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An image to illustrate the Bachelor of Design (Honours)
Design shapes our world. From the products and services we use to the systems that make up our society. Our design degree (BDes) will nurture your creativity, develop your problem-solving and help you turn ideas into action. You’ll learn through practical projects that introduce you to the world of professional design across industries – from designing a humble T-shirt to tackling real-world problems facing our future. By the end, you’ll have a respected degree, a professional portfolio and the technical and creative skills needed to launch you into your chosen career.
Stages 1 and 2 of this degree are the same as our Diploma of Higher Education in Design (W23). Stage 1 is the same as our Certificate of Higher Education in Design (T54).
This design degree has three stages, each comprising 120 credits.
Our modular study approach gives you the flexibility to complete your qualification at a pace that fits around your life. Whether you prefer a fast track or want to work at a slower rate, you can tailor your study plan to suit your needs.
Stage 1 provides a solid foundation by developing your creativity, knowledge and skills in various design disciplines. You’ll gain design experience by completing short projects and building a portfolio.
ModulesCreditsStart month
You'll study both of the following:
Design thinking: creativity for the 21st century (U101)60Feb | Oct
Design practices (T190)60Feb | Oct

In Stage 2, you’ll advance your skills and your understanding of a wider range of professional roles that apply design to social and ecological challenges. You’ll engage in projects to further build your practice and enhance your design identity and portfolio.
ModulesCreditsStart month
You'll study both of the following:
Design for impact (T240)60Oct
Design projects (T290)60Oct

In the final stage, you’ll learn to apply design and innovation ideas to solve real-world problems. You’ll use design methods and skills in a major project and cultivate new approaches to project management and research.
ModulesCreditsStart month
You'll study both of the following:
Innovation: designing for change (T317)60Oct
Major design project and professional portfolio (T390) – planned for October 2028
60Oct

You can complete this degree in as little as three years by studying at a pace equivalent to full-time. That’s 120 credits per year. To complete in three years, you’ll need to start your degree in October.
Don’t worry if your circumstances change. You don’t have to stick to a full-time study pace. You can change the pace of your learning each year depending on what’s right for you.

ModulesCreditsStart month
Stage 1 | Year 1
You'll study both of the following:
Design thinking: creativity for the 21st century (U101)60Feb | Oct
Design practices (T190)60Feb | Oct
Stage 2 | Year 2
You'll study both of the following:
Design for impact (T240)60Oct
Design projects (T290)60Oct
Stage 3 | Year 3
You'll study both of the following:
Innovation: designing for change (T317)60Oct
Major design project and professional portfolio (T390) – planned for October 2028
60Oct

You can complete this degree in six years by studying part-time. That’s 60 credits of study each year.

ModulesCreditsStart month
Stage 1 | Year 1
You'll start your degree with:
Design thinking: creativity for the 21st century (U101)60Feb | Oct
Stage 1 | Year 2
You'll study the following:
Design practices (T190)60Feb | Oct
Stage 2 | Year 3
You'll study the following:
Design for impact (T240)60Oct
Stage 2 | Year 4
You'll study the following:
Design projects (T290)60Oct
Stage 3 | Year 5
You'll study the following:
Innovation: designing for change (T317)60Oct
Stage 3 | Year 6
You'll complete your degree with:
Major design project and professional portfolio (T390) – planned for October 2028
60Oct

By studying this degree, you’ll:
You’ll be supported throughout by tutors, design communities, studio-based activities, and constructive feedback.
You’ll be awarded a Bachelor of Design (Honours) upon successful completion.
Your honours classification (first, upper second, lower second or third class honours) will depend on the grades you gain at Stages 2 and 3.
You'll also have the opportunity to attend a degree ceremony.
If you plan to work or study outside the UK, we recommend checking whether this qualification meets local requirements. Find out more about the international recognition of Open University qualifications.
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the qualification-specific regulations below and the academic regulations that are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.
We regularly review our curriculum to keep it up to date. This means the structure, availability, and content of the course or modules may change. We’ll update this page as soon as possible if there are any changes. If you have already registered for this qualification, we’ll inform you in good time of any upcoming changes where practicable. For more details, see our Academic Regulations or contact us.
You can achieve this degree in as little as three years and have a maximum of 16 years to complete it. Our module-by-module approach gives you the flexibility to complete your qualification at a pace that works best for you.
You can complete this degree in three years by studying at a pace equivalent to full-time. That’s similar to a student at a campus-based university.
You can complete this degree in six years by studying part-time. That’s roughly half the rate of a student on a full-time course at a campus-based university.
At the OU, flexibility and support go hand in hand. You’ll be in control of when and where you study, with clear deadlines to guide your progress. Whether you’re balancing work, family or other commitments, our approach helps you fit learning into your life. Students consistently praise the support we provide, and from the very start, you’ll be part of a vibrant OU learning community.
As you progress through your qualification, you’ll have access to a dedicated online study space, expert tutor guidance, optional live tutorials, and a wide range of resources to help you succeed. The sections below outline what you can expect.
Your module website will be a central hub for your learning, giving you easy access to:
Discover how the OU’s module websites, course materials, and support tools help you study online with confidence.
Each module has a dedicated tutor who will guide you through your studies. They’ll provide feedback, help you find resources, mark your assignments and support your learning journey.
For extra support, you can attend optional live tutorials with your tutor. These are usually conducted online, and most are recorded so you can review them later.
Our design experts share what it’s like to study the Bachelor of Design, the benefits of choosing the OU, and the skills you’ll learn to solve real-world problems.
Our assessments reinforce what you’ve learned and show your understanding. Assessment types vary by module and may include:
Throughout your studies, you’ll have access to a wide range of support services and be part of a vibrant learning community. Our subject-specific Student Support Teams can help with general queries and any updates to your OU account. You’ll also benefit from:
Discover more about design and innovation at The Open University on our Design Hub. Explore tasters of OU design teaching materials as well as a wide range of design-related articles.
Hear first-hand from OU students as they talk about how studying design developed their creative skills and changed how they see the world.
There are no formal entry requirements for this qualification.
If you’ve studied at university level before, you may be able to transfer the academic credit you've been awarded towards an OU qualification. This could save you time and money by reducing the modules you need to study.
It’s not just university study that can be considered; you can also transfer study from a wide range of professional or vocational qualifications, such as HNCs and HNDs.
The full credit transfer scheme won’t be available until October 2027.
You should apply to transfer credit before registering, at least four weeks before the registration closing date. We will need to know what you studied, where, and when, and you will need to provide evidence of your previous study.
For more details and to download an application form, visit our Credit Transfer website.

