Design qualifications

    • Students can manually mark this item complete: We offer two design degrees and several qualificat...

      Which design qualification is right for me?

      We offer two design degrees and several qualifications in design with other subjects.

      Our two design degrees are.

        

        

      Which qualification to choose depends on what you are interested in and what you plans are once you complete your study.

      In general, the BDes focuses on design practice and those who want to be designers in the creative industries. The BSc/BA route offers a more open approach for those wishing to study design with another subject area (such as Engineering, Business, Computing, and so on).

      If you’re unsure, we recommend you start with U101: Design Thinking and use that module to help make your pathway decision. U101 contributes to both qualifications and offers a fantastic introduction to design and studying at the OU. 

  • Which qualification - BDes or BSc/BA?

    • Students can manually mark this item complete: To gain a design qualification you study a combina...

      To gain a design qualification you study a combination of modules, or courses. This is study pathway. 

      You can see the different qualification pathways in the diagram below.

      A diagram of the main design pathways showing the individual modules studied in each. Common to both pathways are the modules U101, T240, and T340.

      For the BDes, the pathway is simple and you can only study the modules outlined. This makes your journey predictable and easy to plan.

      For the Design and Innovation degree you have a wide choice of modules to study. This gives you a lot of flexibility in terms of subject. For more information on the Q61 pathways is here. 

      Some of the key differences are:

      R63 – BDes (Hons) Bachelor of Design - for students who:

      		 Q61 – BA / BSc (Hons) Design and Innovation - for students who:

      Are sure they want a career in design and creative industries

      Want a career in a related design or creative industry
      Have little interest in a secondary subject and want to study ‘design-design’.

      Have a strong interest in a secondary subject, such as: Engineering, Business, Computing, Arts, and other pathways offered)

      Are very interested in a practice-based and hands-on approaches to learning – i.e. a practitioner’s course

      Have an interest in an academic approach to design, especially if this intersects with another subject (such as sustainability, social studies, etc.)

      Want a creative qualification (BDes is increasingly recognised in the UK and internationally)

      Want a specific, named qualification – a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts.

  • Other pathways and degrees

    • Students can manually mark this item complete: When you study modules on either main pathway, you...

      When you study modules on either main pathway, you can also gain qualifications at each stage of study as follows:

      After completing two Stage 1 modules, you can claim a Certificate in Design

      After completing two Stage 2 modules, you can claim a Diploma in Design

      We also offer other qualifications that offer greater flexibility and choice of subjects, some of these are listed below.

      BA/BSc (Honours) Open degree (QD) The OU's Open Degree is the qualification that gives you ultimate flexibility and choice. Some students are simply interested in many different subjects and want a qualification that reflects those interests. If that sounds like you, this could be the pathway for you. 

      BSc (Honours) Combined STEM (R28) This lets you study design with any other subject area(s) from the Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. For students with a particular interested in combining a particular subject interest with a more creative approach to applying it, this can be a good choice. 

      BSc (Honours) Computing & IT and Design (Q67) This qualification is worth considering if you are particularly interested in working in human-computer interaction design or the technical side of technical media creation.

  • Activity: Explore your pathway

    • Students can manually mark this item complete: Working out what pathway to choose can seem daunti...

      Working out what pathway to choose can seem daunting with so many choices. Remember, if you're not sure, you can always start with U101: Design Thinking and then make a decision later.

      Another useful thing to do is to try to work out what you are aiming for - and to do that by exploring what matters to you.

      Grab a bit of paper and pen and note down things matter to you - things like:

        

      • personal development
      • getting a job
      • changing what you do
      • needing a challenge
      • wanting to express and develop your skills
      • getting a specific qualification
      • interest in a subject

        

      Try to get this list down to 3 or 4 really important things. Then, use that list to work out what design courses do you think would meet your aims. 

  • Are you ready?