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Product Design BSc (Hons)

  • Level(s) of Study: Undergraduate
  • UCAS Code(s): H715 (with placement year) / W244 (full-time)
  • Start Date(s): September 2023
  • Duration: Four years full-time with placement year, three years full-time
  • Study Mode(s): Full-time / Sandwich
  • Campus: City Campus
  • Entry Requirements:
    More information

Introduction:

This course has both eyes (and hands) on the technological side of design — the making and manufacturing of products, systems, and services. It’s a great option if you’re naturally curious about design engineering, and looking for a practical, hands-on approach.

We’ll be analysing form and function in design, encouraging your creativity whilst also taking a specialist’s dive into areas like electronics and robotics, mechatronic techniques, materials testing, and manufacturing. We’ll explore the emerging trends — things like UX, smart technology, and sustainability.

In product teardowns, you’ll ‘reverse engineer’ items from the inside, and then design out their flaws; on site visits, you’ll receive live project briefs from some of the industry’s biggest players, who’ll review and feedback on your work. You could even test your skills on a year-long professional placement; our previous assignments have included TATA, Samsung, Autodesk (San Francisco), and Hubs (Amsterdam).

We’ve developed this course to ensure you’re not just an option for employers, but their priority. You’ll graduate with a designer’s eye for innovation, an engineer’s skill in manufacturing, and a CEO’s appetite for the bottom line. That’s a powerful package — and it’s why our graduates secure work with companies like Dyson, Disney, Unilever, and McLaren F1.

  • 100% of our BSc (Hons) Product Design SW graduates are in a ‘High Skilled’ role within 15 months of finishing their degrees (of those available for work or study, latest Graduate Outcomes Survey 2019/20).
  • You’ll be using the same equipment as the pros. From 3D printers to water-jet cutters and bandsaws, plus dedicated workshops for wood, metal and concrete working, we’ve got the lot — minimising the jump from uni to industry.
  • We’re industry-focused with great connections. Through live projects and placements, you’ll be working with leading companies such as Tesco, PepsiCo and JCB. It’s great for your portfolio and CV, and you’ll also get excellent employability support.
  • Prove your talents to industry reps — exhibitions like New Designers and NTU’s annual Degree Show are fixtures in the product design calendar, while our students have won big at competitions like the Starpack Awards and Engineers Without Borders.

Course accreditation

  • Institution of Engineering Designers logo

Main image: Work by Bethany Wignall

Check out the NTU Design Industries Virtual Student Showcase — an online exhibition celebrating our Class of 2022.

What you’ll study

This course offers you a great blend of the creative and the technical. We’ll encourage you to develop your own conceptual approach to design — but we also believe that being an engineer means being hands-on, and at the earliest opportunities. It’s our goal to ensure you graduate as a skilled designer, maker, project manager and communicator — someone with an appreciation of possibilities, a respect for practicalities, and the interpersonal excellence to work usefully with others.

We’ve grown this course through constant dialogue with big employers and our Industrial Liaison Committee. Based on their insights — plus the professional experience of our own teachers — we know what the best in the business are expecting to see from today’s graduates. That’s what we’ll teach you.

Together, we’ll be analysing the evolution of contemporary design — its history, its critical tradition, and its psychology. We’ll be looking at the ways in which good (and sometimes not so good) design principles are applied across products, systems and services, and the exciting role that we as designers and engineers can play. We’ll analyse manufacturing processes, and the growing importance of ethical, sustainable design; we’ll explore things like alternative energy systems, smart technology and robotics; and in the studio and workshops, we’ll grow your own ideas from sketches to prototypes.

Here’s a year-by-year breakdown of the modules you’ll be studying during the course.

In Year One, you'll establish your knowledge, skills and experience of the design process and its principles. Through a mixture of applied projects, you'll explore everything from user needs and market demands to technology, materials, and systems. You'll be required to use your imagination and creativity to tackle design briefs and develop a good understanding of the historic, contemporary and future influences on product design.

