BA (Hons) Interior and Spatial Design
Start date
September 2021
Subject area
Architecture
Attendance
Full-time
Part-time
Learning
On campus, dual delivery
Course summary
*This course is subject to validation
This course will train creative spatial practitioners to approach design challenges towards future cities with innovation, resourcefulness and responsibility. The programme aims to prepare you for conceptualising and creatively tackling a range of design challenges, from urban realms to performance spaces and atmospheric environments.
This programme will contain a wider interdisciplinary input than the current BA (Hons) Interior Design, focusing on creative design production that includes not only elements from architecture, but also lighting and performance design, sculptural installation, retail and experience design and public urban commissions.
Download our yearbook to view examples of our students' work.
Return to campus: dual delivery
In a Covid-secure environment, enjoy learning on our state-of-the-art campuses and flex between online delivery
Find out morePlacement
Optional placement year available
Student showcase
As a design graduate, you’ll be able to showcase your work at the University of East London and at Free Range - an annual exhibition in central London for interior architecture and design students.
Great location
You’ll be right in the heart of East London, with easy access to galleries, museums and groundbreaking retail projects such as Victoria Beckham’s boutique in Mayfair, designed by renowned architect Farshid Moussavi.
Interdisciplinary
This programme will draw on principles giving students a wide knowledge of various aspects of design, interior, architecture, lighting, performance, retail and experience and sculptural.
Fees and funding
Tuition Fee Loan
You can apply for a loan to cover the cost of your tuition fees, which will be paid directly to UEL. There are no up-front fees required. Repayment only starts after you finish your course and are earning over £25,000. If you haven’t finished repaying your loan after 30 years it will be automatically cancelled.
To apply visit gov.uk/student-finance
Maintenance Loan
You can apply for a loan to help with living costs such as food, travel and accommodation. How much you can borrow depends on where you live and study, and whether you are currently on welfare benefits. The maximum loan you can apply for is £12,729.
To apply visit gov.uk/student-finance
Supplementary Grants
The government also offer the following additional support:
- Parents' Learning Allowance
- Adult Dependants' Grant
- Childcare Grant
- Disabled Students’ Allowance
- All nursing and many allied health students on courses from September 2020 will receive a payment of at least £5,000 a year from the government.
For further information visit gov.uk/student-finance or contact Student Finance England.
All students will receive:
Bursaries Schemes for which you can apply
- Care Leaver and Foyer Bursary - up to £1,500
- Progression Bursary - up to £2,000
- Engagement Bursary - up to £2,000
- Hardship Bursary - up to £2,000
- Helena Kennedy Foundation - £1,500
- Going Global – awards range from £300 - £700
Scholarships Schemes for which you can apply
- Vice Chancellor Scholarship - up to £27,750 over three years
- Dean Scholarship - up to £13,500 over three years
- Civic Engagement Scholarship - £1,000
- EU Scholarship (EU Only) - £1,000
- ELSEF Scholarship - £1,000
- UTC Scholarship - £1,500
- Sports Scholarships - up to £6,000
There are a number of external organisations that offer financial help to
students. Please see the list below list to view additional support options.
Alternatively, you can visit the Scholarship Search website.
Please note that the University of East London is not responsible for
the content of these external sites and is not associated in any way
with the funding schemes and their application processes.
The Student Money Advice and Rights Team (SMART) are here to help you navigate your finances while you are a student at the University of East London.
We can give you advice, information and guidance on government and university funds so that you receive your full funding entitlement.
Email: study@uel.ac.uk
Phone: 020 8223 4444
You don't need to pay this up front.
EU, EEA and Swiss Nationals starting a course in September 2021, will no longer be eligible for Home fees. However, such nationals benefitting from Settled Status or Citizens' Rights may become eligible for Home fees as and when the UK Government confirms any new fees regulations. Further information can be found at UKCISA.
Tuition fees are subject to annual change. Fees for future years will be published in due course.
Tuition Fee Loan
You can apply for a loan to cover the cost of your tuition fees, which will be paid directly to UEL. There are no up-front fees required. Repayment only starts after you finish your course and are earning over £25,000. If you haven’t finished repaying your loan after 30 years it will be automatically cancelled.
Maintenance Loan
Part-time students can access maintenance loans from Student Finance England.
From academic year 2018/19, part-time students can access maintenance loans from Student Finance England.
You can apply for a loan to help with living costs such as food, travel and accommodation.
Part-time students need to study their courses at a rate of at least
25% of an equivalent full-time course in each academic year.
