About this course
Your Foundation Year will introduce you to the skills you’ll need to prepare you for your future studies. From perfecting freehand drawing and sketchbook use to learning about materials and fabrication, you’ll gain practical experience through real-world briefs and develop your confidence in presenting your ideas.
This course has both eyes (and hands) on the technological side of design — the making and manufacturing of products, systems, and services. It’s a great option if you’re naturally curious about design engineering, and looking for a practical, hands-on approach.
We’ll be analysing form and function in design, encouraging your creativity whilst also taking a specialist’s dive into areas like electronics and robotics, mechatronic techniques, materials testing, and manufacturing. We’ll explore the emerging trends — things like UX, smart technology, and sustainability.
In product teardowns, you’ll ‘reverse engineer’ items from the inside, and then design out their flaws; on site visits, you’ll receive live project briefs from some of the industry’s biggest players, who’ll review and feedback on your work. You could even test your skills on a year-long professional placement; our previous assignments have included TATA, Samsung, Autodesk (San Francisco), and Hubs (Amsterdam).
We’ve developed this course to ensure you’re not just an option for employers, but their priority. You’ll graduate with a designer’s eye for innovation, an engineer’s skill in manufacturing, and a CEO’s appetite for the bottom line. That’s a powerful package — and it’s why our graduates secure work with companies like Dyson, Tesco, PepsiCo, Disney, Unilever, and McLaren F1.
Explore the work of our graduating students in our Student Showcase.
Compare our courses to find out how this course differs from BA (Hons) Product Design (with Foundation Year) and BA (Hons) Furniture and Product Design (with Foundation Year).
Main image: Sam Russell, BSc (Hons) Product Design student.
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NTU is ranked top 15 for Art & Design (Complete University Guide 2025). -
100% of BSc (Hons) Product Design sandwich students are employed or in further study within 15 months of finishing their degrees (latest Graduate Outcomes survey 2020/21). -
We’re industry-focused with great connections. Through live projects and placements, you’ll be working with leading companies such as Tesco, PepsiCo and JCB. It’s great for your portfolio and CV, and you’ll also get excellent employability support. -
2nd most sustainable university in the world (UI GreenMetric World University Rankings 2024).
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What you’ll study
Together, we’ll be analysing the evolution of contemporary design — its history, its critical tradition, and its psychology. We’ll be looking at the ways in which good (and sometimes not so good) design principles are applied across products, systems and services, and the exciting role that we as designers and engineers can play. We’ll analyse manufacturing processes, and the growing importance of ethical, sustainable design; we’ll explore things like alternative energy systems, smart technology and robotics; and in the studio and workshops, we’ll grow your own ideas from sketches to prototypes.
Here’s a year-by-year breakdown of the modules you’ll be studying during the course.
Foundation Year
- Exploring Design (20 credit points)
- Materials and Making (20 credit points)
- Future Living (20 credit points)
- Client, Object, Space (40 credit points)
Year Two
- Introduction to Design (20 credit points)
- Design & Technical Communication (20 credits)
- Technology for Designers (20 credit points)
- Design Innovation & Manufacture (60 credit points)
Year Three
- Professional Practice (20 credit points)
- Advanced Design & Technical Communication (20 credit points)
- Technology, Society & Sustainable Futures (20 credit points)
- Elective Design Project (40 credit points)
- Exploring Design for Society (20 credit points)
Final Year
- Exploration & Context (20 credit points)
- Commercial Project (20 credit points)
- Self-Directed Project (Technology & Product Design - 80 points)
Exploring Design (20 credit points)
- Study renowned designs and designers while developing research abilities related to Making and Materials and Drawing and Seeing modules.
- You will create a Professional Development Plan (PDP) for self-assessment and mid-year course review. Assessment includes workbook exercises, a poster presentation, and a visual essay, with opportunities for formative feedback to guide your development.
Drawing and Seeing (20 credit points)
- In this module, you will immerse yourself in the creation and use of sketchbooks, a vital tool for designers and architects. Through dedicated drawing sessions and creative exercises, you will enhance your freehand drawing skills and use your sketchbook as a means of creative thinking.
- You will engage in a series of prescribed drawing activities, receiving formative feedback through 1:1 sketchbook reviews and weekly "show and tell" sessions. By the end of the module, you will confidently understand the value of sketchbooks and be ready to use this skill moving forward in your studies.
