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The BSc Computer-Aided Design is a practically-focused top-up degree that will build on your existing qualification and give you exposure to the latest CAD technology as well as modelling and analysis techniques.
Throughout the course you will use product design and data management fundamentals along with industry standard CAD/CAM packages, prototyping systems and ancillary equipment, and modern communications technologies. You will gain knowledge of the broader spectrum of design and manufacturing systems and engineering management tools as a part of different modules.
The course has been developed to meet the needs of industry (Mechanical, Aerospace, Civil and Architecture) for delivering design, engineering and manufacturing skill sets.
Computer-aided design graduates have a wide range of career opportunities and have found employment in roles from research, design and development through to manufacturing and production in mechanical and construction sectors as well as with architectural practices.
UWS graduate Amanda Shaw benefited from studying Computer Aided Design at UWS. Find out why Amanda chose engineering as a career and what her job as a Senior Engineering Technician with AECOM entails at the STEM Learning website.
Our Programme Leaders have recorded videos to help you discover all there is to know about our courses. From professional accreditation to programme modules and career opportunities, our Programme Leaders will help answer all your questions. You can view the video for this course by clicking the link below.
Computer Aided Design Programme LeaderThe School of Computing, Engineering & Physical Sciences at the Paisley Campus houses some of the best equipped laboratory facilities in the sector. State-of-the-art engineering laboratories supported by extensive workshop and teaching facilities, offer our students exposure to the latest technologies associated with the subject area. The course is designed to have a high practical content that is relevant to the educational needs of the programme and to the needs of industry.
Graduating from this programme provided me with a lot of opportunities across civil, structural, and mechanical engineering.
Martin Szczesniak, Computer-Aided Design graduate
UWS has over 100 years’ experience in training engineers. Most of our courses are professionally accredited and designed to anticipate industry demand. Their delivery is supported by excellent on-campus facilities. Our students graduate with the knowledge, skills and practical experience to succeed in engineering.
HESA performance indicator 2016/17
We welcome Scottish, UK and international students and consider all applicants on an individual basis.
Don’t worry if your qualifications are not listed here, we take a range of factors into account when assessing your application and are happy to consider other alternative combinations of qualifications and experience.
If you are applying with an EU or non-EU qualification, please check our Undergraduate Entry Requirements page which gives more information about country-specific entry requirements.
For applicants whose first language is not English, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level. The qualifications below must have been gained within two years of the start of your course.
General English language requirements at UWS: International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic module (not General Training)
Exceptions to this level of IELTS scoring exist for some accredited or professionally-recognised courses (see IELTS Score Exceptions section below for more details).
For our research degrees (MRes, MPhil, PhD, DBA, DProf) applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:
For all our Health, Nursing & Midwifery courses that lead to, or require professional registration with the Nursing & Midwifery Council, applicants are required to have an IELTS or Occupational English Test (OET)*.
For such courses, the IELTS score is as follows:
* Note that the Occupational English Test (OET) will now be accepted in addition to IELTS as proof of a Nurse's English Language Competence (Nursing & Midwifery Council, 2019).
For our BSc (Hons) Applied Biomedical Science, BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science and MSc Advanced Biomedical Science degrees, applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:
Our BSc Paramedic Science degree leads to professional registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC); it has different IELTS requirements than other Health-related courses. Although it is not possible to apply for this degree directly as an international student, for applicants who meet SAAS residency requirements and for whom English is not their first language, then the following IELTS scores are required:
Our BA (Hons) Social Work and MSc Social Work degrees are professionally-recognised by the Scottish Social Services Council; applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:
For our Certificate of Higher Education courses, applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:
All stated English tests are acceptable for admission for both home/EU and international students for this programme:
TOEFL IBT*: 78; no sub-test less than:
* Please note that TOEFL is still acceptable for admission to this programme for both home/EU and international students.
For international students, the Home Office has confirmed that the University can choose to use TOEFL to make its own assessment of English language ability for visa applications to degree level courses. We therefore still accept TOEFL tests taken in the last two years for admission to this programme.
West African Senior School Certificate of Education (WASSCE) including acceptance of WAEC Scratchcard*
*UWS will accept a WAEC scratchcard confirming that an applicant has achieved C6 or above as evidence of meeting English language requirement from Nigeria if the student graduated within the last 5 years. After 5 years applicants would be required to provide the WAEC Certificate. WAEC Certificates should not be older than 10 years at the time of making the application.
