Overview
Our BA (Hons) Interior Design degree allows you to study design in all its forms - architectural, commercial and retail, residential, furniture, set and exhibition design. You'll get the foundational interior design education and creative expertise which is vital for a thriving career in interior design. Complemented by a robust network of industry contacts, you'll be part of a supportive learning environment that ensures you graduate with the interior design skills needed for a successful future.
- Top-Rated Learning Opportunities: 95% of students surveyed on this course responded positively to questions on “The Teaching on my Course” in the 2024 National Student Survey. It also received the Interior Educators Award for Collaborative Practice, July 2022, beating 47 other UK and Irish interior design courses.
- Comprehensive Skill Development: Develop a diverse skill set in drawing, photography, model-making and spatial analysis. Learn specialist skills; observational and spatial drawing, computer drawing, model-making and material investigations. This ensures the holistic preparation required for the dynamic field of interior design.
- Exploration across design: Immerse yourself in various design forms. Engage in hands-on learning through local and London-wide site visits. Coupled with project work to challenge you in creating solutions to design briefs, this immersive approach enhances and nurtures your creative talent and design skills. It will ensure you graduate well-prepared for a successful future in interior design. Download our yearbook to view examples of our students' work.
Download our yearbook to view examples of our interior design students' work.
This course is in Clearing
Our LLM course is a top choice
UEL’s LLM programme has been recognised as a top choice in the latest PTES survey, achieving 1st place rankings for satisfaction, teaching and more.
What makes this course different

Proud to be featured in the Architect's Journal
The SpaceX of architecture schools' UEL Student Show 2023, exhibits a cohort of future architects.
Find out more about SpaceX
Highly Rated by our students
95% of students surveyed on this course responded positively to questions on “The Teaching on my Course” in the 2024 National Student Survey.
(National Student Survey 2024, Results published 10 July 2024)

4th in the country
Our Interior Design course ranks 4th nationally in the Guardian University Guide 2025.
Guardian University Guide 2025Course modules
In the foundation year, the core modules focus on developing essential design skills, including the use of various materials, techniques, and media in both 2D and 3D design. You will engage in projects that foster critical thinking, independence, and innovation while building your architecture portfolios. The modules emphasise practical workshops, historical and theoretical studies, and professional development, preparing you for specialised, enquiry-based design work and a deeper understanding of interior design.
In the first year of the interior design programme, first-year you will develop foundational skills in interior design, focusing on spatial planning, materials, and design communication through drawing, model-making, and computer-aided design. The interior design course emphasises hands-on learning, critical thinking, and professional development, integrating materiality, history, and technical studies to prepare you for creative and practical challenges in design projects. You will build confidence, experiment with techniques, and create a portfolio showcasing your evolving design abilities.
In the second year of the interior design programme, you will advance your understanding of spatial design through a focused exploration of materials, site context, and user needs. The interior design course emphasises developing creative and professional skills, including collaborative design, technical representation, and critical engagement with history and theory. You will work on resolved design projects that integrate materiality, sustainability, and social impact, preparing you for real-world challenges and refining your portfolios in the interior design field.
In the final year of the interior design programme, you will refine your expertise in producing professional, innovative, and technically competent design projects. The interior design course emphasises integrating advanced material knowledge, sustainable practices, and cultural considerations into cohesive design solutions. You will be prepared for independent practice, showcasing your skills through a capstone project and a professional portfolio that reflects graduate-level competency in interior design.
NOTE: Modules are subject to change. For those studying part time courses the modules may vary.
Download course specification
Your future career
When you graduate a wealth of opportunities within the broad area of interior design will be open to you. You may choose to go into residential design, the commercial and retail field, or architectural and design conservation. You could move into designing exhibitions or TV and stage sets, using the creativity and innovation developed in your studies. Our interior design graduates have excellent transferable skills, displaying resourcefulness and entrepreneurial qualities.
Our interior design course in London provides the perfect launching pad for a fulfilling and successful career in interior design, offering a wealth of opportunities to explore and pursue your passion.
Industry links
We have links with:
- Sir Robert McAlpine
- Museum of London
- Stanton Williams Mahler – LeWitt Residency
- Fred Rigby Studio
- Mace Interiors
- Scott Whitby Studio
- Haworth Tompkins
- Foster + Partners
- Perkins + Will
- Citizens Design Bureau
- David Adjaye Architecture
- David Chipperfield
- Weston Williamson + Partners
- Centre of Alternative Technology
Graduate employers
Our interior design graduates have gone on to work for Fred Rigby Studio, Alex Scott-Whitby, Studio M London, ZAP Architecture, These White Walls, Gatti Routh Rhodes, Turnerbates, Cake Industries, David Adjaye Architecture, Mace Interiors, Lewisham Youth Theatre, Vine Architects, Haworth Tompkins, Perkins + Will, Freshorize, Velorose and Idea Architects.
Job roles
Roles you could go into include:
- interior designer
- kitchen designer
- technical interior designer
- interior decorator
- interior architect
- project manager
Explore the different career options you can pursue with this degree and see the median salaries of the sector on our Career Coach portal.
Further study
After your interior design degree, you could go on to further study and do one of our postgraduate courses in a related design subject such as:

