BA (Hons) Design Interaction
Start date
September 2021
Subject area
Art and Design
Attendance
Full-time, 3 years
Full-time, 4 years
Part-time, six years
Learning
On campus, dual delivery
Course summary
Studying on BA (Hons) Design
Interaction you will be at the forefront of future-focused design. You will
experiment and develop emerging technology such as AR/VR (XR), AI, game
engines, electronics, sensors, Internet of Things (IoT), Big Data and robotics.
You will play a role in shaping the world around us with free thinking ideas
and opportunities.
Interdisciplinary
collaboration with students from e.g. Fine Art Technology, Graphic Design,
Illustration, Animation and Photography allows you to exchange skills and to
access technical support and subject expertise across disciplines.
You will be supported by yearly employability initiative Detour Ahead: Roadmaps
for the Art and Design Industry, week-long inter-disciplinary guest talks
offering you industry insights as well as guidance on subjects such as
freelancing, copyright and tax.
You will gain fresh perspective and approaches (divergent thinking) giving you
edge in the competitive creative job market, skills for the fourth industrial age (4iR).
Return to campus: dual delivery
In a Covid-secure environment, enjoy learning on our state-of-the-art campuses and flex between online delivery
Find out moreFlexibility
This course allows you to study in an area which is expanding giving you an advantage in industry
You can also take up the optional placement year
Career focused
You will work alongside and share modules with BA (Hons) Graphic Design and BA (Hons) Fine Art Technology students gaining fresh perspective and approaches (divergent thinking), giving you the edge in the competitive job market for Industry 4.0 (fourth industrial age)
Experiment and develop
Experiment and develop emerging technology such as AR/VR (XR) in a design context
Jackie Normington
Design Interaction
There is always something new to be learning, from new technologies, new techniques and new perspectives. The course really helped refuel my own curiosity for design.
Fees and funding
Tuition Fee Loan
You can apply for a loan to cover the cost of your tuition fees, which will be paid directly to UEL. There are no up-front fees required. Repayment only starts after you finish your course and are earning over £25,000. If you haven’t finished repaying your loan after 30 years it will be automatically cancelled.
To apply visit gov.uk/student-finance
Maintenance Loan
You can apply for a loan to help with living costs such as food, travel and accommodation. How much you can borrow depends on where you live and study, and whether you are currently on welfare benefits. The maximum loan you can apply for is £12,729.
To apply visit gov.uk/student-finance
Supplementary Grants
The government also offer the following additional support:
- Parents' Learning Allowance
- Adult Dependants' Grant
- Childcare Grant
- Disabled Students’ Allowance
- All nursing and many allied health students on courses from September 2020 will receive a payment of at least £5,000 a year from the government.
For further information visit gov.uk/student-finance or contact Student Finance England.
All students will receive:
Bursaries Schemes for which you can apply
- Care Leaver and Foyer Bursary - up to £1,500
- Progression Bursary - up to £2,000
- Engagement Bursary - up to £2,000
- Hardship Bursary - up to £2,000
- Helena Kennedy Foundation - £1,500
- Going Global – awards range from £300 - £700
Scholarships Schemes for which you can apply
- Vice Chancellor Scholarship - up to £27,750 over three years
- Dean Scholarship - up to £13,500 over three years
- Civic Engagement Scholarship - £1,000
- EU Scholarship (EU Only) - £1,000
- ELSEF Scholarship - £1,000
- UTC Scholarship - £1,500
- Sports Scholarships - up to £6,000
There are a number of external organisations that offer financial help to
students. Please see the list below list to view additional support options.
Alternatively, you can visit the Scholarship Search website.
Please note that the University of East London is not responsible for
the content of these external sites and is not associated in any way
with the funding schemes and their application processes.
The Student Money Advice and Rights Team (SMART) are here to help you navigate your finances while you are a student at the University of East London.
We can give you advice, information and guidance on government and university funds so that you receive your full funding entitlement.
Email: study@uel.ac.uk
Phone: 020 8223 4444
TBC
You don't need to pay this up front.
EU, EEA and Swiss Nationals starting a course in September 2021, will no longer be eligible for Home fees. However, such nationals benefitting from Settled Status or Citizens' Rights may become eligible for Home fees as and when the UK Government confirms any new fees regulations. Further information can be found at UKCISA.
Tuition fees are subject to annual change. Fees for future years will be published in due course.
Tuition Fee Loan
You can apply for a loan to cover the cost of your tuition fees, which will be paid directly to UEL. There are no up-front fees required. Repayment only starts after you finish your course and are earning over £25,000. If you haven’t finished repaying your loan after 30 years it will be automatically cancelled.
Maintenance Loan
Part-time students can access maintenance loans from Student Finance England.
From academic year 2018/19, part-time students can access maintenance loans from Student Finance England.
