Product Design (with Foundation Year) BSc (Hons)

Nottingham Trent University

United Kingdom, Nottingham

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593

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Nottingham Trent University

United Kingdom , Nottingham

Key Facts

Program Level

Bachelor

Study Type

Full Time

Delivery

On Campus

Course Code

H717

Campuses

City Campus

Program Language

English

Start & Deadlines

Next Intake DeadlinesSeptember-2026

Apply to this program

Go to the official application for the university

Duration 4 year(s)

Tuition Fee

GBP 17,500 / year

Next Intake September-2026

Product Design (with Foundation Year) BSc (Hons)

About

Introduction:

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.

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 2023).

Requirements

Entry Requirements

72 UCAS Tariff points from three A-levels or equivalent

International qualifications

We accept qualifications from all over the world – check yours here:

Entry requirements by country

English language entry requirements

You can meet our language requirements by successfully completing our pre-sessional English course for an agreed length of time, or by submitting the required grade in one of our accepted English language tests, such as IELTS:

Undergraduate preparation courses (Foundation)

If you don’t yet meet our entry requirements, we offer Foundation courses through our partner Nottingham Trent International College (NTIC), based on our City Campus:

Foundation courses leading to undergraduate study at NTU

Advanced standing (starting your undergraduate degree in year 2 or 3)

You may be able to start your undergraduate course in year 2 or 3 based on what you have studied before. This decision would be made in accordance with our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy.

Would you like some advice on your study plans?

Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world. We also have members of staff based in Vietnam, China, India and Nigeria and work with a worldwide network of education counsellors.

Complete this simple form to keep in touch with the International Office.

English Program Requirements

Career

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.