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Design (with placement year)

  • Bachelor of Arts (with Honours)
  • 4 Years
  • Full-Time
  • 27 September 2027
  • Undergraduate
Main Site
More about Loughborough University

Course options

2026-20272027-2028
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Course summary

The Design BA (Hons) degree aims to develop the next generation of multi-disciplinary designers that can enter the workplace as empathic, creative, responsible, and persuasive facilitators of change.

The Design BA programme is highly creative, and intellectually stimulating; encouraging students to experiment with independent design judgement and creative risk taking. It is designed for students that are more open-minded about their career trajectory in design.

The programme fosters an experience-driven approach to design, building within students a creative, compassionate, critical and systemic mindset.

Students can experiment with the design of a range of outputs including physical products and objects, digital products and interfaces, digital and non-digital services, and the spaces and environments these might inhabit to create positive planetary, social, and financial impact.

The course develops students’ core design practice capabilities (both physical and digital) and exposes them to contemporary and future-facing design theory and practice including interaction and user experience design, service design, and design futures.

Modules

Course Modules

Years 1 and 2 of this course will provide all students with the fundamental knowledge and skills required to facilitate their education in design through a series of practical and skills-based modules. For more information, please visit the website: https://www.lboro.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/a-z/design/

Assessment method

All assessment is conducted through the submission of project coursework, conducted individually and in groups. The work that is assessed is varied and may include: sketchbooks and development folios; low, mid, and hi-fidelity physical and digital prototypes; presentation boards and posters; video and verbal presentations; research reports; and short essays.

Ways to study this course

Campuses

  • Main Site

Study options

  • Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) • Full-Time • Placement (mandatory) • 4 Years

Start dates

  • 27 September 2027

Apply by
13 January 2027

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:
W241
Institution code:
L79
Campus name:
Main Site
Points of Entry:
Year 1

Loughborough University 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
13 January 2027

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:
W241
Institution code:
L79
Campus name:
Main Site

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

Open days

Entry requirements

Typical qualification requirements

A level
ABB

ABB. All short-listed candidates are required to submit a design task and portfolio electronically.

T Level
D

Distinction Overall
B in Core Component
T Levels in Digital Production, Design and Development and Design and Development for Engineering and Manufacturing with Mechanical Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Control and Instrumentation Engineering or Structural Engineering Occupational Specialism are considered.
Other relevant T Level subjects may be considered on a case by case basis.

More information can be found on our website at https://www.lboro.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/apply/entry-requirements/

UCAS Tariff
Not accepted

Access to HE Diploma

Considered on a case by case basis. Please contact Loughborough University directly.

GCSE/National 4/National 5

GCSE Maths and English Language grade 4/C

Scottish Advanced Higher
AB

AB, plus Highers at majority B grades

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
DD

BTEC Level 3 National Diploma: DD plus one A Level Grade B

Extended Project

We recognise the benefit of the Extended Project in developing independent research and critical thinking skills. We would consider this as evidence of motivation to study a specific subject in more depth, and while we do not generally include it as part of our offer conditions, it may be used to further consider an application upon receipt of final examination results. www.lboro.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/apply/entry-requirements/

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
Offer: 34

34 (6,5,5 HL)

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

BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Art and Design: DDM

Preferred BTEC: Art and Design

Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)

We accept a wide range of international qualifications for entry as outlined on our website – please view the individual course typical offers on our website and choose Ireland in the Country/region drop down field for more information.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate (first teaching from September 2016)
D

BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate: D plus two A Level at grades BB

Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (first teaching September 2015)

Applicants taking the Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Diploma will be asked to achieve the A level requirements for their course as part of their qualification. The Skills Challenge Certificate will be accepted alongside two A levels as long as individual course entry and subject requirements are met.

Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal

This qualification is accepted in combination with other qualifications. For details please contact Loughborough University

Loughborough accepts a wide range of qualifications for entry as outlined on our website www.lboro.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/getting-started/applying/entrance-requirements/. This information details the general requirements and should be read in conjunction with the information given for each course. https://www.lboro.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/apply/entry-requirements/

Additional entry requirements

Portfolio
Applicants are selected on the basis of their UCAS application and also a portfolio submission and design task.
Other
Applicants are selected on the basis of their UCAS application and also a portfolio submission and design task.

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 consider contextual information as part of the assessment of an application to provide us with further insight into your achievements. This may lead to reduced offers, up to two grades lower than the typical offer requirements, as well as additional consideration when your results are received. For further information about Contextual Admissions at Loughborough including our Access Loughborough Contextual Offer please visit our website.

Learn more on the Loughborough University 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

Per year tuition fees

LocationFeeYear
EU & InternationalTBC
England, Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland£10050

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

The fees stated above are for the 2027/28 academic year; international fees are still to be approved. We will update this information as soon as it is available. Fees are reviewed annually and are likely to increase to take into account inflationary pressures.

While the cost of your tuition covers lots of things, it doesn’t cover everything. For instance this course doesn’t cover the cost of any stationery, printing, books or re-assessments which you might need.

UK tuition fees align with the applicable fee caps set by the UK government, and as such they are subject to changes made to the agreed cap in a specific year.

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