Product Design (English-medium course) Undergraduate - 2021 Entry

This is the English-medium course. The Welsh-medium Product Design course has a different UCAS code. 

Design stimulates the development of an enquiring, analytical and creative approach, and progresses enterprising and entrepreneurial capabilities. It encourages the acquisition of independent judgement and critical self-awareness. Students normally pursue a programme of staged development progressing to increasingly independent and personally-focused learning during the course.

The BSc Product Design degree course at Bangor University‘s Design and Technology Centre is a diverse design course which focuses on a wide range of design sectors as well as developing your professional skills. We are the only UK University to offer a Product Design degree course with three separate industrial work placements which will allow you to experience a diverse range of working environments, projects and companies.

Your three years at Bangor University will see you immersed in the design and manufacture of products. You will study human centred design and design thinking methodologies. A range of briefs will challenge and develop you both creatively and professionally. Projects with industrial partners will ensure a grounding and context of how the industry works. Your challenge will be to be creative and ensure innovation within the given brief.

By the end of this course you will be able to adapt and interact with a wide range of professional, industrial and creative environments, as the Product Design course will have taught you a wide range of skills, from time management to presentational skills, evolving you into a capable multi-disciplinary designer.

For more information about Product Design click here.

Product Design Degree Show & Conference 

Please visit our Product Design degree show and Product Design Conference pages to find out about more about Product Design at Bangor University

• We produce high calibre students with a wide range of real world applicable skills and a high percentage of our students achieve and graduate with a 1^st class degree
• Studying at the Bangor University Design Centre, which is a highly equipped, professional working environment and also an accredited CAD/CAM training centre
• Excellent student staff ratios.
• Personal tutor support on both an educational and pastoral level
• Three placements across the degree rather than one year long placement at the end of the course, which gives you the chance to improve and develop as an individual
• Each year many of our students graduate straight into jobs with many of them securing a post at their second or third year placement companies.
• Top 15 for Design Employability (Times Good University Guide 2020).
• High levels of professional development, oral presentational skills, confidence and work placement analytical report writing skills
• Wide range of facilities, including workshop, plasma cutter, 3D printer, laser cutter and new building Pontio with an innovation centre
• No cost for materials or usage of workshop machinery
• Students are in agreement that this course prepares them for industry and employment.

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Our wide range of modules will allow you to learn new topics, improve on current knowledge to allow you to develop into a skilled product designer. We have a well-stocked workshop including an assortment of equipment comprising of traditional lathes, saws and drills to more modern gear such as a 3D printer, plasma cutter and laser cutter. All equipment and the vast majority of materials are free to use and are provided on a first come first served basis.

Overall the diversity of modules will develop you from your design or art related A-Level through to a capable, reliable and dynamic designer, making you highly employable to a diverse range of companies.

What will you study on this course?

Year 1

• Introduction to Photoshop and SoildWorks
• Basic Sketching and Drawing Skills
• 8 week company placement
• Basic Electronics and circuitry
• 2 simple manufacture projects with the chance of live projects
• One end of year summer exam
• Various Design Topic written assignments and presentations

Year 2

• Intermediate Photoshop, Rhino and SoildWorks
• 8 week company placement
• Manufacture project
• Intermediate Electronics and Coding
• Jewellery and Textiles Modules
• One end of year summer exam
• Various Design Topic written assignments and presentations

Year 3

• 12 week company placement
• Third Year Final Project
• Business Plan and Dissertation
• One end of year summer exam
• Various Design Topic written assignments and presentations

Study on this degree course is comprised of:

• A minimum of 19 hours contact time per week in lectures/seminars
• Reading, preparing for seminars, completing coursework
• Assessment of professional studies elements through coursework and a summer examination
• Practical workshop sessions
• Workplace experience monitored by tutors
• Regular personal tutorials

Degree Show

Our annual degree show will give you the opportunity to exhibit your work in a professional environment where you will show your work to a variety of people including company employees, alumni, course family and friends.

The best work from year one and year two is displayed with all third year work being presented. This is a fantastic opportunity to display your work to a multitude of people which will help you develop both personally and professionally.

For more information about our Degree Show click here.

Modules for the current academic year

Module listings are for guide purposes only and are subject to change. Find out what our students are currently studying on the Product Design (English-medium course) Modules page.

