BA (Hons) Product Design

• Introduction to Computer-Aided Design: This unit has been designed to enable you to use Computer Aided Design (CAD) tools to create basic 3D solid models and assemblies and to produce technical drawings. CAD tools are used in industry to communicate ideas and solutions and are therefore a fundamental skill for designers and engineers.
• Human-centred Design Projects: This unit will see you undertake a series of human-centered design projects. These could be products that have key objectives that are mainly psychological, aesthetic or ergonomic in nature. This unit will provide you with the skills you need to create innovative and creative design solutions.
• Technological Design Projects: This unit will see you undertake the development of a series of technological and functionally orientated design challenges whilst utilising a structured creative process. This unit will introduce to you the necessary skills needed to create design solutions to technical and/or technologically driven problems or criteria.
• Academic Study Skills for Engineering and Technology: You will gain the fundamental academic and research skills required for degree level study. The unit will introduce you to a broad grounding in research, literature review, data collection/analysis and ethical practice. It will also support you to begin to develop a critical and analytical approach to your work and identify areas for personal development.

​Core units

• Digital Design Tools and A.I.: You will develop your understanding of digital visualisation and the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the field of product design. 
• Design Communication: You will develop an understanding of the principles of idea generation, design communication and presentation through a range of media. You will explore form and function through manual presentation techniques, apply digital image manipulation, develop part and assembly mock-ups through computer modelling and develop engineering drawings for technical presentation.
• Materials and Engineering Fundamentals: You will select, test and exploit materials and manufacturing processes in the synthesis of product design solutions. You will learn how to consider and apply the appropriate mathematical and engineering principles to a particular product design problem. 
• Materials and Technology for Design: This unit will further develop your knowledge of a wide range of materials and their basic properties in order to understand how these properties may be exploited or modified to satisfy a design requirement.
• Design Projects & Prototyping: The unit aims to develop a holistic approach to design that is creative, dynamic and structured, thereby encouraging the development of creative and analytical thinking in design. You will create a physical and/or digital model, prototype or visual and present the results in a professional manner.
• Human Factors in Design: This unit will develop your understanding of contextual and historic design issues and perspectives and your understanding of the application of psychology and physiology for effective ergonomic product design.

Core units

• Manufacturing and Technology: This unit aims to further develop your understanding of the properties and uses of functional materials, providing you with the sound knowledge and understanding of modern manufacturing for competitive product development. You will also develop your working knowledge, understanding and application of an increased range of physical and technological principles relevant to the design of components, machines and products.
• Product Design Tools: This unit will broaden your understanding and application of the principles of product design visualisation, presentation, tools and techniques.
• Technical Design Projects: You will develop your ability to satisfy both the technological and humanistic needs and requirements of a product in the context of current social, economic and manufacturing requirements and regulations.
• Industrial Design Projects: You solve increasingly complex design problems and expand your ability to employ materials, media, techniques, methods, technologies and tools associated with product design through drawing, modelling, computer visualisation and physical prototyping using skill and imagination. You will learn to satisfy both the humanistic and technical requirements of a product in context of current social, economic and manufacturing requirements and regulations. 
• Management and Commercialisation: This unit will introduce you to the key aspects of business and management that relate to the development and delivery of commercial value, and the issues facing business functions such as marketing, operations and finance.
• Design Aesthetics and UX: This unit will build on the design experiences in the first year, developing your sensitivity and awareness to aesthetics of design and efficient methods surrounding the product design and development process.

You will complete a minimum 30-week work placement which can be carried out anywhere in the world. The placement year offers a chance to gain experience and make contacts for the future.

You'll choose either the BA (Hons) or BSc (Hons) option during your placement year. The BSc option has more focus on the technological areas of design, while the BA option has more focus on the humanistic and contextual issues of product design.

You will be enrolled onto the four-year degree, but can opt out of the placement year.

Core units

• Human Centred Design Studies: You will further build on knowledge built in your first two years, exploring the synergistic relationship between product design aesthetics and ergonomics. The unit will enable you to make informed ergonomic decisions through the application of psychology and physiology.
• Innovation and Professional Practice: Approaches to strategic management and thinking will be examined to capitalise on your entrepreneurial spirit and business acumen.
• BA Final Design Project: This unit aims to synthesise the broad range of skills and understanding gained during the whole course to identify, develop and solve a Product Design problem, in a professional manner.
• Final Design Prototype: You will gain in-depth knowledge of prototyping material and techniques, manufacture your own advanced product prototype.

Programme specifications provide definitive records of the University's taught degrees in line with Quality Assurance Agency requirements. Every taught course leading to a BU Award has a programme specification which describes its aims, structure, content and learning outcomes, plus the teaching, learning and assessment methods used.

Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the programme specification, the information is liable to change to take advantage of exciting new approaches to teaching and learning as well as developments in industry.

If you have been unable to locate the programme specification for the course you are interested in, it will be available as soon as the latest version is ready. Alternatively please contact us for assistance.

With practical learning being integral to your degree, we provide industry standard specialist facilities. 
 
We continue to invest in our campuses so all our students can maximise their talents today and into the future. 
 
Visit our virtual tour to find out more and get a feel for where you’ll be studying while you’re based on our Talbot Campus. 

Placements provide a great opportunity to make your first career steps and enhance your employability while you’re completing your studies. You’ll get the opportunity to:

• Put the theory learnt throughout the course into professional practice
• Enhance your study and help you decide on subject options (where appropriate)
• Learn a wide range of skills such as time management, problem solving and team work (all of these are important to succeed in any career)
• Make contacts, as it is not uncommon for our students to be offered permanent positions to return to after graduating
• Gain a real insight into how the industry operates in roles that would be almost impossible to achieve for an outsider.

Many of our students, during their placement, are given responsibilities normally associated with graduate trainees.

You will begin your placement after completion of your second year of study (unless you opt out of the placement year), and you must complete a minimum of 30 weeks, although most students decide to work a full year. Placements take place within a relevant industry.

The experience that you will gain during your placement is invaluable in helping to make informed decisions about your future career path, as well as enhancing employment prospects upon graduation. You can work abroad, too.

During the placement year you will have the chance to develop your interpersonal skills and build on the theory and knowledge you have gained so far. Many of our students find that they are offered permanent jobs after graduation by their placement companies.

• Quadrant2Design
• Rank Xerox
• BT Labs
• Ford of France
• Dyson.

The faculty running your course will offer the support of a Placement Co-ordinator.  

Through timetabled sessions and one-to-one appointments, they’ll help support you in your placement search including advice on finding a placement, information and advice on all aspects of job searching and job applications, as well as ensuring your proposed placement meets the requirements of your course.  

Our CareersBU service is also available throughout your time at BU, offering services like CV checking and careers fairs to meet employers.  

Placement Development Advisors will support you once you have started your sandwich placement – so you will be able to maintain contact with the university throughout.

AccessBU: AccessBU provides you with the opportunity to tell us about your circumstances that are not always evident in your UCAS application. This widening access initiative also considers relevant criteria such as being in care or if you live in an area with a low participation rate in Higher Education - if you are eligible, your offer could be up to 16 UCAS tariff points below the published tariff.

Apprenticeships: We recognise the transferable knowledge and skills gained through apprenticeships and welcome applications from students with a Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship recognised by the Institute for Apprenticeships. Each application will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Deferred entry: We are happy to consider eligible applicants for deferred entry. If you have already submitted your application, please submit your deferral request through our website.

Direct entry: We welcome applications from students who have previously studied at degree level at other institutions and wish to transfer onto a BU course. Our Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) procedure enables credit awarded from one institution to contribute to a BU award, subject to an application process. Please visit our RPL webpage for more information.

Mature applicants: We recognise that mature applicants may have a wealth of experience rather than formal qualifications, so we’ll consider your application on these merits if included in your application. You’ll need to apply to BU in the usual way through UCAS and you may be invited to an interview to discuss your suitability for the course based on the experience you tell us about in your application.

We select candidates for this course by looking at your application. For that reason, make sure your application really stands out from the crowd, and leave us in no doubt as to why you should be joining BU. If your application meets our academic entry requirements, we will ask you to upload a portfolio to support your application (view the additional tab below for further information). You can find some handy hints about filling in your UCAS form on our how to apply web pages.

We look at individual applications and make a tailored offer based on your potential to succeed on the course considering a range of factors, including your academic achievements, work and other experience, reference and personal statement, and in some cases, your performance at an interview or a portfolio review. Typically, we make an offer at the bottom of the tariff range.

If you are unable to meet the entry requirements, we may be able to make you an offer through AccessBU if you meet certain criteria e.g. you have been in care or live in an area where fewer people typically progress to Higher Education. If you don't meet our published tariff, we will accept you at least 8 points below if your personal circumstances match our AccessBU criteria. 

For September 2025 entry

If your application meets our academic entry requirements, we will ask you to upload a portfolio to support your application. Please note you will have 14 days to provide your portfolio from the date of the request. Portfolios could include, but are not limited to:

• A good overview of your creative work and problem-solving ability
• Drawings and sketches
• Model making and examples of workshop activity
• School and/or external project work at any level.

Applicants should demonstrate a keen interest in design and a desire to apply both creative and analytical thinking throughout the design process.

