Diploma in Quantity Surveying
The Diploma in Quantity Surveying is a KUCCPS-listed programme (Building, Construction & Related cluster) that trains technicians to measure, cost, and manage the financial side of construction projects.
The short answer
- What it costs
- Up to Ksh 67,189 a year at a public institution, Ksh 201,567 for the whole course.The detail
- Who can get in
- A KCSE mean grade of C plain or above. There is another way in without it.The detail
- How long, and when
- Takes 3 years, full-time, with 3 months of attachment. Next intake January 2027, at 33 institutions.The detail
- Where it leads
- 8 careers in the catalogue. The least exposed to AI is Overhead Transmission Technician, at 10 out of 100.The detail
The programme
What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.
Overview
Students study building measurement, construction cost estimation, contract administration, tendering procedures, and building economics, developing the precise measurement and costing skills construction projects rely on. Skills RequiredBuilding MeasurementConstruction Cost EstimationContract AdministrationTendering ProceduresBuilding EconomicsKey SubjectsBuilding MeasurementConstruction Cost EstimationContract AdministrationTendering ProceduresBuilding EconomicsCertificationsInstitution of Surveyors of Kenya (ISK) Technician Registration pathwayBoard of Registration of Architects and Quantity Surveyors (BORAQS) recognitionSpecializationsCost EstimationFocus on preparing accurate construction cost estimates and bills of quantities. Contract AdministrationFocus on managing construction contracts, tenders, and dispute resolution. Skills RequiredBuilding EconomicsBuilding MeasurementConstruction Cost EstimationContract AdministrationTendering ProceduresKey SubjectsBuilding MeasurementConstruction Cost EstimationContract AdministrationTendering ProceduresBuilding EconomicsResearch MethodsSpecializationsCost EstimationFocus on preparing accurate construction cost estimates and bills of quantities. Contract AdministrationFocus on managing construction contracts, tenders, and dispute resolution.
Kenya's active construction sector needs quantity surveying technicians to prepare accurate cost estimates, manage tenders, and control project budgets across residential, commercial, and infrastructure projects.
Training combines classroom measurement and costing theory with practical exercises preparing bills of quantities, plus a supervised industrial attachment with a quantity surveying or construction firm.
Graduates work as quantity surveying technicians, cost estimators, and contract administration assistants for construction companies and quantity surveying consultancies, with progression into Bachelor of Science degrees in Quantity Surveying.
The programme suits students with strong mathematics grades who want a precise, financially oriented career within the construction industry.
What you study
6 subjects- Building Measurement
- Construction Cost Estimation
- Contract Administration
- Tendering Procedures
- Building Economics
- Research Methods
Modules
10 in the programmeMeasurement of Building Works
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Quantity take-off and measurement covering materials, techniques, safety procedures, and quality standards for construction projects.
Estimating and Costing
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Cost estimation for construction including bookkeeping, financial statements, and cost analysis for business decision-making.
Building Measurement I
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Fundamentals of measuring building works for costing purposes for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Construction Cost Estimation
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Preparing cost estimates for construction projects for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Contract Documentation
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Tender documents and contracts as applied to quantity surveying principles, practices, and professional competency requirements.
Tendering Procedures
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Processes for preparing and evaluating construction tenders for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Contract Administration
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Managing construction contracts through their lifecycle for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Project Management
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Construction project management demonstrating competency and integrating skills across all course modules and units.
Building Economics
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Economic principles applied to construction and building projects for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Industrial Attachment / Project
Year 3Semester 26 creditsCore
Supervised placement with a quantity surveying or construction firm for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Specialisations
Cost Estimation
Focus on preparing accurate construction cost estimates and bills of quantities, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.
Contract Administration
Focus on managing construction contracts, tenders, and dispute resolution, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.
Project Cost Control
Focus on construction cost monitoring, variation management, cost reporting, and financial control for building and civil engineering projects in Kenya.
Tendering and Procurement
Focus on construction tender preparation, bid evaluation, procurement procedures, and contract documentation within Kenyan construction procurement frameworks.
A day as a student
Days combine measurement and costing theory with practical exercises preparing bills of quantities and cost estimates, plus periodic site visits to active construction projects.
The trade-offs
| In its favour | Against it |
|---|---|
| Precise, financially oriented skill set valued across Kenya's active construction industry. | Requires C plain with specific subject grades, a higher bar than many other TVET diplomas. |
| Clear progression pathway into Bachelor of Science in Quantity Surveying and BORAQS registration. | Career ceiling without further study toward full BORAQS registration is lower than for degree-holding quantity surveyors. |
What it costs
Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.
What it costs, and where
Against 332 engineering coursesAnnual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.
