BSc(Hons) Product Design Technology
This course is open for applications
Introduction
Learn how to design great products on a friendly and creative course with tutors who are highly experienced professional designers.
Accreditations and partnerships:
Why study product design technology?
Product design technology combines creativity and practicality to bridge the gap between product design and design engineering.
The industry needs graduates with the ability to create innovative concepts and transform them into real working products.
You may also be interested in our BA(Hons) Product Design course.
Why UWE Bristol?
BSc(Hons) Product Design Technology will give you the creativity, skills and confidence to take exciting concepts and transform them into real, working products.
Learn from friendly tutors with extensive industry expertise and work on a series of projects in our well-equipped Design Studio.
Examine real problems, grow your understanding of people and their needs, and develop innovative solutions. Gain advanced skills in concept sketching, making working prototypes, engineering analysis, computer-aided design (CAD), design for manufacture and beyond.
Work on design briefs for a range of industry clients. Past organisations have included Jaguar Land Rover, Dremel Bosch, Omlet and Virgin Marussia Formula 1. Take part in exhibitions and grow your network at industry presentations.
Graduate with the skill and confidence to create innovative products and build a successful career in the creative industries.
Where can it take me?
As a graduate, your in-depth understanding of technology, sustainability and materials will equip you for a range of careers.
Most of our graduates go into product development roles for design consultancies, or join in-house design teams for manufacturers and major brands.
Many are inspired to launch their own products or establish themselves as freelance design consultants.
Take a look at our online showcase of student projects from from our graduating students across the College of Arts, Technology and Environment.
The image above shows the fantastic work from one of our students (Ethan Wilkin, 2022 Product Design Technology graduate).
Structure
Content
The programme sits within the wider Design community within the School of Art and draws on expertise spanning the field of design. We respond to current thinking and practices in the professional design industry as well as developments with cutting edge research so these areas of inquiry may be subject to change. Through a series of structured briefs each year, you'll develop your skills and tailor your practice in a multi-discipline approach. Topics and skills you'll cover include:
Year one
- Analysis of a wider critical realm and investigate design in context
- Graphic design
- Mechanisms and Structures
- Physical/digital modelling and communication techniques
- Studio-based practice
- The fundamental skills required to begin your design journey
Year two
- Development of digital and CAD-based skills
- Electronics prototyping
- Further development of your studio practice
- Materials and processes
- Product design engineering
Placement year (if applicable)
If you study on the four year (sandwich) course, you'll spend a year away from the University on a work placement after year two.
You'll complete a placement learning module during this time, which is the Work-Based Research Project.
See the Placements and Fees sections for more information.
Final year
- Critically responding to a creative context and developing your own concepts within a clear design direction
- Design research methods
- Digital generative design
- Honing your studio-based practice with an individually driven project
- Learning to professionally communicate your project work
- Producing a final portfolio project to demonstrate everything you have learned on the programme and help you gain employment.
The University continually enhances our offer by responding to feedback from our students and other stakeholders, ensuring the curriculum is kept up to date and our graduates are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need for the real world. This may result in changes to the course. If changes to your course are approved, we'll inform you.
"I completed several live projects in collaboration with real-world companies, such as Omlet. Also, the industry contacts I gained helped me to find freelance opportunities. I'm now employed as a freelance 3D artist while working on releasing my own products." Almario, Product Design Technology graduate.
Learning and Teaching
Our lecturers all have years of professional practice within the design industry. Along with an emphasis on hands-on learning, this gives the course professional practice focus that will prepare you for your career in design.
The course is project-led and taught mainly in studios. Apply your new knowledge to diverse projects that solve human-centred problems through design practice.
Focus on learning technical skills such as using computational stress analysis to design the structure of products.
Get intensive one-to-one mentoring with tutors for practical guidance on your work. Attend guest lectures with professional designers and receive help with your CV and interview skills from our partner organisations.
Lay a foundation in professional design skills including 3D design, sketching, concept generation, presentations, computer-aided design (CAD) and practical workshops. Gain an understanding of people and their complex emotional relationships with products.
Learn about human-centred design, co-design and innovative design processes, materials and manufacturing and form and aesthetics development.
Work on a range of studio projects with real companies (Brabantia, Dremel, Bloodhound and Piper Moto). Research, develop and create a product that will demonstrate your skills in the design area you'd like to grow in.
See our full glossary of learning and teaching terms.
Showcase your work
Showcase your final year projects to family and friends, as well as regional employers at the annual degree show.
Graduates also exhibit at the New Designers exhibition in London, where awards and media interest are a springboard for careers.
Assessment
You'll be assessed mostly on your project work and the presentation of a portfolio of design and development studies. Four modules include conventional exams as a form of assessment.
Learn more about assessments.
Features
Professional accreditation
This degree allows you to become a member of the Institution of Engineering Designers (IED), giving you professional recognition, access to events and opportunities on their website.
Placements
Students who get work experience tend to graduate with better degrees. Experience also hones your skills, industry knowledge and professional network, making you highly employable on graduation.
If you choose the four year (sandwich) course, you'll spend a year away from the University on a work placement after year two.
We have placement opportunities in the UK and Europe, US and China. Past students have worked for in-house design teams, consultancies and manufacturers such as Opel cars, Disney, Omlet, Kinneir Dufort, Trunki, Mathmos and Mira Kohler.
You'll get help to find your placement and support throughout from staff within the School and our award-winning careers service.
Fieldwork
We arrange day trips so you can visit study locations and meet people that can inform your work. We also arrange residential field trips locally, nationally and internationally.
Study facilities
Learn in modern, well-equipped school facilities that simulate industry.
Study and collaborate on group assignments in our dedicated Project Room. Brainstorm concepts in our dedicated design studios.
