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Bachelor of Construction (Construction Economics)

Want a career as a Quantity Surveyor? Find out how to evaluate and plan the cost of a construction project, manage payments and ensure the project is completed within budget.

Level
7
Credits
360 (3.0 EFTS)
Campus
Mt Albert
Start dates
February or July
Duration
Domestic students: Full-time study for the first two years is recommended, part-time study options are also available as negotiated on a case-by-case basis. International students: 3 years full-time.

Programme overview

The role of the Quantity Surveyor is diverse: evaluating subcontractor tenders and making recommendations to clients, managing construction costs and cash flows during the construction phase, and negotiating and agreeing on final project accounts. With a Bachelor of Construction (Construction Economics), you gain the skills to contribute to this exciting industry. Develop the technical skills and applied knowledge to ensure that construction projects are delivered to agreed budgets. Learn to undertake estimating and cost planning and prepare tender documentation. In this programme you'll learn about construction practice, team management, cost planning and advanced estimating techniques, tendering, and design management.

Highlights

  • Great preparation for a career as a consultant quantity surveyor, a quantity surveyor, or a commercial manager for a construction company. These roles may lead to project management, company ownership, and other senior management positions.
  • Gain a thorough grounding in all aspects of the construction industry.
  • Learn and apply industry-standard software, including CostX, Building Information Modelling (BIM) technology, and Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) processes.
  • Close links with industry: our advisory boards include experts who keep us up-to-date with industry trends, relevant legislation, and local, global, and environmental issues.
  • Learn from experienced lecturers who are working or are working in the construction industry.
  • Meet and hear from guest lecturers who are leaders in their field.
  • In your final papers, you'll undertake a major industry research project where you can integrate what you've learned with practical experience.
  • Following your shared compulsory papers (first 3 semesters), you'll choose your major* from Property Development, Construction Economics, or Construction Management. This allows you to get a good understanding of the general field first before you choose your direction.
  • *You may choose to achieve a double major with slightly more coursework.

Recommendation on studying full-time

Studying full-time is like doing a full-time job. You might only be in lectures and workshops for 16 hrs a week, but you are expected to spend another 24 hours a week on self-directed study, quizzes, re-reading lecture content, and working on assignments. That makes 40 hours.

We recognize many of you want or need to work whilst you are studying, but we would not recommend you to do any more than part-time study if you have a full-time job and don’t let your working hours overlap with your lecture times. 

Qualification pathway

Once you've completed this programme you'll receive a Bachelor of Construction (Construction Economics). As a graduate of this programme, you'll be eligible to become an accredited member of the following registered bodies:

  • The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)
  • The New Zealand Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NZIQS)
  • Pacific Association of Quantity Surveyors (PAQS)

Programme Structure

The programme structure for the Bachelor of Construction (Construction Economics) in 2024 is:
 
 Year 1Year 2Year 3
Course 1CONS5101 Technology 1
Class number(s): 1351
15 credits
CONS6008 Building Services
Class number(s): 1357
15 credits
CONS7821 Industry Project Part 1
Class number(s): 1837 or 5904
15 credits
Course 2CONS5102 Technology 2
Class number(s): 1352
15 credits
CONS6104 Technology 4
Class number(s): 1358
15 credits
CONS7203 Measurement and Estimation 3
Class number(s): 1834
15 credits
Course 3CONS5812 Economic Principles
Class number(s): 1356
15 credits
CONS6817 Procurement
Class number(s): 1360
15 credits
Elective
Level 7
15 credits
Course 4CONS5505 OR CONS5506 OR EAPL5155
Choose one
15 credits
CONS6811 Tendering
Class number(s): 1359
15 credits
Elective
Level 5, 6 or 7
15 credits
Course 5CONS5103 Technology 3
Class number(s): 5305
15 credits
CONS6201 Measurement and Estimation 1
Class number(s): 5310
15 credits
CONS7822 Industry Project Part 2
Class number(s): 1838 or 5905
15 credits
Course 6CONS5016 Building Science and Materials
Class number(s): 5304
15 credits
CONS6202 Measurement and Estimation 2
Class number(s): 5311
15 credits
CONS7204 Measurement and Estimation 4
Class number(s): 5899
15 credits
Course 7CONS5504 Technical Fundamentals
Class number(s): 5307
15 credits
CONS6812 Contract Administration
Class number(s): 5314 or 5944
15 credits
Elective
Level 5, 6 or 7
15 credits
Course 8CONS5818 Property and Construction Law
Class number(s): 5308
15 credits
CONS6906 Development and Finance
Class number(s): 5315
15 credits
Elective
Level 5, 6 or 7
15 credits
 
