Online Bachelor's Top Up Degree
BA (Hons) Interior Design Top Up
A fully accredited online interior design degree; offering students a more in-depth and professional approach to specific interior design projects, both residential and commercial.
Globally Recognised
Fully accredited by De Montfort University Leicester (DMU)
Study Duration
12 months flexible online learning. Study anytime, from anywhere
Excellent Tutor Support
Unlimited access to your personal tutor
Course Summary
Top-up your existing FdA, BTEC (Level 4&5), HND or International 2 year degree to a full BA (Hons) Interior Design with just one year’s online study.
This Top Up Degree consists of the final year from the full BA (Hons) Interior Design. For the first of your 3 modules you can choose to study Hotel Design or Exhibition Design depending upon which areas you would like to include in your professional portfolio.
This is followed by a self-selected research project in an area of design close to your heart. Your year will finish with your Design Based Final Project, which you will have developed in conjunction with your Personal Tutor.
What our Students Say
Course Breakdown
You will study 3 modules for the Online BA (Hons) Interior Design Top Up Degree.
Module 1a (option) - Hotel Design
Hotel Design
Option 2 for this module focuses on hotel design and tracks the evolution of this global industry. You will be given the opportunity to work with a building of your choice, developing an understanding for the impact a site will have on a target market and concept. This is a rich and diverse subject which will prove invaluable to anyone wanting to specialise in this area of design.
Module 1b (option) - Exhibition Design
Exhibition Design
This module has two study options, which allows you to choose a project for your portfolio within the area of design that appeals to you most. Option 1 is exhibition design and within this you will explore the two main exhibition approaches; commercial trade shows and exhibitions within a gallery space. There are many elements to explore, including the visitor experience and branding.
Module 2 - Research Study
Research Study
It is at this stage of the course that you will truly get to choose the direction of the work you produce, starting with the research of a topic close to your heart. If there is an area of design that you are passionate about, then this is an exciting opportunity to incorporate this into your degree. Within this module you will write a dissertation, with the support and guidance of your tutor, who by now will have a great understanding of you and how you study. This dissertation will then feed into your final module; the independent study.
Module 3 - Independent Study
Independent Study
Building on the topic you have developed in the Research Study module, with the support of your tutor, you will be given double the amount of time of the previous modules, to focus on your chosen design based project. This will be the culmination of three years of hard work and will bring together all the skills you have learnt along the way. This module will provide you with visuals, presentation boards, development sketches and technical drawings to add to your portfolio.
Is This Course For You?
Already hold an FdA, BTEC (Level 4&5), HND or International 2 year degree in interior design? You can top-up to a full BA (Hons) Interior Design with just one year’s online study. This is an ideal route to a career as a professional interior designer or to progress onto master’s degree level.
Direct entry students, transferring students from other institutions, and international students are all welcome. There are no term times – so you can apply and start at any time.
- Hold an FdA, BTEC (Level 4&5), HND or International 2 year degree?
- Hold an equivalent UK or international qualification?
- Have a portfolio of relevant industry experience?
- Apply now and take the next step in your interior design career!
Flexible
Affordable
Online
Internationally Recognised
A Trusted & Accredited Qualification
NDA has over 35 years experience in teaching interior design and over 35,000 alumni from over 100 countries. This course is a trusted way to help pursue your passion and kick-start your career.
This Online (BA Hons) Interior Design Degree is awarded by our academic partners De Montfort University, Leicester (DMU).
Entry Requirements
To be accepted on our Online BA (Hons) Interior Design Top Up Degree you will need the following qualifications.
Qualifications
Applicants should hold at least one of the following:
- Foundation Degree in Interior Design, or equivalent design subject.
- BTEC (Level 4&5), HND or international two year degree in a design based subject.
- CV and portfolio of Interior Design experience.
English Language
The course is taught in English, so international students will require a good standard of written English to study. IELTS average 6.5 or TOEFL score of 550 is usually required, however all students are considered on an individual basis as we are aware that many international students have already been taught in English at school, college or university.
Don't Meet The Requirements?
No problem! If you do not have the required qualifications to study a degree you can study an NDA Diploma either online or in-studio, for a guaranteed place on one of our online Bachelor’s Degrees afterwards. Please view our Diploma Courses for more information.
Online BA (Hons) Top Up Degree Pricing
Fees and payment options differ depending on whether you are a UK resident or an internationally based student.
UK Students
Student Loan
Most Popular
£0*
*No Upfront Fees
Covers Full £6,195 Course Fee. Fully fund your learning, with a student loan.
Pay in Full
One-Time Payment
£6,195
On Enrolment
Spread the Cost
10x Monthly Payments
£645
£6,450 in Total*
Breathe easy. Spread the yearly cost of your course over 10 months.
*Monthly payments include admin fee
International Students
Pay in Full
One-Time Payment
$7,950 (USD)
On Enrolment
Make one easy payment to cover the full yearly cost of your course.
Save $650 by paying in full
Spread the Cost
10x Monthly Payments
$8,600 (USD)
In total per year*
Spread the yearly cost of your course.
$1,625 on enrolment + 9 x $775 monthly payments.
*Monthly payments include admin fee
You Can Afford to Study a Degree
UK Undergraduate Student loans are the most popular way for NDA students resident in the UK to study as they cover the entire cost of their degree.
