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Introduction

This programme aims to equip you with comprehensive knowledge, practical skills and innovative approaches to sustainable automotive and transport design processes, developing a critical awareness of the environmental, social, legal and ethical framework within which you will work. The programme is highly successful and has produced several notable graduates who have gone on to lead their field.

The programme is delivered by an experienced team of established Automotive Designers, supported by visiting lecturers and practitioners and an experienced technical team. It includes a four-year BA programme with an optional industrial placement.

Traditional skills, including clay modelling, are taught alongside newer technologies such as computer-aided design (CAD), Virtual Reality and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM).

The programme aims to educate designers, clay and digital sculptors and hard modellers in the automotive and transport design industry (including yacht and motorcycle design) who are proficient in meeting the needs of both a contemporary and future environment.

By adopting a more comprehensive approach, you will be adaptive, resourceful and productive in meeting the challenges of the future of automotive and transport design with a mindset that will consider environmental, social and sustainability aspects.

Pathway Options

Automotive & Transport Design (BA)
UCAS Code: AMT1 (3 years full-time)

Automotive & Transport Design with Placement Year (BA)
UCAS Code: AMT4 (4 years full-time with placement)


Automotive & Transport Design (Cert HE)
UCAS Code: AMT6 (1 year full-time)

Automotive & Transport Design (Dip HE)
UCAS Code: AMT5 (2 years full-time)

Location

Swansea

Course Length

Full-Time (3 Years)/ 4 Years (with Placement)
UCAS Code: AMT1/ AMT4

Why choose this course?


1. Live industry supported projects with major manufacturers.
2. Lecturing and technical support staff with many years of industry experience.
3. Your own studio space and dedicated clay and digital modelling studios with plenty of one to one support.
4. Progress from BA to MA Transportation Design or even PhD in a very cross-disciplinary environment.
5. City centre campus close to excellent social life and the Gower beaches.

Overview


• Small student classes
• The Academic team consists of highly experienced Designers
• Live Design Projects
• State of the art facilities
• Industry contacts
• Chance to progress into a Master Degree Program
• Set by the sea in an area of outstanding natural beauty

Our courses have been designed to facilitate the development of a designer through the replication of a professional environment, encouraging graduates to approach the design challenge in the same way as a professional automotive designer.

Our graduates will be able to generate ideas around engineering packages, set new trends in terms of design language and learn about proportions. Link a particular design to a brand, imagine the mobility of the future in the most efficient, sustainable and attractive way, design forms of transport with an ‘inside out’ approach and most importantly translate a drawing into reality.

Modules

Year One – Level 4 (Cert HE, Dip HE & BA)

• 3D CAD & Visualisation (20 credits; compulsory)
• Automotive Design Techniques 1 (20 credits; compulsory)
• Automotive Design Techniques 2 (20 credits; compulsory)
• Contemporary Challenges: Making a Difference (20 credits; compulsory; Graduate Attributes Framework module)
• Learning in the Digital Era (20 credits; compulsory; Graduate Attributes Framework module)
• Vehicle Technology (20 credits; compulsory).

Year Two – Level 5 (Dip HE & BA)

• Advanced Automotive Surfacing (20 credits; compulsory)
• Changemakers: Building your Personal Brand for Sustainable Employment (20 credits; compulsory; Graduate Attributes Framework module)
• Changemakers: Creativity and Value Creation (20 credits; compulsory; Graduate Attributes Framework module)
• Advanced Digital Visualisation (20 credits; compulsory)
• Professional Practice 1 (20 credits; compulsory)
• Professional Practice 2 (20 credits; compulsory).



Year Three – Level 6 (BA)

• Independent Project (40 credits; compulsory; Graduate Attributes Framework module).
• Individual Major Project (60 credits; compulsory)
• Major Project: Design Research (20 credits; compulsory).

Independent Professional Placement

The optional placement year gives students the opportunity to engage with a professional exchange or internship in a real design studio between the second and final years of study

Entry Criteria

We are interested in creative people that demonstrate a strong commitment to art and/or design and therefore we welcome applications from individuals from a wide range of backgrounds. To assess student suitability for their chosen course we arrange interviews for all applicants at which your skills, achievements and life experience will be considered as well as your portfolio of work.

Our standard offer for a degree course is 120 UCAS tariff points. We expect applicants to have a grade C or above in English Language (or Welsh) at GCSE level, together with passes in another four subjects. Plus we accept a range of Level 3 qualifications including:

• Foundation Diploma in Art and Design, plus one GCE A-Level in a relevant academic subject
• Three GCE A-Levels or equivalent
• BTEC Extended Diploma in a relevant subject, with minimum grades of Merit
• International Baccalaureate score of 32
• Other relevant qualifications can be considered on an individual basis

Qualifications are important, however, our offers are not solely based on academic results. If you don’t have the required UCAS points then please contact the courses admissions tutor or email artanddesign@uwtsd.ac.uk as we can consider offers to applicants based on individual merit, exceptional work, and/or practical experience.

ENTRY REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
Home Office Share Code
For EU students only.

IF no Qualification
Please provide CV with at least 2 years of work experience, and employee reference letter.

Assessment

Assessment is carried out through coursework, both written and practical. There are no exams on this course. Students are formatively assessed throughout a module, summative assessment takes place at the end of a module. A variety of teaching and learning methods are used throughout the course which includes amongst others;

Informal Tutorials

These tutorials are held on a regular basis, across all levels. In Year 1 each student sees and discusses his / her work with a member of staff at each studio session, likewise in Year 2. Third and fourth year students tend to work more independently and sign up for tutorial when she/he feels the need arises. However, as a team, we ensure that every student in Year 3 is seen by at least one member of the academic staff each week. We pride ourselves on the fact that there is the opportunity to see staff as regularly as you may require.

Formal Tutorials

These are held twice a term with at least two members of staff. The work is discussed, practical and conceptual development, future intentions of the student etc. It is an opportunity for any issues/concerns by either party, to be raised. A written account of the tutorial is duplicated, one copy kept by the student the other stored in his / her records file.




Group critiques

These are held on a regular basis, across all levels, with one member of staff. They provide an excellent opportunity for students to share and exchange ideas with their peers in a structured manner in addition to valuable input from staff.

Informal & Formal presentations

The nature of the presentations varies according to the level: in Year 1 informal presentations are introduced halfway through the first semester in order to help students gain confidence in talking about their work to their peers and staff it is also usually part of the assessment at the end of each project. 2nd-year students are expected to give a Formal Presentation as part of their Professional Practice & Group Design Module and at the end of the year as part of their Major project. In Year 3 a Formal Presentation is part of the final assessment at the Degree Show

Exhibiting work

Again the nature of this varies within the context of the projects, the work to be assessed and the stage of the programme – it can range in formality from a public venue to the individual student’s desk space.

Career Opportunities

Graduates from our courses have found employment with some of the world’s most established names in manufacturing and design consultancy such as:


• ADIDAS
• ASTON MARTIN
• CALLUM DESIGN
• DAIMLER TRUCK USA
• ENVISAGE GROUP
• FUTURA DESIGN
• GORDON MURRAY DESIGN
• JAGUAR
• JAGUAR SVO
• ICONA DESIGN
• KISKA
• LAND ROVER
• LOTUS
• MCLAREN AUTOMOTIVE
• MORGAN
• PININFARINA
• PRIESTMAN GOODE
• PUMA
• RDM GROUP
• RENAULT
• ROLLS ROYCE
• SAIC
• TATA
• TRIUMPH

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