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Undergraduate study
interior design course, interior design degree, interior design university

Interior Design BA (Hons)

Do you dream of becoming an interior designer? Are you inspired by shaping the environments we inhabit? Interested in how commercial spaces impact on people’s health and wellbeing?

 

W250 BA/ID

Course routes:

 

Clearing 2024

Apply now for 2024 entry. Call us on 01642 738400

Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023 logo awarded as Overall, Student Experience and Student Outcomes gold rating

Course overview

Accredited Foundation year Work placement

School of Arts & Creative Industries

See what it's like to study at our School of Arts & Creative Industries.

You consider the needs of the end user, creating spatial layouts that improve circulation and function. You design bespoke textiles, fittings and furniture, and select colour palettes and lighting schemes.

Working in dedicated design studios with computer aided design and industry-standard workshop facilities, you develop professional and creative skills and learn architectural drawing techniques, spatial planning, surface design and pattern, trend forecasting, 2D and 3D visualisation, sustainability, and the history of architecture and design.

Live projects and opportunities to network with industry professionals prepare you for work as an interior designer. Recent projects include working with a local specialist hospital to improve the environment for those with visual impairments, collaborating with a leading manufacturer of temporary housing and environments, and creating interiors for a major home builder.

Top reasons to study interior design at Teesside University:

  1. Nationally recognised:
      Teesside University is the top university for Graphic Design two years in a row (Guardian University Guide 2024, 122 institutions participated. Guardian University Guide 2025, 62 institutions ranked, tees.ac.uk/source)
      Teesside University was ranked 9th for Student Satisfaction for Art & Design in the Complete University Guide 2024. (84 institutions were ranked. tees.ac.uk/source)
      97.6% of design studies students agreed that staff were good at explaining things. (National Student Survey 2024, tees.ac.uk/source)
  2. Adobe Creative Campus: our courses and campus are powered by Adobe and Apple. We’re Europe’s first Adobe Creative Campus and the only Apple-accredited university. This equips you with the digital tools and resources to transform the creative world. Our courses have a built-in Creative Week – a workshop based, festival style, off-timetable week each semester where you can experiment with new materials, make visits and upgrade your tech skills.
  3. Work-ready: the course includes short, career-focused modules helping you understand working in the arts and creative industries. You look at how the interior design industry works, how to access it, who shapes it and how to grow within it. From industry leaders’ professional wisdom and insight, to accessing professional opportunities and creative coaching, you become an industry insider and leave with a working understanding of the professional community.
  4. Industry connected: collaborate with our alumni and network at Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art (MIMA), our very own international contemporary art gallery. You benefit from supportive voices, specialist expertise, shared wisdom, new ideas, a helping hand or a friendly catch-up, establishing critical relationships that support you in developing your unique creative voice and propel you into your creative career.

Creative UK
Creative UKTake advantage of our Creative UK membership and help futureproof your career, with networking events, a resource hub to support professional development, and bespoke workshops in partnership with industry leaders and mentors. Sign up for free student membership to get opportunities, events and newsletters sent directly to your inbox.

Download pdf Order prospectus

 

Course details

Course structure

Year 1 core modules

Collaboration Project 

Enhance your skills in team-working, communication, project management and negotiation. You collaborate with a group of your course mates to produce a small-scale creative project in response to a subject-specific brief.

This is a 20-credit module.

Introduction to Interior Design Skills and Practice

You learn drawing and drafting for architectural communication, model building techniques, working to scale and historical style and context. Introduction to both two and three-dimensional visual communication allows you to externalise your ideas and communicate your proposals to others. You study the precedents of architectural and interior design history and investigate problem solving and themes that will inform your studio practice. Develop your understanding of the role of the designer, the meanings and vocabulary of design and the relationship between design, society and the environment.

This is a 40-credit module.

Introduction to the Creative Industries

With many opportunities in the creative industries sector, learn how to start on your career path while developing vital employability skills such as networking and digital presence. Understand the structure of the sector and the interdisciplinary relationships between art, design and media. Discover how the sector operates locally, nationally and globally – debating the role of policy and the importance of sustainability.

