Product Design BA (Hons)

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two students sitting at a workstation and a lecturer standing between them, looking at their work in art and design studio

Available with:

  • Foundation Year

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Course Summary

Our Product Design course will spark your imagination, fuel your curiosity, and build your confidence as you embark on an exciting journey of creativity, digital exploration and hands-on craftsmanship. Through the lens of design thinking, you will tackle real-world challenges by creating innovative, product-driven solutions. Our course offers a sense of purpose and creative fulfilment as you work on projects that are not only meaningful but personal to you.

Our course encourages you to become future-focussed; you will experiment with emerging technologies, progressive design methods, and sustainable materials. You will engage with the very latest digital tools, use virtual reality and artificial intelligence, and learn how to use advanced 3D modelling techniques to produce photo-realistic product renderings. At the same time, you’ll hone traditional craftsmanship in our fully equipped workshops, blending digital making with hands-on fabrication to create functional prototypes and polished final products.

You'll become proficient in ‘Design Thinking,’ a versatile problem-solving method applicable across creative and non-creative industries alike. You’ll learn to generate ideas, think creatively, and explore both physical and digital worlds, taking a playful approach to design that’s imaginative, sustainable, and commercially viable.

Being part of our creative community, you'll share common ground with students from Fashion Design, Graphic Design, and Interior Design. This collaborative experience will expand your knowledge, introduce you to diverse perspectives, and enhance your exposure to different industries. By working with students across disciplines, you’ll broaden your network, gain fresh skills, and be better prepared for success in your chosen career path.

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Why you'll Love it

Learn real-world skills from design professionals with industry experience

You'll dive into the professional world of product design through live briefs with expert designers. Our strong connections with product manufacturers and design-focused businesses will give you a deeper understanding of how products are made, and you'll gain valuable insights on pitching, marketing, and selling your ideas. Plus, you'll have opportunities to attend field trips to exciting cities like New York, Barcelona, and London, expanding your design perspective and network.

Lecturer overseeing the work done by two students

Physical and digital tools for product design at your fingertips

You will have access to everything from bandsaws and sand-casting forges to laser cutters, CNC machinery and VR with an integrated approach to AI. Our specialist technicians are on hand to host workshops and to work with you one-on-one when you want to take your technical skills to the next level. At Chester, we specialise in Solidworks, the industry-standard software for 3D modelling with the chance to earn industry-recognised Solidworks certification.

An art student using a technical edge cutting machine tool on wood..

Develop your unique design portfolio with supportive, high-contact learning

Our Product Design course offers a friendly, collaborative environment with plenty of one-on-one support. You'll work on both individual and team-based projects, developing creative solutions to real-world design challenges. With high contact time from experienced tutors and technical staff, you'll receive the guidance needed to refine your skills and build a portfolio that showcases your personal design style—preparing you for success in the competitive design industry.

Product Design BA (Hons)

Product Design BA (Hons)

What you'll Study

The BA Product Design course contains a blend of specialist and interdisciplinary modules at each level of study.

At Level 4, students are introduced to Design Process and Methods, Design in Context and Design in Practice.

Level 5 builds upon this foundation with more complex learning that introduces the commercial aspects of product design. Design Futures focuses on contemporary issues, creates opportunities for collaborative working and includes an Experiential Learning module to prepare students for the workplace.

At Level 6, students will develop their specialist practice and undertake Research and Enquiry in preparation for their Final Major Project, a self-directed, independent project that integrates the knowledge and skills acquired throughout their studies with a focus on professionalism and commercial product design. This is complemented by a Workplace-Readiness module which focuses on portfolio development and prepares students for employment.

The University offers several optional modules to provide students with the opportunity to learn a language and study abroad.

The information listed in this section is an overview of the academic content of the course that will take the form of either core or option modules and should be used as a guide. We review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects. If during a review process, course content is significantly changed, we will contact you to notify you of these changes if you receive an offer from us.

How you'll Learn

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This course is designed around in-person study

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Curriculum developed to match workforce priorities

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You will be assessed in a variety of ways

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There may be some online learning activities

This course is delivered in three terms of ten weeks each. In each term, students study 40 credits comprised of either one or two modules. Scheduled contact hours range between approximately 6 and 12 hours per week, depending upon the level of study and the complexity of the material being taught.

The course is delivered in person with online learning where more appropriate for content, delivery or accessibility. Students can expect to take part in studio sessions for:

  • designing activity
  • practical workshops for making and prototyping
  • computer labs for computer-aided design
  • one-to-one tutorials
  • small group seminars
  • lectures
  • and specialist online learning platforms.

