Product Design (with an industrial placement year) BA (Hons)

at University of Sussex

We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2022/23. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to COVID-19, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum. We’ll make sure to let our applicants know of material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.

We’ll do our best to provide as much optional choice as we can, but timetabling constraints mean it may not be possible to take some module combinations. The structure of a small number of courses means that the order of modules or the streams you choose may determine whether modules are core or optional. This means that your core modules or options may differ from what’s shown below.

Year 1

Core modules
Core modules are taken by all students on the course. They give you a solid grounding in your chosen subject and prepare you to explore the topics that interest you most.

Autumn teaching

• Creative Research Methods for Design and Communication
• Drawing for Design
• Materials and Processes for Product Design
• Mathematics for Product Design

Spring teaching

• Applied Technology for Product Design
• Computer Aided Visualisation
• Experience Prototyping
• The Narrative of Design in Modern Culture
• Intersemester Week
• Global Design Challenge

Year 2

Core modules
Core modules are taken by all students on the course. They give you a solid grounding in your chosen subject and prepare you to explore the topics that interest you most.

Autumn teaching

• Design for Manufacture for Product Design
• Design Techniques in Practice
• Human Factors and Ergonomics
• Interaction Methods

Spring teaching

• Design for Industry
• Integrated Product Design: Research, Theory and Practice
• Professional and Managerial Skills
• Toy and Game Design

Year 3

Core modules
Core modules are taken by all students on the course. They give you a solid grounding in your chosen subject and prepare you to explore the topics that interest you most.

Autumn teaching

• Business and Project Management
• Design Philosophy
• The Role of Design in the Circular Economy
• Autumn and spring teaching
• Design Project (BA)

Spring teaching

• Thinking Big: The 5 Senses

International Baccalaureate

Typical offer    

30-32 points overall from the full IB Diploma.

European Baccalaureate

Typical offer    

Overall result of at least 75% - 77%

Additional requirements    

Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

English language requirements

• IELTS (Academic): 6.0 overall, including at least 5.5 in each component

Home students: £9,250 per year

Channel Islands and Isle of Man students: £9,250 per year

International students: £18,500 per year

During your studies, you’ll have the opportunity to work on live briefs. You’ll gain valuable experience working with leading experts from a broad range of companies. Recent collaborations include:

• IBM
• Aardman Animations
• Dyson
• Lush Cosmetics,
• Viva Magazines
• Surfers Against Sewage
• Brighton Museum.