Everything you need to know...
International/EU: £15,860 per year (£1,200 for placement year)
Come to an open day
Find out more at our undergraduate open days. Book now for your place.
Course summary
- Learn the skills you need to become a professional product or service designer.
- Create visually compelling and innovative products and engaging service experiences.
- Develop real-world experience working on live projects with global brands.
- Benefit from exceptional connections with relevant industry and professional networks
If you don't meet the entry requirements for our BA (Hons) courses, or you’d like extra preparation before starting degree-level study, we recommend you join the foundation year – which has been designed to encourage exploration and experimentation.
This course prepares you for an exciting career as a globally-minded designer, equipped to identify and respond empathetically, sustainably and collaboratively to creative opportunities.
Creative UK membership
We are members of Creative UK, which means our art and design students are also members until they graduate. With 10,000 members in its network, Creative UK represents, champions and supports the UK’s creative industries, advocating on the issues that matter the most to creative communities.
View our students' work
View our gallery of student work and learn more about the exciting projects they've been working on this year.
How you learn
All our courses are designed around a set of key principles based on engaging you with the world, collaborating with others, challenging you to think in new ways, and providing you with a supportive environment in which you can thrive.
Through studio-based learning and working on live projects, you'll gain a deep understanding of design culture and practice. You'll learn how to take creative risks while also developing your own personal approach.. You'll develop collaborative skills through interdisciplinary projects, as well as engaging globally with our established partner institutions in Hong Kong and Taiwan. In the first ‘induction’ module you’ll learn to work confidently and creatively with a wide range of different materials. In the second ‘project’ module you’ll be taught by tutors from the BA (Hons) course supported by foundation tutors.
You’ll learn through
- studio-based design projects
- technical workshops
- lectures and seminars
- authentic work experiences and placements
- live design projects
- field trips
- presentations and feedback sessions
- studio-based design projects
- Blackboard online learning portal
- self-directed study
Take a look at the department's Instagram and TikTok to see what innovations and creations our students have been working on. For content directly from our BA Product Design sudents please visit the course Instagram.
Course leaders and tutors
Mark Fisher
Course LeaderMark is a product designer, researcher and course leader on the BA Product Design course.
Applied learning
Work placements
You'll have opportunities to arrange single or multiple work placement/s in between your second and third years of the full course. Placements give you real-world experience to prepare you for your future career. Previous students have secured placements with Design Futures, Morphy Richards, Lowe Alpine, BDP Lighting, Joseph Joseph and Mazda Europe. You may also be able to work or study abroad with the possibility of funding through the Erasmus+ programme (until 2023) or the Turing scheme.
Live projects
You'll engage in authentic work experiences in each year of the course, working with external partners and exciting live briefs. Recent live projects have seen students working with RAB, the NHS, Astro Lighting and 257 Product + Brand Development. You'll have the opportunity to pitch project outcomes to company representatives and potentially receive payment for designs.
Field trips
We offer opportunities to go on study trips and visits in the UK and abroad – with free travel and accommodation for all mandatory field trips on the course. These could include workshops, design exhibitions or visits to practitioners’ studios and museums. Recent international trip destinations include Berlin, Copenhagen and Milan. There may be opportunities to further enhance your studies with optional field trips, though these will incur additional costs.
Networking opportunities
Sheffield Hallam's Careers Connect mentoring scheme allows you to gain professional insights and support from a personal mentor working in your field of interest. We also organise an annual two-day employability event, allowing you to network with commercial partners and participate in one-to-one portfolio reviews. Our annual degree show is a great opportunity for graduating students to showcase their work.
Competitions
We support you to enter national and international design competitions. Recent successes include the RSA Student Design Awards and four prizes awarded at the 2019 New Designers graduate exhibition in London, including the Joseph Joseph and 100% Design awards.
Future careers
This course prepares you for future study and careers in
- product design
- user experience/user interface and service design
- design consultancy
- consumer insight and brand strategy
- strategic innovation
- running your own business
- designing and making
- digital visualisation
- education
- sales
- marketing
Previous graduates of this course have gone on to work for
- Dyson
- Volvo
- Ron Arad Associates
- Jaguar Land Rover
- Kenwood
- Next
- Fosters + Partners
- Panasonic
- Urbis Design
- VTech Hong Kong
- Mothercare
- Thomas Heatherwick Studios
- Design Futures
Where will I study?
You study at City Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.
City Campus
City Campus is located in the heart of Sheffield, within minutes of the train and bus stations.
City Campus map | City Campus tour | Keeping safe on Campus
Adsetts library
Adsetts Library is located on our City Campus. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.
