Intro

Interior designers shape the areas that we live work and play in, improving the way spaces feel and function for the people who use them.

Our Interior Design BA degree combines creativity with purpose and will inspire creative thinkers who care about people and the world around them. You’ll learn how thoughtful design can support wellbeing, solve real-world problems and bring ideas to life.

Working in studios and workshops and using digital tools like 3D modelling will help you to build a portfolio of work that stands out to employers. And taking part in live briefs and industry placements along with our industry links to connect with professionals will help launch your career.

Key facts

Location Brighton: Moulsecoomb

UCAS code W252

Full-time 3 years

New for 2026

This new course is subject to validation. This means it is in the final stage of development and some changes may still be made to the curriculum. Check back for the latest information.

After you apply we’ll let you know about any changes to the course through Student View.

What are my next steps?

Apply now with UCAS for 2025

Entry criteria

Entry requirements

A-levels or BTEC
Entry requirements are in the range of A-level BBB–BCC (120–104 UCAS Tariff points), or BTEC Extended Diploma DDM–MMM. Our conditional offers typically fall within this range.

International Baccalaureate
27 points, with three subjects at Higher level.

Access to HE Diploma
Pass with 60 credits overall. Art and design diploma preferred. At least 45 credits at level 3, with 30 credits at merit or above.

GCSE (minimum grade C or grade 4)
At least three subjects including English language and maths.

Foundation degree/HND
may enable you to start the course in year 3. Related subjects or practical or professional experience required.

Studied before or got relevant experience?
A qualification, HE credits or relevant experience may count towards your course at Brighton and could mean that you do not have to take some elements of the course or can start in year 2 or 3. 

English language requirements
IELTS 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each element. Find out more about the other English qualifications that we accept.

Don’t meet these entry requirements?
Our architecture and design integrated foundation year provides an extra year of study at foundation level if you do not have the academic qualifications or experience needed for entry to this course.

International requirements and visas

International requirements by country
Country name
Albania
Algeria
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Belarus
Belgium
Bermuda
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
Bulgaria
Burma (Myanmar)
Cameroon
Canada
Chile
China
Colombia
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Ecuador
Egypt
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Guyana
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kosovo
Kuwait
Latvia
Lebanon
Liechtenstein
Libya
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Malaysia
Malawi
Malta
Mexico
Moldova
Montenegro
Morocco
Namibia
Nepal
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nigeria
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Palestinian National Authority
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Romania
Russian Federation
Saudi Arabia
Serbia
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Sri Lanka
Syria
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Tanzania
Thailand
Tunisia
Turkey
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United States
Uzbekistan
Venezuela
Vietnam
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe

We can help you meet our English language or academic entry requirements.

View our English language courses

For pre-sessional English preparation courses.

Visit our International College

For degree preparation courses.

Visas and immigration advice

Applying for a student visa

Check out our step-by-step guidance.

Portfolio advice 

Admission to this course involves reviewing your portfolio. After you apply, we will ask you to share a link to an online portfolio of your work. This enables us to see your potential and understand your approach and motivations.

We will ask you to log on to Student View to share your portfolio link. We will not be able to progress your application to Brighton until you share your portfolio.

Creating your portfolio
We’ve put together advice and guidance to help you create and share your portfolio and we run regular online portfolio advice sessions where you can get help from our expert team.

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Contextual admissions

When you apply to Brighton we want to hear about who you are. Grades are never the whole picture; we're interested in things like creativity, resourcefulness, persistence and the capacity to think big and find new ways of doing things. And we recognise that not everyone has the same background. That's why we treat everyone who applies as an individual. We recognise many qualifications and we care about all of your achievements and the experiences you've had that set you apart.

Find out more about contextual admissions.

Graphic with the text 'Potential + possibility'

Course content

Top reasons to choose this course  

    • Develop a standout portfolio for careers or further study, through studio-based projects and live briefs, designing for real people and places.
    • Study in a city known for its creative industries, cultural diversity and sustainable ethos. Brighton’s architecture and imaginative commercial spaces offer you nearby case studies and fieldwork opportunities connecting classroom learning with contemporary practice.
    • Learn to use professional software like AutoCAD, Rhino and Cinema 4D, alongside hands-on model-making and 3D printing.
    • Portfolio workshops, industry events, links with the British Institute of Interior Design (BIID) and an optional placement year give you work experience and useful contacts to make you career ready.
    • Work in a collaborative learning environment, with architecture and interior architecture students, reflecting how real design teams work and encouraging creative exchange.
    • You’ll learn with passionate staff with industry experience, guest lecturers, and draw inspiration from our impressive alumni such as Michelle Ogundehin.

