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UWE Bristol · Undergraduate
BSc (Hons) Product Design Technology Bachelor's degree at UWE Bristol
BSc (Hons) Product Design Technology at UWE Bristol. You'll undertake an independent project and develop professional skills that ready you for industry roles.
BSc (Hons)
Award
4
Years
Full-time
Study mode
92%
in work/study (15m)
About this course
BA(Hons) Product Design (with Foundation Year) is taught by tutors and professionals with extensive experience so you'll graduate ready to join industry. From the provider’s course page.
BSc (Hons) Product Design Technology is a Bachelor's degree (BSc (Hons)) at UWE Bristol, based in City Campus. It runs 4 years, studied full-time.
For Design studies graduates from this provider, 92% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 63% in highly skilled roles, 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.
8.7
/ 10
Excellent
3 of 3 official measures
Student satisfaction
What students say in the National Student Survey
Excellent83
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
Exceptional92
Moderate evidence Published sample: 40; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2022-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 92% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Continuation
Students who continue past their first year
Excellent87
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 87% (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 0 4 modules
- Core Studies in Art, Media and DesignCore
Module details
You'll be supported to experiment, using a wide range of resources and making approaches to develop creative skills through a mix of technical workshops and studio making and production.
- Building Creative SkillsCore
Module details
You'll be supported to undertake extended projects and encouraged to develop creative independence through self-direction and discovery - from initial ideas generation to the production of a range of experimental outputs.
- Foundation ProjectCore
Module details
You'll write a proposal and carry out a major project in your chosen specialism. Over the course of the module you'll develop skills needed for the planning, organisation and successful completion of a body of work.
- Disciplinary ProjectsCore
Module details
You'll explore your chosen discipline through a focus on key foundational cultures, environments and disciplinary skills, and complete a short project that introduces ways of thinking, exploring and making.
Year 1 4 modules
- Design ContextsCore
Module details
This module introduces you to the subject of design and a suite of different cross-discipline design methods, supporting you to think about design holistically and understand its broader remit and application.
- Studio 1Core
Module details
You'll explore project briefs of varying scales, using approaches specific to your discipline, while also exchanging knowledge, and undertaking cross-disciplinary collaboration across related courses.
- Design CommunicationCore
Module details
You'll learn clear communication techniques, fundamental to the design industry, and develop your proficiency in the use of tools, technologies, and techniques relevant to your area of study.
- Objects and ExperiencesCore
Module details
You'll be introduced to the concepts surrounding user experience with products, giving you critical understanding for a successful human-centred approach to product design.
Year 2 4 modules
- Design FuturesCore
Module details
You'll develop a future-orientated mindset for design, rooted in an understanding of the evolving and complex nature of global challenges. This module emphasises the role of design in addressing global challenges through interdisciplinary thinking and collaboration.
- Studio 2Core
Module details
You'll explore project briefs of varying scales, using approaches specific to your discipline while also collaborating and exchanging knowledge with students from other related subject areas to develop appropriate design outcomes.
- Experience DesignCore
Module details
You'll deepen your understanding of user experience and service design within the product design industry, through the application of a wide range of design methods focused on human-centred design.
- Experience PrototypingCore
Module details
You'll create, develop and analyse prototypes to test design thinking and critically inform final design products, applying engineering principles in the design process to demonstrate material understanding and literacy.
Final year 4 modules
- Design Research ProjectCore
Module details
Through the production of work that could take the form of still or moving image, practice, sound or writing, you'll develop your critical and creative thinking skills - connecting practical outcomes to a deeper analytical, theoretical and contextual backdrop.
- Final Major ProjectCore
Module details
You'll undertake a final practice-orientated portfolio project, communicating complex design ideas to a high level, tailored to professional audiences and demonstrating creative and confident design thinking to create innovative and tailored design solutions for your chosen audience.
- Studio 3Core
Module details
You'll undertake a discipline-specific research project, grounding your learning within the wider context of design and demonstrating your understanding of the professional design industry.
- Product FuturesCore
Module details
You'll investigate future trends, technologies and practices that may be required within the product design industry and develop professional physical and visual outputs that communicate future-facing design thinking.
