Product Design BA (Hons)
Birmingham City University
Student rating
This is the overall rating calculated by averaging all live reviews for this uni on Whatuni.
( 4.1) View reviews

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Different course options
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Qualification

Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) - BA (Hons)

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Location

Parkside Building Campus

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Study mode

Full Time

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Start date

SEP-25

time
Duration

3 Years

Course info

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Qualification

Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) - BA (Hons)

Location

Parkside Building Campus

Study mode

Full Time

Start date

SEP-25

Duration

3 Years

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Subjects

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Art & Design
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Exam type

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A level
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Scottish Higher
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Scottish Advanced Higher
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UCAS Tariff
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Access to HE Diploma
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International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
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Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)
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Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
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Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate (first teaching from September 2016)
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Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
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T Level
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Location

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England
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Scotland
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Wales
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Northern Ireland
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EU
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Course info

Product Design focuses on the creation and development of creative, contemporary, and innovative products and furniture, considering user-centred design, sustainability, social context, and commercial understanding. From ideas to production, you will be equipped with specialist knowledge and skills to help you design and develop products that address real-world challenges and enhance user experience.Throughout your degree, you will be encouraged to explore materials, techniques, and processes, ...Read more

Product Design focuses on the creation and development of creative, contemporary, and innovative products and furniture, considering user-centred design, sustainability, social context, and commercial understanding. From ideas to production, you will be equipped with specialist knowledge and skills to help you design and develop products that address real-world challenges and enhance user experience.Throughout your degree, you will be encouraged to explore materials, techniques, and processes, from one-off bespoke design to standardised mass production. You will learn a range of research and design methods alongside continual practical skills development. Live student projects take place throughout the course to enhance your employability, communication skills, and professional practice.


Professional Placement Year

This course offers an optional professional placement year. This allows you to spend a whole year with an employer, following successful completion of your second year, and is a great way to find out more about your chosen career. Some students even return to the same employers after completing their studies. If you choose to pursue a placement year, you will need to find a suitable placement to complement your chosen area of study. You will be able to draw on the University’s extensive network of local, regional, and national employers, and the support of our Careers teams. If you are able to secure a placement, you can request to be transferred to the placement version of the course.Please note that fees are payable during your placement year, equivalent to 20% of the total full-time course fee for that year.

Key stats

WUSCA ranking:
WUSCA student ranking
These are the 2024 rankings, based on ratings given by past and current students.
76/101
CUG Subject Ranking
CUG Subject Ranking
Source: Complete University Guide 2025
52nd
CUG Ranking
CUG Ranking
Source: Complete University Guide 2025
92nd
Design Studies
Drop-out rate
Drop-out rate
The percentage of students who didn't finish the course.
Calculated by 100% - (% of students continuing course + % of students completed course)
100 - 95 = 5% Drop-out rate Source: UNISTATS, 2019
5%
Employment rate
Employment rate
The percentage of students in full-time work 6 months after finishing their course.
Source: UNISTATS, 2019
90%
Average salary
Average salary
Source: UNISTATS, 2019
Design Studies graduate salary at this uni
£19,000
UK Design Studies graduate salary
£18,000
What students say
L
Lauren
09 Oct 24

BCUSU student team are very helpful and thorough, they offer good support for all aspects of studying and personal life. The buildings have many available resources and are easily..Read more

A
Amelia
12 Dec 23

The university has so many different teams of people to help you with academic and personal issues. It has great opportunities to work pastime..Read more

Modules

Modules (Year 1)
Modules (Year 2)
Modules (Year 3)
IDP Connect

Entry requirements

Exam type

A level

A level:

BBC Grades / Points required

Scottish Higher:

Not currently available, please contact university for up to date information.

Scottish Advanced Higher:

Not currently available, please contact university for up to date information.

