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Product Design and Innovation at University of Portsmouth - UCAS

Course options

2025 - 2026
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There are other course options available which may have a different vacancy status or entry requirements – view the full list of options

University of Portsmouth has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

Open days

7Dec
University of Portsmouth Open Day
Undergraduate

Course summary

This is a Connected Degree Portsmouth is the only University in the UK with the flexibility to choose when to do an optional paid placement or self-employed year. Either take a placement in your third year, or finish your studies first and complete a placement in your fourth year. You can decide if and when to take a placement after you've started your course. Overview Unleash your creativity and bring your ideas to life. On this BSc (Hons) Product Design and Innovation degree course, you'll combine the theories and methodologies of art and engineering to create and improve the products we use in efficient and cost-effective ways. You'll develop your understanding of engineering design, illustration and computer-aided design while also exploring how to create successful and sustainable products in a competitive market. By graduation, you'll be set up for a career creating and designing products. Course highlights

  • Use sophisticated computer software and rapid prototyping equipment to design new products and improve existing ones
  • Learn the fundamentals of illustration, computer-aided illustration, computer-aided design (CAD) and manufacturing technology
  • Learn how to use professional software to visually communicate your product ideas, including Photoshop, AutoCad (for precise 2D and 3D drawing), Creo (for computer-aided design modules and manufacturing simulations) and Keyshot (for photo-realistic renderings and animation)
  • Create a product for a professional organisation or design centre based on a brief submitted to you by the company's design manager – current students are creating a handheld controller for a yacht for Raymarine
Accreditation This course is accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) for Incorporated Engineer status (IEng). It's also accredited as fulfilling the requirements for membership and Registered Product Designer status (RProdDes) of the Institution of Engineering Designers (IED). Careers and opportunities The skills you learn on this course will prepare you to work in any industry you're passionate about, in areas such as product design, design management, consultancy, engineering, marketing and graphic design. Depending on the roles you go into and your experience in industry, you could earn up to £35,000 as a CAD technician, up to £45,000 as a product designer, or up to £35,000 as an exhibition designer. These average salaries all have the potential to increase in line with your experience and position in a company. Graduate destinations Our graduates have worked for companies such as:
  • SAS Software
  • Celli UK
  • ETL
  • Ava Energy
  • CenTrak
What jobs can you do with a product design and innovation degree? Our graduates now work in roles including:
  • project manager (transformation team)
  • customer success strategizer
  • design technology teacher
  • account executive
  • junior product designer
Other graduates have continued their studies at postgraduate level or set up successful businesses with help and support from the University.

Modules

Each module on this course is worth a certain number of credits. In each year, you need to study modules worth a total of 120 credits. For example, 4 modules worth 20 credits and 1 module worth 40 credits. Year 1 You'll be introduced to the concept of product design and innovation, and computer aided product design. We’ll work on bridging any gaps in your artistic and technical knowledge, providing an all round basis for further study. Core modules include:

  • Design Analysis and Development (20 credits)
  • Engineering Practice (20 credits)
  • Illustration Techniques (20 credits)
  • Introduction to Design (20 credits)
  • Introduction to Materials and Manufacture (20 credits)
  • Introduction to Technology Concepts (20 credits)
Year 2 In your second year you'll be given choices in the direction of your studies. You’ll choose between two routes of study: Computer Aided Product Design or Product Design and Innovation. Core modules include:
  • Computer Aided Design (20 credits)
  • Design Ideation (20 credits)
  • Human Centred Conceptual Design (20 credits)
  • Research Methods for Product Design (20 credits)
  • Technology Concepts (20 credits)
Optional modules include:
  • Engineering Programming (20 credits)
  • Materials and Manufacture (20 credits)
Placement year (optional) After your second year or third year, you can do an optional work placement year to get valuable longer-term work experience in the industry. In your placement year, you can also set up a business on your own or in a group. We’ll help you secure a work placement that fits your aspirations. You’ll get mentoring and support throughout the year. Year 3 In your final year you'll have the opportunity to put into practice all your new skills in both group and individual project work. There is also a range of topics covered for you to really cement your knowledge of product design. Core modules include:
  • Advanced and Modern Materials (20 credits)
  • Advanced Modelling (20 credits)
  • Individual Project (40 credits)
  • Preparation for Product Launch (20 credits)
  • Sustainable Development and Environmental Management (20 credits)
We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies. Therefore, some course content may change over time to reflect changes in the discipline or industry and some optional modules may not run every year. If a module doesn’t run, we’ll let you know as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative module.

Assessment method

You’ll be assessed through:

  • written examinations and multiple choice tests
  • coursework and portfolio
  • case studies
  • practical tests
  • presentations
You’ll be able to test your skills and knowledge informally before you do assessments that count towards your final mark. You can get feedback on all practice and formal assessments so you can improve in the future.

Professional bodies

Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.

  • Mechanical Engineers, Institution of
  • Engineering Designers, Institution of

How to apply

29Jan

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Please select a course option – you will then see the application code you need to use to apply for the course.

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1
  • Year 2
  • Year 3

Entry requirements for advanced entry (i.e. into Year 2 and beyond)

We welcome applications for advanced entry. If you’d like to apply for advanced entry, you need to select the required year when you complete your UCAS application.

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)6English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.0 with no component score below 5.5.
Cambridge English AdvancedCambridge English: Advanced (CAE) (taken after January 2015). An overall score of 169 with no component score less than 162.
Cambridge English ProficiencyCambridge English: Proficiency (CPE) (taken after January 2015). An overall score of 169 with no component score less than 162.
PTE Academic62An overall score of 62 with a minimum of 59 in each skill.
TOEFL (iBT)7979 with a minimum of 18 in Reading, 17 in Listening, 20 in Speaking and 17 in Writing.
Trinity ISEPassTrinity College Integrated Skills in English (ISE) Level III with a Pass in all 4 components.

Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students
80%
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
90%
Go onto work and study

The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

EU £9535 Year 1
England £9535 Year 1
Northern Ireland £9535 Year 1
Scotland £9535 Year 1
Wales £9535 Year 1
Channel Islands £9535 Year 1
Republic of Ireland £9535 Year 1
International £19200 Year 1

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .

Additional fee information

Students who are resident in EU countries: please note that the net fee is inclusive of the Transition Scholarship Placement Year and Year abroad (at the time of publishing for 2024/25): UK/Channel Islands and Isle of Man students – £1,385 EU – £1,385 (including Transition Scholarship) International (Non-EU) – £2,875. Fees are accurate at the time of publishing and are subject to change at any time without notice. All fees are subject to annual increase. For more information about fees, go to port.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/undergraduate-fees-and-student-finance/tuition-fees-living-costs-and-other-study-costs
Product Design and Innovation at University of Portsmouth - UCAS