Interior Design BA(Hons)

Start date

22 September 2025

Duration

3 years full-time
4 years inc. placement year

Entry requirements

A Level - BBB-BCC

BTEC - DMM-MMM

See full entry requirements

Places available (subject to change)

Chat with our students

About the course

Reasons to study

1.You will develop your creative and design thinking skills, discovering how to transform interior spaces and reimagine the future of retail, leisure and workspaces and all interior environments beyond the domestic.
2.You can opt to undertake a work placement in a professional design practice, to gain hands-on experience and build your portfolio.
3.An impressive 90% of graduates from this course are in work and/or further study 15 months after graduating (Unistats 20/21â¯data, UK domiciled graduates).

Enrol onto our Interior Design BA(Hons) course and we’ll help you develop the skills you need to become a professional interior designer. Through a supportive learning journey, you’ll be encouraged to imagine what is possible and develop your own designs. With an emphasis on creativity, you can explore current design thinking, using this to push design boundaries and to focus on new ways of transforming environments.

On this course, you can focus on the practical elements of Interior Design, and you’ll have the chance to get involved in a range of projects across several typologies, building your own unique portfolio as you move through the course.

We’ll aim to give you a thorough grounding in all the technical demands of detailing and specification alongside the creative aspects.

An Interior Design degree can lead you to a host of post-University opportunities, too; you may decide to pursue a career in Interior Design itself, or branch out into art, graphic design, illustration and more.

Plus, an impressive 90% of graduates from this course are in work and/or further study 15 months after graduating (HESA Graduate Outcomes 21/22).

Why study Interior Design BA(Hons)

You’ll learn in the £30-million Barbara Hepworth Building, which provides facilities such as 3D printers for rapid prototyping; laser cutters, special software, studios and more.

You can opt to undertake a work placement in a professional design practice, giving you the chance to gain hands-on experience and build your portfolio to boost your employment prospects.

You’ll be encouraged to take part in workshops, live briefs, and international design competitions, as well. If design studies interest you, this Interior Design course will certainly satisfy your passion for interiors, creative design, art and creative architecture.

Course detail

Year 1

Core modules:

Design Process and Communication

This module introduces and develops your awareness and understanding of 2D and 3D visual language relating to research, analysis, evaluation and synthesis through exploration of the creative process of design. The module comprises three components: visual enquiry, design interpretation and communicative processes. Your knowledge and understanding of these principles will be demonstrated through a portfolio containing visual exploration and development, 2D/3D proposals and design experimentation.

Design Theory Fundamentals

This module will introduce you to a range of relevant theories for and about design. It will introduce you to discourses and debates relating to the history, influences, production and critical reception of design. It will contextualise these aspects in terms of your discipline providing an overarching understanding of design in general as well as more focused elements pertinent to your design field.

Design Exploration

This module provides you with an opportunity to develop an understanding and explorative approach to the production of spatial design proposals. Design work will enable you to integrate design process, creative experimentation and visual communication techniques while encouraging the development of organisational, creative and CAD competencies. Explorative design proposals will evidence your knowledge, understanding and developing abilities.

Year 2

Core modules:

Design in Context

In this module you will be asked to consider and investigate spatial, visual and cultural contexts through the exploration of design at a variety of scales – to progressively focus in on a design project to reveal the contextual aspects which effect the design and representation of the spatial and built environment, and to consider varying approaches towards design concept manipulation and expression. Collaborative research enquiry will lead to an individually selected design project for an identified interior design topic area in which you will be expected to develop expertise in design evaluation, exploration and digital communication, and demonstrate the development of an integrated and cohesive approach to the design process.

Design Identities

This module is divided into 2 parts, a theoretical component and a practical component. The practical component will present approaches that encourage personal development and reflection while developing an appreciation and understanding of strategies and methodologies related to employability and work placement. There will be guidance in the preparation of an individual Curriculum Vitae, letters of application and an understanding of the role and nature of self-promotion. There will be an emphasis on developing an enhanced ability to reflect upon your personal design engagement and own learning across the year. Theory is explored through the field of expansion of applicable design practices. It focuses on the theorisation of professional practices, cultural practices and histories relevant to the study of design. It encourages you to explore ideas and concepts through research of theory and practice.

