About this course
Product Design combines creative design, science, engineering, and business studies. Product designers plan and develop items for use in homes, businesses, and industry.
From creating a new lightweight kayak or a phone app, to formulating natural cosmetics or a virtual training world, studying product design will equip you for a wide range of occupations.
Graduates will be able to develop creative ideas based on their knowledge of related sciences and engineering disciplines, as well as gain the practical business skills needed to commercialise new products. This degree will prepare you for a modern career path in many areas of Aotearoa New Zealand's innovative economy.
Why study a Bachelor of Product Design at UC?
- Only university degree of its kind in Te Waipounamu South Island.
- Three-year degree.
- Includes a number of projects where students can test out their ideas, independently and as a team.
- Access to state-of-the-art laboratory, computer, and testing facilities.
- UC is ranked in the top 250 universities in the world for Business and Management Studies, and for Engineering and Technology (QS World Rankings by Subject, 2019).
- UC is ranked first in Aotearoa New Zealand for research in Marketing and Tourism (Te Amorangi MÄtauranga Matua | Tertiary Education Commission 2018 PBRF assessment).
Career Opportunities
The scope of product design roles is widening from the traditional design of commercial products to include the design of user experiences, systems, and processes, as well as implementing virtual reality into existing applications.
Increasingly, many product designers work in multidisciplinary teams. Graduates may be employed in large manufacturing companies, design agencies, educational and training companies, engineering consultancies, and central and local government.
They may do design work for businesses in many industries such as medical, home appliances, packaging, computing, education, graphic design, cosmetics, or therapeutics and pharmaceutical companies.
Product designers can choose to start their own company.
More broadly, BProdDesign graduates will be prepared to work in a variety of roles for modern companies that not only require a technical background, but value innovation, customer focus, and business sense.
University of Canterbury Highlights
| University Type |
Public University |
| Campus Setting |
Urban |
| Establishment Year |
1873 |
| No. of Campuses |
1 main campus |
| No. of Residence Halls |
10 |
| Graduate Job Rate |
89.9% (full time) |
| Research Funding |
Above 600,000 NZD pa |
| Cost of Attendance |
29,550 NZD pa |
| Applications Accepted |
Online |
| Work-Study |
Available |
| Intake Type |
Semester wise |
| Mode of Program |
Full time and online |
University of Canterbury Tuition fee
| Courses |
UG |
PG |
Doctorate |
| Arts |
25,500-30,200 |
29,000-33,800 |
6,749 |
| Business |
28,100 |
29,900 |
7,066 |
| Engineering |
42,000 |
42,000 |
8,130 |
| Science |
32,000 |
34,900-36,600 |
7,062–7,855 |
| Law |
30,200 |
33,800 |
7,066 |
New Zealand Living Expenses
In addition to your tuition and insurance fees, you will need between $20,000 and $25,000 per year ($380–480 per week) for accommodation/rent, food expenses, transportation costs, phone bills, internet usage and entertainment. No matter what your tuition or course fee is, the average living expense will be same for everyone. Please note that these amounts are just recommendations, Immigration New Zealand requirement is $15,000 per year plus return airfare or additional $2,000.
| General expenses |
Cost
(in NZ dollars) |
| Rent (per month) |
$800–$950 |
| Groceries (per week) |
$100–$150 |
| Gym membership (per year) |
$300 |
| Entertainment (per week) |
$50 |
| Milk (per litre) |
$3 |
| Coca Cola (per can) |
$2 |
| Cup of Coffee |
$3–$5 |
| Lunch from University food hall or campus café |
$7–$12 |
| Local calls made from a cell-phone |
$0.50–$1.50 |
| Taxi - 5 km ride |
$10–$12 |
| Movie ticket |
$10–$14 |
| Visit to doctor |
$45–$85 |
