BSc (Hons) Product Design (Industrial) · University of LeedsBachelor's degree · 4 years
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University of Leeds · Undergraduate

BSc (Hons) Product Design (Industrial) Bachelor's degree at the University of Leeds

BSc (Hons) Product Design (Industrial) at University of Leeds. Rather than treating design as a purely creative discipline, the course positions it at the intersection of engineering rigour and applied creativity, so you'll be expected to think in terms of function, manufacture and materials as much…

BSc (Hons)
Award
4
Years
Full-time
Study mode
100%
in work/study (15m)

About this course

BSc (Hons) Product Design (Industrial) is a Bachelor's degree (BSc (Hons)) at the University of Leeds. It runs 4 years, studied full-time.

For Engineering and technology graduates from this provider, 100% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 85% 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.

9.3
/ 10
Exceptional
3 of 3 official measures
Student satisfaction
What students say in the National Student Survey
Excellent85

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)

Graduate outcomes
In work or further study 15 months after graduating
Exceptional100

Stronger evidence Published sample: 140. Cohort 2022-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 100% (2021-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)

Continuation
Students who continue past their first year
Exceptional95

Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2021-23. Continuation 95% (2021-23; 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 5 modules
  • Engineering MaterialsCompulsory20 credits
    Module details

    Develop a good understanding of engineering principles relating to structure-property relationships and how these can be controlled by various manufacturing methods including heat treatment. You'll learn how to distinguish between microstructure, crystal structure and other material aspects determined by intrinsic bonding. All of these are important in the selection of materials in your design work.

  • Contextual Studies and ErgonomicsCompulsory20 credits
    Module details

    Learn about aspects of design and technological awareness, and contemporary influences on design. The module reflects the importance given to developing your ability to recognise that design and technological activities are inextricably linked. You'll develop the skills associated with value judgements that are an essential part of the product design and development process.

  • Engineering Analysis for Product DesignersCompulsory20 credits
    Module details

    Develop both your engineering analysis skills – including mathematics and mechanics – and your ability to apply these skills to design problems. A mixture of lectures, a practical design and build project, and laboratory-based activities are used to encourage you to learn and apply these skills from various perspectives.

  • Basic Electronics for Product DesignCompulsory20 credits
    Module details

    This module introduces the fundamental principles of microcontroller programming and embedded electronics within the context of product design. You will explore core concepts in C++ programming, library usage, basic electronics theory, Ohm's law and Kirchhoff's circuit laws, building your understanding from first principles. No prior experience is required. We begin with voltage, current and resistance, and develop your confidence step by step. A strong emphasis is placed on why embedded electro

  • Design Studio 1Compulsory40 credits
    Module details

    Build an understanding and practice of the Product Design discipline through a series of design briefs/projects. You'll learn how to approach the different phases of the product design process, whilst exploring and developing design proposals using a range of methods, practical skills and specialist knowledge.

Year 2 5 modules
  • Design Studio 2Compulsory40 credits
    Module details

    A problem-based design studio module with projects that will challenge you to apply and combine your skills and learning so far to develop and communicate creative solutions to complex problems.

  • Creativity in Professional PracticeCompulsory20 credits
    Module details

    Develop your commercial awareness and explore the value of design thinking and design communication skills within industry. The module will help you maximise your potential in preparation for industrial placements and your professional career. The content of this module focuses on careers in industrial design and the creative industries.

  • Design for Manufacture for Product DesignersCompulsory20 credits
    Module details

    A problem-based design studio module with projects where you'll apply your understanding of manufacturing processes and develop advanced CAD (computer-aided design system) skills to produce 3D solid models of a detailed design for mass production that also satisfies user needs.

  • Advanced Electronics for Product DesignCompulsory20 credits
    Module details

    Through this module, you'll explore key electronics and processes needed for product design. You'll cover programming microcontrollers, design products that incorporate electronic sensing and build proof-of-concept prototypes to demonstrate solution principles of your own designed products using standard electronic parts.

  • Economics and ManagementOptional20 credits
    Module details

    Explore economic concepts relevant to manufacturing enterprise and apply these to business problems. You'll also learn how to identify the structure of an industrial market and understand the principles of finance for manufacturing investment.

Year 4 4 modules
  • Design ProjectCompulsory60 credits
    Module details

    This module allows you to develop a project that is focused on an area of your interest and will give you the best opportunity to progress your career after you graduate. You'll be supported by regular meetings with a project supervisor which will be a combination of small group sessions and individual one-to-one meetings. This major project gives you the platform, to further develop and demonstrate your design skills and capabilities including user-centred design, mechanical and electronics des

  • Additive ManufacturingCompulsory20 credits
    Module details

    This module will introduce you to key concepts of Additive Manufacturing and demonstrate the different techniques that are commercially available. You'll also cover the latest developments in this rapidly evolving field, including elements of research-led teaching. You'll learn through various interactive lectures, hands-on tutorials using 3D printing equipment and demonstrations using the various Additive Manufacturing equipment in the School.

