Design intricacies intertwined with a culture that is irresistible, this is what you can expect while studying interior design in UK. The United Kingdom as a study abroad destination is preferred by international students because of its academically enriching experiences, and breathtaking design spaces. Eight of the UK's institutes have been ranked in the world’s 100 best Art & Design universities as per the QS World University Rankings, 2021.
UK as a study destination is known for offering both, degrees and short courses in the field of interior design. In this blog we find out all about pursuing a degree in the field including interior design courses abroad in UK, best university, admission requirements and more.
Interior Design in UK: An Overview
Interior design courses in UK include both bachelors and masters study level programs. Some of the best universities for interior design in UK offer international students with world class education. Apart from this, international students also can get hold of easily available job opportunities, after pursuing an interior design degree in UK.
Let us take a look at an overview of pursuing studies in interior design in UK:
|
Popular Courses |
MDes Interior Design MA Interior Design BA (Hons) Interior and Spatial Design BA (Hons) Design |
|
English Proficiency |
Required |
|
Average tuition fee for international students |
£10,000 - £35,000 |
|
Additional Requirements |
Portfolios and Interviews |
Top Interior Design Courses Abroad in UK
Popular art and design institutes have umpteenth number of interior design courses abroad in UK at various study levels. All of the courses train students to be best in the interior design industry.
The span for bachelors courses in interior design range from 3-4 years, and for masters programs in interior design range from 1-2 years. Many interior design universities in UK also offer international students with certificate programs and short courses.
Given below are some popular interior design courses abroad in UK that are most preferred by international students :
|
Courses |
Best Universities |
|
MA Interior Design |
Royal College of Art |
|
MA Interior and Spatial Design |
University of Arts London |
|
MDes Design |
Oxford University |
|
BA Design |
Glasgow School of Design Goldsmiths, University of London |
|
BA (Hons) Interior Design |
University of Arts London Goldsmiths, University of London |
|
BA (Hons) Interior and Spatial Design |
University of Arts London |
|
Architectural and interdisciplinary studies |
London College of Art |
SUGGESTED: Explore some other Best Courses to Study in UK
Best Universities for Interior design in UK
The interior design degree in UK is very popular among international students. Numerous universities which have been recognised and ranked internationally offer international candidates with education which is exemplary and industry-oriented.
Some of the top universities in UK for interior design have been tabulated below:
- Royal College of Art
- University of Arts London
- Glasgow School of Arts
- Goldsmiths, University of London
- Loughborough University
- University of Oxford
- University College London
- Brunel University London
Let us now discuss the top 5 of these interior design institutions:
1. Royal College of Art
The Royal College of Art is not only the best design institution in the UK, but also stands first in the QS University Rankings for Art and Design 2021, in the world. The college offers wholly graduate courses and is known for offering MA in Interior Design which is one of the best interior design course UK.
|
QS University Ranking for Art and Design 2021 |
1 |
|
Average Tuition Fees |
£32,000 |
|
Programs Offered |
MA Architecture, MA Interior Design, MA Spatial Design |
2. University of the Arts London
University of the Arts is one of the leading interior design university UK. It offers the best programs in the field of performance arts, photography and interior design. One of the most famous programs taught at this university is the BA (Hons) Interior Design.
|
QS University Ranking for Art and Design 2021 |
2 |
|
Average Tuition Fees |
£16,450 |
|
Programs Offered |
Foundation Diploma in Art and Design, MA Industrial Design, MA Fashion Artefact |
3. Glasgow School of Art
Glasgow School of Art is one of the most prestigious universities in the UK offering both postgraduate and undergraduate programs. The university even offers short courses to international students. Most of the courses offered at the school of Art are recognised by most of the top employers in UK.
|
QS University Ranking for Art and Design 2021 |
8 |
|
Average Tuition Fees |
£18,960 |
|
Programs Offered |
BA (Hons) Interior Design, BArch, BA (Hons) Communication Design |
4. Goldsmiths, University of London
Famous for offering the best BA (Hons) Design, Goldsmiths, University of London is quite popular among the international population, because of its location, and academically enriching experiences. International students also get to gain a lot of industry experience at Goldsmiths.
|
QS University Ranking for Art and Design 2021 |
15 |
|
Average Tuition Fees |
£21,380 |
|
Programs Offered |
BA (Hons) Design, MA Design, International Foundation Certificate in Design |
5. Loughborough University
The design school at Loughborough University has been ranked at the first position for offering employers with the most employable design graduates. One of the most popular degrees offered at the Loughborough University is the BA (Hons) Design degree, which acclimatizes students with field projects, and numerous hands-on learning experiences.