Applicants who do not meet the minimum English language requirements have the option to study one of our preparatory and pre-sessional English courses. The UWS courses available are:
From February 2023, students from these areas will be attending UCAS events promoting study in September 2024. We are therefore highlighting the entry requirements for September 2024 entry to this programme below. Entry requirements for September 2024 for Scottish and international applicants will appear on this page soon.
Year 3 entry
BTEC Level 5 HND: Engineering Systems; 3D Design; Interior Design; Product Design; Computer-Aided Draughting and Design; Engineering: Mechanical; Mechanical Engineering; Jewellery Design; or relevant discipline
The BSc Computer-Aided Design has been developed to meet the needs of industry to enhance your existing qualifications in design, or a related area, for product development projects.
You will gain a broad understanding of, and an ability to apply, CAD technology. CAD modelling and analysis techniques will be taught using theoretical and ‘hands-on’ approaches. An overview of the design process and project management methods will enhance your understanding of the management of the design process in an industrial context.
Focuses on the application of advanced CAD techniques within the design and manufacturing environments. Many examples of current industrial CAD applications will supplement ‘hands-on’ and theoretical approaches to your learning. An understanding of the broader industrial context will direct you towards future employment or postgraduate study.
The teaching and learning methods employed by staff in the delivery of the module portfolio covers a wide range of established as well as some novel approaches.
Much of this is left to the professionalism of the staff delivering the material with traditional lectures and tutorials still forming the basis for much of the teaching and learning within the School.
Extensive use is also made of laboratories, seminars, group work, independent learning and demonstrations.
Problem-based learning materials are also used in some modules.
Watch a video of a computer aided manufacture demonstration:
Find out more about the structure, learning outcomes, compulsory and optional modules in this course.
£1,820 Cost of study per year (paid by the Scottish Government via SAAS*)
£9,250 Cost of study per year (for four years but you will not pay more than £27,750)
£9,250 Cost of study per year (for four years but you will not pay more than £27,750)
£17,250 Cost per year of study
£1,820 Cost of study per year (paid by the Scottish Government via SAAS*)
£9,250 Cost of study per year (for four years but you will not pay more than £27,750)
£9,250 Cost of study per year (for four years but you will not pay more than £27,750)
£18,000 Cost per year of study
The cost of attending university is an investment in your future career.
In addition to tuition fees and living expenses, some courses involve extra costs like study materials, field trips, equipment and uniforms.
Fortunately, there is a great deal of financial support available to help students meet the cost of their study. This ranges from:
The sections below provide details of additional costs that your course may involve along with any financial support that may be available.
You can also find additional information in our Undergraduate Money, Fees & Funding section.
Students on certain degrees will incur some additional costs not covered by their tuition fees. These could be for things like specialist equipment, study materials and textbooks, work placements, graduation, membership of relevant organisations or costs related to carrying out fieldwork.
For students on course with an element of fieldwork, there may also be extra costs for travel and accommodation.
Note: The library will hold some copies of the textbooks but not enough for every student. Students can purchase second hand copies when possible or use older versions if advised by the module coordinator. Students can also sell their copies after the course. This helps manage the cost.
Books & printed material (Optional)
You are encouraged to use the library for all reading materials (some will be available digitally also). However, you may choose to purchase some or all of the recommended textbooks. Given the availability of library and online resources and individual preferences, costs will be variable but are not expected to exceed £40.
Photocopying (Optional)
All modules are available on our VLE (Moodle) and therefore notes are available digitally. Some assessments require hardcopy submission and may incur small printing costs. It is estimated that over the course of the year, you may spend c.£20 on photocopying. This is not essential and you may choose to spend more, or less according to your needs.
Stationery costs (Optional)
Small costs associated with stationery requirements may be incurred throughout the year but these depend on personal needs and preferences. As a guide, it is estimated that you may spend c.£20 per session on stationery.
Graduation fees (Optional for those exiting with BSc award)
These fees are set annually by the University and are subject to review. For session 19/20 these were set at £10 Registration Fee. Academic dress and official photography (optional) for graduation ceremonies is hired and arranged respectively from external suppliers.
