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L6Apprenticeship4821 approved provider
The Level 6 Construction Quantity Surveyor (Degree), and the 1 provider delivering it.
Managing all costs relating to construction projects.
About this apprenticeship
What this apprenticeship covers
A construction quantity surveyor manages the financial and contractual side of building and civil engineering projects. The apprenticeship covers cost planning, procurement, contract administration, and valuation of works, alongside measurement, cost reporting, and risk management. Apprentices also study the legal and commercial frameworks that govern construction contracts. By degree level, the programme develops the technical competence and professional judgement needed to manage project budgets and advise clients, contractors, or consultants on cost and value.
Day-to-day responsibilities
Typical work involves preparing cost estimates and bills of quantities, administering contracts under standard forms such as JCT or NEC, and producing interim valuations and final accounts. Apprentices attend site visits, contribute to procurement exercises, and track project expenditure against budgets. They liaise with project managers, engineers, subcontractors, and clients, and produce cost reports that inform decision-making at key project stages. Proficiency in measurement software and cost management tools forms a regular part of the role.
Career outlook
Completing this apprenticeship, alongside the degree qualification, puts graduates in a strong position to apply for chartered status with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) or the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB). Common job titles after completion include quantity surveyor, commercial manager, and cost consultant. Employers span main contractors, specialist subcontractors, cost consultancies, and public sector bodies such as local authorities and NHS estates teams. With experience, progression typically leads to senior QS, commercial director, or project director roles.
1 approved provider
Sorted by achievement rate.
Anglia Ruskin University ARU
Employer: 3.0
Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) is an innovative UK university offering a wide portfolio of learning ...
Career outcomes
Roles after completion
Graduates typically enter as a Junior Quantity Surveyor or Graduate Quantity Surveyor, working within a contractor or consultancy. Day-to-day responsibilities include preparing cost plans, measuring and valuing work, drafting subcontract orders, and supporting interim valuations. Some completers move straight into an Assistant Quantity Surveyor post with a main contractor, while those with an employer in commercial property or infrastructure may carry a more client-side focus from the outset.
Progression paths
Within three to five years, most move into a Quantity Surveyor or Senior Quantity Surveyor role, taking ownership of full project cost management from pre-contract through final account. Beyond that, two tracks tend to diverge: a commercial leadership route towards Commercial Manager, Head of Commercial, or Commercial Director; and a specialist or consultancy route towards Associate or Partner level in a professional services firm. Chartered status through RICS or CIOB typically underpins movement into either track.
Where these roles sit
Demand is spread across main contractors, specialist subcontractors, and independent cost consultancies, as well as client-side teams in housing associations, local authorities, and government departments. Relevant sectors include housebuilding, civil engineering, highways, rail infrastructure, utilities, and commercial development. Both large national contractors and smaller regional businesses hire at this level, giving completers options across employer scale and procurement environment.
How it's assessed
How the apprenticeship is assessed
Learning takes place in the workplace throughout the programme, with apprentices applying quantity surveying knowledge and skills on live projects alongside their studies. Before final assessment can begin, the apprentice and employer confirm readiness through a gateway process, which typically includes evidence that the apprentice has met academic and occupational requirements. Final assessment then confirms whether the apprentice can perform competently as a quantity surveyor across the knowledge, skills, and behaviours set out in the standard. Assessment models for degree apprenticeships at this level are subject to ongoing updates, so check the standard's gov.uk page for the current specification.
What learners need to prepare
Building a strong portfolio of workplace evidence throughout the programme is essential. Apprentices should document real project work as it happens, recording decisions made, problems solved, and outcomes delivered, rather than trying to reconstruct evidence later. Close, regular communication with both the employer and the training provider helps ensure that workplace activity is aligned with the standard's requirements and that any gaps in experience are identified and addressed well before the gateway.
Choosing a provider
What good looks like
Look for providers with achievement rates above 65% for this standard specifically, as degree-level apprenticeships with professional body alignment (RICS or CIOB) carry real consequences if completion stalls. Strong providers maintain active employer partnerships with contractors, consultants and public sector clients, which shapes the quality of workplace projects apprentices are exposed to. Check FATP profiles for high employer satisfaction scores, as that signals the provider is coordinating off-the-job learning around genuine site and commercial cycles rather than running a generic programme. Learner reviews mentioning cost planning, procurement routes and contract administration by name suggest the curriculum has real depth.
