Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
Diploma of Higher Education Quantity Surveying , Level 5, Rushmore Business School, 2023/24 - Course Handbook
Welcome to the Course
This handbook provides you with information that you will need on your course. You should find it helpful when you first start, when you are preparing for assessment and at any time that you need help or advice in connection with your studies here. You will also receive a Module Handbook for each module you study on your course.
The course team is looking forward to working with you this year and we hope that your time studying with us at Leeds Beckett University is both enjoyable and successful.
On behalf of our University and the whole course team I would like to wish you well in your studies.
It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the School of Built Environment, Engineering and Computing.
Whether you are joining us as a new student or returning to continue your studies, and whether your course is on-campus, distance learning, degree apprenticeships or you are on one of our UK and overseas collaborative and franchise courses, we hope you will enjoy your experience and find your studies interesting, challenging and relevant to your development and future career plans.
Our aim is to provide students with a research informed, innovative and relevant curriculum that is linked to current industry practices and standards. Our courses are highly valued by employers, professional bodies and other stakeholders. Our School has a strong tradition of delivering programmes that provide students with the opportunity for academic and practical experience. This approach, coupled with our close involvement with employers, produces graduates who are highly regarded in the workplace.
Through our approach to student support and to teaching and learning we aim to place you, our students and apprentices, at the heart of everything we do. You will experience a diverse range of teaching approaches. We also use a variety of different methods of assessment and attach considerable importance to providing you feedback on your assessments.
As a School we strive to be student-centred and value your opinions and feedback. We want to hear about the things you enjoy and that you think we do well, but also want to know when you think there are ways in which we can improve your experience. There are many ways in which you can provide feedback including through your student academic representatives, through written or on-line module evaluation feedback forms and through student open meetings, forums with staff and student representative meetings with me.
We maintain a strong commitment to our undergraduate and postgraduate programmes and our facilities are well equipped for each major area of our course provision. Our Built Environment, Planning, Geography and Civil and Building Services Engineering courses are situated in the heart of the City at Northern Terrace Building, with the Computing and Electrical and Electronic Engineering courses located in Leighton Building at our Headingley Campus.
If you are studying on campus, where possible, the majority of your teaching will take place at the School's buildings; however, some teaching sessions may be scheduled in other buildings on our City Campus and Headingley Campus. The City Campus library is located in the Leslie Silver Building, which is adjacent to Northern Terrace, while the James Graham Building houses the library at our Headingley Campus.
I wish you every success for this academic year.
Professor Akintola Akintoye, Dean of School
Key Contacts & Keeping in Touch
Dr Priya Essoo
Dr Priya Essoo
Keeran Pentiah
Course Representatives are student volunteers who represent your views at course-level, in course forums and in meetings with academic and support staff. Details about being a Course Representative are available at www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/studenthub/course-representatives.htm and on the Students' Union website
The library assistant and our IT Support team can be contacted via email and/or phone: 6962671. For more information on book loans please visit Moodle.
As part of your award you will have the support of Rushmore's administrative staff, module tutors, the course coordinator and a personal tutor. The main method of communication is email; however, you may also be contacted on your mobile phone or landline. Any change in contact details should immediately be informed to your course coordinator so you don't miss any important information. All members of academic staff will be available to provide academic and/or pastoral advice. Whilst on your course it is important that you are able to get the advice you need to help choose the most appropriate modules to study which suit your particular skills or if you have a particular career in mind. There may be times when you will need help with study skills or to talk through problems that are affecting your studies.
Timetable Information
Rushmore Business School’s Timetables are in line with Leeds Beckett University ones, across all the Schools.
Course Overview
The Dip HE in Quantity Surveying is to provide an education for potential Quantity Surveying graduates, which will develop the qualities of professionalism, competence, clarity of thought and resourcefulness. More specifically the aims are to:
- Provide a basis from which students can enhance and extend their understanding of the profession and industry whilst developing and enhancing necessary technical knowledge.
- Are prepared for the vocational problems they will encounter in the procurement of buildings.
- The encouragement of students in their approach to their academic and subsequent professional careers.
-That successful graduates will have the potential to complete a technical role in technological, managerial, financial or legal issues associated with the Quantity Surveying discipline.
1.To have the ability to understand construction and engineering service technologies, the impact of these on the costs and timing of construction activities and the most appropriate methods to financially manage these throughout the design, construction and life cycle of the project.
2.To be able to measure construction works in accordance with current industry standards, making use of appropriate technology, to produce documentation suitable for tendering such works. To understand and be able to advise on appropriate contract and procurement route selection for works, and to be able to articulate the risks and benefits of these.
