Product Design and Innovation
University of Portsmouth
UCAS Code: H771 | Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)
Entry requirements
A level
112-120 points from 2 or 3 A levels, including an A level in a relevant subject.
112-122 Tariff points from the Access to HE Diploma in a relevant subject.
Cambridge Pre-U score of 54-56, to include a Principal subject in relevant subject.
GCSE/National 4/National 5
GCSE English, Mathematics and Combined Science/Physics at grade C, or equivalent/GCSE English, Mathematics and Combined Science/Physics at grade 4, or equivalent.
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
29 points from the IB Diploma. 655/754 at Higher Level, including a Higher Level in a relevant subject. - 29 points from the IB Diploma. 664 at Higher Level, including a Higher Level in a relevant subject.
Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)
H3,H3,H3,H3,H4-H3,H3,H3,H3,H3
To include a Higher Level in a relevant subject.
Acceptable when combined with other qualifications.
Acceptable when combined with other qualifications.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
Must be in a relevant subject.
112-120 Tariff points, to include an Advanced Higher in a relevant subject.
T Level
Acceptable T Level Subjects: T Level in Digital: Digital Production, Design and Development, T Level in Construction: Design, Surveying and Planning, T Level in Building Services Engineering, T Level in Engineering and Manufacturing Design and Development, T Level in Maintenance, Installation and Repair for Engineering and Manufacturing, T Level in Engineering, Manufacturing, Processing and Control, T Level in Accounting (if mathematical components are passed), T Level in Finance (if mathematical components are passed)
UCAS Tariff
112-120 points from 2 or 3 A levels, or equivalent, to include a relevant subject.
112-120 points from the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate including 2 A levels one of which must be a relevant subject, plus the Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate.
About this course
This course has alternative study modes. Contact the university to find out how the information below might vary.
**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
- Engineering Practice
- Illustration Techniques
- Introduction to Design
- Introduction to Materials and Manufacture
- Introduction to Technology Concepts
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
- Conceptual Design
- Design Ideation
- Materials and Manufacture
- Research Methods for Product Design
- Technology Concepts
Optional modules include:
- Engineering Programming
- Modern Foreign Language
- Product Analysis
- Robotics and Automation
Placement year (optional)
After your second 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 Modelling
- Individual Project
- Preparation for Product Launch
- Sustainable Development and Environmental Management
Optional modules include:
- Advanced and Modern Materials
- Human Factors in Design and Manufacture
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 methods
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.
Tuition fees
Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:
The Uni
University of Portsmouth
Faculty of Technology
What students say
We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.
How do students rate their degree experience?
The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Production and manufacturing engineering
Teaching and learning
Assessment and feedback
Resources and organisation
Student voice
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
After graduation
The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Production and manufacturing engineering
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
Graduates are in significant demand, so unemployment rates are well below the national graduate average and starting salaries are well above average. Much the most common industries for these graduates are now vehicle manufacture - there are not enough people with these degrees to go round and so the big employers tend to take the lion's share at the moment. But pretty much anywhere there is manufacturing, there are production engineers. Bear in mind that a lot of courses are four years long, and lead to an MEng qualification — this is necessary if you want to become a Chartered Engineer.
What about your long term prospects?
Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.
Production and manufacturing engineering
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£27k
£31k
£38k
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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It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.
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Graduate field commentary:
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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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