For further information visit gov.uk/student-finance
We appreciate that finance is one of the key considerations when you are applying to university. That's why alongside your Government loan, you can apply for scholarships to help towards your finances. We have invested over £2 million worth of scholarships to financially assist new students, starting in September 2019. If you are awarded a scholarship you don't need to pay it back.
All students will receive:
Ebooks
Bursaries Schemes for which you can apply
Scholarships Schemes for which you can apply
There are a number of external organisations that offer financial help to
students. Please see the list below list to view additional support options.
Alternatively, you can visit the Scholarship Search website.
Please note that the University of East London is not responsible for
the content of these external sites and is not associated in any way
with the funding schemes and their application processes.
The Student Money Advice and Rights Team (SMART) are here to help you navigate your finances while you are a student at the University of East London.
We can give you advice, information and guidance on government and university funds so that you receive your full funding entitlement.
Email: study@uel.ac.uk
Phone: 020 8223 4444
Price per 30 credit module.
EU, EEA and Swiss Nationals starting a course in September 2021, will no longer be eligible for Home fees. However, such nationals benefitting from Settled Status or Citizens' Rights may become eligible for Home fees as and when the UK Government confirms any new fees regulations. Further information can be found at UKCISA.
At UEL, we understand that studying in another country is a big financial commitment. If you apply early for an undergraduate, you may be entitled to a scholarship of up to £3,000.You can find out more about the international scholarships here.
The Student Money Advice and Rights Team (SMART) also run an Emergency International Fund to assist international students in hardship.
You can contact our SMART team on 02082233333 or study@uel.ac.uk
As part of the Tier 4 student visa requirements, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) estimate that you will need £1,265* per month to cover your living costs. It includes expenses for accommodation, food and drink, travel within London, text books, entertainment, clothing, toiletries and laundry. Most Tier 4 students are required to show they have sufficient funds to cover the first nine months of the course before they start- a total of £11,385- in addition to the tuition fees. You can find more information about the specific requirements of the Tier 4 student visa here. The amount that you will spend can vary depending on your lifestyle. The UKCISA International Student Calculator can help you plan and manage your money. Please make sure you also factor in the fees for the visa application and immigration health surcharge when budgeting.
* Please note the Immigration Rules are subject to change and this figure is likely to be increased by UKVI year on year. Please therefore check our ISA pages for more information at the time of preparing your visa application.
Deposits and paying by instalments
International students are required to pay a deposit prior to being issued a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS).
Your remaining balance will be paid in five monthly instalments over your first term. The first of these instalments must be paid when completing your enrolment on arrival at UEL. Please follow the payment instructions here.
After the required payment has been made, you will be asked to complete the online International Student Reply Form to confirm your acceptance of our offer and of our terms of admittance and fees policy.
Our International team at UEL are available for advice and guidance on studying in London, fees, scholarships and visa requirements.
Email: international@uel.ac.uk
Entry requirements
- September 2021
-
Degree
96
New UCAS Points
Access to HE Diploma (QAA approved) with 60 credits overall and 45 credits at Level 3
We will also consider the UEL New Beginnings pre-entry course
The portfolio is a very important part of the application process. It should reflect broad examples of your work. This will be used as evidence of your creative ability and potential.
Your portfolio may include paintings, drawings, sketches, a personal sketchbook, design and photographic work, 3D-modelling, work in progress, etc. It should exhibit an understanding of spatial awareness.
We like to see the creative and planning processes that have contributed to your work, not just the final pieces. We also like to see some work that reflects your own personal interests, i.e. work that you might have undertaken in your own time.
We want to see your passion for your work and you’re expected to present the portfolio in a positive and interesting manner. You will be expected to display care and thought in the way that your portfolio is presented; the organisation is no less important than the content.
Overall IELTS score of 5.5 with a minimum of 5.5 in Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking (or recognised equivalent).
If you do not meet the academic English language requirements for your course, you may be eligible to enrol onto a pre-sessional English programme. The length of the course will depend on your current level of English and the requirements for your degree programme. We offer a 5-week and an 11-week pre-sessional course. Find out more here.
Level 2 equivalences such as Level 2 Functional Skills in English / Maths, Level 2 Key Skills in Communication / Application of Number and Level 2 Adult Literacy / Adult Numeracy
Please note that some courses require applicants to meet the entry requirements outlined on the course page. Our pre-entry Information Advice and Guidance Team are able to provide further advice on entry requirements and suitability for study.
What you'll learn
This course is designed to give you the opportunity to provide an educational and creative framework that enables you to become a designer.