Develop CAD, model-making, design and drawing skills in integrated studios.
Make models and prototypes and use 3D printers, laser cutters and computer numerical control (CNC) routers in our product design workshop.
This mix of traditional and highly creative learning environments enables you to learn essential knowledge and real-world skills, standing you in good stead for your professional career.
Learn more about UWE Bristol's facilities and resources.
Take a personalised virtual tour of the Design facilities and experience what a typical day could look like here for you.
Why I chose Product Design
Life
Accommodation
An excellent range of options for all of the Bristol campuses and the city centre.
Bristol
A stunning city for student living with all the qualities to make you want to stay.
Sports, societies and activities
There is more to your experience here than study. Choose to make the most of it and try new things.
Health and Wellbeing
We provide support in the way you need it.
Campus and facilities
Discover our campuses and the wealth of facilities provided for our students.
Careers
Careers / Further study
After graduating, you'll find career opportunities all over the world.
Potential creative roles include product design, industrial design, design engineering, user experience, graphic or web design, teaching, and exhibition and packaging design.
Many graduates have launched their own products or established themselves as freelance design consultants.
We have strong links with local companies who provide graduate jobs. Most of our graduates go straight into product development roles for design consultancies or join in-house design teams for manufacturers and major brands.
Read how UWE Bristol alumni Kieran Devlin wins the UK Young Innovators Award from Innovate UK and the Princes Trust.
Get inspired
Our award-winning careers service will develop your employment potential through career coaching and find you graduate jobs, placements and global opportunities.
We can also help find local volunteering and community opportunities, provide support for entrepreneurial activity and get you access to employer events.
Visit our employability pages to learn more about careers, employers and what our students are doing six months after graduating.
Fees*
Full-time; Sandwich course
Indicative Additional Costs
Supplementary fee information
*The UK Government recently proposed that tuition fees for Home students will increase by 3.1% to £9,535 from 1st August 2025. This increase is subject to Parliamentary approval and the vote is expected to take place later this year.
Any tuition fee which is impacted by this change will be updated following approval.
Please see GOV.UK for further information.
The additional costs listed are those that students could reasonably expect to incur during their studies and are for items not covered by the standard tuition fee. These could be materials, text books, travel, clothing, software or printing.
For information about funding for undergraduate courses see our funding pages.
Entry
Typical offers
- Tariff points: 112
- Contextual tariff: See our contextual offers page.
- GCSE: Grade C/4 in English and Mathematics, or equivalent.
- English Language Requirement:
International and EU applicants are required to have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.0 with 5.5 in each component (or approved equivalent*).
*The university accepts a large number of UK and International Qualifications in place of IELTS. You can find details of acceptable tests and the required grades you will need in our English Language section. Please visit our English language requirements page.
- A-level subjects: A2 in one of the following subjects: Art and Design, Biology, Chemistry, Computing/Computer Science, Design and Technology, Electronics, Engineering, ICT, Maths/Further Maths, Music Technology, Physics, Product Design, Statistics.
- EDEXCEL (BTEC) Diploma: You must be studying one of the following: Aeronautical Engineering; Applied Science; Art and Design; Construction and the Built Environment; Creative Media Production; Electrical / Electronic Engineering; Engineering; Land-based Technology; Manufacturing Engineering; Mechanical Engineering; Operations and Maintenance Engineering; Production Arts; or similar.
For information on required Guided Learning Hours please see our minimum entry requirements page.
- Access: 15 Level 3 credits at Merit in one of the following subjects: Art and Design; Design and Technology; Mathematics; Product Design; or similar.
- Baccalaureate IB: To include a pass at Higher Level in one of: Design Technology; Mathematics; Visual Arts; Aeronautical Engineering; Applied Science; Art and Design; Construction and the Built Environment; Creative Media Production; Electrical/ Electronic Engineering ; Engineering; Land-based Technology; Manufacturing Engineering; Mechanical Engineering; Operations and Maintenance Engineering; Production Arts; or similar.
- Irish Highers: Higher Level in one of the following: Art; Biology; Chemistry; Engineering; Geography; Mathematics; Physics; Technology.
- Welsh Baccalaureate: We accept tariff points achieved from the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales in conjunction with other Level 3 qualifications. This qualification cannot be used to satisfy any subject specific entry requirements.
- Cambridge Technical: You must be studying one of the following: Mechanical, Electrical and Electronic Systems Design and Engineering; Engineering Automation Control and Manufacturing Processes; Electrical and Electronic Engineering; Mechanical Engineering and Design; Automation, Systems and Control; Manufacturing; Applied Science; Digital Media; Art & Design or Information Technology.
- T Levels: Design and Development for Engineering and Manufacturing Maintenance, Installation and Repair for Engineering and Manufacturing Engineering, Manufacturing, Processing and Control Craft and Design
Selection process
Applicants who do not meet our standard entry requirements may be required to submit a digital portfolio for review within three weeks of their application being received. For more details on the process, please visit our selection page.
Entry requirements
International applicants
For country specific entry requirements please find your country on the Country Information pages. If you are an international student and do not meet the academic requirements to study this course, you can qualify by completing preparatory study at our International College.
If you are applying to study at UWE Bristol and require additional support to meet our English language requirements, you may be able to attend one of our pre-sessional English courses. Read more about our Pre-Sessional English Programme.
Read more about entry requirements.
How to apply
Read more about undergraduate applications.
Read more about international applications and key international deadline dates.
For further information
- Email:
UK applicants
Admissions@uwe.ac.ukInternational/EU applicants
International@uwe.ac.uk - Telephone:
UK applicants
+44 (0)117 32 83333International/EU applicants
+44 (0)117 32 86644