This example programme overview is a guide only and assumes full-time study. Please check timetables carefully as not every course is offered each semester. Programme requirements and class numbers are subject to change.

Admission requirements

What you will need to study this programme. 


Domestic students

Academic requirements

You must have completed at least one of the following:

  • A minimum of 42 credits at NCEA Level 3 or higher on the National Qualifications Framework, with:
    • ​14 credits at Level 3 or higher in each of two subjects, with;
    • a further 14 credits at Level 3 or higher taken from no more than two additional domains on the National Qualifications Framework or plus;
    • a minimum of 14 credits at Level 1 or higher in Mathematics or Pangarau on the National Qualifications Framework, plus
    • 8 credits at Level 2 or higher in English or Te Reo Māori (a minimum of 4 credits must be in Reading and a minimum of 4 credits must be in Writing);
  • ​​At least 3 ‘C’ passes in the New Zealand University Bursaries Examinations; or
  • Successful completion of relevant programme
And meet one of the English entry requirements;

Don’t meet these Academic requirements?

For more information, download the programme regulations (PDF 2208 KB)


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:

Don’t meet these Academic requirements?

For more information, download the programme regulations (PDF 2208 KB)

 

Courses and timetables

For more details on the courses, please click on the course names below. Please note that our systems are updating with new course timetable information for 2025; please check back again soon.