6 years
£4,088*
A degree is worth 360 credits. The fee per year is based on studying one 60-credit module per year for 6 years.
£24,528*
Our qualifications cost less than equivalent-level qualifications offered at campus-based universities.
Compare the cost of studying at the OU with other campus-based universities in England.
Honours Degree
Honours Degree
Total cost at campus university*
Total cost at campus university*
£29,370
£29,370
Total cost at The Open University**
Total cost at The Open University**
£24,528
£24,528
Saving with The Open University
Saving with The Open University
£4,842
£4,842
Diploma of Higher Education
Diploma of Higher Education
Total cost at campus university*
Total cost at campus university*
£19,580
£19,580
Total cost at The Open University**
Total cost at The Open University**
£16,352
£16,352
Saving with The Open University
Saving with The Open University
£3,228
£3,228
Certificate of Higher Education
Certificate of Higher Education
Total cost at campus university*
Total cost at campus university*
£9,790
£9,790
Total cost at The Open University**
Total cost at The Open University**
£8,176
£8,176
Saving with The Open University
Saving with The Open University
£1,614
£1,614
Qualification
Qualification
Total cost at campus university*
Total cost at campus university*
Total cost at The Open University**
Total cost at The Open University**
Saving with The Open University
Saving with The Open University
Honours Degree
Honours Degree
£29,370
£29,370
£24,528
£24,528
£4,842
£4,842
Diploma of Higher Education
Diploma of Higher Education
£19,580
£19,580
£16,352
£16,352
£3,228
£3,228
Certificate of Higher Education
Certificate of Higher Education
£9,790
£9,790
£8,176
£8,176
£1,614
£1,614
*Based on maximum chargeable fees for the 26/27 academic year.
**The fee information provided here is valid for modules starting before 31 July 2027. Fees typically increase annually. In England, fees are subject to the part-time fee limit, as set out in section 5 of the University's Fee Rules.
Your course fees cover your tuition, assessment and study materials, but there are still a few additional costs that can come with studying. For this qualification, you'll need:
*The fee information provided here is valid for modules starting before 31 July 2027. Fees typically increase annually. In England, fees are subject to a fee limit, as set out in the University's Fee Rules.

Over 85% of our students in England fund their studies with a Tuition Fee Loan, meaning they pay nothing upfront.
Repay in monthly instalments while you study.
Pay for each module with a debit or credit card in one quick, simple payment.
More than 1 in 10 OU students are sponsored by their employer.
Combine your payment options to fund your studies the way you want.
If you’re a serving member of the British Armed Forces (or you’ve recently left), you may be eligible to use ELCs to cover up to 100% of your course fees.
You may be eligible for:
Our Bachelor of Design (Honours) provides expertise in design as a way of thinking and creative practice that you can apply in different contexts. These contexts might be within different types of organisations, across communities or in individual practice. This expertise may include the ability to use design to:
Our BDes offers valuable skills and knowledge that can enhance your career in private, public, and third-sector organisations, as well as in establishing your own practice. This qualification allows you to develop knowledge, skills, working practices and a portfolio of work relevant to a range of sectors within service and manufacturing industries, including creative and design-focused sectors such as product, spatial and service design, but also non-design-focused sectors such as health, education, media, retail, housing, transport, leisure or telecommunications.
You can start exploring some areas of our Careers and Employability Services now. Once you register with us, you’ll have full access to the services throughout your studies and for up to three years after you finish.
As a registered student or recent graduate, you can use online tools, resources, workshops, events and one-to-one guidance from careers professionals to explore your options, set goals, find opportunities, prepare applications, build your CV and practise your interview techniques. Whether you’re planning your first career move, changing direction or developing in your current role, you’ll find support to help you move forward with confidence.
In the meantime, if you want to do some research around this qualification and where it might take you, we’ve put together a list of relevant job titles as a starting point (note that some careers may require further study, training or work experience beyond your degree):
Credit transfer: apply by 03/12/2026
Ask a question
Our prospectus will help you explore your course options, get a feel for life as an OU student, and register for study.
Request a prospectus
Credit transfer: apply by 03/12/2026
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