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BSc Honours Quantity Surveying (Full and Part-time)

My Programme 2021/2022

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The Purpose of My Programme is to:

• Provide you with a source of information about your programme (which will be updated annually) and;

• Make you aware of some of the more important regulations under which your Programme operates.

This document concentrates on Programme specific information. Members of your Programme Team (see section 4) will be happy to explain aspects in further detail as required. My Programme should be read alongside the My Napier resource, which contains useful information about the University as a whole. You can access My Napier at https://my.napier.ac.uk/ or by clicking any of the My Napier links in this document.

The content of this My Programme is correct at the point of production however, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, some information may change. Please regularly check My Napier, student newsletters and university emails for important updates. For TNE (TransNational Education) provision there is a distinct My University handbook written for you: MyUniversity -TNE and it replaces the My Napier references in this handbook.

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1. Programme Leader Welcome

As Programme Leader for BSc (Hons) Quantity Surveying and on behalf of the staff members of the School of Engineering & the Built of Environment and the Programme Team, I would like to extend a very warm welcome to the University. We look forward to working with you and supporting you during your time at Edinburgh Napier University. We hope you will have a fantastic time and make the most of all the opportunities that are available to you. Details of all the activities taking place in Week 1 can be found at MyNapier however if you are unsure of where your first classes are please check at the i-Point or alternatively speak to the School Office. Welcome back to those of you who are continuing with your studies. Congratulations on your achievements to date. I and the rest of the Programme Team are looking forward to working with you again this academic year. I hope that you will have an enjoyable, interesting and challenging year of researching and learning, which will provide you with a sound basis for the future. The purpose of this handbook is to give you a permanent source of information about your programme and to make you aware of some of the more important regulations under which it operates. Members of the teaching staff will be happy to explain any aspects which might seem unclear. Please ensure you know where to find a copy of it for future reference and read its contents carefully. Some gentle reminders for you:

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Matriculation: You must matriculate each year of your course. If you do not do this, you will lose your network and email access, and Tuition Fee/Student Loan payments will not be made (if applicable). You will be sent information via email about how to complete the matriculation process, which is easily done online. Student ID Card: Your student card provides you with a means of identification, and also grants access to library resources and printers, as well as access to certain labs and buildings. It is your responsibility to carry your matriculation card at all times on campus. If your card is lost, stolen, or has expired, please ask at the iPoint about getting a new one. Personal Information: It is your responsibility to notify the University promptly of any change of address, change of name or changes to your personal information. This can be done via eStudent Records on myNapier. You must also ensure that you check your student email account on a regular basis, as this is our main means of communication with you. Your student email account is the only formal way the University have of communicating with you therefore it is crucial that you check this account on a daily basis - even during the summer. Attendance: As a matriculated Edinburgh University student you are expected to attend all lectures, tutorials, workshops etc. as timetabled, plus any events that your Programme Leader thinks will help you through your time at Edinburgh Napier. Attendance is not 'optional' and any drop in attendance will be followed up by the module teams with individual students. Please take the time to read the following pages carefully and if you have any queries at all then please get in touch using the email address below. Mike Thomson MRICS FHEA Programme Leader BSc (Honours) Quantity Surveying Programme Room D60, M.Thomson@napier.ac.uk

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2. Health and Safety

In the Event of an Emergency at an Edinburgh Campus

There are Security Offices at all of our main campuses. The main Control Room operates 24 hours a day and can be contacted at 0131 455 6119. If for any reason you feel that your personal safety is threatened on campus, please phone the emergency line (0131 455 4444) and ask for an escort to the exit.

Health and Safety

Adherence to the University’s safety practices is required. As a student, you must read and familiarise yourself with the University Fire and Emergency Procedures which can be found at myNapier H&S. For the safety of yourself and others, please also read MyNapier doc: Student Safety Guide.

