Product Design (Top-up)

Course Overview

Every product began as an idea. On this course, you’ll take your ideas through a journey towards completion. Craft sleek products from scratch, taking them from scale drawings to the final prototype. You’ll have the freedom to create original products without anything holding you back. Product design is more than vibrant colours and sensual designs. It’s about innovative concepts that have an impact on the world.

Our course is accredited by the Institution of Engineering Designers (IED).

Top-up your studies

If you have completed a foundation-level degree, HND, or equivalent qualifications in a relevant Art and Design subject, you can choose to top-up your studies to gain a full bachelor’s degree.

A top-up degree is the equivalent of the final year of an undergraduate degree, and offers a chance to deepen your knowledge, skills and understanding of your subject, while also getting an internationally-recognised qualification.

Play an important role in a number of industries

Product design skills can equip you to work in areas such as special effects, medical equipment design, games environment design, technical illustration, model making and architectural visualisation. Part of the role includes working with clients and getting to understand exactly what they want as an end product. With experience, you’ll have the vision and integrity to respond to the needs of society.

Create drafts, designs and prototypes

We’ve invested in workshops that replicate those you’ll find at global product companies. We keep on top of the best equipment, using professional facilities and software for your designing needs.

You’ll use a range of industry standard 3D CAD and CAD/CAM systems, and some fantastic facilities to produce 3D models, fully working prototypes, computer models and animations.

You can explore different solutions for a number of areas, working with real clients as you use your expertise to create products with a purpose.

With experience, you’ll have the vision and integrity to respond to the needs of society.

More placements, more choices

Bucks is a Placements Plus university. So, whatever degree you do, you can be sure there’ll be plenty of industry-relevant opportunities on offer, to help you get into your chosen field.

We’ll also prepare you for work beforehand, with special skills for work training, further boosting your CV, and building skills employers will value. In recognition of the value we place on these skills we have incorporated this experience into your study time.

Placements Plus is all about helping you get some valuable experience under your belt while you’re a student. To increase your choices later, and help you get the graduate-level job you want.

Course Details

Our staff are all designers themselves and keep updated on the developments within the industry. You receive group and one-to-one teaching as we fully support you throughout your studies. Even when undertaking independent study, staff and peers are never too far away to bounce ideas off when you’re in the workshop.

To achieve the full BA (Hons) in Product Design you will need to complete a major project, a dissertation as well as undertake a Professional Practice module.

The major project and dissertation will allow you to investigate a topic important to you within product design. You will cover the whole research process, undertaking empirical investigation and analysis. You will be allocated a dissertation supervisor, who will offer support and advice.

The Professional Practice module gives you the opportunity to undertake work-based learning or answer live industry briefs, gaining the practical and transferable skills you need for your career in the creative industries.

What are the course entry requirements?

This programme is offered as a top-up qualification for students who have completed a HND, FDA, or other equivalent qualification in a relevant Art and Design subject, and wish to progress further to achieve an Honours degree.

How do I apply?

For application details please visit bucks.ac.uk/applying-to-bucks

Teaching team