Degrees Offered

• Foundation Degree (FdEng) Product Design and Development (UCAS Code: H153)

Contact Information

For entrance requirements
E: admissions@qub.ac.uk
T: +44 (0)28 9097 3838

For course information
Raymond Cooke
Department of Technology
Belfast Metropolitan College
Gerald Moag Campus, Millfield
T: +44 (0)28 9026 5432
E: rcooke@belfastmet.ac.uk
W: http://www.belfastmet.ac.uk

Entrance Requirements

• A-level: CC including Mathematics and a Science subject
  OR
  BC including grade B in Mathematics or Design/Technology + GCSE Mathematics
  
  
• BTEC Extended Diploma: A relevant discipline, with a Merit or above in at least half of the subjects taken plus GCSE Mathematics at grade C or above.
  
  
• Irish Leaving Certificate: BCCC including Mathematics and at least one of Biology, Chemistry or Physics.
  Note: a minimum of 5 subjects will be required in the Irish Leaving Certificate at least 4 of which should be at Higher Level.
  
  
• Scottish Highers: ABB to include Technological Studies or Mathematics and a Science subject.
  
  
• Relevant Access Course: With an average mark of at least 55%, including passes in Mathematics and a Science subject.

Note: applicants not offering Physics at A-level should have a minimum of a grade C in GCSE Physics or Double Award Science.

Applicants with other qualifications, such as a BTEC National Certificate, a HNC or AVCEs, will be considered on their individual merits.

Those with industrial experience returning to education after a break may be considered, subject to 'Accreditation for Prior Learning' requirements.

For students whose first language is not English
An IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each test component or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University. Further information on other acceptable English Language qualifications is available here

If you are an international student and you do not meet the English Language requirements, you should consider a preparation course at INTO Queen's University Belfast, which will develop the language skills you need to progress. INTO Queen's University Belfast is based on the University campus and offers a range of courses. For a full list click here

The Subject

The Foundation Degree in Product Design and Development is a two-year degree offered by Belfast Metropolitan College in collaboration with Queen's University Belfast. Students will have the option of either seeking employment when they graduate, or transferring to Stage 2 of the BEng degree in Product Design and Development at Queen's, from where they can graduate with an Honours degree after two further years of study.

In order to remain competitive, companies have become increasingly aware of the need to launch new and improved products on a regular basis. To enable them to achieve this, they need graduates who are creative, and have the knowledge and skills required to translate ideas into marketable products that are technically sound.

Course Content

The Foundation Degree in Product Design and Development is based on the same model as the Queen's degree. This means that the Foundation Degree develops students' creative skills, provides them with a scientific base and introduces them to relevant marketing and business issues. In addition, it integrates learning through project work that covers the product design and development cycle from the generation of an initial concept, through market analysis and design, to the manufacture of prototypes. As a result, graduates will have competence in all areas that are relevant to companies wishing to develop successful new or improved products.

The Foundation Degree involves a significant amount of active learning, where students work on assignments and projects, either individually or in teams. The College has excellent workshops and laboratories to support these activities, however, the most important feature of the Foundation Degree is the opportunity it provides for work-based learning, since every student undertakes an extended work placement with a local company as an integral part of the degree. During the placement, students become acquainted with all aspects of the operation of the company, spend time working in different areas, and undertake a major project on a topic of interest to the company.

Click here for more information on modules

Learning and Teaching

Through the Foundation Degrees we aim to deliver a high quality learning environment that embeds intellectual curiosity, innovation and best practice in learning, teaching and student support to enable student to achieve their full academic potential. On the Foundation Degree in Product Design and Development we do this by providing a range of learning experiences which enable our students develop attributes and perspectives that will equip them for life and work in a global society and make use of innovative technologies that enhances their development as independent, lifelong learners.   Examples of the opportunities provided for learning on this course are:

• Lectures: Introduce basic information about new topics as a starting point for further self-directed private study.  Lectures also provide opportunities to ask questions, gain some feedback and advice on assessments.

• Practicals:  where you will have opportunities to develop technical skills and apply theoretical principles to real-life or practical contexts. 

• Tutorials:  Most lectures are supported by tutorial classes, in which students work in groups.  These provide significant opportunity for students to engage with academic staff who have specialist knowledge of the topic, to ask questions of them and to assess your own progress and understanding with the support of peers.

• Self-directed study:  This is an important part of life as a higher education student when important private reading, engagement with e-learning resources, reflection on feedback to date and assignment research and preparation work is carried out.

• Work placements:  Students undertake a work-placement during year 2.  This is a significant learning and employability enhancement opportunity.

Assessment and Feedback

Assessment (general):  The way in which you are assessed will vary according to the Learning objectives of each module.  Some modules are assessed solely through project work or written assignments.  Others are assessed through a combination of coursework and end of semester examinations.

 Feedback (general):  As students progress through their course at Queen’s they will receive general and specific feedback about their work from a variety of sources including lecturers, module co-ordinators, placement supervisors, advisers of study and peers.  University students are expected to engage with reflective practice and to use this approach to improve the quality of their work. Feedback may be provided in a variety of forms including:

• Feedback provided via formal written comments and marks relating to work that you, as an individual or as part of a group, have submitted. 
• Face to face comment.  This may include occasions when you make use of the lecturers’ advertised “office hours” to help you to address a specific query.
• Placement employer comments or references.
• Online or emailed comment.
• General comments or question and answer opportunities at the end of a lecture, seminar or tutorial.
• Pre-submission advice regarding the standards you should aim for and common pitfalls to avoid.  In some instances, this may be provided in the form of model answers or exemplars which you can review in your own time. 
• Feedback and outcomes from practical classes.
• Comment and guidance provided by staff from specialist support services such as, Careers, Employability and Skills or the Learning Development Service.

Once you have reviewed your feedback, you will be encouraged to identify and implement further improvements to the quality of your work.

Careers

Students who seek employment after graduating with Foundation Degrees will have acquired practical and theoretical knowledge and a wide range of skills. Students will also have had the benefit of working in various roles within a company, and undertaking a major industrially-relevant project. As a result, graduates will be in an excellent position to pursue careers in many of the areas where Product Design Engineers are employed.

Further study by articulation to Year 2 of the BEng degree in Product Design and Development at Queen's will broaden students' options in terms of employment and create the opportunity to gain postgraduate qualifications.

Special Features

Progression: the Foundation Degree is principally designed to provide access to Queen's University for students who would not otherwise have the opportunity to enrol on the BEng Honours degree, and places are available to applicants with a wide range of qualifications. While Belfast Metropolitan College is responsible for teaching the modules in the Foundation Degree curriculum, students are fully enrolled in both the College and the University and have the same entitlements as other students at Queen's.