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I’m enjoying my Product Design Engineering course as I get to learn the basics of engineering as well as the designing aspect working both alone and in groups just like it will be in industry. I like how we started off working with the other fields of engineering as it gave me the basic understanding and aspects which I wouldn’t have necessarily thought to have considered in my designs.
Megan
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This course is also available with a Foundation Year.
Product Design Engineering with Foundation Year
Overview
Innovative new products and improvements to existing ones happen continuously. Within this course you’ll use existing technologies to create new solutions.
You will learn to solve complex problems, research, develop and prototype your ideas to produce engineered working solutions that can be manufactured. You will also work with product designers, enabling you to use your creativity to make products look great.
Our course has been designed in collaboration with industry and you’ll have excellent opportunities to develop professional engineering practice and work with a range of employers. You are also able to take control of your study focus, so if you have an innovative mind and flair for problem-solving, this course is for you.
Why Study Product Design Engineering?
Product design engineers are key to transforming an engineering idea into a solution that can be manufactured and that works.
On this hands-on course, you'll develop a wide range of transferable skills and will build your knowledge of the qualities of materials and of methods of construction and manufacturing to create products that a company can sell.
Your creativity may provide a solution that a company needs to expand their market and reach new users. For instance, you may design products which are easier for people with limited strength or disabilities to use.
Entry requirements
88-112 UCAS points (including A level or equivalent in mathematics, physics, applied science or engineering).
Further entry requirements
- 5 GCSEs grade C/4 or above (including mathematics, English, science)
- science can be physics, chemistry, biology or computer science.
MEng Product Design Engineering and BEng Product Design Engineering with Foundation Year are also available.
For more information on the IELTS (International English language Testing System) requirements for this course, please click here to visit our dedicated web page.
88-112
UCAS Points
All about the course
The hands-on problem-solving aspect of this course makes up 40% - 60% of each year of study, so you'll be gaining practical experience every step of the way.
You'll start by learning the essentials of mechanical related engineering, engineering evaluation, concept generation, design, prototype and testing real problems. You'll also develop your confidence in applying the fundamental science (laws of physics), mathematics and statistics principles, and computing skills in context to engineering. Through workshops you'll put theory into practice and you'll have the opportunity to work on a group project in your first year.
As you progress through the degree, you'll gain specialist skills and knowledge in areas such as engineering product life cycle, CAD tools, Industry 4.0 technology, manufacturing control, instrumentation, and communication systems
In the final year, you'll work independently and as part of a team on a major design engineering project.
The strong focus we place on preparing you for employment means you'll have an opportunity to undertake a work placement within an engineering organisation. Here you can make your mark on a live project and develop your transferable skills to help your CV stand out from the crowd.
Module information
Please note that the list of optional modules and their availability may be subject to change. We continually review and where appropriate, revise the range of modules on offer to reflect changes in the subject and ensure the best student experience. Modules will vary when studied in combination with another subject.
Core/optional modules
How you’ll learn
You will be taught through a combination of lectures, seminars, tutorials and workshops.
Seminars and tutorials in smaller groups will enable you to discuss and develop your understanding of topics covered in lectures. In addition, you will meet with your academic personal tutor and will spend a significant amount of time gaining hands-on experience in the computing and engineering laboratories.
In each academic year you will complete a team CDIO project (typically sourced from industry) in a 40 credit module. These large group projects provide you with the opportunity to reflect on your knowledge and understanding in context to a real-world scenario and develop your confidence in your mechanical and product engineering understanding and knowledge.
Additional drop-in academic and peer learning mentoring sessions will be typically timetabled and you will be encouraged to make use of and support these sessions to develop your learning.
We will also nurture your transferable skills so you can:
• work effectively in diverse and inclusive groups
• communicate effectively in groups and one-to-one
• apply project management to group-work
• apply principles of commercial management and solutions considerations
• develop effective communication with professionals from other disciplines, especially clinicians
• contribute to industry through your solutions
• provide tangible results for your portfolio of evidence for future employment.
All courses are informed by the University’s Learning and Teaching Strategy 2015-2022.
When not attending lectures, seminars, workshops or other timetabled sessions you will be expected to continue learning through self-study. Typically, this will involve reading journal articles and books, undertaking research in the library, working on projects, preparing coursework assignments/examination, and preparing for workshops and seminars.
Your module tutor will direct you towards specific readings and/or activities that you will be expected to complete before class.
Each 20 credit module requires 200 hours of input over the academic year. This includes class contact time in lectures, tutorials, workshops, laboratory work, module preparation, module learning contextualisation, assessment research, development and submission, and examination revision.
