51Âþ»­

Undergraduate courses/Creative Design courses/Creative Design Management (Level 6 Top-up)

Key facts

Entry requirements

Full entry requirements

UCAS code

W233

Institution code

D26

Duration

1 year full-time

Fees

2025/26 UK tuition fees:
£9,535*

2025/26 international tuition:
£16,250

See all the key facts

Entry requirements

Full entry requirements

UCAS code

W233

Institution code

D26

Duration

1 year full-time

Fees

2025/26 UK tuition fees:
£9,535*

2025/26 international tuition:
£16,250

See all the key facts

Equip yourself with a diverse skillset essential for a career in design management. On this course, you will focus on key areas such as client management, time planning, concept development, and coordinating with multiple project stakeholders, gaining the expertise needed to manage a project from inception to completion. Our experienced staff, who bring extensive real-world knowledge of design management, will guide your learning throughout the programme.

The curriculum strikes a balance between theory and practical application. Throughout the year, you will manage a virtual project, offering hands-on experience while allowing you to specialise in Product, Digital, or Interior Design in modules two and four. This experience will help shape your future career decisions, enabling you to focus on the area of design management that best aligns with your interests and strengths.

Completing this programme will give you the chance to progress to Design Innovation and Management MA/MSc at 51Âþ»­, gaining two degrees in two years.

  • Earn a BA (Hons) that meets UK degree standards, with the option to progress onto a Master’s programme, gaining two degrees in just two years.
  • Learn from industry professionals, who bring real-world insights to your studies and help shape your understanding of the design industry.
  • Tailor your studies to match your career goals, specialising in product, digital, or interior design management, or explore multiple disciplines to broaden your skills.
  • Study in the award-winning Vijay Patel Building, a state-of-the-art facility designed to inspire creativity and nurture your ideas.
  • Boost your employability with transferrable skills in project management, preparing you for the fast-paced and diverse design industry.

A Top 30 University

Our students’ votes placed us as the 27th best university overall in the WhatUni Student Choice Awards

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An ‘Excellent’ Five Star Rated University

Rated by QS Top Universities for our teaching, facilities, employability, global outlook and more

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The Best Careers Support

51Âþ»­â€™s Careers Team won Employability Team of the Year at the TargetJobs National Graduate Recruitment Awards for helping students reach their ambitions

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The First University to Achieve a Silver Race Equality Charter Award

Our work to improve equality and diversity, challenge racism and build an anti-racist community earned us the Race Equality Charter silver award from Advance HE

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Top 10 for Sustainability

51Âþ»­ was named 7th in People & Planet’s University League Table for our commitment to environmental sustainability

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The Best University for LGBTQ+ staff

A staff survey by Stonewall saw us ranked the top university, and 2nd across all employers, for our work to create an inclusive environment where everyone has a voice

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The Best Autism Support

The National Association of Disability Practitioners Award identified 51Âþ»­ as the best at supporting autistic students

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Free Creative Essentials At 51Âþ»­, we believe financial constraints should never limit your ability to explore and express your artistic vision. That's why we offer a range of free materials giving you a unique opportunity to create without limits.
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What you will study

Block 1: The Principles of Design Management

Using a hypothetical product range that uses new technology as a vehicle, students will work in groups to create a company and brand values. Throughout this project, students will engage with critical concepts such as regenerative design and carbon literacy, exploring the environmental impact of design. In addition, they will examine ethics and relevant legislation in managing design projects.

To further enhance their skills, students will also participate in weekly sessions focused on 2D graphics software, improving their ability to create professional-level presentations.

The assessment consists of a Presentation (60%) and a Briefing Report (40%)

Block 2: Concept Management

In this module, students will choose a specialism: Product, Digital, or Interior Design. Focusing on the design phase leading up to the concept presentation, students will explore the challenges that arise and the critical decisions creative design managers must make to avoid risks that could negatively impact the product rollout or compromise brand values.

This module further enhances the student's 2D communication skills using industry-based software to professionally present a concept to the client.

The assessment consists of a Presentation (60%) and a Project plan (40%)

Block 3: Client Management

Students will explore and study Project Management and planning, focusing on planning a project and managing client expectations.
Students will also explore different areas, such as Design for Social Enterprise.

Students will continue to use and develop their 2D communication skills using industry-based software to professionally present information to a project team.

The assessment consists of a Presentation (100%)

Block 4: Delivery Management

In this module, students will again choose one of three specialisms: Product, Digital or Interior Design; and will explore various scenarios and challenges that can occur during the delivery phase of a project. Students will analyse real-world issues such as timeline delays, budget constraints, miscommunication between stakeholders, and the impact of design changes on overall project outcomes. Students may also consider potential risks that could derail a project and how to manage them proactively to maintain brand integrity and client satisfaction.

For their final presentation, students will detail the key challenges encountered throughout the project design process. This will include issues that actually occurred as well as hypothetical challenges, alongside strategies for addressing and resolving them.