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3. About My Programme

Quantity Surveying:

The Quantity Surveying programme has been offered for more than 50 years through all iterations of Edinburgh Napier from its days as a technical college, through the polytechnic years and as a modern University for some 28 years now. It aims to produce competent and resourceful professionals whose education and training in fundamentals within individual subject areas prepares them for an active and useful role in the construction industry and employment in the professional and managerial occupations. The broad base of the programme ensures that a successful career can be built while further advances in expertise are obtained from the Continuing Professional Development graduates engage in when employed as Quantity Surveyors.

Programme Philosophy

The philosophy of this Programme is to use a vocational approach with a great degree of practical application to create a high employability focus. At all stages you will be encouraged to take an independent self-learning approach to developing a deep knowledge of the subject area. A broad skills-based approach uses realistic projects and drawings to replicate real-life scenarios allowing students to contribute immediately upon entering the workplace upon graduation or before through work placements or part-time employment in the construction industry.

A formal work placement module covers the 120 credits to be gained in year 3 of the programme for full-time students and over years 4 and 5 for the part-time route. Students are provided with guidance in years 1 and 2 on securing a work placement along with additional support such as CV writing and interview techniques.

Programme Aims and Learning Outcomes

Programme aims:

• to provide students with the fundamental knowledge and core skills to begin a professional career in Quantity Surveying;

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• to give students the ability to apply professional standards in providing commercial management advice on all aspects in the procurement of construction;

• to develop the students’ ability to analyse, interpret, quantify and propose solutions in relation to a broad range of construction and property matters that will arise during the development process;

• to develop the student’s skill to become autonomous learners to underpin their desire and ability to keep abreast of the impact of key changes in the economy, markets and information management;

• to give students the opportunity to develop transferable skills in communication, report writing, presentation and group association with shared input to product delivery.

Programme intended learning outcomes:

(a) Knowledge and understanding:

On completion of this programme of study you will be able to:

A1: collect data, undertake related analysis and define the needs of clients, developing appropriate strategies and solutions.

A2: appreciate the professional role of the QS in conjunction with society’s expectation of professional practice in the context of construction and related services.

A3: understand how business management activities contribute to the achievement of corporate objectives through the application of procurement techniques, and the relevance of the project brief.

A4: understand the application of capital allowances and grants.

A5: source information and data, including techniques to collect and collate source information specifically related to quantity surveying practice.

A6: appreciate principles and basic practices underlying corporate finance and structures, including financial management of construction projects as part of business management.

A7: apply techniques of conflict avoidance and management by appropriate procurement management and contract drafting.

A8: define contractual, legislative and statutory requirements of a construction contract, including the range of current forms.

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A9: apply principles and practices underlying valid development appraisal, main factors that affect economics of design, distinguish between capital and operational costs and the concept of whole life cost management.

A10: apply principles of quantification and analysis of cost significant resources in construction as basis for the financial management of construction

(b) Skills and other attributes:

On completion of this programme of study you will be able to:

B1: use appropriate procurement strategies to meet a variety of example business requirements based on analysis and interpretation.

B2: critically evaluate and cost alternative design solutions, set up and maintain model budgetary control system, identify related risk factors and report implications.

B3: identify, select, assemble and analyse data relevant to undertaking development appraisal and project feasibility studies in new build and refurbishment.

B4: undertake VFM project appraisal with appropriate cost and management techniques.

B5: measure and cost construction works, including interpretation of standard methods of measurement, prepare example tender documents.

B6: give reasoned advice on the most appropriate contractual procedures at the various stages of a construction contracts

B7: develop and critically evaluate solutions to complex change scenarios in construction procurement.

B8: communicate effectively orally, in proposal and report writing and presentations.

B9: apply the skills needed for academic study and enquiry to demonstrate independent and lateral thought.

B10: Learn autonomously, reflect critically on individual academic and professional performance and appraise the requirement for continuing professional development.

Programme Structure

The structure of the programme is set out on the page below.

