BA Product Design
About this course
BA (Hons) in Product Design, a fashion design degree focused on the creation and analysis of functional and sustainable goods. Core topics include Engineering Design, Critical & Analytical Thinking, Design & Creative Practice, and Social & Cultural Analysis. The first year covers the foundations through Product Design, Design and Screen Cultures, and sketching in 2D and 3D. The second year introduces workshop prototyping and making, computer-aided design, additive manufacturing, and materials and manufacturing processes. The third year shifts towards advanced concepts, featuring modules such as connect products and services that are driven by data, and experimentation with traditional and emerging making processes. The fourth year consolidates learning through independent research and major project work.
Written by AI from the university's course page and module list. It can get details wrong, so check the official course page before you rely on it.
Entry requirements
A level: ABB (required: no specific A level subjects required) IB: 34 points with 655 at HL
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Admissions (2022 entry, home applicants)
Offer rate 13%: 37 offers from 287 applications, from the university's Freedom of Information return.
What students say
Based on about 17 final-year students who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 90%
- Learning opportunities: 76%
- Assessment and feedback: 76%
- Academic support: 85%
- Organisation and management: 85%
- Learning resources: 92%
- Student voice: 83%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 15 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Continued on course: 95%
- Left higher education: 5%
What graduates do next
Based on about 15 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 95%
- Working and studying: 5%
Most common jobs
- Artistic, literary and media occupations: 20%
- Sales occupations: 10%
- Web and Multimedia Design Professionals: 10%
- Design occupations: 10%
- Administrative occupations: 5%
- Find their work meaningful: 80%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 55%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 35%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 120 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 3%
- North West: 3%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 1%
- East Midlands: 3%
- West Midlands: 3%
- East of England: 3%
- London: 27%
- South East: 11%
- South West: 2%
- Wales: 1%
- Scotland: 40%
- Northern Ireland: 2%
Who gets in
Based on about 25 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- A levels: 85%
- Access course: 5%
- Other HE qualification: 10%
- No formal qualifications: 5%
Modules
- Product Design
- Design and Screen Cultures
- sketching in 2D and 3D
- materiality
- value and sustainability
- product semantics and communicating meaning
- design history
- visual and cultural theories
- contemporary design practice
- workshop prototyping and making
- computer-aided design
- additive manufacturing
- materials and manufacturing processes
- product assembly
- methods of design ethnography
- sustainability
- brand awareness
- critical thinking
- speculative design
- electronics and interaction
- visual and cultural theory
- contemporary design research and practice
- understanding of design in a wider context
- ability to plan and structure design writing
- develop your identity as a designer
- consider the ethics of design and designing
- have more control over project focus
- analyse social norms and speculate on possible futures
- work with live clients
- value creation and mediation, considering multiple stakeholders
- connected products and services that are driven by data
- the role design plays in activism and politics
- experimentation with traditional and emerging making processes
- refine your portfolio and CV
- prepare for interviews
- make applications for a summer internship
- use research to recognise unique design opportunities
- define a design brief and a design specification
- plan and manage concurrent projects
- employ critical thinking skills and essential knowledge of the product design process
- communicate with diverse audiences
- research a topic of personal interest
- learn more about planning and structuring design writing
- further enhance your written communication skills
- link theory and practice
- teaching
- guidance
- support
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA Product Design at University of Edinburgh earn?
The median salary is £26,500 after 15 months, £22,500 after 3 years, £27,500 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £21,000 and £37,000. The £27,500 median after five years is £1,500 more than the UK median for Design studies.
What do graduates of BA Product Design at University of Edinburgh do next?
95% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA Product Design at University of Edinburgh?
90% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BA Product Design at University of Edinburgh?
The typical offer is ABB at A level, or 34 points in the IB. The average entrant had 152 UCAS points.
What is the offer rate for BA Product Design at University of Edinburgh?
13% of home applicants received an offer for 2022 entry: 37 offers from 287 applications, according to the university's Freedom of Information return.
Does BA Product Design at University of Edinburgh include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has an optional year abroad.
How many students continue on BA Product Design at University of Edinburgh?
95% of students continued into their second year, and 5% left higher education.