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.
Create drafts, designs and prototypes
Embrace the creative 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. Explore different solutions for a number of areas, working with real clients as you use your expertise to create products with a purpose.
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.
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
UCAS CODE: W241
We believe that Product Design plays a major role in the current technological revolution. We’re developing students so they can make a difference. Our graduates have gone on to work with huge companies such as Maclaren, Nokia and Microsoft. Even our current students create products that get taken forward into manufacture.
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. Our course is also accredited by the Institution of Engineering Designers (IED).
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. While independent study makes up most of your time, staff and peers are never too far away to bounce ideas off when you’re in the workshop.
Work on real briefs and gain experience on placements
We give you opportunities to gain valuable experience working as a product designer. Throughout the course, you’ll work on real briefs, interacting with clients as you work on creating products for their business.
Create innovative designs in our professional standard studio and workshops
This course is 75% practice-based so you will have ample opportunity to develop your subject through a hands-on, experimental approach. This will involve access to workshops to support the design process.
What are the course entry requirements?
A typical offer will include GCSE Maths and English at grade C/4 or above and a UCAS Tariff score of 80-96. A minimum of two full A-levels (or equivalent) is required. Every application is considered on an individual basis.
This course is included in our unconditional offer policy.
On review of your application, you may be invited for an interview and portfolio review.
Your portfolio is a collection of work that represents your creative potential and demonstrates your ability and interest in your chosen subject. The requirement to produce a portfolio of work is the linking factor between all art and design courses. The quality of your portfolio is an important factor in the offer of a place on a course.
Useful advice
View some advice on preparing for your interview from course leader Lyndon Buck here.
If your application is suitable and you have been invited for an interview, you be notified of the date and time of this on your Track. We will also e-mail you full details about the day, however please be sure to remember the following:
- Show an example of a product you have designed or are designing on a computer.
- Bring along a small model of a product you have made.
- Provide an example of a written report or essay you have done that talks about a product.
For further details of our international English entry requirements, please visit our international pages.
Applicants who do not meet the minimum requirements for the three-year undergraduate programme, or those who do not feel fully prepared for a degree course, can apply for a four-year programme including a Foundation Year; find out more.
Course Modules
Module Map
This module map provides a list of the modules that make up your course.
Each module is worth a specified number of credits (typically either 15 or 30 credits for undergraduate courses). Compulsory (or ‘core’) modules cover key subject knowledge, while ‘option’ modules enable you to develop your own interests. For a full-time course you must take modules worth a total of 120 credits at each level of the course. The number of option modules you can take depends on the number of compulsory modules at each level. You can find more information about how your course is structured via the Academic Advice pages.
Our teaching is informed by research and employer requirements, and modules change periodically to reflect developments in the subject area. In addition, where we have insufficient numbers of students interested in an option module, this may not be offered. If an option module does not run, we will advise you as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative module.
The modules available on this course are as follows:
Year 1 Modules
- Critical and Historical Studies - Historical and Critical Thinking
- Design Communication
- Design Projects 1
- Materials & Processes
Year 2 Modules
- Critical and Historical Studies - Design Research and Theory
- Applied Production & Manufacture
- Design Visualisation
- Professional Studies in Product Design
Year 3 Modules
- Critical and Historical Studies - Dissertation
- Design Projects 3
- Major Project
- Professional Practice
Fees
How much does it cost
Full Time Home and EU, Academic Year 2019-2020: £12,000 per year
Full Time International, Academic Year 2019-2020: £9250 per year
Full Time Home and EU, Academic Year 2020-2021: £9,250 per year
Full Time International, Academic Year 2020-2021: £12,500 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.
Marcus Knight
It was Bucks New University that provided me with a BSc Product Design and understood exactly what I wanted to do.
Since leaving University I started my career at a small tool making company designing mould tools. Over time this accompanied my education and allowed me to enter the corporate world of product design working for Nokia, Microsoft, Flir and now Sonos in Santa Barbara, California.
Not only did Bucks New University provide me with a solid foundation in Product Design and Engineering, the course was strong enough to help my path in securing a Green Card to live and work in the US. This is something that I wanted to achieve since childhood.
James de Ville
Studying at Buckinghamshire New University was for me the tipping point between thriving to be a creative Designer and Engineer and taking that first very important real life step on the rung to making it a full-time reality.
Being surrounded by an incredible melting pot of creative minds drove and inspired me to evolve and develop my working ways bringing out the best in me whilst providing me with a cracking backbone of knowledge I have carried with me ever since.
The machinery, equipment and resources I had access to were for me the crowning glory and what I attribute a lot of my successes to. Being able to engage with my passions experimenting with ideas whilst developing my skill base in that incredible environment enabled me to flourish in a world of unbelievable possibilities I now call home.
