Where Design Meets Engineering
This programme is perfect for students who want to develop hands-on engineering solutions while working with the latest design tools and technologies to create groundbreaking products. Students will focus on advancing engineering skills, fostering innovation, and be guided through the process of product development.
Creative innovative products, systems, or solutions through an interdisciplinary approach in engineering, design, and entrepreneurship.
This programme will provide you with an enhanced background in engineering or related fields with advanced skills and knowledge in design methods, systems thinking, innovation, and entrepreneurship through a range of project-based learning modules including those linked to the industry and administered by the programme staff or generated by students.
This course will produce engineers who are able to understand the needs of users in their context, identify opportunities, solve problems creatively using cutting-edge technologies such as Additive Manufacturing, Mechatronics, Sensing and Internet of Things and many more, assess the impact of the proposed solutions through user testing, and take their solution from the early stages of design right through to the market. To this end, the programme has a particularly strong focus on the communication and translation of engineering in the world today.
Career Opportunities
Explore the dynamic career landscape for MSc Design Engineering graduates:
- Innovation Leads: Drive and manage innovation initiatives within organisations.
- Design Consultants: Offer expertise in design thinking, user experience, and creative problem-solving to clients
- Product Developer/Manager (Digital or Physical): Develop new products, features, or services, overseeing the entire product lifecycle
- E-Commerce, Healthcare, and Services Industry: Apply design thinking and innovation to optimize processes and improve customer experiences.
- Entrepreneurship and Start-ups: Start and lead your own venture, applying design and innovation principles.
- Technology and IT: Contribute to the creation of innovative digital solutions
Programme Structure
Eligibility Criteria
The minimum requirement is normally equivalent to a First-class UK Bachelor’s Degree with Honours in a Science, Technology, and Engineering discipline (or a comparable qualification recognized by the College). In some circumstances, we may also accept those with a 2:1 equivalent if you have substantial (more than 2 years) professional experience or further studies in a related area.
To submit your application, please visit our Prospectus page.
In addition to demonstrating that you have met our entry requirements, we ask you to supply the following:
- Two academic or personal references (e.g., academic references citing modules studied, and/or professional references citing applied examples in previous work experience).
- A portfolio showcasing your past projects and highlighting your skills and technologies used (PDF file, which could include clickable links to an online portfolio and/or videos of project outcomes) - see below for more information.
Candidates who are shortlisted after this initial application will be invited to attend an interview with an Academic member of staff. This will normally be conducted remotely online.
Guidelines for preparing your project portfolio:
The portfolio showcases your past projects and highlights your skills, achievements, and technologies used. While there are no strict requirements on the type of projects, consider the following guidelines:
Format: The portfolio must be a stand-alone PDF document, i.e., a well-crafted document that clearly represents your skills. Choose up to 5 relevant projects that showcase your abilities and achievements best, which can include personal, academic, or professional work.
Content Details: For each project, provide concise yet detailed descriptions, including the purpose, your role, technologies used, challenges faced, and outcomes achieved. Use metrics where possible to quantify achievements. Use visuals, as they can help convey information more effectively.
You may include clickable links in your portfolio in support of the selected projects. Ensure that these links are active and lead to relevant content.
Submission: If your application is successful against the admission criteria, you will be invited to an interview and receive a email request providing you with a link to submit your portfolio.
Portfolio - Frequently Asked Questions
- Do I need to submit a portfolio as part of my application? Could you explain the portfolio requirements for each course?
- What are the key elements you look for in a strong design portfolio?
- How are portfolios evaluated if some projects are protected by NDAs or can’t be shared?
- Could you provide examples of past project portfolios from successful applicants to give an idea of what to include?
- When do i need to submit a portfolio?
As part of the application process for the MSc in Design Engineering, you are required to submit a portfolio. This portfolio should highlight your design projects, showcasing your proficiency with various technologies, methods, and design approaches. It is an opportunity to demonstrate your creative and technical skills, as well as your ability to address real-world design challenges. The portfolio must be submitted in PDF format and can include clickable links to an online portfolio or videos of project outcomes, if applicable.
A strong portfolio should highlight creativity, problem-solving ability, and technical understanding. The inclusion of well-documented projects that showcase the design process—from ideation to execution—is highly valued. Projects that demonstrate innovation, hands-on prototyping, user-centric design, and interdisciplinary thinking are especially impactful. This could range from sketches to finished prototypes, as long as they provide insight into the applicant's approach to solving design and engineering challenges. While creativity is essential, the programme places equal emphasis on technical problem-solving. Portfolios should ideally balance innovative design ideas with practical technical implementation. Demonstrating how creative solutions meet functional requirements or constraints is critical.
Scholarships
Imperial Inspires Scholarships
Value: £15,000
Number of awards: 3
Eligibility: Overseas
To be eligible for the scholarship for entry, you must be:
- An international student paying the Overseas rate of tuition
- Applying for a full-time postgraduate taught course, which offers an Imperial Inspires scholarship in the Faculty of Engineering.
Application deadline: TBC
Overview:
Imperial Inspires is part of our mission as a world-leading and world-changing university to inspire the next generation of leaders and innovators in science, technology, engineering, medicine and business, no matter their background.
We’re proud to be a welcoming home for everyone who believes in the power of science to build, heal and lead. Imperial Inspires supports our ambition for continued global excellence and broadening access to education and opportunity.
More information:
Full details are available on Imperial Inspires scholarships.
Turning concepts into projects: student experiences
Ever wondered what it’s like to turn ideas into real-world innovations? In this video, two MSc Design Engineering students give an inside look at their journey, sharing insights about the course, their projects, and the skills they’ve gained along the way.
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You are taught how to pitch your idea, design a business plan, do the financials, and check its feasibility. To be able to incorporate that with design engineering is absolutely invaluable knowledge. If you have got ideas, bring them to table – nobody is afraid of failing here! Rupert Duthie MSc Design Engineering ’25 student
Admissions and course enquiries
For admission and course enquiries about MSc Design Engineering, please email designeng-mscde@imperial.ac.uk.