Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Product Design with Placement/Overseas Study

at Manchester Metropolitan University United Kingdom

Understanding the link between foods, diets, dietary patterns, nutrients, and physical health is paramount in the current environment. And that’s where nutritionists can help.

You’ll look at the issues that make the headlines and the topics that touch our everyday lives. Whilst our relationship with food has never had a higher profile in the public sphere, the food industry is constantly adapting to new consumer trends and developments.

Many dietary factors can influence a person’s health, and throughout our course, you’ll gain a working knowledge of a range of contemporary nutrition issues such as the origins of nutrition-related illnesses, the chemistry of food and dietary assessment.

You won’t simply learn the theory behind nutrition, you’ll explore how it works through practical sessions.

We have chemistry and microbiology laboratories, a taste panel suite, a product development kitchen, a bakery and food quality testing equipment. We also have the capability to produce and develop new food products, test and analyse them, taking them through to the packaging and labelling stage.

This creates a holistic approach to our teaching and means you gain real-life experience whilst studying with us.

Our nutritional sciences degree also provides the option of spending an extra year working in a partner organisation on placement.

Film and media studies focuses on the in-depth exploration of both cinematic and media forms, from the established to the new and emergent, from TV to games.

Taught by a large team with a diverse range of interests, you’ll have access to cutting-edge research expertise and excellent resources in a department as dedicated to supporting students as it is to inspiring them.

Film units introduce you to the history of cinema and its many forms and genres. This course will broaden your horizons from Anglo-American film to world cinemas, and develop your skills as a critical interpreter of the cinematic text. Media units explore the development of media industries, forms and criticism, but focus particularly on current and emerging platforms and industries. In your final year you can explore your interests in depth by completing an independent project on a topic of your own choice, working with academics who are experts in their fields.

The creative industries sector in Manchester offers a broad range of opportunities in professions linked to film and media. The city is an excellent place to study this subject and to begin gaining experience and building your networks. We’ll help you to be ready for the world beyond university by giving you the opportunity to engage with external partners, and you may have the chance to study abroad as part of your course, or to spend a year on a placement in industry in Britain or abroad.

Placement options

You will have the opportunity to undertake a placement for your third year of study, returning to Manchester Met for your fourth year. The Department of English works closely with a number of local schools and voluntary organisations that give students the opportunity to gain experience in a range of areas, including youth work, education, creative workshopping and video production.

Technology is disrupting almost every area of business and the COVID-19 pandemic has only served to accelerate the change.  As technology has increasingly become part of every business, data has become the new oil and businesses are striving to make the most of it in order to gain a competitive and lasting advantage.

But technology does not just happen on its own; it needs professionals to design, implement and manage technology systems.

Our BSc (Hons) Business Technology degree gives you the skills needed in a modern business environment. You’ll learn to identify business challenges, find technological solutions, manage technology projects and services, and analyse business data. This is an area that’s constantly evolving, so we’ll give you the tools to adapt to new ideas and new ways of working.

Discover your talents
With a wide range of topics, and the choice of optional units in other areas, you can really explore your interests. Business analysis, big data, app development, e-commerce, project management – whatever you want to specialise in, you’ll have the chance to develop a strong knowledge base.

As well as vital business skills such as global strategy and technology management, you’ll also learn about some of the biggest technologies of today. Cloud computing with AWS, enterprise resource planning with SAP, programming languages, and databases all feature on the course.

Develop in areas that are in demand
Many organizations are struggling to make the most of digital technology. They know it can transform their business, but they don’t know-how. We designed this program so you have the potential to support and eventually lead them through the digital transformation process.

There is also opportunity to specialize in routes with more emphasis on technology development, data analytics, project management and social media marketing, all of which continue to be in high demand in organizations.

Study Abroad
Instead of a placement, you’ll have the opportunity to spend up to a year overseas, studying with one of our partner institutions across Europe, or beyond. Go abroad in the third year of your degree, and you’ll not only learn about other cultures, improve your language skills and discover more about yourself – you’ll also boost your career prospects.