Students should expect to spend an average of 30-34 hours per week on independent study; which might include following asynchronous learning material on the University’s VLE, using the University’s library, working with peers and preparing work for assessment.

The course is assessed through ongoing coursework and there are no written exams. There will be a broad range of deliverables that students are expected to produce for assessment, to ensure that students are exposed to the different types of tasks that they might encounter in the workplace.

For example, this might include coursework in the form of:

  • development work
  • curated final books
  • pitch presentations (verbal and visual)
  • posters
  • physical artefacts
  • and written work (both long and short form).

We continuously review the assessment methods to ensure that they authentically represent the requirements of employers in current workplace roles and adequately prepare students for future graduate-level employment.

All teaching is delivered by experienced academics and practitioners, with the fundamental principles of the Chester Future Skills Curriculum at its core - building your subject competence, confidence, and key transferable skills to shape you into a world-ready Chester graduate.

Study a Common First Year

This course shares a common 'design and innovation' first year with students on fashion, graphic, interior and product design courses.

This means that you’ll learn alongside students studying a similar discipline, helping to broaden your knowledge and exposure to other concepts, perspectives and professions in the first year of your degree.

As you learn and collaborate with students from other courses, you'll not only widen your social and professional network but also learn new skills that will set you up for success in your industry.

In your second and third years, you will progress to studying more specialist modules within product design, developing your skills to become a World Ready graduate.

Entry requirements

112UCAS points

UCAS Tariff

112 points

GCE A Level

Typical offer – BCC-BBC

BTEC

BTEC Extended Diploma: DMM

International Baccalaureate

26 points

Irish / Scottish Highers

Irish Highers - H3 H3 H3 H3 H4

Scottish Highers - BBBB

Access requirements

Access to HE Diploma, to include 45 credits at level 3, of which 30 must be at Merit or above

T Level

Merit

OCR Cambridge Technicals

OCR Extended Diplima: DMM

Extra Information

Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced and A level General Studies will be recognised in our offer.  We will also consider a combination of A Levels and BTECs/OCRs.

Students from countries outside the UK are expected to have entry qualifications roughly equivalent to UK A Level for undergraduate study and British Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) for postgraduate study. To help you to interpret these equivalents, please click on your country of residence to see the corresponding entry qualifications, along with information about your local representatives, events, information and contacts.

We accept a wide range of qualifications and consider all applications individually on merit. We may also consider appropriate work experience.

English Language Requirements

  • IELTS Academic: Undergraduate: 6.0 (minimum 5.5 in each band)
  • Postgraduate: 6.5 (minimum 5.5 in each band)

For more information on our entry requirements, please visit International Entry Requirements.

72UCAS points

UCAS Tariff

72 points

GCE A level

72 points overall, including grade D in A level

BTEC

BTEC Extended Diploma: MMP

International Baccalaureate

24 points

Irish / Scottish Highers

Irish Highers: H4 H4 H4 H4 H4

Scottish Highers: CCDD

Access requirements

Access to HE Diploma – Pass overall

T Level

T Level: Pass (D or E on the core)

OCR Cambridge Technicals

OCR Extended Diploma: MMP

Extra Information

Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced and A level General Studies will be recognised in our offer.  We will also consider a combination of A Levels and BTECs/OCRs.

If you are a mature student (21 or over) and have been out of education for a while or do not have experience or qualifications at Level 3 (equivalent to A Levels), then our Foundation Year courses will help you to develop the skills and knowledge you will need to succeed in your chosen degree. 

Fees and funding

£9,250per year for a full-time course (2025/26)

Our full-time undergraduate tuition fees for Home students entering University in 2025/26 are £9,250 a year, or £1,540 per 20-credit module for part-time study.

The University may increase these fees at the start of each subsequent year of your course in line with inflation at that time, as measured by the Retail Price Index. These fee levels and increases are subject to any necessary government, and other regulatory, approvals.

Students from the UK, Isle of Man, Guernsey, Jersey and the Republic of Ireland are treated as Home students for tuition fee purposes.

Students from countries in the European Economic Area and the EU will pay International Tuition Fees.

Students who have been granted Settled Status may be eligible for Home Fee Status and if eligible will be able to apply for Tuition Fee Loans and Maintenance Loans.

Students who have been granted Pre-settled Status may be eligible for Home Fee Status and if eligible will be able to apply for Tuition Fee Loans.

The tuition fees for international students studying Undergraduate programmes in 2025/26 are £13,950. 

