Certificate in Applied Quantity Surveying (Level 4)

Quantity Surveying

The Certificate in Applied Quantity Surveying (Level 4) program at The Marvelous University of Technology and Applied Sciences (MUTAS) is designed to equip students with the foundational knowledge and practical skills required for a career in quantity surveying. This program integrates theoretical learning with hands-on experiences to prepare students for entry-level positions in the construction industry, particularly in the areas of cost estimation, project management, and contract administration.

The qualification level has a broader coverage of the knowledge and practical skills required for the vocational sector. The qualification has the potential to prepare learners for progression to an appropriate (Level 5) programme in the same or related vocational area and progression to employment in the appropriate vocational sector. Other learners may want to use this qualification to extend the specialism they studied in other MUTAS programmes.

The MUTAS qualifications in Applied Quantity Surveying were designed to meet the industrial revolution 4.0. They are for the industry and are taught, assessed, and verified by local and international industry experts. They are career-specific and are aimed at ensuring that the MUTAS students graduate as Vibrant, Skilled, Competent, and Work-prepared Entrepreneurial Technicians, Technologists, and Professionals to handle and confront the changing and demanding job roles within the industry.

In the first year, you will focus on building a strong foundation through classroom instruction and applied simulated laboratory training. The qualification has the potential to prepare students for progression to the Diploma in Applied Quantity Surveying (Level 5).

Who is this qualification for?

The Certificate Level 4 qualification in Applied Quantity Surveying are aimed at students wanting to continue their education through applied learning. This qualification provides a wide-ranging study of the Applied Quantity Surveying sector and is designed for students who wish to pursue or advance their career in computer sciences and technology. In addition, to the knowledge, understanding, and skills that underpin the study of the Applied Quantity Surveying sector, certificate level 4 in Applied Quantity Surveying gives students experience of the breadth and depth of the sector that will prepare them for further study or training.

The Certificate in Applied Quantity Surveying (Level 4) is an ideal qualification for anyone who works in any of the below-listed fields and seeks to develop career-specific skills and gain a solid qualification in Applied Quantity Surveying to support his/her position and anyone who wants to enter into or has just started a career in any of the following career areas:

  • Junior Quantity Surveyor
  • Assistant Estimator
  • Construction Cost Technician
  • Project Coordinator
  • Contract Administrator
  • Building Inspector
  • Quantity Surveying Technician

What makes this course special?

The Marvelous University of Technology and Applied Sciences (MUTAS) is one of the world’s most successful and best-preferred applied (hands-on) learning brands. The National Institute of Technology qualifications place greater emphasis on self-employment and employer engagement and work readiness. The MUTAS-Zambia provides 70% practical and 30% theory teaching and learning methodologies coupled with various practical learning-focused activities that fully engage our students. The MUTAS programs in Applied Quantity Surveying are work-related qualifications for students taking their first steps into employment, or for those already in employment and seeking career development opportunities.

Why you must study with MUTAS?

At the Marvelous University of Technology and Applied Sciences (MUTAS), we know how important it is for career-ambitious people to get the right education to start and further develop their careers.

With today’s industry and employers demanding so much more than just a qualification to contain the effects of global competition and to attain a competitive edge, here are the main six (6) reasons why you must choose to study at MUTAS:

Work Readiness

MUTAS courses will give you real hands on experience in pursuing your education. It is what is called learning by doing it or action learning. Based on a 70% practical (action learning, action research, projects, reflective thinking, critical thinking, etc.) and 30% theory teaching and learning and assessments methodologies, all the MUTAS students become work ready (prepared) during their first year of study and graduate with strong work ethics, analytical, problem solving, communication and entrepreneurial skills which are the major factors that employers are looking for in their new recruits.

