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De Montfort University · Undergraduate
BA (Hons) Product Design Bachelor's degree at De Montfort University
BA (Hons) Product Design at De Montfort University covers core theory, research and methods, applied practice, specialist options, an independent project, and professional skills.
BA (Hons)
Award
3
Years
Full-time
Study mode
85%
continuation
About this course
Unleash your creative potential, where visionary ideas merge with real-world production, delivering ground-breaking, human-centred solutions that shape a sustainable future. From the provider’s course page.
BA (Hons) Product Design is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at De Montfort University. It runs 3 years, studied full-time.
For Design studies graduates from this provider, typical earnings around £24,500. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Art & Design, see the sections below.
Course evidence score
The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.
9.0
/ 10
2 of 3 official measures
Student satisfaction
What students say in the National Student Survey
Exceptional95
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Continuation
Students who continue past their first year
Excellent85
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 85% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
Year 1 4 modules
- DMU DesignerCore
Module details
This module delivers the core skills of a Product Designer, which are: Drawing, Digital Drawing, Proof of Principle model making, Workshop Activities, Electronic engineering, and Mechanical engineering - you will engage in a project in each of these areas. The culmination of this module will be your entry portfolio which you will review with your personal tutor.
Assessment: 100% portfolio
- Advanced Product Design SkillsCore
Module details
You will focus on the core Product Design skills of visualisation, styling, and branding. You will also gain a deeper knowledge and understanding of Human Centred Design, looking at how users experience and interact with products and systems. These subject specific skills will later be called upon to enhance future design work in other modules.
Assessment: 100% portfolio
- Design Conception – Thinking and MethodsCore
Module details
This module covers both the Discover and the Define stages of the Design Council's Double Diamond Design Process and will focus on core skills like Ethics, Good Research Practices, user profiling, Product Design Specification (PDS) Development and Concept Generation. This module will encourage you to engage with others, develop essential listening practices and will provide strategic tools to allow you to progress a researched idea into a defined Brief, Aims and Objectives.
Assessment: 50% report and 50% portfolio
- Design DeliveryCore
Module details
The scope of this module covers both the Develop and the Deliver stages of the Design Council's Double Diamond Design Process and will focus on core skills like Proof of Principle (POP) rig development, Design for Manufacture (DFM), Sustainability, Testing and Presentation Skills. This module focuses on developing industry ready graduates who can balance the current limitations of DFM with the future needs of a sustainable world.
Assessment: 80% portfolio and 20% presentation
Year 2 3 modules
- Advanced Product Design 2Core
Module details
This module builds on your subject-specific knowledge gained in the first year. You will advance the core Product Design skills of visualisation, styling, and branding in addition to developing a deeper knowledge and understanding of Human Centred Design, with a large emphasis on Regenerative (Sustainable) design, designing the experiences and interactions you want your customers to have. These subject-specific skills will later be used to enhance future design work, particularly in your final y
Assessment: 100% portfolio
- Design Communication and DefinitionCore
Module details
This module will focus on design products which are manufacturable utilising current and future technologies with an awareness of sustainable and commercial interests. You will focus on delivering these core skills through a fun project, encompassing a review of current and future technologies, innovative manufacturing techniques, ergonomic constraints, and full industry ready specification. Including ID Spec Drawings, CMF Documentation and Product Pitching Skills.
Assessment: 80% portfolio and 20% presentation
- Design PracticeCore
Module details
This module provides an opportunity to synthesise the skills you have learnt in the programme so far and deliver them through a client pitched brief. This supported design project will allow you to investigate what project management techniques work for you in a supported environment, allowing you to learn what techniques work best for you as a designer before moving either into a placement year or your final year.
Assessment: 80% portfolio and 20% presentation
Year 3 4 modules
- Design Practice 2Core
Module details
This design sprint is aligned to the Royal Society of Art's (RSA's) design briefs. This allows you the opportunity to engage with, and design for, real world and societal challenges - utilising your skills to make the world a better place. This project is seen as more conceptual than many of the other more practical projects within your design portfolio and allows an opportunity for you to create a broader graduate portfolio. The work of this module will also be an excellent stepping stone to in
Assessment: 80% portfolio and 20% presentation
- Design Conception - Personal ProjectCore
Module details
This module explores the conception stage of your Personal Design Project. The scope of this module covers both the Discover and the Define stages of the Design Council's Double Diamond Design Process and will focus on the development of a Product Design Specification (PDS) for your major project and a series of concepts that align with the Brief, Aims and Objectives set out within the PDS. This module will encourage you to engage with others, deploy essential listening practices and will utilis
Assessment: 50% report, 30% portfolio and 20% presentation
- Design Development - Personal ProjectCore
Module details
This module will encompass most of the design work of this project and will allow you the opportunity to take the concepts developed in the previous module through to a realised product proposal. You should demonstrate the majority of the tools in your Designer Tool Kit, including but not exclusively: Development Sketching, CAD, DFM, Proof of Principle Model Making, Rendering and Animation. This work will also provide the bulk of your graduate design portfolio.
