BSc(Hons) Product Design Technology (with Foundation Year)
Please note there are no vacancies on this course for September 2024
Please note that new student recruitment to this course has been suspended for the September 2024 intake. Applications for 2025 should be made through UCAS from September 2024.
Page last updated 22 July 2024
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 (with Foundation Year) 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 yearbook of student projects from our architecture and product design courses.
The image above shows the fantastic work from one of our students (Ethan Wilkin, 2022 Product Design Technology graduate).
Watch: Why I chose Product Design
Structure
Content
Year zero (foundation year)
You'll study:
- Context of Design and Development
- Foundation Engineering
- Foundation Design Studio
- Foundation Design Communication
- Foundation Mathematics for the Built Environment.
You normally need to pass your foundation year before going into Year one.
Year one
You'll study:
- Design Communication
- Design in Context
- Graphic Design
- Mechanisms and Structures
- Product Design Studio 1.
Year two
You'll study:
- Materials and Processes
- Physical Computing
- Product CAD
- Product Design Engineering
- Product Design Technology Studio 2.
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
You'll study:
- Design in Practice*
- Design Research Methods
- Individual Project (Product Design)
- Innovation, Technology and Design
- Product Design Studio 3.
*Students who complete the Placement year, don't study this module.
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.
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.
Approximate percentage of time you'll spend in different learning activities*:
| Year | Scheduled learning and teaching study | Independent study | Placement study |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 31% | 69% | 0% |
| 1 | 35% | 66% | 0% |
| 2 | 29% | 71% | 0% |
| 3 | 26% | 74% | 0% |
*Calculated from compulsory and optional modules (where applicable) each year
Showcase your work
Showcase your final year projects to family and friends, as well as regional employers at the annual degree show. Take a look at some of our students' exhibits on Tumblr and in our online showcase.
Graduates also exhibit at the New Designers exhibition in London, where awards and media interest are a springboard for careers.
Assessment
In Foundation year, you'll be assessed using coursework and exams. Exams are held in either January or May/June. Coursework will be a mix of essays, reports, surveys, design projects, teamwork and progress tests.
From Year one, 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.
Approximate percentage of marks awarded by each assessment method*:
| Year | Written exam assessment | Coursework assessment | Practical exam assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 3% | 91% | 6% |
| 1 | 9% | 91% | 0% |
| 2 | 13% | 81% | 6% |
| 3 | 0% | 72% | 28% |
*Calculated from compulsory and optional modules (where applicable) each year
Features
Professional accreditation
This course is accredited by 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 five 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 Virtual Tour of the Design facilities and see what's on offer here for you.
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
Your overall entitlement to funding is based on how long the course is that you're registered on. Standard funding is allocated based on the standard number of years that your course lasts, plus one additional year.
You'll apply for funding each year that you study and Student Finance will take into account how long the course is in each year that you apply. So if you register for the five year course and then transfer to the four year course, the number of years you can apply for funding will change. Student Finance will reassess your funding based on how many years you have been in study, not just those years for which you received student finance.
Always seek advice before taking any action that may have implications for your funding.
Additional costs
This refers to items you could need during your studies that aren't covered by the standard tuition fee. These could be materials, textbooks, travel, clothing, software or printing.
Entry
Typical offers
- Tariff points: 88
- Contextual tariff: See our contextual offers page.
- GCSE: Grade C/4 in English and Mathematics, or equivalent.
- A-level subjects: No specific subjects required.
- EDEXCEL (BTEC) Diploma: No specific subjects required.
For information on required Guided Learning Hours please see our minimum entry requirements page.
- Access: No specific subjects required.
- Baccalaureate IB: No specific subjects required.
- Irish Highers: No specific subjects required.
- T Levels: No specific subjects required.
Entry requirements
If you exceed the entry requirements you may be eligible for BSc(Hons) Product Design Technology.
International Applicants
If you are an international student your recommended route of study for this degree is through our International College, which upon successful completion to the required level and with good attendance, guarantees entry to Year one of the degree.
Read more about entry requirements.
How to apply
Read more about undergraduate applications.
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