The Diploma in Manufacturing and Product Design (MPD) will enable students to gain accreditations in print as an alternative to GCSEs and A-Levels.
It has been developed by sector skills council Proskills and will give young people leaving education "the practical skills and knowledge required to succeed in the workplace".
Neil Robinson, who has led the development of the MPD diploma, said: "Its main purpose is to give young people a sound understanding of what manufacturing is in an applied, real-life context.
"The core topics cover product design, materials science, production systems and business, and management. It also pays close attention to ‘employability’ skills like communication, numeracy and ICT, as well as ‘soft’ skills such as critical thinking and team work."
Students can gain a range of qualifications, defined as Additional or Specialist Learning (ASL), from Level 2 and Level 3 Certificates in Printing and Graphic Communications awarded by City & Guilds to ABC's Level 3 Certificate in Graphic Printmaking.