Paul Hines
Senior Lecturer in Product Design
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Product Design (Top-Up) BA (Hons)
Key Facts
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UCAS Code
W242
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Duration
Full Time: 1 Year
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Full Time: £9,535
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Full Time: £17,000
Updated 10/11/2025
Updated 10/11/2025
Get in touch
UK STUDENTS ENQUIRIES
study@northampton.ac.uk
0300 303 2772
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS ENQUIRIES
Our Top Up Product Design BA course builds on your existing knowledge and skills, enhancing your creativity and expertise in product design. The programme advances your proficiency in 3D digital design, artificial intelligence (AI), user experience (UX), and app design, while also fostering an entrepreneurial mindset and business acumen to support your future career success.
A key highlight of the Product & Design course is the major design project (MDP), a self-initiated endeavour focused on new product development (NPD). This comprehensive project takes you through every stage of the design process, from problem identification, research and ideation, concept generation, prototyping, evaluation, and 3D modelling. Complementing the MDP is the Design Enterprise project, which explores the commercial aspects of design, including company formation, marketing, branding, financial forecasting, business funding, and pitch-deck presentation – think of it as your own “Dragon’s Den” experience!
Studio culture is at the core of our top up Product Design programme, fostering creativity, collaboration, and critical debate. This dynamic environment inspires personal perspectives on design and equips you with the skills and mindset needed to thrive professionally in the creative industry.
Highlights
- Self-directed study tailored to your personal objectives and career ambitions.
- Collaborative, studio-based learning guided by experienced industry professionals.
- Live-client projects or collaborative working with creative companies.
- Training and hands-on experience with leading industry software, including SolidWorks and Adobe Creative Cloud.
- Access to Fab-Lab and workshops equipped with 3D printing and scanning, CNC routing and laser cutting technology.
- Opportunities to showcase your Product Design work though exhibitions.
- Access to potential project funding and business mentorship after graduation.
Entry Requirements
Standard entry requirements apply. Applicants are expected to have studied a Product Design or related Art and Design subject at Foundation Degree/HND or equivalent.
We welcome international applications and applications from students with a range of non-traditional educational or professional qualifications.
Applicants are requested to send a digital portfolio of their own work in Art and Design and attend a 30 minute online chat with a member of Product Design team.
Receiving an offer may also be subject to qualifications and standard entry requirements.
For more more information on how to make an application, please visit our How to Apply page.
If you are an International student and would like information on making an application, please see our How to Apply page.
All International and EU students applying for a course with us must meet the following minimum English language requirements:
- IELTS 6.0 (or equivalent) with a minimum of 5.5 in all bands for study at undergraduate level.
For information regarding English language requirements at the University, please see our IELTS page.
What You'll Learn
On the Product Design Top-Up BA (Hons) course at the University of Northampton, you’ll take your existing design skills to the next level. This one-year programme is all about turning ideas into real, impactful products. You’ll dive into advanced 3D digital design, user experience (UX), app design, and even explore how artificial intelligence (AI) is shaping the future of design.
You’ll lead your own major design project, from identifying a problem to creating prototypes and final visualisations. Alongside this, you’ll develop a business mindset through the Design Enterprise module—learning how to pitch ideas, build brands, and explore funding opportunities, just like a real start-up.
Studio-based learning means you’ll collaborate with other creatives, work on live client briefs, and get hands-on with industry-standard tools like SolidWorks and Adobe Creative Cloud. You’ll also have access to cutting-edge facilities including 3D printing, laser cutting, and CNC routing.
By the end of the course, you’ll have a professional portfolio, real-world experience, and the confidence to launch your career in product design – or even start your own business.
Compulsory Modules
This final major study module documents the research undertaken in the evolution of the Final Major Project and underpins the investigation and generation of applicable product conceptsThe work is realised through the submission of a research report that summarises the chosen topic area, identifies the problem to be solved, and outlines the fundamental design approach taken by the student.
This final major study module documents the development undertaken in the resolution of initial product ideas and concepts into a comprehensive Final Major Project design solutionThe work is realised through the submission of a development report that quantifies and substantiates the design decisions taken throughout this exploration process and may include appraisals of prototyping, modelling, testing, simulation and realisation of the student s final design.
The final major project will integrate the skills gained from all modules studied on the programmeThese will be demonstrated through a project initiated by the student utilising research carried out in Final Major Project Research module and documented in the Final Major Project Development moduleThe final design proposal will be presented in a critique, exhibition and audio-video presentation.
RESTRICTIONS:BA (Hons) Product Design BSc (Hons) Product Design
Please note the modules shown here relate to the academic year 25/26. The modules relating to the academic year 26/27 will be available from June 2026.
What specialist equipment will I need for the Product Design university degree?
To study on a Product Design degree, a high-specification laptop capable of running Adobe Creative Cloud and professional CAD software is essential. You will require a laptop, with the following specification:
PC Laptop specification – preferred option:
- CPU: Intel/AMD Processor scoring a single thread CPU Mark of 2,200 or higher. (Such as the AMD Ryzen 5 2600, Intel Core i7-4790 or better)
- System Memory : 32GB (16GB minimum)
- Graphics Card: a GPU scoring a G3D Mark of 14,000 or higher with up-to-date drivers. (Such as the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070, AMD Radeon RX 5700XT, Quadro RTX 3000 or better)
- Graphics Card Memory: 8GB or more
Screen Resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels - Hard Drive: 500GB SATA3 SSD or NVME m.2 storage
Operating System: Windows 10 64-bit (up to date) - Wi‑Fi networking: 802.11ac
MacBook specification with additional required software*:
- CPU: Apple M1 chip (or Intel)
- Memory: 32GB (16GB minimum)
- Operating System: MacOS 11 Big Sur
- Hard Drive: 500GB Solid State Drive (SSD) (256GB minimum)
- Wi‑Fi networking: 802.11ac
- Software*: Windows 10 64-bit, Bootcamp and/or Parallels
You will need to budget approximately £200 for the academic year for extra materials to cover the costs of sketch books, marker pens, modelmaking materials, 3D printing, and 2D printing of presentation graphics. This amount is a guide based on what successful current students and recent graduates on this Product Design degree have spent and will depend upon the projects you choose to undertake.
You will need to purchase, drawing and modelmaking equipment such as digital Vernier callipers, cutting tools, basic hand tools, plus a toolbox to contain them. A comprehensive list will be provided prior to starting the course.
Fees and Funding
2025/26 Tuition Fees
- UK – Full Time: £9,535
- UK – Part Time: £1,585 per 20 credit module
- International – Full Time: £17,000
Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 2025/26 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years. UON will adjust UK fees annually in line with Government Policy.
Equipment and trips (approximate pricing):
- Final Year – £150-300 materials & printing
- Final Year – £75-150 degree show & New Designers exhibition
For information on the scholarships available to you, please see our scholarships page.
For more information about possible funding options, please visit our Fees and Funding pages.
Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 24/25 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.
- UK – Full Time: £9,250
- UK – Part Time: £1,540 per 20 credit module
- International – Full Time: £16,500
Staff
Friedemann Schaber
Senior Lecturer in Product Design
