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Design Engineering

Course details
  • MEng (Hon)
  • 4 Years
  • Full-time
  • 26 September 2026
  • Undergraduate
Course location
Main Site
Awarded by:
Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine (also known as Imperial College London)

Course summary

Discover how design engineers bridge the gap between traditional engineering and design on this professionally accredited four-year course.

You'll explore how engineers draw on manufacturing techniques, product development, technical design and rapid prototyping to bring new innovations to market. You'll also analyse how existing products can be improved, and the processes used to achieve this.

This course will develop your design and engineering skills, with an emphasis on creativity, computer-aided engineering, optimisation, human factors and the design process.

Through a series of compulsory modules during your first two years, you'll develop team working skills as you explore topics including electronics, mechatronics and data science.

Access to extensive hackspaces and workshops will enable you to collaborate with creative thinkers as you develop your own ideas. You'll also build your enterprise skills and industrial experience as you translate design engineering into impact.

Optional modules provide opportunities to specialise in your final two years, with a six-month paid placement the key focus of your third year.

This is designed to help you gain practical experience in the field with leaders in industry. Previous partner organisations have included Dyson, Jaguar Land Rover and Rolls Royce.

Your final year culminates with a series of projects, including the chance to expose one of your products to market reaction.

Professional accreditation

  • Institution of Engineering Designers (IED)

  • Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE)

  • Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET)

With this integrated Master’s degree, you’ll fully meet the academic requirements for professional registration as a Chartered Engineer (CEng).

With a professionally accredited degree, you’ll be able to demonstrate to employers that you have achieved an industry-recognised standard of competency. Professional accreditation also provides international recognition of your qualifications, which you can use to launch a career abroad.

Becoming a Chartered Engineer can further enhance your career prospects and earning potential. It demonstrates your competencies and commitment to lifelong learning – providing you with recognition in your field and greater influence and opportunities.

In addition to your degree, you’ll receive the Associateship of the City and Guilds of London Institute (ACGI) upon completion of this course. This associateship is awarded by one of our historic constituent Colleges.

Modules

We recommend reviewing our course page for the latest information regarding the curriculum (including core and optional modules) and course structure, as this information may be subject to periodic change.

Professional bodies

Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.

  • Engineering Designers, Institution of
  • Engineering and Technology, Institution of
  • Mechanical Engineers, Institution of

How to apply

This course is not accepting applications at this time. Please contact the provider to find out more.

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:
28G3
Institution code:
I50
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

Entry requirements

UCAS Tariff Not accepted

A level A*AA

A* in Mathematics
A in two further subjects

Both scientific and non-scientific A-levels are welcomed.

General Studies and Critical Thinking are not accepted.

If you are made an offer you will be required to achieve a pass in the practical endorsement in all science subjects that form part of the offer.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) Not accepted

Access to HE Diploma Not accepted

Scottish Higher Not accepted

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme 39 points

Our minimum entry standard is 39 points overall, to include:

7 in Mathematics* at higher level
6 in another subject at higher level

*Mathematics Analysis and Approaches or the Applications and Interpretation syllabi will be accepted at higher level with no preference.

Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal D2, D3, D3

D2 Mathematics
D3 in two other subjects

T Level Not accepted

Find out more about qualification requirements for this course.

Additional entry requirements

Admission tests
Interview
If your application has demonstrated sufficient potential you will be invited for an online interview. These typically run from November to February. During the interview, your interest and aptitude will be assessed through a range of questions and problems. You are encouraged to present some examples of your own work/projects towards the end of the interview, although this will be for two minutes maximum, so please choose your examples carefully.
Engineering and Science Admissions Test (ESAT)
Admissions test All applicants for Design Engineering are required to take the Engineering and Science Admissions Test (ESAT). You will need to complete the following papers: Mathematics 1 and Mathematics 2. You must register in advance and take the test at an authorised assessment centre. Please see the admissions test page for more information.

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
Cambridge English AdvancedCFor pre-2015 test, the College requires grade C overall. If your test result is 2016 onwards, the College requires 176 overall with 169 in all elements/bands
IELTS (Academic)6.5Score above refers to overall score. Additionally, a score of 6.0 is required in all bands. Results must be within 2 years of course start date in order to be valid.
PTE Academic62Score above refers to overall score. Additionally, a score of 56 is required in all bands. Results must be within 2 years of course start date in order to be valid.
TOEFL (iBT)92Score above refers to overall score. Additionally, a score of 20 is required in all bands. Results must be within 2 years of course start date in order to be valid.
For further information on the College English entry requirements and a full list of accepted tests and grade requirements, please visit the College website URL detailed below.

College English Language Entry Requirements https://www.imperial.ac.uk/study/apply/english-language/

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.

We adopt holistic approach to admissions at Imperial College London, with all applicants individually assessed, using their application, and the outcomes of interviews & test result where relevant. Our contextual admissions approach means that our selectors consider any additional barriers you are facing, which may affect your ability to show us your potential through your grades. When we make an offer for a place to study at Imperial, we set conditions that you have to meet.

Learn more on the Imperial College London website

Historical entry grades data

This section shows the range of grades that students who received offers were previously accepted on to this course 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

No fee information has been provided for this course

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

Tuition fees at the home and overseas chargeable rate for 2026/27 entry are still to be confirmed.

Tuition fee rates at the home and overseas chargeable rate for 2025/26 entry are published at www.imperial.ac.uk on our course listings, which provide an indicative cost, noting that fees are likely to be subject to increases in line with inflation as per the Retail Price Index (RPIX) value.

This information will be updated in due course when the home and overseas tuition fee rates for 2026/27 are confirmed.

For further information on fees, funding, loans and grants, see: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/study/fees-and-funding/tuition-fees/fee-status/

For further information on fee status eligibility see: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/study/fees-and-funding/tuition-fees/fee-status/

Sponsorship information

We’re offering up to £5,000 each year through our Imperial Bursary scheme for eligible Home undergraduates.

If your household income remains under £70,000 a year, you’ll automatically qualify for every year of your course.

Find out more about the Imperial Bursary Scheme on our website.

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