Student Spotlight Penelope Ware
Our Diploma in Professional Soft Furnishings & Curtain Making is the ideal course if you want to design your own projects, help your friends and family
Enrol at any time & choose your start date. No term times or semesters.
Three years
flexible online study
No exams — Tutor assessment
of design projects & moderation
by De Montfort University
Low fees, and monthly payments for all self paying students (student loans available for UK students)
The BA (Hons) Interior Design course offers students a more in-depth and professional approach to specific interior design projects both residential and commercial. It takes you from the history of interior design to the latest trends in contemporary interiors. It includes modules on space planning, furniture, creative lighting and the art of show home design & home staging – in high demand throughout the industry.
The degree also includes all elements of the client brief and professional practice to prepare you for your future career in the design industry. You will complete a comprehensive final design project which can form part of your professional portfolio as you enter your exciting career in interior design.
This course is the ideal next step for students who have already successfully completed the Diploma in Professional Interior Design with the National Design Academy, hold an equivalent UK or international qualification in a design subject or alternatively, have a portfolio of relevant industry experience. Direct entry students, transferring students from other institutions, and international students are all welcome. There are no term times – so you can apply and start at any time.
Successful students completing this BA (Hons) will be offered a guaranteed place on the NDA Online M.A. Interior Design with a generous progression scholarship.
Study flexibly online through our bespoke virtual learning studio (VLS)
The VLS is our exclusive, online resource which replaces the normal lectures given in Colleges and Universities. This provides links to other online resources and may contain videos, images, quizzes and lectures.
Students can rewind and re-watch until they are sure they have understood. No frantic note taking and no missing an important lecture! Study when and where it suits you!
The majority of NDA students will complete their BA (Hons) Degree online in approximately 3 years, others may take a little longer and a few may need the maximum study time of 8 years.
Personal Tutors
Every NDA student has a Personal Tutor to guide them through their qualification. You have unlimited access to your tutor and can contact them by email, telephone, Skype or in-person as often as you wish.
Student Support Team
We also have a dedicated Student Support and Administration Team to help deal with any other queries such as payments, student loans advice and anything else you may need a helping hand with.
Our Student Helpline is available Monday–Friday from 9am–5pm.
You will not have to take an exam! Your tutor will assess your design projects as you submit them throughout the course and your portfolio is moderated by De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) who will award your degree.
The BA (Hons) Interior Design degree is awarded by our academic partner, De Montfort University Leicester (DMU).
You will study eleven modules for the BA (Hons) Interior Design
Interior design is a vibrant and exciting industry, and within this module you will be introduced to world leaders in both residential and commercial design. Research underpins all good design projects therefore this module will introduce you to the skills and methods needed to undertake this research. You will gain a comprehensive knowledge of interior design and its history through the ages; knowledge which you will be able to apply to future modules.
However beautiful a space, if it is not functional it will not work for the user. Form and function is essential for good design. In this module you will learn how to design a space to meet the requirements of its function. You will learn how to plan and design an efficient, comfortable and safe space within a number of different briefs for both residential and commercial interiors. You will also start to learn the importance of development work at the initial stages of a project and how a concept will aid the design process.
To understand the present, you need to understanding the past, and in this module you will be encouraged to activity research heritage buildings within your local area, utilising some of the skills developed in the research module. This module examines the factors which have played a part in the development of interior design since the Renaissance and gives you the opportunity to recreate some of the most fascinating design styles throughout history.
Good lighting and the creative use of technology is integral to any good interior design project. This module will cover the vast array of products and technologies which can be used within a space to create a dynamic yet functional scheme for both residential and commercial projects. You will further develop the scheme produced in your Space Planning module, adding lighting and audio-visual technology to an already developed furniture plan, ensuring that the space is fit for the purpose identified by the client.
