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Strategic Product Design – (M.Sc.)
Delft University of Technology
Industrial Design Engineering
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| Application Deadline: | April 1 (EU and Non EU) | ||
| Annual Tuition Fee: | ≈ € 1,771 ≈ € 12,650 (non-EEA) | ||
| Location: | Delft / Netherlands / View location on map ▾ Hide location on map ▴ | ||
| Duration: | 24 months | Start Date: | September |
| Educational Form: |
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| Education Variants: |
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| Credits (ECTS): | 120 | ||
| Languages: | English | ||
Location of Delft University of Technology
The focus of the MSc Programme in Strategic Product Design is on the `fuzzy´ strategic stage that precedes the actual development of a new product or service. The programme puts emphasis on translating corporate strategy in coherence with market developments and market opportunities into a sound product development portfolio.
Mastering the front end in product development
Great products don´t just happen. Behind the best products is a process which begins with careful consideration of market needs, the competitive environment, consumer preferences, corporate strategy, the existing product and brand portfolio, and of course, form and function. The Master´s Programme in Strategic Product Design gives you the tools to successfully explore and exploit market opportunities - and create great products - by thinking strategically about product design and development.
With the help of techniques such as market and trend analyses and consumer research, and by giving consideration to future scenarios, government policies, environmental requirements and new technologies, you gain insight into the processes that drive strategic product design and the informed selection of suitable market opportunities to pursue. The programme covers product launch, analysis of economic rationales, project leadership and the international dimension of product development. You will learn how to transform intangibles such as the corporate mission and brand identity into successful product concepts.
What you will learn
Ultimately, you will acquire the skills to help companies to conceptualise, develop and introduce strategically sound, sustainable and commercially successful products and services for clients and customers who live and act in the real world.
Career prospects
Graduates of the programme are prepared to move into all aspects of product development; usually in a commercial environment. They have strong practical design skills, extensive knowledge of the innovation process, and a deep understanding of the strategic underpinnings for commercial success.
Graduates are ready to move into positions as strategic designers, product or brand managers, new product development project leaders, innovation consultants, design and brand consultants, and innovation managers. Some graduates choose to go into research, either in the commercial world or in academia.
Contents
The SPD programme is a full-time, two-years programme of 120 EC. The language of instruction is English.
The programme consists of general Industrial Design Engineering (IDE) courses, electives, and programme-specific courses and projects.
General industrial design engineering courses
- Design Theory and Methodology
- Applied Research Methods and Techniques in Design
- Internationalisation
- Integral Design Project
SPD-specific courses / projects / electives
- Brand & Product Strategy
- Context & Conceptualisation
- New Product Commercialisation
- Customer Research
- Creative Facilitation
- Project Leadership
- New Product Economics
- Design Strategy Project
- Preparation for Graduation project
- SPD research project
- Electives1
- Graduation Project
The heart of the SPD programme consists of basic courses aimed at design and research methodology and professional design practice (a total study load of 72 EC). In addition there are elective specialisation courses (totalling 18 EC) which may be taken throughout the two years of the programme. Each semester begins with an introductory week. Students complete the programme with an individual Graduation Project (30 EC) undertaken either in the private sector or in one of the Faculty´s research groups.
First year
The first year focuses on the role that strategy, brands and marketing play in product development, as well the importance of academic and applied research for the strategic phases of product development.
Fall semester: you will learn about brand-driven innovation, investigating and understanding user contexts, and learn to apply these theories while working on a project in a commercial environment.
Spring semester: it focuses on some specific forms of SPD-related research and on theories around commercialisation and creative processes.
Second year
The second year is dominated by two large projects:
The multidisciplinary design project - In the design project you will work together with students from other MSc programmes. The design assignment, in collaboration with a real company, covers the entire development process from a strategic product plan and concept development to building a prototype. The project ends by devising a plan for implementation and market introduction.
The Graduation Project - The final semester is devoted to your individual Graduation Project, carried out under the supervision of a faculty adviser, a mentor from the faculty, and a mentor representing the hosting company or research group.
The programme offers two specialisations. These allow the student to gain extra in-depth knowledge on and skills in a specific topic during the MSc through dedicated projects and courses.
- Automotive
The Automotive specialisation offers students the opportunity to acquire thorough knowledge and an understanding of the automotive product development process. Automotive students learn to develop an appropriate business vision and to translate this vision into a product, and study the relationships that exist among such factors as corporate structures, company strategy, tacit knowledge, brand identities and brand portfolio design.