Materials and Making (20 credit points)
- In this module you will explore the properties, textures, cost, durability, and sustainability of various materials. Engage in hands-on activities to understand basic fabrication techniques and make informed material choices for your design projects.
Future Living (20 credit points)
- Gain practical experience through hands-on drawing and making exercises, working collaboratively on initial design proposals, and completing a portfolio to showcase your creative solutions and teamwork skills.
- You will learn to identify and adapt to design constraints by creating a small living space within a re-purposed shipping container. Explore celebrated micro-home examples and utilize constraints to drive your innovative solutions.
Client, Object, Space (40 credit points)
- Work with industry clients on real-world or simulated design briefs, using your foundational skills to address challenges and create drawings, models, and a final poster and presentation. Weekly tasks guide you with clear, short-term goals and help you develop your ideas step-by-step.
- Build confidence in visual presentations and critiques, preparing you for undergraduate studies. Gain valuable insights into industry practices by exploring materials, fabrication methods, and collaboration, giving you a comprehensive understanding of how the industry operates.
Introduction to Design (20 credits)
- You will begin to develop an understanding of the key attributes of being a designer in all that you do, especially in applying safe working practices within the studios and workshops.
- You will study issues and ideas exploring design from political, technological, social and economic perspectives.
- As part of this module you will learn key design communication techniques, which is a significant tool for any designer in supporting the design process. This will include a range of media and methods in 2D and 3D i.e. sketching, basic modelling and presentation skills.
Design & Technical Communication (20 credits)
- You will develop your awareness of design; furthering your design skills and expanding on design communication as a tool to develop your own design processes. These skills will be developed by selecting and employing a range of media and design methods that will give you confidence to apply safe working practices within the studio and workshop environment.
- Studies on the module involve a number of techniques including sketching and rendering, computer aided design (CAD) and digital modelling in 3D.
- This module will expand your studies of design communication, providing a more advanced view and develop your designer toolkit.
Technology for Designers (20 credit points)
- You will expand your understanding and the consideration of technology relative to materials and production, electronics, electrical systems and programming.
- You will also be introduced to the basic principles and applications of technology and see how they affect the development of products and systems.
Design Innovation & Manufacture (60 credit points)
- This module aims to develop your awareness of design, where you will explore a wide range of different product sectors in order to gain a deeper knowledge base of design, innovation and manufacture.
- This module also enable your awareness of environmental issues and help develop your understanding of the implications of the specification of manufacturing processes from sustainable and ethical standpoints.
- You will consider the context of design processes and relevant design methodologies that are often attributed to the scientific perspective of product design.
- You will examine aspects related to design for the future to develop your awareness of the wider contemporary and contextual issues that will further your understanding of culture and society and their relationship with design. This module will consider the influence of human factors, user-centred design and reliability.
Professional Practice (20 credit points)
- You will consider the broad view of the design profession, both historical and contemporary, and question where it is going in the future; along with reflecting on where you might sit within this profession. This will be supported by a work-like experience, framed by the Conversations on Design series delivered by industry professionals.
- This module will develop your critical and analytical skills to justify and evaluate your design approach. You will also learn about key subjects areas such as design management techniques, IP, sustainability and commercial awareness.
- You will develop a keen awareness of the breadth of the design industry, and the roles and ethical responsibilities of designers, manufacturers and consumers.
Advanced Design & Technical Communication (20 credit points)
- This module aims to further develop your design skills and expanding your awareness of design communication as a tool to develop your own design processes.
- You will develop and utilise advanced communication techniques relevant to the design industry; produce sketches, renderings, models, test rigs, prototypes, simulations and virtual solutions.
- This module enables you to develop your communication skills, which will enable you to enhance the work for the other level 5 modules; to create your portfolio, CV, design work and other industry facing material.
Technology, Society & Sustainable Futures (20 credit points)
- You will be encouraged to creatively apply advanced technological and material solutions in the development of modern products. The module will involve both individual and group-based projects alongside lectures and seminars.
- Central to the module are a series of design projects where you will be given design briefs with real time deadlines. The focus of these projects relates to a variety of critical issues, which are significant issues designers commonly face in their work.
