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BA (Hons) Interior Design

  • Placement year available
How to apply Come to an Open Day

Introduction to our Interior Design degree

Interior designers work with clients to create attractive, safe and functional rooms and spaces. Study BA (Hons) Interior Design at ARU in Cambridge, and develop your creative vision.

Alumni success: Eleanor Penny

Eleanor graduated from our BA (Hons) Interior Design in 2020 and now works for design studio Layrd Design.

Discover how our course helped Eleanor achieve her dream career
Times Higher Education (THE) Awards 2023 logo

Study at an award-winning university

We're the Times Higher Education (THE) University of the Year. We've also been awarded a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework – a reflection of the outstanding education we offer our students.

As an interior designer you might work with homeowners, public bodies and businesses. You'll consider the use of furniture, lighting, flooring, artwork and decoration, decor and colour pallettes to create residential or commercial spaces that people enjoy using.

To become a professional interior designer you'll typically need a university degree in interior design or a related subject. Practical experience is also valuable and here at ARU, you'll receive ongoing support to find placements and work experience. You can also choose to take an optional placement year in industry as part of your Interior Design degree.

With our small studio groups, your tutors will really get to know you and your work, and help you become a resilient interior designer with a distinctive creative voice.

Our BA (Hons) Interior Design scored 95% for Academic Support and 93% for Teaching on my Course in the National Student Survey 2023.

Course options

Course options

Key facts

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Entry Requirements

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Fees and Paying for University

Facilities and showcase

Industry-standard facilities

As well as our dedicated interior design studio, you’ll have use of facilities including:

  • 3D workshops for physical media including wood, plastic, metal and clay
  • specialist printmaking workshop including etching, screen-printing and lithography
  • dedicated Mac and PC suites with the latest software including Adobe Creative suite
  • Ruskin Gallery, a professional digital art gallery
  • photography and media facilities including darkrooms; studios; film processing; digital printing suite; video editing; and professional equipment loans
  • life drawing studio.

Futures Lab and workshop equipment

Our new digital workshop includes a variety of computer aided manufacturing machines, helping you learn up to date manufacturing and design processes as well as supporting many traditional techniques. These technologies include:

  • 3D printers and scanners - FDM printers; material-specific extruders; SLA Formlabs printers; SLS Formlabs Fuse1; structured light 3D scanners
  • 2D printing and cutting machines - laser cutters; Roland BN20 vinyl printer & cutter; Gerber substrate cutter; Mimaki TX300P sublimation printer.

Take a closer look

Our Creative Showcase shines a spotlight on what makes ARU creative and cultural – our spaces, places and people. Find out more about our community, the difference we make, the stories we tell, and the things that inspire us.

Meanwhile, Present is an exhibition that you curate for yourself. Explore the work of our graduating students in this eye-catching virtual degree show.

Alternatively, take a guided tour and meet our students.

Careers

Our BA (Hons) Interior Design degree will prepare you to work with architects or in spatial design practices on residential, commercial, hospitality, health, lighting, entertainment or furniture design projects. You might decide to set up your own interior design practice after you graduate.

The creative skills you develop will also help you find a career in the visual arts, film, television, event and theatre design, or exhibition and museum design; while the management skills will be useful for project management roles on creative projects.

Graduation doesn’t need to be the end of your time with us, of course. You might choose to continue your studies with one of our full- or part-time Masters degrees. Take advantage of our Alumni Scholarship and get 20% off your fees.

Employability and personal career development

Informed by employers, our courses support an integrated approach to employability. You’ll have opportunities to develop the skills and abilities they are looking for and gain a deeper understanding of how your academic learning relates to the world of work through Live Briefs and Ruskin Modules.

You will need to dedicate time outside of your course to develop your employability, through placements, internships or volunteering or through our partner scheme Students at the Heart of Knowledge Exchange (SHoKE). You can evidence this experience on your CV and talk about it in interviews to give you that all important edge.

Our Employability and Careers Service offers a range of expert advice and support to build your unique professional profile, including tailored career appointments, advice on writing your CV, and help to complete job applications. You’ll have 24/7 access to the Careers Centre, our comprehensive online digital resource, which empowers you to start building a Personal Career Development Plan from the very start. Design your future at ARU.

Professional benefits

As an Interior Design BA (Hons) student at ARU, you can access resources, exhibitions and competitions by becoming a student member of:

Apply now for BA (Hons) Interior Design

Life in Cambridge

Our friendly, bustling campus is a stone’s throw from the centre of Cambridge, often described as the perfect student city.

Our favourite places in Cambridge Did you know...? Facts about Cambridge Watch: Our Cambridge

Want to talk to someone?

Do you have a question that we haven't answered so far? Talk to our application experts. You can also ask our Student Ambassadors about life at ARU.

We're here Monday-Thursday 9am-5pm (please note we close at 3.30pm on the first and third Thursday of the month for staff training), and Friday 9am-4.30pm.

Build your portfolio

Applying for one of our art and design courses? Get expert advice on putting together a portfolio that showcases your skills.

Portfolio tips and advice

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