We empower interior designers and architects to be vibrant communicators. In Year 1 we technically train you, year 2 you find your design voice. By Year 3 you are professionally ready to work with established contacts and industry partners."Keith Winter
Course leader for BA (Hons) Interior Design
How you'll learn
We teach interior design in small groups in studios, along with supporting studies that include representation, computing, design history and theory.
We place a strong emphasis on completing 'live' group and competition projects. These will help you develop interpersonal skills and the ability to negotiate and work together. For some of these tasks, you'll study the spaces and interiors around London in minute detail. It's amazing what you see when you study something.
Through the involvement of design mentors and regular talks from visiting designers, we'll give you enviable access to and connection with the interior design industry.
We create a strong studio culture on this course where our students and academic team support each other through common design projects.
Together you'll make creative decisions and develop skills in time management. You'll become more critical and reflective about your own project work.
On our Interior Design course, you'll be working alongside students and staff from our Architecture and Product Design courses, and you'll benefit from observing, sharing and engaging with them.
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 a dedicated librarian who can assist with your learning.
Academic support
Students are supported with any academic or subject-related queries by an Academic Adviser, module leaders, and former and current UEL students. If you need a bit of extra help with certain skills such as academic writing, English, maths or statistics, our Academic Tutors 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 support and advice for disabled students and those with specific learning difficulties (SPDs).
Dedicated personal tutor
When you arrive, we'll introduce you to your personal tutor. This is the member of the academic course team who will provide academic guidance, be a support throughout your time at UEL and who will show you how to make the best use of all the help and resources that we offer.
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.
Your timetable
You will receive your personalised timetable at the beginning of the academic year depending on your course.
Class sizes
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.
How you'll be assessed
We assess all modules at the end of the academic year. Although each module is assessed separately against specific criteria, the assessed work will form part of an overall academic 'portfolio'.
Design studio work is assessed within a design portfolio and supporting studies are normally assessed in the form of a bound report or within the portfolio. We assess online and multi-media submissions appropriately. There are no closed-book examinations.
Feedback is provided within 15 working days in line with UEL's assessment and feedback policy.
Campus and facilities
Our campus and the surrounding area
Our waterfront campus in the historic Royal Docks provides a modern, well-equipped learning environment.
Join us and you'll be able to make the most of our facilities including contemporary lecture theatres and seminar rooms, art studios and exhibition spaces, audio and visual labs and a multimedia production centre.
Features include our 24/7 Docklands library, our £21m SportsDock centre, a campus shop and bookstore, the Children's Garden Nursery, cafés, eateries, a late bar, plus Student Union facilities, including a student lounge.
The University of East London is one of the few London universities to provide on-campus accommodation. Our Docklands Campus Student Village houses close to 1,200 students from around the world. We are well connected to central London and London City Airport is just across the water. We also run a free bus service that connects Docklands with Stratford campuses.
Who teaches this course
This course is delivered by the School of Architecture, Computing and Engineering
The teaching team includes qualified academics, practitioners and industry experts as guest speakers. Full details of the academics will be provided in the student handbook and module guides.
- Course leader
Dr Keith Winter
Department of Architecture & Visual Arts, School Of Architecture, Computing And Engineering - Course leader
Dr Deborah Do-Rosario-Benros
Department of Architecture & Visual Arts, School Of Architecture, Computing And Engineering - Course leader
Pol Gallagher
Department of Architecture & Visual Arts, School Of Architecture, Computing And Engineering - Course leader
Susan Ginsburgh
Department of Architecture & Visual Arts, School Of Architecture, Computing And Engineering
What our students and staff say

UEL is a special kind of student and staff community where we have a vision for young people from all walks of life, to be all that they can be, confident in their discipline and ready to tackle the professional world."
Keith Winter
Senior lecturer, Interior Design

Having been out of education for the past four years, I have found settling into UEL to be a surprisingly smooth process. The advantage of starting a newly introduced course is the one-to-one tutorial time we receive. One of the highlights of the interior design degree is the mixture of both the architectural element and the use of 'concepts' and why they are so important in design today."
Charlotte Tope
BA (Hons) Interior Design, Undergraduate