Skip navigation
You are viewing our beta course page.

Product Design

  • BA (Hons)
  • 3 Years
  • Full-time
  • 21/09/2026
  • Undergraduate
Main Site
More about University of Sussex

Course options

2026-2027
Apply

Course summary

=18th in the UK for Product Design (The Guardian University Guide 2024)

About the course

At Sussex, you’ll learn to create products that satisfy the needs and behaviours of people and our rapidly changing society – both now and into the future.

During your studies, you’ll:

  • be taught by design experts with industry experience

  • combine design, art, environment, science, business and technology skills, reflecting the multifaceted subject of product design

  • work with industry professionals on live creative briefs that will challenge you and develop your understanding of how design fits in different sectors

  • have opportunities and guidance on how to develop your products beyond university.

We’ll ground you in critical design thinking and research. This helps you develop informed solutions and produce them through responsible prototyping and manufacturing models. You’ll also design your products to fit within the circular economy – a complex systems-based model of working that is regenerative to the planet and takes sustainability to a new level.

Your degree prepares you for success. In recent years, our students have:

  • won international awards from design leaders such as Dyson, LEGO and Hasbro

  • taken their own designs to market through the Sussex Innovation Centre

  • a wide range of career options – from stepping into design jobs after graduation, to setting up their own design studios.

Location

Study on our beautiful, green campus on the edge of the South Downs National Park and just minutes from the vibrant seaside city of Brighton & Hove. We’re near to Gatwick airport and just over an hour from London.

About the University of Sussex

Our courses, research, culture and campus aim to stimulate, excite and challenge. From scientific discovery to global policy, from student welfare to career development, Sussex innovates and takes a lead. And today, in every part of society and across the world, you'll find someone from Sussex making an original and valuable contribution.

Modules

See the modules you will study by year by going to the ‘visit our course page’ link at the bottom of the page.

Ways to study this course

Campuses

  • Main Site

Study options

  • BA (Hons) • Full-time • 3 Years

Start dates

  • 21/09/2026

Apply by
14 January

This is the equal consideration deadline. You can still apply after this date, but your application may not receive guaranteed consideration.

Application codes

Course code:
HW22
Institution code:
S90
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-
Points of Entry:
Year 1, 2

University of Sussex has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

See why these ratings were awarded
What does this TEF outcome mean?

How to apply

Apply by
14 January

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
HW22
Institution code:
S90
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1
  • Year 2

Open days

Chat to student ambassadors

Discover what it's like to study Product Design at University of Sussex: insights on the course, making friends, personal statement tips, uni prep, and recommended books, podcasts, and videos.

POWERED BY Unibuddy

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

A level - BBB - ABB

A-levels should include Art or a Design subject normally at grade B. Without A-levels in these areas you will still be considered but will need to demonstrate a strong, recent background in art and design through other means. You must have GCSE (or equivalent) Mathematics with at least grade 4 (or grade C) and, if you are not offering Art or a Design subject at A-level you must also have GCSE Art or Design Technology at grade 6 (or grade B). You should also have a broad range of GCSEs 9-4 (A*-C), including good grades in relevant subjects.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - DDM

The BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma would normally be in Art and Design. Applicants without this will still be considered but will need to demonstrate a strong, recent background in art and design through other means. You must have GCSE (or equivalent) Mathematics with at least grade 4 (or grade C) and, if you are not offering Art or a Design subject at A-level you must also have GCSE Art or Design Technology at grade 6 (or grade B). You should also have a broad range of GCSEs 9-4 (A*-C), including good grades in relevant subjects.

Access to HE Diploma

Pass Diploma with at least 39 level 3 credits at Merit or above including 21-24 credits at Distinction. The Access to HE Diploma will need to contain substantial amounts of Level 3 credit in Art or Design. Applicants without an Access containing Art or Design will still be considered but will need to demonstrate a strong, recent background in art and design through other means. You must have GCSE (or equivalent) Mathematics with at least grade 4 (or grade C) and, if you are not offering Art or a Design subject at A-level you must also have GCSE Art or Design Technology at grade 6 (or grade B).

Scottish Higher - ABBBB - AABBB

Highers must include Art or a design subject. You will need Scottish National 5 in Mathematics at grade C.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 30 - 32 points

Higher Levels should include either Visual Arts or Design Technology with at least grade 5. Applicants without one of these at Higher Level will still be considered but will need to demonstrate a strong, recent background in art and design through other means.

Extended Project

We take the EPQ into account when considering your application and it can be useful in the summer when your results are released if you have narrowly missed the conditions of your offer. We do not routinely include the EPQ in the conditions of your offer but we sometimes offer alternative conditions that include the EPQ. If you wish to discuss this further please contact Admissions at ug.applicants@sussex.ac.uk

Additional entry requirements

Portfolio
In some cases we may request a portfolio of your work.

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)6Including at least 5.5 in each component. We accept IELTS One Skills Retake. We do not accept IELTS Online.
PTE Academic59Including at least 59 in all four skills. We do not accept the PTE Academic Online test.
TOEFL (iBT)80TOEFL (iBT), including at least 17 in Listening, 18 in Reading, 20 in Speaking, 17 in Writing. We do not accept TOEFL (iBT) Home Edition.

Please see our English language requirements. http://www.sussex.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/apply/international-qualifications/english-language-requirements

Contextual admissions

Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.

At Sussex, we recognise that not everybody has the same support to help them get to higher education. At Sussex it’s important to us to have a diverse, inclusive university community with a range of voices and experiences. Contextual offers are one of the ways we remove the barriers to higher education ensuring that we have fair access to all regardless of background. A contextual offer is a reduced grade offer which is given to students who meet certain eligibility criteria.

Learn more on the University of Sussex website

Historical entry grades data BETA

This section shows the range of grades students (with UK A-Levels or Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diplomas) who received offers were previously accepted with (learn more). It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place. Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Not enough data available

We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

LocationFeeYear
England£9535Year 1
Northern Ireland£9535Year 1
Scotland£9535Year 1
Wales£9535Year 1
Channel Islands£9535Year 1
Republic of Ireland£9535Year 1
EU£27300Year 1
International£27300Year 1

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

Note that your fees may be subject to an increase on an annual basis as the Government reviews the fee levels.

Related courses

At University of Sussex

Like this page