Foundation Programme: Product Design and Innovation

Course overview

In our foundation programme for producty design and innovation, you will gain the fundamental knowledge needed for your future undergraduate studies, paving the way toward a BSc in Product Design and Innovation.

On this programme, you will learn, collaborate, and flourish through a blend of academic modules, specific subject knowledge, and project-based learning with students in other engineering areas and foundation students across different frameworks. This approach mimics the real-life working world, where your career will be enriched by working alongside people with different skill sets, viewpoints, and approaches, while also supporting a wider community of learning and building the specific skills for your progression.

“My favourite part of the course has been bringing my ideas into reality, transforming any idea I have into a real, physical product. Another favourite part of the course was presentations, as they help to build up your confidence, and also you get to see everyone present and be really enthusiastic about the projects they’ve been working on.”

Marco Sousa Lau

UX, UI and Visual designer at IBM

Why Engineering and Physical Sciences Foundation Programme: Product Design and Innovation at Aston University?

Gold standard teaching

Aston University was awarded Gold- the highest possible rating for Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF, 2023)

Thriving student life

Aston Students’ Union was rated 8th in the UK in the 2022 What Uni League Table

Hands on collaborative teaching

Our dedicated academics ensure smooth transitions for students from diverse backgrounds

Product Design at Aston University

Final year student Mica Mehta talks about her experience of studying product design at Aston.

Careers and Placements

Whatever your Aston University journey, we're here to help. Discover what's possible with Careers and Placements.

ASTON POWER SKILLS

Built into every undergraduate degree

Gain the skills employers look for worldwide.

AI & Digital

Innovation & Entrepreneurship

Inclusive Leadership

Environmental Sustainability

Discover Power Skills

Course description

Engineering and Physical Sciences Foundation Programme: Product Design and Innovation

The Engineering and Physical Sciences Foundation Programme: Product Design and Innovation programme at Aston University introduces you to the skills, knowledge, and confidence needed to thrive in the tech world.

What we will provide
First-class teaching in the UK’s second largest city, delivered by experienced and seasoned product design and innovation professionals and academics who bring a wealth of real-world experience to the classroom. Use of state-of-the-art facilities, including modern computer labs.

We are an Adobe Creative Campus meaning you will have access to top-notch software licenses, including Adobe and Solidworks, commonly used in industry. To find out more, visit here.

It is not mandatory to bring your own device for this course, however if you choose to do so please note will need laptop specifications of i5 or above (or AMD equivalent).

What you will provide
You'll be required to think outside of the box, reimagine inventions and empathise with the audiences you’ll be creating for. You must embrace challenges and have a willingness grow through failure. Fuel your passion for innovation and emerge from your time with us as a visionary ready to shape the future.

What skills we teach
On this course, you will be introduced to a variety of crucial technical skills such as CAD. You will thrive with the tools needed to create fresh innovations with user-centered design. With a combination of hand and digital sketching, you will develop prototypes to practical test your creations. You will evolve your model-making skills with 3D printing, foam, and clay. Whilst enhancing your ability to work in a team, communicate well, and critically think to solve technical challenges.

Progression opportunities
On successful completion of our foundation programme, you will then have the opportunity to transition onto our BSc Product Design and Innovation degree. Recent graduates of our BSc degree course have progressed to enjoy excellent careers. Many have secured positions through their placement year, with notable companies like JLR, Seymour Powell, Dyson, and Mattel. Lots of our alumni have gone on to excel in diverse roles, including Creative Directors, while others advance into managerial and leadership positions with design at the core.

How you will learn

Our teaching methods range from engaging lectures to interactive workshops, allowing you to absorb knowledge through multiple approaches. You will dive into real-world projects that challenge and inspire you through hands-on work, where you will put theory into practice.

Here at Aston University, we are passionate about supporting our students. You will have a personal tutor throughout your studies to provide support and guidance. The Learning Development Centre is there to provide maths support, academic writing development, advice, and strategies for managing your studies. You will also have the opportunity to get involved in PAL sessions, learning from your peers who have been through the course content before you.

There is a plethora of extra-curricular activities to enrich your time with us at Aston University. You can participate in Engineering Without Borders, and contribute to the Formula Student team where you will compete at Silverstone. The Design Factory will offer summer internships and projects, while Design Live Challenges can provide paid opportunities to work on real company briefs. You may also like to join societies like WEST, CAD, and Engineering to enhance your networking. The Industry Club fosters industry connections. Finally, the Aston Inspire design show allows you to showcase your design-focused final-year projects.