This fee is set for each year of study. All undergraduate students are eligible for international and merit-based scholarships which are applicable to each year of study.  

For more information, go to our International Fees, Scholarship and Finance section.

Irish Nationals living in the UK or ROI are treated as Home students for Tuition Fee Purposes. 

We aim to minimise student costs where possible and provide clear, detailed information to help students plan their finances effectively. 

As part of the Product Design BA course, students may incur additional costs for various activities and materials essential for their studies. These costs can include specialised equipment, study trips and materials. 

Specialised Equipment

There are standard workshop tools and graphics equipment that are essential to all product design students, and you will need to build up your own set of tools and equipment over the course of your study. Alternatives will be provided by the University's facilities where possible.

Estimated Cost: £200-£500 (one-time over 3 years).

Optional Study Trips

Organised to enhance learning through practical and guided exposure to real-world design environments, different cultures and inspiring places. Study trips are optional and students are not required to participate in order to successfully complete the course.

Example costs: (2024) European City £450, New York £1200 per trip plus spending money.

Materials

Where possible, materials will be provided by the University for compulsory projects, in the first and second year. For the Final Major Project in the third year, students will be expected to pay for their own specialist materials. This includes materials such as wood, metal, plastics, 3D print filament, boards, paint etc.

Estimated Cost: £50 - £250 per academic year.

The University of Chester supports fair access for students who may need additional support through a range of bursaries and scholarships. 

Full details, as well as terms and conditions for all bursaries and scholarships can be found on the Fees and Finance section of our website.

Who you'll Learn from

Rebecca Falcon

Programme Leader for BA (Hons) Product Design
Rebecca Falcon

Professor David Raffo

Senior Lecturer, Product Design
Professor David Raffo

Chris Millward

Lecturer and Technical Demonstrator Art & Design
Chris Millward profile photo

Gareth Price

Lecturer Graphic Design
Gareth Price

Where you'll Study Creative Campus, Kingsway, Chester

Join our Creative Community

Home to courses in Art and Design, Music, Media, and Performance; Kingsway presents fantastic opportunities for collaboration between artists, designers, writers, producers, and performers alike.

Connect with Experts

We have an excellent student-to-staff ratio at Kingsway where you have opportunities to connect with our highly regarded and experienced staff. Kingsway also boasts excellent links with influential figures and organisations from local, national, and international agencies.

Specialist Studio and Workshop Spaces

Access a range of traditional and contemporary facilities, including art and photography studios, a metal casting foundry, sound and video editing suites, dark rooms, a reprographics room, lighting studio, and specially designed workshops for printmaking, textiles, digital art, and sculpture.

Art and Design female student in art studio workspace with various art materials.

Music Rehearsal and Recording Facilities

Benefit from sound-proofed rehearsal spaces, equipped with the latest technology for recording and live sound, as well as four fully equipped rehearsal and performance studios, an outdoor performance space, and a smaller indoor space for intimate performances.

A group of music students performing on stage.

Contemporary Art Space Chester (CASC)

We have our own Contemporary Art Space (CASC) Foyer Gallery which offers onsite exhibition space for internal and external formal shows, in addition, there are also informal exhibition spaces across the campus for student and staff interim exhibitions.

A man looking at photography printed artwork in gallery space

Equipment Loan Provision

Along with our recording spaces and post-production facilities, the University has an extensive loan provision which includes a range of video cameras, audio recording devices, and specialist kit, so that students can continue to perform and practice outside of their studies.

Your Future Career

Job Prospects

In a rapidly changing world, there is a rising demand for innovative and user-centred solutions. Product Design equips you with a versatile skill set that can be applied across businesses both within creative industries and beyond. 

Our graduates are employed across many sectors including product design, manufacturing, education, user experience, research, CAD, sales & marketing, business operations and product management.

Careers service

The University has an award-winning Careers and Employability service which provides a variety of employability-enhancing experiences; through the curriculum, through employer contact, tailored group sessions, individual information, advice and guidance.

Careers and Employability aims to deliver a service which is inclusive, impartial, welcoming, informed and tailored to your personal goals and aspirations, to enable you to develop as an individual and contribute to the business and community in which you will live and work.

We are here to help you plan your future, make the most of your time at University and to enhance your employability. We provide access to part-time jobs, extracurricular employability-enhancing workshops and offer practical one-to-one help with career planning, including help with CVs, applications and mock interviews. We also deliver group sessions on career planning within each course and we have a wide range of extensive information covering graduate jobs and postgraduate study.

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