The assessment consists of a Presentation (100%)

Note: All modules are indicative and based on the current academic session. Course information is correct at the time of publication and is subject to review. Exact modules may, therefore, vary for your intake in order to keep content current. If there are changes to your course we will, where reasonable, take steps to inform you as appropriate.

The curriculum is focused on developing the practical skills and knowledge required for graduates to make an immediate impact as Design managers and continue developing those skills into the future. You will learn how to plan and deliver a project while balancing the needs of different stakeholders throughout the project's delivery. You will learn how to create exciting Presentations, present to a team, and manage the team's expectations.

Contact hours

You will be taught through a combination of lectures, tutorials, seminars, workshops, studios, group work and self-directed study. You will normally attend around 13 hours of timetabled taught sessions (lectures and tutorials) each week, and we expect you to undertake at least 26 further hours of independent study to complete project work and research.

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Our facilities

Library and learning zones

On campus, the main Kimberlin Library offers a space where you can work, study and access a vast range of print materials, with computer stations, laptops, plasma screens and assistive technology also available.
As well as providing a physical space in which to work, we offer online tools to support your studies, and our extensive online collection of resources accessible from our Library website, e-books, specialised databases and electronic journals and films which can be remotely accessed from anywhere you choose.

We will support you to confidently use a huge range of learning technologies, including LearningZone, Collaborate Ultra, 51Âþ»­ Replay, MS Teams, Turnitin and more. Alongside this, you can access LinkedIn Learning and learn how to use Microsoft 365, and study support software such as mind mapping and note-taking through our new Digital Student Skills Hub.

The library staff offer additional support to students, including help with academic writing, research strategies, literature searching, reference management and assistive technology. There is also a ‘Just Ask’ service for help and advice, live LibChat, online workshops, tutorials and drop-ins available from our Learning Services, and weekly library live chat sessions that give you the chance to ask the library teams for help.

What makes us special

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51Âþ»­ Global

Our innovative international experience programme aims to enrich your studies and expand your cultural horizons, helping you to become a global graduate, equipped to meet the needs of employers across the world. Through 51Âþ»­ Global, we offer a wide range of opportunities including on-campus and UK-based activities, overseas study, internships, faculty-led field trips and volunteering, as well as Erasmus+ and international exchanges.

Students in this course will have the opportunity to access non-academic trips organised by 51Âþ»­ Global.

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Block learning

With Education 2030, you’ll learn in a focused ‘block’ teaching format, where you study one subject at a time instead of several at once. As a result, you will receive faster feedback through more regular assessment, have a more simplified timetable, and have a better study-life balance. That means more time to engage with your 51Âþ»­ community and other rewarding aspects of university life.

Where we could take you

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Graduate careers

Employability skills are embedded in the curriculum to prepare you for a range of careers both related to Design, Management and wider industries.

Graduates of the Level 6 Top-Up also have access to studying a MA course at 51Âþ»­, uniquely providing two degrees in two years – maximising your employment possibilities.

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Further study

Completing this programme will give you the chance to progress to Design Innovation and Management MA/MSc at 51Âþ»­, gaining two degrees in two years. The key business skills that you will gain from this MA/MSc course make it the ideal platform for creative entrepreneurs to launch their own design businesses and consultancies, or for those who hope to take up senior roles in design strategy or brand management. 

Take your next steps

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Find out about Leicester

We’re a campus-based uni situated in the city centre, with the hub of activity in Leicester right on your doorstep – and we’re one of the few unis in the UK where you’re getting the best of both worlds.

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Find out how to apply

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Course specifications

Course title

Creative Design Management (Level 6 Top-up)

Award

BA (Hons)

UCAS code

W233

Institution code

D26

Study level

Undergraduate

Study mode

Full-time

Start date

September

Duration

1 year full-time

Fees

2025/26 UK tuition fees:
£9,535*

2025/26 international tuition:
£16,250

*subject to the government, as is expected, passing legislation to formalise the increase.

Entry requirements

This is a top-up programme available to students who have already completed the following:

Year two (Level 5) Interior, Product, Graphic, Digital Design, Business, Media, English, or other subjects.

OR

BTEC, HND course in Interior, Product, Graphic, Digital Design or Business, Media, English, or other subjects.

OR

Foundation degree in Interior or Product Design or Business – or Business, Media, English, or other subjects.

Mature students

We welcome applications from mature students with non-standard qualifications and recognise all other equivalent and international qualifications.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language, an IELTS score of 6.0 overall with 5.5 in each band (or equivalent) when you start the course is essential.

English language tuition, delivered by our British Council-accredited Centre for English Language Learning, is available both before and throughout the course if you need it.

Interview and portfolio

Interviews and portfolios are not required for acceptance on this course. However, non-standard applicants will require an interview with the Programme Leader.