You can apply for a loan to help with living costs such as food, travel and accommodation.
Part-time students need to study their courses at a rate of at least
25% of an equivalent full-time course in each academic year.
For further information visit gov.uk/student-finance
We appreciate that finance is one of the key considerations when you are applying to university. That's why alongside your Government loan, you can apply for scholarships to help towards your finances. We have invested over £2 million worth of scholarships to financially assist new students, starting in September 2019. If you are awarded a scholarship you don't need to pay it back.
All students will receive:
Ebooks
Bursaries Schemes for which you can apply
Scholarships Schemes for which you can apply
There are a number of external organisations that offer financial help to
students. Please see the list below list to view additional support options.
Alternatively, you can visit the Scholarship Search website.
Please note that the University of East London is not responsible for
the content of these external sites and is not associated in any way
with the funding schemes and their application processes.
The Student Money Advice and Rights Team (SMART) are here to help you navigate your finances while you are a student at the University of East London.
We can give you advice, information and guidance on government and university funds so that you receive your full funding entitlement.
Email: study@uel.ac.uk
Phone: 020 8223 4444
Price per 30 credit module.
EU, EEA and Swiss Nationals starting a course in September 2021, will no longer be eligible for Home fees. However, such nationals benefitting from Settled Status or Citizens' Rights may become eligible for Home fees as and when the UK Government confirms any new fees regulations. Further information can be found at UKCISA.
At UEL, we understand that studying in another country is a big financial commitment. If you apply early for an undergraduate, you may be entitled to a scholarship of up to £3,000.You can find out more about the international scholarships here.
The Student Money Advice and Rights Team (SMART) also run an Emergency International Fund to assist international students in hardship.
You can contact our SMART team on 02082233333 or study@uel.ac.uk
As part of the Tier 4 student visa requirements, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) estimate that you will need £1,265* per month to cover your living costs. It includes expenses for accommodation, food and drink, travel within London, text books, entertainment, clothing, toiletries and laundry. Most Tier 4 students are required to show they have sufficient funds to cover the first nine months of the course before they start- a total of £11,385- in addition to the tuition fees. You can find more information about the specific requirements of the Tier 4 student visa here. The amount that you will spend can vary depending on your lifestyle. The UKCISA International Student Calculator can help you plan and manage your money. Please make sure you also factor in the fees for the visa application and immigration health surcharge when budgeting.
* Please note the Immigration Rules are subject to change and this figure is likely to be increased by UKVI year on year. Please therefore check our ISA pages for more information at the time of preparing your visa application.
Deposits and paying by instalments
International students are required to pay a deposit prior to being issued a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS).
Your remaining balance will be paid in five monthly instalments over your first term. The first of these instalments must be paid when completing your enrolment on arrival at UEL. Please follow the payment instructions here.
After the required payment has been made, you will be asked to complete the online International Student Reply Form to confirm your acceptance of our offer and of our terms of admittance and fees policy.
Our International team at UEL are available for advice and guidance on studying in London, fees, scholarships and visa requirements.
Email: international@uel.ac.uk
Entry requirements
- September 2021
-
Degree
96
New UCAS Points
The portfolio is a very important part of the application process. It should reflect broad examples of your work. This will be used as evidence of your creative ability and potential.
Your portfolio may include paintings, drawings, sketches, a personal sketchbook, design and photographic work, 3D-modelling, work in progress, etc. It should exhibit an understanding of spatial awareness.
We like to see the creative and planning processes that have contributed to your work, not just the final pieces. We also like to see some work that reflects your own personal interests, i.e. work that you might have undertaken in your own time.
We want to see your passion for your work and you’re expected to present the portfolio in a positive and interesting manner. You will be expected to display care and thought in the way that your portfolio is presented; the organisation is no less important than the content.
If you do not meet the academic English language requirements for your course, you may be eligible to enrol onto a pre-sessional English programme. The length of the course will depend on your current level of English and the requirements for your degree programme. We offer a 5-week and an 11-week pre-sessional course. Find out more.
Level 2 equivalences such as Level 2 Functional Skills in English / Maths, Level 2 Key Skills in Communication / Application of Number and Level 2 Adult Literacy / Adult Numeracy
Access to HE Diploma (QAA approved) with 60 credits overall and 45 credits at Level 3
What you'll learn
Through learning by doing,
problem solving and exploring, you will use practical training and theoretical
knowledge to succeed in design interactions.
You’ll gain a critical understanding of the technical, historical, theoretical
and political potential of the medium and an understanding of the collaborative
nature of the medium and skills to identify, reflect and develop employability
competencies and professional skills to enter the creative industries.