This is a 20-credit module.

Residential Design and Communication

Understand the fundamentals of the interior design process and the complexities of dealing with spatial change within a given building. You study how to work to a residential brief, the client and development of the design process, computer aided design and the application of textile related skills to an interior space. You practice the externalisation of initial ideas through experimentation, working towards finished design proposals.

This is a 40-credit module.

 

Year 2 core modules

Commercial, Branded Environments and Visualisation

Explore commercial spaces and new landscapes for workspaces, considering client branding, employee health and wellbeing and contemporary debate. You develop your visualisation skills and learn how to use industry standard 3D CAD, SketchUp and Lumion to create client-focused images. Commercial spaces are built to appeal to employees and customers, you study bespoke surface design, interior branding and furniture design to prepare you for this challenge.

This is a 40-credit module.

Creative Research Project

Develop critical thinking and analysis skills, exploring contemporary issues and debates related to the creative industries. You research a specific area or development within your chosen subject – this may be technical, economic, ethical, legal, cultural, sociological, or a combination. You draw on appropriate academic and industry sources to contextualise your research. You present your topic and initial research within taught sessions, providing an opportunity for peer and tutor feedback.

This is a 20-credit module.

Industry Project

You develop and explore, in depth, a creative industry-based project in your specialist area of design, art, media, music, photography or illustration - relevant to your future professional practice. While forming a professional portfolio of work, you experience real-world business scenarios and challenges, industry competitions and cross and inter-disciplinary activities. You gain skills in project management, applied research methods and collaborative creative work.

This is a 40-credit module.

Working in the Creative Industries 

There are many challenges facing contemporary art, design and media practices. You research the social, political or ecological challenges around us to generate a small-scale project. You develop and reflect on your understanding of enterprise in the context of the creative industries. Contextualise your own professional practice and aspirations through application of critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

This is a 20-credit module.

 

Optional work placement year

Work placement

You have the option to spend one year in industry learning and developing your skills. We encourage and support you with applying for a placement, job hunting and networking.

You gain experience favoured by graduate recruiters and develop your technical skillset. You also obtain the transferable skills required in any professional environment, including communication, negotiation, teamwork, leadership, organisation, confidence, self-reliance, problem-solving, being able to work under pressure, and commercial awareness.

Many employers view a placement as a year-long interview, therefore placements are increasingly becoming an essential part of an organisation's pre-selection strategy in their graduate recruitment process. Benefits include:

· improved job prospects
· enhanced employment skills and improved career progression opportunities
· a higher starting salary than your full-time counterparts
· a better degree classification
· a richer CV
· a year's salary before completing your degree
· experience of workplace culture
· the opportunity to design and base your final-year project within a working environment.

If you are unable to secure a work placement with an employer, then you simply continue on a course without the work placement.

 

Final-year core modules

Major Project

You produce a self-managed, individual extended piece of independent investigation and/or creative production or portfolio of work. Supervised by an academic member of staff, you take responsibility for the planning and execution of the work, including the consideration of associated legal, social, ethical and professional issues. You explore in depth a chosen subject area, demonstrating your ability to analyse, synthesise and creatively apply your learning, showing critical and evaluative skills and professional awareness.

This is a 60-credit module.

Professional Practice

Plan and implement your departure from education to your first or new career, or to further study. You continue your creative practice, developing a portfolio and/or extended piece of work which reflects you as a creative. You explore discipline-specific employability strategies, and engage and network with industry to develop key connections.

This is a 60-credit module.

 

Modules offered may vary.

 

How you learn

Think, dream and make: learn through doing, with focused studio time for practice-based creative work, allowing you to develop ideas and undertake larger-scale, more ambitious projects.

Develop your creative voice: you are coached to find and grow your creative voice. Collaboration with industry professionals and your peers gives you new perspectives on developing your practice.

Grow resilience: develop a creative journal, capturing your challenges, milestones and reflections to see patterns in your thinking and linking reoccurring ideas. You learn how to test ideas, explore creative directions, understand pitching etiquette and develop large-scale projects to help you thrive in the creative industries.