Design Realisation

This module will contain a number of projects from which to choose, and will include a focus towards audience and client expectations and needs, competitiveness, social and ethical considerations and the identification of design criteria. Design work will continue to develop design exploration studies, in both 2D and 3D, encouragement will be made towards understanding the importance of digital presentation and modelling techniques and related issues in the design process. You will identify an appropriate use for a selected building (or structure) and undertake appropriate research studies to support initial concept proposals, followed by a digital design package of information. Work undertaken in this module will require presentations to be made digitally, verbally and visually.

Year 3 - optional placement year

Arts and Humanities Placement

The placement year is designed to consolidate the skills and knowledge from the first two years of your studies and to enhance your professional skills by giving you the opportunity to do a significant period of work in a graduate-level work environment. The aim of the module is to encourage you to develop personal and professional development planning skills and to appraise your own performance in the workplace. It will also enable you to develop an analytical approach towards your role within a working environment and encourage you to develop real world experience and skills through learning opportunities in the workplace. Completing this module will assist you in clarifying your possible career options will improve your employment prospects upon graduation. You will normally spend a total of 48 weeks, with a minimum of 36 weeks (excluding holidays/sickness) between the end of year two and the beginning of your final year in a suitable work placement(s). The placement will be monitored and you will be assessed on your performance during the work placement upon completion.

Final Year

Core modules:

Research Proposal

This module will establish and inform your major project. Within it you will identify a theme/subject/issue relevant to your practice. The module will re-emphasise the importance of in-depth research, within which you will demonstrate originality, pro-activity and innovation. The context and parameters of this module will be defined by you through negotiation and ongoing dialogue with your tutors.

Professional Practice

The module is specifically designed to support, develop and enhance your final major project through the exploration and analysis of design potential within the wider context of professional interior design practice. You will analyse, appraise and synthesise appropriate influences to further define and underpin the trajectory of your design project, while developing your knowledge and practice as a professional designer.

Major Project - Interior Design

You will build upon and test research developed in your Research Proposal. You will channel your creative and intellectual skills, either as an individual, or as part of a collaboration or interdisciplinary team, to create innovative, original or highly professional proposition(s) appropriate to your discipline through, for example, sketchbooks, worksheets and creative outputs. You will realise the potential of your major project in a form appropriate to your intentions. Your artefacts will act as a group of coherent summative statements.

Teaching and Assessment

On average, 25.4%* of the study time on this course in spent in lectures, seminars, demonstrations and tutorials etc.

*based on 23/24 programme specifications.

You'll have the opportunity to learn through participation in studio-based design projects, workshop demonstrations, lectures, seminars, group and individual tutorials. Your progress will be monitored by presentation of a portfolio of design work, written assignments, and oral presentations, both individually and in groups.

We will support your career aspirations through a series of specialised projects throughout the course supported by industry led design briefs which give you real world experience of the creative design industry.

Your module specification/course handbook will provide full details of the assessment criteria applying to your course.

Feedback (usually written) is normally provided on all coursework submissions within three term time weeks – unless the submission was made towards the end of the session in which case feedback would be available on request after the formal publication of results. Feedback on final coursework is available on request after the publication of results.

Further information

The teaching year normally starts in September with breaks at Christmas and Easter, finishing with a main examination/assessment period around May/June. Timetables are normally available one month before registration.

Your course is made up of modules and each module is worth a number of credits. Each year you study modules to the value of 120 credits, adding up to 360 credits in total for a bachelor’s qualification. These credits can come from a combination of core, compulsory and optional modules but please note that optional modules may not run if we do not have enough students interested.