Assessment: 100% portfolio
- Design Delivery - Personal ProjectCore
Module details
You will be asked to deliver and present your final design proposal developed through the previous two modules. This will consist of a final opportunity to practice pitching your design prior to you presenting your design publicly at DMU Art and Design Degree Show and a final condensed, graduate level portfolio of your work so far. The latter half of this module focuses on employability, developing a full graduate level portfolio of your work throughout the programme, helping design and buil
Assessment: 80% portfolio and 20% presentation
Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
This course merges creative ideas with real-world production to develop human-centred design solutions. You'll usually begin with visual fundamentals, colour, composition and form across different media, alongside practical workshops in materials, processes and digital tools. Contextual studies ground your work in design history and contemporary practice. As you progress through Year 2, you'll undertake sustained studio projects, explore digital and emerging media, and work on live briefs with real clients. In your final year, you'll specialise deeply in an area such as graphic design, illustration, fashion and textiles, UX and digital, or fine art, while building a professional portfolio and culminating in a major self-directed project exhibited at the degree show.
Who it's for
This course suits students interested in product design as a creative discipline. Most entrants held A-levels or equivalent qualifications; the typical UCAS tariff among accepted students was 96–111 points.
Careers & job market
Across Art & Design courses nationally, 87% of graduates were in work or further study 15 months after graduating. Of those working, 55% were in highly skilled roles or further study. National graduate earnings figures show starting salaries of £22,000–£27,000 at 15 months; after three years, £17,000–£24,000; and after five years, £20,825–£29,400. First-year retention across the university stands at 85%.
University & format
This BA (Hons) degree is studied full-time over 3 years at De Montfort University, a public university located in Leicester. Teaching is delivered in English. De Montfort is a recognised UK degree-awarding body, and this qualification is nationally recognised. The university holds Bronze for teaching quality in the Office for Students' TEF 2023.
Student satisfaction
How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.
Share of students responding positively.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
Application timelineWhat happens next
- 2027 entryCompleted applications can be submitted
Your application needs a reference before you can send it.
- 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
- 2027 entryEqual-consideration deadline
18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.
Show 5 later dates
- 2027 entryUCAS Extra opens
Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.
- 2027 entryLast day applications go directly to providers
Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.
- 2027 entryClearing opens
Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.
- 2027 entryFinal date for 2027 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2027 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
Published entry112 UCAS points, BBC A Level, DMM BTEC typical offer
Provider-published requirement; check the linked course page before applying.
Contextual offersPublished by this provider
The provider publishes contextual-offer information. Eligibility and any reduced offer are applicant-specific.
PlacementPublished placement option
Optional placement year. Availability, selection and pay can vary.
Open daysOpen Days - Book your place
See and book current events. Dates can fill or change.
Entry & how to get in
Typical offer (from the provider)The university’s course page lists a typical A-level offer of 112 UCAS points, BBC A Level, DMM BTEC. Always check the provider for the current offer and subject requirements.
Most entrants held A-levels or equivalent95% of accepted students came in with A-levels or equivalent (entrants over recent years).
Typical UCAS tariff: 96 - 111 pointsThe most common UCAS tariff band among accepted students. This is what entrants had, not a stated requirement.
Entry requirements are set by the universityGrades, subjects and contextual offers vary. Check De Montfort University's official course page for the current offer.
Who gets in
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
UCAS tariff of entrants
Grades are the A-level equivalent of each points band. Tap a band to check your own chances below.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| A-levels or equivalent | 95% |
| a Baccalaureate | 5% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Accessible entry
Accepted students came in with a broad spread of qualifications and UCAS points. If you're worried about grades, this course has historically taken a wide range, and contextual offers may apply.
Will you get in? Plot your grades
Pick your predicted A-levels and watch your UCAS points land on the real spread of students admitted to this course.
Your UCAS points0
▾
Each bar is the share of admitted students in that UCAS-points band (lower → higher). Grades show the A-level equivalent.
Add your grades to see where you land
Based on the official admitted-student tariff distribution. Many universities make contextual (reduced-grade) offers, so a result below the range doesn’t rule you out.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
Apply by13 January 2027, 18:00 UK timefor this course
Typical gradesBCCA-level equivalent admitted students held
UCAS codeW240quote this on your application
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course (code W240). One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
💡 Many universities make a contextual (reduced-grade) offer, for example based on your school’s results, time in care, or where you live. Ask De Montfort University whether you’re eligible before you apply; it can lower the grades you need.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Homeup to £9,790 / yr
International£16,800 / yr
Provider fee page (England 2026/27 cap where not stated).
Check fees at De Montfort University →For students who normally live in England
illustrative Maintenance Loan per year
£9,790tuition used per year, illustrative full-time England fee-cap scenario
illustrative borrowing over 3 years
2026/27 Student Finance England figures. Maintenance support is means-tested and this two-point view is not an entitlement calculator. The course total uses its published length and home fee where both are available; a missing full-time fee uses the clearly labelled England-cap scenario, while part-time fees and unknown lengths are never guessed. Use the official calculator. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use separate systems: SAAS, Student Finance Wales, and Student Finance NI.