Your portfolio will be reviewed by one of the academics with relevant expertise on the course and we may invite you to take part in an online interview.

Our offer-making will typically be based on your most recent qualifications, including any required subjects where applicable. We'll consider all qualifications when assessing your application, although these may not be part of our offer.

If you do not meet the criteria of your original offer, we may still offer you a place. We will review your whole application and consider all academic qualifications (including those not in the offer) to see if you have the academic potential to succeed on the course. If we feel the answer is yes, we will confirm your place.

These courses have compulsory manufacturing elements, using machinery in workshops. Students must complete a health and safety risk assessment before using the workshops, for their safety and that of others. As part of that assessment students provide information about any conditions or disabilities that might affect their ability to undertake manufacturing fully or safely.

If you have such a condition or disability, please let us know as soon as possible. You can contact our Additional Learning Support (ALS) service about this before or after making an application. We will then work with you to identify any support or adjustments you would need. Our ALS team works with the Faculty to seek to put in place reasonable adjustments and health and safety plans.

Exceptionally, it may not be possible to arrange for a student to access these courses without either over-riding their core standards or competencies or creating unacceptable risks to health and safety. If that is the case we will help you explore alternative course choices.

You will be prepared for a variety of roles once you've finished your course, including:

• CAD Engineer
• Graduate Mechanical Engineer
• Graphic Designer
• Design & Development Engineer
• Product Designer
• Product Development Manager.

Once you have completed an undergraduate Honours degree, you can further develop your education by studying for a postgraduate degree. Please visit our postgraduate section for further details about our range of Master’s degrees.

For 2024 intake: This course is accredited by the IED, which means you will have all the skills you need to get started in the industry as soon as you graduate.

For 2025 intake: Accreditation will be sought by the Institution of Engineering Designers to fully meet the requirements for Registered Product Designer (RProdDes) in 2025.

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What’s included in your tuition fee?

Your tuition fee covers expenses associated with your course including tuition materials, access to facilities, mandatory field trips and the following:

• Materials for laboratory and mandatory field-based teaching activity
• Support for finding placements (UK or abroad) and fieldwork, and non-financial support whilst on placement if this is part of your course of study
• A range of student services – advisors, help desks, counsellors, placement support and careers service
• The Library – access to a wide range of electronic resources (databases, e-journals and e-books), print and multimedia collections, subject librarians and study spaces
• Access to Brightspace, our virtual learning environment, which offers a responsive and personalised learning experience with powerful learning analytics capabilities, integrated social media and advanced video features.
• IT labs (some open 24/7), wireless network, AV equipment to borrow
• Free software download to your personal device of Microsoft Office 365 ProPlus while you are studying, as well as access to applications provided on AppsAnywhere, subject to licensing and compatibility restrictions
• Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) scheme
• Disability and additional learning support, according to individual circumstances 
• The BU Language Centre to help you develop/improve foreign or English language skills
• 24 hours a day, 365 days a year security team
• A2-A0 Plots for CAD coursework
• Loan of lab coats and safety glasses.

Additional costs

We are committed to offering you value for money and ensuring there are no hidden costs while you are studying with us, therefore we have listed below any additional costs you may incur that are not covered by your tuition fee:

• Laptops, tablets and mobile devices and any software used on personal devices. Access to a personal computer is strongly recommended for your study. If you are experiencing financial difficulty, visit our website for information regarding hardship funds.
• Textbooks, general stationery and other supplies. Our award-winning library is stocked with a large range of textbooks and online resources, free of charge. The Students’ Union shop stocks a wide range of stationery supplies.
• Accommodation and living costs. Our accommodation price guide can be found on our website. 
• Travel costs to and from the University campus. An annual bus pass is included in your rent if you are living in halls of residence/Unilet accommodation or may be purchased separately.
• Travel costs to and from your placement (both in the UK and overseas). Information about funding your placement year can be found on our website.
• You will need to meet the cost of any Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check if required by your placement setting, including any Post Office verification changes. 
• Clothing or equipment costs required for your placement if this is part of your course of study.
• SportBU membership.

If you need to repeat one or more units during your studies (with or without attendance) the pricing will be pro-rata of the full-time fee.

Russell Wade is a Senior Lecturer in Design and the Programme Leader. Russell’s particular interests are in Computer aided Design (CAD), 3D printing technologies and information technology.

Dr Bryce Dyer, a Senior Lecturer in Product Design, created a new limb for athlete Colin Lynch, which he used as he represented his country at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

Associate Professor Dr Tania Humphries-Smith is the current Chair of the Institute of Engineering Designers (IED), the UK’s only professional body representing those working in the many fields of engineering and product design.