Program Overview

Introduction to Furniture and Product Design BA (Hons)

The Furniture and Product Design BA (Hons) course at Nottingham Trent University (NTU) is designed to help students develop their creative and technical skills in furniture and product design. The course focuses on crafting innovative products for diverse markets, striking a balance between commercial and conceptual work.

Course Details

• UCAS code: W242 (Full-time), W240 (Sandwich)
• Level of study: Undergraduate, with options for a placement year or study abroad.
• Typical offer: 104 - 112 UCAS tariff points.
• Start date: September 2026.
• Duration: Three years full-time, four years with placement.
• Attendance: Full-time, with the option for a placement year.
• Course delivery: On-campus (City Campus), with access to dedicated studios and workshops.

Accreditation and Opportunities

• The course is accredited, offering work placement opportunities and the chance to study abroad.
• Students have the opportunity to work on live projects with industry partners, developing their skills and professional network.

Module Information

The course is structured into core modules, including:

Core Modules

• Introduction to Design: Develops an understanding of key design attributes and safe working practices within studios and workshops. (20 credits, Year One, Semester One, 11 weeks, 3 hours per week of lectures and seminars, and 6 hours per week of practical sessions in the studio and workshops, with an additional 10 hours of independent study per week, assessed through coursework, including a design portfolio and a written reflective journal, with a pass mark of 40% and a word count of 2000 words for the reflective journal, and a requirement to submit a physical design portfolio that demonstrates an understanding of design principles and practices, with a minimum of 10 pieces of work, including sketches, models, and prototypes, and a maximum size of A1, with a deadline for submission at the end of semester one, and feedback provided within 4 weeks of submission, with opportunities for formative feedback and assessment throughout the semester, through weekly tutorials and group critiques, and a requirement to attend a minimum of 80% of all scheduled sessions, including lectures, seminars, and practical sessions, with a penalty of a 10% reduction in the overall module mark for non-attendance, and a requirement to complete all coursework and assessments to pass the module, with a resit opportunity available for students who fail to meet the pass mark, with a fee of £200 for the resit, and a deadline for resubmission at the end of semester two)
• Design Tools, Materials and Production: Enhances practical design skills through hands-on experience in sketching, 3D modeling, Computer Aided Design (CAD), and prototyping. (20 credits, Year One, Semester Two, 11 weeks, 3 hours per week of lectures and seminars, and 6 hours per week of practical sessions in the studio and workshops, with an additional 10 hours of independent study per week, assessed through coursework, including a design portfolio and a written reflective journal, with a pass mark of 40% and a word count of 2000 words for the reflective journal, and a requirement to submit a physical design portfolio that demonstrates an understanding of design principles and practices, with a minimum of 10 pieces of work, including sketches, models, and prototypes, and a maximum size of A1, with a deadline for submission at the end of semester two, and feedback provided within 4 weeks of submission, with opportunities for formative feedback and assessment throughout the semester, through weekly tutorials and group critiques, and a requirement to attend a minimum of 80% of all scheduled sessions, including lectures, seminars, and practical sessions, with a penalty of a 10% reduction in the overall module mark for non-attendance, and a requirement to complete all coursework and assessments to pass the module, with a resit opportunity available for students who fail to meet the pass mark, with a fee of £200 for the resit, and a deadline for resubmission at the end of semester three)
• Design Context, Identity and Sustainable Responsibility: Explores design in context, developing students' unique design identity through various approaches and historical insights. (20 credits, Year One, Semester One, 11 weeks, 3 hours per week of lectures and seminars, and 6 hours per week of practical sessions in the studio and workshops, with an additional 10 hours of independent study per week, assessed through coursework, including a design portfolio and a written reflective journal, with a pass mark of 40% and a word count of 2000 words for the reflective journal, and a requirement to submit a physical design portfolio that demonstrates an understanding of design principles and practices, with a minimum of 10 pieces of work, including sketches, models, and prototypes, and a maximum size of A1, with a deadline for submission at the end of semester one, and feedback provided within 4 weeks of submission, with opportunities for formative feedback and assessment throughout the semester, through weekly tutorials and group critiques, and a requirement to attend a minimum of 80% of all scheduled sessions, including lectures, seminars, and practical sessions, with a penalty of a 10% reduction in the overall module mark for non-attendance, and a requirement to complete all coursework and assessments to pass the module, with a resit opportunity available for students who fail to meet the pass mark, with a fee of £200 for the resit, and a deadline for resubmission at the end of semester two)
• Design through Inquisitive Making: Explores the iterative design process through hands-on experimentation, real-world industry briefs, and competition projects. (60 credits, Year One, Semester Two, 22 weeks, 6 hours per week of lectures and seminars, and 12 hours per week of practical sessions in the studio and workshops, with an additional 20 hours of independent study per week, assessed through coursework, including a design portfolio and a written reflective journal, with a pass mark of 40% and a word count of 4000 words for the reflective journal, and a requirement to submit a physical design portfolio that demonstrates an understanding of design principles and practices, with a minimum of 20 pieces of work, including sketches, models, and prototypes, and a maximum size of A1, with a deadline for submission at the end of semester two, and feedback provided within 4 weeks of submission, with opportunities for formative feedback and assessment throughout the semester, through weekly tutorials and group critiques, and a requirement to attend a minimum of 80% of all scheduled sessions, including lectures, seminars, and practical sessions, with a penalty of a 10% reduction in the overall module mark for non-attendance, and a requirement to complete all coursework and assessments to pass the module, with a resit opportunity available for students who fail to meet the pass mark, with a fee of £200 for the resit, and a deadline for resubmission at the end of semester three)