Starting on or after 1 January 2027?
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement is a separate system. A new learner’s tuition entitlement is currently stated as £39,160 (about 480 credits at 2026/27 fee levels), subject to prior study and eligibility. Check the official LLE guide.
Paying for it
- Tuition Fee Loan: can cover eligible tuition up to the applicable limit and is paid straight to the provider.
- Maintenance Loan: up to £10,830/yr away from home outside London (England, 2026/27), means-tested on household income.
- Repayment: 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below it; written off after 40 years.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
England figures shown; Scotland, Wales & NI run their own schemes, check gov.uk.
Funding matched to this course
All De Montfort University funding →Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
Named awards published by the university. Compare the eligibility and application route before budgeting for one.
undergraduate students with household income £50,000 or less
Check eligibility →students with household income £50,000 or less
Check eligibility →Amounts, exclusions and deadlines can change. An award is not guaranteed unless the university confirms it.
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Career quizApplication walkthroughSalary & CV check
Careers & earnings
What Art & Design graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
Graduate earnings: this course
| When | Median | Typical range | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 months after | £24,500 | £22,000 – £27,000 | 6460 |
| 3 years after | £21,000 | £17,000 – £25,000 | 505 |
| 5 years after | £25,000 | £20,000 – £29,500 | 510 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Stronger evidence. Published sample: 6,460. Cohort 2021-22.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
85%
continue past their first year
- 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in art & design · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
- 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs Art & Design nationally
Starting (15 months) HESA GO
£24,500
£22,000 – £27,000After 3 years LEO
£21,000
£17,000 – £24,000After 5 years LEO
£25,000
£20,825 – £29,400national rangethis course’s medianaxis £16,000 – £30,500
National figures for Art & Design graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
What happened to 100 students?
Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.
85 of 100
continued or completed
continued into the next year or completed their qualification
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2022-23. Stronger evidence. Published sample: 6,460. Cohort 2021-22. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
Value compared with similar courses
How this course’s 5-year median earnings compare with Art & Design courses at the same study level.
This course £25,000Peer median £24,500Middle 50% £22,125–£26,500
54th percentile
Compared with 1,698 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.
Job market & outlook
How Art & Design graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
87%
in work or further study 15 months after graduating, across Art & Design courses nationally.
Graduate Outcomes55%
of working graduates are in highly skilled work or further study.
highly skilled85%
of students continue past their first year (still enrolled or completed).
continuationHow AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Routine information gathering
- First-draft writing and summaries
- Standard analysis and admin
- Repetitive processing tasks
More human than ever
- Judgement and original thinking
- Working with and leading people
- Owning and sense-checking AI output
- Ethics and accountability
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where Art & Design graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- Design studios & agencies
- In-house brand teams
- Games & media companies
- Freelance & self-employed
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Art & Design graduates.
Fine Art TechnicianFirst Choice StaffPharmacy Technician – Brand New State-of-the-Art HospitalCompass AssociatesArtificial Intelligence Engineering ManagerMBN SolutionsArtificial Intelligence EngineerExperis UKDelivery Driver (Part Time 24 hours) - AndoverOcado LogisticsCompliance Business PartnerNashrock Insurance RecruitmentLive from the StudySmarter job board · as of 2026-08-01.See all matching jobs
Is this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
💷
Student finance
For comparison, the standard full-time England tuition cap is up to £9,790 per year in 2026/27; the actual fee varies by course and provider. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years.
📈
Where graduates go
Most graduates were in work or further study, with a median salary of £24,500. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
🎯
Your entry chances
Use the UCAS points calculator above to see how your predicted grades compare with admitted students, and whether a contextual offer could apply.
⭐
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 9.0 out of 10: NSS 94.6% · continued 85%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
De Montfort University
All students23,155
International31.8%
Aged 25+27.3%
Design, and creative and performing arts across the UK
Students178,755
Aged 25+15.7%
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around De Montfort University
4,747 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Violent Crime 1557Public Order 619Anti Social Behaviour 570Shoplifting 499Criminal Damage Arson 362
Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.
Is Art & Design right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to De Montfort University from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is £16,800 / year for this course (from the provider’s fee page). You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
English language
Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.
Student visa
You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.
Scholarships & funding
Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check De Montfort University’s funding pages.
Living costs
Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.
Working while you study
A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.
Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with De Montfort University and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at De Montfort University
Common questions
How competitive is entry?
Entry is historically accessible, accepted students came in with a broad spread of qualifications. The most common tariff band among recent entrants was 96 - 111 UCAS points. Use the calculator on this page to see where your predicted grades would put you; many universities also make lower contextual offers.
What are the entry requirements?
Set by De Montfort University. Most accepted students held A-levels or equivalent. Check the university's course page for the exact offer.
What do graduates go on to do?
For Design studies graduates from this provider, typical earnings around £24,500. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
What will it cost me?
For comparison, the standard full-time England tuition cap is up to £9,790 per year in 2026/27; the actual fee varies by course and provider. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years. See Fees & funding on this page to work out your numbers.
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