Day in the Life of an MSc Quantity Surveying Student

Ever wondered what a typical day for a Built Environment student looks like? MSc Quantity Surveying student Sohail takes us through his day from start to finish!

7:45 - Awake and ready to tackle another day! I start my morning with a simple but nourishing breakfast of toast and a strong cup of coffee to fuel me for the busy day ahead.

09:00 - I gather my books and equipment and begin my commute to campus. Typically listening to podcasts en route to enlighten me with extra general knowledge and news worldwide.

10:00 - Lecture Time! For the next three hours, we delve into the theoretical foundations of quantity surveying. Key topics include building cost estimation techniques, procurement and tendering methods and civil measurements and works. During this time, note-taking and paying attention for the entire 3 hours is crucial, as a detail missed can be the difference between a Distinction or Merit.

13:00 - Well-deserved lunch break arrives. I meet with some of my fellow course mates at the university canteen and enjoy some refreshments while we discuss the key pointers of the morning’s lecture and the latest news in the UK construction industry.

MSc Quantity Surveying

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14:00 - The afternoon is dedicated to a coursework workshop. Our current assignment is to produce a detailed cost estimation of a building where a thorough take-off list, query and assumptions, measurements and bill of quantity are required. It’s challenging but rewarding to apply the theory and concepts we learned in the morning to the practical assignment. 

16:00- Lecture and workshop complete! It's time for the commute back.

18:00 - After evening dinner, it is time to work on my dissertation. At the Master’s level, the dissertation word count is 15,000 and requires thorough planning and execution. In order to stay ahead of schedule, it is paramount I complete around 250-500 words per day.

20:30 - Dissertation work complete, and now it's time for some evening reading. Currently, I’m deep into the ‘’Quantity Surveyor’s Pocket Book’’ which provides detailed and handy information about quantity surveying. This book provides a thorough walkthrough of cost management, quantification, procurement, tendering, contracts and the broader context of the construction industry.

22:30 - Time for bed, proud of all I’ve learned and accomplished today, I drift off to sleep, excited to do it all again tomorrow as I work towards my goal of becoming a well-rounded and eventually a chartered quantity surveyor. I sleep assured knowing the challenging but fulfilling academic journey will all be worth it in the end!

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