What you will learn

On this programme, you'll receive an introduction of principles and disciplines of product design and innovation You will develop the essential skills to transition onto BSc Product Design and Innovation, and gain invaluable hands-on experience that sets you apart in industry

Product Design graduate to IBM

Teodora talks about her experience at Aston

Find out more

Facilities

You will have access to world-leading facilities to support your creative pursuits. Our Design Studio provides a collaborative space for ideation and innovation. Equipped with state-of-the-art Wacom tablets, interactive sketching becomes seamless. The Model Shop offers 3D printing capabilities, laser cutting, and water jet cutting, enabling you to transform your designs into tangible prototypes. Additionally, our Wood Shop provides resources for woodworking projects. These cutting-edge facilities will empower you to bring your visions to life with precision and craftsmanship.

Your learning and support is always at the forefront of all we do whilst you can benefit from PAL (Peer Assisted Learning) which offers assistance from students in higher year groups to those in lower years. Our dedicated technicians provide excellent support for CDIO team projects and practical sessions. Personal tutors, including year tutors and program directors, ensure you have regular scheduled meetings throughout the year. Additionally, you will have access to wider university support services, ensuring your overall well-being and academic success.

coursepage_product design_students_studio_academic

coursepage_product design_students_studio

Course objectives

Provides you with the necessary fundamental skills and knowledge for progression into Stage 1 of study.
You will develop transferrable and communication skills required to be successful in further study..
You will develop ethical and inclusive, problem solving and critical thinking skills.
You will begin to develop the global awareness, sustainability and inclusive practice required in modern professional practice.

Modules

Foundation year modules

In your foundation year you will study the following core modules:

Module Title	Credits
Undergraduate Professional Skills	15
Mathematics 1	15
Introduction to Scientific Principles	15
Industries of the Future	15
Global Engineering Project	15
Engineering Science Foundations	15
Applied Physics Foundations	15
Developing Client Relationships	15
Total	120

Foundation year outcomes

On successful completion of the first year, you will be able to:

Use mathematical principles to solve well-defined problems.
Solve well-defined problems using technical and scientific concepts relevant to the framework of study.
Collaborate in multidisciplinary teams, demonstrating inclusive, effective communication and teamwork skills.
Communicate discipline-relevant technical ideas and solutions effectively, in a variety of ways, to diverse audiences, using appropriate terminology.
Conduct practical activities using appropriate equipment/tools, review data and draw conclusions to support technical decision-making relevant to the framework of study.
Discuss ethical and professional responsibilities, including stakeholder involvement, sustainability, safety, technical, EDI, and social factors.
Collect, interpret, and present, data from a variety of sources.
Reflect on their own learning needs and successes.
Demonstrate awareness of project management principles and methods.

We may update our courses to reflect best practices and academic developments. If we do, we’ll let you know of any changes at the earliest opportunity by updating our course webpages. If you have already received an offer, we’ll write to you directly to let you know of the changes.

ASTON POWER SKILLS

Built into every undergraduate degree

Gain the skills employers look for worldwide.
As an Aston student, you will develop expertise in four key areas:

AI & Digital

Join the rise of the humans. Don't fear AI, master it and use it for good. Develop digital skills for the future, whatever career you want to pursue.

Innovation & Entrepreneurship

Don't follow the rules, rewrite them. Today’s fast-changing world needs original thinkers. Creators. Innovators. Risk takers. So get ready to think smart and reach the next level.

Inclusive Leadership

Make space for every voice to be heard. Be the one who brings people together with a shared vision. Learn to break down barriers and be the leader the future needs.

Environmental Sustainability

It's not game over for our planet. It's game on. Together we can create a greener tomorrow. The world urgently needs graduates who can shape more sustainable and ethical ways of working. The future depends on it.

Entry requirements

A Levels
Standard offer: CCD
EPQ Offer: CDD and Level 3 Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) grade B
Core Maths Offer: CDD and Level 3 Core Maths Qualification grade B
Aston ready (Widening participation) offer: DDD
Contextual offers
Aston Ready is our contextual offer scheme that could reduce your undergraduate offer by one or two grades. Assessed at the point of application, there are no additional forms to fill in.