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Year 1

In your first year you’ll explore a human-centred approach to design through projects from intimate spaces to residential scale, working with real sites, contexts and users.

Modules

  • Interior Design 1: Situating the Interior
  • Architecture Criticism 1
  • Interior Design 2: Inhabiting the Interior
  • Technology: Principles

Making sure that what you learn with us is relevant, up to date and what employers are looking for is our priority, so courses are reviewed and enhanced on an ongoing basis. When you have applied to us, you’ll be told about any new developments through Student View.

Central courtyard design Austin Man Hon ChanCity of Oasis design by interior designer Austin Man Hon Chan

Year 2

In your second year you’ll focus on the narrative and commercial aspects of interior design. You’ll work on retail, hospitality, exhibition and workplace design briefs, experimenting with branding, identity and adaptive reuse and learning how to use light, material and form to communicate ideas.

Modules

  • Interior Design 3: Narrating the Interior
  • Technology: Strategies
  • Interior Design 4: Commercialising the Interior
  • Architecture Criticism 2

 

Austin Man Hon Chan interior design drawingDrawing by Austin Man Hon Chan

Placement year

A placement year gives you the opportunity to gain professional experience either through external work placements with industry partners or working on live projects. They, and make valuable industry contacts, which enhances employability upon graduation.

A year on placement strengthens your portfolio, builds confidence, develops your technical and communication skills and provides valuable contacts, giving you a competitive edge in the job market.

Previous design students at Brighton have undertaken placements in a variety of roles across the creative industries. Companies such as Interaction in Bath host student placements, offering insights into commercial interior design and workplace strategy. These experiences often lead to lasting professional relationships and even graduate job offers.

Two students talking across a desk in an architecture studio

Final year

Your final year includes a major project, where you define your own brief and develop a fully resolved design with technical drawings, models and visualisations. Exhibit your final project at the Summer Show – an exciting opportunity to present your vision to industry professionals and the public.

Modules

  • Major Design Project 1: Interior Definition
  • Architecture Criticism 3
  • Major Design Project 2: Interior Development
  • Major Design Project 3: Interior Resolution

 

Student walking across studio at art show

Facilities 

Facilities and workshops are supported by full-time specialist technicians and include: 

  • dedicated studio spaces reflecting collaborative professional practice environments
  • specialist model making and construction workshops with equipment for fabrication in wood, metal, resins, and textiles
  • photographic studios and darkroom for processing and developing film and prints
  • digital fabrication facilities including laser cutting and 3D printing rapid prototyping, 5-axis milling and CNC routing
  • PC and mac computer suites with relevant professional standard software for CAD, publishing, image manipulation, gaming and VR support
  • in-house large format printing facilities for professional quality portfolios and allow you to explore creative graphic techniques
  • surveying and audio-visual equipment used to test, explore and communicate different environments, site information or design narratives.
Architecture workshop 360

Check out the 360 videos of our workshops and photography studio.

Meet the team

Dr Zakkiya Khan, Principal Lecturer

Interior design is a deeply rewarding and fast-paced field. From commission to completion, projects often take just a few months, sometimes even as short as six weeks. This means you get to make a tangible impact frequently, learning and evolving with every project.

What I love about teaching is witnessing students transform from curious beginners into confident professionals. The student journey is an honour to witness, and it means the world to me to be a positive part of the student experience of the interior design field.

Read Zakkiya's profile here

Zakkiya Khan on a speedboat on the water

Summer shows 2024

Every year our brilliant architecture, interior architecture, product design and design engineering students show their work at the University of Brighton Summer Shows. The shows are finished for 2024 but you can still take a virtual wander and explore our student’s creative work. 

Careers

Prepare for your career 

In your career you need a combination of knowledge, skills, personal qualities and relevant experiences – and you’ll get all of this from your degree.

