Why Study / Key Benefits

• The Master of Product Design (MProdDesign) is designed for postgraduate students seeking advanced knowledge and skills in product design, manufacturing and business analysis.
• UC combines practical design work and theory with original supervised research.
• The programme draws on UC expertise across commerce, information technology and engineering.
• Students have access to specialised facilities where they can research, create, test and market products.
• The programme is particularly suitable for students who already have a relevant design background and want to deepen their product-design expertise.
• UC's School of Product Design includes specialist workshops, laboratories, design studios, makerspaces, electronics facilities, 3D printers, formulation laboratories and computer/AR/VR facilities.
• UC also hosts the Human Interface Technology Laboratory NZ, a multidisciplinary environment working with advanced technologies.
• The large thesis component makes the qualification suitable for students interested in advanced design research and possible doctoral study.

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The current MProdDesign consists of:

• 30 points compulsory courses
• 30 points elective courses
• 120-point research thesis.

Compulsory courses:

• PROD601 – Design Critique and Research Methods, 15 points
• PROD614 – Design Ethics, 15 points
• PROD690 – Product Design Thesis, 120 points.

Elective choices currently published by UC include:

• PROD602 – Systems Thinking for Product Design
• PROD611 – Design and Manufacture
• PROD612 – Bio-Inspired Design
• PROD613 – Development of Interdisciplinary Practice and Self
• PROD621 – Games for Health & Wellbeing
• PROD622 – Immersive Collaborative Play and Design
• PROD623 – Gamification for Enterprises
• PROD631 – Fragrance Design
• PROD632 – Special Topics in Cosmetic Product Formulation
• Any approved 400-level course.

Disciplines / Specialisations

The qualification does not have formal majors, minors or endorsements.

Students can nevertheless shape their study and research around areas such as:

• Product design
• Systems thinking
• Design and manufacturing
• Bio-inspired design
• Interdisciplinary design practice
• Games and wellbeing
• Immersive collaborative design
• Gamification
• Fragrance design
• Cosmetic product formulation
• Other approved product-design research areas.

Programme Highlights

• 180-point Master's degree.
• February and July starts.
• 18 months full-time.
• Up to 3 years part-time.
• 120-point research thesis.
• Practical and theoretical Product Design study.
• Advanced design, manufacturing and business-analysis capabilities.
• Supervised original research.
• Access to specialist Product Design laboratories and workshops.
• 3D printing and electronics facilities.
• Design studios and makerspaces.
• Formulation laboratory.
• Computer, AR and VR facilities.
• Access to multidisciplinary technology research through the Human Interface Technology Laboratory NZ.
• Potential progression from the Master's to PhD-level Product Design research.

Career Outcomes

UC states that Product Design graduates can pursue careers related to their original design discipline, supplemented by deeper knowledge and experience of the design process.

Potential career directions include:

• Product designer
• Design consultant
• Product-development specialist
• Design practitioner
• Design researcher
• Product-development roles in private-sector organisations
• Product-development roles in public-sector organisations
• Entrepreneur / business founder
• Academic or research career
• Further postgraduate research, including PhD study.

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

• The current MProdDesign regulations came into force on 1 January 2025.
• The degree was first offered in 2020.
• The current UC programme page continues to list February and July starts.
• The programme is 180 points, with 120 points devoted to the thesis.
• The thesis requires an appropriate supervisor and approval by the Head of School.
• Certain elective courses also require approval from the Head of the School of Product Design.
• There are no formal majors, minors or endorsements.
• The maximum completion period is 36 months.
• A student who completes at least 60 points but does not complete the Master's may apply for the Postgraduate Certificate in Product Design, subject to the relevant approval.

International Student Visa Requirements

For an international student coming to New Zealand to study the MProdDesign on campus, the relevant visa will generally be the Fee Paying Student Visa, subject to the student's individual circumstances.

Immigration New Zealand currently requires applicants to:

• Have an offer of place from an approved education provider.
• Have sufficient funds to pay tuition fees or an acceptable scholarship.
• Have sufficient funds for living expenses or an acceptable sponsor.
• Declare that they will have acceptable medical and travel insurance.
• Meet the other applicable immigration requirements.