MSc Engineering Design Management

Master's Programme
Engineering Design Management

Our MSc in Engineering Design Management has been designed to bridge the gap between engineering and design. It integrates principles from both disciplines to provide for a deep understanding of how the two areas intersect and complement each other.

How to apply Register for updates

Start date:
29 September 2025

Duration:
12 months, full time

Award:
Master of Science (MSc)

Application deadline:
2 August 2025

Highlights and benefits

Develop the skills to engage, connect and influence stakeholders at each level of business, to deliver on strategic goals.
Applied, industry-focused learning at one of the UK's leading Russell Group Universities, provides you with the opportunity to gain real-world insight alongside academically challenging studies.
Developed in collaboration with industrial leaders, influential designers and the leading engineering education and research community in WMG, this course draws on research expertise as well as industry engagement.

Overview

This course has been designed to bridge the gap between engineering and design. It integrates principles from both disciplines to provide for a deep understanding of how the two areas intersect and complement each other. Throughout the course, you will develop the skills to engage, connect and influence stakeholders at each level of business, to deliver on strategic goals.

This course provides an environment of experiential learning through the authentic practice of Engineering Design Management, structured within a programme supported by academic rigour. It will enable you to identify opportunities for innovation, harness creative thinking, use state of the art technologies to aid the design process, and gain the project management skills to deliver new design projects.

Sustainability and product lifecycle management is core to the design process, and as a student, you will have access to a mixed-medium production design lab and expert technical staff to develop and execute technical design ability and project management. You will have the opportunity to work within interdisciplinary teams to experience engineering design management in practice through managed role displacement with a live design project. The programme will feature guest speakers and masterclasses from industry and influential figures from the design community.

The MSc in Engineering Design Management has been created in response to an explicit demand from the engineering industry, to address the need for professionals able to deliver value across various technical and business functions, utilising a design engineering mindset. The programme has been developed with industrial leaders, influential design community figures and the leading engineering educational community of WMG.

Reasons to study Engineering Design Management at Warwick

Skills development: Gain expertise in emerging and evolving digital technologies for design.
Expertise: Learn from a team of highly experienced engineers and designers working and researching at the forefront of their field. Course content is informed by the latest academic research and industry insight.
Industry relevance: Understand the bigger picture of how the design process works and how to optimise and streamline it to deliver best practice and impact.
Academic excellence: Study within the interdisciplinary WMG department, the largest academic department at the University of Warwick where technology and engineering meet business and management.
Facilities: Benefit from WMG's industry standard engineering facilities and mixed-medium production design lab.
Scale and reputation: Be part of the WMG department with 1400 full-time MSc students across a portfolio of courses, and 34 research groups driving over 40% of all research conducted at the University of Warwick.
Career development: Develop an industry standard portfolio throughout the course and enjoy networking and placement opportunities with leaders in the design industry.

What you'll learn

This course comprises of the following core modules:

Systems Thinking and Systems EngineeringLink opens in a new window (15 credits)
Design Research and Market Insight (15 credits)
Design Practice and Prototyping (15 credits)
Sustainable Manufacturing and MaterialsLink opens in a new window (15 credits)
Strategic Business ManagementLink opens in a new window (15 credits)
Product Life-Cycle Management (15 credits)
Design Innovation Lab (30 credits)

Please note that whilst the module catalogue shows the latest approved version of each module and what is currently being taught (academic year 2024), there may be minor updates to content or learning objectives year on year to reflect the evolving state of knowledge and the requirements of teaching best practise. Any such amends will be updated following the department 'module approvals process' and reflected in the module catalogue before the start of the next academic year in 2025.

Project

In addition to your modules, in order to gain a Master of Science qualification, you will need to undertake a dissertation project, worth 33% of your MSc credits and your final grade. Engineering Design Management students will take an Industry Impact Project (IIP) through which you will develop your academic, research, analytical, professional, design and management skills.

