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HomeStudyUndergraduate StudyInterior Design BA(Hons)

Interior Design BA(Hons)

Delve into the world of built spaces, interior environments and the people who inhabit them. Through live projects and industry partnerships, you’ll tackle the issues facing modern society. Engaging in innovative thinking and collaborative working, you’ll be well placed to join the industry’s next generation of creative talent.

Digital mock up of meeting space designed by student George Hutchinson.

Key details

LocationFalmouth Campus
Course Duration3 years
AttendanceFull-time
UCAS codeW252
Contact01326 254350

Apply now

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Introduction

This interior design course will give you the opportunity to explore commercial, architectural and decorative spaces. With an eye to the future, competitive industry internships and a design mentor scheme which aims to create your foothold in the industry.

You will:

  • Take innovative live-build projects to events such as the London Design Festival.
  • Hone your skills through live projects and pitch ideas to gain a competitive industry placement.
  • Engage with the creative and collaborative work ethic of the future through interdisciplinary projects.
  • Discover new ways of expressing yourself through our studio culture, IT suite and workshops.
  • Draw inspiration from our extensive materials library – essential for any passionate interior designer.
  • Have the opportunity to study abroad through the Erasmus scheme and join us on optional study trips to events such as Milan Furniture Fair and Stockholm Design Week.*

* Due to ongoing restrictions on travel due to the Covid-19 pandemic and uncertainty over the future of the UK's participation in Erasmus+ due to Brexit, we cannot guarantee study exchanges as a part of this course.

Covid-19 update

In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, we have reviewed and made changes to our courses to provide flexible, blended delivery that offers high-quality digital engagement and access to face-to-face teaching in our facilities. You can see how your course may be adjusted by viewing the changes for the current academic year by visiting our welcome letters & latest course updates pages

  • Students
  • Graduates
  • Course details
  • How to apply
  • Fees, costs & funding
  • Ask a student

    What our students do

    Article
    Article

    Talented Falmouth Design Students Win National Competition

    19 August 2020
    Congratulations to Falmouth University students, Emily Robson and Romina Arellano-Templer, for...
    Article
    Article

    Frugi Feedback for Hollie

    16 March 2020
    First year Interior Design student Hollie Milne designed a trade stand for Frugi, the UKs leading...
    Article
    Article

    Interiors that are Lit

    2 December 2019
    Interior Design students have been playing with light and architecture to transform some of the...
    Article
    Article

    Award Win for Design Student

    23 September 2019
    Interior Design student Fiona Poon has won the Public Space Design category in this year's Get me 2...
    Article
    Article

    Student Gains Invaluable Design Experience

    18 September 2019
    Interior Design student Sam Viney recently undertook an internship with Resolution Interiors, an...
    Article
    Article

    Collaboration Explores the Future of Retail

    2 July 2019
    Fashion Marketing and Interior Design students have joined forces to tackle the 'future of retail'...
    Article
    Article

    Interior Design Students Intern at Prestigious Studios

    23 June 2019
    Getting an internship in a top-end design studio is an invaluable experience; it offers an...
    Article
    Article

    Learning from the Best: Design Students Explore Milan

    7 June 2019
    If you’re dreaming of becoming a designer, Milan is the place to be. As first-year students from...
    Article
    Article

    Spilling the Beans: A Collaborative Student Web Series

    5 June 2019
    Students from across departments have been collaborating on an exciting digital television project...
    Article
    Article

    Interior Design Artist Visits Falmouth

    3 June 2019
    Second-year BA(Hons) Interior Design students have enjoyed a series of workshops recently,...
    Digital artwork of aeroplane in staggered segments.
    Mock-up interior with girl walking towards staircase and wooden screens.
    Interior Design drawing of building
    Cardboard mock up of interior with orange wall and front wall folded down and held with chains.
    Display of various mock ups and illustrations of buildings and interiors.
    Interior Design drawing of inside building with two people
    Interior Design student artwork
    Interior Design student work
    Lecturers and students leaning in over table and discussing work.
    Interior Design student work
    Mock up of interior with children eating at bench tables and net on the ceiling to lie on.
    Room full of students busy working around tables on an interiors project.
    Interior Design student work
    Digital mock-up interior space with bright coloured illustrated walls.
    Mock up of grand medieval style building with a glass walkway at the top and performers.
    Sam Viney Fenty store materials
    Interior Design student work
    Interior Design student work
    Interior Design student work
    Design for multi storey restaurant with roof garden.
    Plan for a book shop interior, just a cross section coloured and bikes featured.
    Design for a multi storey jeans store for Levis.
    Students gathered around a laptop cover in stickers in the studio.
    Interior design student fixing roof of cardboard model.
    Architectural drawing of multi-floor building

    See a selection of exploratory design portfolios from our recent Interior Design BA(Hons) graduates.

