BSc (Hons) Design Engineering

Core Units

• Academic Study Skills for Engineering and Technology: You will gain the fundamental academic and research skills required for degree level study. The unit will introduce you to a broad grounding in literature searching, literature review, data collection, methodological approach, data analysis and interpretation and ethical practice. It will also support you to begin to develop a critical and analytical approach to your work and identify areas for personal development. 
• Introduction to Computers: This unit will enable you to develop a basic knowledge and understanding of computer technology and its role in the modern world. It will also cover a range of practical computing skills and techniques you will need to be prepared for studying at degree level.
• Mathematics for Engineering and Technology: Mathematics develops analytical and problem-solving skills and provides the knowledge to solve engineering and coding problems. This unit will provide you with confidence in mathematics and enable you to perform calculations on a range of scientific data from engineering, creative technologies and computing disciplines. 
• Introduction to Engineering Science: Engineering science is a broad discipline that encompasses many different scientific principles and associated mathematics that underpins engineering. This unit will enable you to develop a basic understanding of a range of fundamental scientific principles to solve elementary engineering problems.
• Introduction to Computer-Aided Design Tools: This unit has been designed to enable you to use CAD tools to create basic 3D solid models and assemblies and to produce orthographic drawings. Computer Aided Design (CAD) tools are used in engineering to communicate ideas and share design intent and are therefore a fundamental skill for engineers.  
• Foundation Year Engineering and Technology Project: You will design, carry out and report on an engineering or technological investigation, based on an agreed topic chosen by the unit leader. You will carry out a research task for further investigation. With a focus on global context and sustainability, the student will also produce a literature review.

Core units

• Design Communication: You will develop understanding of the principles of idea generation, design communication and presentation through a range of media. You will explore form and function through manual presentation techniques, apply digital image manipulation, develop part and assembly mock-ups through computer modelling and develop engineering drawings for technical presentation.
• Engineering Principles A: You will develop the ability to apply a range of principles to the design of components, structures and machines and operation of mechanical systems. You will then be able to apply those principles to the generation and development of realisable solutions of design and engineering problems.
• Design Engineering Projects 1: This unit will introduce you to the principles and application of design methods and processes. You will integrate knowledge from other units to solve real world design problems through the application of multidisciplinary methods.
• Materials with Practice: This unit will provide you with the ability to identify, plan and apply skills that are necessary for selection and specification of suitable materials and production techniques for design.
• Electrical and Electronic Principles: You will be introduced to and develop an understanding of the principles required to design electrical and electronic systems within an engineering project.
• Team Project :You will practise collaborative work to generate a wide range of design ideas, concepts and design proposals in response to set design briefs, and effectively present to different audiences to communicate your ideas.

Core units

• Manufacturing and Engineering Materials: In this unit you will develop not only understanding surrounding properties and uses of engineering materials but also the requirements of modern manufacturing for design and engineering applications.
• Engineering Design Tools: You will develop understanding of practical engineering design visualisation and verification through the application of an integrated workflow to an engineering design problem. You will apply engineering analysis to inform 3D parametric modelling, digital product definition, CNC manufacturing and metrology validation.
• Engineering Simulation: You will gain awareness of new technologies available to assist the development of mechanical and electronic concepts. Additionally you will gain familiarity with industry standard simulation technologies and tools used by today’s design engineers.
• Design Engineering Projects 2: You will identify key design constraints through the interrogation of market conditions and customer expectation for a range of practical design problems. You will utilise engineering analysis and creative design throughout the design process to propose, develop and validate innovative solutions for both the mass and niche production.
• Management and Commercialisation: This unit will introduce students to key aspects of business and management that relate to the development and delivery of commercial value, and the issues facing business functions such as marketing, operations and finance.

You’ll complete a minimum 30-week work placement which can be carried out anywhere in the world. The placement year offers a chance to gain experience and make contacts for the future.

Although you will be enrolled onto the four-year degree (including the placement), you can opt out of the placement element to complete your degree in three years.

Core units

• Mechanical and Electronic System Design: This unit will improve on prior knowledge gained as you will look to develop competence and critical awareness in use of modern analytical techniques and tools used in the product development process.
• Business Development: Approaches to strategic management and thinking will be examined to capitalise on your entrepreneurial spirit and business acumen.
• Design Engineering Project 3: Knowledge underpinned in your first two years of study will progress, establishing and consolidating design criteria application while concurrently integrating engineering disciplines with the end goal of producing an individual, final design project.

Programme specifications provide definitive records of the University's taught degrees in line with Quality Assurance Agency requirements. Every taught course leading to a BU Award has a programme specification which describes its aims, structure, content and learning outcomes, plus the teaching, learning and assessment methods used.

Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the programme specification, the information is liable to change to take advantage of exciting new approaches to teaching and learning as well as developments in industry.

If you have been unable to locate the programme specification for the course you are interested in, it will be available as soon as the latest version is ready. Alternatively please contact us for assistance.

With practical learning being integral to your degree, we provide industry standard specialist facilities. 
 
We continue to invest in our campuses so all our students can maximise their talents today and into the future. 
 
Visit our virtual tour to find out more and get a feel for where you’ll be studying while you’re based on our Talbot Campus. 

A placement should be a highly rewarding experience for you and the employing company and we do our best to ensure that everyone involved feels that they have got the most that they can from the experience.

Placements provide a great opportunity to make your first career steps and enhance your employability while you’re completing your studies. You’ll get the opportunity to:

• Put the theory learnt throughout the course into professional practice
• Enhance your study and help you decide on subject options (where appropriate)
• Learn a wide range of skills such as time management, problem solving and team work (all of these are important to succeed in any career)
• Make contacts, as it is not uncommon for our students to be offered permanent positions to return to after graduating
• Gain a real insight into how the industry operates in roles that would be almost impossible to achieve for an outsider.

Many of our students, during their placement, are given responsibilities normally associated with graduate trainees. This is what one employer said about one of thier BU interns:

“She is working at a level of a two- to three-year postgraduate. During her placement she has met all her set objects and KPI requirements. I believe she will be a very successful design engineer in her chosen career path. Due to her overall performance and a can do approach to work, we are hoping as a company to offer fourth year sponsorship for her final year with the intention of offering her full-time employment within the design office once her degree is finished.”

You will begin your placement after completion of your second year of study and you must complete a minimum of 30 weeks.

However, while you will be enrolled onto the four-year degree, you can opt out of the placement year if you choose to do so.

The faculty running your course will offer the support of a Placement Co-ordinator. 

They’ll help you plan your placement so make sure you get the right experience for you. That includes offering help and support if you need to move to another part of the UK – and even another country – to get the most out of your time.

We’ve also built close industry links over the years – so our network of employers that are keen to work with placement students is always growing. Or if you’d prefer to arrange your placement independently, we can offer advice on how to do that too.

• GE (General Electric)
• Bentley Motors
• Mercedes AMG Petronas
• Aish Technologies
• Catepillar
• NATS
• Robert Bosch Ltd.

AccessBU: AccessBU provides you with the opportunity to tell us about your circumstances that are not always evident in your UCAS application. This widening access initiative also considers relevant criteria such as being in care or if you live in an area with a low participation rate in Higher Education - if you are eligible, your offer could be up to 16 UCAS tariff points below the published tariff.

Apprenticeships: We recognise the transferable knowledge and skills gained through apprenticeships and welcome applications from students with a Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship recognised by the Institute for Apprenticeships. Each application will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Deferred entry: We are happy to consider eligible applicants for deferred entry. If you have already submitted your application, please submit your deferral request through our website.

Direct entry: We welcome applications from students who have previously studied at degree level at other institutions and wish to transfer onto a BU course. Our Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) procedure enables credit awarded from one institution to contribute to a BU award, subject to an application process. Please visit our RPL webpage for more information.

Mature applicants: We recognise that mature applicants may have a wealth of experience rather than formal qualifications, so we’ll consider your application on these merits if included in your application. You’ll need to apply to BU in the usual way through UCAS and you may be invited to an interview to discuss your suitability for the course based on the experience you tell us about in your application.

We select candidates for this course by looking at your application. For that reason, make sure your application really stands out from the crowd, and leave us in no doubt as to why you should be joining BU. You will be offered a chance to have your portfolio reviewed by one of the tutors on the course. You can find some handy hints about filling in your UCAS form on our how to apply web pages.

We look at individual applications and make a tailored offer based on your potential to succeed on the course considering a range of factors, including your academic achievements, work and other experience, reference and personal statement. You will be offered a chance to have your portfolio reviewed by one of the tutors on the course. Typically, we make an offer at the bottom of the tariff range.

AccessBU gives you the chance to tell us more about you and your life experiences if you haven’t had the same educational opportunities as other applicants. If you are eligible for AccessBU, your offer could be up to 16 UCAS Tariff Points below the published tariff.

For September 2024 and September 2025 entry

If your application meets our academic entry requirements, we will ask you to upload a portfolio to support your application. Please note you will have 14 days to provide your portfolio from the date of the request. Portfolios could include, but are not limited to:

• Examples of any technical work you have created
• Drawings and sketches
• Model making and examples of workshop activity science or technology related projects 
• School and/or external project work at any level

Applicants should demonstrate a keen interest in design and a desire to apply both creative and analytical thinking throughout the design process.

Your portfolio will be reviewed by one of the academics with relevant expertise on the course and we may invite you to take part in an online interview.