Course content is for guidance purposes only and may be subject to change.

General University Costs

Home/EU Student Tuition Fees (starting in 2019–20 & 2020–21)

• Full time: £9,000 per year
• Part time: £750 per 10 credits

International Student Tuition Fees*
* Please note: the international tuition fees displayed are for the current academic year (2020-21). The fees for the next academic year (2021-22) will be confirmed soon.

When coming to University, you will have two main costs, Tuition Fees and Living Costs.

There are also some common additional costs that are likely to arise for students on all courses, for example:

• If you choose to study abroad or take the International Experience Year as part of your course.
• If you attend your Graduation Ceremony, there will be a cost for gown hire (£25-£75) and cost for guest tickets (£12 each).

Course-specific additional costs
Depending on the course you are studying, there may be additional course-specific costs that you will be required to meet. These fall into three categories:

1. Mandatory Costs: these are related to a particular core or compulsory module that you’ll be required to complete to achieve your qualification e.g. compulsory field trips, uniforms for students on placement, DBS Check.
2. Necessarily Incurred Costs: these may not be experienced by all students, and will vary depending on the course e.g. professional body membership, travel to placements, specialist software, personal safety equipment.
3. Optional Costs: these depend on your choice of modules or activity and they are shown to give you an indication of the optional costs that may arise to make sure your choice is as informed as possible. These can include graduation events for your course, optional field trips, Welcome Week trips.

For 2021 entry:

GCSE: English Language grade C/4.

Typical offer is based on a minimum of 80 - 120 tariff points from a Level 3 qualification* e.g.:

• A Levels (including a grade C in Design and Technology or an Art/Engineering subject)
• BTEC National/Extended Diploma and Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma: MMP - DDM
• City & Guilds Advanced Technical/Extended Diploma: MMP -  DDM
• International Baccalaureate Diploma
• Irish Leaving Certificate: 80 - 120 points from a minimum of 4 Higher subjects
• Access to Higher Education Diploma
• Welsh Baccalaureate.

International Candidates: school leaving qualifications and college diplomas are accepted from countries worldwide (subject to minimum English Language requirements). More information here. 

We also welcome applications from mature applicants.

*For a full list of accepted Level 3 qualifications, go to www.ucas.com.

General University Requirements

We accept students with a wide range of qualifications and backgrounds and consider each application individually.

All students need to have good basic skills and the University also values IT and communication skills.

As part of the University’s policy we consider applications from prospective disabled students on the same grounds as all other students.

To study a degree, diploma or certificate course you’ll be asked for a minimum of UCAS Tariff points. For a fuller explanation of the UCAS Tariff Points, please see www.ucas.com

We also consider applications from mature students who can demonstrate the motivation and commitment to study a university programme. Each year we enrol a significant number of mature students. For more help and advice about being a mature student at Bangor, please visit the Study at Bangor site.

Specific entry requirements can be seen on the individual course pages.

EU and International students' entry requirements

For information and further detailed guidance on entry requirements for EU and International Students, including the minimum English Language entry requirement, please visit the Entry Requirements by Country pages. International applicants can also visit the International Education Centre section of our website for further details.

Bangor University offers International Incorporated Bachelor Degrees for International students whose High School qualification is not equivalent to the UK school leaving qualification. The first year (or Year 0) is studied at Bangor University International College, an embedded College on our University campus and delivered by Oxford International Education Group.

More information

Home/EU students and International UCAS applicants

E-mail for General Admissions: admissions@bangor.ac.uk or write to:

Admissions Office
Bangor University
Gwynedd
LL57 2TF

Telephone: +44 (0)1248 383717 

International students (non-UCAS applicants)

Email to International Admissions: internationaladmissions@bangor.ac.uk or write to

Admissions Office
Bangor University
Gwynedd
LL57 2TF

Telephone: +44 (0) 1248 382028

Currently our Product Design degree course has a 90% employment rate and our Design and Technology teaching course stands at 100% employment, because of the nature of the course is so professional and allows you to develop into a diverse and talented designer. All of our students are in agreement that the course sufficiently prepares them for industry and employment and this is down to the three work placements you will partake in during your three years which will allow you to diversify and develop your skills making you more employable.

Our students have a the highest rate of employability across the country after completing our course, due to the intense structure of the course which makes them into highly professional and employable designers.

