Interior Architecture and Design BA (Hons)

 

Course Code

UCAS Code: W250
International Code: AHU042

Location

Coventry University (Coventry)

 

Study mode

Full-time
Sandwich

Duration

3 years full-time
4 years sandwich

Start date

September 2022

How to apply
Book an Open Day
Download a prospectus
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Course overview

Study level: Undergraduate

From 3D modelling to project management, our Interior Design course aims to teach you the skills you should require to pursue a creative career using your eye for detail.

  • Most interior design courses consider technical content, understanding of volume and space, light, function and use. What sets our course apart is our user-centred and multidisciplinary approach – spanning retail, domestic, commercial, architectural, transport and marine interiors – to support you in becoming a fully rounded interior design professional.
  • Our teaching team is made up of dedicated professionals and educationalists who are involved in consultancies or hold directorships in design studios. We’ll aim to show you how to master creative thinking, communicate effectively and stay ahead of the game by monitoring new interior design trends.
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Global Ready

An international outlook, with global opportunities
human silhouette teaching in front of a blackdoard

Teaching excellence

Taught by lecturers who are experts in their field
Resume icon displaying a paper and a pen

Employability

Career ready graduates, with the skills to succeed

Why you should study this course

If you like the idea of transforming and giving new life to the spaces in which we live, work, learn or play, this studio-based course will teach you how to plan and design imaginative interiors of all shapes and sizes.

  • A distinct advantage of our course is the scope of your potential field of work – from furniture and lighting to transport interiors. We express this scale in the axiom SMLXL, which stands for Small, Medium, Large and Extra Large and includes anything and everything from interior objects to large public spaces, small spaces such as residential interiors to super large interiors like airports. 
  • We deliberately strike a balance between traditional hand-processes and emerging technologies. You’ll participate in workshops for block material, drawing, and model making, while having access to laser cutting, rapid prototyping and 3D printing. With a focus on the quality of materials and user needs, we will encourage you to come up with original, creative solutions to challenging design problems.
  • Staff are committed to design research and are frequently called upon as industry or external experts for design consultancy and for other educational institutions. Their research expertise is vast and varied – from the use of spatial design to trigger emotional response and interaction between spaces and the human body to parametric design and the phenomenology of space.

Accreditations and Professional Recognition

This course is accredited and recognised by the following bodies:

SBID logo

The Society of British International Interior Design (SBID)

This course is accredited by the Society of British International Interior Design for the September 2021 intake. The professional body registered in the UK to accredit professionals in interior design. SBID are committed to providing university accreditation to support educational institutions providing courses in interior design.

If there are any changes to the accreditation of this course, we will notify applicants and students as soon as possible.

Adobe logo

Adobe

As part of our extensive skills development, we offer you the chance to take Adobe accredited modules as part of the university’s Add+vantage scheme. Assessed by exams, this training will give you official Adobe accreditation in whichever software you’ve elected to study, providing a valuable addition to your CV and helping to enhance your employability.

What you'll study

This course offers an opportunity to design for different uses and contexts in interior architecture and design. We cover a range of projects dealing with small to large spaces, anything from branding to workspaces, health and education, incorporating retail, commercial and domestic settings.

You will have the chance to learn to create innovative interior design solutions in a range of media, appropriate to the specific audience and use, considering critical factors, such as sustainability, technology, innovation and professional constraints.

The first year introduces you to the fundamentals of interior architecture and design, covering the essential aspects of architectural and spatial design, materials and colour. You will learn both 2D and 3D design skills to represent your design intentions, including drawing for design and modelling in different materials. We consider the impact of human factors, design analysis and manufacturing.

Sustainability is a theme throughout the course; we start by examining the impact of social, environmental and commercial issues around interior design, such as responsible use of materials, acoustics, lighting, access and the possibilities presented by new technologies and future concepts.

Modules

  • The aim of this practical module is to introduce you to study of form and colour within spatial context utilising a range of drawing, making and presentation techniques.

    Compulsory

    Assessment: portfolio, presentation

  • This module will place the basics of design in the context of interior architecture and design. The technical content of the course will challenge you to develop making, drawing and presentation skills.

    Compulsory

    Assessment: portfolio, presentation

  • This module is designed to assist you in making the transition from school or college to becoming a successful undergraduate designer and independent learner. Study skills and learning techniques will be introduced and applied, with a focus on research and reflective practice.

    Compulsory

    Assessment: illustrated and annotated sketchbook

  • This module aims to develop a fundamental understanding of the practical nature of Interior Architecture and Design. Through the use of 2D CAD at an introductory level (preparing plans, sections, elevation and lighting plans etc.), you will gain appropriate knowledge of technical representation.

    Compulsory

    Assessment: portfolio

  • The aim of this module is to provide you with a comprehensive introduction to the discipline of interior architecture and design. You will engage in universal design processes as practised throughout the international design community.