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Full Time and Part-time Course Structures (4 and 5 years respectively)

Trimester 1 Trimester 2

Stage 1

Module number BSV07100 BSV07112 BSV07108 BSV07104 BSV07110 BSV07113

Module title

Building Design and Technology 1 Surveying Property Value

Studies

Property & Construction Bus

Law

Building Maintenance & Management

Construction Cost Studies 1

Stage 2

Module number BSV08115 BSV08105 BSV08125 BSV08124 BSV08127 BSV08119

Module title

Construction Cost Studies 2

Building Design and Technology 2

Quantity Surveying:

Professional Practice

Quantity Surveying:

Commercial Management

Contract Admin. Facilities Management

Stage 3

Module number BSV09119

Module title Work placement

Stage 4

Module number BSV10100 BSV10104 BSV10118 BSV10111

Module title Project Evaluation Sustainable

Development

Construction Project

Management Dissertation

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Programme Structure incorporating alternative 3rd year modules in the event of no work placement being secured:

Trimester 1 Trimester 2

Stage 1

Module number BSV07100 BSV07102 BSV07108 BSV07104 BSV07110 BSV07113

Module title

Building Design and Technology 1 Surveying Property Value

Studies

Property & Construction Bus

Law

Building Maintenance

& Management

Construction Cost Studies 1

Stage 2

Module number BSV08115 BSV08105 BSV08125 BSV08124 BSV08127 BSV08119

Module title

Construction Cost Studies 2

Building Design and Technology 2

Quantity Surveying: Professional

Practice

Quantity Surveying: Commercial Management

Contract Admin. & Practice

Facilities Management

Stage 3 work placement year (120 credits) or Taught modules (total 120 credits)

Module number BSV09119

Module title Work placement

Module number BSV09120 BSV09121 BSV09123 BSV09122

Module title Research and Innovation Environmental

Sustainability Health and Safety Professional Standards

Stage 4

Module number BSV10100 BSV10104 BSV10118 BSV10111

Module title Project Evaluation Sustainable

Development Construction project

Management Dissertation

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Trimester 1 Trimester 2

Stage

1

Module number BSV07100 BSV07112 BSV07104 BSV07113

Module title Building Design and Technology

1 Surveying

Property & Construction Bus

Law

Construction Cost Studies1

Stage 2

Module number BSV07108 BSV08105 BSV07110 BSV08124

Module title Property Value Studies

Building Design and Technology 2

Building Maintenance & Management

Quantity Surveying: Commercial Management

Trimester 3

Stage 3

Module number BSV08115 BSV08125 BSV08127 BSV08109 BSV09119

Module title Construction Cost Studies 2

Quantity Surveying: Professional

Practice Contract Admin Facilities

Management Work placement 1

Stage 4

Module number BSV10104 BSV09119 BSV10118

Module title Sustainable Development Work Placement 2 Construction Project

Management

Stage 5

Module number BSV10100

BSV10111

Module title Project Evaluation Dissertation

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Expectations for Engagement

To get the most out of your time on your programme, it is important that you attend

all scheduled class activities. Attending and participating in programme activities will

help you successfully progress through your coursework, stay engaged, and keep

motivated throughout the duration of your studies.

Most modules have material including notes and tutorial sheets on Moodle, as a

supplement to the lectures and practical sessions. Simply studying these materials

does not constitute sufficient engagement with the module. Remember, most

PowerPoint presentations are an 'aide-memoire' for the class tutor who will provide

additional information in class, on the day. This information requires your

attendance, attention and note-taking skills in order to maximise its use in improving

your understanding of the topic.

Our Commitment to Student Inclusion

The University is committed to helping all of its students succeed, and has a dedicated Disability Inclusion team to support students with disabilities, certain learning difficulties, and long-term medical conditions.

Forms of support for students may include: the provision of lecture notes in advance, the opportunity to record classes, and/or the incorporation of 25% extra time to complete class tests.