The contact time per module is typically a blend of lectures, laboratories and tutorials and equates to:
• Year 1 60 hours
• Year 2 50 hours
• Year 3 40 hours
Typical contact time per week:
• Year 1 15 hours
• Year 2 12.5 hours
• Year 3 10 hours
The modules are led by our engineering academic team consisting of lecturers, senior lecturers, principal lecturers, and laboratory learning will be further supported by senior and junior technicians and postgraduate demonstrators.
During this course, we will help you to become a highly-skilled Product Design Engineer and direct your natural creativity through this academic journey.
Stuart LambertProgramme Director
How you’ll be assessed
All academic years consist of a mix of modules that are assessed by coursework only, to modules that are assessed by examination and coursework. Examinations may be open-book or closed book exams. Coursework may include, Engineering log book, Technical drawings, Wiki pages, blogs, pitches to industry, posters, leaflets, engineering manual, etc.
Years 1-3 (Levels 4-6) each consist of 4 modules that are 20 credits each and 1 module that is 40 credits.
In the modules and module assessment you will need to demonstrate:
- Knowledge and understanding of engineering science and principles engineering at Level 4;
- Application of knowledge and understanding of Product Design at Level 5;
- Critical analysis of application of knowledge and understanding of Product Design at Level 6.
The 40 credit modules will provide you with the opportunity to work on a substantial group CDIO (Create, Design, Implement and Operate) project typically sourced from industry. These projects will provide you with the opportunity to build your technical skills, as well as your professional practice skills. The pioneering CDIO approach is being designed to enable you to develop your creative skills to find solutions based on engineering science, principles and provide practical benefits to end users, and manufacturers. For example, could your group innovate and design the next generation of bathroom taps that plug and fit solution, and that are user friendly for able, disabled and elderly users.
The Level 6 Professional Product Engineering Project 40 credits module will entail a group and individual project. The overall group project will be typically sourced from industry, and will require a number of individual projects to support a solution to the overall group project. Each individual project will entail dissertation assessment. Each group will be led and managed by a Level 7 MEng student studying the Professional Engineering Project and Management module. Each Level 7 student will research, develop, apply and test through the development of their own evaluation methods to critically analyse a more complex problem that contributes to the Level 6 Professional Product Engineering group. Each Level 6 and 7 individual project within the group project will entail a dissertation.
Your future career
Product Design Engineers may work in several different sectors where they are required to use their creativity to develop new products and improve existing ones. They research ideas and processes that lead to new product development or transfer existing technology to new uses. They apply innovation and they generally work in multi-disciplinary teams alongside design teams, materials engineers, manufacturing engineers and mechanical engineers to make the solution a reality. They see a product transform from an idea at the conception stage right through to mass production. They work closely with the end users and customers to realise the market needs.
There are many industries and companies with roles that could involve things like:
• Innovating bathroom fittings for all users (able, elderly and/or disabled users)
• Conceiving and designing new street lighting that meets European and local heritage standards
• Researching and developing solutions to support disaster recovery, health and hygiene for remote areas
• Creating new packaging solutions for a variety of high-end products to protect the products during the delivery process
• Designing tools, moulds, jigs and fittings for CNC machines for a part for mass production
• Generate concept, design and prototype new products for example folding sustainable coffee cups
• Prototype engineering toys for the domestic market.
Product design engineers are sought after by a wide variety of industries for example:
• Embedded systems suppliers: designing the casing for electronics, from laptop case to WiFi router box
• Engineering fabrication workshops: designing, manufacturing and fabricating bespoke one-off parts and prototypes for a variety of customers.
• Financial organisations: design engineers are also highly sought after for their data processing and investigating abilities for industry audits, accountancy and consultancy
• Legal sector for technical reviewing, advising, and approving patents.
Please note that some career paths are subject to further academic study and qualifications may require industrial sponsorship or be dependent on the employer and the economic or sector demand.
Fees
The 2021/22 annual tuition fees for this course are:
| UK | Overseas | |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time | £9,250 | £13,000 |
| Full-time - placement year | £1,850 | N/A |
Tuition fees for all courses are payable on an annual basis, except where stated.
Please read the 2021/22 Tuition Fee Statement for further information regarding 2021/22 tuition fees and year on year fee increases.
- Read advice about funding your degree
- See information about the financial support available for undergraduate studies
- If you would like information about paying your fees, please contact accounts.receivable@canterbury.ac.uk
- For specific fee queries, please contact fees@canterbury.ac.uk
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The Office for Students (OfS) regulates Canterbury Christ Church University. The OfS is the independent regulator of higher education in England. It aims to ensure that every student, whatever their background, has a fulfilling experience of higher education that enriches their lives and careers. Further details about its work are available on the OfS website.
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Duration:
3 yearsUCAS code:
H152Location(s):
CanterburyAny questions?
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+44 (0)1227 928000
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