Industrial Design Engineering

3 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

The Hague University of Applied Sciences

Program Overview

The Industrial Design Engineering bachelor's program at The Hague University of Applied Sciences equips you with hands-on skills to design innovative, human-centered products and services that tackle real-world challenges through co-creation with users and stakeholders. It's perfect for creative problem-solvers who love blending design thinking, technology, and teamwork to create positive impact—think turning ideas into prototypes using our 3D Protolab and workshops.

Curriculum structure
Year 1
You'll kick off with foundational skills in a supportive environment, diving into integrated projects that introduce design methods and basic prototyping while building your teamwork chops through real client briefs. Key modules like Design Basics and Prototyping Fundamentals teach you to sketch ideas, use low-fi tools, and understand user needs, all while getting 24 hours of lectures and 16 hours of self-study weekly, with 45% focused on projects.

Year 2
Here, you'll ramp up complexity with semester-long projects emphasizing ethics, cultural awareness, and advanced skills, collaborating across disciplines to refine designs for sustainability and usability. Standout modules such as User-Centered Design and Material & Manufacturing guide you in high-fi prototyping with laser cutters and 3D printers, honing your ability to iterate based on stakeholder feedback.

Year 3
The final year sharpens your professional edge through capstone projects for actual companies, where you'll lead innovations from concept to launch, integrating business insights and advanced tech. Modules like Innovation Project and Professional Practice focus on portfolio-building, pitching solutions, and preparing for careers, setting you up for our one-year Next Level Engineering master's if you want to go further.

Focus areas
Human-centered design, co-creation, prototyping (low-fi to high-fi with 3D printing and laser cutting), sustainability, ethics, and cross-cultural collaboration for impactful products and services.

Learning outcomes
You'll graduate able to design creative, convincing solutions for complex challenges; collaborate with diverse stakeholders; prototype ethically and innovatively; and launch products that make a positive societal impact—all in an activating, project-based environment.

Professional alignment (accreditation)
The program follows the national Industrial Design Engineering profile, is registered in the Dutch CROHO system, and aligns with NVAO-accredited standards, ensuring your Bachelor of Science degree is recognized across Europe for roles like product designer or innovation manager.

Reputation (employability rankings)
THUAS's Delft campus excels in technical education with strong industry ties, producing graduates ready for high-demand jobs—95% employed within months in fields like industrial design and user research, bolstered by real-client projects and facilities that mirror professional studios.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At The Hague University of Applied Sciences (THUAS), our Industrial Design Engineering program dives right into hands-on learning, where you'll build real-world skills through integrated projects for actual clients right from your first year. You'll collaborate in co-creation with stakeholders, ethics in mind, and turn ideas into impactful products using top-notch facilities like our 3D Protolab and modern workshop. Expect 45% of your time on projects, blending lectures, seminars, self-study, and group work with tools for low-fi and high-fi prototyping that make creativity come alive.

This project-based approach means you'll gain practical expertise with:
- 3D Protolab: State-of-the-art 3D printers for rapid prototyping and testing your designs.
- Modern workshop: Equipped with a laser cutter and all essential tools for both low-fidelity (quick sketches/models) and high-fidelity prototyping.
- Group projects: Core to every semester, working in teams on real client challenges to foster collaboration and co-creation skills.
- Dedicated support: Teachers on hand for guidance, plus 24 hours of weekly lectures and 16 hours of independent study to refine your ideas.

Progression & Future Opportunities

At The Hague University of Applied Sciences (THUAS), our Industrial Design Engineering program puts you right in the heart of real-world design challenges, where you'll build practical skills through hands-on projects for actual clients. Every semester revolves around integrated projects that teach you to co-create innovative products, blending creativity with ethics, stakeholder collaboration, and positive impact—think designing solutions that are human-centered and ready for tomorrow's needs. You'll get access to top-notch facilities like our 3D Protolab for printing prototypes, a modern workshop equipped with laser cutters, and all the tools for low-fi and high-fi prototyping, making it the ideal spot for turning ideas into reality.

This project-based approach means you'll dive into lectures, seminars, self-study, and especially group projects with supportive teachers who guide you every step:

- Group projects for real clients: Collaborate in teams on integrated semester projects, like designing a chair installation with the Municipality of The Hague to boost community voting or creating a Gaming Arcade for the IDE Expo—focusing on tangible, impactful solutions through interdisciplinary work.
- 3D Protolab and workshop facilities: Use 3D printers, laser cutters, and prototyping tools for co-creation and building everything from scale models to functional prototypes.
- Research collaborations and labs: Partner with groups like Smart Sustainable Manufacturing on upcycling projects (e.g., product configurators and plate presses from recycled plastics) or Assistive Technology 4 All for assistive devices like electric wheelchairs, often involving prototypes and testing in dedicated setups.
- Workshops and maker spaces: Hands-on modern workshops at the Main Campus for all your prototyping needs, tied directly to Industrial Design Engineering.