Design Fundamentals (40 credit points)

  • This module provides the fundamental skills and knowledge that you'll need as design professionals. This module is largely based on individual design project activity, with some elements of collaborative work with other students. It contains three elements: design projects, design communication, and design process and practice.
  • You'll undertake a number of exciting product-inspired design projects, involving the expression of your creative and technical talents. You'll be expected to undertake research to inform and support your design activity.
  • You'll learn how to use a range of techniques to communicate your ideas effectively, including computer-aided design (CAD); sketching; modelling; presentation drawings, images and rendering, and verbal, electronic and written presentations.
  • You'll develop your knowledge and awareness of a range of material properties and production processes, introducing you to to the principles and applications of technology. You'll also develop your awareness of environmental issues, sustainability, ethical sourcing, and critically explore the historic, contemporary and future influences in art and design.

The Developing Design Technologist (40 credit points)

  • This module builds on the Design Fundamentals module, continuing the practical design culture through studio-based activities and lectures.
  • You'll further your knowledge of and skills in design communication, through digital tools including 3D CAD modelling, and sketch modelling, as well as develop your skills through presenting this information in front of your tutors and peers.
  • You'll broaden your project portfolio by undertaking a range of design projects individually and as part of a team. The design activities will develop your understanding of how to frame appropriate solutions through a variety of different processes and approaches.
  • You'll consider the key factors related to technology-focused product design, including materials selection and manufacturing aspects integral to, and for, designers. You'll examine aspects related to design for the future to widen your understanding of contemporary issues that influence culture and society and their relationship with design.

Applied Design Technology (40 credit points)

  • This module will focus specifically on technology and its application in design, contextualising product design under technical perspectives. You'll be introduced to the basic principles and applications of technology and understand how they affect the development of products and systems.
  • You'll expand you understanding of machinery relative to resistant materials and production, electronics, electrical systems, and pneumatics.
  • You'll expand your understanding of the subject beyond the traditional remit of product design, as a 3D field, to consider services, systems design, and digital prototyping, and explore and apply these within your work. Research will inform and support this design activity.

Your Year Two modules will build on your experience and challenge you to take on more varied projects in preparation for professional practice. You'll focus on the evolving commercial and cultural demands of the design community through live projects, and take part in contemporary design competitions that will stretch your creative abilities and enhance your skillset. By the end of Year Two, you'll have produced a high-quality portfolio of work, which will be invaluable in securing an industry placement.

Professional Practice (60 credit points)

  • This module is designed to prepare you, as a designer, for industry. By the end of the module you'll have developed a professional portfolio and CV that represents your design capability and awareness. The module is broken down into three elements: professional projects, professional context, and professional communications.
  • You'll work on a range of different live briefs from industry, and competition work, focusing on user needs and characteristics, the market, product manufacturing, and commercial awareness.
  • You'll develop and utilise advanced communication techniques to produce sketches, renderings, models, test rigs, prototypes, simulations, and virtual solutions for real industry scenarios.
  • You'll contextualise your design studies, in terms of the future of the industry and your place in it. You'll learn about key design management techniques, and how to effectively manage your projects and time, working as an individual and part of a team.

Applied Materials and Technology (60 credit points)

  • This module will build on the knowledge, skills and attributes learnt in the first year of your studies, and develops them to give you confidence to progress as a product designer within the industrial and commercial parameters associated with the profession.
  • You'll work on design briefs related to global perspectives and sustainability, some from industry clients, to real time deadlines. You'll be expected to realise the full format of a designer's outputs, including technical reports, technical drawings, CAD work, sketches, renderings, models, test rigs, prototypes, and simulations, to an industrial and commercially accepted standard.
  • You'll learn about the importance of designing for manufacture and how process choice can enhance product properties. You'll develop your knowledge from Year One to realise commercial, economic, social, and aesthetic elements of design.
  • Your work will be underpinned by a knowledge of theoretical and practical insights, including electrical and electronic systems, mechanical systems, robotics, and programming. These will be considered alongside cost implications.

The course operates a 'soft semester' approach in Year Two meaning you also have the opportunity to undertake an international exchange opportunity to study abroad for 15 weeks (one semester).

In your third year, you'll have the opportunity to take a year-long, full-time placement. This year in industry will offer you hands-on experience, adding invaluable knowledge and skills to your CV. Many students return to their placement company after graduation, having developed a useful network of contacts within the industry.

