Design (Placement Year)

BA Hons

  • UCAS code W282
  • Entry year 2025
  • A level requirements ABB
  • Duration Full time 4 years

We welcome applications from the United States of America

We've put together information and resources to guide your application journey as a student from the United States of America.

Overview

Top reasons to study with us

  • 5

    5th for graduate prospects (Art and Design)

    The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide (2025)

  • 5

    5th for Product Design

    The Guardian University Guide (2025)

  • 7

    7th for Art and Design

    The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide (2025)

Why Lancaster?

  • Help to build a better world by applying creative design practice to a diverse range of important issues
  • Learn processes such as 3D printing and laser-cutting and use industry standard software like Adobe Photoshop, InDesign and Illustrator
  • Add real world experience to your CV by working on live briefs, including a group consultancy project
  • Become a graduate in demand, from the more traditional design jobs to new and emerging roles
  • Benefit from close links to ImaginationLancaster, our globally renowned design research lab

Question what design actually is and what your ideas can achieve. Studying at Lancaster, you’ll search for ways design can solve cultural, social and environmental problems. Our expansive degree provides you with a broad set of skills and a keen understanding of how design can be applied to create positive change across varied contexts.

Think differently

Our students learn to conduct design research and conceptualise physical solutions. You’ll investigate a range of areas in which design plays a critically important role, such as such as environmental sustainability, healthier lifestyles, urban wellbeing and ethical digital futures.

Develop transferable problem-solving skills and learn how to work effectively as part of a design team. By the time you graduate, you’ll be able to research, ideate, prototype, visualise, iterate and present your design work to a professional standard.

We support you to develop your portfolio and build professional contacts throughout your degree. We organise for design professionals to come and talk about design, and many of our students choose to do a summer internship with a design consultancy, agency or within a large organisation.

Leading design research

You will be taught by staff from ImaginationLancaster, a globally renowned design research lab – and one of the largest in the world. Our teaching staff work on a diverse array of design projects and are at the cutting edge of advancing the theory and practice of design.

Flexibility

In the first year, there is a focus on increasing your knowledge and skills in your major degree subject. You will also have the option to complement your degree studies with a module in a 'minor subject'. Please contact the department for further details.

Careers

Many different types of organisations are increasingly recognising the value that graduates with a creative imagination and broad-ranging design skills can bring. Our graduates shine, as they are able to articulate how design can bring value to an organisation and are capable of pursuing a wide range of design-related careers such as:

  • User experience designer
  • Design researcher
  • Design ethnographer
  • Graphic designer
  • Interaction designer
  • Brand manager
  • Design facilitator
  • Service designer
  • Design consultant

Some of our graduates have gone on to work in large organisations as design researchers, design facilitators and brand innovation consultants whilst others have begun their careers in more traditional roles such as graphic design and multimedia design. We also have a strong track record of graduates going on to study postgraduate courses at prestigious institutions.

Our Careers and Employability Service will be on hand to offer tailored advice and guidance throughout your journey, and you’ll also receive careers support on a departmental level.

Lancaster University is dedicated to ensuring that you gain a highly reputable degree. We are also dedicated to ensuring that you graduate with relevant life and work-based skills. We are unique in that every student is eligible to participate in The Lancaster Award, which offers you the opportunity to complete activities such as work experience, employability/career development, campus community and social development.

Visit our Employability section for full details.

Entry requirements

Grade Requirements

A Level ABB

IELTS 6.5 overall with at least 5.5 in each component. For other English language qualifications we accept, please see our English language requirements webpages.

Other Qualifications

International Baccalaureate 32 points overall with 16 points from the best 3 Higher Level subjects

BTEC Distinction, Distinction, Merit

We welcome applications from students with a range of alternative UK and international qualifications, including combinations of qualification. Further guidance on admission to the University, including other qualifications that we accept, frequently asked questions and information on applying, can be found on our general admissions webpages.

Contact Admissions Team + 44 (0) 1524 592028 or via ugadmissions@lancaster.ac.uk

International foundation programmes

Delivered in partnership with INTO Lancaster University, our one-year tailored foundation pathways are designed to improve your subject knowledge and English language skills to the level required by a range of Lancaster University degrees. Visit the INTO Lancaster University website for more details and a list of eligible degrees you can progress onto.

Contextual admissions

Contextual admissions could help you gain a place at university if you have faced additional challenges during your education which might have impacted your results. Visit our contextual admissions page to find out about how this works and whether you could be eligible.

Course structure

Lancaster University offers a range of programmes, some of which follow a structured study programme, and some which offer the chance for you to devise a more flexible programme to complement your main specialism.

Information contained on the website with respect to modules is correct at the time of publication, and the University will make every reasonable effort to offer modules as advertised. In some cases changes may be necessary and may result in some combinations being unavailable, for example as a result of student feedback, timetabling, Professional Statutory and Regulatory Bodies' (PSRB) requirements, staff changes and new research. Not all optional modules are available every year.

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Fees and funding

Our annual tuition fee is set for a 12-month session, starting in the October of your year of study.

Our Undergraduate Tuition Fees for 2025/26 are:

Home International
£9,535 £24,700

Fees and funding information

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Scholarships and bursaries

You will be automatically considered for our main scholarships and bursaries when you apply, so there's nothing extra that you need to do.

You may be eligible for the following funding opportunities, depending on your fee status:

Unfortunately no scholarships and bursaries match your selection, but there are more listed on scholarships and bursaries page.

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We also have other, more specialised scholarships and bursaries - such as those for students from specific countries.

Browse Lancaster University's scholarships and bursaries.

Important information

The information on this site relates primarily to 2025/2026 entry to the University and every effort has been taken to ensure the information is correct at the time of publication.

The University will use all reasonable effort to deliver the courses as described, but the University reserves the right to make changes to advertised courses. In exceptional circumstances that are beyond the University’s reasonable control (Force Majeure Events), we may need to amend the programmes and provision advertised. In this event, the University will take reasonable steps to minimise the disruption to your studies. If a course is withdrawn or if there are any fundamental changes to your course, we will give you reasonable notice and you will be entitled to request that you are considered for an alternative course or withdraw your application. You are advised to revisit our website for up-to-date course information before you submit your application.

More information on limits to the University’s liability can be found in our legal information.

Our Students’ Charter

We believe in the importance of a strong and productive partnership between our students and staff. In order to ensure your time at Lancaster is a positive experience we have worked with the Students’ Union to articulate this relationship and the standards to which the University and its students aspire. View our Charter and other policies.

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