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Interior Architecture and Design BA (Hons)
Study level: Undergraduate
From conceptualisation through 2D visualisation and 3D modelling to animation, our course is designed to teach you the skills you need to pursue a successful career in industry.
Year of entry
Location
Coventry University (Coventry)
Study mode
Full-time
Sandwich
Duration
3 years full-time
4 years sandwich
Course code
W250
Start date
September 2025
Course overview
The course encourages conceptual thinking but always marries designs to reality. This would help students find employment across the many sectors of interior architecture, whether in retail, hospitality and leisure, workplace design, civic and culture or exhibition design.
- Creativity: You will be challenged to develop innovative and experimental solutions, transforming spaces through material understanding and user insights.
- Making: An emphasis on making, both physical and virtual, underpins the course and ensures that graduates are both digitally fluent and materially sensitive.
- Employability: You will be supported to develop the skills, knowledge and resilience required to enter industry. You will build a sophisticated design portfolio over the course of your studies, with the aim of giving you access to opportunities for employment or further study.
Rated Gold Overall
Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023
5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities
QS Stars University Ratings
Top 5 Student City in England (Coventry)
QS Best Student Cities Index 2025Why you should study this course
- Studio Culture: Our studio-based course will allow you to explore, create, collaborate and develop the skills required to design innovative spaces, supported by peers and guided by experienced practitioners. (staff subject to change).
- Analogue and Digital: We deliberately strike a balance between traditional hand-processes and emerging technologies. You will participate in workshops for drawing, and model making, along with CAD, 3D computer modelling and animation. Traditional workshops sit alongside facilities for laser cutting, CNC milling and 3D printing4.
- International Network: Our students may go on to find employment in a variety of fields and professions including interior architecture, lighting design, exhibition design, concept design, theatre and stage design and project management. Gain an international perspective with our international collaborative institutions, who provide opportunities for shared learning and the potential for travel and study abroad2. Our visiting speaker programme makes use of our extensive alumni and industry network2.
- Sustainability: In a finite world you will be in a great position to help lead the world with sustainable solutions to architectural problems. Adaptive reuse of buildings as opposed to demolition and rebuild, will become a must and interior architects and designers will be highly sought after.
- Professional Accreditation and Awards: The course has been accredited by The Society of British & International Interior Designers (SBID) as a Centre of Excellence1. Our students have won awards at national exhibitions and events including Free Range and New Designers.
10th
Coventry University ranked No.10 for Interior Design
Guardian University Guide 2023
Accreditation and professional recognition
The Society of British & International Interior Design (SBID)
This course is accredited by The Society of British & International Interior Design (SBID). Please visit the SBID website for further information.
What you'll study
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.
More than just a degree
Coming to University for the first time is very daunting and you never know what to expect. However, the first day of the Interior Architecture and design course was great. The tutors really made me feel welcome and part of a team and I had great opportunities to meet new people on the course, who are now my lifelong friends. The work was really interesting and allowed us to use and explore our imaginations.
Grace Dettmar, 2022
How you'll learn
The School of Art and Design teaching and learning mirrors the needs of the creative industries ensuring that our graduates are equipped with the skills and attributes to become industry specialists, leaders and innovators to drive social responsibility and design global change.
The ability to be entrepreneurial, innovative and embrace change underpins our Art and Design courses. Our studio and workshop culture ensures you are socially responsible in our creative community and develop critical thinking in research and making processes. Our global initiatives will give you skills to become collaborative communicators and make you culturally competent in the ever-changing world of art or design2.
As the creative arena is an ever-evolving space, being curious and adaptable learners is key to our school’s graduates. You will learn how to recognise your strengths and learning needs, how to self-reflect and grow. Throughout your course you will identify areas of personal development that will help drive your projects and improve your career aspirations.
Teaching contact hours
As a full-time undergraduate student, you will study modules totalling 120 credits each academic year. A typical 20 credit module requires a total of 200 hours study. This is made up of teaching contact hours, guided and independent study.
Teaching hours
Teaching hours vary each semester, year of study and due to module selection. During your first year you can expect 15-18 teaching hours each week. You will also have the option to attend optional sessions including time with a progress coach or to meet with staff for advice and feedback. As you progress through your studies, teaching hours may reduce.
Guided and independent study
Throughout your studies, you will be expected to spend time in guided and independent study to make up the required study hours per module. You’ll be digging deeper into topics, review what you’ve learned and complete assignments. This can be completed around your personal commitments. As you progress through your studies, you’ll spend more time in independent study.
Online learning
As an innovative university, we use different teaching methods including online tools and emerging technologies. So, some of your teaching hours and assessments may be delivered online.
Assessment
You will be assessed using a variety of methods which could vary depending upon the module. In the School of Art & Design we design our assessment methods to replicate the creative industry ways of working. This ensures that you have the chance to learn skills for future career opportunities.
Assessment methods may include:
- reports
- practical coursework
- presentations
- individual assignments
- group work elements.
The Coventry University assessment strategy aims to ensure that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.