    Second year internship programme 

    “Working with Interior Design students at Falmouth University enables us in industry to not only keep track of junior talent to benefit us in the long run, but it also allows us to support in honing their skills to better prepare them for entering the design world. University degrees are a great start to what we hope will be a long future for many design students, but it can only teach so much.

    The course is structured in a way to give breadth and knowledge and a broad overall sense of what the design industry is all about. With first hand connections we support in filling the gaps and keeping the conversation fresh. It’s a great privileged and honourable opportunity for us working in agencies to use our experience, much of which is varied to mentor these students so that they are fully prepared, excited and ready to start their careers as post graduates. After all they are our future”  

    – Sammi Burden, Creative Director, Bull Design

    What our graduates do

    Our graduates have become architectural illustrators for PBWC Architects, designers for LDA Design, interior designers for Areen Design, and freelance art directors for Arcade Advertising in Singapore.

    Article
    Article

    Graduate Designing Luxury Yachts

    13 January 2021
    Interior Design graduate Emily is currently working as Creative Designer for Princess Yachts, a...
    Article
    Article

    Graduate Designs at the Young Vic

    3 August 2020
    Interior Design graduate Phyllys Egharevba graduated in 2018, she is currently working freelance as...
    Article
    Article

    Graduate Designing Social Spaces that Create Connections

    3 June 2020
    Interior Design graduate Kieran O’Shea is currently working for Amarelle - a team of experts who...
    Article
    Article

    Graduate Designing Exclusive Interiors

    30 April 2020
    Megan Sandalls graduated Interior Design in 2018. She is now a Senior Interior Designer at Iroka,...
    Article
    Article

    Graduate is Design Lead at Conran

    16 April 2020
    Tabitha Organ graduated Interior Design BA(Hons) in 2015. She is currently working for Conran and...
    Article
    Article

    Graduate Designs for Luxury Experiences

    9 April 2020
    Megan Kneebone graduated BA(Hons) Interior Design in 2017. She is currently working for Imagination...
    Article
    Article

    Graduate Designs for Prestigious Hotel

    8 April 2020
    George Hutchinson graduated BA(Hons) Interior Design in 2019. He is currently working for Richmond...
    Article
    Article

    Alumni Winners in Cornwall’s 30 Under 30

    9 March 2020
    Cornwall’s 30 under 30 for 2020 have been announced. Congratulations to the Falmouth alumni who...
    Article
    Article

    Interior Design Graduate Nominated for Award

    14 November 2018
    Stephen Tozer, a recent Interior Design graduate, has been nominated for a student design...
    Article
    Article

    Design Developments at Aedas Interiors

    4 June 2018
    Heading to another country for work can be an exhilarating yet nerve-wracking experience,...

    Course details

    What you'll learn

    Through this interior design degree, you'll develop the skills to become a confident, well informed and industry-connected designer of the future. You will gain a strong understanding of how to produce a comprehensive and innovative design scheme in the area of your choice. Through collaborative and interdisciplinary projects, including live projects, you'll grow a broad range of creative skills, become a critical thinker and have the opportunity to bring your ideas to life. 

    During your internship, you'll make valuable industry connections, supporting and facilitating your path as a professional through to employment. Project work will develop your technical skills in our multi-material workshops on campus, as well as exploring new digital environments through VR and AR technologies.

    • Year one
    • Year two
    • Year three
    Year one

    This year is all about learning to think, draw and model interior space. We'll look at every aspect of interiors, from the decorative through to commercial interiors and interior architecture – supported by history and theories to develop your wider knowledge. You'll also visit sites, go on international field trips, make in the workshop and learn how to communicate ideas, both by hand and digitally.

    Modules

    Interior Design Principles 1

    With a focus on the commercial and decorative interior, you will be introduced to the core language, principles and skills that underpin the discipline through short exploratory design primers from a user, client and site perspective.

    Contextual Studies 1 / Seminal Interiors

    You'll consider critical, conceptual and communication skills in relation to the evolution of, and influences of, the interior design profession. Including a practical workshop focused on printmaking.

    Interior Design Principles 2

    This module offers an introduction to the architectural interior and the site-specific skills relevant to adaptive re-use, reimagining real interiors and applying design theory with an understanding of context and history.

    Contextual Studies 2 / Architectural Interiors

    You'll gain an understanding of the theories that relate to context, adaptive re-use and place-making, cultivating critical thinking and communications skills. Practical workshops focus on detail design.

