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Product Design & Innovation

Higher Education CAO
MH305

A highly practical course, with an emphasis on project-based learning, workshops, laboratory sessions and group work.
Students acquire a broad understanding of product design and innovation from both an engineering and a marketing point of view - leading you to create solutions that balance business viability, human desirability and technical feasibility.

Award Name Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ)
NFQ Classification Major
Awarding Body National University of Ireland
NFQ Level Level 8 NFQ
Award Name NFQ Classification Awarding Body NFQ Level
Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) Major National University of Ireland Level 8 NFQ
Course Provider:
Location:
Maynooth
Attendance Options:
Daytime, Full time
Qualification Letters:
BSc
Apply to:
CAO
CAO Points Round 1
Year Points
2023 337
2022 362
2021 326
2020 357

Duration

4 years

Erasmus/Study Abroad Option: Yes - subject to availability
Placement Option: Yes – subject to availability

Specific Subjects or course requirements

Leaving Certificate:
2H5 & 4O6/H7, Irish, English & Science subject (one of Agricultural Science, Applied Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Physics, Physics with Chemistry, Engineering, Technology, Construction Studies or Design and Communication Graphics) and O3/H7 Mathematics.

Leaving Certificate General Entry Requirements

Age Restrictions
In general, students must be 17 years or older by 15th January in the year after entry to the University. If you are younger, you must make a special application to the University’s President.

All Leaving Certificate subjects carry equal points with the exception of *Mathematics (details below). Points are awarded for your six best subjects in any one year. These do not have to include subjects needed to meet general minimum entry requirements. Minimum entry requirements and course requirements may be satisfied by an accumulation of subjects over more than one year. As well as achieving the required points, you must have a minimum of six subjects in your Leaving Certificate, with two Higher Level papers at grade H5 and four Ordinary or Higher Level papers at grade O6/H7.

The requirements for each course are shown above.

* 25 bonus points will be added to the points score for a Leaving Certificate Higher Level Mathematics grade H6 or higher.

The bonus points are included in the overall points calculation only when Mathematics is one of the applicant’s best six subjects following the addition of the bonus.

Foundation level Mathematics is accepted for matriculation (i.e. can be counted as one of the six subjects required - grade F6 or higher), but does not meet the requirement for degrees where Mathematics is a special programme requirement. Points are not awarded for this subject.

Foundation level Irish is not accepted for matriculation. Points are not awarded for this subject.

Leaving Certificate Vocational Progamme LCVP

Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme (LCVP) Link Modules

Points are awarded as follows:
Distinction 66
Merit 46
Pass 28

Applicants can use their points allocation for the Link Modules as one of their best six subjects for the purpose of calculating points, but the Link Modules do not qualify as a subject for minimum entry requirement purposes.

QQI FET Applicants General Information

If you have a relevant QQI qualification, you can use this to apply to a degree programme at Maynooth University.

Click on the 'QQI FET Applicants Information link' below for specific course entry requirements.

QQI FET General Information Link

QQI FET Entry Requirements

Careers / Further progression

Options after graduation?
- Product designers are key to innovation in the modern world. As technological competence spreads globally, businesses are placing greater focus on achieving market success through design. Graduates understand and drive innovation in many spheres of life, especially those involving design and technology, its application or assessment.
- Students may consider career areas such as product design, interaction design, medical device design, furniture design, technical marketing, customer development and user experience, new product development, design management, technology business management and many other design disciplines.
- Some graduates continue their studies and we currently offer the following postgraduate course: MSc Design Innovation

Course Web Page

Further information

Maynooth University greatly values the particular contribution of mature students to the academic and social environment of the University. A mature student is 23 years or older by 1st January in the year of entry to the University. For part-time degrees the mature age is 21. There is no upper age limit; we currently have students who range in age from 23 to over 70. Up to 200 mature students begin their studies here each year. Many of our mature entrants undertake preparatory studies in advance of gaining admission.

The Mature Student Office is committed to supporting the learning experience of our mature students. A certain number of places are reserved for mature students on all undergraduate courses. We offer a range of supports for mature students including an advisory service, tailored information sessions during Orientation/Welcome Week, academic advisors, the Student Budgeting Advice Service and a technology skills programme. There is also a Mature Student Society on campus providing a continuation of peer support, both academic and social, to incoming mature students.

See the Mature Student handbook for detailed information about applying as a mature student. Call, email or drop in to meet us in MAP Lodge on the North Campus or to request a mature student information pack. If the opportunity to return to education has presented itself to you, we hope you’ll choose Maynooth University.

