Reading, Salford, Glasgow Caledonian, Nottingham Trent, Loughborough, Northumbria and Kingston all rank highly for quantity surveying in the UK. But before you compare positions, check one thing: whether the specific course is accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. An unaccredited degree at a higher-ranked university is the worse choice.
That is the whole argument of this page. Here is the reasoning.
Why RICS accreditation matters more than ranking
To become a Chartered Quantity Surveyor you have to pass the Assessment of Professional Competence, the APC. Sitting the APC requires an RICS accredited degree.
If your degree is not accredited, you are not blocked from the profession, but you are looking at a conversion route, usually an accredited master's, before you can start the APC process. That is an extra year and extra fees to end up where an accredited undergraduate would already be.
League tables do not check accreditation. A university can rank well on research quality, student satisfaction and entry standards while offering a course that does not put you on the chartership path. Check the course page, then check the RICS course finder directly, because course accreditation is per programme and can lapse.
Many strong courses also carry CIOB recognition from the Chartered Institute of Building. That is a bonus rather than a requirement.
Which universities rank well for quantity surveying?
Different rankings measure different things and produce different lists, which is why you will find contradictory "top 10" pages. Here is what each actually measures.
| Ranking | What it measures | Universities it favours for QS |
| Complete University Guide (Building) | Entry standards, research quality, graduate prospects | Northumbria in the top 15 for 2026 |
| Guardian University Guide (Construction, Surveying and Planning) | Teaching satisfaction, value added, career after 15 months | Kingston in the UK top 10 for 2026 |
| Whatuni Student Choice | Student reviews only | Nottingham Trent, Sheffield Hallam, Liverpool John Moores, Wolverhampton |
| Industry and employer reputation | Placement quality, employer links, chartership support | Reading, Salford, Loughborough, Glasgow Caledonian, Heriot-Watt |
Notice that these lists barely overlap. That is not a flaw in the data. It is what happens when you measure four different questions and call all four answers "the best universities."
If you care about research and entry standards, use the Complete University Guide. If you care about teaching and outcomes, use the Guardian. If you care about what students say day to day, use Whatuni. If you care about getting hired, weight placement and industry links, which no major league table measures well.
What should you actually optimise for?
Four things, and league position is not the first of them.
Accreditation. RICS first, CIOB as a bonus. Non-negotiable.
A placement year. Most surveying students do a year in industry, and it counts towards your professional training period. That means an accredited degree with a placement shortens your route to chartership, not just your job hunt. Reading, Loughborough, Salford and Kingston all run strong placement programmes.
Employer links. Universities embedded in the industry give you access to firms like Mace, Turner and Townsend, and Laing O'Rourke while you are still studying. Kingston students, for example, get site visits to London developments through a relationship with CBRE.
Cost of living. This one is quietly enormous. A quantity surveying degree at Salford or Coventry costs the same in tuition as one in London and thousands less per year to live. Given that the profession pays well and the accreditation is identical, the London premium buys you network access and not much else.
What are the entry requirements?
Typically 112 to 144 UCAS points for quantity surveying specifically, and 96 to 120 for broader surveying courses. Useful A-levels include maths, physics, business studies, geography and design and technology, though none are usually strictly required.
Foundation year routes exist at several universities for applicants who fall short, and these feed into the same accredited degree.
Is a quantity surveying degree worth it?
For a vocational degree with a clear professional endpoint, it holds up well. Graduate employment rates on the better courses run between 90% and 100%, and the roles are real: quantity surveyor, cost consultant, project manager, contract administrator, working for contractors, consultancies and local authorities.
The honest downside is that it is a narrow degree. If you decide at 21 that construction is not for you, a quantity surveying BSc is less portable than economics or engineering. Go in with your eyes open about that.
If you are heading to one of the strong QS universities, our accommodation listings for Manchester and Salford, Bristol and Nottingham cover the areas closest to the built environment faculties.
FAQs
Q: Which university is best for quantity surveying in the UK?
A: There is no single answer, because rankings measure different things. Reading is strongest on academic reputation, Salford and Glasgow Caledonian on industry links, Kingston and Northumbria rank highly in the 2026 Guardian and Complete University Guide tables respectively. Check RICS accreditation before ranking position.
Q: Do I need an RICS accredited degree to become a quantity surveyor?
A: To become chartered, yes. An RICS accredited degree is required to sit the Assessment of Professional Competence. Without one you will need an accredited conversion master's first.
Q: What A-levels do I need for quantity surveying?
A: Typically 112 to 144 UCAS points. Maths, physics, business studies, geography and design and technology are all useful, but most courses do not require specific subjects.
Q: Is quantity surveying a good career in the UK?
A: Yes, on the current evidence. Graduate employment rates on accredited courses commonly run above 90%, and chartership provides a clear structured path to senior pay.
Q: Does a placement year help with quantity surveying?
A: Considerably. A placement year counts towards your professional training period for chartership, so it shortens the route to becoming chartered as well as improving your employability.
