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Study Industrial & Product Design

Industrial Design qualification

Design physical products around human needs, using research, sketching, models and manufacturing knowledge.

Pay in South AfricaNot researched for this field yet.Engineering pay ›
Work abroad4.4 of 5best: Ireland, New Zealand*AI outlookEvolvingAI changes parts of the daily work* closest fieldWhere to study1 programmesubjects differ by programme

R53 000 to R75 540 first-year fees

* From Engineering, the closest field we research.

Study time
3 years at UJ
School subjects
Differ by programme: see the examples below
Programme examples

Working abroad 4.4 of 5

From Engineering, the closest field we research.

Score out of 5. Tap a country for steps and visas.

  1. 5IrelandOpen door · high demand
  2. 5New ZealandOpen door · high demand
  3. 5CanadaRecognised, paperwork only · high demand
  4. 5AustraliaRecognised, paperwork only · high demand
  5. 4UKOpen door · some demand
  6. 4NetherlandsOpen door · some demand
  7. 4GermanyExams or bridging · high demand
  8. 4USAExams or bridging · high demand
  9. 4UAEExams or bridging · high demand

AI outlook

From Engineering, the closest field we research.

EvolvingAI changes parts of the daily work

Site, plant and equipment work plus a registered engineer’s legal sign-off; design and analysis tasks are highly automatable.

Hands-on In-person care Licensed & accountable

How AI changes each field

What you study

  • User research and sketching
  • CAD and model making
  • Materials and manufacturing
  • Prototype testing

Careers

  • Industrial designer
  • Physical product designer
  • Product development designer

Where to study 1

Tap a name for the official page. My Matric Map can check the ones marked “NSC/IEB check” against your results. Compare study costs

BA Industrial Design

University of Johannesburg · 2027 intake NSC/IEB check in My Map

First-year tuition (2026): R53 000 to R75 540

Requirements

UJ 2027: English level 5; Mathematics level 4 OR Mathematical Literacy level 5; APS 25 with Mathematics or 26 with Mathematical Literacy.

Confirm the current departmental portfolio and selection process. Academic minimums and available places still apply.

Your qualification route
  1. Choose a product-focused design programme and check its portfolio requirements.
  2. Complete studio projects that move from research and concepts to tested prototypes.
  3. Build a portfolio demonstrating usability, manufacturability and responsible material choices.

Industrial design is different from industrial engineering. The phrase product designer can also mean digital interface work, so check the course focus.

Sources (2) · guide reviewed 2026-09-25

Related fields

EngineeringIndustrial EngineeringInterior Design & Interior ArchitectureDental TechnologyOrthotics & Prosthetics

Career and study guide. Separate salary, AI and country-recognition comparisons have not yet been researched for this field.

General information, not immigration or legal advice. Researched 2026-10-10.