Emer Sheerin, Mature Student Officer
+ 353 1 708 3307
emer.sheerin@mu.ie

2023: 40

Entry 2024

Early online application (discounted): Fee €30 Closing Date: 20 January 2024 at 5pm

Normal online application: Fee €45 Closing Date: 1 February 2024 at 5pm

Late online application - restrictions apply (see page 3 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee: €60 Closing Date: 1 May 2024 at 5pm

Change of Mind - restrictions apply (see page 3 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee: Nil Closing Date: 1 July 2024 at 5pm

Exceptional online late application (see page 34 of the 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee €60 Closing Date: 22 July 2024 at 5pm

Be sure to complete any action well in advance of closing dates. You should avoid making an application close to a closing date. No extensions to closing dates will be allowed and all application fees are non-refundable.

LATE APPLICATIONS
Late Applications are those which are received after 5pm on 1 February 2024. The closing date for late applications is 5pm on 1 May 2024, subject to the restrictions listed on page 3 of the 2024 CAO Handbook. The online facility for late applications opens on the 5 March 2024 at 12:00 noon - a fee of €60 applies.

Exceptional Late Applications (Exception to the timetable)
The exceptional closing date of 22 July at 5pm applies only to applicants who are registered as an undergraduate student on 1 May 2024 in any year in any one of the participating HEIs (subject to the exclusions listed below). In order to avail of the Exceptional Late Application facility you must have entered the HEI through the CAO system. This is an exceptional late closing date and all steps must be completed by 5pm on 22 July. No changes may be made after this date.

If you did not enter your current course through the CAO system, you must first contact the Admissions Office of the HEI to which you wish to apply and they will inform you if you may submit an application direct to the institution.

Exclusions:
You may submit a late application only for entry to courses other than your existing course. If you wish to repeat the year in the same course you must arrange this within your HEI.

Mary Immaculate College Limerick, Marino Institute of Education, Trinity College Dublin, University of Limerick and Maynooth University have special procedures in place in the case of current or previous students who wish to apply for entry to another course in the same HEI. Such applicants must contact their Admissions Office to determine the application procedure. However, if you are a student in another HEI and you wish to apply to any of these five HEIs, you should apply through CAO.

Refer to page 34 of the 2024 CAO Handbook on how to make an Exceptional Late Application.

Restrictions
As a CAO applicant you may experience one or more of the following restrictions based on your course choices, your category of application, or restrictions imposed by the HEIs that you wish to apply to. Please read the section on 'Restrictions' on page 3 of the 2024 CAO Handbook carefully. This section includes information on:

General Restrictions
1. Making a late application
2. Making changes to your course choices

Restricted Courses
3. Applying for a restricted course

Mature Applicants
4. Mature applicants

Supplementary Admissions Routes
5. Applying for DARE and/or HEAR

Opportunity to take a six-month, full-time work experience placement, in a relevant employment setting.

Why choose this degree?
- As a student of Product Design, you will learn to harness your creative, artistic, and problem-solving skills. You will also gain a relevant understanding of technology and materials, and a sensitive awareness of human needs and behaviour through user-centred design. You will learn to combine these abilities to create products that satisfy, even delight, users. You will acquire an understanding of Product Design from both an engineering and a marketing point of view.
- You will learn from accomplished designers and design entrepreneurs - people who have experience designing in sports equipment, medical devices, user interfaces and consumer electronics and homeware – as well as having impeccable academic credentials.

Course structure
- As a specialised 4 year Bachelor of Science degree in Product Design and Innovation, a range of technology, marketing and design subjects are taken in all years
- All students can take a 6-month, full-time, work experience placement in 3rd year or alternatively may opt to participate in the Erasmus/Study Abroad student exchange programme, completing a semester in another EU 3rd level institution (subject to availability)

Possible topics
1st year
Creative thinking and design
Core design skills (sketching, prototyping, presentation)
Introduction to embedded electronic engineering
Maths, physics and material science
Computer aided design

2nd year
Core design skills
Universal design
Usability, ergonomics and aesthetics
Visual communication & portfolio
Design history and culture
Manufacturing processes
Marketing management
Service design

3rd year
Ethnography
Design for environment and sustainability
Design project with industry
Industry work placement or Erasmus study abroad
Human Computer Interaction

Final year
Advanced materials and design for manufacture
Innovation management
Keystone design projects
Systematic design methods for innovation

Contact us
Maynooth University Department of Design Innovation,
Rye Hall
+ 353 1 708 6634
design@mu.ie
www.maynoothuniversity.ie/design-innovation
Twitter/X: @MaynoothDesign

Course Provider:
Location:
Maynooth
Attendance Options:
Daytime, Full time
Qualification Letters:
BSc
Apply to:
CAO
CAO Points Round 1
Year Points
2023 337
2022 362
2021 326
2020 357