Learn moreEquipment and facilities
You'll have access to a wide variety of facilities across the university campuses – including a 24-hour learning centre, Students’ Union, cafes and eateries, lecture theatres, exhibition spaces and more. You'll be based in a fully equipped and purpose-designed studio, with state-of-the-art facilities including
- industry-standard computer hardware and software
- extensive workshops for soft modelling and prototyping
- metal fabrication and fabrication (plasma cutting, welding, casting, bending and forming)
- precision-metal workshop with milling machines and lathes
- print, wood, plastics, metal, mixed media, casting and ceramic workshops
- CNC equipment including laser cutters, CNC routers (2D and 3D)
- electronics and coding lab
- 3D printing (including SLA, FDM, SLS, Police and metal 3DP)
- 3D digital tools (3D CAD, FEA), 3D scanning (Artec Leo)
- industry-grade spray painting and colour matching facility
- industry-standard XYZ CNC mills, DMG mill-turn lathes and EDM
- structural-integrity laboratory/metrology for testing materials and components
Learn more about your department
Art and Design facilities tour - shared workshops
Take a look around the shared workshops in the Department of Art & Design at Sheffield Hallam University.
Entry requirements
All students
UCAS points
- 80
This must include at least 32 points from at least one A level or equivalent BTEC National qualifications (to include a relevant subject, such as Art, Design and Technology, Textiles or Graphics). For example:
- CDD at A Level with a grade C in a relevant subject.
- MMP in BTEC Extended Diploma in a relevant subject.
- A combination of qualifications which must include an A level grade C or BTEC grade M in a relevant subject and may include AS levels, EPQ and general studies
- Access to HE Diploma from a QAA recognised Access to HE course. Normally we require 15 credits at level 2 and 45 at level 3. At least 15 level 3 credits must be at merit grade or above from a QAA-recognised Access to HE course, or an equivalent Access to HE certificate.
You can find information on making sense of UCAS tariff points here and use the UCAS tariff calculator to work out your points.
GCSE
- English Language or Literature at grade C or 4
We may also accept you, if you have limited qualifications but can show evidence of ability and a genuine commitment to studying Art and Design.
We treat the foundation year as part of the Art and Design degree programme. Offers made to students will be for four years of study (or five years of study including a placement). This is made up of the foundation year plus one of our Art and Design degrees.
If English is not your first language, you will need an IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in all skills or equivalent. If your English language skill is currently below IELTS 6.0 we recommend you consider either the International Foundation Programme: Art, Design and Media or Sheffield Hallam University Pre-sessional English course which will enable you to achieve an equivalent English score.
Portfolio review
If your application is successful you will receive an email inviting you to submit your portfolio by email and submission details by an online google form.
The portfolio helps us understand whether we are able to offer you a place on the course you’ve applied for. Your UCAS statement and portfolio provide you with the opportunity to demonstrate your creative experience, potential ability and enthusiasm for the course you’ve applied for. Visit our portfolio review guidance
Please note the University will only admit students who are aged 18 or over at the point of enrolment.
Additional information for EU/International students
If you are an International or non-UK European student, you can find out more about the country specific qualifications we accept on our international qualifications page.
For details of English language entry requirements (IELTS), please see the information for 'All students'.
Modules
Module and assessment information for future years is displayed as currently validated and may be liable to change. When selecting electives, your choices will be subject to the core requirements of the course. As a result, selections may be limited to a choice between one of two or more specified electives in some instances.
You will be able to complete a placement year as part of this course. See the modules table below for further information.
Year 1
| Module | Credits | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Module: Foundation Induction | Credits: 60 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Foundation Projects | Credits: 60 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Year 2
| Module | Credits | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Module: Design Essentials | Credits: 60 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Design Interactions | Credits: 60 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Year 3
| Module | Credits | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Module: Products, Services And Experiences | Credits: 60 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Professional Engagement | Credits: 60 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Year 4
| Module | Credits |
|---|---|
| Module: Placement Year | Credits: - |
Final year
| Module | Credits | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Module: Graduation Design Projects | Credits: 60 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Strategic Innovation | Credits: 60 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Fees and funding
Home students
Our tuition fee for UK students starting full-time undergraduate study in 2023/24 is £9,250 per year. These fees are regulated by the UK government and are therefore subject to changes in government policy. During your placement year you will pay a reduced fee of £1,200.
† If you are studying an undergraduate course, postgraduate pre-registration course or postgraduate research course over more than one academic year then your tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with Government regulations or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) published fees. More information can be found in our terms and conditions under student fees regulations.
International students
Our tuition fee for International/EU students starting full-time study in 2023/24 is £15,860 per year. During your placement year you will pay a reduced fee of £1,200.
Financial support for home/EU students
How tuition fees work, student loans and other financial support available.
Additional course costs
This link allows you to view estimated costs associated with the main activities on specific courses. These are estimates and, as such, are only an indication of additional course costs. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.
Additional costs for Art and design courses (PDF, 272.7KB)Legal information
Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.
