Quantity Surveyor
Cost and control construction projects — from tender pricing to final accounts.
What the job involves
- Estimate what a building project will cost.
- Prepare bills of quantities and evaluate tenders.
- Track payments, variations and final accounts on site.
School subjects you need
Pure Mathematics required. If you take Mathematical Literacy in Grade 10, this career is normally closed to you at degree level.
- Mathematics
- English
- Physical Sciences
- Accounting
- Engineering Graphics & Design
Marks you normally need
- Minimum NSC pass
- Bachelor's pass
- Indicative APS
- Roughly 28–34
- Subject percentages institutions look for
- Mathematics: 55–65%+
- English: 50%+
These are indicative ranges for guidance only. Every university, university of technology and TVET college sets its own admission requirements — check the current prospectus of the institution you are applying to.
Study routes
- BSc Quantity Surveying / Construction Studies3–4 years
Candidacy and a professional assessment follow for SACQSP registration.
- Diploma in Building / Construction3 years
Entry as a technologist, with study routes to full registration.
What you could earn
- Entry level
- R25 000 – R38 000 per month
- Mid-career
- R45 000 – R70 000 per month
- Senior
- R85 000 – R130 000 per month
Indicative gross monthly ranges from public South African salary sources. They vary by employer, province and experience, and are not guarantees. Compare all careers.
Where you can study this
Public institutions that commonly offer this field. Confirm the exact programme, its minimum APS and the closing date on the institution's own admissions page.
- University of Cape TownUCT · Cape Town
- University of the WitwatersrandWits · Johannesburg
- Stellenbosch UniversitySU · Stellenbosch
- University of PretoriaUP · Pretoria
- University of KwaZulu-NatalUKZN · Durban and Pietermaritzburg
- University of JohannesburgUJ · Johannesburg
- North-West UniversityNWU · Potchefstroom, Mahikeng and Vanderbijlpark
- Nelson Mandela UniversityNMU · Gqeberha
- Walter Sisulu UniversityWSU · Mthatha, East London, Butterworth, Komani
- Cape Peninsula University of TechnologyCPUT · Cape Town and Bellville
- Durban University of TechnologyDUT · Durban and Pietermaritzburg
- Tshwane University of TechnologyTUT · Pretoria and surrounding campuses
- Vaal University of TechnologyVUT · Vanderbijlpark
- Central University of TechnologyCUT · Bloemfontein and Welkom
- Mangosuthu University of TechnologyMUT · Umlazi, Durban
Official sources
Questions learners ask
Isifinyezo / Opsomming
isiZulu: Ubala izindleko zemisebenzi yokwakha. Kudinga iMathematics.
Afrikaans: Bereken en beheer bouprojekkoste. Suiwer Wiskunde is nodig.