Furniture Design and Make (BA top-up)

BA (Hons)

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Key facts

UCAS code

W260

Start dates

September 2025

Course length

Full time: 1 year

Department

School of Arts

Overview

This programme is aimed at aspiring furniture designer-makers. It provides a work-related Honours top-up progression route for holders of a Foundation Degree or HND in Furniture Design and Make.

The course consists of two key elements that focus on independent and industry-linked projects to give a holistic experience. The first is a written research project which establishes a self-initiated brief, while the second is a major design and make project.

Building on the reputation of the Rycotewood Furniture Centre and its industry links, a combination of live projects, study visits and guest speakers will support the development of your design, craft, business and enterprise skills relevant to furniture designer makers.

Upon successful completion you will be awarded a BA (Hons) in Furniture: Design and Make from Oxford Brookes University. To find out more about what it is like to study at an Oxford Brookes partner college, visit our partnership course pages.

Furniture Design and Make, FdA/BA top-up degree course student in yellow vest working on a project at Oxford Brookes University

Tuition fees

Please see the fees note
Home (UK) full time off campus
£7,570

Home (UK) part time off-campus
£3,785

International full time off-campus
£9,900 (new students); £9,650 (continuing students)

Home (UK) full time off campus
£7,570

Home (UK) part time off-campus
£3,785

International full time off-campus
£9,900

Tuition fees

2023 / 24
Home (UK) full time off campus
£7,570

Home (UK) part time off-campus
£3,785

International full time off-campus
£9,900 (new students); £9,650 (continuing students)

2024 / 25
Home (UK) full time off campus
£7,570

Home (UK) part time off-campus
£3,785

International full time off-campus
£9,900

Please note, tuition fees for Home students may increase in subsequent years both for new and continuing students in line with an inflationary amount determined by government. Oxford Brookes University intends to maintain its fees for new and returning Home students at the maximum permitted level.

Tuition fees for International students may increase in subsequent years both for new and continuing students. 

The following factors will be taken into account by the University when it is setting the annual fees: inflationary measures such as the retail price indices, projected increases in University costs, changes in the level of funding received from Government sources, admissions statistics and access considerations including the availability of student support.

How and when to pay

Tuition fee instalments for the semester are due by the Monday of week 1 of each semester. Students are not liable for full fees for that semester if they leave before week 4. If the leaving date is after week 4, full fees for the semester are payable.

  • For information on payment methods please see our Make a Payment page.
  • For information about refunds please visit our Refund policy page

Financial support and scholarships

For general sources of financial support, see our Fees and funding pages.

Additional costs

Please be aware that some courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees. Specific additional costs for this course are detailed below.

How to apply

Further offer details

Students must have completed an appropriate Programme to be eligible to apply for the final year entry to the BA (Hons) Furniture Design and Make. These include:

  • A Foundation Degree in Furniture Design and Make awarded by Oxford Brookes University, successfully gaining 240 credits and usually a 55% grade average
  • A Foundation degree in Furniture and related disciplines successfully gaining 240 credits and usually a 55% grade average, subject to individual assessment of credit by Oxford Brookes University.
  • A Higher National Diploma in Furniture and related disciplines, successfully gaining 240 credits with Merit Profile at level 5, QAA Benchmarks, subject to individual assessment of credit by Oxford Brookes University.

Entry requirements

Specific entry requirements

In exceptional circumstances direct entry to the final year BA top up may be considered for applicants who do not meet the academic entry requirements, but are able to demonstrate a significant amount of relevant experience in the industry. This would normally be evidenced in the form of a portfolio and a reflective statement. Applicants who do not meet the academic entry requirements would also be expected to demonstrate evidence of an ability to succeed on the programme with particular reference to their level of academic writing.

All claims for Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL) will follow the University’s procedures and will be assessed against the intended learning outcomes of the programme or module against which the credit will be claimed. Credit for prior learning can only be awarded in respect of whole modules.

Please also see the University's general entry requirements.

English language requirements

Where applicable; IELTS normally minimum level 6.0 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in the reading and writing components and a minimum of 5.5 in the speaking and listening components.

Please also see the University's standard English language requirements.

English requirements for visas

If you need a student visa to enter the UK you will need to meet the UK Visas and Immigration minimum language requirements as well as the University's requirements. Find out more about English language requirements.

Terms and Conditions of Enrolment

When you accept our offer, you agree to the Terms and Conditions of Enrolment. You should therefore read those conditions before accepting the offer.

Credit transfer

Many of our courses consider applications for entry with credit for prior learning. Each application is individually assessed by our credit entry tutors.

If you would like more information about whether or not you may be eligible for the award of credit, for example from an HND, partly-completed degree or foundation degree, please contact our Admissions team.

We operate the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). All undergraduate single modules are equivalent to 7.5 ECTS credits and double modules to 15 ECTS credits. More about ECTS credits.

Application process

Full time Home (UK) applicants

Apply through UCAS

International applicants

Apply direct to the University

Full time international applicants can also apply through UCAS

Programme changes:
On rare occasions we may need to make changes to our course programmes after they have been published on the website. For more information, please visit our changes to programmes page.