The University also has a wide-range of assistive software available on AppsAnywhere, including:

• Claro Read: a screen-reader that helps you listen to your research reading, including: web pages, Word documents, and PDFs.

• MindView: a mind-mapping package that can convert your mind-maps into Word documents or PowerPoint slides.

• Grammarly: a programme that checks your spelling, grammar, and writing-style.

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If you have had additional support at school or college, for instance in exams, the Disability Inclusion Team would be keen to hear from you so they can put equivalent support in place and liaise with your lecturers on your behalf.

If you feel like you would benefit from additional support because of a disability or suspected learning difficulty, please get in touch with the Disability Inclusion Team. Our advisors hold appointments each day across all three campuses.

You can reach the Disability Inclusion team by emailing disabilityandinclusion@napier.ac.uk.

Accreditation

This programme is accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) https://www.rics.org/uk.

RICS accreditation means that upon receiving your Honours Degree, you may apply to start the Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) which ultimately leads to the award of designation of MRICS meaning you have become a Chartered Surveyor. This is a globally recognised qualification and can mean the possibility of employment throughout the world.

With the inclusion of the work placement module you will be able to start your APC process early during the placement and pick-up once you have graduated.

New students are encouraged to join RICS as student members – it is free and RICS provide a range of resources to help you through your surveying career.

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Questions You May Have:

The Quantity Surveying programme is based around scenario-related problem solving and to this end, the programme is very practical in the skills that you will be learning. Site visits are organised whenever possible, dependent upon class-size and the projects currently under construction available for visits. Previous visits include: The new St James’ Quarter in Edinburgh; the Queensferry Crossing; the Jonnie Walker Experience and the Royal Edinburgh Hospital.

Students have free access to the Building Cost Information Service (BCIS) which is a national database of construction costs. We also have an educational version of the billing and measuring package CostX available to students

- Are there any particular processes and/or forms that I need to be aware of on My Programme?

There is a class register taken for all modules. It is your responsibility to make sure

you sign the register if you are present. Failure to do so may result in your

attendance appearing poorer than it actually is.

There are a number of University processes that you will be made aware of during

your time at Edinburgh Napier. These will be relayed directly by the Module

Leaders and the Programme Leader at various induction events.

Submitting your coursework/assignments:

It is important that you read and understand the submission requirements for all

the modules you are studying. Details of this will be found in the assessment brief

and on Moodle. The majority of assignments are normally submitted in an

electronic format usually through a link in Moodle such as Turnitin.

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If your Module does require you produce a physical artefact or a hard copy

assignment/project, this is normally submitted via the School Office. If in doubt

about the method of submission, please contact your Module Leader of the School

Office for advice, prior to the deadline.

Submitting assignments late:

Coursework submitted after the agreed deadline will be marked at a maximum of

40%. Coursework submitted over 5 working days after the agreed deadline will be

given 0% (although formative feedback will be offered where requested).

Extensions to coursework deadlines may be granted by individual module leaders,

however, the University regulations are quite clear on what does and does not

constitute a valid reason for awarding an extension, for example computer 'issues',

losing your material/pen-drive/laptop breaking down are not deemed to be valid

reasons.

Absence due to illness or other personal circumstances:

If you are absent from class, it is your responsibility to inform your module leader.

When you come back you will need to ensure that you are aware of what

happened in any missed classes and make sure you catch up. Details of the

University Fit to Sit – Extenuating Circumstances are available at MyNapier.

If you are ill on the day of an examination or you have been unable to submit an

assessment by the deadline, you need to let your PDT or Programme Leader

know as soon as possible. Depending on the circumstances you may need to

submit an Extenuating Circumstances claim form (EC1), along with supporting

evidence. This allows you to explain the particular circumstances which affected

you. Full details of the University’s Extenuating Circumstances regulations can be

found at MyNapier.