  • Studio-based projects: You’ll tackle real-world design challenges, developing creative problem-solving abilities and a robust portfolio.
  • Collaborative learning: Working alongside your peers from architecture and interior architecture encourages teamwork and communication across the disciplines.
  • Industry engagement: Opportunities such as live projects, guest lectures from professionals, potential placements and the graduate show provide connections and pathways to industry.
  • Technical proficiency: Training in industry-standard software and access to specialist facilities to ensure that our graduates are technically adept.

 

 

Showcasing your talent 

Reviews of work in progress are supported with in depth feedback by professionals from industry throughout your studies providing invaluable professional insight.

The course provides numerous opportunities to promote your work through exhibitions, competitions, and awards.

We are affiliated with the national community of interior educators and through them our students have won recognition as leading the field on numerous occasions. We also take part each year in New Designers, the UK's most innovative emerging design talent showcase held in London.

 

Student work at the university design show

Graduate destinations 

Graduates are well-prepared for roles such as:

  • retail and hospitality designer: shops, restaurants, cafes
  • leisure designer: hotels, lodges, holiday lets and entertainment spaces
  • workplace designer: offices, co-work and work spaces
  • residential designer: homes, co-living and apartment spaces.
  • exhibition designer: spatial narratives and displays for museums, sets, gallery and trade shows.

Our emphasis on practical experience, interdisciplinary collaboration and industry engagement ensures that when you graduate you’ll not only be knowledgeable but also adaptable and connected within the professional community.

Student exhibiting her work

Further study 

At Brighton, we offer the following postgraduate courses: 

Interior Architecture student work

Professional advice and support 

Outside of your course, our Careers and Employability team are here to support you as you discover (and rediscover) your strengths and what matters to you. We are here for you throughout your university journey as you work towards a fulfilling and rewarding career.

  • Find part-time work that you can combine with your studies.
  • Find, or be, a mentor or get involved with our peer-to-peer support scheme.
  • Develop your business ideas through our entrepreneurial support network.
  • Get professional advice and support with career planning, CV writing and interview top tips.
  • Meet potential employers at our careers fairs.
  • Find rewarding volunteering opportunities to help you discover more about what makes you tick and build your CV.

Whatever your career needs, we are here to help. And that’s not just while you are a student – our support carries on after you’ve graduated.

Find out about careers and employability at Brighton.

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Employment demand for arts graduates

The British Academy has compiled a report (May 2020) quantifying the demand for arts, humanities and social science (AHSS) skills in the workplace. It helps to answer the legitimate question of what the economic return is on undertaking a degree, both in time and money. 

According to the report:

  • As arts, humanities and social science (AHSS) graduates progress through the first ten years of their career they are able to make strong progress up the career ladder into roles attracting higher salaries
  • Arts, humanities and social science (AHSS) graduates are employed in some of the fastest growing sectors including financial services, education, social work, the media and creative industries
  • Of the ten fastest growing sectors, eight employ more graduates from AHSS than other disciplines.

This makes AHSS graduates at the heart of some of the most exciting, productive, largest and fastest-growing sectors of the UK economy.

Future skills demand

According to the report:

  • With the challenges the world is facing – climate change, global pandemics, the growth of populism – the UK needs the insights of the arts, humanities and social sciences (AHSS) as much as those from science, technology and engineering (STEM)
  • Evidence within the report shows that arts, humanities and social science (AHSS) graduates are central to these challenges and changes – they will be vital in giving us the tools to examine and explain human behaviour, understand how society functions, learn from the past and apply those lessons to the present, and analyse the drivers and implications of a changing world and how different countries, places and cultures interact.

Fees and costs

Course fees

UK (full-time) 9,535 GBP

International (full-time) 17,250 GBP

Perkins+Will Thesis Prize for Architecture

The £250 Perkins+Will Thesis Prize for Architecture is open to final-year students of the Interior Architecture BA(Hons) and the Interior Design MA. It rewards work that exhibits strong design principles and that shows concern for sustainability, social responsibility, diversity, wellness and innovation.

Interior Architecture Progression Scholarship

Open to first year Interior Architecture BA students, this scholarship provides one student with a grant of £2,000 per year for three years of study, free gym membership for Sport Brighton and a 1–2 week work placement at Charlotte Tilbury. Find out how to apply.

The fees listed here are for the first year of full-time study if you start your course in the academic year 2025–26.

You will pay fees for each year of your course. Some fees may increase each year.

UK undergraduate and some postgraduate fees are regulated by the UK government and increases will not be more than the maximum amount allowed. Course fees that are not regulated may increase each year by up to 5% or RPI (whichever is higher).

