying their technical knowledge to practical problems, working individually, or as a team.

Upon successful completion of an assessment of Professional Competence, holders of this award are eligible for Corporate Membership of the Society of Chartered Surveyors (Quantity Surveyors Division) and the Institute of Civil Engineering Surveyors.

Module listing

Year One

Construction Studies 1A & B
Quantity Surveying Studies 1A & B
Construction Economics 1A & B
Professional Development
Information Technology
Financial Management 1A & B
Quantitative Methods 1A & B
Construction Law 1

Year Two

Construction Studies 2A & B
Quantity Surveying Studies 2A & B
Construction Economics 2A & B
Construction Management
Financial Management 2A & B
Quantitative Methods 2
Construction Law 2A & B

Year Three

Construction Studies 3A & B
Tender Documentation 1A & B
Construction Economics 3
Cost & Value Management 1
Financial Management 3
Construction Administration & Management 1
Construction Law 3
Development Project

Year Four

Tender Documentation 2
Construction Economics 4
Cost & Value Management 2
Construction Administration & Management 2
College/Industry Liaison Dissertation

What are my career opportunities?

The qualification is for the profession of Chartered Quantity Surveyor or Construction Economist. This includes occupations in the construction and property fields. Quantity Surveyors/Construction Economists act as the financial managers of construction projects, either for clients who wish to have the projects constructed, or for contractors who are employed to construct them. They are responsible usually for setting budgets and cost estimates for projects right from very early stages and for subsequently managing the financial side of the projects to ensure that they are realised within budgetary targets. The principal aim is to ensure that clients obtain value for money and can commit the large sums of money to their projects with confidence.

Quantity Surveyors are engaged in private practice as partners or employees in professional firms. They may also work for building/civil engineering contractors or sub-contractors. In addition there are Quantity Surveyors employed in government departments, semi-state bodies and public authorities.

What appeals to many quantity surveyors about their career is several-fold: Most construction projects are unique, hence each new project differs from the previous one.

The projects have very tangible results, which enable those participating to identify with the completed work.

Each project is team based, with different combinations of architect, structural engineer, services engineers, contractor, subcontractors, etc. for each one; hence the work involves meeting and working with a wide variety of people over the course of a number of projects.

Another not inconsiderable attraction of the job is that it is actually quite difficult to do, often you are expected to estimate future costs based on extremely sketchy information. The subsequent controlling of costs within that initial estimate can be difficult to achieve. There is considerable job satisfaction in successfully meeting that challenge.

The work involves a combination of office and site work, which makes for variety. In addition, graduates have used the skills and knowledge obtained on this programme to develop careers in financial and investment institutions, project mnagement, property development and also in the wider business environment.

What other options do I have after completion?

Students who have reached the appropriate honours standard may have access to a wide range of Masters degrees in DIT and elsewhere in Higher Education.

Entry Requirements

Minimum no of		Minimum Grade in
Subjects	Honours	Maths	English/Irish
6	2	OD3	OD3

Further information

School of Real Estate & Construction Economics

T: 01 402 3873 (Dr. Alan Hore)

E: alan.hore@dit.ie