  • Mechanical SystemsCompulsory20 credits
    Module details

    Explore the principles of mechanical systems and develop the skills required to build working prototypes. This will concentrate on the value of working prototypes and mechanical systems in product design, and the selection of appropriate standard components to meet required performance criteria.

  • Experience Design & User InteractionCompulsory20 credits
    Module details

    With product design and technology continuously evolving into the digital world and the emergence of new devices, it's important to understand the fundamentals of human-centred design and interaction design to enable an appropriate user experience. In this module you'll be introduced to the principles of human-centred design, visual design, perception and cognition to help inform effective interactions and user experience design.

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

The course is structured to move you progressively from grounding to independence. Early stages focus on core theory and research & methods, giving you the conceptual and analytical tools that underpin good design decisions before you're asked to apply them. As you advance, applied practice becomes more central, with structured opportunities to work through real design problems, and specialist options let you steer your studies towards the areas of industrial design that interest you most, such as materials and manufacturing processes, human-centred design, or sustainable product development. Professional skills are woven throughout rather than bolted on at the end, reflecting the expectation that graduates should be able to operate confidently in a workplace setting from day one. The course culminates in an independent project, where you take a design problem from initial research through to a resolved outcome, drawing on everything covered in earlier years and demonstrating your own judgement and direction as a designer.

Who it's for

This course suits someone who enjoys taking things apart, mentally or literally, to understand how and why they work, and who gets genuine satisfaction from solving practical problems rather than just discussing them in the abstract. You'll likely find yourself equally at home sketching an idea and testing it against technical constraints such as materials, manufacturing feasibility or user needs. A curiosity about how objects are made, and a willingness to iterate through mistakes rather than expecting to get things right first time, will serve you well here. Because the course sits within engineering, you should be comfortable with a degree of technical and analytical thinking alongside the more visibly creative aspects of design; it's not a course for those who want to avoid maths or methodical reasoning altogether. Expect a working rhythm that alternates between independent studio-style project work and more structured teaching, with a genuine payoff for people who like seeing an idea through from a rough concept to a physical, resolved result. Most entrants arrive with A-levels or equivalent, typically within the 160–175 UCAS tariff range, though this reflects what past students held rather than a fixed requirement.

Careers & job market

Industrial product design graduates typically move into roles connected to design, engineering and manufacturing, though outcomes vary by individual and sector. Nationally, across Engineering courses, 90% of graduates are in work or further study 15 months after graduating, and 80% of those in work are in roles classed as highly skilled. Continuation into further years of study is also strong nationally, with 88% of students carrying on past their first year. On earnings, national Graduate Outcomes and LEO data (not specific to this university or guaranteed) show starting salaries around 15 months after graduation typically ranging from £29,000 to £35,000, rising to between £26,775 and £37,800 after three years, and £33,150 to £46,800 after five years. These figures cover graduates across the wider field nationally rather than any single course, so they should be read as a general indication of the labour market rather than a promise of what any individual graduate will earn.

University & format

The University of Leeds is a public, research-intensive university founded in 1904 and a member of the Russell Group. It was and holds a Silver award for teaching quality in the Office for Students' TEF 2023. This particular course, UCAS code H797, is delivered full-time over four years, entirely in English, on the university's campus. As a recognised UK degree-awarding body, the BSc (Hons) qualification you'd graduate with is nationally recognised.

Student satisfaction

How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.

The teaching on my course
88%
Learning opportunities
88%
Assessment and feedback
77%
Academic Support
89%
Organisation and management
80%
Learning resources
91%
Student voice
83%

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
  1. 2027 entryCompleted applications can be submitted

    Your application needs a reference before you can send it.

  2. 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications

    Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.

  3. 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice

    Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.

  4. 2027 entryEqual-consideration deadline

    18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.

Show 5 later dates
  1. 2027 entryUCAS Extra opens

    Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.

  2. 2027 entryLast day applications go directly to providers

    Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.

  3. 2027 entryClearing opens

    Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.

  4. 2027 entryFinal date for 2027 applications

    Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.

  5. 2027 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice

    Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.

Published entryAAB typical offer · specific subject requirements

Provider-published requirement; check the linked course page before applying.

PlacementPublished placement option

Industrial placement. Availability, selection and pay can vary.