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Please note having your Extenuating Circumstances accepted will not increase

your individual marks - if you pass an assessment that you have submitted

extenuating circumstances for, that mark will still stand. If you fail a module and

your Extenuating Circumstances claim is upheld by the relevant panel then you

will be permitted a further first attempt at the component(s) of assessment that you

have failed without the mark being capped.

Plagiarism and what this means:

Plagiarism at Edinburgh Napier is defined as “unacknowledged incorporation in a

student’s work, either in an examination or assessment, of material derived from

that work (published or unpublished) of another”. This means that you may not

use work from others and call it your own. Work in this context applies to any form

of work (and not only written work).

Plagiarism is considered a breach of academic conduct regulations. It is

considered a serious offence and is dealt with according to the University’s

Student Disciplinary Regulations and Academic Conduct: Code of Practice for

Staff and Students. Further information can be found at MyNapier.

Good referencing practice is the best way to avoid unintentional plagiarism and

you will find help and resources on how to do this here.

The School Academic Conduct officer is responsible for investigating allegations of

a breach of the Academic Conduct Regulations.

- In addition to placements, are there any other employer links associated with My Programme? A number of industry specialists are invited to attend and deliver lectures in order

to put the material learned in class into an industry relevant context. Currently

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Quantity Surveyors and other experts are invited from Gleeds, Turner and

Townsend, Deloitte, Morrison Construction, Robertson Group, Axiom, CALA,

Morrison Construction and Dog and Smith. Many of these guests are also

employers of our graduates and so they are also visiting to see who the most

enthusiastic students are!

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4. My Programme Contacts

Programme Team

Your programme has a team to manage its day-to-day running. If you have a question or problem, then you should contact one of the members of that team (see below).

If they are unable to help another option is for you to contact our Head of Learning and Teaching Grant Sinclair (G.Sinclair@napier.ac.uk) who will assist you.

Programme Leader

Mike Thomson Room D60 0131 455 2530 M.Thomson@napier.ac.uk

The role of your Programme Leader is varied. It includes a remit to manage and co-ordinate the operation of your programme in liaison with your Dean of School and the rest of the University, and to liaise with any professional bodies of relevance to your programme.

PDTs, Year Tutors, Lecturers, Etc.

Your Personal Development Tutor (PDT) is the person to whom you should go in the first instance for guidance on any academic or personal issues that may be affecting your academic work. You can find out who your PDT is by logging into eStudent Records. Your PDT should meet with you once a trimester to discuss progress and other academic or University issues.

The QS Programme team operate an 'open-door' policy when it comes to PDT,

meaning that any member of staff will see a student as long as they are free, or an

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appointment is made via-email. One-to-one PDTs will be held upon request and

group PDT sessions will be allowed for during tutorial sessions.

As an enrolled QS student your PDT is your Programme Leader, Mike Thomson.

My Programme Representatives

(Please also see the Getting involved with the wider University section of My Napier) Elections for programme reps take place at the beginning of the academic year. Once reps are in place their names will be posted on the programme Moodle page.

Academic Support Advisor

As a University student, we want you to get the most out of

your studies and develop as an effective learner. We

therefore offer a range of workshops and one-to-one advice

to help you to develop academic skills. Details of all

workshops and guidance is available from My Napier and the

contact details for the Academic Advisor within the School of

Engineering & the Built Environment are below.

Kendall Richards C77 0131 455 2659 k.richards@napier.ac.uk

School Disability Contact

School Disability Contacts (SDCs) are academic staff members who act as points of contact for students who require additional support due to a disability, medical condition, or specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia. Each school may have one or more SDCs who liaise closely with the Disability Inclusion Team. SDCs are

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in charge of helping direct students who request support, sharing information with academic staff, and ensuring colleagues refer to their students’ learning profiles.

SEBE SDC : currently vacant (July 2021) - please contact the Disability Inclusion Team in the meantime or the SEBE School Office for an update during 2021/22. You can reach the Disability Inclusion team by emailing disabilityandinclusion@napier.ac.uk.

