The School of Engineering, Technology & Design at CCCU is a fast-growing department and an exciting place to be right now, we have a new building facility with impressive and well-equipped laboratories, workshops and classrooms.

We would encourage you to do some preparation before you start your course, so take a look at some of the well-known designers / engineers and books and references indicated below. You will find plenty of study materials online, although we don’t recommend you purchase books until you talk to tutors and get their personal recommendations.

The BEng degree is three years with the potential to add an additional year and gain an MEng qualification, which can be achieved by work consistency and recommendation of course tutors.

The academic year at Canterbury Christ Church University is split into two semesters – one running from September to January and a second one from late January to May. Each Semester you will study three different modules covering different areas of Product Design Engineering.

The course aims to develop your knowledge, understanding and skills in Product Design Engineering so that upon completion, you will be ready for employment in a variety of industries and careers that require your skills. You will get the opportunity to research, develop, prototype, test and manufacture products in both group and personal projects, learning as you progress and building confidence in the fascinating field of design and engineering.

Year 1 Core Modules:

• Computer Aided Engineering
• Professional Engineering Skills
• Applied Mathematics and Programming
• Material Science and Testing
• Integrated Electro-mechanical Systems and Practices

Before your course commences, we would encourage you to look at the relevant pages of various online news sources (e.g. BBC News, The Guardian, The Telegraph, The Engineer) to see what is being talked about in the field of design and engineering.

During welcome week you will learn a lot about studying at CCCU, so please engage with as many of the activities as you can. You will also be assigned your Personal Academic Tutor (PAT), who will provide you with academic and personal support and signpost you to other relevant departments for any additional help you may need throughout your time with us.

Your welcome and induction will be w/c 15 September 2025 - we look forward to meeting you then.

CCCU Key dates:

CCCU timetable and dates for 2025-26

Community

On the social side, the Student Union (CCSU) has a huge range of clubs and societies – all of which have unique social calendars of their own and offer endless opportunities to make lifelong friends and discover new hobbies. And you can always create your own society and cultivate your own community!

CCSU will be hosting their Welcome Fayre on Wednesday 17 September 2025. Make sure you keep checking the CCSU website for further details and how to get involved.

We understand that you may be nervous about your first few weeks on campus but rest assured - you'll be joining a nurturing and supportive environment where diversity, equality and individuality are part of everything we do.

For more information about the course, please visit the UG course page or the Foundation Year course page.

If you are an International Student joining us then please see our International Student Support pages for further information and guidance.

Below are some recommended reading materials to help you prepare for starting your course.  Please note these are not mandatory, but simply guidelines should you wish to prepare and undertake any reading before your course starts.

• Norman D (2013), The Design of Everyday Things: Revised and Expanded Edition, Basic books
• Cross N. (2015). Engineering Design Methods: Strategies for Product Design, 5th Edition. John Wiley & Sons, New York.
• Jane Penty (2019) Product Design and Sustainability: Strategies, Tools and Practice. First edition. Routledge.
• Clive L. Dym. (2013) Engineering Design: A Project-Based Introduction, 4th Edition, John Wiley & Sons, New York.
• Ashby M & Johnson K (2014) Materials and Design: The Art and Science of Material Selection in Product Design. Third edition, Butterworth-Heinemann,
• Vijay Kumar (2013) 101 Design Methods: A structured approach for driving innovation in your organisation, John Wiley & Sons.
• Eissen K. (2013). Sketching: Drawing Techniques for Product Designers, First edition, BIS publishers, Amsterdam.
• Pahl G, Beitz W & Feldhusen J. (2007). Engineering Design: A Systematic Approach. Third edition Springer
• Bridger Rs. (2018) Introduction to Human Factors and Ergonomics. Fourth Edition, CRC Press, New York.

We recommend you take a look at the following online resources over the summer to help prepare you for your studies:

• Autodesk - Integrated CAD, CAM and CAE Software
• Inclusive Design Toolkit
• MATLAB working manual
• Microsoft Excel working manual

You may wish to keep track of what we are doing by following us on our X page:

• Christ Church Student Union X - @christchurchsu