    Year two

    Building your real-world experience, you'll collaborate on projects with industry partners to understand how to complete a project to industry standards. You'll develop your CAD skills, as well as exploring technical detailing, project management and cost analysis.

    Interdisciplinary challenges will hone your transferable skills as well as allowing you to develop great team working tactics. Through a broad range of projects, we'll expose you to the wider areas of the industry, enabling you to consider which might suit your personal career path. You'll also have the opportunity to study or gain work experience abroad in countries like Sweden, Italy, Germany and Australia.

    Modules

    Design Innovation

    In this module, you'll work on specific content through external briefs, live clients, design competitions and collaborative team projects. You'll be encouraged to challenge current thinking, typically through user-led design, investigation of interior brands and community projects.

    Professional skills 1 / Critical Thinking

    This module places emphasis on creating a professional identity, gaining work experience through internships or placements and through specialist employability workshops in professional networking skills, graphics and IT.

    Design Identity

    You'll engage in projects to develop your understanding of a chosen pathway: decorative, commercial or architectural. Industry partnerships help you to develop and connect with current industry practice. Projects introduce digital resources such as 3D printing and laser-cutting.

    Professional Skills 2 / Employability

    At this stage, you'll develop your academic writing and referencing skills, linked to graphic and visual outputs, to support your research into a current design issue.

    Year three

    You'll build a specialism, and create projects and a portfolio of work aimed at your ideal job. The Interior Design degree course finishes with a degree show and a dissertation, giving you the platform and tools to launch your career.

    Modules

    Exploratory Design Project

    This module prioritises a personal design direction or interest within interior design. It encourages you to develop innovative, creative solutions and rethink the future of interior design. It's about understanding how you use the design process, develop transferable skills and become an independent learner.

    Critical Report / Contextual and Industry Focus

    This is about honing your critical research and writing skills in the development of a body of work that reflects upon your personal practice and interior design theory.

    Comprehensive Design Project

    This final project culminates in a degree show of your work that explores the physicality of built space through a greater understanding of detail, light, colour, materiality and interior specification. It aims to create a showcase of your work for future employers and life after university.

    The modules above are those being studied by our students, or proposed new ones. Programme structures and modules can change as part of our curriculum enhancement and review processes. If a certain module is important to you, please discuss it with the Course Leader.

    From module information to course aims and assessment criteria, discover the full course details

    How you'll learn

    You'll begin by exploring everything from homes to healthcare environments, to architectural spaces, before deciding which direction most inspires you. We'll take you through the design process so that you can start to develop exciting concepts for specific users and places, as well as understanding how to develop a scheme through materials, colour and lighting in the creation of truly experiential design.

    Negotiated projects will allow you to define your own interests and personal direction within the field of interior design. This will be supplemented by the growth of more career-focused skills through master classes, live projects and industry collaborations that will ensure you are ready for the creative workplace. 

    How you'll spend your time

    Year

    Timetabled teaching and

    learning activity

    Guided independent

    study

    1

    35%

    65%

    2

    30%

    70%

    3

    25%

    75%

     

    How you'll be assessed

    Year   

    Written exams

    Practical exams

    Coursework

    1

    0%

    0%

    100%

    2

    0%

    0%

    100%

    3

    0%

    0%

    100%

      The above percentages relate to 2019/2020 data.

    Assessment methods

    • Continuous assessment with no formal examinations
    • A combination of visual, verbal and written assignments including project work, essays and seminar presentations
    • Final-year dissertation and exhibition

    Staff

    Your tutors include architects, interior designers and IT specialists. They’ve worked in places like Singapore, Hong Kong, Sydney and London, run their own studios, and designed for clients like Monsoon and Marks & Spencer.

    Some members of staff only teach on specific modules, and your course might not feature every member shown here.

    Staff profile
    Staff profile

    Fay Freeman

    Course Leader, BA(Hons) Interior Design

    Fay Freeman is the new Course Leader for BA(Hons) Interior Design having joined the University in...

    Staff profile
    Staff profile

    Jean Whitehead

    Senior Lecturer Interior Design

    Jean, a senior lecturer in Interior Design, joined Falmouth University in 2004 and is a graduate of...

    Staff profile
    Staff profile

    Amanda Losasso

    Lecturer

    Amanda is a Lecturer in Interior Design having joined the university’s interiors team in 2013. She...

    Staff profile
    Staff profile

    Stuart Watt

    Lecturer, Interior Design

    Graduating from Napier University, Edinburgh with BSc Hons Industrial Design 2:1. Spent a year...

    Staff profile
    Staff profile

    Iain Stewart-Tull

    Associate Lecturer

    Iain graduated from the Mackintosh School of Architecture with a master of architecture degree and...

