BA (Hons) Industrial Design Bachelor's degree at Loughborough University
BA (Hons) Industrial Design at Loughborough University. You'll develop a working knowledge of how to shape ideas, from concept through to communication, and build the practical and conceptual toolkit that industrial designers use to move from sketch to finished product.
About this course
Our BA (Hons) Industrial Design degree will equip you with the skills to develop and communicate design ideas. Interested? Find out more. From the provider’s course page.
BA (Hons) Industrial Design is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at Loughborough University. It runs 4 years, studied full-time.
For Engineering graduates from this provider, 88% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 90% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £32,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Engineering, see the sections below.
Course evidence score
The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.
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)
Stronger evidence Published sample: 260. Cohort 2022-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 88% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 97% (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
- Prototyping for DesignCompulsory
Module details
The aim of the module is to develop an understanding of applied physical prototyping techniques with respect to proof-of-concept testing within the industrial design process. To gain a basic introduction to the Arduino IDE, digital prototyping through CAD and industrial process machine tools for use in physical prototyping.
- Design Foundations 1Compulsory
Module details
Design Foundations 1 aims to support students with the transition into university design education, familiarising themselves with both the theory and practices associated with the process of 'Design at Loughborough'. Both individually and in teams, students will be encouraged to develop and foster imaginative and creative capabilities through understanding design, its history, and its impact on individuals, society, and the environment, whilst simultaneously developing their core design practice
- Research for Design 1Compulsory
Module details
Research for Design 1 aims to introduce students to the fundamental principles, processes, methods and tools needed to acquire an understanding of user needs and how these needs are leveraged within a design process to deliver useful, usable, and desirable design outputs. Students will research user needs and requirements, gain an understanding of human variability through ergonomics and human factors in design, and apply basic inclusive design principles to re-design a product or artefact from
- Designing InteractionsCompulsory
Module details
Designing Interactions aims to develop in students an understanding of the distinct nature of designing for physical and digital interactions and its relationship to shaping experiences. Students will gain an appreciation of typical principles and practices used within these areas, extending, and enhancing the design development and conceptualisation skills introduced in the Semester 1 modules: Design Foundations 1, Research for Design 1, and Prototyping.
Year 2 12 modules
- Design Foundations 2Compulsory
Module details
Design Foundations 2 aims to advance students core design competencies, building on the skills taught in Semester 1 modules Design Foundations 1, Research for Design 1, and Prototyping. Students will be encouraged to further develop and foster imaginative and creative capabilities, through developing an understanding of both design for branding and regenerative human-centred design practices. Whilst completing the module, students will further develop their appreciation of form, colour, and othe
- Design CommunicationCompulsory
Module details
This module aims to support students in extending and enhancing key communication and presentation techniques for the creation of an outward facing professional design identity.
- Research for Design 2Compulsory
Module details
Research for Design 2 aims to extend and enhance students' knowledge and application of user research methods in the context of design. Students will collect primary data, identify insights, and develop opportunity statements from the data. Students will further develop and apply skills introduced in Part A, in particular Research for Design 1.
- Design for Rapid ManufactureCompulsory
Module details
This module provides students with knowledge around design for Injection Moulding, but more specifically, design for rapid tooling using Additive Manufacturing technologies. The module intends to shift the perception that injection moulding is just for mass production; with the use of rapid tooling, Injection Moulding is increasingly becoming viable for batch production. Furthermore, lead times are reduced not just for mould tool development but also for the delivery of high value end-use parts
- Shaping TechnologiesCompulsory
Module details
Shaping Technologies exposes students to the notion that technologies are entities that are shapeable by design and designers, and in doing so can lead more meaningful design outputs. Students will understand the position of technology in society now and in the future and propose new future facing design concepts. Students will extend and enhance the design development and concepting skills introduced in Part A, and prior to Part B modules.
- New Product Development for Industrial DesignCompulsory
Module details
The aim of this design practice-focused module is to develop skills and knowledge in the distinctive (unique) contribution that industrial design makes to new product development through a high level of aesthetic form and surface treatment. This is achieved through project-based learning for a mass manufactured product requiring the following activities: Identification of market opportunity/user need to create a sub-brief. Creation of a compelling user experience that includes direct interaction
- Arts ManagementOptional
Module details
The aims of this module are to: Give students an awareness and understanding of arts management as a discipline, in the context of arts organisations and the creative industries. Provide students with a context in which to explore ideas and practices related to professional environments they may wish to progress to post-graduation. Present students with the opportunity to evaluate and apply information, resources and ideas to a scenario relevant to their career futures.
- Re-imagining CommunitiesOptional
Module details
This module highlights the social production of art. It explores the extent to which art and cultural production contributes to protest movements and activates social and political transformation. Addressing historical and contemporary connections between art and activist practices, it will provide students with an understanding of the complex relationship between art, politics and wider social movements. In addition to facilitating the development and contextualisation of their own socially-eng
- Creative PlacemakingOptional
Module details
The aims of this module are to: Explore how creative interventions can transform how spaces function. Develop theoretical and practical understanding of how creative practitioners can actively work to inform placemaking.
- Drawing Characters: Representation and IdentityOptional
Module details
The aims of this module are to: Raise student's awareness of identity and representation issues in character designs. Equip students with transferrable character design skills that could be applied to a wide range of creative arts subject disciplines.