Contextual offer criteria

Extended Diploma and National Extended Diploma: Merit Merit Merit
Extended Diploma in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering with an overall grade of Merit
National Diploma and Diploma: Merit Merit plus 1 A-level at minimum Grade D
Diploma in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering with an overall grade Merit plus an A-Level in any subject at grade D OR achieve an overall grade Merit plus a BTEC Sub Dip/ Extended National Cert in any subject grade Merit
Foundation or 90 credits Diploma: Merit Merit plus 2 A-level minimum Grade CD
National Extended Certificate or Subsidiary Diploma: Merit plus 2 A-level minimum Grade CD

26 including 3, 3, 3 in Higher Level subjects

Successful completion of the QAA-recognised Access Diploma with 60 credits including 45 credits at Level 3. You must obtain a minimum of 9 Distinctions, 12 Merits and 24 Pass.

All subjects are accepted at T Level: Merit

Additionally to our Level 3 requirement each applicant must meet a GCSE (level 2) requirements:

GCSE English Language or Literature minimum grade C/4
GCSE Mathematics minimum grade C/4

Fees and scholarships

Course fees

This foundation programme is available to UK students only. International students interested in a foundation programme should visit OnCampus Aston.

UK students
(2025/26)

Annual tuition fees:	£9,535*
During placement year:	£1,250

UK students (Home Undergraduate):

The annual tuition fee for the programme commencing in academic year 2025/26 will be £9,535 (subject to the passing of legislation implementing the Government’s policy to increase the maximum tuition fee from £9,250, payable by Home Undergraduate students on full-time courses). The fee for the placement year is £1,250.

All students:

The duration of your programme is set out at the top of this course page and you will be responsible for the payment of an annual tuition fee in each of these years. The University reserves the right to increase tuition fees annually in accordance with its Terms and Conditions and subject at all times to the maximum tuition fee caps set by Government from time to time. This means that your total tuition fee may be higher than stated above, but your total tuition fee will never increase by more than 6% year on year. An increase in fees will allow the University to cover the increased costs of delivering the course and ensure it is able to maintain high standards of education and facilities.

Scholarships

At Aston University we are committed to supporting the most talented and hardworking students to achieve their potential by providing a range of scholarships to help lower tuition and living costs.

Explore our scholarships

Assessment

The Engineering and Physical Sciences Foundation Programme: Product Design and Innovation programme employs a range of authentic assessment methods, including presentations, coursework, quizzes, and some exams. We make sure to coordinate deadlines to ensure you have a manageable workload.

The assessment methods will reflect the most effective and relevant way to review your performance for each module. Therefore, each module will be assessed in a variety of ways to reflect your knowledge from that module and how you would apply it in the real world.

Career prospects

Engineering and physical science skills are used in almost all aspects of our modern lives, meaning that graduates in these areas are in high demand. Students who have completed an Engineering and Physical Science Foundation Programme go on to study for their Bachelor level degree.

Our graduate prospects for our BSc product design and innovation students are vast and hugely exciting. Previous graduates have excelled at renowned companies such as Bentley Motors Concepts, Gas Data Limited, Fitch, Invizil, IBM, Samsung, Goodfish Ltd, DK, Elestial, and Gilroy. These roles span across design engineering, UX/UI design, product management, technical sales support, and digital design, reflecting the diverse and promising career prospects available for you.

Be part of our community

Once you have joined us at Aston University, you’ll always be part of our community, even beyond graduation.

Alumni Services

Frequently Asked Questions

Why study Engineering and Physical Sciences Foundation Programme: Product Design and Innovation at Aston?

If you want to develop the skills and experience you need to build a successful career in product design, which combines a thorough understanding of engineering principles alongside practical project work, this could be the course for you.

Is Birmingham a good place to study?

Our campus is based in the centre of Birmingham, the youngest major city in Europe and a great place to live, work and study.

Great music and entertainment with a vibrant nightlife. Bars, clubs, pubs, live music, festivals, concerts. Whatever your tastes, there's something here for everyone.
Fantastic food. Birmingham's diverse community means you can try anything from the famous Balti triangle, the Chinese Quarter, high street chains, halal and vegan food, and Michelin-star dining.
World-class shopping. The Bullring and Grand Central is a shopper's paradise. From the world's biggest Primark to luxury brands at the Mailbox.
Arts and culture. Museums, galleries, theatres, concerts and Birmingham's art collection is as wide as it is impressive - not to be missed.
Green, open spaces. One of the greenest cities in Europe, Birmingham has hundreds of publicly accessible parks and green spaces across the city.
Sporting action. Birmingham has some of the most exciting venues for watching or participating in sport in the UK.

Discover Birmingham