If you are studying part-time your fee will usually be calculated based on the number of modules that you take.

Find out more

Location and student life

Campus where this course is taught

Moulsecoomb campus

Two miles north of Brighton seafront, Moulsecoomb is our largest campus and student village. Moulsecoomb has been transformed by a recent development of our estate. On campus you’ll find new Students’ Union, events venue and sports and fitness facilities, alongside the library and student centre.

Over 900 students live here in our Moulsecoomb Place halls and the new Mithras halls – Brunswick, Goldstone, Hanover, Preston and Regency.

Moulsecoomb has easy access to buses and trains so you can access all the exciting things happening in our home city.

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Accommodation

We guarantee an offer of a place in halls of residence to all eligible students. So if you applied for halls by the deadline you are guaranteed a room in our halls of residence.

Brighton: Moulsecoomb

Halls of residence
We have self-catered halls on all our campuses, within minutes of your classes, and other options that are very nearby.

You can apply for any of our halls, but the options closest to your study location are:

  • Mithras Halls are stylish new high-rises in the heart of the student village at our revitalised Moulsecoomb campus with ensuite rooms for more than 800 students.
  • Varley Park is a popular dedicated halls site, offering a mix of rooms and bathroom options at different prices. It is around two miles from Moulsecoomb campus and four miles from the city centre, and is easy to get to by bus.

Want to live independently?
We can help – find out more about private renting.

Relaxing in halls

Modern accommodation at Moulsecoomb

Mithras halls room with a view

Relaxing in halls near the campus

Student Union social space

Student Union social space at Moulsecoomb

Local area

One of Time Out's 50 best cities in the world

“Brighton has… all the important parts of a sprawling cosmopolitan metropolis (connections to London in under an hour, an array of properly excellent restaurants, energetic late-night spots) … with the easy-breezy beachy attitude to life that makes you feel welcome in an instant.”
Time Out’s 50 Best Cities in the World, 2025

About Brighton

The city of Brighton & Hove is a forward-thinking place which leads the way in the arts, technology, sustainability and creativity. You'll find living here plays a key role in your learning experience.

Brighton is a leading centre for creative media technology, recently named the startup capital of the UK.

The city is home to a national 5G testbed and over 1,000 tech businesses. The digital sector is worth over £1bn a year to the local economy – as much as tourism.

All of our full-time undergraduate courses involve work-based learning - this could be through placements, live briefs and guest lectures. Many of these opportunities are provided by local businesses and organisations.

It's only 50 minutes by train from Brighton to central London and there are daily direct trains to Bristol, Bedford, Cambridge, Gatwick Airport, Portsmouth and Southampton.

Map showing distance to London from Brighton
Brighton Beach sunset

Maps

Moulsecoomb campus map

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Support and wellbeing

Your course team

Your personal academic tutor, course leader and other tutors are all there to help you with your personal and academic progress. You'll also have a student support and guidance tutor (SSGT) who can help with everything from homesickness, managing stress or accommodation issues.

Your academic skills

Our Brighton Student Skills Hub gives you extra support and resources to develop the skills you'll need for university study, whatever your level of experience so far.

Your mental health and wellbeing

As well as being supported to succeed, we want you to feel good too. You'll be part of a community that builds you up, with lots of ways to connect with one another, as well having access to dedicated experts if you need them. Find out more about how we support your wellbeing.

Sport at Brighton

Sport Brighton

Sport Brighton brings together our sport and recreation services. As a Brighton student you'll have use of sport and fitness facilities across all our campuses and there are opportunities to play for fun, fitness or take part in serious competition. 

Find out more about Sport Brighton.

Sports scholarships

Our sports scholarship scheme is designed to help students develop their full sporting potential to train and compete at the highest level. We offer scholarships for elite athletes, elite disabled athletes and talented sports performers.

Find out more about sport scholarships.

Brighton Cricket Academy

Develop your cricketing skills in the UK’s largest indoor cricket facility alongside studying for a degree. Whether you can already play or you’re new to the game offers the opportunity to train with top coaches in our world-class training environment. 

Find out about the Brighton Cricket Academy.

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Take a tour of sport facilities on our Falmer campus

Stay in touch

Ask a question about this course

If you have a question about this course, our enquiries team will be happy to help.

01273 644644

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