UCAS Tariff:

112 Grades / Points required

Access to HE Diploma:

Not currently available, please contact university for up to date information.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme:

28 Grades / Points required

Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017):

Not currently available, please contact university for up to date information.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016):

Not currently available, please contact university for up to date information.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate (first teaching from September 2016):

Not currently available, please contact university for up to date information.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016):

Not currently available, please contact university for up to date information.

T Level:

Not currently available, please contact university for up to date information.

A Level: 112 UCAS tariff points / BBC (or equivalent). AS Level: Must be in a different subject to A Levels. A maximum of four subjects will be considered.

112 UCAS tariff points from three Advanced Highers (CCD) or two Advanced Highers (CD) plus two Highers (CC).

112 UCAS tariff points from three Advanced Highers (CCD) or two Advanced Highers (CD) plus two Highers (CC).

Please note: If you qualify for our BCU Accelerate scheme, you could receive an offer that is two grades below our normal entry requirements.

Pass with 60 credits. At least 45 credits at level 3 with 18 credits with Merit or Distinction. Accepted subjects: Construction, Planning and Built Environment subjects preferred but other subjects also considered.

Obtain a minimum of 28 points overall

Minimum of 112 UCAS tariff points, achieved in five Higher level subjects

112 UCAS tariff points. Diploma accepted with one A Level or equivalent level 3 qualifications. Extended Certificate accepted with two A Levels or equivalent level 3 qualifications.

112 UCAS tariff points. Diploma accepted with one A Level or equivalent level 3 qualifications. Extended Certificate accepted with two A Levels or equivalent level 3 qualifications.

112 UCAS tariff points. Diploma accepted with one A Level or equivalent level 3 qualifications. Extended Certificate accepted with two A Levels or equivalent level 3 qualifications.

Merit overall. All subjects accepted but Craft and Design preferred.

Popular A-level subjects

Design Studies

Top 5 A-levels taken by students who study this subject at uni.

Art & Design
43%
Fashion & Textiles
27%
Psychology
17%
Media Studies
14%
English Literature
13%
HESA

Tuition fees

Students living in

England

£9,250 per year

This information comes from UCAS, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: fees do vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from England

This is the fee you pay if you live within England. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

This is the fee you pay if you live within England. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

£9,250 per year

This information comes from UCAS, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: fees do vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from Scotland

This is the fee you pay if you live within Scotland. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

This is the fee you pay if you live within Scotland. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

£9,250 per year

This information comes from UCAS, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: fees do vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from Wales

This is the fee you pay if you live within Wales. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

This is the fee you pay if you live within Wales. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

£9,250 per year

This information comes from UCAS, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: fees do vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from Northern Ireland

This is the fee you pay if you live within Northern Ireland. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

This is the fee you pay if you live within Northern Ireland. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

£16,085 per year

This information comes from UCAS, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: fees do vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from EU

This is the fee you pay if you live within the European Union. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

This is the fee you pay if you live within the European Union. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

£16,085 per year

This information comes from UCAS, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: fees do vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from International

This is the fee you pay if you are an International student. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

£16085 Per year

UCAS/IDP Connect

Latest reviews

Latest Product Design reviews

Product Design
Product Design
Furniture Design
L
Lauren
09 Oct 24
Product Design BA (Hons)
BCUSU student team are very helpful and thorough, they offer good support for all aspects of studying and personal life. The buildings have many available resources and are easily...
Read more
A
Amelia
12 Dec 23
Product Design BA (Hons)
The university has so many different teams of people to help you with academic and personal issues. It has great opportunities to work pastime...
Read more
Review breakdown
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How Product Design students rated:

Student rating
( 4.7) 3 reviews
5 star
67%
4 stars
33%
3 stars
0%
2 stars
0%
1 star
0%

How all students rated:

Student rating
( 4.1) 2,333 reviews
5 star
33%
4 stars
46%
3 stars
17%
2 stars
3%
1 star
1%
Search reviews that mention

Uni info

Birmingham City University
Parkside Building Cardigan Street Birmingham B4 7BD United Kingdom
Nearest train station: Birmingham Moor Street  0.4 miles away
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