This is nominally 600 hours (60 CATS points) of learning, mainly taking place during the Spring and Summer terms. You will be expected to engage regularly with your Project Supervisor and to provide progress updates and drafts of your work to an agreed schedule.

How you'll learn

Learning style and assessment

This course has two components – a taught component accounting for two-thirds of your time and effort, and a research component accounting for one-third.

For the taught component, we blend synchronous and asynchronous lectures and seminars, with syndicate exercises, simulations, personal reflective practices, and case studies. The majority of modules are taught in small classes to facilitate and encourage interaction. Others practice large-scale lectures, which are then supported by small class seminar and group activities.

Our module leaders have extensive industry experience. Guest speakers from industry also contribute regularly, bringing real-world insight into your learning experience.

Typical contact hours

Module delivery patterns vary, but most will be delivered in a short learning block of up to 4 weeks, allowing your focus to be on one module at a time. Each module nominally accounts for 150 hours, which includes scheduled classroom time and online sessions as well as your independent study and assessments.

As a Master's student, you are expected to manage your own time appropriately. On average, you are expected to commit 38-40 hours of study each week, in order to successfully achieve your Master’s degree.

Assessment

The course uses a variety of assessment methods across modules. These may include reports (both topic-based and reflective), individual and group presentations, design artefacts, critical evaluation or commentary pieces, case-study exercises, simulation reports, and business or consultancy reports.

Assessments have been designed not only to assess your achievement in meeting the course learning outcomes in an academically sound manner, but also contribute to preparing you with the requisite competencies required for employment.

Entry requirements

In order to meet our academic entry requirement, you should have obtained the minimum of a UK 2:1 undergraduate degree (or equivalentLink opens in a new window) from a range of academic disciplines, particularly but not exclusively from Engineering (and other STEM subjects) or from Design (or other arts degrees). The course is designed for candidates keen to apply their skills within the context of engineering or product design.

English language

If you are a non-native English speaker, we need to confirm that your English language competency is sufficiently good for you to get the most out of your Master's study. We therefore require you to take a SELT (Secure English Language Test) and submit your results as one of your academic requirements. Whilst we encourage you to take your English test as early as possible, you can upload your results later in the application cycle. You do not need to delay your application until you've taken an English test.

If you are taking an IELTS test, we require a score of 6.5 (with no less than 6.0 in any one component). Please view our web page here for a full list of accepted tests, together with the grades required.

How to apply

Application is through the University’s online form and is currently open. The course code for MSc Engineering Design Management is P-H60Y

You will need to select: Department: WMG and tick Type of course: 'Postgraduate Taught' to bring up the full list of WMG courses available for application.

What you will need to provide

A completed application form and £75 application fee.
A Personal Statement which can be included in the online application.
A scan of your transcript (marksheet). If you are still studying, please send us your transcripts to date. NB: if you are made an offer, we will then require you to upload your degree transcripts and certificate in order to clear your conditions.
English language test result (if applicable) - this can be submitted after you have an offer.
One reference. If you completed studies less than 2 years ago, this should be an academic reference. If you graduated more than 2 years ago, we will require a professional reference. We contact your referee directly, so please include their valid professional email address on your application form.
Candidates with professional experience should include their CV with their application.

You can read more about the application process, and access a link to the application form, on our how to apply web page.

Application Deadline

Our official application deadline is 2nd August 2025, however please note that this course will close early if capacity is reached ahead of that deadline. We strongly recommend you apply as soon as you are ready in order to avoid disappointment.

The course code for Engineering Design Management is: P-H60Y

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

For 2025 entry, the tuition fees are as follows:

Home students: £12,300
Overseas students: £35,340

If you are successful in receiving an offer, a deposit payment is required in order to secure your place on the course. Please note that sponsored students can apply for a deposit waiver. For further information, please see our tuition fee deposits pageLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new windoLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new windLink opens in a new window

Your remaining tuition fee is then payable at the start of the academic year, or in three instalments. For information about how to pay your tuition fees, please review the University's finance web pagesLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window.