If you achieve 120 credits for the current stage you are at, you may progress to the next stage of your course, subject to any professional, statutory or regulatory body guidelines.

Teaching excellence

The University of Huddersfield has been rated Gold in all three aspects of the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023. We were the only university in Yorkshire and the Humber and the North West to achieve Gold ratings in all three aspects of the TEF among those announced in September 2023. In fact only 13 Universities, out of the 96 that were announced in September 2023, were Gold in all three ratings.
Further proof of teaching excellence: our staff rank in the top three in England for the proportion who hold doctorates, who have higher degrees, and hold teaching qualifications (HESA 2024). So, you’ll learn from some of the best, helping you to be the best.
We are joint first in the country for National Teaching Fellowships, which mark the UK’s best lecturers in Higher Education, winning a total of 23 since 2008 (2024 data).
We won the first Global Teaching Excellence Award, recognising the University’s commitment to world-class teaching and its success in developing students as independent learners and critical thinkers (Higher Education Academy, 2017).

Global Professional Award

At Huddersfield, you'll study the Global Professional Award (GPA) alongside your degree* so that you gain valuable qualities and experiences that could help you to get the career you want, no matter what your field of study is. On completion of the Award, you'll receive a GPA certificate from the University of Huddersfield, alongside the specialist subject skills and knowledge you gain as part of your degree, which may help to set you apart from other graduates.

Giving students access to the Global Professional Award is one of the reasons the University won ‘Best University Employability Strategy’ award at the National Graduate Recruitment Awards 2021. Find out more on the Global Professional Award webpage.

*full-time, undergraduate first degrees with a minimum duration of three years. This does not include postgraduate, foundation, top-up, accelerated or apprenticeship degrees.

Entry requirements

BBB-BCCat A Level or equivalent

120-104 UCAS tariff points from a combination of Level 3 qualifications

Merit at T Level.

DMM-MMM in BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma

Pass in Diploma Foundation Studies in Art and Design combined with A Level or BTEC qualifications, to total an equivalent of 120-104 UCAS tariff points.
Access to Higher Education Diploma with 45 Level 3 credits at Merit or above
120-104 UCAS tariff points from International Baccalaureate qualifications.

Offers will be subject to a digital portfolio review, after which you will be invited to attend an Applicant Visit Day, at which you will have the opportunity to discuss and be given feedback on your portfolio. Read more about the portfolio review process on our Interviews, auditions and portfolio pages.

If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum requirements of an English Language qualification. The minimum for IELTS is 6.0 overall with no element lower than 5.5, or equivalent. Read more about the University’s entry requirements for students outside of the UK on our International Entry Requirements page.

Other suitable experience or qualifications will be considered. For further information please see the University's minimum entry requirements.

RADAR 2023

Arts and Humanities Graduate Showcase

Welcome to RADAR 2023, the online graduate showcase for Arts and Humanities. Our graduates thrive when they can put their creative talents to the test, whether addressing design challenges or generating new insights into how we engage with the world. Our annual summer degree show exhibition is a highlight of the academic year celebrating the work and achievements of our graduates. This year, we've been lucky enough to host both an in-person and online show; the online show is available here.

Discover RADAR 2023

RetailEXPO Student Awards 2020

Second year Interior Design student Natasha Henderson named as joint winner of the RetailEXPO Student Awards 2020

Every year, three retail brands set challenges for students across the country with support from design mentors and industry experts.

Natasha Henderson tackled the Berghaus brief and shares the top prize with a third year student from Glasgow School of Art.

Here's what the judge's had to say about Natasha's project:

"Centred round a campfire, it puts the customer at the heart of the store. The customer journey is very well considered, as is creating an appropriate experience. The retail aspects are resolved in a way that would work commercially."

Placements

The course offers an optional one-year (36 weeks minimum) work placement after the second year, in the UK or abroad. This will give you the opportunity to gain valuable hands-on experience, insight into your chosen career and open up your graduate employment prospects. Our Placement Unit and academic staff have excellent industry links and can support you in applying for and finding your placement(s), as well as during your placement year.