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 is taught by tutors and professionals with extensive industry experience, ensuring you graduate ready to join the sector. A typical Art & Design degree progresses from foundations in visual studies, design principles, materials and making in Year 1, moving through sustained studio practice and digital media in Year 2. You'll usually specialise in areas such as graphic design, illustration, fine art, fashion & textiles, or UX & digital in Year 3, developing a personal direction through live briefs and professional practice modules. Your studies culminate in a self-directed final major project and degree show, where your work is publicly exhibited. Throughout, contextual studies ground your practice in art and design history and contemporary thinking.
Who it's for
You're suited to this course if you're interested in designing products that work well and look thoughtful, and you have the patience to research problems thoroughly before sketching solutions. You'll enjoy moving between conceptual thinking and practical making, and working towards a portfolio you're proud to show employers. If you're self-directed and can manage a sustained independent project alongside taught modules, you'll find this course demanding but rewarding.
Careers & job market
Across Art & Design courses nationally, 87% of graduates are in work or further study 15 months after graduating. Of working graduates in this field, 55% are in highly skilled work or further study. National graduate earnings data shows starting salaries (15 months after graduation) typically fall between £22,000 and £27,000, rising to £20,825–£29,400 after five years. Earnings vary widely depending on role, location and individual circumstances.
University & format
BSc (Hons) Product Design Technology is a 4-year full-time degree at UWE Bristol, a public university founded in 1970 and located at City Campus. The course is taught in English and leads to a nationally recognised Bachelor's degree. UWE Bristol holds a Silver 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.
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 entry88 tariff points typical offer · English: IELTS (Academic) 6.0 (5.5 in each component)
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
Placement year. 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 88 tariff points. Always check the provider for the current offer and subject requirements.
English languageThis course lists IELTS (Academic) 6.0 (5.5 in each component) (or equivalent). See the International students section below for the full picture.
Most entrants held A-levels or equivalent87% of accepted students came in with A-levels or equivalent (entrants over recent years).
Typical UCAS tariff: 112 - 127 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 UWE Bristol'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 | 87% |
| another higher-education qualification | 9% |
| a Baccalaureate | 3% |
| an Access course | 1% |
| a foundation course | 1% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Offer-based entry
Entry is set by the university and based on your offer. Use your predicted grades to see how you compare, then check the university's stated requirements.
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 gradesBBBA-level equivalent admitted students held
- 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.
💡 Many universities make a contextual (reduced-grade) offer, for example based on your school’s results, time in care, or where you live. Ask UWE Bristol 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 UWE Bristol →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
All UWE Bristol funding →Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
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.
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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 | 40 |
| 3 years after | £21,000 | £16,000 – £25,000 | 230 |
| 5 years after | £26,000 | £19,500 – £31,500 | 225 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Moderate evidence. Published sample: 40; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2022-23.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
92%
in work or further study 15 months on
63%
in highly skilled work or study
87%
continue past their first year
60%
find their work meaningful
50%
say work fits their future plans
- 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
£26,000
£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.
92 of 100
were in work or further study
15 months after graduation
85% working5% working and studying2% in further study63% in highly skilled work or study
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2022-23. Moderate evidence. Published sample: 40; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. 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 Art & Design courses at the same study level.
This course £26,000Peer median £24,500Middle 50% £22,125–£26,500
67th percentile
Compared with 1,698 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.
- Web and Multimedia Design ProfessionalsSOC 2020 214 · 16% of published destinations · ASHE median £32,574
- Design occupationsSOC 2020 342 · 11% of published destinations · ASHE median £35,957
- Sales occupationsSOC 2020 71 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £15,975
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: 235; response rate: 50%. Pay describes the occupation across workers, not a guaranteed graduate salary.
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
92% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 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 8.7 out of 10: NSS 83% · in work or study 92% · continued 87%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
University of the West of England, Bristol
All students36,380
International24.8%
Aged 25+34.8%
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 City Campus
534 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Violent Crime 160Anti Social Behaviour 82Other Theft 65Criminal Damage Arson 46Vehicle Crime 44
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 UWE Bristol from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is set per course by UWE Bristol; 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
This course lists IELTS (Academic) 6.0 (5.5 in each component). 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 UWE Bristol’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 UWE Bristol and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at UWE Bristol
Common questions
How competitive is entry?
Entry is offer-based and set by the university. The most common tariff band among recent entrants was 112 - 127 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 UWE Bristol. 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, 92% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 63% in highly skilled roles, 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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