3.To possess the skills required of a professional in the construction industry such as negotiation, presentation, problem analysis and conflict avoidance along with an awareness and understanding of other professional roles and responsibilities within the property development cycle.
4.To apply and analyse the principles of legal and regulatory frameworks relating to the construction industry and how the professional is affected by changes in the law relating to all aspects of the industry.
5.To be able to articulate current social, political, economic and environmental factors influencing the construction industry and the impact of these on the role of the quantity surveyor.
6.To be able to apply the professional and ethical frameworks, including an appreciation of areas that are beyond the scope of personal expertise and how to seek professional advice where necessary.
1.Understand the need for measurement and how this is applied to construction works.
2.Understand construction technologies as they apply to non- domestic buildings including framed structures and major infrastructure initiatives.
3.Demonstrate understanding and working knowledge of the systems used to support working practice and apply them to projects within real life scenarios.
4.Develop knowledge and skills that can be applied to the management of contract procedures and drafting of contract documents.
5.Develop relevant personal and professional opportunities through work placements and the development of employability skills.
6.Understand major professional and key issues in quantity surveying and construction law.
Assessment & Feedback
Overall Workload | Level 4 | Level 5 |
Teaching, Learning and Assessment | 240 hours | 240 hours |
Independent Study | 960 hours | 960 hours |
Please note the exam/assessment periods in the academic calendar and make sure that you are available during those periods. Further details of your schedule of examinations can be found on your timetable once the examination schedule is released. Coursework submission deadlines can normally be found on MyBeckett, on course noticeboards or in individual Module Handbooks/other module guides.
It is important to note that submitting all assignments is a requirement of your course. Should you experience extenuating circumstances which prevent you from submitting on time please make yourself aware of the Mitigation and Extenuating Circumstances process. Without any form of extenuating circumstances, standard penalties apply for late submission of assessed work. Full details of the penalties for late submission of course work are available in section 3.11 of the Academic Regulations. Please check the penalties that apply to this course as some Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body requirements may mean that different penalties apply.
If you have been recommended 'flexibility around deadlines' as a reasonable adjustment in a Reasonable Adjustment Plan, your Course Administrator will be able to advise you of the process.
You may be required to submit your written work via Turnitin; further information on Turnitin is available.
Results from module assessments and decisions on progression to the next level of study (e.g., from Level 4 to Level 5 of an undergraduate degree) or awards (if you are in the final level) are available on the Results Online system.
Results will appear within Results Online five working days after the date of the Progression and Award Board meeting (the meeting where your end of level outcome will be decided) or the Module Board meeting (the meeting where modular outcomes are decided).
If you are unsure about when you might receive your results or have queries relating to your results, you should contact your Course Administrator.
If you have not passed a module at the first attempt you will be eligible for re-assessment. See your Module Handbook for details of the relevant re-assessment process (e.g., whether it is coursework, an examination, a presentation or other form of assessment/when it will take place/what the deadline is). You will be advised via Results Online of your options for re-assessment. You are advised to contact your Course Director, Course Administrator or Academic Advisor for any necessary clarification.
Details about our Appeals process can be found on the appeals web page.
Academic integrity means intellectual honesty and is part of good academic practice. Further information can be found on our academic integrity web page.
Teaching & Learning
Self-directed learning through directed reading and research to enable students to become independent thinkers and learners.
Formative exercises and problem based learning; there are live sites which are used in the course to form scenarios for the students to provide solutions in a real life situation. Close working with industry representatives on major projects provides the students with live clients and gives them an appreciation of how they and their needs should be addressed.
Practical surveying in the course allows students to have hands on experience of the tools that are used in the surveying industry with their performance being assessed throughout the exercises.
On-line tutorials and phase tests allow the students to develop their digital literacy skills as well as giving immediate feedback to enhance their learning.
Level 4 Modules
Introduction to Construction Technology
Introduction to Construction Measurement and Estimating
Procurement, Tendering and Valuation
Principles of Measurement
Law in the Built Environment
Built Environment Economics
Level 5 Modules
Construction Technology
Measurement
Management of Project
Construction Communications and Application
Experiential Learning
Contract Practice
Level 4 is assessed by coursework predominantly, with some practical assessments and examinations.
Level 5 is assessed by coursework predominantly, with some practical assessments and examinations.
Attendance & Absence
All students are required to engage with their studies which include attending all timetabled sessions and register their attendance through Touchpoint card readers. They are requested to meet ALL attendance requirements as specified for individual modules, or as specified for the course.