Students on the course have previously taken up placement opportunities with companies including: Edge - London; Spatialized - Wakefield; Keane Brands - Birmingham; Concrete - Amsterdam; Fitch - London; PDS Design and Build – Wakefield; Concept IDL – Sheffield and Green Room Interiors – Leeds.

You can find out more information on placements here.

My placement was at Green Room Interior Design, a luxury residential design studio. From this, I gained knowledge that not only helped me during final year but also gave me skills to take forward on to work life. I recommend a placement, as you learn practical, hands on skills.

Georgia Clarke, Interior Design BA(Hons) graduate

Facilities

Interior Design studio

Computers in Interior Design Studio

Interior Design studio

3D printers for rapid prototyping

Textiles samples in the Interior Design Studio

Laser Cutters

Student Work in the Interior Design Studio

Student Work

A gallery of work by our Interior Design students and graduates. Click on each image to find out more.

Wabi Sabi is a space for upcycling workshops and retail, highlighting the current backlash to a throw-away society

Stainless Speed is a One-Stop Place for bikers (& non-bikers) to visit

The Eco-Lifestyle Store is for new and existing customers to engage with sustainable product alternatives

$\'Natural Connections\' explores new possibilities surrounding workplace design.$

Keep up to date with Interior Design work, news and events by following @i_d_hud on Instagram or visit their Tumblr blog

Laura Clarke

Wabi Sabi is a space for upcycling workshops and retail, highlighting the current backlash to a throw-away society, and adopting the growing trend towards crafting and making. The concept for the design is WABI SABI, an unspoken intrinsic concept in Japanese culture that values imperfections and craftsmanship, and celebrates change over time. The concept has strong roots in the Japanese tea ceremony - inspiration was taken from tea houses and tea gardens, with a lot of references to shoji screens and the flexibility that they bring to Japanese architecture. The design took inspiration from many more traditional Japanese craft techniques such as kumiko, shou sugi ban and kintsugi, informing the sheer curtain partitions, the material use, and the wayfinding graphics.

See more of Laura's work on RADAR

Natalia Ledger

With Natalia's brief originally stemming from her Dadâs love of motorbikes. With the concept of Balance and the Sheffield Steel Site History driving the project forward, Stainless Speed was born! A one-stop place for bikers (and non-bikers) to visit. Here customers are able to book long-haul trips, insure, health check, service and showcase their bikes, pick up online orders, shop retail, grab a coffee at the outdoor local food trucks on the first floor and most importantly socialise with fellow bikers.

See more of Laura's work on RADAR

Olivia Zach

The brief of The Eco-Lifestyle Store was for new and existing customers to engage with sustainable product alternatives for everyday home routine ranging from furniture, to skincare. Its aims was to promote an environmental and human well-being whilst creating a strong sense of unity on tackling humanâs environmental footprint. The design responded to it by identifying two objectives: sustainable consumption and sustainable behaviour which allowed the store to respond to the changing customer behaviour with its particular attention to its Gen Z audience â the largest growing consumer group. The unification of tackling the environmental impact can be clearly seen through the composition of the ground floor and basement representing the contrast and yet the tie between the benefits of the eco-lifestyle and the consequences of a non-sustainable lifestyle, which as a result also has an educational factor along its tech learning methods including interactive mirrors and digital screen projectors.

See more of Olivia's work on RADAR

$\'Natural Connections\' explores new possibilities surrounding workplace design.$

Sarah Holdsworth

'Natural Connections' explores new possibilities surrounding workplace design. The implications of Nature Deficit Disorder (behavioural changes that occur because of being disconnected from nature) drives the project as our working environments are becoming increasingly urban. By reflecting on possibilities that workplaces can be tailored to suit modern working solutions, Natural Connections offers an innovative approach. The concept of the project is based on topography and local landscapes which informs the interior spaces to promote productivity, wellbeing, and a connected experience.