Courses Credits Aim
Building Science and Materials (CONS5016) 15 credits (0.125 EFTS) To enable students to understand the basic physical principles of the Built Environment and their relation to buildings materials performance and selection.
Technology 1 (CONS5101) 15 credits (0.125 EFTS) To enable students to understand construction systems suitable for simple industrial building construction within New Zealand.
Technology 2 (CONS5102) 15 credits (0.125 EFTS) To enable students to understand construction systems suitable for low and medium density residential construction within New Zealand.
Technology 3 (CONS5103) 15 credits (0.125 EFTS) To enable students to explore foundations and structural systems in multi-storey construction.
Technical Fundamentals (CONS5504) 15 credits (0.125 EFTS) To enable students to develop an understanding of the basic techniques and systems involved in planning and estimating.
Economic Principles (CONS5812) 15 credits (0.125 EFTS) To enable students to explore elements of economic theory and its application to the property and construction sector.
Property and Construction Law (CONS5818) 15 credits (0.125 EFTS) To enable students to develop an understanding of the legal context in which the construction and property industry operates.
Courses Credits Aim
Building Services (CONS6008) 15 credits (0.125 EFTS) To enable students to develop knowledge of building services and their significance in the construction phase, including an examination of those used in commercial, multi-storey, and specialist buildings.
Technology 4 (CONS6104) 15 credits (0.125 EFTS) To enable students to explore the methods and characteristics of building envelope and fitout systems for multi-storey buildings.
Measurement and Estimation 1 (CONS6201) 15 credits (0.125 EFTS) To enable students to be able to quantify work to be done and prepare estimates of cost for simple buildings for cost modelling and bidding purposes.
Measurement and Estimation 2 (CONS6202) 15 credits (0.125 EFTS) To enable students to be able to conduct cost modelling processes and quantify work to be done and prepare estimates of cost for moderately complex work packages for bidding purposes.
Tendering (CONS6811) 15 credits (0.125 EFTS) To enable students to: Examine the components that make up a contractor’s tender and to compile typical tender submissions. Evaluate the risks associated with tendering and how bidding strategy can mitigate these risks.
Contract Administration (CONS6812) 15 credits (0.125 EFTS) To enable students to apply the principles of contract law to New Zealand standard forms of contract.
Procurement (CONS6817) 15 credits (0.125 EFTS) To enable students to examine the relationship between a client’s strategic property needs and the procurement systems available to procure required capital works.
Development and Finance (CONS6906) 15 credits (0.125 EFTS) To enable students to explore the concept of property development and the concepts that underpin its management.
Courses Credits Aim
Measurement and Estimation 3 (CONS7203) 15 credits (0.125 EFTS) To enable students to be able to conduct cost modelling processes, quantify work to be done and prepare estimates of cost for moderately complex buildings for bidding purposes with a focus on building services and green buildings.
Measurement and Estimation 4 (CONS7204) 15 credits (0.125 EFTS) To enable students to be able to prepare estimates and provide professional advice on the cost of building construction.
Industry Project Part 1 (CONS7821) 15 credits (0.125 EFTS) To enable students to critically examine research literature and write a coherent, clearly structured, properly referenced literature analysis within the context of the property and construction industry.
Industry Project Part 2 (CONS7822) 15 credits (0.125 EFTS) To enable students to critically examine research approaches and conduct research within the context of the property and construction industry.
Courses Credits Aim
Team Management (CONS5505) 15 credits (0.125 EFTS) To enable students to develop an understanding of the people and processes involved in construction and to develop the skills required for effective interactions at an individual, group and organisational level within the construction industry.
Construction Communications and Documentation (CONS5506) 15.0 credits (0.125 EFTS) To develop technical research skills along with oral, written, graphical and interpersonal communication skills required for effective interactions within the construction industry
English for Specific Purposes (EAPL5155) 15 credits (0.125 EFTS) To assist students of English as an Additional Language to engage with the content of an academic/professional/vocational field and to develop an ability to comprehend oral and written texts, and to use the language characteristics of the field.
Courses Credits Aim
Sustainable Design and Construction (CONS6007) 15 credits (0.125 EFTS) To enable students to apply sustainable design and construction concepts to the built environment at domestic, commercial and industrial scale.
Virtual Design and Construction 1 (CONS6102) 15.0 credits (0.125 EFTS) To enable the student to develop introductory skills and knowledge of the principles of building information modelling (BIM) to establish design solutions.
Planning and Organisation 1 (CONS6401) 15 credits (0.125 EFTS) To enable students to plan and organise simple construction projects.
Planning and Organisation 2 (CONS6402) 15 credits (0.125 EFTS) To enable students to plan and organise moderately complex construction projects.
Property Valuation (CONS6907) 15 credits (0.125 EFTS) To enable students to examine property valuation concepts and practices and their influence on property development
Courses Credits Aim
Planning and Organisation 3 (CONS7403) 15 credits (0.125 EFTS) To enable students to critically analyse work sequencing to plan and manage construction work and manage construction work in complicated contexts
Planning and Organisation 4 (CONS7404) 15 credits (0.125 EFTS) To enable students to evaluate the complexity of integrating the conflicting interests and demands, which must be managed on a construction project and to derive project plans while considering all the relevant factors required in the context of complex projects.
Integrated Design and Construction Management (CONS7418) 15 credits (0.125 EFTS) To enable students to evaluate the processes for managing integration of the design and construction of commercial and industrial scale projects to achieve client needs, in a collaborative environment.
People Management (CONS7515) 15 credits (0.125 EFTS) To enable students to analyse theories regarding the management of people and interpret those theories into application within the construction industry.
Urban Economics (CONS7817) 15 credits (0.125 EFTS) To enable students to analyse urban development using economic theory as a framework and to use such analysis to evaluate property development markets.
Professional Business Management (CONS7820) 15 credits (0.125 EFTS) To enable students to evaluate the strategic management of consultancy, construction or property businesses, and their business management models and practices.
Property Management (CONS7905) 15.0 credits (0.125 EFTS) To enable students to understand the issues which apply to the management of property and portfolios of property, including operations, maintenance, strategic asset management, and computer based systems for building information management.
Property Development (CONS7906) 15 credits (0.125 EFTS) To enable students to evaluate the property development process, using a project-based learning approach, focused through the production of a speculative project development submission.
Property Investment (CONS7908) 15.0 credits (0.125 EFTS) To enable students to understand the property investment industry as a customer of the property development industry.