Having first-hand knowledge of another country’s culture and traditions can take you far in a range of careers. And, by going abroad you’ll also demonstrate the kind of independent spirit and adaptability that many employers want.

From evolutionary development to environmental stimuli, animal behaviour is shaped by a range of factors. This masters course is your chance to explore them all – not only developing the theoretical principles of behaviour, but also learning how to harness these principles to tackle real-world animal welfare and conservation issues.

It’s an area that covers a diverse range of disciplines, from a strong numerical approach in the classroom to a practical approach in the lab and in the field. While the course is built around strong core units, it also offers the flexibility to explore specialist areas, such as genetics and GIS.

Above all, this is a course that offers the chance to study animal behaviour up close. As well as a field trip to Poland, Ecuador or Tanzania, your dissertation project could take you to Kenya, the Philippines or Mauritius (not to mention sites across the UK) for your research.

As well as expert analytical abilities and practical research techniques, you’ll leave us with an in-depth understanding of animals physiology, and how experience and environment combine to create behaviour – everything you need to pursue a range of career paths, from animal management to education or further research.

Marketing is a business function with the power to shape everything from sales and customer service to product development and brand loyalty. The best marketers see the big picture – when they look at the business landscape, they identify the opportunities to communicate and influence audiences, and spot the threats that could damage their brands. This marketing degree is all about exploring that landscape, taking those opportunities and avoiding those threats.

You’ll look at different media and methods of communication, study how to analyse and segment audiences, and discover how to craft and deliver the right message at the right time. To start with, you’ll learn about marketing fundamentals, but you’ll also have the flexibility to choose units that interest you most as you progress. By the time you leave us, you’ll not only understand the theory behind effective marketing – you’ll also have a range of practical, professional skills.

Above all, you’ll be ready for a career in marketing – following in the footsteps of graduates from this course now working in advertising, account management, media planning, public relations, event management and more.

The best defence against disease isn’t a new therapy, wonder drug or technological miracle. It’s knowledge. With our MSc Biomedical Science course, you will gain the technical skills and in-depth understanding to explore, harness and add to that knowledge.

It’s a master's course that offers a broad base of understanding and the opportunity to investigate specialist areas of biomedical science. As well as units offering advanced analytical techniques and an in-depth understanding of different aspects of disease, you will explore areas that match your personal interests and career ambitions.

You’ll complete an independent research project, building professional-level research skills. This is your opportunity to explore the issues that fascinate you - making the most of our extensive links with hospitals across Greater Manchester to conduct research in clinically relevant areas in a real-world context.

Our course is accredited by the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) which means our teaching is of a high standard and provides wide-ranging, research-informed education to ensure you develop the practical skills and experience that employers’ value.

Our creative writing courses are taught by internationally-renowned writers from The Manchester Writing School; one of the most successful of its kind in the UK, with more than 95 graduates and MA students who’ve gone on to become published writers. But skilled writers must also be well-developed readers and this course offers the best of both worlds, allowing you to combine Creative Writing and English as part of a joint degree.

While studying and practising creative writing, you’ll take a range of options from the English degree, including American literature, film, television and cultural studies. As you progress, you’ll have the chance to take part in creative writing workshops, focussing on two options from the selection of: prose, poetry and script. Our placement route offers you the opportunity to spend your third year on an industry placement, allowing you to apply university-based knowledge, skills and understanding to the world of work, and giving you an advantage when you begin looking for your first job after graduation. Or you may have the chance to spend a year expanding your horizons, studying with one of our partner universities overseas. In your final year, you’ll be ready to undertake an all-important independent creative project.

By the time you leave us, you’ll have an excellent understanding of the critical and cultural contexts in which you’re writing, together with the skills and experience to excel in the creative journey from original idea to finished work.

Placement options
Placement opportunities may be available both in the UK and abroad, in a variety of roles and sectors.