- You will be expected to realise a range of formats to a designer’s outputs i.e. technical reports, technical drawings, CAD work, sketches, renderings, models, test rigs, prototypes and simulations to an industrial and commercially accepted standard. You are also required to consider the use of materials; appropriate approaches to materials selection will be considered with reference to meeting design requirements and costings.
- The module will enable you to develop creative problem-solving abilities in response to increasing problem complexity as well as further developing effective design communication and realisation skills in a variety of media, either as an individual or part of a team.
Elective Design Project (40 credit points)
- You will have themes, provided by your course team, that you can select a project from, and you will work on this for the entirety of the module.
- This module will help you develop your ability to conduct a project, integrating knowledge and skills you have gained from the programme.
- This module is design-orientated which may involve selection of materials, processes, prototype making, product testing and evaluation. Your approach to practical work will show autonomy, initiative, risk-taking and innovation and be clearly articulated and contextualised through visual, written and verbal means.
Exploring Design for Society (20 credit points)
- This module gives you the opportunity to explore and research a subject of your personal interest (based on course themes).
- The research document will focus your thoughts and plans for that which you intend to design and produce a body of work for later in this year. It also stipulates the plan for the project; specifically, the direction and choices you wish to make during the project.
- The format for this research portfolio will be discussed with you but these can range from a standard written piece, a visual essay, a film, or a critique. Topics should challenge you to source information, to maintain a sustained argument and to be critical and reflective.
Exploration & Context (20 credit points)
- This module gives you the opportunity to explore and research a subject of your personal interest that links to the self-directed project.
- You will gain in-depth knowledge and confidence in a particular subject associated with the broad spectrum of design, using a wide range of primary and secondary research skills. to gain extensive and exploratory experience in communicating complex issues in text, illustrations and words; to promote understanding of design as a complex activity; and develop the ability to research, evaluate and communicate its relationship to culture, society and technology.
Commercial Project (20 credit points)
- This module encourages you to explore, model, research, propose and develop ideas, concepts and products through a number of chosen and self-regulated projects. The synthesis of information, skills and learned knowledge will help you develop your portfolio and personal stance on contemporary design.
- You will be tutored by academic staff who have a rich experience of professional design practice, who will guide you through the development of your projects.
- Your work will be driven by live industrial/commercial input and partners, developing real world solutions. The objectives of this module are therefore to promote the application of your skills, knowledge and understanding of design methodologies in the creative realisation of products, and to understand your own practise in a professional context.
Self-Directed Project (Technology & Product Design) (80 credit points)
- This module encourages you to explore, research, propose and develop ideas, model, develop concepts and products through a chosen, self-regulated project.
- The synthesis of information, skills and learned knowledge will help you develop your portfolio and personal stance on contemporary design. As a final year module, you are expected to draw upon the teaching and learning you have experienced over the previous years of study.
We regularly review and update our course content based on student and employer feedback, ensuring that all of our courses remain current and relevant. This may result in changes to module content or module availability in future years.
Video Gallery
How you're taught
You'll learn through a mix of:
- lectures - covering the key theories
- seminars - smaller-group sessions perfect for learning key skills and collaborative working
- studio projects - working both independently and as groups
- workshops - supported by our team, you’ll experiment with materials and facilities such as model-making and 3D printing
- live briefs - from industry and competitions.
Beyond scheduled sessions, embrace independent study—preparing for lectures, researching, completing coursework, and expanding your portfolio through directed reading. Benefit from the insights of external professional practitioners, ensuring a continual enhancement of your learning with real-world perspectives.
100% of BSc (Hons) Product Design sandwich students have improved their career prospects because of their course (NTU Student Survey, 2024).
Our Product Design community
We have a strong sense of community on our Product Design courses. Our community is creative, supportive, and challenging. It allows you to work side-by-side with your classmates, tutors, and our technical and research experts as you find and establish your own design identity.
You'll become part of this community from your first day on the course. It's important that you feel comfortable working collaboratively for you to push the boundaries of design and tackle creative challenges that you'll face throughout your studies and in your career. You'll work in teams to complete lots of different design activities, from experimenting with ideas and plans in our studio space to developing CAD models and producing prototypes in our workshops.
