BEng (Hons) Engineering Design
- Study Mode: Full Time
- Location: High Wycombe
- Duration: Three or Four Years
- Start Date: September 2025 and January 2026
Created by industry-experts and shaped by regional engineering employers, this BEng (Hons) Engineering Design programme will equipped you with the knowledge and skillset you’ll need to be able to identify solutions and solve complex and interesting engineering challenges.
With sustainability, innovation, and emerging technologies at the core of this course’s curriculum, you’ll graduate with a crucial industry insight, that future employers are looking for.
On this BEng (Hons) Engineering Design degree, you’ll have the opportunity to engage with industry-professionals and practitioners, as well as our working alumni. You’ll benefit from guest lectures, masterclasses and workshop sessions, live briefs, site visits and where possible, a contribution to the assessment of your work.
This course has been developed to mirror today’s Engineering Design industry and continues to work closely with its own Industry Advisory Board to ensure the curriculum and teaching is relevant.
Working with professionals allows us to ensure the course will help you to develop the skills and knowledge the industry is looking for. You’ll engage in real-world, practical activities that will prepare you for a successful career.
As part of the School of Engineering and the Built Environment you'll benefit from our academic partnership CABE (Chartered Association of Building Engineers).
Engineering Design gives you the opportunity to learn a broad base of engineering concepts and technologies, which are not only applicable to a wide range of engineering sectors and employers but are also highly in demand.
Graduating from this course will see you leave with the necessary skills to kick-start a career within this industry. From using a sound, evidence-based approach in applying innovative technologies, processes and systems to transform ideas into fully functioning real products to being able to identify financial, environmental, quality, statutory and safety objectives.
During your time on the course you’ll have access to our state-of-the-art and brand-new Engineering and the Built Environment facilities, including;
- Mechanical/Structural Lab, to include different Structural Test kits that will measure Deflection of Beams & Cantilevers, Bending Stress and Bending Moments etc.
- Materials and Manufacturing Lab, to include 3D Metal Printer, Hardness Tester, Universal Tensile Testing, Impact Tester, Milling and Drill machines
- Fluids and Hydraulics Lab, to include Digital Hydraulic Bench, Axial Flow Pump, Recirculating Flume, Hydro-electric Turbine and Surface Tension Balance.
- Process and Energy Lab to include HVAC unit, Air Conditioning Trainer, Process Trainer, Wind Turbine Dynamics and Photovoltaic Cells
- Concrete & Geotechnical Testing Lab, to include Slump Test, Concrete Density, Porosity, Flexural and Compression Testing, Soil Shear, Grading and Moisture Tests.
- Electrical and Electronics Lab, to include Power and Energy Electronics, Modern Electrical Machine Systems, Three Phase Power Systems
- Automation Lab to include Dobot Smart Industry 4.0 Workstation, pneumatic, electro-pneumatic, PLC systems
- Immersive Virtual Reality Lab to include 3D interactive screen for virtual learning environment
- CAD Lab to include high spec computers for engineering design and simulation
This programme runs as a full-time course, structured across three years. We also offer the full-time course with an additional placement year in your third year. This four-year option allows you to get hands-on within the industry, before you complete your studies.
We also offer this course as a four-year Foundation Year programme. The Foundation Year will allow you to develop your academic study skills and build confidence in your abilities, identifying your own strengths and development needs for progression onto an undergraduate programme. If you choose to study the placement year, as well as the foundation option, the course will span over five years.
We believe that BNU fills a vital role in providing further education. Instron has had a long-term relationship with the University. We regularly hire apprentices and graduates in many different disciplines. From the workshop to marketing, some have stayed on to become valuable members of our team.Peter Fuller Sales and Applications Engineer at Instron.
What will I learn?
Whether you want to explore transportation industries: such as rail, aeronautical and automotive, & infrastructure engineering services, or clean energy oil and gas industries, as an engineer you’ll play a crucial role in the shaping of our future world.
This practical and hands-on engineering design course incorporates innovation and creativity at every stage of learning. During your time with us you’ll gain an extensive knowledge and critical understanding of professional ethics, social and cultural values in engineering. With a focus on sustainability, you’ll learn skills to help you identify and solve engineering problems, whilst meeting the needs of the industry and the forward-thinking sector.
Our specialist modules cover a broad range of areas to ensure you gain a holistic overview of the industry, from emerging and sustainable technologies, computer aided design and simulation and thermofluids, to electromechanical systems, robotics, automation and sustainable materials.
You’ll also delve into the theoretical side of engineering, ensuring you gain an end-to-end knowledge base. This will include looking at processes, finance, leadership skills and project management.
At all levels of the course, employability skills have been built into the programme to prepare you for work experience opportunities and to help you secure employment upon graduating. These activities will include practitioner visits, CV preparation, mock interviews, and production of a personal portfolio. Throughout the course you’ll have the opportunity to work on live briefs set by engineering employers, all of which can later be added to your portfolio.
How will I be taught and assessed?
On this engineering design course, a range of teaching methods and authentic assessment strategies will be used, we ensure an emphasis is put on both practical and traditional teaching approaches.
Laboratory sessions and a range of practical activities will build upon previous learning from lectures and tutorials.
Traditional forms of assessment include;
- Written assignments
- Report
- Portfolio and digital models
- In-class assignments
- Computer-based test
- Set Presentations (for example, poster and oral)
- Proposal
- Dissertation
You’ll study in a close-knit tutor group where everyone’s input is recognised and valued. Not only will you make friends for life, you’ll also make important connections that will last through your career, and you’ll form a network, just like you’d find in the working-world.