Recent placement destinations have included Reevo 360, Nestlé, Triumph Motorcycles, Aevena (USA), Demand, and Bentley Motors Ltd, with more students working in roles such as design intern, design engineer, product design intern, industrial designer, and many more. The majority of their roles include salaries, with some students earning up to £20,000 for their year.

Successful completion of the placement year leads to an extra qualification – the Diploma in Professional Practice.

You'll also have the opportunity to undertake a European Project Semester during your third year with one of our partner universities. This option allows you to spend half a year studying abroad, and the other half gaining work experience on placement. We've got links with Universities in Spain, France, Austria, The Netherlands and Germany amongst others.

In your final year, you'll develop a detailed learning proposal or the year which will provide you the opportunity to investigate, explore and develop projects of personal and professional interest to you. This is your chance to showcase your knowledge, skills, and personal design identity through your work.

Design in Practice (80 credit points)

  • Within this module you’ll complete a Commercial Project and Self-directed Project. The Commercial Project will be selected from a large selection of pre-determined live industrial briefs. The subject of the Self-directed Project will be completely your choice. This is the perfect opportunity to explore areas of personal interest. Your proposal of work will focus your thoughts and plans for what you intend to learn, develop, and produce during the module. Both projects within this module will be supported by weekly tutorials, lectures, and CAD assistance.

Design in Context (40 credit points)

  • This module gives you the opportunity to explore a subject of your personal interest and choice. It challenges you to source and research information, be critical and reflective, and present findings on a range of topical, relevant subjects of significance.
  • You'll either do this through a dissertation - a critically reflective piece independent from the rest of your studies, or as a thesis - a critically reflective piece directly linked to your self-directed project in the Design in Practice module. Whichever route you choose, your topics are individually negotiated and agreed with tutors through a learning agreement.

Don’t just take our word for it, hear from our students themselves

Student Profiles

Charlotte Bradford

Product Design

Nottingham is an amazing city for student experience. The (BSc Product Design) course has some of the best facilities and teaching.

Ian Gilbert

Product Design

I chose NTU specifically due to the excellent facilities they have on campus with the studio and the workshop. It also has a fantastic location being in Nottingham City Centre.

Bethany Wignall

There’s lots of staff involved with teaching and supporting the course. We’re quite a small course and so have a close-knit relationship with the academic staff and always feel comfortable to ask for help and advice.

Jonathan Rumball

My first year of NTU has landed me a CSWA certificate from Solidworks which certifies me as a Solidworks associate. I have also received a certificate winning the Mattii Labs design competition and finally my most recent award was from the Young Creative Awards.

Matthew Russell-Smith

In five years time I hope to have started my own business with fellow students at NTU. We will offer product development services as well as consultancy.

Video Gallery

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How you’re taught

Based on 40-hour weeks during term time, approximately 18 hours per week is spent in scheduled learning. Course content is delivered through lectures, seminars, tutorials, laboratory sessions and workshops. You'll also be involved in self-directed project work with the support of NOW, our virtual learning environment.

Outside of timetabled sessions you will need to undertake self-directed independent study. This will include preparing for lectures, researching, completing coursework, developing a portfolio, and directed reading to expand your knowledge. The course is also supported by external professional practitioners, ensuring that your learning is continuously enhanced through exposure to real-world perspectives.

Our Product Design community

We have a strong sense of community on our Product Design courses. Our community is creative, supportive, and challenging. It allows you to work side-by-side with your classmates, tutors, and our technical and research experts as you find and establish your own design identity.

You'll become part of this community from your first day on the course. It's important that you feel comfortable working collaboratively for you to push the boundaries of design and tackle creative challenges that you'll face throughout your studies and in your career. You'll work in teams to complete lots of different design activities, from experimenting with ideas and plans in our studio space to developing CAD models and producing prototypes in our workshops.

Study trips

Field trips and study visits are an important part of your learning. Trips may include site visits and visits to practices, museums, exhibitions and events. Where a trip is mandatory it will be aligned to your modules and inform project work, and substantive costs – including travel and accommodation – will be paid for by the school. Optional trips may also be organised which can provide additional opportunities to enhance your knowledge and experience. Optional trips may incur a cost to the student. A valid passport and any associated visas will be required for trips outside of the UK.

