Postgraduate taught 

Product Design Engineering MSc

Sketch of a product

The Masters in Product Design Engineering, taught in collaboration with the School of Design, Glasgow School of Art will develop your ability to design products with significant engineering content, address user needs, and optimise solutions for specific markets.

  • MSc: 12 months full-time

Why this programme

  • This exciting programme will enable you to benefit from the combined resources and complementary expertise of staff of two top ranking Scottish institutions, University of Glasgow and Glasgow School of Art.
  • Studio-based, student-centered learning based around design project activities. Students have access to state-of-the-art product design engineering prototyping and manufacturing processes in the PDE workshops at GSA and University of Glasgow.
  • There are increasing pressures, from both existing and emerging world marketplaces, for products which not only respond to the needs of function, user and society, but which can be brought to market ever more rapidly through state-of-the-art development and manufacturing processes. Industries which develop, manufacture and market today's products need high-caliber graduates equipped to handle these processes with management skill and creative drive, and this programme develops graduates with these skills.
  • The studio programme explores cultural, management, perceptual, process and psychological issues, offering a curriculum relevant to the needs of industry and an understanding of the role of the design engineer in society.
  • The MSc Product Design Engineering is accredited in the “Further Learning” category accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) and the Institution of Engineering Designers (IED). This means that a student with an accredited BEng undergraduate degree can take the accredited "Further Learning" MSc to top-up their academic qualifications in order to meet the full academic requirements for conferral of the title of Chartered Engineer. This is an alternative route to the 5-year undergraduate MEng route.
  • The University of Glasgow has been delivering world-class engineering education and research since 1840.
  • The School of Engineering has an Athena Swan Bronze Award, demonstrating the school’s commitment to supporting women in scientific studies and careers, and to improving the working environment for all.

Programme structure

You will attend lectures, seminars and tutorials and take part in lab, project, team and studio work, industrial visits, and workshops.

Core courses

Optional courses

Programme alteration or discontinuation
The University of Glasgow endeavours to run all programmes as advertised. In exceptional circumstances, however, the University may withdraw or alter a programme. For more information, please see: Student contract.

Career prospects

Career opportunities include product research and development, system design, product manufacture and engineering design. The programme aims to provide opportunities to work on live projects with industry: this can lead to employment opportunities. Examples of companies that employ our Product Design Engineering graduates are Apple, DELL, Dyson, Jaguar-Land Rover, TomTom and Smart.

Fees & funding

Tuition fees for 2019-20

MSc

Fees available from the Glasgow School of Art.

Fee information is subject to change and is for guidance only

Additional fees

  • Fee for re-assessment of a dissertation (PGT programme): £360
  • Submission of thesis after deadline lapsed: £320
  • Registration/exam only fee: £150

Funding opportunities

Spotcap Fintech Fellowship

Running for its third consecutive year, the Fellowship awards one UK-based master’s or MBA student with an £8,000 scholarship. Launched in 2017, the initiative aims to encourage aspiring individuals interested in a career in financial technology — a relatively new sector which is increasingly struggling to attract qualified talent.

More Information

Postgraduate Student Loan (NI)

If you are a Northern Irish student looking to study a taught Masters programme* in Glasgow then you can apply for a student loan in exactly the same way as you would for a University in Northern Ireland.

Northern Irish students are able to apply for non-means-tested tuition fee loans of up to £5,500, to help with the costs of funding

For more information visit
www.studentfinanceni.co.uk/types-of-finance/postgraduate

* does not apply to Erasmus Mundus programmes

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Postgraduate Tuition Fee Loans England only (PTFL)

If you’re starting a master’s degree, you could get a Postgraduate Master’s Loan of up to £10,609 to help with course fees and living costs. You have to repay your Postgraduate Master’s Loan at the same time as any other student loans you have. You’ll be charged interest from the day you get the first payment.

If you’re studying by distance learning, you can also apply.

Examples of postgraduate master’s qualifications include:

  • MSc (Master of Science)
  • MA (Master of Arts)
  • MPhil (Master of Philosophy)
  • MRes (Master of Research)
  • LLM (Master of Law)
  • MLitt (Master of Letters)
  • MFA (Master of Fine Art)
  • MEd (Master of Education)
  • MBA (Master of Business Administration)

If you plan to study for Master of Architecture (MArch) or an Integrated Master’s qualification, you should apply for undergraduate support

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Wheatley Foundation Bursary

A Wheatley Foundation bursary is a grant that customers living in our homes can apply for to support them to achieve their educational goals and help them on the career path they wish to undertake. It will also aim to offer employability support like CV support and internships where appropriate.  A bursary award can support you for the costs of books, equipment, travel costs, childcare or other living costs that will help you to complete a course.