Employability

MUTAS’s higher vocational, technical and professional courses prepare students for employment and self-employment. The MUTAS courses develop a student’s employability skills as they offer the experience of real-life practical tasks and work placements. MUTAS’s qualifications are generally well-regarded by employers as the courses enable students to develop useful hands-on skills in respective fields of study and in critical areas such as problem solving, time management, entrepreneurial, communication, work behavior, visionary and focus minded, team work, and project planning, execution to evaluation. The knowledge and skills you get from MUTAS programs will make you be sought after by employers locally and globally. MUTAS helps students to gain strong knowledge and skills that are essential to start and successfully run their own businesses and/or to be appreciated competent and productive employees that every employer would like to hire.

Relevant

MUTAS courses are designed and developed with the help of the employers, industrial experts, professional bodies, higher education experts and lecturers. This keeps the MUTAS curriculum to be industry driven and relevant for today and the future’s job market and self-employment. MUTAS’s qualifications provide students with industry-specific knowledge, skills and competencies which make graduates’ work outputs to be relevant to their employers’ missions, visions and goals.

Practical Teaching and Assessments

The MUTAS’s teaching and learning is based on the seven (7) major principles teaching and learning through which theory knowledge is practically applied into various practical teaching and learning methods including action learning, projects supported by verifiable tangible evidences (outcomes), critical reflective thinking, case scenarios, job placements, industrial site visits, public lectures led by industrial experts, etc.

The assessment for MUTAS courses is largely based on regular coursework and work experience, which makes them an ideal option for those who crumble under the pressure of exams.

All the MUTAS programs are assessed through objective and rigor-based assignments and projects for which origination is examined through the Turnitin IT Application to ensure that each student submits his/her own true work. The outcome of these assignments must be in an implementable practical and quality standard.  

Career and Education Progression

Employers value MUTAS’s qualifications as the courses are industry-centered and directed. In other words, unlike academic programs, the MUTAS courses give students the industry-specific knowledge and skills which makes them readily employable. This, combined with the problem solving, time management, entrepreneurial, communication, work behavior, visionary and focus minded, team work, and project planning skills they gained throughout their learning process give the MUTAS graduates a strong competitive edge to progress in senior job positions and to further pursue their postgraduate professional degrees such as Masters to Professional Doctorate Degree programs at various reputable higher education institutions/universities.

Reputation and Prestige

  • The industry relevance, practicality, career specific and quality of the MUTAS qualification will make you to standout and visibly be seen and noticed in a cloud of many academically qualified graduates.
  • As more employers expect their new employees to have relevant practical skills and competencies than costly academic knowledge, MUTAS makes your CV and profile standout.
  • MUTAS is known for stringent quality standards which govern the provision of its higher vocational, technical and professional courses. MUTAS is also known for its practical, relevance and Industry driven courses.
  • The above values, compounded with the work ethics, entrepreneurial and problem-solving skills you will learn and practice while studying at MUTAS will grant you the respect, reputation and prestige within the industry sector you will work.

Qualification Purpose and Outcomes

The Certificate in Applied Quantity Surveying (Level 4) aims to provide students with a solid foundation in computer science principles and practical skills necessary to pursue further studies or enter the workforce in various technology-related roles. The program is designed to align with industry demands, the Sustainable Development Goals, and evolving trends in the field of computer science and technology.

We aim to meet these objectives by:

The purpose of this program is to enable students to:

  • Develop a basic understanding of quantity surveying principles, methods, and techniques.
  • Acquire practical skills in measurement, cost estimation, and tendering processes.
  • Apply relevant software tools and technologies used in quantity surveying practice.
  • Understand the legal and contractual aspects of construction projects.
  • Communicate effectively and work collaboratively in multidisciplinary construction teams.

Upon completion of this program, students will be able to:

  • Perform quantity take-offs and measurements for construction projects.
  • Prepare bills of quantities and cost estimates using industry-standard methods.
  • Assist in the preparation of tender documents and procurement processes.
  • Utilize software tools such as Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Computer-Aided Design (CAD) for quantity surveying tasks.
  • Interpret construction contracts and understand the rights and obligations of stakeholders.
  • Communicate effectively with clients, contractors, and other project stakeholders.