Contact hours

Year One Lectures/seminars/workshops 46% Independent study 54%
Year Two Lectures/seminars/workshops 43% Independent study 57%
Year Three Optional placement year
Year Four Lectures/seminars/workshops 20% Independent study 80%

Design studio

You'll benefit from dedicated studio space on the course. Our studio-based environment encourages experimentation with new methods, styles, and techniques, and pushes you to take your practice in any direction that motivates you. This approach reflects how the industry works and prepares you well for the collaborative approach that you'll practice throughout your career.

Live projects

As part of some modules, you'll work on live project briefs set by real industry clients. This can involve visits and workshops led by design teams from industry, and delivering presentations to them, providing the opportunity to showcase your skills and ability to potential employers. Previously our students have worked with Dyson, Cambridge Consultants, Tesco, PepsiCo, and Wilko.

Competitions

As well as working on briefs as part of the course, our students have taken part in and won competitions and national events. Recently, our students have participated in and won competitions including the Engineers without Borders Challenge, the Starpack Awards, and the Design in Innovation and Plastics Award.

Conversations on Design

We run an exciting lecture series called 'Conversations on Design'. As part of this series practitioners from a range of industries come and deliver talks to students about their own practice, experiences in industry, and contemporary issues in their field. These talks are a great way to get first-hand insights into the workings of different organisations, practice and applications of design.

Staff Profiles

Joseph Stewart

Senior Lecturer

School of Architecture Design and the Built Environment

As BA (Hons) Product Design, Course Leader, Dr Stewart is responsible for overseeing all levels of study on the course, together with course management, pastoral care and applicant interviews.

James Dale

Head of Department

School of Architecture Design and the Built Environment

James Dale is the Head of Product Design in the School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment.

Karen Winfield

Lecturer

School of Architecture Design and the Built Environment

Luke Siena

Lecturer

School of Architecture Design and the Built Environment

Dr Luke Siena is a Lecturer in Product Design, a Creative Short Course and Summer School Tutor within the School of Architecture Design & The Built Environment.

Paul Kennea

Senior Lecturer

School of Architecture Design and the Built Environment

Paul Kennea is the module leader of the Furniture & Product Level 1 Students.

Richard Malcolm

Lecturer

School of Architecture Design and the Built Environment

NTU staff profile, R. Malcolm

Josh Woolley

Lecturer

School of Architecture Design and the Built Environment

Josh Woolley, lecturer at NTU working in the School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment.

How you’re assessed

You’ll be assessed through coursework, which will consist of projects, reports, presentations, essays and a portfolio.

Year One Coursework 100%
Year Two Coursework 100%
Year Three Optional placement year
Year Four Coursework 100%

Careers and employability

Our course is designed to prepare you to succeed in the design industry, through work placements, working on real projects from industry, input from industry professionals, and regularly updated course content.

100% of our BSc (Hons) Product Design SW graduates are in a ‘High Skilled’ role within 15 months of finishing their degrees (of those available for work or study, latest Graduate Outcomes Survey 2019/20).

Sandwich placement year

In your third year, you'll have the opportunity to take a year-long, full-time placement. Placement years are the perfect opportunity for you to put your skills to the test in a real design role, and test out potential careers. Through modules and projects, you'll study in Years One and Two, you'll develop skills that employers are looking for and a design portfolio that showcases your design interests and capabilities. Our Employability team will support you in everything from finding opportunities to preparing your CV and practicing interview techniques.

This year in industry will provide you with invaluable experience that is hugely valued by graduate employers. It can also give you a sense of focus and direction for your final year work, and graduate jobs. Some of our students design their final year projects around their experiences in industry and sometimes work with their placement companies to deliver the work. Many students return to their placement company after graduation, having developed a useful network of contacts within the industry.

Students typically gain placements in product design companies across the UK and abroad. Recent destinations have included:

  • Nestlé (Switzerland)
  • Asap Water Crafts
  • Antalis
  • Mylan Pharmaceuticals
  • Rail Renewables
  • ReCyrcle

NTU is 2nd for the number of Undergraduate students studying Design studies (HESA, 2021/22).

