A woman taking a photo of a student's display area at a degree show.

BA(Hons) Product Design (with Foundation Year)

Entry year
2024/25
Course code
W41F
Application
UCAS
Level
Undergraduate
School
School of Architecture and Environment
Tariff points
88
Campus
Frenchay
Duration
Four years full-time; five years sandwich
Delivery
Full-time; sandwich
Programme leader
Sally Daniels

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 2 February 2024

Introduction

Learn from tutors and professionals with extensive design experience and graduate ready to join industry or start your own creative venture.

Accreditations and partnerships:

Why study product design? 

We have reached a point where many products work well and meet our everyday physical needs - but how well do they satisfy and enhance our lives on an emotional level?

There is always a need for highly skilled designers who can explore questions like this.

Product design is an area that rewards those who take risks, challenge conventional thinking and design products, services and user experiences that surprise and delight.

You may be interested in our BSc(Hons) Product Design Technology (with Foundation Year) course.

Why UWE Bristol?

BA(Hons) Product Design will help you develop your creativity.

If you often look at the things around you and think 'this could have been made so much better', then this course will show you how to go about it.

Develop an empathetic, intuitive understanding of people and how we use and respond to products. Learn about form, ergonomics and materials. Learn from friendly tutors with extensive industry expertise and work on a series of projects in our well-equipped Design Studio.

Gain advanced skills in concept sketching and 3D form, verbal and visual communication, model making, computer-aided design (CAD) and the business of design.

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.

Showcase your work to talent scouts and potential employers at the final year Degree Show.

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, you'll be ready to go into industry or start your own business venture.

Career opportunities are available in service design, graphic design, brand consultancy, user experience design, brand and retail design, design research, marketing and packaging design.

Many graduates are inspired to launch their own products or establish themselves as freelance design consultants.

The image above shows the fantastic work from one of our students (Tom Worton, 2022 Product Design graduate).

Why I chose Product Design

Structure

Content

The optional modules listed are those that are most likely to be available, but they may be subject to change.

Year zero (foundation year)

You will study:

  • Context of Design and Development
  • Foundation Design Studio
  • Foundation Design Communication
  • Foundation Project in Sustainability
  • Foundation Engineering for Designers.

You normally need to pass your foundation year before going into Year one.

Year one

You will study:

  • Product Design Studio 1
  • Design Communication
  • Objects and Experiences
  • Graphic Design
  • Design in Context.  

Year two

You will study:

  • Creative Product Design Studio 2
  • Product CAD
  • Engineering for Designers
  • Aesthetics and Product Language
  • Materials and Processes.

Placement year (if applicable)

If you study on the five year (sandwich) course, you'll spend a year away from the University on a work placement after Year two.

See the Placements and Fees sections for more information.

Final year

You will study:

  • Individual Project Product Design
  • Product Design Studio 3
  • Design Research Methods
  • Design Futures.

Plus, one optional module set from (if you haven't completed a placement year):

  • Design in Practice.

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 will 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 skills and knowledge to diverse projects that solve human-centred problems through design practice.

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*:

YearScheduled learning and teaching studyIndependent studyPlacement study
031%69%0%
135%65%0%
229%71%0%
326%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

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*:

YearWritten exam assessmentCoursework assessmentPractical exam assessment
03%91%6%
13%91%6%
216%84%0%
30%76%24%

*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.

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 facilities within the School that simulate industry.

Study and collaborate on group assignments in our dedicated Project Room. Brainstorm concepts in our dedicated Design Studio.

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.

Get a tour of where you'll study with our current design students.

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, service design, interiors and retail design, marketing and brand consultancy, 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.

Watch how studying at UWE Bristol led James to win an RSA award for his toaster design.

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.

Useful links

Fees

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.

Learn more about 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.

Learn more about costs.

Entry

Typical offers

  • Tariff points: 88
  • 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: 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 BA(Hons) Product Design.

Read more about entry requirements.

How to apply

Read more about undergraduate applications.

For further information

Unistats

UWE Main Campus

Full Time