Through exploring existing and new building contexts you will will design for potential users in an array of timescales. You will learn many types of analogue and digital representation techniques as well as a theoretical and historical context that will prepare you for employment. The course offers a spatial design skill set applicable across public and private commissions, urban and domestic interiors, to train agile and visionary design practitioners to deal with the challenges of future cities. You will experience professional practice through learning from office mentors and completing ‘live projects’ to further increase your access to the design industry.
These skills are in high demand in both public and private sectors, with an increasing number of placemaking projects being developed across London and globally – as part of strategic urban developments. This course will familiarise students with these developments and articulate their imagination into professionally transferable skills to generate such new designs, from public realms to pavilions, retail and community spaces, and multi-function public and urban projects.
What you'll study and when
- Year 1 – all core
- Year 2 – all core
This course offers the opportunity of year-long placement between years two and three. If you choose to take this option, you’ll spend your third year on a placement with a relevant company or organisation, adding valuable practical experience to your growing academic knowledge.
The extra placement year means it will take four years to complete your studies, instead of three.
- Year 3 – all core
How you'll be assessed
You will be provided with feedback throughout the year on their progress during tutorial sessions. All modules are assessed individually against specific criteria, at the end of the academic year. Studio work that is developed throughout the course will be assessed within a design portfolio with supporting studies in the form of a bound report. We can also assess online and multi-media submissions appropriately. There will be no closed-booked examinations in this course. A final assessment takes place at the end of each academic year. Feedback is provided within 15 working days in line with UEL’s assessment and feedback policy.
Course specificationHow you'll learn
You will learn how to create event and exhibition design, retail spaces, and new public realms, operating strategically with materials, atmospheres and technologies. You will be encouraged to experiment with conceptualisation and narration and find ways of intelligently tackling the design of human and experience-centric environments.
You will operate with digital and analogue skills and technologies, while developing a historical, critical and contextual knowledge of architecture, design and spatial speculation. You will work with creative tools to convey atmospheres and experiences based on clients’ needs. You will design temporary, pop-up environments, through a focus on material development and multi-sensorial spatial experience.
• Guided independent study
We are investing in key areas beyond your studies including
our career services, library and well-being, to be available both face-to-face
on campus and online with many of these available 24/7. We have new, modern
library facilities on both campuses offering inspirational environments for
study and research. Libraries contain resources in print and digital formats, a
range of study spaces and dedicated librarian who can assist with your
learning.
• Academic
support
Students are supported with any academic or subject related
queries by an Academic Advisor, module leaders, former and current UEL
students.
If you need a bit of extra help with certain skills such as
academic writing, maths or IT, our Skillzone and English for Academic Purposes
we offer workshops, drop-in sessions and one-to-one appointments to help our
students achieve their potential. You can receive advice and guidance on all
aspects of the IT systems provided by the university from our IT Service Desks
located on all three campuses.
Our Student Support hubs in Docklands and Stratford feature
centralised helpdesks to cater for your every need. UEL provides also support
and advice for disabled students and those with specific learning difficulties
(SPDs).
• Workload
Each year you will spend around 300 hours of timetabled
learning and teaching activities. These may be lectures, workshops, seminars
and individual and group tutorials. Contact hours may vary depending on each
module.
The approximate percentages for this course are:
Year 1: scheduled teaching – 300 hours; guided independent
study – 900 hours.
Year 2: scheduled teaching – 300 hours; guided independent
study – 900 hours.
Year 3: scheduled teaching – 300 hours; guided independent
study – 900 hours.
The size of classes can vary depending on the nature of the
course, module and activity. This can range from large groups in a lecture
theatre setting, to smaller groups taking part in seminars and collaborative
work. You will receive your personalised timetable at the beginning of the
academic year dependent on your course.
Your future career
BA (Hons) Interior and Spatial Design gives you a strong platform for employment in a wide variety of careers in the fields of interior design, architecture, theatre design, product design, exhibition design and public art experience.
Whether it is a career in architecture or interiors, this course also allows students to explore more niche pathway such as public art, installation art, experiential design, VR environments and theatre design. BA (Hons) Interior and Spatial Design positions you directly in the paths of employers in the field by pairing final year projects with cutting-edge professional offices in and around London. Your valuable work in dialogue alongside these mentors leads you to be rubbing shoulders with your potential future employers.
This course will also ensure you graduate with a wide-ranging skillset including AutoCad, Vectorworks, Adobe InDesign and Photoshop, Sketchup Pro 3D modelling and real-time rendering software. Whilst also ensuring that you are able to progress on to employment with rigorous professional life teaching to prepare an industry-standard CV, cover letter and portfolio.
Explore the different career options you can pursue with this degree and see the median salaries of the sector on our Career Coach portal.