The fine print
TVET 67,189/yr public (kenyaeducationguide.com). Private: unverified.
Students can access HELB loans and county bursaries; quantity surveying consultancies and construction firms occasionally sponsor students for attachment placements.
Funding options
HELB TVET/Diploma Loan
Loan
Needy Kenyan students enrolled in accredited diploma programmes.
County Government Bursaries
Bursary
Bursaries for needy students from their respective counties.
Scholarships
2 recordedCounty Government Bursaries
BursaryKsh 20,000Kenyan
Bursaries for needy students from their respective counties.
HELB TVET/Diploma Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Needy Kenyan students enrolled in accredited diploma programmes.
Scholarships you could apply for
7 usable where it is taught- Equity Group Foundation Wings to Fly
Closes 28 February 2027FullEquity Bank
Full secondary + university
- Aga Khan Foundation Scholarship
Closes 31 March 2027FullAga Khan Foundation
Full university study
- Mombasa Cement Scholarship
Closes 31 May 2027PartialMombasa Cement Ltd
KES 100,000 per year
- Family Bank Foundation Education Support
Closes 30 June 2027PartialFamily Bank
KES 80,000 per year
- HELB Undergraduate Scholarship
Closes 31 July 2027PartialHigher Education Loans Board
KES 40,000 to 60,000 per year
- County Government Scholarships
Varies by countyPartialCounty Governments
KES 50,000 to 200,000 per year
- Moringa School Craftbyte Scholarship
QuarterlyFullMoringa School
Full software development course
Getting in
The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.
What you need
A craft certificate in a building-related field from a recognised institution.
When it next starts
Taught at 33 institutionsIncluding Technical University of Kenya, Kirinyaga University, Technical University of Mombasa.
Including Technical University of Kenya, Kirinyaga University, Technical University of Mombasa.
Including Technical University of Kenya, Kirinyaga University, Technical University of Mombasa.
How you are assessed
3 componentsContinuous Assessment Tests
Coursework30% of the mark
Tests across measurement and costing units.
Measurement Practicals
Coursework20% of the mark
Assessed bills of quantities and cost estimation exercises.
Final Examinations
Examination50% of the mark
End-of-semester written examinations.
Accreditation
Kenya National Qualifications Authority
Qualification recognitionRequired
Recognised under Kenya's TVET qualifications framework.
KUCCPS-listed diploma (Building, Construction & Related cluster); examined by KNEC at most public TVET colleges.
Where it leads
The roles it opens, and what you leave with.
Where graduates go
4 rolesCost Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 90,000
Provides cost advice, prepares bills of quantities, and manages construction cost control for building and civil engineering projects in Kenya.
Contract Administration Assistant
Moderate demandKsh 28,000 to Ksh 45,000
Supports contract and tender management for a construction firm.
Quantity Surveying Technician
Moderate demandKsh 30,000 to Ksh 48,000
Supports cost estimation and measurement for a construction or consultancy firm.
Cost Estimator (Junior)
Moderate demandKsh 30,000 to Ksh 46,000
Prepares cost estimates and bills of quantities for construction projects.
Graduate outcomes
Graduates work as quantity surveying technicians, cost estimators, and contract administration assistants.
Where these fields lead
8 careers- Overhead Transmission TechnicianEngineering10Low exposure
- Desalination Systems EngineerEngineering14Low exposure
- District Cooling EngineerEngineering14Low exposure
- HighVoltage Substation EngineerEngineering14Low exposure
- Hydrogen Systems EngineerEngineering14Low exposure
- Microgrid Control EngineerEngineering14Low exposure
- Subsea Cable EngineerEngineering14Low exposure
- Traction Power EngineerEngineering14Low exposure
Tools you will learn
Microsoft Excel
Estimation softwarePrimary
Primary tool for preparing bills of quantities, cost estimation, tender analysis, and construction project cost management.
AutoCAD
Design softwarePrimary
Computer-aided design software for reading and interpreting architectural drawings during quantity take-off.
CCS Candy
Estimation software
Construction estimation and project control software for bill of quantities preparation and contract administration.
Cost X
Estimation software
2D and 3D measurement software for automated quantity take-off from digital drawings and BIM models.
Microsoft Word
Document preparation
Preparation of contract documents, tender reports, valuation reports, and project correspondence.
Industry links
Common misconceptions
Quantity surveyors just count building materials.
The role includes contract administration, tendering, cost control, and dispute resolution throughout a project's lifecycle.
Diploma holders can register as full Quantity Surveyors immediately.
Full BORAQS registration as a Registered Quantity Surveyor requires a Bachelor's degree and further professional requirements beyond the diploma.