Course Overview
In order to provide highly skilled and competent individuals for the multi-million pound global kitchen industry, graduates will be exposed to a technically focused and knowledge based programme. enabling them to understanding client needs, be aware of design trends and have appropriate technical capacity.
This course has been designed in conjunction with key members of the kitchen industry and is in response to national training needs. The key target population is for employees already working in the sector covering a wide number of job roles, while individuals with appropriate experience and transferable skills will also be welcomed.
The course is offered as a blended learning opportunity, with three long weekend residential sessions each academic year where you will meet your fellow students, the course team and our industry supporters.
We will expect you to relate knowledge gained through the course to your working environment, so that you both learn from and develop your existing roles. You will be expected to complete weekly learning tasks and contribute to the course as a whole.
What will this course cover?
Kitchens are a multi-million pound global industry. To maximise your share of that industry you need a highly skilled and knowledgeable workforce able to understand client needs, design trends and technological developments.
This three-year course is designed to enhance the skills and career prospects of those already engaged in the industry in a range of positions. It is delivered as a distance learning, work-related foundation degree. Three intensive residential skills workshops are included each year at our beautiful Missenden Abbey Conference Centre in the heart of the Chiltern Hills.
Industry experts will share how they approach projects, develop imaginative designs and understand demands and constraints in kitchen design. You will be prepared to undertake further learning supported by tutors at a distance, using our online learning environment to maintain contact and submit short pieces of project work and gain comments and advice to improve it.
Course Details
What are the course entry requirements?
Students should normally have five GCSEs including English at grade C/4 or above and an appropriate Level three qualification such as A' Levels, National Diploma, Access course, City & Guilds or equivalent.
However relevant work experience from a related industry sector, an aptitude for design and a willingness to commit to the level of personal study required will be given equal consideration.
Please contact us if you need any advice concerning your eligibility for the course.
For further details of our international English entry requirements, please visit our international pages.
Course Modules
Year 1 Modules
- Kitchen Design Worlds
- Kitchens in Context 1
- Materials Technologies and Kitchens
Year 2 Modules
- Kitchen Marketing
- Kitchens in Context 2
- Make a Kitchen Experimentally (MAKE)
Year 3 Modules
- Kitchen Project Management
- Personal Kitchen Design Project
Fees
How much does it cost
Flexible Distributed Learning Home and EU, Academic Year 2021-2022: £5,600 per year
Most courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees.
You could benefit from financial support through a bursary or scholarship during your time as a student. For more details visit our financial support, bursaries and scholarships section.
Questions about fees?
Contact our Enquiries Team:
0330 123 2023
advice@bucks.ac.uk
How do I apply?
For application details please visit bucks.ac.uk/applying-to-bucks
Teaching team
Student Testimonials
Our students are our best ambassadors and their voices here will provide you with a clear sense of their Bucks experience.

Thomas Winfield
I really enjoyed the course, and being exposed to the many different sides of design thinking. One lecture which really stood out was by Andreas Fabian, where he led an interpretation of design using the shapes and parts of spoons! I also enjoyed a project management scheme, which included a trip to the Roundhouse factory, following a kitchen from initial concept to the end installation. One of our most challenging projects was to design the kitchen area for a Maggie Centre in Dundee, designed by Frank Gehry; it was great to be using our skills in a real-life situation.

Denise Pinnegar
For me personally, the blended learning course at Bucks has suited me very well. It has given me the flexibility to learn from my home (in Ireland) while at the same time, benefitting with further learning on the residential weekends. I thoroughly enjoy and look forward to the residential weekends, where we all come together for fun workshops and field trips as well as talks by professionals in the kitchen design industry.
The quality of teaching staff is outstanding. They are very knowledgeable about design and the kitchen industry and it’s fantastic to have access to this wealth of knowledge and expertise. Also I don’t think any other university could rival Buckinghamshire New University in terms of the care and support received from the teaching staff and the Students’ Union. Although the course is a part-time distance learning course, I really feel I’m part of the University community.