Interior design courses

By studying one of these relevant interior design courses, you'll develop the technical know-how to channel your artistic ability and the confidence to transform all manner of indoor spaces

How to become an interior designer

Interior design is all about creating functional spaces in commercial and residential buildings. As an interior designer, you'll design new spaces and renovate old ones. You'll be involved in structural changes, lighting, fixtures and fittings and furnishings.

To become an interior designer, you'll need the right qualifications and work experience to stand out in this increasingly competitive industry.

Whether you opt for undergraduate study, a Masters degree or shorter online courses, find out more about the credentials that will help you to kick-start your interior design career.

Interior design degrees

To become a professional interior designer you'll need a relevant degree, foundation degree or HND.

Industry employers prefer candidates to hold qualifications in relevant subjects, such as:

architecture
fine art
furniture design
interior architecture
interior/spatial design
textile design
3D design.

Entry into the profession without an interior design degree is possible, but you'll need significant work experience to impress. Some undergraduate qualifications are recognised by the Chartered Society of Designers (CSD), which may make your CV more attractive to employers.

As an example of the courses on offer, Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) offers the BA Interior Design. The programme takes three years to complete full time and aims to develop your creative vision.

In your first year, modules include:

Design Context and Technology
Studio Culture 1
Visual Communication.

In your second year, you'll study:

Contemporary Issues and Debates
Digital Media in Application
Studio Culture 2
Ruskin Module.

In your final year, alongside the module Studio Culture 3, you'll dedicate the majority of your time and effort to a major project, which will help prepare you for entry into industry.

You'll be assessed through your portfolio, as well as your written and practical studio work. To be accepted onto the course, you'll need 96 UCAS Tariff points from at least two A-level passes in an art, design or media subject.

Meanwhile, to gain a place on the three-year BA Interior Architecture at the University of Brighton, you'll need BBB to BCC at A-level. Your first year acts as an introduction to interior architecture and develops your skills, specialist knowledge and practices.

First-year modules include:

Design 1: An Introduction to Context
Design 2: An Introduction to Narrative
Interior Histories and Theories 1: An introduction
Culture 1: Critical voices.

Year two focuses on creative experimentation. Core modules include:

Design 3: Territory and Catalyst
Design 4: Experience and Systems
Culture 2: Identities
Interior Histories and Theories 2.

Your final year aims to prepare you for entry into professional practice. Core modules include:

Design 5: Territory and Catalyst
Design 6: Experience and Systems
Culture 3: Future Practice
Interior Histories and Theories 3: Dissertation

As well as completing a dissertation, you'll also get the chance to exhibit your work in the arts and humanities graduate show.

Search the full list of approved and accredited courses at universities throughout the UK, by visiting CSD - Find-a-Course.

Masters in interior design

Studying a Masters degree isn't essential for an interior design career, but in doing so you'll enhance your industry knowledge, expand your list of contacts and aid your career progression.

You'll find that a Masters in interior design can also open doors for those from other art and design disciplines. Again, a selection of postgraduate qualifications are recognised by the CSD.

For example, on the one-year Interior Architecture MA at the University of Westminster, you'll complete the following modules:

Retail Design
Decoding the Interior
Thesis Development
Technical Study
Case Study
Thesis Project.

In 2023/24, the programme costs £9,500 for UK students and £14,000 for international students, and you'll need at least a 2:2 degree in architecture, interior architecture, interior design or a related design discipline to apply.

You'll need a 2:1 honours degree in interior design or architecture, or significant relevant work experience accompanied by an adequate portfolio, to gain a place on the one-year MA Interior Design programme at the University of East London (UEL). You'll study these modules:

Advanced Interior Design 1
Advanced Interior Design 2
Interior Design Theory 1
Interior Design Theory 2
Interior Design Thesis
Professional Practice (Mental Wealth).

Assessment is through design exercises, workshops, studio tutorials, presentations, essays and a portfolio.

The one-year, full time course (a part-time option is also available) costs £8,220 for UK students and £15,240 for international students.

These are just a few examples - you'll find many other Masters courses in interior design are available at other UK universities. Check the course outlines and module details to see which one best fits with your interests and career ambitions.

To explore the range available, search postgraduate courses in interior design.

You can apply for a postgraduate loan, and may be entitled to scholarships and bursaries, to help cover the cost of tuition fees.

Find out more about funding postgraduate study.

Online interior design courses

If you'd like to further your studies but have other commitments, consider enrolling onto an online course and study via the distance learning route.

The National Design Academy (NDA) offers a range of flexible, online interior design courses at diploma, undergraduate and Masters level. You choose your own start date and study at your own pace.

The diplomas typically take six to ten months to complete - although you can qualify for the In-Studio Diploma: Professional Interior Design (UK) within three months - and are perfect for enthusiastic interior design beginners.

The BAs cover a variety of modules and provide students with the opportunity to focus on a specific element of design such as heritage, retail or outdoor living.

For undergraduate entry, you'll need an NDA Professional Diploma, a Level 3 Diploma, an NVQ in a related subject, an A-level in an art or design subject, or successful completion of an art foundation year at college or university.

The online NDA Masters in Interior Design is awarded by De Montfort University Leicester (DMU), and you'll need a related undergraduate degree or equivalent to secure a place.

Taking 18 months to two years to complete, tuition fees are set at £6,750, while the modules include:

Advanced Research Methods
Innovative Technology - Interior Design
Trend Forecasting in Interior Design
Cultural Contexts in Interior Design
Interior Design Practice Management
Masters Project in Interior Design.

The British College of Interior Design offers an online Professional Interior Design course, allowing you to study the 12 tutorials on a weekly or fortnightly basis, completing the distance learning course within a year.

You'll be taught by established interior designers and gain an understanding of design history and theory, design communication and research and the science of interior space. You'll also hone your commercial skills by learning about analysing client needs, developing design concepts and managing the finishing of interior spaces. On completion of the course, you'll receive a Diploma of Professional Interior Design.

A range of interior design-related short courses are also offered by:

Interior design jobs

While qualifications are important, commercial or private clients need to feel that they can trust an interior designer with their space. Therefore, degrees and diplomas alone are not enough. You'll need relevant work experience to inspire confidence in your work and begin your interior design career.

Paid interior design internships are available with large, national interior design companies. For example, Morgan Lovell runs The Foundation Programme, which aims to bring the next generation of talent into their business.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) may also run their own internship schemes, but you'll usually need to apply for such opportunities with a speculative application.

If you're struggling to find a paid placement, consider volunteering within the industry. It's an excellent way to build experience and contacts, while also demonstrating a passion for the job on your CV.

Interior designers usually work for architects, design consultancies or commercial companies as part of their in-house design departments. You'll find that self-employment is also an option with significant experience and a range of contacts.

To make it as an interior designer, you'll need:

creative flair
good business sense
budgeting/money management skills
excellent communication skills and the ability to meet client briefs
project management ability
attention to detail.

With these skills and experiences, you could also move into careers in:

bathroom and kitchen design
exhibition design
furniture design
space planning
shop fitting
visual merchandising.

Interior design apprenticeships

While interior design apprenticeships are available, they are notoriously hard to find. You'll need to do your own research to uncover any opportunities.

The government outlines that on a design apprenticeship you can work in one of four major areas:

graphic and multimedia design
interior design and construction-related bathroom and kitchen design
fashion and textile design
product design.

To find out more about apprenticeship salaries and what to expect, explore what is an apprenticeship?

To discover how to secure positions, see how to apply for an apprenticeship.

Find out more

Gain an insight into the creative arts and design sector.
See what you can do with a degree in interior design.
Learn more about creative jobs.