Join the creative sector: our intensive, career-focused modules help you understand working in the arts and creative industries. From industry leaders’ professional wisdom and insight to accessing professional opportunities and creative coaching, you become an industry insider and leave with a working understanding of the professional community.

Become connected: access our network of alumni and practising creatives at Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art (MIMA). Benefit from supportive voices, specialist expertise, shared wisdom and new ideas, establishing critical relationships that propel you into your creative career.

Get creative: take part in MIMA Creative Week, a festival of workshops where you experiment with new materials, go on field trips and upgrade your tech skills.

Expand your horizons: collaborate with our international partners in Prague, Dubai and India becoming international creative citizens while developing an understanding of wider global contexts, sustainability and the changing shape of equality and diversity.

How you are assessed

The work produced is the work assessed; there are no separate written examinations and the use of design projects is a key feature. The process of assessment is undertaken against carefully defined criteria and often involves a critique of project-based assignments - this is a process widely used in the design field and allows for both staff and peer group appraisal.


Our Disability Services team provide an inclusive and empowering learning environment and have specialist staff to support disabled students access any additional tailored resources needed. If you have a specific learning difficulty, mental health condition, autism, sensory impairment, chronic health condition or any other disability please contact a Disability Services as early as possible.
Find out more about our disability services

Find out more about financial support
Find out more about our course related costs

 

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

Year 1 entry
96-112 points, including a creative subject, from any combination of recognised Level 3 qualifications. Consideration will also be given to students without formal qualifications but with evidence of practical art and design experience at an appropriate level. Students are invited to bring portfolios where applicable along on applicant days to show creative skills in art and design.

Non-EU international students who need a student visa to study in the UK should check our web pages on UKVI-compliant English language requirements. The University also provides pre-sessional English language courses to help you meet the English language requirements.

Helping you meet the entry requirements
We may be able to help you meet the requirements for admission by offering you the opportunity to study one or more Summer University modules, some of which can be studied by distance learning.

Alternative degree with integrated foundation year
If you are unable to achieve the minimum admission requirements for Year 1 entry you could, subject to eligibility, join one of our degree courses with an integrated foundation year.

Direct entry to later years
If you have previously studied at higher education level (for example, a foundation degree, HNC, HND or one or more years at degree level at another institution) you may request direct entry to Year 2 or year 3 of this degree.

Mature applicants
We welcome applications from mature students (aged over 21) who can demonstrate, through portfolio/written work and relevant experience, that they have developed cognitive and technical skills through their life experiences.

For general information please see our overview of entry requirements

International applicants can find out what qualifications they need by visiting Your Country

For general information please see our overview of entry requirements

International applicants can find out what qualifications they need by visiting Your Country


You can gain considerable knowledge from work, volunteering and life. Under recognition of prior learning (RPL) you may be awarded credit for this which can be credited towards the course you want to study.
Find out more about RPL

 

Employability

Career opportunities

You might pursue a career in interior design or as a designer in the retail, exhibition, set design, leisure, surface pattern, merchandising or housing areas, or you might continue to postgraduate study.

Work placement

A work placement officer and the University's award-winning careers service help you with applying for a placement. Advice is also available on job hunting and networking.

By taking a work placement year you gain experience favoured by graduate recruiters and develop your technical skillset. You also obtain the transferable skills required in any professional environment. Transferable skills include communication, negotiation, teamwork, leadership, organisation, confidence, self-reliance, problem-solving, being able to work under pressure, and commercial awareness.

An increasing number of employers view a placement as a year-long interview and, as a result, placements are increasingly becoming an essential part of an organisation's pre-selection strategy in their graduate recruitment process.

Potential benefits from completing a work placement year include:

  • improved job prospects
  • enhanced employment skills and improved career progression opportunities
  • a higher starting salary than your full-time counterparts
  • a better degree classification
  • a richer CV
  • a year's salary before completing your degree
  • experience of workplace culture
  • the opportunity to design and base your final-year project within a working environment.