    Compulsory

    Assessment: portfolio, presentation

  • You will also be able to take an Add+vantage module which can allow you to develop your CV by taking credits in an area of study that doesn’t have to be related to your degree. The assessment type will depend on the type of Add+vantage module you wish to take.

    Compulsory

    Assessment: coursework, exam

During the second year, you are taught how to evaluate your work in relation to identified objectives, focusing on your own strengths and interests. We will consider current issues in interior design, design history, branding and design for different marketplaces. Industry-standard advanced 3D computing and animating of computer models is simultaneously studied and practised.

Modules

  • Through a series of lectures, demonstrations, and assignments, you will learn to understand that Interior Architecture and Design can be intrinsically involved with branding, often having a symbiotic relationship whereby the brand will either dictate the interior or the interior dictates the brands.

    Compulsory

    Assessment: portfolio

  • This module aims to develop a further understanding of the practical nature of Interior Architecture and Design. Through the use of 2D, 3D CAD software and physical models, you will gain an in-depth knowledge of interior and exterior construction and detailing techniques.

    Compulsory

    Assessment: portfolio, presentation

  • This module is designed to assist you in producing evidence of your progress towards becoming a design professional. It encourages independent activity in the selection, revision, organisation, and presentation of your work in a formal design portfolio.

    Compulsory

    Assessment: portfolio, creative CV, personal development plan

  • This triple module builds on and extends the previously acquired skills and learning. Through several phased activities, you will explore methods for analysing and evaluating design solutions.

    Compulsory

    Assessment: design project work, design report

  • You will also be able to take an Add+vantage module which can allow you to develop your CV by taking credits in an area of study that doesn’t have to be related to your degree. The assessment type will depend on the type of Add+vantage module you wish to take.

    Compulsory

    Assessment: coursework, exam

After your second year, you have an opportunity to take a sandwich year, studying abroad or on professional placement*.

You can progress onto the relevant optional placement module if you successfully complete the first two years of the course (i.e. having accumulated 240 credits). The modules are non-credit bearing but will appear on a student’s final academic transcript if completed. No additional tuition fees apply to such modules.

If you complete the optional placement year, your degree award title will also provide the additional suffix of “With Professional Enhancement” if you’ve gone on placement and “With International Enhancement” if you’ve gone on a study abroad or International placement programme for a year.

Modules

  • Optional

  • Optional

The final year brings together your skills, knowledge, and understanding to produce a professional portfolio and may include entry to a national design competition, such as RSA, Student Lighting Awards and InteriorMotives, where we’ve had a succession of winners and finalists. You will also undertake a major project and exhibit in our Degree Show. Past students have designed exciting and innovative fashion retail spaces, proposed restoration and re-use for historic buildings and proposed learning spaces of the future.

Modules

  • The module engages you in the evaluation and validation of information generated and discovered in the complementary module ‘Design Enquiry for Interior Architecture and Design’. You will explore specific tasks and identify design opportunities before beginning the Final Major Project.

    Compulsory

    Assessment: digital image boards, sketch modelling, presentation, 2D and 3D CAD representation, technical pack, viva supported by digital projection

  • This module provides the opportunity for you to negotiate a project that will reflect your personal design direction, critically appraise your own practice, and demonstrate your capability to undertake an investigative activity that illustrates the theoretical and research basis that underpins the work of designers.

    Compulsory

    Assessment: written project report

  • This module is designed to build on the presentation skills and reflective techniques developed in earlier years. You will consider your immediate career aims and develop your personal ‘pitch’ through the design of an online presence and tailored application, evidencing your skills and defining your identity as a graduate practitioner.

    Compulsory

    Assessment: mock application, online portfolio of personal design work, written plan for postgraduate career development

  • The module involves planning and managing a negotiated major design project on a topic of your own choosing. You will be expected to integrate research outcomes developed in previous modules to form the basis of the major piece(s) of individual Interior Architecture and Design work.

    Compulsory

    Assessment: design development documents and drawings, technical/construction pack and materials, 2D and 3D representations of outcome using analogue and digital tools, project management, data preparation for the final physical model, Viva presentation supported by projected imagery

  • You will also be able to take an Add+vantage module which can allow you to develop your CV by taking credits in an area of study that doesn’t have to be related to your degree. The assessment type will depend on the type of Add+vantage module you wish to take.

    Compulsory

    Assessment: coursework, exam

We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.

How you'll learn

Our course is designed to provide you with the opportunity to develop a wide range of skills and expertise needed to become a successful interior designer. It will also help prepare you for a broad range of roles within creative industries – from furniture or event designers to set design consultants, visualisation artists, point of sale design and teachers.