Study trips
Field trips and study visits are an important part of your learning. Trips may include site visits and visits to practices, museums, exhibitions and events. Where a trip is mandatory it will be aligned to your modules and inform project work, and substantive costs – including travel and accommodation – will be paid for by the school. Optional trips may also be organised which can provide additional opportunities to enhance your knowledge and experience. Optional trips may incur a cost to the student. A valid passport and any associated visas will be required for trips outside of the UK.
Design studio
You'll benefit from dedicated studio space on the course. Our studio-based environment encourages experimentation with new methods, styles, and techniques, and pushes you to take your practice in any direction that motivates you. This approach reflects how the industry works and prepares you well for the collaborative approach that you'll practice throughout your career.
Live projects
As part of some modules, you'll work on live project briefs set by real industry clients. This can involve visits and workshops led by design teams from industry, and delivering presentations to them, providing the opportunity to showcase your skills and ability to potential employers. Previously our students have worked with Dyson, Cambridge Consultants, Tesco, PepsiCo, and Wilko.
Competitions
As well as working on briefs as part of the course, our students have taken part in and won competitions and national events. Recently, our students have participated in and won competitions including the Engineers without Borders Challenge, the Starpack Awards, and the Design in Innovation and Plastics Award.
Conversations on Design
We run an exciting lecture series called 'Conversations on Design'. As part of this series practitioners from a range of industries come and deliver talks to students about their own practice, experiences in industry, and contemporary issues in their field. These talks are a great way to get first-hand insights into the workings of different organisations, practice and applications of design.
How you're assessed
People excel in different ways, and we want everybody to have the best possible chance of success. You will be assessed through:
- coursework, this will make up the majority of your assessments and will consist of reports, logs, reflective journals, a portfolio of work, reviews and visual essays
- exhibitions, showcasing your work and project outcomes.
Careers and employability
Our course is designed to prepare you to succeed in the design industry, through work placements, working on real projects from industry, input from industry professionals, and regularly updated course content.
Sandwich placement year
If you choose to do so you may take an additional, year-long, full-time placement to apply your skills in a real-world setting and explore career options. Placement years are the perfect opportunity for you to put your skills to the test in a real design role, and test out potential careers. Our Employability team will support you in everything from finding opportunities to preparing your CV and practicing interview techniques.
This year in industry will provide you with invaluable experience that is hugely valued by graduate employers. It can also give you a sense of focus and direction for your final year work, and graduate jobs. Some of our students design their final year projects around their experiences in industry and sometimes work with their placement companies to deliver the work. Many students return to their placement company after graduation, having developed a useful network of contacts within the industry.
Students typically gain placements in product design companies across the UK and abroad. Recent destinations have included: Nestlé (Switzerland), Asap Water Crafts, Antalis, Mylan Pharmaceuticals, Rail Renewables, ReCyrcle.
100% of BSc (Hons) Product Design sandwich students are employed or in further study within 15 months of finishing their degrees (latest Graduate Outcomes survey 2020/21).
NTU is 2nd for the number of Undergraduate students studying Design studies (HESA, 2021/22).
Professional qualification
Successful completion of the 36 weeks leads to an extra qualification – the Diploma in Professional Practice, which will further enhance your CV.
Where do Product Design graduates from NTU work?
NTU has a strong product design alumni community with many graduates working in senior positions in leading national and international companies.
Recent graduate destinations include: Dyson, Triumph, TATA, Cummins Ltd., Jaguar Land Rover, Solid Solutions, AECOM, Brett Martin, Harkess-Ord, Accuride, Disney, Unilever, NHS.
Our Employability team
Our expert Employability team will work closely with you at every stage of your career planning, providing personal support and advice. You can benefit from this service at any time during your studies and up to three years after completing your course.
NTU Enterprise
You'll also have the opportunity to turn your ideas into a viable business with help from NTU Enterprise, NTU's purpose-built Centre for Entrepreneurship and Enterprise, a support centre to help students create, develop and grow their own businesses.
Final Year Showcase
Check out our NTU Design Industries Virtual Student Showcase, an online exhibition celebrating the work of our Class of 2023 graduates.
Keep up to date with our current Final Year Product Design student work on Instagram - @NTUDI
What our students are doing now
NTU Product Design Students Success at New Designers 2024
NTU Product Design students have achieved outstanding recognition at the annual New Designers showcase, held at the Business Design Centre in London.
