Programme Specifications

Programme summary

1. Programme Aims

• To provide an accredited honours degree programme in the field of product design with an emphasis on materials, manufacture technologies, and safety and human factors to satisfy the needs of customers and business on products; to provide graduates with skills in practical application, creative and innovation, theoretical understanding, business, team work  and technical breath, for a broad industry.

• To encourage students to manage their own learning, communicate effectively and make use of primary source materials

2. Relevant subject benchmark statements and other external reference points used to inform programme outcomes:

• QAA Framework for Higher Education Qualifications
• QAA Benchmark Statements for Materials
• QAA Benchmark Statements for Art and Design
• The Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining Guidelines for Accreditation

3. Programme Learning Outcomes

3.1 Knowledge and Understanding

On successful completion of the programme, graduates should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• Relevant principles and methodologies for accomplishing a viable product design in both technical and business aspects;
• The capability of a designer in defining product cost and performance through manoeuvring the product attributes under given constraints;
• The influence of progress in materials/manufacture technologies on the evolution of existing products and innovation of new products;
• The principles and methodologies on materials selection for a product under specified product context;
• Fundamentals on materials engineering and performance of various materials;
• The user considerations and requirements as a context for design, including the principles and practice of ergonomic analysis and user evaluations
• The strategies and principles for business implementation of a product design;
• The role of information technology in supporting the design, materials and manufacturing process selection, including the use of CAD, and validating tools;
• The consideration of environmental impact of products including sustainability, disposal, recyclability, within the design and materials selection;
• The external constraints and pressures influencing the design process, including consideration of legislative and financial issues.

3.2 Skills and other attributes

a. Subject-specific cognitive skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Analyse a design problem/brief and develop appropriate design strategy and approach to facilitate a viable design solution within the stated and implied constraints
• Develop design concepts through to detail design and/or prototype stage, as an individual and also as part of a group;
• Predict the likely performance and mode of failure of a given material depending on the service conditions/design requirements;
• Correctly identify the materials property requirements for efficient processing and product performance;
• Select and identify an appropriate material and manufacturing route for the design of a component;
• Select and apply appropriate IT tools and other resources to a variety of design and materials problems;
• Apply suitable methods in the choice of materials and design solutions to meet functional, aesthetic, environmental, user and legislative requirements;
• Evaluate the design requirements of a product in terms of human factors;
• Analyse and evaluate a product design and propose suitable modifications by which its performance, appeal and/or cost might be improved;
• Discuss the economic/financial/business implications of design decisions.

b. Subject-specific practical skills:

On successful completion of the programmes, students should be able to:

• Apply appropriate materials, tools and techniques at various phases of a design process;
• Develop alternative design strategies and select the most appropriate;
• Make prototype models suitable for evaluation by users, using a variety of materials, tools and techniques;
• Use appropriate computer software for materials selection, to produce rendered 3D solid models, and detailed 2D part and assembly drawings;
• Use appropriate mechanical testing, corrosion testing, microstructural, analytical and forensic techniques to evaluate materials suitability for a design application, both in materials selection and post-mortem failure investigations;
• Evaluate and present laboratory and product performance test data in a suitable format;
• Operate practical processing equipment and collect, analyse and interpret experimental data.

c. Key transferable skills:

On successful completion of the programmes, students should be able to:

• Work effectively, both as part of a team and/or independently;
• Plan and manage both team based and individual design projects with constrained human, financial and time resources;
• Organise and manage time and resources effectively, for short-term and longer-term commitments;
• Possess skills needed to communicate effectively through written, graphical, inter-personal, and presentation media;
• Demonstrate competence with information technology (IT), using a range of different software tools;
• Apply constructive and structured approaches to problem solving;
• Compile clear and well-structured reports;
• Acquire and use sources of information appropriately;
• Demonstrate project management skills.

4. Programme structure

4.1         Part A – Introductory Modules

4.1.1     Compulsory modules (total module weight 120)

For students entering Part A from 2014

4.2          Part B – Degree Modules

4.2.1    Compulsory modules (total module weight 120)

For students entering Part A from 2014 (revised structure for 2018/19 only)

For students entering Part A from 2014 

4.3      Part I –   Diploma in Industrial Studies,  Diploma in International Studies and Diploma in Professoinal Studies Modules

4.3.1    Eight Semester Programme

In accordance with Regulation XI, students can undertake a placement, leading to the additional award of the Diploma in Industrial Studies or Diploma in Professional Studies, or if taken at a University overseas the Diploma in International Studies.  Participation in a placement, or study abroad, is subject to Departmental approval and satisfactory academic performance in Parts A and B.

4.4      Part C – Degree Modules

4.4.1    Compulsory modules (total module weight 120)

For students entering Part A from 2014

4.4.2    Additional optional modules for students commencing Part A from 2014. Choose 20 credits

5. Criteria for Progression and Degree Award

5.1 Criteria for Progression and Degree Award

In order to progress from Part A to Part B and from Part B to C and to be eligible for the award of an Honours degree, candidates must not only satisfy the minimum credit requirements set out in Regulation XX but also:

- Students commencing their studies in 2013 must gain (≥40%) in the modules MPA103 Introduction to Materials, MAA101 Mathematics for Materials 1 and MAA201 Mathematics for Materials 2 to progress from Part A to B.

- Students commencing their studies from 2014 onwards must gain credit (≥40%) in the modules MPA201 Structure and Properties of Materials, MAA101 Mathematics for Materials 1 and MAA201 Mathematics for Materials 2 to progress from Part A to Part B. 

5.2 Re-assessment

Provision will be made in accordance with Regulation XX for candidates, who have the right of reassessment in all parts of the programme, to undergo reassessment in the University’s Special Assessment Period (except where SAP-exempt modules are involved).

Where a candidate has accumulated fewer than 60 credits in a part of the programme, reassessment in the relevant part is not available to that candidate in the Special Assessment Period.

6. Relative Weighting of Parts of the Programme for the Purposes of Final Degree Classification

Candidate’s final degree classification will be determined on the basis of their performance in degree level Module Assessments in Parts B and C, in accordance with the scheme set out in Regulation XX.  The average percentages for each Part will be combined in the ratio Part B 30: Part C 70 to determine the final percentage for the award of BEng.