Design Engineering with Integrated Foundation Year

A Brighton Design Engineering degree prepares you for careers in areas such as product design and development, user experience design, sustainable innovation and manufacturing and gives you the skills to start your own venture in tech and design-led industries.

This course offers an extra year to prepare you for study at degree level. Choosing the foundation year option means you’ll be prepped and ready for the first year of your degree with the skills, knowledge and confidence you need.

At Brighton you’ll be part of a supportive community that helps you grow, no matter your background. You’ll have loads of opportunities to build real-world experience through team projects, placements and internships. Our inclusive approach to learning means we’ll help you play to your strengths and learn in ways that suit you best.

Brighton graduates go on to work for organisations such as Apple, Dyson, Jaguar, Mars, Lego and Ricardo UK Ltd.

Top reasons to choose this course

• Foundation year that opens up opportunities in engineering if you don’t hold the required qualifications, are changing career or returning to study.

• Learn in a creative, collaborative studio environment, working on industry-linked projects with other engineering and design students.

• Gain hands-on experience through project work designing and building water rockets, finding solutions to Fixperts challenges and working on the design and development of bike force pedals for Team GB.

• Showcase your work to potential employers at our end of year show.

• Specialist facilities including flight and car simulators, wind tunnel, prototyping labs and workshops, CNC machines, robotics and VR labs.

• Get involved with our research, developing mechanical and aerodynamic tools for bicycle training and simulators in the Bike Sim Lab.

• Make a difference and solve energy challenges in our student-led Sustainable Technology and Engineering Projects (STEP) lab.

• Boost your CV with an optional paid placement year after year two or paid internship opportunities.

• 100% of our engineering research impact is rated as ‘outstanding’ or ‘very considerable’ for reach and significance – Research Excellence Framework 2021.

Why Brighton is a great place to study design engineering
Brighton & Hove is the UK’s leading city for new economy businesses (Centre for Cities, 2025). This includes sectors such as advanced engineering, product design, green technology and sustainable manufacturing – industries where demand for design engineers is rapidly growing. Studying at Brighton means you’ll be part of a hub for innovation, with opportunities to directly connect your learning to the future of design and engineering.

Brighton & Hove is also named one of the best cities on the planet and third best city in the UK by Time Out.

Course Modules

Foundation year
The foundation year is shared across all engineering courses and gives you the preparation you need to start your degree, covering areas including core maths and science. On successful completion of the foundation year, you will transfer to the Design Engineering BEng(Hons) course.

Core modules
Core Mathematics
Core Science
Engineering Mathematics
Engineering Science
Mechanics
Foundation Year Project

Year 1
In the first year you’ll be introduced to the fundamental elements of product design and engineering, building your skills in terms of making, thinking and evaluation. Later in the year you’ll explore more complex design issues and skills including digital prototyping and manufacture, inclusive design and human factors.

You’ll work on projects such as designing and building water rockets and building an electrical system to measure light. Project work also includes engaging with the Fixperts global community of design innovators to find practical solutions to everyday challenges.

Core modules
Design Practice: Creativity, Prototyping and Communication
Design Engineering: Fundamentals
Design Practice: Inclusive Design
Design Technologies: Digital Manufacturing

Year 2
In your second year you’ll learn to develop products for a real market, consider the commercial side of product development – including design for manufacturability and assembly, costing and fulfilment – and learn how to prototype with a range of technologies.

You’ll also build on the fundamental engineering topics covered in your first year. Project work covers control systems and includes building a self-balancing robot, modelling dynamics of vehicles and a project that brings together heat transfer and thermal modelling with fluids and structures.

Core modules
Design Technologies: Interactions and Experiences
Design Practice: Design to Market
Design Practice: Responsible Design
Design Engineering: Systems

Optional Placement Year
A placement year gives you the opportunity to gain professional experience either through external work placements with industry partners or working on live projects.

Final year
In your final year, you will develop expertise through an advanced engineering project informed by research, such as working on the design and development of bike force pedal sensors for Team GB.

You’ll undertake a project informed by an industry or research brief which will incorporate the values, principles, skills and experience you have gained in design outcomes that are well resolved and well communicated.

Core modules
Design Practice: Professional Practices
Design Engineering: Specialist
Design Technologies: Self-directed Project
Design Engineering: Self-directed Project