Record numbers applying for QS and PM degrees

New figures have shown a surge in applications for QS and project management courses. Applications for full time QS degrees were up almost 25% in 2005. The number of people hoping to follow the degree rocketed from 3,333 in 2004 to 4,413 in 2005.

Applicants are also clamouring for project management courses, according to the figures revealed to QS News by UCAS. Applications for PM courses leapt by a nearly a third in 2005 compared to the year before, from 442 to 572. However, acceptances on to these courses rose by less than a tenth, with just 138 full-time project management students.

UCAS reported that acceptances on QS courses increased by almost a fifth to 848 in 2005, up from 724 in 2004.

But the numbers are not as rosy for those leaving university: the number of students graduating from QS courses is declining. QS graduates in 2005 dropped to 435, down from 460 in 2004, according to the Higher Education Statistics Agency. The number of those who actually became QSs after leaving university remained unchanged in 2005, at around 320.

The numbers highlight the continuing shortage of QSs. Stephen Didcott, director at AYH, blamed the industry’s poor image. “Construction isn’t always seen as the most glamorous of industries. We should go after the grade A students who are seeing more bucks with the Accentures of the world.”

Construction isn’t always seen as the most glamorous of industries. We should go after the grade A students who are seeing more bucks with the Accentures of the world

Stephen Didcott, director, AYH

The number of RICS-accredited undergraduate courses also fell to 33 in 2005 from 38 in 2004.

Chris Berkley, senior education officer at the RICS, said the RICS monitors enrolments and not applications, but the rise of the latter was “very good” news. “We hope to maintain numbers, but there’s no official target,” he said.

He added the overall drop in graduates was not a new trend. The dip in accredited courses could have been due to a higher number of postgraduate courses becoming available, he suggested. He added that the figure varies from year to year.

Didcott said the shortage of QSs was greater than those of PMs for his company, although many firms are bidding to boost their PM intake.

Cyril Sweett is currently recruiting PMs in Manchester, where it hopes to increase staff by 80%, predominantly with PMs. Senior project manager David Barrell said the firm needed them to compete against contractors. “The bigger contractors, such as Bovis Lend Lease, have their own PM divisions now. But the main problem is getting the people,” he said.