Product Design (Top-up)

Course Overview

Do you want to create flawless designs? Craft sleek products from scratch, taking them from scale drawings to the final prototype? On this course, you’ll view product design as a science, creating technical products such as electronic devices and complex 3D images. You’ll be able to create your own products, learning how to present your ideas for manufacture.

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.

Design a product with purpose

Embrace the technical side of design. You’ll use a range of industry standard 3D CAD and CAD/CAM systems, and some fantastic workshop facilities to produce 3D models, fully working prototypes, computer models and animations to demonstrate your design solutions. You’ll explore different solutions for a number of areas, working with real clients as you use your expertise to create products with a purpose.

Be inspired by our team of expert designers

Our staff are all designers themselves and keep updated on the challenges that surround 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.

With experience, you’ll have the vision and integrity to respond to the needs of society. Product designers like Apple’s Jonathan Ive created iconic devices through their understanding of technology, production methods and market needs.

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

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

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