This course will prepare you for a wide range of careers, with options including:

• product and industrial design
• design consultancy and management
• sales, advertising and marketing
• computer aided design and manufacture
• technical management design
• design and technology teaching

The skills and talents learnt on work placement are transferable to the real world, with many of our students continuing to work for their third year work placement company after graduation. Some of the placements companies that our students have gone to include:

• Unilever
• International Safety Components
• Bench
• Bentley
• Fifth Wheel Company
• Urban Picnic
• Aston Martin
• Prism Medical UK
• JCB
• Westbridge Furniture Design

Opportunities at Bangor

The University’s Skills and Employability Service provides a wide range of resources to help you achieve your graduate ambitions. Developing your personal skills and enhancing your employability while at university is becoming increasingly important in today’s job market.

The Bangor Employability Award (BEA) and Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR)

The Bangor Employability Award enables students to build on their transferable skills through the recognition of activities they become involved in during their university life. Students can gain points towards the award through extra-curricular activities such as volunteering, attending workshops or actively participating in the Students’ Union’s clubs and societies.

The HEAR is a final graduation report that all undergraduates receive. The report itemises all academic achievements and additional extra and co-curricular achievements. Academic achievements appear on the report automatically and students are able to note their eligible activities by using the online platform ‘My Employability Hub’. This ensures that future employers are made aware of the additional skills the student has gained outside of the curriculum.

The Award is open to everyone and taking part in the scheme can make a major difference to your performance in the graduate job market.

Internships

Bangor University runs undergraduate and postgraduate internship schemes twice a year, which allow students to work in a professional environment while learning relevant skills and earning money.

Internships offer valuable experience in a professional workplace and there are a range of internships you can get involved in.

Student Volunteering

Not only is volunteering worthwhile – it also improves your employability and widens your experience.

The Students’ Union has a dedicated Student Volunteering Office (SVB) which currently contributes a total of 600 hours each week, promoting a close relationship between the university and the local community. Find out more on the Student Volunteering pages of the Bangor Student’s Union website.

TARGETconnect - Working while you Study

The Skills and Employability Service offers support to students searching for employment during and after their studies.

TARGETconnect advertises the following opportunities:

• Graduate jobs – Local, National and International
• Full-time, part time, permanent and temporary jobs
• Work experience / internships
• Voluntary opportunities

General University Application

How to apply through UCAS

Apply online via UCAS

UCAS stands for Universities and Colleges Admissions Service. All university applications are processed through UCAS and then passed on to the universities listed.

Students may apply for a maximum of five courses. For Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary courses students are only allowed to apply for four courses.

The application form is found on the UCAS website, under ‘Apply’.

When to apply?

We advise you to apply as early as you can as we will start considering applications and making offers straight away. The initial UCAS deadline for UK and EU students is 15 January, however we welcome applications after this date. Those received between 15 January and 30 June will continue to be forwarded to universities by UCAS and will receive consideration where places are still available.

Your Personal Statement

Writing your Personal Statement is the part of the application form that requires most work. You are only allowed 47 lines or 500–550 words to explain why you wish to study the course and the skills you have that are essential for university study.

To write a successful personal statement for your UCAS application you must have a good understanding about the course and its content. Remember that you write only one personal statement for your five choices. Make sure that the courses are similar, if not the same, and make sure that you do not mention a specific course or university.

Read our advice on how to draft a winning personal statement or watch our video guide.

After you’ve applied

You should keep an eye on your application on UCAS ‘Track’. Offers from universities will appear on track and you will be able to accept or decline offers.

You can only reply when you have received all your decisions. The types of reply you can make are firm acceptance and insurance acceptance. Usually students reply in early May.

International Student?

If you are an international student, our International Student pages offer further information on applying.

As an international student applying to study one of our undergraduate programmes you can:

• apply via UCAS,
• or apply direct to Bangor through our online direct application system
• or apply with the help of one of our recruitment agents

Erasmus student?

We receive around 350 exchange students every year from all over the world. 45% of these students come from Europe and the remainder from as far as Singapore, South Korea and Australia.

The University’s International Exchanges Office is responsible for welcoming these students.

Confused about your next steps?

Take a look at our Going to University website for information and advice on getting ready for university.