How will I learn?

The MUTAS tutors/lecturers are equipped with various traditional teaching methods which are all used to create and develop Vibrant, Skilled, Competent, and Work-prepared Entrepreneurial Technicians, Technologists, and Professionals.

The teaching and learning practices involve 70% practical and 30% theory methodologies by applying a wide range of action learning techniques stipulated in the course specification.

What does the course involve?

You will study a combination of theory, applied theory, and practical subjects across a broad range of units. To succeed, your effective time management and focus are both very critical. You will cover twelve (12) units. For each unit, you will do a main test, assignment, and examination in addition to an integrated action project. These assessments do not include the informal tests, practical-based homework, presentations, projects, and assignments that your lecturers will require you to do in each learning outcome. To pass this applied qualification, it is critical that you constantly monitor, formalize yourself with and operate alongside developments taking place within the Applied Quantity Surveying field by regularly visiting different Quantity Surveying-related projects and/or organizations, reading news and articles, etc.

Assessment Methods

The NIT programs are assessed using a combination of:

  1. Informal Assessments
  2. Formal Assessments

Informal assessments are conducted by lecturers on each covered component of the unit outcome to weigh knowledge created into his/her students so that necessary teaching practices adjustments can be made as appropriate.

Formal Assessments are further classified into two parts:

  • Formal Continuous Assessments which comprise of:
  1. Major Test
  2. An Integrated Action Project
  • Formal Final Assessments which comprise of:
  1. Major Examination
  2. Unit Assignments

What are the Career Progression Opportunities?

Learners who have achieved the Certificate in Applied Quantity Surveying (Level 4) can progress on to the Diploma of Applied Quantity Surveying (Level 5). They can also competently serve in any of the below-listed job areas.

What are Articulation Opportunities?

The credit transfers from other programs offered by other institutions or other MUTAS programs will be dealt with according to MUTAS rules and regulations on Recognition of Prior Learning. Provided that an applicant has qualification accredited by NQA and verifiable through the NQF, the MUTAS rules provide for course-by-course credits as well as credit transfer by volume under certain conditions. Maximum credits that can be granted from non-technical (hands-on) programs are 15% of the credits for a qualification. Maximum credits that can be granted from the technical (hands-on) programs of similar standards to those of MUTAS are 50% of the credits for a qualification.

What career opportunities can this lead to?

The Certificate in Applied Quantity Surveying (Level 4) is an ideal qualification for anyone who works in any of the below-listed fields and seeks to develop career-specific skills and gain a solid qualification in Quantity Surveying to support his/her position and anyone who wants to enter into or has just started a career in any of the following career areas:

  • Junior Quantity Surveyor
  • Assistant Estimator
  • Construction Cost Technician
  • Project Coordinator
  • Contract Administrator
  • Building Inspector
  • Quantity Surveying Technician

What are the Fees?

Our fees include:

  • Application/Registration Fees
  • Tuition Fees
  • Other Fees include Laboratory Fees, Study Manuals, industrial site tours, action research, etc. (where and if applicable).

For more information about our fees, please contact any of our Call Centre at any of our Campuses or the Marketing and Public Relationships Department.

Funding Opportunities

There are many funding options for the MUTAS’s accredited programs. Most of our students have over the past years been funded by their employers while others finance their studies on their own. Students can also apply for study loans with Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund. MUTAS also provides scholarships and bursaries to students who meet requirements as stipulated in our annual prospectus.

Withdrawal/Cancellation

Any cancellations/withdraw or refunds are executed as per the MUTAS policies. For more details, refer to the Students Registration Agreement and the Withdraw Policy.

The Certificate in Applied Quantity Surveying (Level 4) is made up of nine units. It is structured to be studied for one year through Face-to-Face Full-Time, Face-to-Face Part-Time and Distance Learning combined with Two (2) week-end Face-to-Face sessions per month, and Two (2) Block Weeks Face-to-Face sessions per Semester, Blended Learning and Virtual (On-Line) Learning (excluding Engineering Programmes).