- Fashion to Function: Designing Clothing and Wearable ProductsOptional
Module details
The aims of this module are to: Understand the core principles of human-centred design and fashion design, and how they apply to clothing and wearable products. Develop effective communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills in multi-disciplinary teams for the successful execution of fashion design products for a specific consumer. Compile a portfolio showcasing individual and team contributions to clothing/wearable product designs, highlighting the integration of human-centred design
- Co-Designing Products with Generative AIOptional
Module details
The aim of this module is to develop the students' capabilities in co-designing products with generative AI (GenAI). Including project framing with Large Language Models (LLMs), using image-GenAI and other more advanced 3D model and video tools, and the ethical implications of their use. Upon completion of the module students will have gained an appreciation for what GenAI tools are
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 degree equips you with the skills to develop and communicate design ideas. A course like this typically moves from engineering foundations in Year 1, such as mathematics, mechanics and materials, and design with CAD and workshop practice, to a broadening of technical competence in Year 2 through thermodynamics, fluids, circuits and systems, as well as computing and simulation. You'll usually undertake a group design project early on, reviewed against real industry specifications. In Year 3, you'll choose specialist options, such as Mechanical, Electrical & electronic, Civil & structural, Robotics & mechatronics, or Energy & sustainability, and progress to Professional Engineering Practice (covering safety, ethics, sustainability and project management) and a substantial individual design or research project that forms the degree's centrepiece.
Who it's for
You're drawn to making things better through design, whether that's products, user experiences or systems. You think visually and spatially; you're comfortable sketching ideas and building prototypes. You enjoy problem-solving in a structured way and want to understand both the creative and technical sides of how manufactured goods come into being. The course demands sustained engagement with both hand-making and digital tools, and you'll benefit from being curious, collaborative and willing to iterate on your work.
Careers & job market
Across engineering graduate pathways nationally, 90% of graduates are in work or further study within fifteen months of leaving. Around 80% of working graduates move into highly skilled roles. Graduate earnings data (national, across all students) shows starting salaries ranging from £29,000 to £35,000; after five years, the range widens to £33,150 to £46,800. Your earnings and career progression will depend on the sector, role and employer you choose.
University & format
Loughborough University is a public university, founded in 1909, located in Loughborough. The BA (Hons) Industrial Design is a 4-year full-time degree taught in English and leads to a Bachelor's degree award. It is a recognised UK degree-awarding body; degrees are nationally recognised. The university received a Gold award 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.
- 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.
Provider-published requirement; check the linked course page before applying.
Access Loughborough Contextual Offer. Eligibility and any reduced offer are applicant-specific.
Names detected beside accreditation or recognition copy on the provider course page; verify the route and intake.
Placement year. Availability, selection and pay can vary.
See and book current events. Dates can fill or change.
Entry & how to get in
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 | 96% |
| a previous degree | 1% |
| another higher-education qualification | 1% |
| No / unknown prior qualifications | 1% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Accepted students typically held strong UCAS tariffs. Check how your predicted grades compare and whether a contextual offer applies.
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.
Each bar is the share of admitted students in that UCAS-points band (lower → higher). Grades show the A-level equivalent.
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.
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course. 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.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Standard capped home fee at English providers (2026/27); Scotland, Wales & NI differ.
Check fees at Loughborough University →For students who normally live in England
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.
Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
That does not mean no funding exists. Check the university directory for current amounts, eligibility and application dates.
We only display a named award when its provider source identifies the award and who it is for.
Still deciding what to study?
StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.
Careers & earnings
What Engineering 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 | £32,000 | £30,000 – £36,000 | 260 |
| 3 years after | £34,500 | £29,000 – £39,500 | 945 |
| 5 years after | £42,500 | £35,000 – £51,000 | 965 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Stronger evidence. Published sample: 260. Cohort 2022-23.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
- 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in engineering · 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 Engineering nationally
National figures for Engineering 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.
were in work or further study
15 months after graduation
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2022-23. Stronger evidence. Published sample: 260. Cohort 2022-23. 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 Engineering courses at the same study level.
Compared with 2,256 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.
UK occupations graduates enter
Published graduate destinations, joined conservatively to UK SOC 2020, ONS pay and Skills England demand.
- Design occupationsSOC 2020 342 · 45% of published destinations · ASHE median £35,957
- Web and Multimedia Design ProfessionalsSOC 2020 214 · 20% of published destinations · ASHE median £32,574
- Business and public service associate professionalsSOC 2020 35 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £38,760
Discover Uni JOBLIST/JOBTYPE; ONS ASHE 2025 provisional, all employee jobs; Skills England Occupations in Demand 2025. SOC is shown only for an exact normalised label match; demand is shown only at exact four-digit SOC. Published sample: 95; response rate: 65%. Pay describes the occupation across workers, not a guaranteed graduate salary.
Job market & outlook
How Engineering graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
How 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 Engineering 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
- Engineering & manufacturing firms
- Automotive & aerospace
- Energy & utilities
- Defence & consultancies
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Engineering graduates.
Engineering Surveyor (Machine Control)BAM UK & IrelandEngineering Operations Project ManagerFdo Consulting LimitedEngineering ManagerVerto PeopleEngineering ManagerRobert WaltersEngineering ManagerPremier Technical RecruitmentEngineering ManagerRedline Group LtdIs 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
88% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £32,000. 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 8.5 out of 10: NSS 70.6% · in work or study 88% · continued 97%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
Loughborough University
Engineering and technology across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around Loughborough University
1,024 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.
Is Engineering right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to Loughborough University from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is set per course by Loughborough University; international fees are typically £12,000–£30,000/year for classroom subjects and higher for lab/clinical ones. 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 Loughborough 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 Loughborough University and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at Loughborough University
Common questions
How competitive is entry?
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates go on to do?
What will it cost me?
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