Study abroad·Australia & New Zealand· 9 min read

Construction Management and Quantity Surveying Degrees in Australia and New Zealand

Construction management and quantity surveying degrees in Australia and New Zealand: AIQS / AIB / NZIQS accreditation, skilled-occupation context, and career pathways.

Last updated 3 July 2026

Why construction management and quantity surveying are a distinct choice

Construction management (CM) and quantity surveying (QS) sit in the built environment but are different from engineering and architecture. Construction managers plan, coordinate, and deliver building projects — programme, cost, safety, and site delivery. Quantity surveyors specialise in the cost and commercial side: estimating, measurement, contracts, procurement, and cost control across a project's life.

These fields are attractive to many international students because they combine a professional degree with clear industry roles, and the occupations have appeared on skilled-occupation frameworks that some students consider alongside migration goals. This guide covers what you study, the professional-accreditation route, and career context. It is general information, not financial or immigration advice.

What you study

CM and QS degrees blend technical construction knowledge with commercial and management skills. Expect building technology and construction methods, estimating and measurement, construction law and contracts, procurement, project planning and scheduling, cost planning and control, and increasingly digital tools such as building information modelling.

Many universities offer a combined Bachelor of Construction Management (Honours) with a quantity-surveying major, or separate CM and QS streams; postgraduate master's programs exist for graduates from other fields. Course names, majors, and honours structures vary — confirm the specific curriculum and duration on each university's official course page.

Core areas: construction technology, estimating/measurement, contracts and law, procurement, project and cost management, BIM
Common formats: Bachelor of Construction Management (Hons) with a QS major, or dedicated CM / QS streams
Master's-level programs exist for graduates converting from other disciplines
Check curriculum, majors, and duration on the official course page

Professional accreditation in Australia (AIQS, AIB, and more)

Accreditation signals that a degree meets industry standards and eases entry to professional membership. For quantity surveying, the Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (AIQS) accredits university programs; for construction management and building, the Australian Institute of Building (AIB) is a key professional body, and some programs also carry Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) or Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) recognition.

AIQS is also the assessing authority nominated by the Australian Government to provide migration skills assessments for the occupation of Quantity Surveyor — a positive AIQS skills assessment is required for that occupation's skilled-visa pathway. Choose accredited programs where professional membership or a future skills assessment matters, and confirm current accreditation on each body's official list.

Quantity surveying: AIQS accredits programs and runs the QS migration skills assessment
Construction management/building: AIB is a key professional body; some programs add CIOB / RICS recognition
Accreditation eases entry to professional membership after graduation
Verify a program's current accreditation on the professional body's website

Professional accreditation in New Zealand (NZIQS and more)

In New Zealand, the New Zealand Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NZIQS) recognises and accredits quantity-surveying programs, and construction/building programs may be recognised by bodies such as the New Zealand Institute of Building (NZIOB); some QS programs also hold Pacific Association of Quantity Surveyors (PAQS) accreditation.

New Zealand offers QS and construction qualifications from diploma level up to bachelor and master's degrees, with NZIQS student membership available while you study and full membership available after graduation plus sufficient industry experience. Confirm a program's current professional recognition on the NZIQS website and each provider's official course page.

Quantity surveying: NZIQS recognises/accredits programs; PAQS accreditation on some
Construction/building: bodies such as NZIOB recognise relevant programs
Qualifications range from diploma to bachelor and master's level
NZIQS student membership while studying; full membership after graduation + experience

Entry requirements and English

Undergraduate CM and QS degrees admit school leavers on academic merit; postgraduate master's programs usually require a relevant or related bachelor. Some programs value mathematics and, for QS, comfort with numbers and detail.

International applicants must meet the university's English-language requirement (commonly IELTS, PTE Academic, or TOEFL). Entry requirements and English thresholds vary by institution and intake, so verify the current requirements on each university's official admissions page before applying.

Undergraduate entry on academic merit; postgraduate needs a relevant/related degree
Mathematics and numeracy are useful, especially for QS
Meet the university's English requirement (IELTS / PTE Academic / TOEFL)
Confirm current requirements on the official admissions page

Careers, post-study work, and skilled migration

Graduates work as construction managers, project managers, estimators, contract administrators, cost managers, and quantity surveyors for contractors, consultancies, developers, and government. Roles span residential, commercial, and infrastructure projects, and demand varies by city and market.

Construction management and quantity surveying have appeared on skilled-occupation frameworks, which is why some students weigh them for migration alongside careers. After an eligible qualification, graduates may apply for post-study work rights (Australia's subclass 485; New Zealand's post-study work visa), and QS applicants seeking skilled migration typically need a positive AIQS skills assessment. Occupation lists and visa settings change frequently. This is general information, not immigration advice — verify with Home Affairs / Immigration New Zealand and consider a registered migration adviser.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between construction management and quantity surveying?

Construction management focuses on planning, coordinating, and delivering building projects (programme, safety, site delivery), while quantity surveying focuses on the cost and commercial side — estimating, measurement, contracts, procurement, and cost control. Many degrees combine them, often as a construction-management degree with a QS major.

Which bodies accredit these degrees in Australia and New Zealand?

In Australia, the AIQS accredits quantity-surveying programs and the AIB is a key building/CM body, with some programs also carrying CIOB or RICS recognition. In New Zealand, the NZIQS recognises QS programs (some with PAQS accreditation) and bodies such as the NZIOB recognise construction/building programs. Confirm current accreditation on each body's official list.

Do I need an accredited degree for skilled migration as a quantity surveyor?

For the Quantity Surveyor skilled occupation in Australia, applicants generally need a positive AIQS skills assessment of their qualifications and experience. Choosing an AIQS-accredited program can help. Occupation-list status and visa rules change often — this is general information, not immigration advice; verify with the official sources.

Can I study quantity surveying at diploma level in New Zealand?

Yes — New Zealand offers QS and construction qualifications from diploma level up to bachelor and master's degrees, with pathways between them. NZIQS student membership is available while you study, and full membership after graduation plus industry experience. Check each provider's official course page for the current structure.

Are these good courses for jobs and PR?

Construction management and quantity surveying have featured on skilled-occupation frameworks and lead to defined industry roles, which is why many students consider them. However, no course guarantees a job or permanent residency, and occupation lists and visa settings change frequently — verify the current position with the official immigration sources.

What English score do I need?

Universities set their own English requirements (commonly IELTS, PTE Academic, or TOEFL) and these differ by program and intake. Confirm the current minimum on each university's official admissions page rather than relying on a general figure.

Official sources

This guide explains the process and is for guidance only. Eligibility, dates, fees and rules change every year — always confirm the current details on the official site before you act.

Verified against: Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (AIQS) — Accredited qualifications; Australian Institute of Building (AIB); New Zealand Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NZIQS) — Study QS; Study Australia — Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485).

Last verified: 3 July 2026.