Monitoring of attendance may take place at any point during the year. The use of academic facilities (e.g. the Library, Moodle) may be checked for this purpose, as well as any mode of attendance (e.g. performance, tutorials, lectures, workshops, phase tests, oral exams).
All students are made aware of the serious consequences of failing to adhere to the RBS's attendance requirements and ultimately poor attendance and engagement may lead to action being taken.
Students must inform their Course Coordinator about any non- attendance of lecture.
Students must inform their respective Course Coordinator about any non- attendance of lecture due to illness.
If students are absent because of illness for more than seven consecutive days (including weekends), they must provide us with a Fitness to Study note.
Also, if students are absent through illness on the day of an examination or assignment deadline and they intend to apply for mitigation, they must also provide us with details and any available evidence as soon as possible. Students should contact their course coordinator to get a copy of the appropriate extenuating circumstances form (EC).
The Medical Certificate should be handed in or emailed to the Course Coordinator or attach same to the EC form.If you are considering withdrawal from your course you should speak to your personal tutor / academic advisor to discuss your reasons. If there is a problem, staff at your delivery provider or the University may be able to help. It may be possible to arrange suspension of studies from your course.
If you are considering withdrawing, permanently or temporarily, you must complete a withdrawal form, which you can obtain from the administrative staff at your delivery provider. This form must be submitted as soon as possible as withdrawals cannot normally be backdated. For further details see the Student Regulations.
Skills, Employability & Graduate Opportunities
The course will develop a range of recognisable quantity surveying skills to help you pursue a career in the construction industry. In addition it will help you to improve your many existing skills and also gain new ones such as: critical thinking, presentation skills, team working, practical surveying and measurement, research, self-directed learning, professional ethics and presentation.
There are three Graduate Attributes for Leeds Beckett University and these are tailored to suit your course. The three attributes you should achieve by the end of the course are for you to be digitally literate, have a global outlook and for you to be enterprising. Learning about these attributes and being assessed on them as part of your modules will provide you with capabilities which are essential for your future career and wider life as you move on from your studies here. You will be formally assessed on all the attributes in some of your modules at each academic level in each year of your course. For more information on graduate attributes please visit https://skillsforlearning.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/local/graduate_attributes/category_homepage.shtml
The Course Specification includes details of any career paths, further study options and other opportunities for graduates.
Learning Support
Your Academic Advisor will be an academic member of staff who teaches you on your course. Your Course Director will make sure that you are given the contact details of your Academic Advisor at the beginning of each year, usually in your course induction. Further details on the role of your Academic Advisor are available on the Academic Advisor web page.
Students are provided with a personalised University Microsoft 365 account to access all their course related information. All lecture notes, materials and audio/videos are uploaded on the Rushmore VLE, Moodle and accessed through secure log in credentials.
Assessments are also posted on the VLE and uploaded by students through Turnitin drop boxes.
The Student Support Services Team is the first point of contact for all our students in relations to any general query on the school's facilities and services. The team provides assistance to them pertaining to their queries, photocopying and printing services, or be it binding services, and the team also directs any query to the relevant member of staff for further support.
Students are members of the Rushmore Events Team; thus, they contribute in the planning and organisation of extracurricular activities, be it course related or others. The Rushmore Events Team is headed by a Senior member of staff.
Few Learning support in terms of site visits, arrangements for placement, etc are provided to all students. Thus, they can meet industrial professionals to enhance their learning experience from a practical point of view.
Pastoral and Personal Tutoring are provided to ensure appropriate guidance on non-academic issues and academic difficulties related to their school life and studies.
Other extracurricular activities are also carried out, such as academic writing skills sessions, CV writing, career development counselling, amongst others.
Online revision sessions are carried out upon demand from students. Feedback sessions are encouraged via Zoom/Google Hangout, whatsapp etc.
Other documents are available on Moodle already - handbooks, Quote Unquote, small books, Academic Integrity guidelines, amongst others.
Few special online lectures were provided to freshers (Extended semester) to enhance students' knowledge on academic integrity and critical thinking, amongst others. These slides and materials can be accessed by any student on Moodle for additional online support.
Moreover, all lecture materials including audio recordings are uploaded by Lecturers so as students may access same at any time.We encourage disclosure to take appropriate measures. Moreover, the campus is accessible via a ramp for physical disabilities and lift service is available. For any other impairments, assistance is sought from the relevant Ministry and NGO (subject to disability).
