Course Summary

Design managers are responsible for the management of design projects, teams, contracts and the operational practice of design. This may involve work within corporate in-house design teams or external design consultancy. Design managers have strong communication, project management and interpersonal skills. What's covered in the course? The BA (Hons) Design Management Level 6 course is designed to develop your professional, creative, communication, research, critical thinking and analytical skills, whilst developing your confidence, for progression into employment, or post graduate study. You will be involved in complex problem solving, you will work individually and in team-based activities, whilst developing your negotiation and people management skills. The course balances design management theory and principles, research and practical activity, within an environment which reflects a design practice and promotes employability. How you will learn? Design management involves a wide range of sectors and design disciplines and this course gives you the opportunity to develop the skills and knowledge required to work as design managers, client relationship managers, account executives, project managers, heads of creative, design directors, design consultants and design researchers. While you will retain links with design practice, you will step into a challenging environment, that reflects as closely as possible the ways of working, the practices and the behaviours that operate in the design profession. The course will provide an interesting and engaging approach to design problems and whilst the expectations of academic study will increase during level 6, students will practice and apply creative approaches through a range of research methods, critical analysis and synthesis of data. This course is for students wishing to develop a new career path, students who recognize the design management opportunity and have the personal qualities sought after by employers. You will also be expected to work with external contributors, staff and students from a range of disciplines and cultures in a professional and accountable way. The course will be taught by staff in lecture, workshop and activity-based settings. This will include specialist guest lectures, project briefings and group critiques supported by industry. We encourage you to consider studying your first two years within Birmingham School of Architecture and Design before selecting the BA (Hons) Design Management Level 6 top-up course. The School offers industry accredited courses across the design spectrum, including Architecture, Interior Architecture and Design, Landscape Architecture, and Product and Furniture Design. Portfolio and interview: You will be required to come for interview and provide evidence of a portfolio containing examples of work and your rationale for opting for this course. Please provide evidence of a digital or hard copy portfolio containing examples of work. Please also include evidence of a report / essay / case study / project to demonstrate your ability to write academically. Average graduate salary: £20,000

Course Details - Modules

Equips students with employability skills and focuses on careers development or further study. Throughout the programme students work within a rich hive of multidisciplinary learning activities, but still engage with the core specialist nature of their pathway and associated skills.

Course Details – Assessment Method

Assessment Methods are not listed for this Course.

Course Details – Professional Bodies

Professional Bodies are not listed for this Course.

How to Apply

26 January This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application Codes

Course code: W201

Institution code: B25

Campus Name: Parkside Building Campus

Campus code:

Points of Entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

Year 1

Entry Requirements for Advanced Entry (Year 2 and Beyond)

Entry Requirements for Advanced Entry are not listed for this Course.

International applicants

Standard Qualification Requirements

Students will be required to have successfully completed in a design discipline and achieved 240 credits.


240 credits at Level 5, achieved a pass or higher, in the relevant Foundation Degree (FdA), or Higher National Diploma (HND) in a cognate design subject, or achieved a pass or higher, at the BA Level 5 equivalence, with the appropriate skills and experience.

Please click the following link to find out more about qualification requirements for this course

Minimum Qualification Requirements

Minimum Further Information are not listed for this Course.

English language requirements

Test Grade AdditionalDetails
IELTS (Academic) 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any level
English Language Entry Requirement Information are not listed for this Course.

Unistats information

Student satisfaction : 85%

Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs): 58%

Go onto work and study: 82%

Fees and funding

EU 9250.0 Year 1
England 9250.0 Year 1
Northern Ireland 9250.0 Year 1
Scotland 9250.0 Year 1
Wales 9250.0 Year 1
International 12000.0 Year 1

Additional Fee Information

Additional Fee Information are not listed for this Course.

Provider information

University House
15 Bartholomew Row
Address3 are not listed for this Course.
Birmingham
B5 5JU

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