Interior Design

This course builds the technical skills and professional knowledge you'll need to build a successful interior design career.  

You'll develop design proposals for a wide range of interior spaces, such as restaurants, hotels and community centres. Spending most of your time in the studio, you'll work on design projects of your own, as well as in groups and with external clients.  

You'll learn about contemporary designers, how they work, and the projects they've completed. This will include visits to production companies, studios and exhibitions.  

In today's design world, sustainability is paramount. We'll explore the social, environmental and ethical factors of design. You'll develop key writing and communication skills as your progress, leading to an extended essay in your final year.

Year one
Collaborate and explore. Build the knowledge and professional skills you’ll need to thrive in Interior Design. We introduce you to key designers and sectors before you begin to learn through making.

Working in small groups, you’ll collaborate on projects in our inspiring design studios. You’ll explore spatial elements through observational drawing, 3D sketching, modelling and model-making.

You’ll use industry-standard software and build skills in Computer Aided Design (CAD). You'll also study the technical practices that underpin successful designs, including drawing conventions, lighting plans, floor plans and elevations.

Year two
Build your knowledge. Focus on the ways you can use your skills in your future career. We'll explore the different avenues for your professional practice through critical thinking and problem solving.

Through live client projects and competitions, you’ll apply your knowledge and skills to real life scenarios. You’ll learn to manage budgets and balance the cultural, environmental and social elements of a design.

You'll also turn your focus to future employment, whether in the private sector, commercial world, or as a freelancer. As you progress through the course, you'll build your individual identity as a designer. You'll focus on how to communicate this through your CV, cover letter, networking skills and social presence.

Year three
Curate, exhibit and promote your work. In your final year, you’ll research and deliver your final major project at different scales. This gives you an in-depth understanding of construction and the tactile qualities of materials in practice.

Assessment is 100% based on coursework. We'll provide you with constructive feedback, so you’ll know how to improve or develop your work.  

We also provide verbal and written feedback during each module, through tutorials, seminar sessions, and group critiques.

How we teach you will evolve as you progress through the course. You'll soak up the atmosphere in our creative studios while working on projects. You'll make by hand and create digital responses to project briefs.  

We'll introduce you to our Art and Design workshops in a range of techniques such as 3D printing, metalwork and wood. You'll also learn through: 

• Taught practical sessions  
• Individual and group tutorials  
• Seminars and group work 
• Lectures  
• Directed or self-directed projects  
• Live projects  
• Study trips  
• Personal presentation, display, and documentation of work.  

Your tutors will share learning materials online through our Virtual Learning Environment, as well as other web-based resources. You’ll also have access to our specialist art and design library.  

To find out more about how we teach and how you'll learn, please read our Learning and Teaching Delivery Statement.

As part of your degree, you could study abroad on a placement at one of Bath Spa’s partner universities.

You can take your Interior Design degree into a wide range of professional careers. You could work in a traditional architectural or interior design role, such as: 

• Interior designer 
• Space planner 
• Lighting designer 
• Exhibition designer 
• Furniture designer 
• Colour consultant  
• Project manager 
• Visual merchandising designer 
• Art and Design teacher / lecturer. 

You could also enter specialist roles, such as: 

• Modelmaker 
• Animator 
• Digital modelmaker and visualiser 
• Journalist 
• Photographer 
• Theatre, TV and film set designer 
• Stage and production designer 
• Design technologist. 

Some of our graduates have gone onto careers in the retail, hospitality and residential sectors.

If you’re a full-time undergraduate student starting your first year at Bath Spa University, you can apply for the Certificate in Global Citizenship, which you’ll study alongside your degree.

You’ll gain global awareness and add an international dimension to your student experience, and funding is available. On successful completion of the programme, you’ll be awarded a Certificate in Global Citizenship. This is in addition to your degree; it doesn’t change your degree title or results.

The Professional Placement Year (PPY) provides you with the opportunity to identify, apply for, and secure professional experience, normally comprising one to three placements over a minimum of nine months. Successful completion of this module will demonstrate your ability to secure and sustain graduate-level employment.

By completing the module, you'll be entitled to the addition of 'with Professional Placement Year' to your degree title.

Before your PPY, you'll work to identify roles of interest and secure a placement. The Placements Team will support through timetabled sessions and 1:1 appointments.

As well as completing a minimum of 900 placement hours, you will complete two assessments demonstrating your skill development, growth in professional behaviours and how the PPY has impacted your future career aspirations.

As a BA Interior Design student you’ll benefit from access to comprehensive digital workshops and specialist art and design facilities, including:

• Our student service point at Locksbrook where you can purchase subsidised art and design materials, hire out equipment for free and collect Library resources
• Access to our well-stocked Library at Newton Park
• Specialist technical workshops across all of art and design
• Access to studio space where you can work on projects and refine your practice