Total Unit/Modules

The following is a compressive list of course units/modules you will cover in this program:

Certificate in Applied Quantity Surveying (Level 4)

  • AQS101 Introduction to Quantity Surveying Principles
  • AQS102 Construction Measurement and Documentation
  • AQS103 Construction Materials and Technology
  • AQS104 Cost Estimation and Tendering Processes
  • AQS105 Construction Contracts and Legal Frameworks
  • AQS106 Building Information Modeling (BIM) Basics
  • AQS107 Computer-Aided Design (CAD) for Quantity Surveying
  • AQS108 Professional Communication and Collaboration Skills
  • 1STU101 Applied Business Communication and Technology
  • 1STU102 Principles of Entrepreneurship
  • 1STU103 Applied Fundamentals of Statistical Methods
  • 1STU104 Legal and Ethical Context of Practice

Work placement/experience requirements

Although there are no specific mandatory elements of work placement/experience requirement for the Quantity Surveying (Level 4), students are expected to apply theories learnt through various methods and carry out the practical learning activities as provided in the qualification specification.

Completion of Study Enrollment Form

Download and complete the Student’s Enrollment Agreement (SEA) form or obtain one from our Call Centre at any of our Campuses, print and complete it and submit it with proof of payment for the stipulated registration fees together to any of our Campuses before the stipulated application deadlines to avoid paying late application/registration fees. To be considered for approval, the completed enrollment agreement form must be accompanied by certified copies of documents as stipulated on the Student’s Enrollment Agreement (SEA) form.

Applicant must ensure that:

  • The enrollment agreement form is properly and fully completed and that each page is initialed and signed;
  • He/she provides all the required documentations such as certified copies of qualifications, Identity Card/Pass port photos, Supporting letters from employers,
  • He/she deposits registration fees into the respective Campus’ Bank Account provided on the enrollment agreement form and submits original copy of the deposit as proof before being issued with an official receipt
  • He/she is issued with an official Institutional Receipt, stamped with Official Company Stamp and Signed by the Head of Call Centre for every payment made to the MUTAS .
  • Please note that MUTAS does not receive cash payments, all payments must be directly into the bank account with student’s number as reference
  • He/she obtains a written acknowledge letter confirming that his/her completed enrollment agreement form has been received
  • He/she obtains status of his/her application for studies within 30 working days.
  • If admitted, an Admission letter issued by the Admission section in the Office of the Registrar, must also be obtained through the respective Campus together with the Time Table, Syllabuses, and any other information.

What must I have to qualify?

The Certificate in Civil Engineering has been designed on the assumption that it is available, without artificial barriers which restrict access and progression, to everyone who can achieve the required standard.

However, applicants who meet any one of the following will be prioritized as they are likely to benefit more readily from the programme:

  • Admission on our three (3) years Bachelor of Technology programs is based on a minimum requirement of twenty-five (25) points in grade 12 (now grade 11) in five (5) subjects with an E or better symbol in English. English shall be part of the five (5) subjects you must have completed.
  • Admission on our four (4) years Bachelor of Technology programs which includes a one year Certificate (Bridging) Level 4 is based on meeting the minimum requirement of twenty (20) points in Grade 12 in five subjects with a minimum of an E or better symbol in English. English shall be part of the six (6) subjects you must have completed.
  • Admission on our four (4) years Bachelor of Technology programs through Mature Age Entry is based on a minimum requirement of twenty six (26) points in Grade 10 (now grade 9) in five subjects with a minimum of E or better symbol in English, age of twenty three (23) years and above, and five (5) years, or above, of working experience in a related field.

Resources for Prospecting Students

Resources for Registered Students

  • Students Handbook
  • Institutional Calendar
  • Learning and Assessments Policies
  • Qualifications Specifications
  • Assessments Schedules
  • Recorded Lessons’ Presentations
  • Virtual Classrooms
  • Virtual Library
  • Virtual Laboratories
  • Study Manuals and Books