Professional qualification

Successful completion of the 36 weeks leads to an extra qualification – the Diploma in Professional Practice, which will further enhance your CV.

Where do Product Design graduates from NTU work?

NTU has a strong product design alumni community with many graduates working in senior positions in leading national and international companies.

Recent graduate destinations include:

  • Dyson
  • Triumph
  • TATA
  • Cummins Ltd.
  • Jaguar Land Rover
  • Solid Solutions
  • AECOM
  • Brett Martin
  • Harkess-Ord
  • Accuride
  • Disney
  • Unilever
  • NHS

Our Employability team

Our expert Employability team will work closely with you at every stage of your career planning, providing personal support and advice. You can benefit from this service at any time during your studies and up to three years after completing your course.

Course accreditation

Our course is accredited by the Institution of Engineering Designers (IED), recognising the quality and relevance of our course content to industry. It also provides a pathway to progress through the membership stages of the body following graduation.

NTU Enterprise

You'll also have the opportunity to turn your ideas into a viable business with help from NTU Enterprise, NTU's purpose-built Centre for Entrepreneurship and Enterprise, a support centre to help students create, develop and grow their own businesses.

Final Year Showcase

Check out our NTU Design Industries Virtual Student Showcase, an online exhibition celebrating the work of our Class of 2022 graduates.

Keep up to date with our current Final Year Product Design student work on Instagram - @NTUDI

Campus and facilities

Studio space

Our Arkwright studio is a big, open, creative space where you'll spend a lot of your time as a Product Design student. This is where you'll collaborate, undertake group and individual work, sketch, develop projects and soft modelling, and have presentations and critique sessions. Fitted with plenty of desk space, computers with all the software you need, and even rapid prototyping machinery, you'll be well equipped and supported by our academic and technical teams.

Microbit Robots Project The results of a Microbit Robots project in our studio space.

Specialist facilities

At the University's City Campus, you'll have full access to our range of specialist equipment and spaces based in our Arkwright and Maudslay buildings. You'll be supported by a team of expert technical staff who will teach you to maximise the use of our resources and facilitate your development as a designer.

You'll benefit from our dedicated studios and workshop facilities, and full IT and CAD suites.

Specialised equipment includes the following:

  • Rapid prototyping modellers: these machines quickly create a 3D object from a virtual computer model using a highly advanced laser process.
  • Water-jet cutter: the latest generation precision technology capable of cutting up to 150mm in almost any solid material such as glass, steel, granite, marble, aluminium and rubber.
  • A CNC (computer-numerical control) router and laser and plasma cutters.
  • Bandsaw machines, lathes and circular saws to cut a range of materials including wood, foam, plastics and metal.
  • Sanding machines, used to prepare surfaces and furniture for a high quality finish.

Access to our workshops and labs

You will have timetabled access to the workshops and labs in Year One, and project-specific access in Years Two and your final year. There is also access to studio spaces, which can be booked on a daily basis. Some machinery will be available outside timetabled hours. Timetabled students have priority, but other students can access the workshop at any time, provided there is space available.

In normal circumstances, the Maudslay workshops are open Monday to Friday, from 9.00 am to 4.45 pm, closing on Wednesday afternoons.

The workshops are normally closed for lunch from 12.30 pm to 1.30 pm. However, during busy periods the workshops do not close for lunch.

Dedicated resource centre

Students in the School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment have access to a dedicated resource centre. This centre, based in the Maudslay building, enables students to undertake private study in a facility equipped with computers, large format plotters and desk space, together with the latest, and archived, journals and publications.

Entry requirements

What are we looking for?

  • 104 – 112 UCAS Tariff points from up to four qualifications (two of which must be A-level equivalent).
  • GCSE English and Maths grade C / 4.

To find out what qualifications have tariff points, please use our tariff calculator.

Contextual offers

A lower offer may be made based on a range of factors, including your background (such as where you live and the school or college you attended), your experiences and individual circumstances (you may have been in care, for example). This is called a contextual offer and we get data from UCAS to make these decisions. NTU offers a student experience like no other and this approach helps us to find students who have the potential to succeed here but who may have faced barriers that make it more difficult to access university. Find out how we assess your application.