Our dedicated placement team have developed excellent links with various industries. You will be offered support through a preparation program of activities that includes guidance on selection procedures, working overseas, CV preparation, interview and selection techniques.

As computing continues to evolve at a remarkable pace, the expertise to harness the latest technology become more vital every day for organisations in every sector. Our MSc Computer Science course provides that expertise – helping you develop the specialist skills for a career in computing.

On this computer science masters, you’ll explore themes around object-oriented programming, advanced computer networks, cloud software development and information systems and databases. You will learn advanced concepts, techniques and technologies to equip you for the practical side of investigating an issue and creating a system or solution to match. Through this, you’ll gain a set of skills made for the modern professional world of computing.

You’ll also have the flexibility to set the direction for your postgraduate studies with a master's project of your own design. While you’ll have the one-to-one support of your supervisor, it’s a solo project – as much about developing computing skills as it is about building confidence and autonomy, vital skills for the workplace.

By the time you’re finished, you’ll be equipped with both theoretical understanding and practical abilities in computer science – ready to apply your advanced knowledge to real-world situations.

Placement options

Strengthen your skillset by spending time in industry on a placement year, applying the skills you’ve learned throughout your academic studies in a practical, real-world environment. It’s an excellent opportunity to develop a professional career development plan and gain transferable workplace skills that can boost your employability.

Following completion of the taught elements of your MSc course, you can gain additional practice credits by working for a minimum of 36 weeks and a maximum of 42 weeks in an industrial setting, relevant to your course.

It’s your responsibility to search and apply for advertised placement opportunities, but you’ll be supported by academic staff and the University’s Careers and Employability Service to find a placement that is suited to you and your career ambitions. However, not all students can be guaranteed a placement.

All placements are approved and monitored in accordance with the University’s Institutional Code of Practice for Placement and Work?Based Learning. For international students, this includes additional checks on study visas to ensure the appropriate visa status.

There are few aspects of business more fundamental than people: they’re a vital ingredient of any organisation. It’s down to the HR professionals to deal with a vast range of business-critical issues, shaping workplace policies like redundancy, maternity leave and rewards, and supporting strategic decisions on areas like recruitment.

The best HR professionals have an in-depth understanding of how organisations operate and what the business objectives are – helping them advise employees and partner with the business.

We’ll help you explore the latest thinking in the subject, starting with first principles of managing people, analysing information and understanding behaviour. From there, you’ll expand into topics like managing across cultures and leading change. And, in your final year, you’ll also be able to pick your own subject as a research topic.

By the time you graduate, you won’t just have extensive knowledge of the role, you’ll also have a deeper understanding of the business and legislative landscape. In other words, you’ll leave ready to start your career in the world of HR.

With a toolkit that mixes the creative and the technical, an animator does all this and more. Whether working in the artistic or commercial worlds, animators produce the moving images for anything from film and broadcast media to digital platforms and video games. Our BA (Hons) Animation course brings together key aspects of contemporary professional animation practice to help you prepare for an exciting range of careers, from animation to concept art to games development.

As an animation student you will be part the School of Digital Arts, a vibrant community that offers the chance to explore every aspect of what it means to work in the digital arts. You will work across a range of creative practices – just as the professionals do – to collaborate on cross-disciplinary group projects, alongside photographers, sound engineers, filmmakers, games and media professionals. And, just as we mirror industry practices, we also work with industry-standard tools – learning within a brand new, purpose-built building that comes equipped with the latest emerging technologies for animation, filmmaking and more.

Manchester offers an ideal setting as an animation student. A global, creative city, it has a long-established history of animation and is home to Cosgrove Hall Films – creators of numerous children’s animations and whose company founders were both students of Manchester Metropolitan University. Today the city has a thriving industry, with a significant TV, film and digital production presence at MediaCityUK, which is home to the BBC, ITV and a host of independent media companies, all of which offer you some inspiring opportunities.

With a course that’s built on our local heritage and that makes the most of our industry links, you’ll have the chance to develop the skills, build the network and gain the experience that rewarding careers are made from.