In a typical teaching week, you will have approximately 13 ‘contact’ hours of teaching. This includes a combination of:

  • medium group teaching: workshops, seminars and lectures
  • small group teaching: seminar, critiques and tutorials
  • studio practice and bookable workshop access

The contact hours may be made up of a combination of face-to-face teaching, individual and group tutorials, and online activities.

The School of Art and Design often provides opportunities to engage in external or collaborative activities such as competition/Industry briefs and speakers beyond your course studies. We strongly encourage you to take advantage of these opportunities to support your learning journey.

As an innovative and enterprising institution, the university may seek to utilise emerging technologies within the student experience. For all courses (whether on-campus, blended, or distance learning), the university may deliver certain contact hours and assessments via online technologies and methods.

Assessment

This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which may vary depending upon the module concerned. Assessment methods include exams, practical coursework, essays/reports, presentations, individual assignments and/or group work elements.

This course is predominantly assessed by coursework.

Job ready

On successful completion, you will be able to:

  • Utilise and reflect critically upon the drivers for design to generate a wide range of ideas, concepts, proposals solutions or arguments independently or collaboratively in response to set briefs or self-initiated activity.
  • Apply creative and logical thinking processes to the business of solving Interior and Interior Products design problems and develop ideas through to material outcomes.
  • Analyse the interrelationships within and between aspects of interior (products) design; to describe, interpret and evaluate designed artefacts from a range of critical perspectives, considering the context of their production, clients, users, consumers and markets and history of design processes.
  • Engage in integrated design practice based on the acquisition, understanding and application of the skills and working methods typical of product designers.
  • Realise a range of practical, creative and theoretical projects, analyse design problems and provide appropriate design solutions; initiate projects, meet deadlines, liaise with commercial collaborators, make presentations, research and synthesise information, produce reports and evaluate the design and research work of self and others.
  • Demonstrate skills associated with professional practice; time management, project management, professional level communication, self-promotion, interview technique, information gathering and use of information and communication technology as appropriate.
  • Employ materials, media, techniques, methods, technologies and tools associated with interior design through drawing, modelling and computer visualisation methods using skill and imagination.
  • Utilise the various means by which one can represent interior design and judge their fitness for purpose; select and use various 2D, 3D, and digital techniques appropriately to communicate design intent and detail.

International experience opportunities

Coventry School of Art and Design has a multinational population and you will be working alongside students from all over the globe. Our current teaching team and visiting lecturers include staff from the UK, Scandinavia and the Netherlands (subject to change).

There may be global opportunities for students to apply for a study exchange with students on a similar course in overseas universities*. We have direct links with countries beyond Europe, including universities in China, Indonesia, Singapore and USA.

Throughout the course, projects will be set with an international focus, enhancing your global experience and broadening your mindset. Recent examples include a collaborative online international learning (COIL) project with universities in the Netherlands and Spain. To gain a deeper insight into the industry, you will also be given opportunities to enter international competitions, such as Planning and Visual Education (PAVE) and The Commercial Interior Design Association (IIDA).

Entry requirements

Typical offer for 2022 entry.

Requirement What we're looking for
A level BBC to include at least one Art or Design subject
GCSE Minimum 5 GCSE's graded 9-4 / A* - C including English
BTEC DMM in an Art or Design subject
IB Diploma 29 points to include visual arts or design technology at Higher level

If you do not have the typical entry requirements, you may want to consider studying this course with a foundation year. We recognise a breadth of qualifications, speak to one of our advisers today to find out how we can help you.

Chat with UK admissions

You may be required to attend a portfolio showcase, activity session or audition or submit a portfolio via email (as is appropriate to your course), either virtually or face to face, as is practical to arrange. Invites for these sessions will be sent directly to your contact email.

Each application will be considered on its merits.

Select your region to find detailed information about entry requirements:

Europe

Americas

Middle East

South Asia

South East Asia

East Asia

Africa

Russia and Central Asia

You can view our full list of country specific entry requirements on our Entry requirements page.

If you do not have the typical entry requirements, you may want to consider studying this course with an international foundation year. Upon successful completion our International Foundation Year - Art, Design and Media will provide you with the knowledge and skills you need to progress onto this undergraduate degree.

Alternatively, visit our International hub for further advice and guidance on finding in-country agents and representatives, joining our in-country events and how to apply.

You will be required to submit a portfolio via email or alternatively attend a showcase activity session or audition (as is appropriate for your course) which can be virtual or face to face, as is practical to arrange. Invites to send in your portfolio or attend these sessions will be sent directly to your contact email.

Each application will be considered on its merits.

English language requirements

  • IELTS: 6.5 overall

If you don't meet the English language requirements, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course. 

For more information on our approved English language tests visit our English language requirements page.

Chat with International admissions

Fees and funding

2022/23 Tuition fees

Student Full time Part time
UK £9,250 per year Not available
International £18,050 per year Not available

For advice and guidance on tuition fees and student loans visit our Undergraduate Finance page and see The University’s Tuition Fee and Refund Terms and Conditions.