Success for NTU Product Design students in the FIT Design Awards 2024
Huge success for NTU Product Design students at the 2024 Starpack Students Awards ceremony
Campus and facilities
Studio space
Our Arkwright studio is a big, open, creative space where you'll spend a lot of your time as a Product Design student. This is where you'll collaborate, undertake group and individual work, sketch, develop projects and soft modeling, and have presentations and critique sessions. Fitted with plenty of desk space, computers with all the software you need, and even rapid prototyping machinery, you'll be well equipped and supported by our academic and technical teams.
The results of a Microbit Robots project in our studio space.
Specialist facilities
At the University's City Campus, you'll have full access to our range of specialist equipment and spaces based in our Arkwright and Maudslay buildings. You'll be supported by a team of expert technical staff who will teach you to maximise the use of our resources and facilitate your development as a designer.
You'll benefit from our dedicated studios and workshop facilities, and full IT and CAD suites.
Specialised equipment includes the following:
- Rapid prototyping modellers: these machines quickly create a 3D object from a virtual computer model using a highly advanced laser process.
- Waterjet cutter: the latest generation precision technology capable of cutting up to 150mm in almost any solid material such as glass, steel, granite, marble, aluminium and rubber.
- A CNC (computer-numerical control) router and laser and plasma cutters.
- Bandsaw machines, lathes and circular saws to cut a range of materials including wood, foam, plastics and metal.
- Sanding machines, used to prepare surfaces and furniture for a high quality finish.
Access to our workshops and labs
Enjoy scheduled access to well-equipped workshops and labs throughout your academic journey, tailored to meet project-specific needs. Additionally, our studio spaces are available for daily bookings, offering flexibility to accommodate your creative workflow. Outside timetabled hours, select machinery remains accessible, with priority given to timetabled students, but open to all when space permits.
Dedicated resource centre
Students in the School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment have access to a dedicated resource centre. This centre, based in the Maudslay building, enables students to undertake private study in a facility equipped with computers, large format plotters and desk space, together with the latest, and archived, journals and publications.
Entry requirements
UK students
- 72 UCAS Tariff points from three A-levels or equivalent
- GCSE English and Maths grade C / 4
Additional requirements for UK students
There are no additional requirements for this course.
Meeting our entry requirements
Hundreds of qualifications in the UK have UCAS Tariff points attached to specific grades, including A-levels, BTECs, T Levels and many more. You can use your grades and points from up to three different qualifications to meet our criteria. Enter your predicted or achieved grades into our Tariff calculator to find out how many points your qualifications are worth.
Other qualifications and experience
NTU welcomes applications from students with non-standard qualifications and learning backgrounds, either for year one entry or for advanced standing beyond the start of a course into year 2 or beyond.
We consider study and/or credit achieved from a similar course at another institution (otherwise known as credit transfer), vocational and professional qualifications, and broader work or life experience.
Our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy outlines the process and options available for this route. If you wish to apply via Recognition of Prior Learning, please contact the central Admissions and Enquiries Team who will be able to support you through the process.
Getting in touch
If you need more help or information, get in touch through our enquiry form.
International students
- 72 UCAS Tariff points from three A-levels or equivalent
We accept qualifications from all over the world – check yours here: Entry requirements by country
Additional requirements for international students
English language requirements
View our English language requirements for all courses, including alternative English language tests and country qualifications accepted by the University.
If you need help achieving the language requirements, we offer a Pre-Sessional English for Academic Purposes course on our City campus which is an intensive preparation course for academic study at NTU.
Other qualifications and experience
If you have the right level of qualifications, you may be able to start your Bachelors degree at NTU in year 2 or year 3. This is called ‘advanced standing’ entry and is decided on a case-by case basis after our assessment of your qualifications and experience.
You can view our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy which outlines the process and options available, such as recognising experiential learning and credit transfer.
Sign up for emails
Sign up to receive regular emails from the International Office. You'll hear about our news, scholarships and any upcoming events in your country with our expert regional teams.
Getting in touch
If you need advice about studying at NTU as an international student or how to apply, our international webpages are a great place to start. If you have any questions about your study options, your international qualifications, experience, grades or other results, please get in touch through our enquiry form. Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world.
Policies
We strive to make our admissions procedures as fair and clear as possible. To find out more about how we make offers, visit our admissions policies page.