Other qualifications and experience

We may also consider credits achieved at other universities and your work/life experience through an assessment of prior learning. This may be for year one entry, or beyond the beginning of a course where applicable, for example, into year 2. Our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy outlines the process and options available for this route.

Getting in touch

If you need more help or information, get in touch through our enquiry form.

What are we looking for?

  • 112 UCAS Tariff points from up to four qualifications (two of which must be A-level equivalent).
  • GCSE English and Maths grade C / 4.

International qualifications 

We accept qualifications from all over the world – check yours here:

Undergraduate preparation courses (Foundation)

If you don’t yet meet our entry requirements, we offer Foundation courses through our partner Nottingham Trent International College (NTIC), based on our City Campus:

English language entry requirements 

You can meet our language requirements by successfully completing our pre-sessional English course for an agreed length of time, or by submitting the required grade in one of our accepted English language tests, such as IELTS:

Advanced standing (starting your undergraduate degree in year 2 or 3)

You may be able to start your undergraduate course in year 2 or 3 based on what you have studied before.  This decision would be made in accordance with our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy.

Would you like some advice on your study plans? 

Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world. We also have members of staff based in Vietnam, China, India and Nigeria and work with a worldwide network of education counsellors.

Complete this simple form to keep in touch with the International Office.

Fees and funding

Preparing for the financial side of student life is important, that's why we're here to help. Take a look at our fees and funding pages for lots of handy advice and guidance.

Getting in touch

For more advice and guidance, you can contact our Student Financial Support Service by calling +44 (0)115 848 2494.

Additional costs

Your course fees cover the cost of studies, and include loads of great benefits, such as the use of our modern library, industry-standard workshops and study spaces, support from our expert Employability team, and free use of the IT equipment across our campuses.

However, you should be aware that sometimes you may incur additional costs, which for this programme could include the following:

  • Year 1:  Layout pads, geometry set, portfolio case, rendering pens, materials £250 (minimum) and printing £100 (minimum)
  • Year 2: Layout pads and materials £160 (minimum) and printing £100 (minimum)
  • Final Year: Layout pads and materials £700 (minimum) and printing £80 (minimum)

Please note that material costs may vary depending on what material you choose to work in. All other mandatory costs for the course are paid for by the University.

Our Students’ Union shop and Bonington art shop are great places to pick up drawing and writing equipment at reasonable prices and are located right in the centre of our City Campus.

Library books

Most study modules will recommend one or more core text books, which most students choose to purchase. Book costs vary and further information is available in the University’s bookshop. Our libraries provide a good supply of essential text books, journals and materials (many of which you can access online) – meaning you may not need to purchase as many books as you might think! There may also be a supply of second-hand books available for purchase from previous year students.

Placements

If you're undertaking a placement year, you'll need to budget for accommodation and any travel costs you may incur whilst on placement. Many of our placement students do earn a salary whilst on placement which can help to cover these living costs.

Degree Show

In Final Year, the School will provide infrastructure costs for your Degree Show, including course catalogue and exhibition set-up costs. If you’re selected to exhibit your work at a graduate show in London, the School will cover the cost of transporting your work, the exhibition stand and event set-up.

Our Building Blocks financial package: supporting you throughout your studies

As a student at the School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment, you’ll also benefit from our Building Blocks financial package, which aims to help minimise the additional costs of study, while you’re here at NTU.

What you’ll receive

  • £100 print and materials credit for each year of your course (for a maximum of three years). You’ll be able to spend this at our Bonington art shop, fully stocked with a wide range of art and design materials at student-friendly prices, and at our School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment workshops and print facilities.
  • All of the materials needed for induction workshops and activities, working within our workshops and laboratories.
  • Free personal protective equipment (PPE), which usually includes hard-wearing boots, goggles and high-vis vests, to keep you safe on site visits and while working in our workshops.
  • Access to the free professional body accreditation, as appropriate for your course.
  • £20 pre-paid printing allowance for use at the NTU Print Shops, and library photocopiers. For more details about costs for additional print and copying required over and above the annual allowance please see the Printing, photocopying and scanning information on the Library website.