International experience opportunities
Coventry School of Art and Design has a typically multicultural population, and you may have the opportunity to work alongside students from all over the globe.
There may be global opportunities for students to apply for a study exchange with students on a similar course in overseas universities2. We have direct links with countries beyond Europe, including universities in China, Indonesia, Singapore and Egypt.
Throughout the course, projects will be set with an international focus, with the aim of enhancing your global experience and broadening your mindset. Recent examples include a collaborative online international learning (COIL) project with universities in Singapore and Egypt. 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 competitions arranged by The Society of British & International Interior Designers (SBID).
Interior Architecture and Design is about us. It's how we interact with the world, how we connect to the world, how we live and love, how we find shelter, how we indulge in leisure and how we find succour and solace in culture. Ever since we walked into caves, interior architecture and design has been the background to our lives. Often unnoticed, interiors have sustained and protected us from harm and the vagaries of life. That is why I am an interior designer.
Richard Jones, Senior Lecturer and Design Practitioner for 39 years, 2022
Entry requirements
Typical entry requirements:
By studying Interior Architecture and Design at Coventry University, I have obtained the necessary knowledge to apply later in my professional career. It gave me opportunities and skills that allowed me to design confidently and choose a career path most suitable for me. Wonderful tutors with in-depth career knowledge taught me the importance of design in our daily lives. The tutors understood every student's individual needs and differences, which created a safe, comfortable, and enjoyable place to attend and be involved with.
Karolina Kepinska, 2022
Fees and funding
| Student | Full-time | Part-time |
|---|---|---|
| UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man | £9,535 per year | Not available |
| EU | £9,535 per year with EU Support Bursary** £19,850 per year without EU Support Bursary** |
Not available |
| International | £19,850 per year | Not available |
If you choose to study this course with a professional placement2 or study abroad year, you will need to pay a tuition fee3 to cover your academic support throughout your placement year. Students commencing their professional placement in the academic year 2027/28 will pay £1,500 if they are paying UK fees, or £1,800 if they are paying international fees.
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.
The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, if Parliament permits an increase in tuition fees, the university 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.
If you choose to study this course with a professional placement, the University will charge the tuition fees stated above for those on a placement during Academic Year 2027/28. The University will review professional placement tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, the University may increase fees for each subsequent year of study, but such that it will be no more than 5% above inflation.
For international students, we may increase fees each year, but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the University reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.
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.
The following are additional costs not included in the tuition fees:
- Any optional overseas field trips or visits: £400+ per trip.
- Any costs associated with securing, attending or completing a placement (whether in the UK or abroad).
*Irish student fees
The rights of Irish residents to study in the UK are preserved under the Common Travel Area arrangement. If you are an Irish student and meet the residency criteria, you can study in England, pay the same level of tuition fees as English students and utilise the Tuition Fee Loan.
**EU Support Bursary
Following the UK's exit from the European Union, we are offering financial support to all eligible EU students who wish to study an undergraduate or a postgraduate degree with us full-time. This bursary will be used to offset the cost of your tuition fees to bring them in line with that of UK students. Students studying a degree with a foundation year with us are not eligible for the bursary.
How do you know if you need to pay UK or international tuition fees?
Facilities
Our students will have the opportunity to study in a range of fantastic facilities, providing them with the space to learn both collaboratively and independently4.
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 an engaging 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.
Facilities are subject to availability. Access to some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) may vary from those advertised and/or may have reduced availability or restrictions where the university is following public authority guidance, decisions or orders.
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.
Digital labs
You will be taught industry-standard 2D and 3D modelling, visualisation and animation software in our digital labs, to enhance your real-world experience and help you get job-ready.
Careers and opportunities
On successful completion of the course, you will be able to:
- apply creative and logical thinking processes to the business of solving spatial and interior design problems and develop ideas through to material outcomes and construction
- analyse the interrelationships within and between aspects of interior design; to describe, interpret and evaluate designed spaces from a range of critical perspectives, considering the context of their construction, clients, users, brand issues, 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 interior architects and 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 architecture and design through drawing, modelling, computer visualisation and animation 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.
Alumni are now working all over the globe from LA to Cairo, Dubai, Berlin, Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, to Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. Some have gone on to work for multinational companies such as Gensler or GES. Others have branched out on their own as consultants and freelancers.
The variety and the many sectors of interior architecture and design as a profession, mean you could work in leisure and hospitality, museum design, education design, retail design or even as a concept designer.
Where our graduates work
Graduates have gone on to become interior designers for companies including:
- Creation Shopfitters
- Furnish Studio
- Gensler
- GES
- GMP Design
- HÅLLNING
- Hirsch Bedner Associates
- Identity
- Imagination
- Rhino Interiors Group
Further study
Upon successful completion of this degree you may choose to continue your studies at Coventry University with the Interior Design MA or Design Management MA. You may be entitled to an alumni discount on your fees if you decide to extend your time with us by progressing from undergraduate to postgraduate study.
My work placement was a great opportunity to gain an understanding of how the industry works, and it prepared me so much for the final year. If you can do it, do it.
Katie Hulley, 2022
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