Entry & how to get in

Typical offer (from the provider)The university’s course page lists a typical A-level offer of AAB specific subject requirements. Always check the provider for the current offer and subject requirements.
Most entrants held A-levels or equivalent94% of accepted students came in with A-levels or equivalent (entrants over recent years).
Typical UCAS tariff: 160 - 175 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 the University of Leeds'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

QualificationShare
A-levels or equivalent94%
another higher-education qualification5%
a Baccalaureate1%

Entry & your chances

An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.

Competitive entry

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.

Add your grades to see where you land

Your points will drop onto the distribution above, with an honest above / within / below read.

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 gradesA*A*A*A-level equivalent admitted students held
UCAS codeH797quote this on your application
  1. 1
    Register on UCAS Hub

    Create your UCAS application and add this course (code H797). One application covers up to five choices.

  2. 2
    Write 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.

  3. 3
    Submit by 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time

    UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.

  4. 4
    Reply to your offers

    When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.

  5. 5
    Results 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 University of Leeds 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
Internationalset by the university

Standard capped home fee at English providers (2026/27); Scotland, Wales & NI differ.

Check fees at University of Leeds →

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 4 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

Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for

All University of Leeds funding →

Named awards published by the university. Compare the eligibility and application route before budgeting for one.

Amounts, exclusions and deadlines can change. An award is not guaranteed unless the university confirms it.

StudyKit · free

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.

Career quizApplication walkthroughSalary & CV check

Careers & earnings

What Engineering graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.

Graduate earnings: this course

WhenMedianTypical rangeGraduates
15 months after£32,000£30,000 – £36,000140
3 years after£31,000£27,000 – £37,000465
5 years after£38,500£32,500 – £48,000485

Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Stronger evidence. Published sample: 140. Cohort 2022-23.

Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course

100%
in work or further study 15 months on
85%
in highly skilled work or study
95%
continue past their first year
88%
find their work meaningful
86%
say work fits their future plans
  1. 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
  2. 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in engineering · 2–5 yrs
  3. 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
  4. 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs

How pay grows: this course vs Engineering nationally

Starting (15 months) HESA GO
£32,000
£29,000 – £35,000
After 3 years LEO
£31,000
£26,775 – £37,800
After 5 years LEO
£38,500
£33,150 – £46,800
national rangethis course’s medianaxis £25,000 – £48,500

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.

100 of 100

were in work or further study

15 months after graduation

85% working15% working and studying0% in further study85% in highly skilled work or study

Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2021-23. Stronger evidence. Published sample: 140. 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.

UK occupations graduates enter

Published graduate destinations, joined conservatively to UK SOC 2020, ONS pay and Skills England demand.

  • Engineering professionalsSOC 2020 212 · 30% of published destinations · ASHE median £50,325
  • Design occupationsSOC 2020 342 · 15% of published destinations · ASHE median £35,957
  • Customer service occupationsDiscover Uni category · 10% of published destinations
  • Managers, directors and senior officialsSOC 2020 1 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £51,733
  • Information Technology ProfessionalsSOC 2020 213 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £55,357
  • Web and Multimedia Design ProfessionalsSOC 2020 214 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £32,574

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: 25; response rate: 60%. 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.

90%
in work or further study 15 months after graduating, across Engineering courses nationally.
Graduate Outcomes
80%
of working graduates are in highly skilled work or further study.
highly skilled
88%
of students continue past their first year (still enrolled or completed).
continuation

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.

Where they work

  • Engineering & manufacturing firms
  • Automotive & aerospace
  • Energy & utilities
  • Defence & consultancies

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

100% 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 9.3 out of 10: NSS 85.1% · in work or study 100% · continued 95%.

Who studies here and in this subject?

Provider- and UK subject-level context.

The University of Leeds

All students34,580
International31.5%
Aged 25+13.6%

Engineering and technology across the UK

Students176,530
Aged 25+23%

HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.

Local crime-data context

A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.

Around The University of Leeds

3,846 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.

Violent Crime 1125Shoplifting 724Other Theft 322Public Order 319Anti Social Behaviour 305

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 University of Leeds from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.

Tuition fees

International tuition is set per course by University of Leeds; 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 University of Leeds’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 University of Leeds and gov.uk before you apply.

Common questions

Entry is competitive. Accepted students typically held strong UCAS tariffs. The most common tariff band among recent entrants was 160 - 175 UCAS points. Use the calculator on this page to see where your predicted grades would put you; many universities also make lower contextual offers.
Set by the University of Leeds. Most accepted students held A-levels or equivalent. Check the university's course page for the exact offer.
For Engineering and technology graduates from this provider, 100% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 85% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £32,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
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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