    Staff profile
    Staff profile

    Megan Sadler

    Associate Lecturer

    Megan Sadler is an Associate Lecturer at Falmouth University, joining the team in 2018.

    She has...

    Staff profile
    Staff profile

    Jennifer Neal

    Associate Lecturer

    Jennifer graduated from Falmouth University in 2010 and is delighted to be back teaching here as...

    Staff profile
    Staff profile

    Caireen O'Hagan

    Associate Lecturer

    I am a practising architect and interior designer. I’ve worked for over 20 years in Glasgow, Boston...

    Staff profile
    Staff profile

    Matthew Abbott

    Senior Technician, Digital Skills, School of Architecture Design and Interiors

    Matthew joined Falmouth University in 1998 as a student on BA(Hons) 3D Design and has the...

    Facilities

    • Digital Print Centre with large format printing and scanning
    • Laser cutting facilities
    • 3D milling and rapid prototyping facilities
    • Wood and metal workshops
    • Printmaking facilities
    • Materials Library
    • Time based media resources
    • Library books and journal resources specific for Architecture and Interior Design

    Take a virtual tour

    Work by Megan Kneebone, BA(Hons) Interior Design

    How to apply

    Apply via UCAS

    Ready to join us? If you're applying through UCAS Apply and Track, you'll need to reference the university and course codes below. 

    • University code: F33
    • Course code: W252

    Apply now

    Applying as an international student? 

    International students can apply for a course through UCAS, via an agent or directly with the university. For more information about how to apply as an international student, visit our International applications page.

     

    International applications

    Application advice & interview information

    Go to Toolkit
    • Entry requirements
    • Language requirements
    • Deadlines
    Entry requirements

    We consider all applications on their own individual merit and potential. We invite all applicants to an interview day or audition to give them the opportunity to demonstrate this along with what inspires and motivates them in their field. Applicants will also be able to show their portfolio or give a performance depending on the course. We welcome applications from all subject backgrounds, whether you’ve specialised in STEM, the arts or humanities.  

    As a guide our typical offer at undergraduate level is 104 – 120 UCAS Tariff points, primarily from Level 3 qualifications such as but not limited to A-levels, a BTEC Extended Diploma or a Foundation Diploma. 

    Check how many points your qualifications are worth

    Language requirements

    For applicants whose first language is English we require you to have or be working towards GCSE English Language Grade 4 (C), or equivalent. 

    If English is not your first language you will need to meet the same standard which is equivalent to the IELTS Academic 6.0 overall score, with at least 5.5 in Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening. We accept a range of in country equivalencies and approved tests.  

    If you need a student visa to study in the UK, you'll need to take a recognised language test that is approved and vouched for by the University. You can read our English Language Requirements for more information.

    Deadlines

    UK/EU applications: 29 January 2021 (for equal consideration) 

    Late applications will be considered if there are places available. 

    International fee payers can apply throughout the year. But we recommend applying as early as possible, to make time for visa and travel arrangements.

    What we're looking for

    We want someone who:

    • Researches and considers the ideas behind visual elements
    • Is enthusiastic about the subject 
    • Gives a good portfolio presentation 
    • Can discuss issues individually and in groups 
    • Is open-minded

    Fees, costs & funding

    Tuition fees

    • Tuition fees 2020-21
    • Tuition fees 2021-22
    Tuition fees 2020-21

    £9,250 per year - full-time UK/EU

    £16,000 per year - full-time international

    Tuition fees 2021-22

    £9,250 per year - full-time UK

    £16,950 - full-time EU

    £16,950 - full-time international

    Tuition fees are set annually and are subject to review each year. The University may therefore raise tuition fees in the second or subsequent years of a course, in line with inflation and/or the maximum permitted by law or Government policy. Students will be notified of any changes as soon as possible.

    Typical course costs

    • £200-£400 - Recurring annual costs
    • £20-£40 - One-off costs for the course duration (compulsory trips, final portfolios or shows, etc)
    • £800 - Optional study visits and placements for the course duration

    If you need to bring equipment or materials with you, these will be outlined in your Welcome Letter.

    The figures above don't include accommodation and living costs

    Funding

    For information about funding available, please visit our undergraduate funding page

    Ask a student

    What better way to find out about life at Falmouth University than by asking our current students? 

    From course details, our facilities and the local area to the social scene and settling in, our students are ready and available to answer any questions you might have. Simply set up your account, send them a question and they'll get back to you within 24 hours.

     

    Open Days and Campus Tours

    See how we turn real industry experience into real careers.

    Visit us

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