Student Wellbeing & Inclusion

This team is here to help you feel content, healthy and supported. Please talk to them if you are experiencing difficulties. Support is available from their Student Funding, Counselling & Mental Wellbeing, Disability Inclusion, Keep On Track and Chaplaincy staff. You can find out more information about their services, along with their online resources on My Napier.

Academic Integrity

One of the things you will learn about is the importance of academic integrity. Additional information is available in My Napier on your responsibilities as a university student and as an academic about upholding the Academic Integrity, which is the moral code and ethical policy of academia.

Our university ‘Student Conduct Regulations’ are designed to maintain the integrity of your work and your award. Any breach of these regulations intentionally or accidentally is investigated by the School. Each School has an Academic Integrity Officer (AIO) responsible for investigating allegations of breach of Academic Integrity Regulations. Every module uses the ENGUS resource for Global Online Academic Misconduct available at https://moodlecommunity.napier.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=361#section-0

AIO: Dr Neil Shearer 0131 455 2542 (n.shearer@napier.ac.uk )

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Information Services (including IT and Library Services)

Information on the range of services offered by the Edinburgh Napier University Information Services is available to you through My Napier.

School librarian: Joyce Templeton (j.templeton@napier.ac.uk ) Student Administrative Support

The School Office

The School Office provides administrative support to academic staff and provides guidance to students on a range of issues including timetabling, examinations, assessment results and support for Boards of Studies and SSLCs. Staff within the School Office will normally be able to help with any questions you have, or to signpost you to the appropriate point of contact. The SEBE School Office is open for enquiries from 8.45am to 5pm, Monday – Friday where the contact details are as below:

SEBE School Office: C81b 0131 455 2477 sebeadmin@napier.ac.uk

The iPoint and Reception

The iPoint and Reception will provide you with access to a range of services and support. They can help with enquiries relating to student status-letter requests, council tax exemption requests, and appointment bookings for some student services. The iPoint and Reception can also assist with student card queries. You will find the iPoint and Reception at the primary entrances to our main campus buildings at Sighthill, Merchiston, and Craiglockhart. They are open between 08:45 and 17:00 hours, Monday to Friday. Further information regarding the iPoint and Reception is available on My Napier.

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5. Communicating with My Programme Team

Meetings with Staff

Meetings with staff can be arranged by contacting the relevant staff members either by telephone or email. If you are unable to get in touch with the staff member please contact the School Office for advice.

Email

As a matriculated student of the University you will be allocated a University email account. This the only recognised account for emailing your Programme Team, your School Support Team or the University’s support services so please ensure you check this email account on a regular basis. Your University email account is also linked to Moodle, out online learning environment. This means you receive any notifications from Moodle directly to your email account. Further information on Moodle can be found on MyNapier

Moodle

It is your responsibility to check the programme Moodle pages regularly.

Communicating last minute changes to activities

Any last minute changes to classes, eg cancellations of classes, will be notified via MyTimetable Dashboard, although we will normally also post these changes on Moodle. Other changes will normally be sent to you via email or will be added as a Moodle announcement.

When communicating in any form, please observe the University values and note the Information Security Policies and the Computer Suites Acceptable Use policy.

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When communicating in any form, please observe the University values and note the Information Security Policies and the Computer Suites Acceptable Use policy. The University email address provided to you is the account that we will use to communicate with you. Please make sure you check this email address regularly to ensure you get relevant information from the University. In exceptional circumstances, eg if the University email account disabled for non-payment of fees, we will contact you using the current personal email address you have recorded in your eStudent Record (SITS). Please keep your details up-to-date to ensure we have can reach you.

Opportunities to Provide Feedback

The University greatly values student feedback, and endeavours to provide you with numerous opportunities to make your voice heard.

