Bachelor Programme in Industrial Design 180 credits

Image: Erik Abel

About the programme

The Bachelor Programme in Industrial Design take ideas from vision to reality through a creative, life-centred design process. The programme emphasises sustainable, norm-critical design practices that address social and ecological challenges, encouraging students to imagine responsible and resilient futures through design. During the education, designers refine and develop artistic abilities, physical and digital skills, analytical thinking, and critical reflection.

Student work

Discover designs created by our BFA Industrial Design students.

Access to school workshops 24/7

Creative and international environment

While studying

During the first year, you will develop foundational skills in industrial design that include sketching, prototyping and hands-on techniques in our workshops and digital labs. In the second year, you will expand upon these to include interactional aesthetics, systems thinking, and participatory design. During the third year, you will bring these together to formulate your own vision and practice as an industrial designer.

Through the whole programme, you will work on real-world projects with companies, organisations and authorities, tackling diverse and complex challenges.

Industry-like design studios

All programmes reside in industry-like design studios, where each student has an individual workspace. The shared spaces - workshops, computer labs, painting rooms, libraries - build innovative learning environments defined by a collaborative spirit.

24/7 access to facilities

Whether it's a weekend, day or night, all students have access to the school premises. Key equipment within the facilities includes 3D-printers, laser cutters, milling machines, painting rooms and much more. The cutting-edge digital infrastructure with multiple computer labs and studios allows students to master 3D-modelling, digital sketching, electronic prototyping, and programming.

Applied design courses

Applied design projects form the backbone of Bachelor Programme in Industrial Design. Projects include lectures, field trips, site visits, group method work, user studies and studio work. The projects are often carried out in collaboration with external partners and tutoring is given both by our own teachers and visiting professional designers. The projects you will work on are human and more-than-human centred projects based on specific user groups rather than product categories.

Design techniques

Between major project work, you will take in-depth courses in several design techniques:

Sketching and visualisation techniques
Form and colour studies
Model and workshop techniques
Communication strategies
Digital 3D modelling (CAID)
Material exploration
Physical and digital prototyping

Collaborative degree projects

The second half of the sixth and final term is devoted entirely to the examination project. You will carry out your exam project in cooperation with a corporate sponsor or other external partner. It is important that the project is seen as a collaboration and not a commission. You are expected to define a problem area, establish contact with an external partner and write a project brief that includes aims, method description and anticipated deliverables.

Photo of man in front of screen and dj control units

A design student’s answer to DJ stage fright

In his degree project Viktor Strömberg has explored how DJs can build confidence and joy in live performance.

Courses in the programme

Year 1

• Becoming a designer: Introduction
• Exploration of form and materials
• Design expression 1
• Design studies 1
• Designing for functionality
• Designing for people
• Design expression 2
• Design studies 1

Future and career opportunities

The programme’s close ties with companies – including a ten-week internship – make students attractive in the job market. Graduates go on to work as industrial designers in diverse fields – from consumer products to healthcare, mobility, and digital experiences. Many join leading design consultancies or international companies, while others pursue entrepreneurial paths or continue to advanced studies.

Master's programmes

Exchange studies

The BFA Programme in Industrial Design is open to exchange students on a one-term basis. For more information on how to apply, please visit the website for exhange studies.

Programme director

Karey Helms

Associate professor

+46 90 786 94 40

Apply

Autumn 2026
- Bachelor Programme in Industrial Design
  
  International admissions round
  
  Autumn 2026 / Umeå / English / On site
  
  Application opens 16 October 2025
  
  Save education at universityadmissions.se
  
  Show more Show less
  
  Start
  Autumn Term 2026
  
  Number of credits
  180 credits
  
  Type of studies
  On site
  
  Study pace
  100%
  
  Length
  3 years
  
  Study location
  Umeå
  
  Language
  English
  
  Application code
  UMU-G1510
  
  Eligibility General entry requirements and approved work samples and approved interview. General entry requirements for bachelor's studies must be submitted no later than supporting documentation deadline for Second admissions round (Autumn).
  
  Selection
  The selection process for the Bachelor Programme in Industrial Design is carried out in two steps. First part: The 20-30 applicants with the best work samples are shortlisted by the recruitment group, onsisting of the programme ccordinator and professional industrial designers. Second part: Applicants who are shortlisted for the second part of the selection process will be contacted for an interview at the Institute od Design in Umeå during one day.
  
  Degree
  After completing the study programme, a student who has applied for a degree can obtain a Degree of Bachelor of Fine Arts (180 credits) in accordance with the local qualification descriptor established by the Vice-Chancellor (see Umeå University's website). In Swedish, Degree of Bachelor of Fine Arts (180 credits) is called Konstnärlig masterexamen. The degree is awarded in the main field of study (Industrial design).
  
  Application
  The online application opens 16 October 2025 at 13:00 CET. Application deadline is 15 January 2026.
  
  Application and tuition fees
  As a citizen of a country outside the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, you are required to pay application and tuition fees for studies at Umeå University.
  
  Application fee: SEK 900
  
  Tuition fee, first instalment: SEK 160,650
  
  Total fee: SEK 963,900
  
  Details about tuition, fees and funding
  
  Application
  Application is made in two steps:
  
  Step 1: Registration on universityadmissions.se
  Step 2: Upload your work samples
  
  Read more about the application process on UID's webpage
  
  Questions! Email adrian.lowander@umu.se

Apply online via universityadmissions.se
You apply to our programmes and courses via universityadmissions.se – the official website for higher education applications in Sweden. There, you can track your application, check that your documents have been registered, and log in to find our your admission results.
 
Late applications
Admissions to most programmes and courses typically close after the final application deadline. However, some programmes and courses may still accept late applications if seats are available. These are marked “Open for late application” on universityadmissions.se. Please note that late applications are not guaranteed to be reviewed.

More about application and admission

Film about the programme

Voices about the programme

Joakim Englander is shaping the future of gaming

Alumni

Following his degree in Industrial Design from UID Joakim Englander is one of two concept designers at DICE responsible for the hardware of the game Battlefield.

Explore your future at Umeå University

Join a vibrant academic community where high-quality education meets groundbreaking research in science, technology, humanities, and the arts. At Umeå University, you will learn from passionate, expert teachers and benefit from a close connection between research, education, collaboration, and innovation.

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#1 globally in the main categories of Living, Support, and Overall Satisfaction.
A university with health at its core

Umeå University is certified as a Healthy Campus, with many initiatives that promote health and well-being.

Contact us

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Programme is given by

Faculty of Science and Technology

Good to know

Studenten Sarah pluggar med dator och anteckningsblock.