Course summary
The MSc Product Design course at Cardiff Met is a practically based, taught Masters programme with excellent industry links and a focus on enhancing the employability of its graduates. It balances the development of advanced practical design skills with academic rigour and applied research based on the current research activities of Cardiff School of Art and Design and the wider university. Our Product Design Masters’ Degree will develop your skills and knowledge of human centred interaction design, user testing, service design, creativity, and ethnographic research techniques. You will also examine the social, legal, ethical and sustainability impacts of a range of design development approaches. You will explore a range of current and leading theoretical and methodological perspectives, and develop an advanced understanding of physical, perceptual and cognitive principles in design. The MSc Product Design has been developed in consultation with industry, and maintains close commercial links through placement modules, sponsorship of major projects, and live briefs. This provides graduates with a deeper understanding of industry practices, and the design development process in a holistic commercial context. This course aims to enhance your employability by providing you with the skills and knowledge that are in demand by industries both at home and globally, as well as providing opportunities to develop your abilities as an entrepreneur. Possible exit points - MSc/PgD/PgC
Modules
MSc Product Design students study the following modules: APD7006 Perception, Cognition, Emotion, and Context (20 credits) APD7001 Product Development Principles and Practice (20 credits) APD7004 Research Techniques and Principles (20 credits) APD7003 Sustainability Issues in Design for Production (20 credits) APD7005 User Testing and Evaluation (20 credits) APD70008 Industrial Placement (20 credits) APD7007 Major Project (60 credits) Exit points To gain a Postgraduate Certificate, you must pass Product Development Principles and Practice plus two other 20-credit modules. (60 credits) To gain a Postgraduate Diploma, you must pass all modules except Major Project (120 credits) To gain an MSc Product Design, you must pass all modules (180 credits)
Assessment method
For each module, assessment is as follows: APD7001 Development Principles & Practice (20 Credits) 6000-word equivalent assignment, including a 1000-word reflective blog (pass / fail). This will normally be a written assignment. APD7003 Sustainability Issues in Design for Production (20 Credits) 6000-word equivalent, including a 1000-word reflective blog (pass / fail). This module will typically be assessed via a design project. A proportion of the assignment may however be awarded for written or presentation work. APD7004 Research Techniques & Principles (20 Credits) Written submission, plus seminar presentation, typically 3,000 words plus a 10–20-minute presentation. Plus, a 1000-word reflective blog (pass/fail). APD7005 User Testing & Evaluation (20 Credits) 6000-word equivalent, including a 1000-word reflective blog (pass / fail). This module may be linked with others in order to provide a design project vehicle. It will involve practical exercises and a proportion if not all of the assignment may be awarded for written or presentation work. APD7006 Perception, Cognition, Emotion & Context (20 Credits) 6000-word equivalent, including a 1000-word reflective blog (pass/fail). This project is likely to be assessed through practical design activity, although a proportion of the assignment may be awarded for written or presentation work. APD7007 Major Project (60 Credits) 18,000-word or equivalent. Performance will be measured using the Final Report, Formal Presentation, Viva Voce examination and final product. Of the marks that are available for the project the allocation of the marks to each of the measures is as follows: Final Report 12,000 words: 40% Final Product (prototype): 40% Formal Presentation: 5% Viva Voce: 15% PDP and Reflective Journal 2000 words (pass/fail) APD70008 Industrial Placement (20 Credits) A 3000-word (maximum) report reflecting on the student’s experience within the professional working environment. A reflective placement Logbook (or Blog equivalent) recording critical reflections on events, activities and experiences. Important Note: Because of the difficulties of assessment in the workplace and the potential for disparity of treatment, this module is not awarded a mark other than “Pass” or “Fail”. Support will be available throughout the placement via virtual communications with the module leader and where appropriate face to face tutorials, though students are expected to immerse themselves into the organisational culture and day to day activities appropriate to the on-going business needs of the placement.
Qualified teacher status (QTS)
To work as a teacher at a state school in England or Wales, you will need to achieve qualified teacher status (QTS). This is offered on this course for the following level:
- Course does not award QTS
Entry requirements
Students will normally have achieved a first class or second class upper division first degree (1st or 2.1 degree classification) in an appropriate subject, and/or equivalent professional standing or experience in a Design discipline (based upon assessed Accredited Prior Learning or assessed Accredited Prior Experiential Learning), or a discipline associated with their programme of study. Claims for Accredited Prior Learning (APL) are assessed in accordance with the CMU Academic Handbook, based upon either demonstrable evidence of assessed learning outcomes with equivalence, or equivalent experience where students "have learned in similarly ambitious ways". APL claims are normally expected to be approved at the time of enrolment. International Applicants Students whose first language is not English will need to provide evidence of fluency to at least an IELTS 6.0 (6.0 listening and 5.5 in each other element) standard or equivalent. For full details about how to apply and English Language qualifications please visit the International pages on the website.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| Republic of Ireland | £11000 | Whole course |
| England | £11000 | Whole course |
| Northern Ireland | £11000 | Whole course |
| Scotland | £11000 | Whole course |
| Wales | £11000 | Whole course |
| EU | £17600 | Whole course |
| International | £17600 | Whole course |
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
No additional fees or cost information has been supplied for this course, please contact the provider directly.
Provider information
Cardiff Metropolitan University
Student Recruitment & Admissions
Western Avenue
Cardiff
CF5 2YB