WMG Excellence Scholarships

At WMG, we invest more than £1.5 million per year into supporting our talented students and creating a diverse and inspiring learning environment.
Our funding opportunities range from the competitive merit-based WMG Excellence Scholarship open to all offer-holders, through to guaranteed bursaries for specific countries and partnership awards with third-party funders.

WMG Excellence Scholarships are merit-based awards, available on a competitive basis. Awards range from £5,000 to £15,000 tuition fee discount.

Applications will be judged on past academic achievement, professional experience, reasons for study, and your vision for the future. View our WMG Excellence Scholarship pageLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new windoLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window for full details on how to apply for this award.

Additional Scholarship opportunities

You might also be eligible to apply for other scholarships from the University of Warwick, such as the Warwick Taught Masters Scholarship Scheme; as well as awards from external funding bodies, including Chevening Scholarships. For additional funding opportunities and eligibility details, please visit the University funding web pageLink opens in a new window.

Employability

Employability and career prospects

As an Engineering Design Management graduate, you will have developed a key set of valuable skills enabling you to project manage and drive the whole design process from initial concept to commercialisation.

You will be prepared for roles such as Design Manager, Design Team Leader, Project Manager, Product Owner, Design Innovation Manager, Design Sustainability Specialist, within in a wide variety of industries, ranging from large multinational corporations to innovative start-ups.

As a student in the WMG department at Warwick, you will benefit from our strong industry links, especially through our research collaborations. We also regularly host industry speakers and expert as part of the teaching on the programme. The reputation and position of Warwick as one of the worlds top universities for academic quality and employability will also ensure you the best platform from which to launch or accelerate your career.

WMG: a department embedded in industry

You'll be studying in an environment surrounded by professionals from a range of industries and sectors; including hearing directly from industry experts and guest speakers in many of our modules.

Throughout the year, we also host activities and events that will help you to understand potential career pathways including; seminars; external speakers; industrial visits; alumni talks and more. We encourage our students to make the most of the opportunities available to learn about career options for the future.

Warwick Careers Service

The University of Warwick's Careers ServiceLink opens in a new window offers specific careers support to WMG students, through a dedicated Careers Advisor. The service provides practical workshops and 1-1 appointments for our students covering many aspects of career choice and development, including: how to build a strong CV and write job applications; effective career planning and guidance; and how to enhance your interview and networking skills.

Additionally, each year, employers have a presence on campus, with careers fairs, presentations and guest lectures happening on a regular basis; meaning you'll have lots of exposure to potential employers.

There are also various events run throughout the year to develop your skillset and teach you how to market this to employers. Individual workshops are hosted on a variety of topics, such as networking and time management. Or for those interested in a more complete programme, you can partake in awards such as WMG Skills+ to develop your core employability skills, or the Intercultural Training Programme to strengthen your intercultural awareness. In addition, there is a wealth of online material available to help strengthen your industrial knowledge and build on employability skills, such as the WMG Virtual Careers Programme. Find out more about the support available to you by visiting our Careers and Employability page.

Alumni

We hope that your relationship with WMG and the University of Warwick will continue long after your graduate. The university and the department both have vast alumni networks and, upon graduation, you'll be a member of this ever-growing community of professionals working in countries around the world. You'll have access to our alumni support; events; e-mentoring scheme; amongst many other opportunities.

You can read about more about the careers and experiences of our alumni on our alumni profiles web pages.Link opens in a new window

Meet the Course Director: Nick Golsby

Having joined WMG as an Associate Professor in Design Engineering, Nick brings considerable experience in leading curriculum design and transformation in the fields of Engineering Design, Manufacturing and Materials, Metals and Composites, and Sustainability. With a keen focus on sustainability, Nick provides engineering solutions to complex design problems.

View the Course Director's Profile

Scholarships and Bursaries

WMG will be awarding over £1.5 million in scholarships and bursaries to students commencing study on any of our full-time MSc programmes beginning in September 2025.

Explore funding opportunities

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Ready to study at WMG?

We look forward to receiving your MSc application. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

How to apply Connect with us