Bachelor of Product Design
BProdDesign
Professor Conan Fee, Head of UC School of Product Design.
Duration
3 years
Entry times
Semester 1 or 2 (February or July)
Fees Estimate
Scholarships
Pathways
Pathways include:
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Download Brochure
Duration
3 years
Entry times
Semester 1 or 2 (February or July)
Fees Estimate
Scholarships
Pathways
Pathways include:
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Download Brochure
Overview
Product Design combines creative design, science, engineering, and business studies. Product designers plan and develop items for use in homes, businesses, and industry.
From creating a new lightweight kayak or a phone app, to formulating natural cosmetics or a virtual training world, studying product design will equip you for a wide range of occupations.
Graduates will be able to develop creative ideas based on their knowledge of related sciences and engineering disciplines, as well as gain the practical business skills needed to commercialise new products. This degree will prepare you for a modern career path in many areas of Aotearoa New Zealand's innovative economy.
- Only university degree of its kind in Te Waipounamu South Island.
- Three-year degree.
- Includes a number of projects where students can test out their ideas, independently and as a team.
- Access to state-of-the-art laboratory, computer, and testing facilities.
- UC is ranked in the top 200 universities in the world for Business and Management Studies, and for Computer Science and Information Systems; and in the top 250 for Chemical Engineering (QS World Rankings by Subject, 2018).
- UC's Chemical and Process Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Marketing departments are the top-ranked for research in Aotearoa New Zealand (the latest Tertiary Education Commission 2012 PBRF assessment).
Admission to UC with University Entrance (or equivalent) is required to enrol.
Students with English as an additional language are also required to meet UC's English language requirements.
For information on the enrolment process, please see how to apply for undergraduate qualifications.
Recommended preparation
At least 14 credits in NCEA Level 2 science and mathematics are strongly recommended, while those intending to take the Chemical, Natural and Healthcare Product Formulation major should ideally have 14 credits in NCEA Level 3 chemistry (or the IB/CIE equivalent of these).
Secondary school studies in related subjects such as digital technologies, technology, or design and visual communication would be an advantage.
Visit the College of Engineering | Te Rāngai Pūkaha website for more details on recommended preparation, including an outline for different secondary school qualifications.
Typical degree structure for Bachelor of Product Design
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Compulsory courses
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Courses required for major
(1) Select courses from the Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Engineering with Honours degrees, depending on chosen major.
(2) Select 15 points above 200-level from the Bachelor of Engineering with Honours or Bachelor of Science degree schedules.
(3) 200 or 300-level course from MGMT, MKTG, ECON, FINC, or ACCT. If students have not completed MKTG 100 then at least 15 points of MKTG 200 or 300-level courses.
Each small block represents a 15-point courses. However, some courses may be 30 points (or more).
For major requirements please go to the Regulations for the Bachelor of Product Design.
The degree is a three-year 360 points qualification with a combination of coursework and design projects:
- 135 points of Product Design courses
- 165 points of Science and Engineering courses
- 60 points of Business or Management courses.
Design projects will involve independent work on open-ended projects, with a mix of individual and team-based activities, under close supervision by academics with experience in product design.
Double degrees
It is possible to combine the study of a BProdDesign with other degrees, such as a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Engineering with Honours, or a Bachelor of Commerce.
If you are considering a double degree you should get advice from a Te Rāngai Pūkaha | College of Engineering Student Advisor or from Te Rōpū Takawaenga o UC | Liaison Office.
Find out more information about Double degrees.
Conjoint degrees
Students can study the Conjoint Bachelor of Product Design and Science or the Conjoint Bachelor of Product Design and Commerce, which requires 60 points less than a double degree and will be completed in four years in an intensive format.
For example, students may want to study the Applied Immersive Game Design BProdDesign major with the Computer Science BSc major, or the Industrial Product Design BProdDesign major with the Marketing BCom major.
Contact a Student Advisor from each relevant College or School for course planning advice.
You can study one of three majors within the Bachelor of Product Design:
- Applied Immersive Game Design
- Chemical, Natural and Healthcare Product Formulation
- Industrial Product Design
In the first year, all students in the degree must complete these compulsory courses:
- PROD 101 Product Design 1
- MGMT 100 Fundamentals of Management
- either ENGR 101 Foundations of Engineering or PROD 110 Product Design Principles
- any MATH or EMTH 100-level course
You will also take another three courses in your first year towards your major subject.
The following years in the BProdDesign will involve courses towards your major subject, and includes courses in Engineering, Science, and Commerce areas.
UC has a wide range of relevant options for postgraduate study, including qualifications in Engineering, Computer Science, Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Business and Marketing.
There is also a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Product Design.
The scope of product design roles is widening from the traditional design of commercial products to include the design of user experiences, systems, and processes, as well as implementing virtual reality into existing applications.
Increasingly, many product designers work in multidisciplinary teams. Graduates may be employed in large manufacturing companies, design agencies, educational and training companies, engineering consultancies, and central and local government.
They may do design work for businesses in many industries such as medical, home appliances, packaging, computing, education, graphic design, cosmetics, or therapeutics and pharmaceutical companies.
Product designers can choose to start their own company.
More broadly, BProdDesign graduates will be prepared to work in a variety of roles for modern companies that not only require a technical background, but value innovation, customer focus, and business sense.
Find out more about what you can do with a degree from UC.
See Tuition Fee Structure for more information
| Year | Points | Info | Fees (NZD) |
| 2019 | 360 | Banded Fee - total tuition fee dependent on course selection | $6,141 - $7,076 per 120 points |
| 2019 | 360 | Major: Industrial Product Design | $7,007 - $7,076 |
| 2019 | 360 | Major: Applied Immersive Game Design | $6,141 - $6,507 |
| 2019 | 360 | Chemical and Healthcare Product Formulation | $6,934 - $7,076 |
| Year | Points | Info | Fees (NZD) |
| 2019 | 360 | Banded Fee - total tuition fee dependent on course selection | $30,100 - $35,175 per 120 points |
| 2019 | 360 | Major: Industrial Product Design | $33,800 - $35,175 per 120 points |
| 2019 | 360 | Major: Applied Immersive Game Design | $30,100 - $32,700 per 120 points |
| 2019 | 360 | Major: Chemical and Healthcare Product Formulation | $33,900 - $35,175 per 120 points |
Contact us
For assistance with planning your programme of study contact Te Rōpū Takawaenga o UC | UC Liaison Office (new students), or a Te Rāngai Pūkaha | College of Engineering Student Advisor (advancing students).
For more general information email info@canterbury.ac.nz or freephone 0800 VARSITY (827 748).
For the full degree requirements see the Regulations for the Bachelor of Product Design. For more information on facilities, resources, and staff see the Te Rāngai Pūkaha | College of Engineering.