We offer a range of International scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our International Scholarships page.

Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them. Find out what's included in your tuition costs.

Facilities

The Faculty of Arts and Humanities is joining two of our school’s completely refurbished Art and Design buildings and adding a range of new facilities set to open in 2022. These will include a hyper studio designed for cross-disciplinary projects; immersive studios with cutting-edge virtual reality and mixed-reality technologies. Our aim is to offer you sector-leading facilities in a unique environment.

Our current digital and industrial workshops are of industry-standard quality and house 3D rapid prototyping, laser cutters and milling machines. These facilities are available to all students on our courses at no extra cost. These are subject to availability.

We also have a ceramic and small-metal-working workshop, a large digital print bureau, and clay modelling studios where you can realise your creative artistic and design solutions

The fashion workshops have digital embroidery machines, digital printers and a printmaking workshop that includes etching, screen printing and a rare, one of only three in existence in the UK, letterpress studio.

In our Mac and PC CAD labs, you can become digitally literate in presentation and design skills using the Adobe suite of software. You can also get Adobe accreditation as part of an Add+vantage module and learn other software packages including Alias, Toom Boom, Revit, and Maya.

Student in digital design workshop

Digital design workshops

Our extensive workshops will allow you to model in wood, metal, plastics, glass, ceramics and styling clay, with additional facilities for 3D printing, CNC milling and laser cutting.

 

Road side view of the computer suit

Digital labs

Our PC and Mac labs are equipped with the latest 2D and 3D modelling, visualisation and animation software, such as Adobe Creative Cloud, Rhino, VectorWorks, Sketch-up, Cinema 4D, Twinmotion and Enscape.

Lecturer talking to studens

Art shop

You will have access to presentation equipment and our print bureau at the Ink Well. Here you can print up to A0 size, perfect for presenting your design skills.

 

Careers and opportunities

Interior designers are in demand in a variety of employment sectors, including retail, domestic, commercial and entertainment. You could go on to become part of a design team, work as a freelancer or establish your own design studio.

The breadth and depth of skills you learn can also lead to careers in graphic design, arch visualisation branding, marketing, journalism or teaching.

Professional enhancement is central to our ethos and you will be encouraged to embrace either an industry placement or international study exchange before your final year (subject to additional costs e.g. travel, accommodation etc., application, availability and/or meeting any applicable visa requirements). The outcome of your final year will be presented in our prestigious Degree Show with a further chance for you to present your work at an external venue, such as New Designers.

Coventry University is committed to preparing you for your future career and giving you a competitive edge in the graduate job market. The university's Talent Team provide a wide range of support services to help you plan and prepare for your career.

Where our graduates work

Recent graduates have gone on to become interior designers for companies including Imagination, GMP Design, Furnish Interior Design, India Jane, Creation Shopfitters, Atlantic chair and stool company, HÅLLNING.

How to apply

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Your next steps

Student life
Accommodation
Fees and funding

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  • Student Contract

    By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. A copy of the 2021/22 Contract can be found here. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the university will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.

    Tuition fees

    The tuition fee for the course that is stated on the course webpage and in the prospectus for the first year of study will apply. We will review our tuition fees each year. For UK and EU students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, we may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation. Following the UK’s exit from the European Union, EU students should be aware that there may be a change to UK laws following the UK’s exit, this may change their student status, their eligibility to study part time, and/or their eligibility for student finance. We will act in accordance with the UK’s laws in force in relation to student tuition fees and finance from time to time.

    For International students the tuition fee that is stated on the course webpage and in the prospectus for the first year of study will apply. We will review our tuition fees each year. For international students, we may increase fees for each subsequent year of study but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation.

    Accreditations

    The majority of our courses have been formally recognised by professional bodies, which means the courses have been reviewed and tested to ensure they reach a set standard. In some instances, studying on an accredited course can give you additional benefits such as exemptions from professional exams (subject to availability, fees may apply). Accreditations, partnerships, exemptions and memberships shall be renewed in accordance with the relevant bodies’ standard review process and subject to the university maintaining the same high standards of course delivery. 

    Facilities

    Facilities mentioned on this page may not be relevant for every course. Due to the ongoing restrictions relating to COVID-19, some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) and some non-academic offerings (particularly in relation to international experiences), may vary from those advertised and may have reduced availability or restrictions on their use.

    Placements and study abroad opportunities

    Please note that we are unable to guarantee any placement or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be subject to additional costs (e.g. travel, visas and accommodation etc.), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand the requirements in this regard, please contact the International Office for further details if you are an EU or International student.

    Additional costs

    This course may incur additional costs associated with any field trips, placements or work experience, study abroad opportunities or any other opportunity (whether required or optional), which could include (but is not limited to), equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire, travel, accommodation and visas).