You will be in the forefront of future-focused design, experimenting and
developing emerging technology such as AR/VR (XR), AI, game engines,
electronics, sensors, Internet of Things (IoT), Big Data and robotics. You will
play a role in shaping the world around us with free thinking ideas and
opportunities
Studying design interactions will teach you confidence in visualising ideas and
briefs, will enable you to create and maintain professional online
portfolio/presence/ promotional skills and will set you up with life and work
skills for Interpersonal, team working, collaborative and negotiations.
What you'll study and when
- Year 1 – all core
- Year 2 – all core
This course offers the opportunity of year-long placement between years two and three. If you choose to take this option, you’ll spend your third year on a placement with a relevant company or organisation, adding valuable practical experience to your growing academic knowledge.
The extra placement year means it will take four years to complete your studies, instead of three.
- Year 3 – all core
How you'll be assessed
Each module has a duration of
12 weeks (one term) and always concludes with an assessment point. We provide
feedback throughout these 12-week periods with a specific ‘Tracking Week’
dedicated to this process midway through each term.
For Practical modules your submission will consist of a Learning Journal (the
presentation of your development and experience) and Portfolio (the
presentation of your practical output). For Theoretical modules you may be
asked to produce a piece of academic writing of a given length and a live
presentation.
Feedback is provided within 15
working days in line with UEL’s assessment and feedback policy.
How you'll learn
• Types of learning
Benefit from our progressive approach to learning through forward thinking and inclusive blended/ flipped learning and patchwork assessment, allowing you to make connections between modules, technical skills and research and your practice. This is a practical course, so you’ll spend plenty of time in our Docklands-based design studios.
• Expanding your learning
Thinking critically to undertake complex problem solving, to be able to succeed in 4iR (fourth industrial revolution) and beyond (we call this emotional intelligence). Gain insights in our yearly cluster employability initiative Detour Ahead: Roadmaps for the Art and Design Industry, a week-long inter-disciplinary guest talks as well as advice about copyright and licensing, freelancing and tax.
• Independent learning
You’ll be expected to carry out your own independent study to build on what you learn during lectures, seminars and workshops. To support you, we’ll provide digital materials, notes and handbooks and you’ll also receive individual supervision and feedback from our experienced lecturers.
• Helping you study
We are investing in key areas beyond your studies including our career services, library and well-being, to be available both face-to-face on campus and online with many of these available 24/7. We have new, modern library facilities on both campuses offering inspirational environments for study and research. Libraries contain resources in print and digital formats, a range of study spaces and dedicated librarian who can assist with your learning.
• Academic support
Students are supported with any academic or subject related queries by an Academic
Advisor, module leaders, former and current UEL students.
If you need a bit of extra help with certain skills such as academic writing,
maths or IT, our Skillzone and English for Academic Purposes we offer
workshops, drop-in sessions and one-to-one appointments to help our students
achieve their potential. You can receive advice and guidance on all aspects
of the IT systems provided by the university from our IT Service Desks
located on all three campuses.
Our Student Support hubs in Docklands and Stratford feature centralised help-desks to cater for your every need. UEL provides also support and advice for disabled students and those with specific learning difficulties (SPDs).
• Workload
Each year you will spend around 300 hours of timetabled learning and teaching
activities. These may be lectures, workshops, seminars and individual and
group tutorials. Contact hours may vary depending on each module.
The approximate percentages for this course are:
Year 1: scheduled teaching – 300 hours; guided independent study – 900 hours.
Year 2: scheduled teaching – 300 hours; guided independent study – 900 hours.
Year 3: scheduled teaching – 300 hours; guided independent study – 900 hours.
The size of classes can vary depending on the nature of the course, module
and activity. This can range from large groups in a lecture theatre setting,
to smaller groups taking part in seminars and collaborative work. You will
receive your personalised timetable at the beginning of the academic year
dependent on your course.
Who teaches on this course
Dan Duran
Your future career
The future needs technically
focused flexible creatives who can adapt to the ever-changing market.
In 2018 the UK’s creative sector broke the £100 billion mark. Within this economy there are a great variety of
roles that utilise the skillsets we develop.
Our alumni may work in-house
for a large company, in a specialist design studio, run their own business or
be self-employed across a variety of industries. Spending three years tracking
multiple projects, solving the logistics of production and negotiating within
teams of creatives will prepare you for work beyond the subject area. The
University’s e-Factor competition offers students resources to develop their
own business and the Career Coaching team are always on hand to help students fine tune their CVs and
interview techniques.
Industry links
Blind Pig - A
multidisciplinary creative studio. Creative director and founder Ric
Combline has helped shape the course through his feedback and
encouragement for art and design based courses at UEL.
Career destinations for our
students include: Design interaction; interaction designer; information
architect; User Experience (UX) designer; User Interface (UI) designer; web
designer; app designer; designer/ developer; content strategist; AR/VR
designer; exhibition designer; artist.
The course maintains a strong network of alumni and we regularly invite former
students to return as guest speakers and lecturers.