Regardless of the sector you decide to specialise in, you will need to understand how and when to use sustainable products, materials and technologies, as this is a growing concern among clients. As a designer you need to be able to offer your clients the same range of options whilst being conscious of current environmental issues. Within this module you will address these issues and discover a range of architects and designers who specialise in eco-friendly interiors, all whilst exploring the world of restaurant design.
There are many factors which influence the sale or re-sale of residential properties, and in this module you will focus on how to design interiors that sell! By designing two different properties for clients who will not be the intended residents the way in which you communicate your ideas will be different. As part of this module you will learn how to produce letters to clients, design packs and 3D visuals.
In this module you will be given the tools you need to create your own design practice and a marketing plan specifically tailored to you and your chosen career path. You will also explore the importance of branding to a business, and be given the opportunity to develop your own brand, which can form part of your portfolio and used to develop your future career prospects. You will also have the skills required to work within an existing practice at a professional level.
The main focus on this module is furniture and furnishings, together with everything you have learned at this point to produce an interior design scheme to meet a specific client brief. There is a choice of different briefs within this module, allowing you to tailor the direction of your own study. Alongside this you will explore the history of furniture and furnishings, the placement of these features and look at major high-end suppliers. For this module you will also complete 40 hours of work experience which will give you a unique insight into the design industry.
This module has two study options, which allows you to choose a project for your portfolio within the area of design that appeals to you most. Option 1 is exhibition design and within this you will explore the two main exhibition approaches; commercial trade shows and exhibitions within a gallery space. There are many elements to explore, including the visitor experience and branding.
Option 2 for this module focuses on hotel design and tracks the evolution of this global industry. You will be given the opportunity to work with a building of your choice, developing an understanding for the impact a site will have on a target market and concept. This is a rich and diverse subject which will prove invaluable to anyone wanting to specialise in this area of design.
It is at this stage of the course that you will truly get to choose the direction of the work you produce, starting with the research of a topic close to your heart. If there is an area of design that you are passionate about, then this is an exciting opportunity to incorporate this into your degree. Within this module you will write a dissertation, with the support and guidance of your tutor, who by now will have a great understanding of you and how you study. This dissertation will then feed into your final module; the independent study.
Building on the topic you have developed in the Research Study module, with the support of your tutor, you will be given double the amount of time of the previous modules, to focus on your chosen design based project. This will be the culmination of three years of hard work and will bring together all the skills you have learnt along the way. This module will provide you with visuals, presentation boards, development sketches and technical drawings to add to your portfolio.
A sample of work completed by our talented interior design students
The Final year of this BA (Hons) is available as a ‘top-up degree’
If you have already studied an FdA, BTEC, HND, or international 2 year degree or equivalent in Interior Design or relevant design subject or have professional interior design experience you can enter directly onto the final year.
Qualifications
Applicants should hold one of the following:
English Language
The course is taught in English, so international students will require a good standard of written English to study. IELTS average 6.5 or TOEFL score of 550 is usually required, however all students are considered on an individual basis as we are aware that many international students have already been taught in English at school, college or university.
Don’t Meet the Requirements?
No problem! If you do not have the required qualifications to study a degree you can study an NDA Diploma either online or in-studio, for a guaranteed place on one of our online Bachelor’s Degrees afterwards. Please view our Diploma course guide for more information about NDA Diploma courses.
Progression
Take your career to the next level!
Career
The interior design industry is growing year on year and the demand for qualified interior designers is on the rise globally. Have a look through our Student Spotlights to see what they have achieved.
Our Diploma in Professional Soft Furnishings & Curtain Making is the ideal course if you want to design your own projects, help your friends and family
At the National Design Academy, many of our graduates decide that they want to go it alone and start their own practice. Because of this,
I understand that good designs shape people’s lives, influences their behavior and must always have a purpose. Because of this, everything that I do has the
* Fee per level/year subject to change after 1st August each year.
* Monthly payments include admin fee.
Hear what past and present students have to say about studying at the NDA
Our admissions team will be happy to discuss your options.
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