Oxford Brookes University

What you'll study

The degree combines core construction, financial and legal principles with applied commercial management. Teaching covers measurement and cost estimating, cost planning and value management, construction technology, contract administration, procurement strategy, project and risk management, and the commercial aspects of sustainability and digital working.

Typical modules and themes

• Measurement and Quantification: principles of trade measurement for building works and preparation of bills of quantities.
• Cost Planning and Estimating: elemental cost analysis, cost control techniques and lifecycle costing.
• Construction Technology and Materials: understanding building components, assemblies and the implications for cost and durability.
• Construction Contract Law and Administration: key contract forms, obligations, claims and adjudication procedures.
• Procurement and Supply Chain Management: procurement routes, tendering, bidding strategies and subcontract management.
• Commercial Management and Cost Risk: commercial strategy, change management, commercial reporting and risk assessment.
• Project Management and BIM Awareness: programme management, resource planning and use of digital tools including BIM workflows for cost management.
• Sustainability and Whole-Life Costing: assessing environmental impact, retrofit considerations and whole-life value.
• Research Project or Major Dissertation: an applied investigation, often industry-linked, consolidating technical and commercial learning.

Delivery typically mixes lectures, small-group tutorials, practical labs and software workshops, plus site visits and live client briefs. Many students have the option of an industry placement or a sandwich year to gain hands-on experience.

Entry requirements

Applicants are expected to hold a recognised secondary-level qualification with strong achievement in relevant subjects. Typical applicants will have credentials from A-levels, BTEC or equivalent vocational qualifications, or international qualifications such as the IB. Practical experience in construction or a related sector can be valued for mature and degree-apllication routes.

Applicants normally need to demonstrate proficiency in English and numeracy. Oxford Brookes also considers contextual information, portfolios of relevant work or references, and may invite applicants to interview or an admissions task as part of the selection process.

Career prospects

Graduates move into roles across the built environment where cost, contract and commercial control are essential. Common early-career roles include:

• Assistant Quantity Surveyor / Cost Consultant
• Commercial Assistant or Contracts Administrator within contractors
• Estimating and Tendering roles
• Procurement and Supply Chain Coordinator
• Cost Planner or Project Cost Controller

With experience, graduates progress to senior positions such as Quantity Surveyor, Commercial Manager, Senior Cost Manager, or Project/Programme Manager. Career destinations span private consultancies, main contractors, specialist subcontractors, developers, client organisations and public-sector bodies. The programme is designed to provide a clear route towards professional qualifications and chartered membership with recognised industry bodies, supported by the school’s employability guidance and employer links.

Why study at Oxford Brookes University

Oxford Brookes combines applied, industry-relevant teaching with strong employer engagement from the construction and property sectors. The university offers dedicated facilities and software resources used in commercial practice, regular site visits and live project briefs, and a focus on employability through careers support and placement opportunities.

Studying in Oxford gives access to a regional construction market with a mix of conservation, new-build and refurbishment projects, which helps students apply classroom learning to diverse, real-world challenges. The programme emphasises practical skill development—measurement, cost reporting, contract administration and digital working—preparing graduates to be effective in contemporary commercial roles.