Our offer-making will typically be based on your most recent qualifications, including any required subjects where applicable. We'll consider all qualifications when assessing your application, although these may not be part of our offer.

If you do not meet the criteria of your original offer, we may still offer you a place. We will review your whole application and consider all academic qualifications (including those not in the offer) to see if you have the academic potential to succeed on the course. If we feel the answer is yes, we will confirm your place.

These courses have compulsory manufacturing elements, using machinery in workshops. Students must complete a health and safety risk assessment before using the workshops, for their safety and that of others. As part of that assessment students provide information about any conditions or disabilities that might affect their ability to undertake manufacturing fully or safely.

If you have such a condition or disability, please let us know as soon as possible. You can contact our Additional Learning Support (ALS) service about this before or after making an application. We will then work with you to identify any support or adjustments you would need. Our ALS team works with the Faculty to seek to put in place reasonable adjustments and health and safety plans.

Exceptionally, it may not be possible to arrange for a student to access these courses without either over-riding their core standards or competencies or creating unacceptable risks to health and safety. If that is the case we will help you explore alternative course choices.

The jobs you could take on include:

• Assistant Technical Designer
• Business Development Agent
• Construction Project Manager
• Design and Development Engineer
• Mechanical Engineer
• Systems Engineer.

Among the organisations our graduates are working for are:

• Aish Technologies Limited
• Canyons
• General Electric Aviation
• Made Lovingly Made
• Modulift
• Pall Aerospace
• Stanley Investments Building Services
• Visteon.

Once you have completed an undergraduate Honours degree, you can further develop your education by studying for a postgraduate degree, such as MSc Mechanical Engineering Design. Please visit our postgraduate section for further details about our range of Master’s degrees.

This course is accredited by the IED, which means that you will have the skills you'll need to get started in the industry when you graduate. 

What’s included in your tuition fee?

Your tuition fee covers expenses associated with your course including tuition materials, access to facilities, mandatory field trips and the following:

• Materials for laboratory and workshop activity and mandatory field-based teaching activity
• A range of student services – advisors, help desks, counsellors, placement support and careers service
• The Library – access to a wide range of electronic resources (databases, e-journals and e-books), print and multimedia collections, subject librarians and study spaces
• Access to Brightspace, our virtual learning environment, which offers a responsive and personalised learning experience with powerful learning analytics capabilities, integrated social media and advanced video features
• Support for finding placements (UK or abroad) and fieldwork, and non-financial support whilst on placement if this is part of your course of study
• IT labs (some open 24/7), wireless network, AV equipment to borrow
• Free software download to your personal device of Microsoft Office 365 ProPlus while you are studying, as well as access to applications provided on AppsAnywhere, subject to licensing and compatibility restrictions
• Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) scheme
• Disability and additional learning support, according to individual circumstances
• The BU Language Centre to help you develop/improve foreign or English language skills
• 24 hours a day, 365 days a year security team
• A2-A0 Plots for CAD coursework
• Loan of lab coats and safety glasses

Additional costs

We are committed to offering you value for money and ensuring there are no hidden costs while you are studying with us, therefore we have listed below any additional costs you may incur that are not covered by your tuition fee:

For September 2024 entry:

• Laptops, tablets and mobile devices and any software used on personal devices. Access to a personal computer is strongly recommended for your study. If you are experiencing financial difficulty, visit our website for information regarding hardship funds.
• Textbooks, general stationery and other supplies. Our award-winning library is stocked with a large range of textbooks and online resources, free of charge. The Students’ Union shop stocks a wide range of stationery supplies.
• Accommodation and living costs. Our accommodation price guide can be found on our website. 
• Travel costs to and from the University campus. An annual bus pass is included in your rent if you are living in halls of residence/Unilet accommodation or may be purchased separately.
• Travel costs to and from your placement (both in the UK and overseas). Information about funding your placement year can be found on our website.
• You will need to meet the cost of any Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check if required by your placement setting, including any Post Office verification changes. 
• Clothing or equipment costs required for your placement if this is part of your course of study.
• SportBU membership.

While all aspects of the programme, including required field trips, are included in the fee, additional, optional or extra curricula activities may be available for which a student contribution is required.

If you need to repeat one or more units during your studies (with or without attendance) the pricing will be pro-rata of the full-time fee.

Dr Nigel Garland is an active member of the IED. He works with industrial and academic colleagues to develop and revise British and International standards such as BS8888 (Engineering Drawing Practice).

Associate Professor Dr Tania Humphries-Smith is the current Chair of the Institute of Engineering Designers (IED), the UK’s only professional body representing those working in the many fields of engineering and product design.

Dr Bryce Dyer created a new limb for athlete Colin Lynch, which he used as he represented his country at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.