|
QS University Ranking for Art and Design 2021 |
31 |
|
Average Tuition Fees |
£25,700 |
|
Programs Offered |
BA (Hons) Design, BA (Hons) Fine Arts, BEng (Hons) Product Design Engineering |
SUGGESTED: Take a look at the top Fashion Colleges in London
Let us now take a look at the admission requirements for pursuing Interior design course in UK-
Eligibility and Requirements to study Interior Design in UK
If you are looking to pursue an interior design degree in UK, there are certain requirements that are common with most interior design universities in UK. Getting into a renowned interior design university UK is very much possible if you have high grades, and most importantly possess the ability to dwell and pursue a career in the field of interior design.
Some interior design universities in UK may have a slight chance of asking students for requirements that may be a tad bit different, and additional on a case by case basis.
The eligibility criteria for getting admitted into an interior design college in UK is as follows:
- High school transcripts
- Bachelor's degree (for PG courses)
- English language proficiency score
- Additional requirements (portfolios, interviews, work experience)
Let us elaborate each of these below:
1. High School Transcripts
High school transcripts (with a minimum of 60%) are essential for application to both UG and PG courses in the field of interior design. It is important for international students to submit officially translated transcripts in English.
2. Bachelor's Degree
When applying for masters programs, students are required to submit bachelors degree in a field related to design. Some universities also accept other bachelors degrees in other fields provided relevant subjects have been studied.
3. English Language Proficiency
Majority of best universities for interior design in the UK ask international students for an IELTS score of 6.0 with no band below 5.5. Other test scores like TOEFL, CAE, CPE, PTE can also be submitted.
4. Additional Requirements
Additional requirements like portfolios (10-20 pages), interviews are also asked for by top universities in UK for interior design. Work experience is also essential for students willing to study masters courses in interior design.
RECOMMENDED: Know all about How to Apply to UK Universities
|
NOTE: The requirements may vary with each university and are subject to change. Therefore, make sure you check with the official website of the university. |
Now that you are aware of the requirements, let us take a quick look at the cost of studying Interior design in UK for international students:
Cost of Studying Interior Design in UK
The cost of attendance in UK varies for each course that you may be interested in taking. The cost of attendance can further bifurcate into the cost of living, which includes living expenses in the UK and cost of studying an interior design degree in UK.
Here is a quick look at the average tuition fee range fees for most universities degrees in interior design:
|
Degree Type |
Average Annual Tuition Fees |
|
Bachelors Degree |
£10,000 - £20,000 |
|
Masters Degree |
£25,000 - £35,000 |
SUGGESTED: A complete breakdown of the cost of ling in UK for international students
The cost of studies may seem high, but are totally worth it considering the job opportunities in the field:
Future Prospects after Studying Interior Design in UK
Many interior design universities in UK offer placement offers to international students after they graduate from the university. Interior design as a field will offer you a variety of opportunities in UK to begin with. Being a vast process, interior design demands an intricate expertise at each stage.
Some universities in UK also offer students with placement programs wherein students are taught further details in the field in order to get placed efficiently. Students earn an average salary of £30,000 to £70,000 after completing their degree from top UK universities.
Some top recruiters in the field of interior design are:
- Norman Foster and Partners
- Orange and Uniter Designers
- Muji
- Bill Dunster Architects
Let us now look at some of the top paying job profiles in the field of interior design:
|
Jobs |
Average Annual Salary |
|
Interior designer |
£67,000 |
|
Kitchen designer |
£42,200 |
|
Landscaper |
£50,000 |
|
Architectural designer |
£80,000 |
|
Design manager |
£115,000 |
Before we wrap up, we have tried to answer a few commonly asked questions about studying interior design in UK:
Frequently Asked Questions about Interior Design Degree UK
- Which are the top interior design universities in UK?
Ans. The top interior design universities in UK are:
- Royal College of London
- University of Arts London
- Glasgow School of Arts
- How much does BA (Hons) in Interior Design cost?
Ans. BA (Hons) in Interior Design costs around £10,000 to £20,000 on an average for international students.
- Is it easy to get a job after pursuing an interior design course UK?
Ans. Yes! A placement drive offers interior design graduates with an average salary of £28,000.
- What is the most popular undergraduate course in interior design?
Ans. The most popular undergraduate course is BA (Hons) Interior Design.
A plethora of career opportunities, extravagant design spaces, amiable experiences await you, if you are looking to study interior design in UK. If you are someone who is willing to experience a student life in one of the best study destinations in the world, UK is definitely the place for you!