Design for Manufacturing skills are very versatile. Engineers across all sorts of industries need to understand both the internal and external requirements and needs. Finishing this degree has given me a massive self-confidence boost and put me in a better placeSimon Wheeler
Ӱ our Engineering blogs
Comment: The Hidden Engineering Behind Theme Park Safety
Theme parks are designed to provide thrill and excitement, but behind every ride, particularly rollercoasters, lies an intricate framework of engineering precision and rigorous safety measures.
Why choose a career in Engineering?
Engineering is one of the fastest growing and broadest sectors within the UK, meaning it is crucial to our economy and critical that employers find graduates who are ready to step into hands-on and innovative roles.
What are the course entry requirements?
A typical offer will require a UCAS tariff score of: 100 - 128 (Full-time) or 32 - 56 (Foundation Year)
UCAS points can be obtained through qualifications such as A levels, T levels, BTEC or an Access to Higher Education course in a relevant subject. Please list all your qualifications on the application form as you will be asked to provide copies when we receive your application.
A minimum of two full A-levels or 120 credits in an Engineering BTEC at level 3 (or equivalent) is required. Every application is considered on an individual basis. T levels should be in Engineering or Construction.
For further details of our international English entry requirements, please visit our international pages.
This Level 6 programme is also offered as a Top Up qualification for students who have completed a HND, FdA or other equivalent qualification in a relevant subject and who wish to progress further to achieve an Honours degree.
Students from an HNC and Foundation Degree Engineering or equivalent may have the opportunity to join this programme as part of the progression route at Level 5.
Modules
This provides a guide of the modules that make up your course. You can find more information about how your course is structured on our Academic Advice section.
Students starting in September 2025 will have the flexibility to choose their modules in the second and third years, complemented by a subject-specific curriculum in your first year.
What are the tuition fees
Home and International Fees for Academic Year 2025-2026:
BEng (Hons) Engineering Design (3-year programme):
- Home: £9,535 per year
- International: £15,150 per year
BEng (Hons) Engineering Design with Foundation Year (4-year programme):
- Home: £9,535 per year
- International: £15,150 per year
BEng (Hons) Engineering Design with Placement Year (4-year programme):
- Home: £9,535 for Years 1, 2 and 4. Year 3 (Placement year) fee is £1,850.
- International: £15,150 for Years 1, 2 and 4. Year 3 (Placement year) fee is £1,850.
Following the Government’s announcement of 4 November 2024, we will be increasing our full-time undergraduate tuition fees for UK students to £9,535 per year from the start of the 2025/26 academic year. Our part-time fees for UK undergraduate students will increase to £7,145 per annum. Please visit , on the Government’s website, for more information about the changes.
Tuition fees for Home undergraduate students (including with foundation year) may increase in subsequent years for both new and continuing students in line with an inflationary amount determined by the Government.
Tuition fees for both new and continuing international students may be subject to an inflationary increase based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the 12-month period to 31 January each year.
Tuition fees for postgraduate courses and CPD may be subject to an inflationary increase based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the 12-month period to 31 January each year. This increase will apply to both new and continuing students.
We understand, and really appreciate, the significant financial commitment our students make when they choose to study at BNU. We take our responsibilities to our students very seriously, and are ambitious for each to reach their full potential and succeed in their chosen career. Our fees help us to continue providing our students with a high-quality education, and to invest in the services and facilities which create an excellent student experience at BNU.
The following factors will be considered by the University when we set the annual fees: measures of inflation such as the retail price indices; projected increases in University costs; and any changes in the level of funding for teaching received from the Government.
What are my career prospects?
Throughout your time with us we’ll support you on the route to your chosen career. We’ll help you to develop crucial skills, encouraging you to become enterprising, employable and good leaders. We also help you find employment after graduation. Have a look at our Careers and Employability pages to find out more.
Engineering Design graduates have a wide range of career opportunities across various industries, such as:
- Working for product design firms, where they conceptualize, design, and develop new products, ranging from consumer electronics to industrial equipment, ensuring functionality, aesthetics, and user experience.
- Playing key roles in the automotive industry, where they design vehicle components and systems, focusing on innovation, safety, and sustainability in areas such as electric vehicles, interior design, and aerodynamics.
- Specializing in industrial design, where they create and refine designs for mass-produced products, balancing form, function, and manufacturability, and collaborating with engineers and marketers to bring ideas to market.
- Working as CAD (Computer-Aided Design) engineers, where they develop detailed 3D models and technical drawings for a variety of applications, from architectural designs to mechanical components, ensuring precision and compliance with industry standards.
- Working as packaging design engineers, where they design innovative packaging solutions that protect products during transportation and storage while also considering environmental impact and cost efficiency.
- Specializing in human-centred design, where they focus on creating products and systems that prioritize user needs and ergonomics, improving usability and customer satisfaction across a wide range of industries.
- Working in the aerospace industry, where they design components and systems for aircraft, spacecraft, and satellites, ensuring that designs meet stringent safety and performance standards in highly regulated environments.
- Pursuing careers in research and academia, conducting research in areas such as materials science, sustainable design, and advanced manufacturing techniques, and teaching at universities and research institutions.
- Working as systems design engineers, where they develop integrated systems that combine mechanical, electrical, and software components, ensuring that all parts work together seamlessly and efficiently.
- Engaging in sustainable design, where they focus on creating products and systems that minimize environmental impact, using eco-friendly materials and energy-efficient processes to contribute to a more sustainable future.
You may also choose to stay on at Buckinghamshire New University and study one of our Engineering and the Built Environment postgraduate degrees.
George's story
Engineering graduate, George Kingston-Rayes, recently shared with us the lessons he learnt at BNU, and how they’ve helped him thrive in the industry.
Why choose a career in Engineering?
Engineering is one of the fastest growing and broadest sectors within the UK, meaning it is crucial to our economy and critical that employers find graduates who are ready to step into hands-on and innovative roles.
Course leader