- Entrepreneurship
This Entrepreneurship specialisation focuses on skills and knowledge required to start up a business. It is offered in cooperation with the Delft Center for Entrepreneurship. In and of itself, the SPD-programme provides a solid foundation for entrepreneurship; the additional courses in the Entrepreneurship Specialisation supplement that foundation. Some of the courses in the specialisation are offered by the Rotterdam School of Management.
You are normally required to take an English Proficiency Test if you come from a non-English speaking country.
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Requirements
General requirements
1)
A. A good university BSc degree with good grades on the key courses in a main subject closely related to the MSc programme to which you are applying.
Exceptions: Management of Technology, Engineering and Policy Analysis and Science Education & Communication, to which all students holding a technology or science degree may be admitted.
or
B. A proof that you have nearly completed a BSc programme whose main subject is closely related to the MSc programme to which you are applying.
2)
A BSc Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of at least 75% of the scale maximum, or, when included, the specific requirements defined for the country in which you obtained (or are in the process of obtaining) your Bachelor’s degree
3)
Proof of English language proficiency (certificates older than two years are not accepted):
- A TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score of at least 90 (internet-based test). Please note that we only accept the TOEFL internet-based test.
- or IELTS (academic version) overall Band score of at least 6.5.
- or proof that you have passed the University of Cambridge 'Certificate of Proficiency in English' or the University of Cambridge 'Certificate in Advanced English'
As the whole process of collecting information, registering for the tests and receiving the test results may take several months, we advise you to register for the IELTS or TOEFL several months before starting your application.
It is allowed to send us a copy of your test results, please check the application documents for detailed information.
- For EU/EFTA nationals, the English language certificate may be submitted until 1 July provided that all other required hard copy documents are received before the application deadline of 1 April.
- Nationals of the People’s Republic of China only: A Nuffic certificate as proof of your English language proficiency. In order to obtain the Nuffic certificate you will need to take the IELTS or TOEFL internet-based test.
- Only nationals from the USA, U.K., Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and Canada are exempt from the proof of English language proficiency requirement.
4)
A clear and relevant essay in English (2,000 - 3,000 words) addressing the following:
- Your motivation for taking the MSc programme of your choice.
- Why you wish to pursue this programme abroad and/or in the Netherlands in particular.
- Why you are interested in TU Delft.
- If there are optional specialisations in the Master’s programme of your choice: which specialisation(s) interest you most, and why?
- Examples of three Master’s thesis topics that interest you and with an explanation of your particular interest.
- A brief summary (maximum 250 words) of the thesis work or the final assignment done for your Bachelor’s programme, including information on the credits earned, grade, and full workload.
5)
Two reference letters in English, French, German or Dutch:
- one from from a professor or an assistant professor from the faculty from which you graduated.
- one from your employer, if you already have work experience.
If you have not yet graduated, please provide two letters from professors or assistant professors from the faculty at which you are studying.
6)
An extensive résumé (curriculum vitae) written in English.
7)
Proof of identity
8)
Please note:
Applicants for Architecture Urbanism & Building Sciences, Design for Interaction and Integrated Product Design are required to upload a digital portfolio. Please note that only uploaded portfolio’s will be processed.
Additional Requirements
| Minimal degree required: | Bachelor's degree |
| Minimal amount of work experience | Not specified |
Language Proficiency
| IELTS Band: | 6.5 |
| Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE): | Grade C (Score: 60) |
| TOEFL Internet-based: | 90 |
Accreditation
NVAO independently assesses the quality of higher education in Flanders and the Netherlands. All of TU Delft’s educational programmes are accredited by NVAO and therefore meet the European quality standards. Alongside the national accreditation system, many of TU Delft’s education programmes are recognized as substantially equivalent to the best programmes in the USA by the American Board of Engineering & Technology (ABET).
Funding details
TU Delft offers an array of scholarships, ranging from (partial) tuition waivers to full scholarships covering tuition and living expenses. Some MSc programme-specific scholarships may only be announced on their respective websites.
TU Delft Excellences Scholarships are awarded to admitted students with exceptional promise and outstanding academic achievement. There is typically no separate application procedure. Selected scholarship recipients will be notified directly by the university.
Contact
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