See more of Sarah's work on RADAR

Your career

The course aims to help you to develop the skills needed to work within interior architecture and design firms as well as focused retail, workplace, leisure and hotel design companies around the world.

You’ll be encouraged to take part in workshops, live briefs and international design competitions. It’s all structured to get you ready for employment once you’ve graduated. Recent graduates have gone on to work at companies such as Adam & Eve (London), Google (USA), and Studio Tilt (Netherlands).**

*Percentage of our undergraduate students from this course go on to work and/or further study within fifteen months of graduating (HESA Graduate Outcomes 2019/20, UK domiciled, other activities excluded).

Source: **GEMS

95% Graduates employed*

Career support

We know you’re coming to university to study on your chosen subject, meet new people and broaden your horizons. However, we also help you to focus on life after you have graduated to ensure that your hard work pays off and you achieve your ambition.

So while you’re here (and even after you graduate) the Careers and Employability Service offer professional help, support and guidance, including industry-supported workshops, careers fairs and one-to-one guidance sessions.Find out more about the service

Further study

Progression to a postgraduate course is dependent on successful completion of your undergraduate studies, there may also be minimum qualification requirements such as a first class or higher second (2.1) degree. Please check the course details to confirm this.

Inspiring Graduate

An undergraduate degree from the University of Huddersfield could be the start of an exciting career in your chosen field. Our graduates go on to succeed in a whole range of exciting careers. Here’s just one example.

As a graduate of the University of Huddersfield you'll become a member of our alumni community, allowing you to stay in touch and continue to access university services.

Studying Interior Design at The University of Huddersfield was the best decision I could have made for myself. The course not only pushed my creativity to evolve but taught me the basic software skills that are essential in industry. My tutors provided constant support, especially when studying through the pandemic; I will forever be grateful for their guidance and adaption to my preferred methods of working.

Emma Hardaker, Interior Design BA(Hons) 2022 graduate, now an Interior Designer at Nanu Group

Career support

As a graduate of the University of Huddersfield you'll become a member of our alumni community, allowing you to stay in touch and continue to access university services.

Studying Interior Design at The University of Huddersfield was the best decision I could have made for myself. The course not only pushed my creativity to evolve but taught me the basic software skills that are essential in industry. My tutors provided constant support, especially when studying through the pandemic; I will forever be grateful for their guidance and adaption to my preferred methods of working.

Emma Hardaker, Interior Design BA(Hons) 2022 graduate, now an Interior Designer at Nanu Group

Student support

At the University of Huddersfield, you'll find support networks and services to help you get ahead in your studies and social life. Whether you study at undergraduate or postgraduate level, you'll soon discover that you're never far away from our dedicated staff and resources to help you to navigate through your personal student journey. Find out more about all our support services.

The maximum fees we will charge for UK based students on undergraduate courses in 2025/26 will be £9,535 per year for full-time students (subject to parliamentary approval). We review and revise fee levels in line with inflation (RPI-X) and regulatory permissions.

Tuition fees will cover the cost of your study at the University as well as charges for registration, tuition, supervision and examinations. For more information about funding, fees and finance for UK students, including what your tuition fee covers, please see Fees and finance.

If you are an EU or international student coming to study at the University of Huddersfield, please visit the International Fees and Finance pages for full details of tuition fees and support available.

Please email the Student Finance Office or call 01484 472210 for more information about fees and finance.

Materials:

You will need to supply your own materials during the course. These include sketchbooks, drawing equipment and printing. The approximate cost of these items in recent years has been £50-70 in year one, £50-70 in year two and £250 in the final year. These costs may vary based on the materials you choose and the approximate costs are given as a guide only.

Fees and Finance

Tuition Fees - full-time

Please email the Student Finance Office or call 01484 472210 for more information about fees and finance.

