Product Design
UCAS Code: W240
Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)
Entry requirements
Access to HE Diploma
At least 45 credits at level 3 and 15 credits at level 2. At least 18 level 3 credits must be at merit grade or above, in an art and design-related programme from a QAA-recognised Access to HE course, or an equivalent Access to HE certificate.
GCSE/National 4/National 5
GCSE English language or Literature at grade C or grade 4 or above. We do accept GCSE equivalents.
UCAS Tariff
This must include at least 64 points from two A levels, or equivalent BTEC National qualifications (to include a relevant subject such as Art, Design or Graphics). For example: BBC at A Level. DMM in BTEC Extended Diploma. A combination of qualifications, which may include AS levels, EPQ and general studies.
You may also need to…
Attend an interview
Present a portfolio
About this course
This course has alternative study modes. Contact the university to find out how the information below might vary.
- Learn the skills you need to become a product, furniture or industrial designer.
- Experience BA and BSc design projects in first year before selecting your award route.
- Work on projects with well-known companies.
- Have the opportunity to study abroad — with Erasmus funding available for European placements.
- Discover your career pathway through thematic projects that will make you work-ready, enterprising and globally engaged.
On this creative design course you learn to design consumer products or furniture-related products that are original, attractive, usable and functional. The degree is informed by professional practice and focuses on preparing you for professional employment in the creative industries. You develop knowledge, practical and technical transferable hard and soft skills which lead to careers ranging from design-maker, product designer, furniture designer, entrepreneur and technical designer.
**How you learn**
This course is part of the Sheffield Institute of Arts — our creative community within Sheffield Hallam.
The first year is common to all students, from the second year you can choose to study for a BA or a BSc to reflect your chosen career path. On the BA you will learn to take creative risks and innovate manufacturable, user-centred designs. The BSc develops advanced skills in new product innovation and digital technologies.
**You learn through**
- studio-based design projects
- technical workshops
- lectures and seminars
- work placements
- live design projects (where appropriate)
- field trips
- presentations
- critique and feedback
**Modules**
The following modules are available on this course. At the end of your first year, you choose which qualification to pursue from year two.
**Year 1 (BA and BSc)**
Design Practices – 60 credits, coursework 100%
Design Principles – 60 credits, coursework 100%
**Year 2 (BA only)**
Advanced Design Principles – 60 credits, coursework 100%
Professional Design Practice (Product Design) – 60 credits, coursework 100%
**Year 2 (BSc only)**
Innovate for Industry – 80 credits, coursework 100%
Advanced Digital and Manufacturing Technologies – 40 credits, coursework 100%
**Final Year (BA only)**
Graduation Product design Portfolio – 120 credits, coursework 100%
**Final Year (BSc only)**
**Applied learning**
**Work placements**
You have the opportunity to arrange a placement year in between your second and third years. This gives you a real-world experience to prepare you for your future career.
You can work for one company for the whole placement, or for several companies to create a diverse portfolio of experiences. Previous students have secured placements with Design Futures, Morphy Richards, and Lowe Alpine, BDP Lighting, Ocee Design and Mazda Europe.
Modules
Year 1
Compulsory modules
Design Practices 60 credits
Design Principles 60 credits
Year 2
Compulsory modules
Advanced Design Principles 60 credits
Professional Design Practice (Product Design) 60 credits
Year 3
Compulsory modules
Placement Year -
Final year
Compulsory modules
Graduation Design Portfolio (Product Design) 120 credits
Assessment methods
* Coursework
Tuition fees
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Extra funding
Scholarships, discounts and bursaries may be available to students who study this course.
The Uni
Sheffield Hallam University
Sheffield Hallam University
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How do students rate their degree experience?
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Design studies
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Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
After graduation
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Design studies
What are graduates doing after six months?
This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.
Top job areas of graduates
What do graduate employment figures really tell you?Want to work in a growing, creative sector where we are a world leader? Welcome to design! The UK has a proud reputation as a centre of design excellence, and last year just over 14,000 design degrees were awarded. At the moment, the jobs market looks a little better for fashion and textile designers, and not as good for multimedia or interactive designers — but that may change by the time you graduate. In general, design graduates are more likely than most to start their career in London, although that also varies by subject — last year fashion designers often found jobs in the North West, graphic designers in the South West, illustrators in the South West, East Anglia and Midlands, textile designers in the Midlands and the North West, and visual designers in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Midlands. Design is also a good degree for people who want to work for a small business - more than half of graduates start at a small employer.
What about your long term prospects?
Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.
Product design
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£16k
£19k
£21k
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.
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The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.
While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?
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