Red flags to watch for
Be cautious if a provider delivers this standard in very high volumes but shows a declining achievement rate over recent years. Degree apprenticeships at this level are demanding, and thin pastoral or academic support structures show up quickly in completion data. Providers who give vague answers about how they prepare apprentices for RICS Assessment of Professional Competence, or who cannot point to alumni who have achieved chartered status, are worth scrutinising. Also question any provider unable to explain how the academic calendar integrates with site-based commercial cycles.
Questions to ask before you commit
- What is your achievement rate for this specific standard, and how has it trended over the last two years?
- How do you structure the programme around the RICS APC competencies, and when does APC preparation begin?
- Which contract forms do apprentices work with during the programme, and are they exposed to NEC and JCT in practice?
- How do you handle apprentices whose employer is not currently running live projects suitable for cost management experience?
- What academic and pastoral support is available between block or day-release sessions?
- Can you show me examples of the types of employer organisations currently using this programme?
- How do you track and evidence apprentice progress against both the degree and the apprenticeship end-point assessment?
Common questions
What qualifications or experience do I need to start a Construction Quantity Surveyor degree apprenticeship?
Typically, employers look for A-levels or equivalent Level 3 qualifications, though entry criteria vary by employer and training provider. Some employers also consider applicants with relevant work experience or a Level 4 or 5 qualification in a construction-related subject. Check the requirements directly with your chosen provider, as there is no single national entry standard, and employers have flexibility to set their own criteria.
How long does the apprenticeship take and how does learning fit around work?
The typical duration is 36 months, though the actual length depends on prior learning and the employer's programme structure. Throughout the apprenticeship, you remain employed and apply your learning directly on construction projects. Some learning takes place off the job, whether at a university or through online study. The specific off-the-job requirement is subject to change under current reforms, so check the latest specification on the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education page on gov.uk.
How is the Construction Quantity Surveyor degree apprenticeship assessed?
Assessment involves reaching a gateway point, at which the employer and training provider confirm the apprentice has met the required knowledge, skills and behaviours. Beyond the gateway, the end-point assessment typically includes a degree-level qualification and a professional review or interview. Assessment models for many standards are being updated under current reforms, so check the current specification on gov.uk for the most accurate picture of what the end-point assessment requires.
How much does this apprenticeship cost an employer and how is it funded?
The funding band for this standard is £18,000. Levy-paying employers draw training costs from their digital apprenticeship service account. Non-levy employers, typically smaller businesses, pay a co-investment contribution with the government covering the majority of costs. Employers with fewer than 50 staff who take on an apprentice aged 16 to 18 pay nothing towards training costs. Costs for wages, travel and other employment expenses are separate and sit with the employer.
What does a Construction Quantity Surveyor apprentice actually do during the working week?
Day-to-day work typically includes preparing cost estimates and budgets for construction projects, producing bills of quantities, managing procurement processes, and monitoring costs against forecasts during a build. Apprentices work with contracts, assess variations and deal with subcontractor accounts. They are involved in risk assessment, cost reporting and final account settlement. The work spans pre-contract and post-contract stages, giving apprentices exposure to the full financial lifecycle of a construction project.
What can a Construction Quantity Surveyor apprentice do once they have completed the programme?
Completing the apprenticeship at degree level opens routes to chartered membership of relevant professional bodies, such as the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, subject to meeting their requirements. Career progression can move towards senior quantity surveyor, commercial manager or project director roles. Some choose to specialise in sectors such as infrastructure, residential, or commercial development. Further postgraduate study is also an option for those wanting to move into academic or specialist professional practice areas.
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Curated by Alex Lockey, FATP founder and editor. Last reviewed: .
Sources include the apprenticeship's official specification on apprenticeships.gov.uk, Skills England guidance, IfATE archive records, DWP funding bands, and provider data sourced directly from the public Apprenticeship Provider and Assessment Register (APAR). Standard reference: 482.
Some sections on this page were drafted with AI assistance from published source data and reviewed by a human editor before publication. See our editorial methodology for how we maintain this content. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.