Books & printed material (Optional)
You are encouraged to use the library for all reading materials (some will be available digitally also). However, you may choose to purchase some or all of the recommended textbooks. Given the availability of library and online resources and individual preferences, costs will be variable.
Photocopying (Optional)
All modules are available on our VLE (Moodle) and therefore notes are available digitally. Some assessments require hardcopy submission and may incur small printing costs. It is estimated that over the course of the year, you may spend c.£20 on photocopying. This is not essential and you may choose to spend more, or less according to your needs.
Stationery costs (Optional)
Small costs associated with stationery requirements may be incurred throughout the year but these depend on personal needs and preferences. As a guide, it is estimated that you may spend c.£20 per session on stationery.
Dissertation (Mandatory)
Your final year dissertation is a core and mandatory piece of research undertaken in your final year of studies. Printing your dissertation (bound copies) will incur a cost. Depending upon the size of the dissertation and the content it can cost anything between £15-40.
Graduation fees (Mandatory)
These fees are set annually by the University and are subject to review. For session 19/20 these were set at £10 Registration Fee. Academic dress and official photography (optional) for graduation ceremonies is hired and arranged respectively from external suppliers.
Tuition fees are calculated based on where you are from and what you are studying. Some courses also involve additional costs, such as mandatory field trips, equipment or studying abroad.
Find out how much it will cost you to study at UWS as an undergraduate student.
Scottish students studying at undergraduate level at UWS are entitled to various funds and support towards tuition fees and living costs.
English, Welsh and Northern Irish students studying at undergraduate level at UWS are entitled to various funds and support towards tuition fees and living costs.
EU students studying at undergraduate level of UWS may be eligible for SAAS funding, as well as support to meet the costs of childcare and various sources of additional funding.
There are several scholarship and incentive schemes available to international students studying at undergraduate level at UWS, as well as support to meet the costs of childcare and various sources of additional funding.
UWS administer a range of discretionary and childcare funds. These are designed to support students who are experiencing financial difficulty or struggling to meet the costs of childcare.
Becoming a student can have an impact on your entitlement to certain benefits. It may mean you are no longer eligible to claim a benefit you have been receiving, or your new income from student funding may affect the amount you are able to receive.
If there isn’t a statutory source of funding for you or your course, or you are in need of additional financial support, you may wish to consider more alternative sources of funding such as trust funds and scholarships.
At UWS, we believe financial restrictions should never be a barrier to your education.
The WEST (Widening Education and Supporting Talent) Scholarship Programme aims to remove the financial barriers that stop talented students from progressing throughout their degree to graduation.
Choosing to become a student can have a big impact on your budget and you may need to reassess your spending to account for a reduced income. We’ve put together some guidance to help you manage your money and make the right financial choices for you and your family.
All UK and EU applicants for undergraduate study, not applying through an agent or partner, should apply through UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service)
The on-time application deadline for 2023/24 entry is 25 January 2023, 18:00 (UK time). For some courses it may still be possible to apply beyond this period, subject to suitable vacancies remaining. The final deadline for late applications via UCAS is 30 June 2023, 18:00 (UK time). Beyond this deadline, you may be able to apply via 'UCAS Clearing' if the course you are interested in has remaining places.
Please refer to our Undergraduate Application Guide to find more information on when and how to apply to study at UWS.
Students from non-EU/non-EEA countries can apply directly to UWS via our dedicated online application system. The latest we can process your application is 6 weeks before the course start date to allow for visa processing times. For more information on when and how to apply to study at UWS please refer to our International Undergraduate Application Guide.
For part-time & online study, you should apply directly to the University through our online application system, not through UCAS. Please select the part-time mode of study when submitting your application. Before you begin your application, it is important to read the part-time application step-by-step guide for a smooth process.
To come to UWS as a visiting student on a study abroad or exchange programme, you must apply entirely through our online system.
An ATAS certificate is not required for overseas students applying for this course.
Do you have a question about applying for this course? Get in touch. We are here to help!
Going to university is about much more than getting a qualification, it’s also the chance to enjoy an exciting social life, gain some independence and make the most of the new opportunities available.
Discover More About UWSWe will always try to make sure that we publish accurate course information but we do not accept responsibility for any mistakes or omissions. We will also try to make sure that we deliver our courses in line with our published information. However, we may not always be able to do so and you can find further information about this in our enrolment terms and conditions.