During the trimester, you will find that your Module Leaders will seek feedback from you informally. You are empowered to share your thoughts about how things are going, what you enjoy about a module, what you might change about a module, and any concerns you may have. Your module leader will be keen to hear what you and your classmates have to say so they may better facilitate learning.

Towards the end of each module, there will be the opportunity to complete a module evaluation questionnaire. Here you can give your views on key aspects of the module, including the teaching, learning, assessment, and feedback you have experienced to date, as well as the resources used to support the delivery of the module.

The programme representative system is another mechanism through which you can raise issues / matter for consideration. Depending on the level of study you are at, you may also be asked to provide feedback through either the National Student Survey (UG) or Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES).

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Additionally, your Programme Team will have surveys and discussions aimed at obtaining your programme-specific feedback throughout your studies.

Student Staff Liaison Committee

The Student Staff Liaison Committee (SSLC) is one of a number of ways that Edinburgh Napier University seeks to engage with you in the continual enhancement of your programme experience. The SSLC provides a forum where student representatives and programme staff can engage in effective discussions relating to a number of elements that together form the student learning experience:

Whilst the SSLC meeting allows students to highlight areas of good practice and issues that may impinge on the learning experience, staff may also use this

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meeting to share any proposed module or programme changes. This will allow representatives to gather student feedback on any proposed changes and present it to the Programme Team at the Board of Studies meeting to ensure that the student voice is informing programme development.

Within the School of Engineering & the Built Environment, there are two SSLC meetings in each session, one in each trimester. Your Programme Rep will attend these meetings and raise issues on your behalf. You should contact them prior to the meeting to raise any issues. We post all notes and actions relating to SSLCs on Moodle, so please check this regularly for any updates.

Board of Studies

The Board of Studies is another way in which student representatives can feed back programme-specific issues or suggestions directly to the programme team. This is a meeting that occurs once every trimester.

In the School of Engineering & the Built Environment the meeting is usually held during Week 10 of each trimester – typically: Trimester 1 mid-October, Trimester 2 mid-March

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6. Teaching and Learning Methodologies

Learning, teaching and assessment methods.

The underlying strategy for Learning Teaching and Assessment is the gradual transition from teaching to learning. Lectures provide the means to learn about the theory of Real Estate Surveying, methods of valuation and planning instruments underlying the appraisal techniques available to support this field of professional practice. While lectures, tutorials and seminar topics vary between subject areas, an interactive learning environment is offered to encourage student centred learning.

Most teaching at level 7 (1st year) of the programme is shared with the other Surveying programmes (Building and Real Estate Surveying) as is part of level 8 (2nd year). These modules lay down the founding principles of Surveying, with level 2 developing the subject-specific specialisms that mark out Quantity Surveying and which continue to be developed at levels 9 and 10 (3rd and 4th years). Level 9 is developed through the work placement module where you will be asked to reflect on your experiences in the workplace from personal, academic and professional perspectives.

The applied nature of this learning and teaching shall meet the needs of students in the workplace as employees and on standards of quality assurance whose credit bearing status is able to match Edinburgh Napier’s enhancement requirements. Level 10 shall draw upon the skills the students have developed during levels 7-9. The self-directed learning shall take the form of the Project Evaluation module and Dissertation. The former shall test the student’s ability to learn in a multi-disciplinary environment, the latter in contrast shall be not be team-based but personal.

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7. Assessment and Feedback

Details of all the assessments that you are required to undertake for each module during the trimester, can be found in the assessment matrix located in Appendix A of this handbook. The matrix tells you the type of assessment, the submission week, and the weighting of the assessment. The matrix will be subject to change, as temporary covid changes for next session are still being submitted/processed at the time of writing (July 2021).

Other information, like how you will be expected to submit your work and the method that will be used to give you feedback, will be detailed in the assessment brief.

Any coursework you will undertake will have an assessment brief (except for examinations). Where provided, the assessment brief contains information about the assessment, including the marking criteria. Assessment briefs are held on Moodle. It is vital that you read all assessment briefs relating to your chosen modules.