 

Information for international applicants

Qualifications

International applicants - find out what qualifications you need by selecting your country below.

Select your country:

  
 

Useful information

Visit our international pages for useful information for non-UK students and applicants.

Talk to us

Talk to an international student enrolment adviser

 
 

Professional accreditation

The course is fully accredited by the Society of British and International Design (SBID), and interior design at Teesside University is recognised as a SBID National Centre of Excellence.

Other course routes

Foundation year

Study this course with a foundation year if you need additional preparation or if you don't have sufficient grades to join Year 1.

BA (Hons) Interior Design (with Foundation Year)

Work placement

Study this course with an optional work placement year, at no extra cost. Alongside this, you can gain valuable experience and engagement with the sector through our shorter work placements, internships and work experience opportunities.

Work placements

Full-time

Entry to 2024/25 academic year

Fee for UK applicants
£9,250 a year

More details about our fees

Fee for international applicants
£17,000 a year

More details about our fees for international applicants


What is included in your tuition fee?

  • Length: 3 years (4 with work placement)
  • UCAS code: W250 BA/ID
  • Start date: January or September
  • Semester dates
  • Typical offer: 96-112 points

Apply now (full-time)

Apply now

Please choose the relevant option below:

2024 entry

UK applicants

Complete this enquiry form only if you have already obtained your qualifications and achieved grades. If you do not have these at this time, we will be unable to progress your enquiry - please re-visit and complete the form after you have received your results.

Apply now (UK applicant)

International applicants

Our undergraduate courses are available through Clearing to international applicants. Please only complete this application form if you have already obtained your qualifications and achieved your grades. You must upload all requested documents including a copy of your passport, academic qualifications and English language qualification, and copies of any sponsor letters or maintenance documents to meet the requirements. If you have previously applied through UCAS for 2024-25 entry, please include your UCAS personal ID number in the course details box.

Apply now (International applicant)

2025 entry

Apply online (full-time) through UCAS

 

Part-time

2024/25 entry

Fee for UK applicants
£4,500 (120 credits)

More details about our fees

  • Length: Up to 6 years
  • Attendance: Daytime
  • Start date: September or January
  • Semester dates

Apply online (part-time)

 

Choose Teesside

  • On video

    Louise Caddick, interior design graduate

    Find out about Louise's experience as an interior design student.

    Harriet Armstrong, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

    Harriet Armstrong, BA (Hons) Interior Design graduate, is now a Senior Interior Designer at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.

     
  • Student work
     
  • Student and graduate profiles

    Louise Caddick

    Louise CaddickBA (Hons) Interior Design and Architecture

    Louise started studying at Teesside University after working professionally and raising a family, read about her experiences on the course here.

    Meet Louise

    Daniel Willimott

    Daniel WillimottBA (Hons) Interior Design

    Daniel studied BA (Hons) Interior Design after taking a break from education and is now looking to study MA Interior Design.

    Meet Daniel

    Harriet Armstrong

    Harriet ArmstrongBA (Hons) Interior Design

    Harriet studied interior design at Teesside University and is now a senior interior designer at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London. Find out more about her experience studying here at Teesside.

    Meet Harriet

     
  • News

    Aoife Tobin Interior design graduate improving homes in television debut
    Irish homes are getting a new lease of life in a new television programme thanks to interior architect, designer and Teesside University alumna Aoife Tobin and the rest of the Salvage Squad.

    Read the full story

    Team Derive’s winning design for a converted aircraft hangar. National competition success for Teesside University design teams
    Two teams of students at Teesside University have won a prestigious sustainable building design competition.

    Read the full story

    Robson Green with Interior Design students and staff Teesside University student designers’ creation showcased on national television
    Students from Teesside University designed the interior of a caravan which can be seen in a new ITV series featuring Robson Green and Jim Murray.

    Read the full story

     
 
 
 

MIMA Creative Week

Have a look at the highlights from the School of Arts & Creative Industries Creative Week 2023.

 

Get in touch

International students

Email: internationalenquiries@tees.ac.uk

Telephone: +44 (0) 1642 738900


More international contacts

 
 
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