UEL outshines design world heavyweights
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Published
07 October 2025
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The University of East London (UEL) has leapfrogged elite rivals to claim the UK’s number one ranking for Interior Design. The latest Guardian University Guide 2026 puts UEL ahead of art school powerhouses such as Central Saint Martins, Kingston School of Art and Chelsea College of Arts, which have dominated the league tables for decades.
As widely regarded as the definitive national benchmark for undergraduate education, the Guardian University Guide evaluates courses across teaching quality, student experience, graduate outcomes and more - making this top ranking a signal that UEL’s Interior Design course is now viewed as the gold standard in the field.
UEL’s BA (Hons) Interior Design course, taught within the School of Architecture, Computing and Engineering, has been praised for its ambitious, hands-on approach that blends creativity, technology and industry links. Led by designer and academic Pol Gallagher, alongside senior colleague Susan Ginsburgh, the course has built a reputation for pushing students to experiment while preparing them for the realities of professional practice.
Gallagher said,
We’re small but mighty. This ranking shows you don’t need to be part of a huge institution to get a world-class design education. What we offer is personal, ambitious and plugged straight into the industry.”
Students begin with analogue craft skills such as drawing, model-making and prototyping, before moving into advanced digital design, including 3D visualisation, animation and AI. By the third year, they are tackling live client briefs, exhibiting work publicly and learning how to present ideas professionally - experiences that give them a head start in the competitive design world.
Practitioners, including Carlos Torres, architect Dominic Eley and designers Diana Cochrane and Raivati Dandiwala, as well as artist Emily Mannion, ensure students gain insights from the industry as part of their everyday learning.
UEL graduates benefit from placements and professional introductions during their studies, with many staying connected to the course after graduation. The diverse student community - drawn from across east London and beyond - is seen as a vital ingredient in its success.
Gallagher added,
This is a huge moment for us, and for east London. We’re proud to be pushing creative, technological and educational boundaries in interior design - and we can’t wait to see how the next generation of UEL designers will change the industry.”
This latest news comes as the University of East London has also been shortlisted for University of the Year at the Times Higher Education (THE) Awards 2025 - one of the UK’s most prestigious higher education honours.
This shortlisting reflects UEL’s broader ambition under its Vision 2028 strategy, showcasing its work in transforming student outcomes, redefining social inclusion and strengthening its role as a university delivering real-world value to its communities.