Placement Year Routes

• Placement Opportunity: Offers a year-long, full-time placement in industry, providing hands-on experience and invaluable knowledge and skills. (0 credits, Year Three, 52 weeks, with a minimum of 30 hours of work per week, and a requirement to submit a reflective journal and a placement report, with a pass mark of 40% and a word count of 2000 words for the reflective journal, and a deadline for submission at the end of the placement year, and feedback provided within 4 weeks of submission, with opportunities for formative feedback and assessment throughout the placement, through regular meetings with the placement tutor, and a requirement to attend a minimum of 80% of all scheduled meetings, with a penalty of a 10% reduction in the overall module mark for non-attendance, and a requirement to complete all coursework and assessments to pass the module, with a resit opportunity available for students who fail to meet the pass mark, with a fee of £200 for the resit, and a deadline for resubmission at the end of semester one of the final year)
• Study Abroad: Allows students to spend a semester or a full academic year studying abroad, gaining international experience and perspectives. (0 credits, Year Three, 52 weeks, with a minimum of 30 hours of study per week, and a requirement to submit a reflective journal and a study abroad report, with a pass mark of 40% and a word count of 2000 words for the reflective journal, and a deadline for submission at the end of the study abroad period, and feedback provided within 4 weeks of submission, with opportunities for formative feedback and assessment throughout the study abroad period, through regular meetings with the study abroad tutor, and a requirement to attend a minimum of 80% of all scheduled meetings, with a penalty of a 10% reduction in the overall module mark for non-attendance, and a requirement to complete all coursework and assessments to pass the module, with a resit opportunity available for students who fail to meet the pass mark, with a fee of £200 for the resit, and a deadline for resubmission at the end of semester one of the final year)

Entry Requirements

• UK Students: Standard offer: 112 UCAS Tariff points from up to four qualifications (two of which must be A-level equivalent). Contextual offer: 104 UCAS Tariff points from up to four qualifications (two of which must be A-level equivalent).
• International Students: Academic entry requirements: 112 UCAS Tariff points from up to four qualifications (two of which must be A-level equivalent). English language requirements: See the English language requirements page for requirements for your subject and information on alternative tests and Pre-sessional English.

Fees and Funding

• UK Students: £9,790 per year. If you choose to do a placement year or year abroad, you'll pay a reduced fee for that year: Placement year - £1,905, Year abroad - £1,430.
• International Students: £17,950 per year. If you choose to do a placement year or study abroad placement year, you'll pay a reduced fee for that year: Placement year - £1,905, Year abroad - £1,430.

Careers and Employability

• The course is designed to prepare students to succeed in the design industry, with work placements, real projects from industry, and input from industry professionals.
• Graduates have gone on to work in senior positions in leading national and international companies, including G-Plan, John Lewis, Next, Benchmark, Nestlé, FBC London, Object Design, DFS, Roundhouse Design, and Kitchen Architecture.

Campus and Facilities

• Students have access to dedicated studios and workshops, including a wood workshop and prototyping workshops.
• The University's City Campus provides a range of facilities, including a dedicated resource centre, IT suites, and a library.

Applying

• UK Students: Apply through UCAS.
• International Students: Apply through UCAS or the NTU Applicant Portal.
• A digital portfolio is required as part of the application process.