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Postgraduate Student Loan (Scotland and EU)

From session 2018-2019 eligible full-time students, undertaking an eligible postgraduate course, can apply for a tuition fee loan up to a maximum of £5,500. Eligible part-time students can apply for a tuition fee loan up to a maximum of £5,500 for the course, split across each year of their course, where the course does not take any longer than twice the length of the full-time equivalent course.

From session 2018-2019, new students will be eligible to apply for support to undertake postgraduate diploma and full masters’ level courses via distance learning. 

Please see the Postgraduate funding guide.

For more information visit the SAAS website

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Postgraduate Loans for Welsh Students

If you are a Welsh student looking to study a postgraduate programme in Glasgow then you can apply for a student loan in exactly the same way as you would for a Welsh University.

Postgraduate Masters Loan

If you’re starting a masters degree*, you could get a Postgraduate Masters Loan of up to £10,280 to help with course fees and living costs. 

* does not apply to Erasmus Mundus programmes

For more information visit Student Finance Wales

Postgraduate Doctoral Loan

If you’re starting a doctoral degree on or after 1 August 2018, you could get a Postgraduate Doctoral Loan of up to £25,000 to help with course fees and living costs.

For more information visit Student Finance Wales

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Humanitarian Scholarships

The University of Glasgow is offering 4 scholarships (one per college) for applicants to the University who are staying in the UK on humanitarian grounds and are facing challenges in progressing onto Higher Education. The scholarship is open to prospective undergraduate and postgraduate students of the University of Glasgow applying for entry in 2019. The scholarship meets the full cost of tuition fees for the duration of your programme as well providing an additional £4,000 per year stipend, if the eligibility criteria for university accommodation is met this will also be provided for the duration of your degree. For more information on the accommodation criteria please see the Residential Services section on the website.

We are also offering 4 scholarships to students who hold refugee status. This scholarship is awarded as a £5,000 per year stipend toward living costs per year of study.

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The Clan Gregor Society Prize

The Clan Gregor Society are offering an award to new entrants to the University of Glasgow who descend from Clan Gregor. Prospective students will be asked to submit an application highlighting areas of consideration such as academic excellence and financial need. The award is open to both Undergraduate and postgraduate applicants.

 

More Information

The scholarships above are specific to this programme. For more funding opportunities search the scholarships database

Entry requirements

Entry requirements are normally a 2.2 Honours degree or equivalent (eg GPA of 3.0 or above) in a relevant subject area (product design engineering, mechanical engineering, electronic and electrical engineering being of particular relevance) or equivalent professional practice. Depending on your previous experience and qualifications you may be asked to complete a design engineering assignment as part of your application.

English language requirements

For applicants whose first language is not English, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level.

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic module (not General Training)

  • overall score 6.5
  • no sub-test less than 6.0
  • or equivalent scores in another recognised qualification:

Common equivalent English language qualifications

All stated English tests are acceptable for admission for both home/EU and international students for this programme:

  • ibTOEFL: 90; no sub-test less than:
    • Reading: 20
    • Listening: 19
    • Speaking: 19
    • Writing: 23
  • CAE (Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English): 176 overall; no sub-test less than 169
  • CPE (Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English):  176 overall; no sub-test less than 169
  • PTE Academic (Pearson Test of English, Academic test): 60; no sub-test less than 59
  • Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English: ISEII at Distinction with Distinction in all sub-tests

For international students, the Home Office has confirmed that the University can choose to use these tests to make its own assessment of English language ability for visa applications to degree level programmes. The University is also able to accept an IELTS test (Academic module) from any of the 1000 IELTS test centres from around the world and we do not require a specific UKVI IELTS test for degree level programmes. We therefore still accept any of the English tests listed for admission to this programme.

Pre-sessional courses

The University of Glasgow accepts evidence of the required language level from the English for Academic Study Unit Pre-sessional courses. We also consider other BALEAP accredited pre-sessional courses:

FAQs

What do I do if...

my language qualifications are below the requirements?

The University's English for Academic Study Unit offers a range of Pre-Sessional Courses to bring you up to entry level. The course is accredited by BALEAP, the UK professional association for academic English teaching; see Links.

my language qualifications are not listed here?

Please contact the Recruitment and International Office: pgadmissions@glasgow.ac.uk


 

For further information about English language requirements, please contact the Recruitment and International Office: pgadmissions@glasgow.ac.uk

International students

We are proud of our diverse University community which attracts students and staff from over 140 different countries.

How to apply

Students should apply for this degree through Glasgow School of Art. The application procedures can be found at: Glasgow School of Art: how to apply.

More information about this programme

Related programmes

Engineering

more related Engineering programmes

Related links

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Postgraduate prospectus 2019