You will receive feedback in a variety of ways (formal and informal). You are encouraged to speak to your teaching about how feedback will be given in each module and for each assessment.

The feedback may be given verbally, it may be specific to your submission or it may be a report on how the whole class performed, allowing you to identify where your performance has exceeded others and where it may have been improved.

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8. Results, Progression, and Development

Programme and Module External Examiners

Dean Carrick Associate Doig & Smith

Mark McKane Lecturer University of Ulster

External examiners are experienced university teachers from other institutions who provide an overall independent judgement on general student performance, as well as the quality and standard of your programme of study. They do not mark your work. You should also note that it is not part of their remit to communicate with individual students. External Examiners provide an annual report to the University and this may be shared and discussed at SSLCs.

Assessment Boards

Assessment Boards are responsible for making decisions about your academic performance, such as determining whether you have passed or failed a module, whether you can continue on a programme of study, and what your final award will be.

Further information about the role of Assessment Boards is available in the University Academic Regulations.

What Are the Assessment Criteria?

There are different pass marks / grades depending on the level of study that you are undertaking. To pass an undergraduate module you must get 40% overall. Each module may be made up of one or two components; and each component of assessment may contain a number of elements, e.g. the assessment component may be a portfolio of work that contains a PowerPoint Presentation, a report and a series of class tests. These would be known as the elements that make up the component. The weighting of components and elements is in the module catalogue.

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You can find out about the specifics of how overall marks / grades are calculated including the rules for distinction within the University Regulations.

(Note: Section B3 details the regulations used to calculate your undergraduate degree, while Section C3 details the regulations used to calculate your taught master’s award of the University).

When Will I Receive My Results?

You will usually receive your grade/mark for an assessment, as well as any relevant feedback, within three working weeks. However, the marks/ grades at this stage are still preliminary, as your Assessment Board must confirm them. You confirmed results will be available to you through your student account. To find out when these results are scheduled to be posted to your account, you can go to myNapier.

What If I Fail?

Do not panic if you have failed a module; you can get help from a number of people. In the first instance, you can contact your PDT, Module Leader, or your Programme Leader to talk through what will happen regarding reassessment. You can also ask for additional support from your Module Leader as you prepare for any reassessment(s).

Reassessment

If you fail an assessment, you will need to take a reassessment in order to pass the relevant module. Reassessments are usually undertaken during trimester three. You can find more details regarding reassessments on your module’s Moodle site, or, if it is an exam, on the exam timetable. You are also encouraged to refer to the University Regulations that govern deferred assessments and reassessment regulations.

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Course Prizes and Medals

A number of prizes are available to students throughout the various stages of the programme. The prizes currently listed are as follows:

• Scottish Building Federation Edinburgh and District Charitable Trust Prize – Best 1st, 2nd and 3rd Year student on undergraduate Built Environment Programme (shared with other programmes in the subject group)

• Walker Group Prize – highest year average in third year

• Degree Medal – 1 per year can be awarded to student exiting with ordinary degree

• Honours Medal – 1 per year can be awarded to graduating student

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9. Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions:

- Can I undertake a period of work experience within my programme?

Students are encouraged to seek part-time work in relevant employment when they can. There is also the work placement in year 3.

- Are there any opportunities to study abroad within my programme?

There are no specific opportunities to study abroad on the QS programme, but we

have been running a successful field trip to Dubai in March. Work placements may

be sourced abroad if the opportunity is relevant and appropriate to your studies.

- Will I get the opportunity to be involved in research?

You will be required to carry out research for a number of the assignments that will

be set for you throughout your time at the university, culminating in the dissertation

in your final year.

- What are the employability prospects for students who graduate from my programme?

The QS Programme enjoys very high levels of employment, achieving 100% in the

last few years. Our graduates are highly sought after by industry and many

students have their employment tied up by the start of their final year.