In terms of library facilities, students have access to our physical library at Rushmore Complex, e-books and our Partner University's online library too. Ebsco access is also provided via Moodle.
The IT support team is available by email to assist students with any IT related matter, be it Moodle access, Turnitin software or others.We do not have Student Unions; however, each course has 2 Class and Vice-Class representatives who are elected democratically to assist their peers.
The Staff/Student Liaison Committee is the appropriate platform for the student voice. Usually this committee meets once every semester and it comprises of the Director, Academic Director, Head of Quality Assurance and the Class Representatives and Vice Class Representatives.
Resources
Student Voice
We are committed to working in partnership with you and nominated Student Representatives to provide you with an inclusive, safe and engaging learning environment which is conducive to study for all our students and our staff. An important element of your time studying with us is your engagement in developing your learning. Your engagement and attendance on your course enables you to further your learning and supports your achievement, course completion and aspirations for the future. There is an expectation that students will attend, engage in their learning and submit on time for assessment. We provide support for you to maximise your time studying with us and to develop your learning, skills and abilities to support you in your chosen career path.
We seek active participation by all our students in the continuous enhancement of our courses and through our monitoring, annual review and enhancement processes. These are formal processes used by our University for assuring the academic standards and quality of your course and its continuous improvement. These processes utilise your feedback, External Examiners' reports, feedback from staff and others, data relating to student outcomes on the course and student surveys to reflect on areas of good practice and areas for further enhancement. We invite all students to participate in a range of opportunities to provide us with feedback on your course and modules. This may include discussions with staff, focus groups, and meetings (e.g. with Course Representatives or with staff) and formalised student surveys e.g. mid module reviews, end of module evaluations and specific course or other surveys.
Course Representatives (Reps) at undergraduate and postgraduate taught levels are student volunteers who represent you in formal and informal meetings with the University, and follow up on actions that have occurred because of student feedback. You can become a Course Rep, volunteering to represent the views of your peers in order to improve students' academic experience.
In the first few weeks of your time at Leeds Beckett, your Course Director will facilitate an opportunity to appoint Course Reps on your course.
LBSU provides support, training and ongoing development for Course Reps and supports their engagement in enhancement activities throughout the academic year.
Being a Course Rep provides you with an opportunity to enhance your own learning and the development of relevant professional and employability skills alongside your studies. As a Course Rep you would play an important role in:
- Acting as a point of contact and advocate for students on your course and in supporting their active engagement.
- Gathering feedback from students on your course to inform enhancements to the quality of your course and the student experience.
- Facilitating good communication between students and staff on the course.
- Working with the Course Director, members of the course team and the Students' Union to enhance your course.
- Facilitating and engaging in meetings about your course; and
- Being an ambassador for your course.
Further information about being a Course Representative is available at:
We invite all students to participate in a range of opportunities to provide us with feedback on your course and modules. This may include discussions with staff, focus groups, and meetings (e.g. with Course Representatives or with staff) and formalised student surveys e.g. mid module reviews, end of module evaluations and specific course or other surveys.
We are committed to providing a high quality experience for all our students. We welcome comments and compliments from students, and find them valuable for on-going improvements to our provision. Comments and compliments about your course can be raised with your course representative or directly with your personal tutor / academic advisor.
If you have a specific complaint about your course, you should initially follow the complaints procedure of your delivery provider.
If this does not resolve the matter, then you should make a formal complaint under the University's Student Complaints Procedure. Information about how to make a complaint, including the student complaints procedure and a complaints form, is available on the Students web pages.
General Information
Certificate of Higher Education in Quantity Surveying
Leeds Beckett University
Level 5 of the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications, with 120 credit points at each of Levels 4 and 5 of the UK Credit Framework for Higher Education (240 credits in total)
Part-time delivery is usually at half the intensity of the FT equivalent course, although there may be flexibility to increase your pace of study to shorten the overall course duration. Some modules may be delivered in a different sequence to that defined within this information set, but the modules offered within each level are consistent.
Policies, Standards & Regulations
Rushmore Business School is compliant with Leeds Beckett University's Policies and Regulations. Moreover, all our students are also bound by Rushmore's rules and regulations.
N/A
The External Examiner assures that you are assessed fairly in relation to other students on the same course and also that the standard of your own award is comparable to similar courses taken by students in other higher education institutions within the UK. The External Examiner(s) provide an annual report for your course. External Examiner reports are available on our External Examiner Reports web page, which is accessible via the Course Information link on the Students home page.
Appendices
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