MSc in Advanced Product Design Engineering and Manufacturing
- Kingston upon Thames, United Kingdom
- London, United Kingdom
MSc
DURATION
2 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
TUITION FEES
GBP 17,600 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* for international full-time | international part-time: 9,680 GBP/year | home full-time: 11,400 GBP/year | home part-time: 6,270 GBP/year
Key Summary
The MSc in Product Design Engineering is more than just a course; it’s an opportunity to transform your ideas into real-world solutions.
Advanced Product Design, Engineering and Manufacturing (APDEM) is a future-focused course which blends innovative design with advanced engineering and manufacturing expertise. It equips you with the practical and analytical skills needed to develop high-quality, manufacturable products, which are both commercially viable and environmentally responsible.
Throughout the course, you will gain experience in engineering design, simulation, materials science and decision making. There is a strong focus on designing for performance, cost, sustainability and user needs. An emphasis on Design for Engineering also enables you to consider a wide range of real-world factors. These factors include functionality, manufacturability, environmental impact and product lifecycle.
Product Lifecycle Assessment (PLA) and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) are embedded throughout the course. This will help you make informed, system-level decisions from concept to end-of-life.
Interdisciplinary collaboration is a core part of the learning experience too. You will work on projects alongside peers from other programmes, gaining valuable insight into the dynamics of professional teamwork across disciplines. This reflects the way modern design and manufacturing teams operate in industry.
With access to our state-of-the-art facilities, expert academic support and live industry briefs, you will develop the knowledge, creativity and confidence to succeed in product development, advanced manufacturing or entrepreneurial ventures.
Why choose this course?
Our Advanced Product Design, Engineering and Manufacturing (APDEM) MSc combines creative design thinking with practical engineering and manufacturing knowledge. It is designed to help you develop innovative, functional and sustainable products that meet real-world challenges.
You will work on industry-informed, interdisciplinary projects, developing your problem-solving and teamworking skills in a modern engineering practice setting. The course provides practical experience in digital product development. You will use Computer Aided Design (CAD), Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) and Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) tools such as:
- 3D modelling and visualisation
- 3D scanning and model reconstruction
- 3D printing and prototyping
- CNC machining
- Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and simulation
You will also explore materials, manufacturing processes and sustainability. Your learning will focus on how to make informed decisions through Product Lifecycle Assessment (PLA) and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM).
Project-based learning is at the heart of the course, supported by experienced academic staff and access to well-equipped laboratories and workshops. You will gain a clear understanding of the full product development process from concept and design through to validation and manufacture. This will prepare you for careers in design, engineering, manufacturing or consultancy.
Accreditations
Accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) on behalf of the Engineering Council as meeting the requirements for Further Learning for registration as a Chartered Engineer. Candidates must hold a CEng-accredited BEng/BSc (Hons) undergraduate first degree to comply with full CEng registration requirements.
The MSc will meet, in part, the academic benchmark requirements for registration as a Chartered Engineer. Accredited MSc graduates who also have a BEng(Hons) accredited for CEng will be able to show that they have satisfied the educational base for CEng registration.
It should be noted that graduates from an accredited MSc programme, who do not also have an appropriately accredited honours degree, will not be regarded as having the exemplifying qualifications for professional registration as a chartered engineer with the Engineering Council; and will need to have their first qualification individually assessed through the individual case procedure if they wish to progress to CEng.
Accreditation is a mark of assurance that the degree meets the standards set by the Engineering Council in the UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence (UK-SPEC). Some employers prefer to recruit from accredited degrees, and an accredited degree is likely to be recognised by other countries that are signatories to international accords.
For students interested in studying an MSc in Product Design Engineering at Kingston, there are several opportunities to seek funding support:
- Inspire the Future Scholarship
- International scholarships
- Progression Scholarship
- Discounts for Kingston University alumni
Course content
This programme is structured to provide you with the latest developments in this still-evolving discipline of digital product development. It gives you hands-on experience of the latest computing applications throughout the entire product development cycle, from simple 3D modelling techniques to an extended capability of 3D laser scanning to generate complex Class A surfaces.
You will gain practical and theoretical knowledge of analytical design tools to assist the product validation process by applying advanced mechanism design simulation and finite element analysis techniques. Additionally, you will examine the importance of advanced manufacturing techniques and the methods used to integrate Computer Aided Manufacturing CAM with computer numerical control, 3D printing technologies into product data management PDM.
The programme enables you to gain the entrepreneurship, management and business skills necessary to take on leadership roles in major product design engineering projects.
The hands-on approach, using our state-of-the-art multidisciplinary laboratories with state-of-the-art equipment from 3D Printing, CNC machining, Laser Scanning, Metrology, Materials Testing and many more, is a valuable part of the course. The course dovetails with research activities of the teaching staff, implementing the latest advances in our research. Using applied research, you will have the opportunity to do your own research within an individual industry-relevant 'capstone' project. This includes the preparation of a scientific paper, providing an opportunity for that first breakthrough into publishing your work.
You will be required to pass every module to then go on placement. It is the responsibility of individual students to find a suitable paid placement. You will be supported by our dedicated placement team in securing this opportunity.
Please note: optional modules only run if there is enough demand. If we have an insufficient number of students interested in an optional module, that module will not be offered for this course.
Modules
Core modules
- Quality Management Systems
- Integrated Engineering Simulation
- Advanced CAD/CAM Systems
- Product Design Lifecycle Analysis
- Research Techniques, Innovation and Sustainability
- Dissertation
Option modules (choose one)
- Advanced Product Modelling
- Industrial Robotics
Professional placement
- Professional Placement
This MSc prepares you for an exciting career in product design engineering. Graduates are equipped to work across a variety of sectors, including consumer electronics, automotive, healthcare and sustainable technologies. You will be prepared to take on roles such as:
- Product Designer
- Design Engineer
- Innovation Consultant
- Sustainability Specialist
- Prototyping and Materials Engineer
With our strong industry connections and expert mentorship, you will be ready to design products which are functional, user-friendly and sustainable. The emphasis on practical, hands-on learning ensures you graduate with the confidence and experience to make an immediate impact in the workplace.
Aligned with our Future Skills initiative, the course develops the transferable skills increasingly valued by employers. These include problem solving, critical thinking, digital competency, adaptability, collaboration and the ability to communicate ideas effectively across disciplines. Students take part in individual and group activities that promote collaboration, professional growth and reflective thinking.
Continuous feedback through formative assessment and tutor support will further prepare you for professional success in an evolving global marketplace.