What they involve, who they suit, and the route most career changers take instead.
If you have been searching for an interior design apprenticeship, you are almost certainly after one of two things: a way into the industry without a traditional full-time degree, or a way to train without giving up the income you are living on. Those are reasonable things to want, and they are why the apprenticeship route gets searched so heavily.
The difficulty is supply. Interior design sits awkwardly in the apprenticeship framework, and the openings that do exist tend to be concentrated in London, tied to a single practice, and aimed at early-career entrants. For anyone in their late twenties or older, or living outside a major design centre, they are rarely a realistic option.
| Apprenticeship | Accredited online study | |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | Limited, mostly London-based, tied to individual practices | Open enrolment, study from anywhere |
| Age suitability | Typically shaped around early-career entrants | No upper age limit |
| Income | Earn a wage, but usually at apprentice rates | Keep your existing job and income |
| Qualification | Varies by employer and standard | Level 3 Diploma (AIM Qualifications), BA (Hons) or MA (De Montfort University Leicester) |
| Funding | Employer-funded | Advanced Learner Loan at Level 3; student loans for degrees |
| Pace | Fixed to the employer's programme | Flexible, fast-track or spread around work |
The usual starting point, and the fastest way to a recognised qualification and a working portfolio. Accredited by AIM Qualifications. Available online flexibly, as an online fast-track programme delivered over Zoom, or in studio in Dubai. Successful Professional Diploma students are offered a guaranteed place on a degree course.
For working in practice or taking on larger commercial projects. National Design Academy degrees are awarded by De Montfort University Leicester and available in Interior Design, Heritage Interior Design, Retail Design and Design for Outdoor Living. Undergraduate student loans apply to eligible students.
For design management roles and senior practice. Postgraduate student loans are available to eligible students, and progression scholarships are offered to students continuing from a diploma.
Funding is the reason most people weigh an apprenticeship against studying. The comparison is fairer than it first looks.
Are there interior design apprenticeships in the UK?
Formal interior design apprenticeships are uncommon. Most built-environment apprenticeship standards sit under architecture, construction and surveying rather than interior design, and the interior design vacancies that do appear are usually junior studio roles advertised as apprenticeships by individual practices rather than a recognised national standard. That is why most people searching for one end up on a different route: an accredited qualification studied flexibly alongside work.
How can I train as an interior designer while working full time?
Study an accredited interior design qualification online and part time. The National Design Academy delivers its Level 3 Diploma and BA (Hons) and MA degrees entirely online, so you set your own study hours around a job or family. There are no exams and no requirement to attend campus, and assignments are submitted online and tutor-assessed. This is the route most career changers take instead of an apprenticeship, because it earns a recognised qualification without giving up your income.
Am I too old to start an interior design apprenticeship or course?
There is no upper age limit on studying interior design with the National Design Academy. Apprenticeships in general are often shaped around school leavers and early-career entrants, which is why adults in their late twenties, thirties and beyond frequently find them a poor fit. An online accredited qualification has no age restriction, and a large share of interior design students are career changers already working in another field.
What qualification do I need to become an interior designer?
There is no single legally required qualification to work as an interior designer in the UK, but employers and clients look for accredited training and a portfolio. The common progression is a Level 3 Diploma to build core skills and a portfolio, followed by a BA (Hons) degree if you want to work in practice or take on larger commercial projects, and an MA if you are aiming at design management. National Design Academy Level 3 Diplomas are accredited by AIM Qualifications and its degrees are awarded by De Montfort University Leicester.
Can I get funding instead of an apprenticeship wage?
Yes. Because an apprenticeship pays a wage while you learn, funding is the main reason people compare the two routes. Eligible students studying at Level 3 can apply for an Advanced Learner Loan, and undergraduate and postgraduate degree students can apply for standard UK student loans, so tuition does not have to be paid upfront. The National Design Academy also offers progression scholarships to diploma students continuing to a degree.
Is an online interior design qualification taken seriously by employers?
Yes, when it is accredited. What matters to an employer is the awarding body and the portfolio, not the delivery method. National Design Academy degrees are awarded by De Montfort University Leicester and the certificate does not state that the course was studied online. Diplomas are accredited by AIM Qualifications. The portfolio built during the course is typically what secures the first role.
How long does it take to qualify as an interior designer?
It depends on the route and how many hours a week you can commit. A Level 3 Diploma is the fastest way to a recognised qualification and a working portfolio, and can be studied flexibly or on a fast-track basis. A BA (Hons) degree is a longer commitment taken in stages. Because National Design Academy courses are studied online with generous completion windows, the timescale flexes around your work rather than a fixed academic term.
Can I call myself an interior designer once I have completed a diploma?
Yes. Interior design is not a protected title in the UK in the way that architecture is, so there is no legal barrier to describing yourself as an interior designer. An accredited diploma and a strong portfolio are what give the title credibility with clients and employers, and many National Design Academy diploma graduates begin taking on residential projects before progressing to a degree.
Compare the diploma and degree courses, or speak to the admissions team about studying around your job.
View all coursesUK students pay approximately 50% of the full course fee – the balance is funded by the UK Government’s Adult education budget (AEB).
The National Design Academy is the only design school to be able to offer this funding as our Diplomas are all fully accredited by AIM Qualifications.