Additional Costs

Materials:

Important information

Although we always try and ensure we deliver our courses as described, sometimes we may have to make changes for the following reasons

When you enrol as a student of the University, your study and time with us will be governed by our terms and conditions, Handbook of Regulations and associated policies. It is important that you familiarise yourself with these as you will be asked to agree to them when you join us as a student. You will find a guide to the key terms here, along with the Student Protection Plan.

Although we always try and ensure we deliver our courses as described, sometimes we may have to make changes for the following reasons

Changes to a course you have applied for but are not yet enrolled on

If we propose to make a major change to a course that you are holding an offer for, then we will tell you as soon as possible so that you can decide whether to withdraw your application prior to enrolment. We may occasionally have to withdraw a course you have applied for or combine your programme with another programme if we consider this reasonably necessary to ensure a good student experience, for example if there are not enough applicants. Where this is the case we will notify you as soon as reasonably possible and we will discuss with you other suitable courses we can transfer your application to. If you do not wish to transfer to another course with us, you may cancel your application and we will refund you any deposits or fees you have paid to us.

Changes to your course after you enrol as a student

Changes to option modules:

Where your course allows you to choose modules from a range of options, we will review these each year and change them to reflect the expertise of our staff, current trends in research and as a result of student feedback or demand for certain modules. We will always ensure that you have an equivalent range of options to that advertised for the course. We will let you know in good time the options available for you to choose for the following year.

Major changes:

We will only make major changes to non-optional modules on a course if it is necessary for us to do so and provided such changes are reasonable. A major change is a change that substantially changes the outcomes, or a significant part of your course, such as the nature of the award or a substantial change to module content, teaching days (part time provision), type of delivery or assessment of the core curriculum. For example, it may be necessary to make a major change to reflect changes in the law or the requirements of the University’s regulators or a commissioning or accrediting body. We may also make changes to improve the course in response to student, examiners’ or other course evaluators’ feedback or to ensure you are being taught current best practice. Major changes may also be necessary because of circumstances outside our reasonable control, such as a key member of staff leaving the University or being unable to teach, where they have a particular specialism that can’t be adequately covered by other members of staff; or due to damage or interruption to buildings, facilities or equipment, or pandemics.

Major changes would usually be made with effect from the next academic year, but may happen sooner in an emergency. We will notify you as soon as possible should we need to make a major change and will carry out suitable consultation. If you reasonably believe that the proposed change will cause you detriment or hardship we will, if appropriate, work with you to try to reduce the adverse effect on you or find an appropriate solution. Where an appropriate solution cannot be found and you contact us in writing before the change takes effect you can cancel your registration and withdraw from the University without liability to the University for future tuition fees. We will provide reasonable support to assist you with transferring to another university if you wish to do so.

In exceptional circumstances, we may, for reasons outside of our control, be forced to discontinue or suspend your course. Where this is the case, a formal exit strategy will be followed in accordance with the student protection plan.

The Office for Students (OfS) is the principal regulator for the University.

Architecture/Architecture (International) (RIBA Part 1) BA(Hons)

Studying Architecture and International Architecture in its social and cultural context can help you gain skills to design innovative, sustainable buildings.

Find out more How to apply

Full-time

Undergraduate

View more courses

Start date

Duration

Entry requirements

Places available (subject to change)

About the course

Reasons to study

Why study Interior Design BA(Hons)

Course detail

Design Process and Communication

Design Theory Fundamentals

Design Exploration

Design in Context

Design Identities

Design Realisation

Arts and Humanities Placement

Research Proposal

Professional Practice

Major Project - Interior Design

Entry requirements

RADAR 2023

RetailEXPO Student Awards 2020

Placements

Facilities

Student Work

Follow Us

Laura Clarke

Natalia Ledger

Olivia Zach

Sarah Holdsworth

Your career

Career support

Student support

Fees and Finance

Fees and Finance

Important information

Changes to a course you have applied for but are not yet enrolled on

Changes to your course after you enrol as a student

Changes to option modules:

Major changes:

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Architecture/Architecture (International) (RIBA Part 1) BA(Hons)