Tuition fees for September 2023 entry 

Tuition fees are payable for each year that you are at the University. The level of tuition fees for the second and subsequent years of your undergraduate course may increase in line with inflation and as specified by the UK government. Visit our fees page for more information.

Scholarships 

We offer scholarships of up to 50% of your tuition fee. You can apply for your scholarship when you have an offer to study at NTU.

Living costs

Get advice on the cost of living as an international student in Nottingham and how to budget:

Paying fees 

Find out about advanced payments, instalment plan options and how to make payments securely to the University:

Additional costs

Your course fees cover the cost of studies, and include loads of great benefits, such as the use of our modern library, industry-standard workshops and study spaces, support from our expert Employability team, and free use of the IT equipment across our campuses.

However, you should be aware that sometimes you may incur additional costs, which for this programme could include the following:

  • Year 1:  Layout pads, geometry set, portfolio case, rendering pens, materials £250 (minimum) and printing £100 (minimum)
  • Year 2: Layout pads and materials £160 (minimum) and printing £100 (minimum)
  • Final Year: Layout pads and materials £700 (minimum) and printing £80 (minimum)

Please note that material costs may vary depending on what material you choose to work in. All other mandatory costs for the course are paid for by the University.

Our Students’ Union shop and Bonington art shop are great places to pick up drawing and writing equipment at reasonable prices and are located right in the centre of our City Campus.

Library books

Most study modules will recommend one or more core text books, which most students choose to purchase. Book costs vary and further information is available in the University’s bookshop. Our libraries provide a good supply of essential text books, journals and materials (many of which you can access online) – meaning you may not need to purchase as many books as you might think! There may also be a supply of second-hand books available for purchase from previous year students.

Placements

If you're undertaking a placement year, you'll need to budget for accommodation and any travel costs you may incur whilst on placement. Many of our placement students do earn a salary whilst on placement which can help to cover these living costs.

Degree Show

In Final Year, the School will provide infrastructure costs for your Degree Show, including course catalogue and exhibition set-up costs. If you’re selected to exhibit your work at a graduate show in London, the School will cover the cost of transporting your work, the exhibition stand and event set-up.

Our Building Blocks financial package: supporting you throughout your studies

As a student at the School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment, you’ll also benefit from our Building Blocks financial package, which aims to help minimise the additional costs of study, while you’re here at NTU.

What you’ll receive

  • £100 print and materials credit for each year of your course (for a maximum of three years). You’ll be able to spend this at our Bonington art shop, fully stocked with a wide range of art and design materials at student-friendly prices, and at our School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment workshops and print facilities.
  • All of the materials needed for induction workshops and activities, working within our workshops and laboratories.
  • Free personal protective equipment (PPE), which usually includes hard-wearing boots, goggles and high-vis vests, to keep you safe on site visits and while working in our workshops.
  • Access to the free professional body accreditation, as appropriate for your course.
  • £20 pre-paid printing allowance for use at the NTU Print Shops, and library photocopiers. For more details about costs for additional print and copying required over and above the annual allowance please see the Printing, photocopying and scanning information on the Library website.

Would you like some advice on your study plans? 

Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world. We also have members of staff based in Vietnam, China, India and Nigeria and work with a worldwide network of education counsellors.

Complete this simple form to keep in touch with the International Office.

How to apply

Apply through UCAS.

As part of your application, you’ll submit a personal statement. Tell us about your ambitions, skills and experience. You have 4,000 characters to impress us – here’s how to make your words count.

Keeping up to date

After you've applied, we'll be sending you important emails throughout the application process – so check your emails regularly, including your junk mail folder.

You can get more information and advice about applying to NTU on our Your Application page.

You can apply for this course through UCAS. If you are not applying to any other UK universities, you can apply directly to us on our NTU Applicant Portal.

Application advice

Apply early so that you have enough time to prepare – processing times for Student visas can vary, for example.  After you've applied, we'll be sending you important emails throughout the application process – so check your emails regularly, including your junk mail folder.

Writing your personal statement

Be honest, thorough, and persuasive – we can only make a decision about your application based on what you tell us:

Would you like some advice on your study plans? 

Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world. We also have members of staff based in Vietnam, China, India and Nigeria and work with a worldwide network of education counsellors.

Complete this simple form to keep in touch with the International Office.

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