NDA and University Fees - Earn While You Learn

Date Published: 12/5/2010

To compensate for the Government cuts in education funding, universities have announced in the media that they would like tuition fees to rise to at least £6000 per year. This is a massive rise from the current £3300 per year and would increase the total cost of a standard BA (Hons) degree from the current £10,000 to a hefty £18,000, without accommodation and living costs being taken into account. The Student Loans Company, which provides loans to students for full time degrees, has proved so expensive to run that it is even discussing how to charge higher levels of interest to those who become successful. The only guarantee in the present economic climate is that the cost of obtaining a degree is unlikely to reduce.

If you would like to gain a degree in interior design - but without the worry of student debt, there is a real alternative. Through our partnership with Staffordshire University at the National Design Academy you can study flexibly at home, gain your degree, and still work either part time or full-time; giving you the opportunity to graduate debt free! Grants are also available to help with course fees and equipment, and although these grants are based on income, unlike student loans - they do not have to be repaid!

Learning online through our Virtual Learning Studio (VLS) you can learn at your own pace to suit your own lifestyle and enjoy regular contact with other students. All this is supported by a team of dynamic and enthusiastic tutors who are at the end of the phone or email.

As a result of partial government funding we are able to keep our fees low, currently just £895 per level (equivalent to one year at university). This would make the total cost of a BA (Hons) Interior Design at NDA just £2685, rather than the current £10,000 or future £18,000 potentially to be charged by universities.

Unlike Universities, NDA fees are charged per level rather than per year, and a level contains a set number of course modules. For flexible learning this is more equitable, as the length of time taken to complete each level varies from student to student. So you only pay fees for the next level once you have completed the modules of the previous level.

Just to clarify levels:

  • Level 4 is the first year of a full-time BA (Hons) or Foundation Degree.
  • Level 5 is the second year of a full-time BA (Hons) or Foundation Degree.
  • Level 6 is the third year of a full-time BA (Hons).

At NDA you can transfer from a relevant Foundation degree (Levels 4 & 5) directly to Level 6, the final year of a BA (Hons). You can also transfer to level 6 from an HND or even an HNC (with additional modules to upgrade). You may also be able to transfer to Level 5 after completing the first year of a relevant Foundation Degree or HND (subject to accreditation of prior modules).

If you haven't considered these options before, we invite you to visit NDA for one of our Open Days.