Loans are not based on income or means tested and most students in England & Wales will qualify (Scotland & NI have different arrangements).
How Will You Study Online?
Swipe tabs to navigate.
Responsive Learning, Designed For You.
Offering a fully responsive learning experience our course content can be opened, studied and enjoyed on any device, from anywhere in the world.
Virtual Learning Studio
How do you learn online, you ask? It’s simple: introducing our Virtual Learning Studio, or VLS for short. The VLS is our exclusive, online resource which replaces the normal lectures given in Colleges and Universities.
Students can rewind and re-watch until they are sure they have understood. No frantic note taking and no missing an important lecture! Study when and where it suits you!
Personal Tutors
Every National Design Academy student has a Personal Tutor to guide them through their qualification.
You have unlimited access to your tutor and can contact them by email, telephone, Zoom, Teams or in-person as often as you wish.
Student Support Team
We also have a dedicated Student Support and Administration Team to help deal with any other queries such as payments, student loans advice and anything else you may need a helping hand with.
Our Student Helpline is available Monday to Friday from 9.00 to 17:00 (UK Time).
Group Tutorials
All delivered online via zoom, join NDA tutors and like-minded peers to discuss interior design topics, course content and gain valuable live feedback.
As a Degree level student, you are offered a group tutorial for each module and also receive advice on how to progress once you complete your course.
Online Forums
Once you enrol, you will also have the opportunity to join our dedicated NDA Facebook discussion group. Student cohorts will often set up their own Whatsapp chat groups to communicate also.
Students enjoy discussing their design projects, encouraging others and offering advice, as well as sharing work and offering top tips for approaching modules.
What's Next?
An NDA BA (Hons) Interior Design Degree will provide you with the knowledge and design skills to start your own interior design business, the qualification to progress to a Master’s Degree or why not both! Find out more below…
Progression
Successful completion of your NDA BA (Hons) Interior Design Degree provides a guaranteed place on our Master’s Degree, MA Interior Design with Practice Management; if you enrol within 2 years, you’ll also be eligible for our Progression+ Scheme to help reduce your tuition fees.
All NDA Degrees are validated by De Montfort University (DMU).
You can study flexibly, around your new career in Interior Design. With a Master’s Degree you will be qualified for a senior or management role within the design industry.
Careers
The NDA BA (Hons) Interior Design Degree is designed to help you start your own Interior Design business. Many of our Degree students start their own business and then progress to study for their NDA Master’s Degree flexibly alongside their client projects. With an NDA Degree you can;
- Establish your own interior design practice.
- Work as a freelance designer in the world of interior design.
- Work within a design or architectural practice.
- Work within a property development company as a home staging/ show home designer.
Stay On, Study & Save
We love to watch our students succeed, those that complete one of our Short, Diploma or Degree courses gain access to our Progression+ Scheme, giving you money back for continuing to study with us.
Alternatively, our courses are built with business in mind, giving you the skills to begin work as a freelance designer in the exciting world of Interior Design.
Save £500/$600
On your next course, T&Cs apply.
Progression
Guaranteed
Student Success Stories
Hear what our amazing students have to say about how they have succeeded within the industry once completing their online interior design degree with the National Design Academy.
Post degree things have been quite crazy for me in terms of work, both residential and commercial... In terms of the future for me, I feel incredibly excited, I feel empowered by the course and in a position where I can take on most design jobs an imprint on the world!
I applied to the NDA to make me a better all-round designer and to enable me to broaden my professional capabilities in the world of interior design. Since finishing my degree, I have moved to an incredible design company, who offer both interior design and commercial kitchen design. At ABDA, I get to combine my 11 years of commercial kitchen design with my new interior design skillset.
I’m going to be using the NDA progression scholarship to progress onto the MA interior design master's degree and the professional garden design diploma – at the same time! I’m also going to start looking for a job where I can work on real projects for real clients.
Since finishing my course, I’ve started a design studio called ‘Luxurious Designs’, based in Saudi Arabia. Moving forward, I will focus more on contemporary and luxury design. I would actually like to develop a new design type, like a modern Islamic and Contemporary Arabian style, also we have a plan to expand to Dubai.
I was looking at universities from all over the world and actually, the National Design Academy seemed to be the most professional one. Studying with the NDA definitely enabled me to work in this particular area. I think it is a unique challenge for a retail designer to create an environment that really expresses a brand, the core of a brand.
Following the completion of my bachelor's degree, I started to take full design projects working with contractors, from the initial stages of the project, working in every detail until the final stage. My aspiration is to step out of my comfort zone and start taking on bigger commercial and retail projects.
Now that I’ve finished my course, I’m focusing on integrating interior design into Cooper8 Ltd to offer a full and comprehensive hospitality package. My goal is to design not only efficient space layouts and commercial kitchens, but also beautiful interiors that enhance the overall experience.
I initially worked for a German design house, working on high end residential projects, but eventually realised that achieving my dreams meant starting my own business. The skills learned in writing my dissertation certainly helped me in writing my book, 'My Happy Place' which focusses on sustainable and humane design for life and work.
I’ve always had a passion for interior design, I took the leap and joined the National Design Academy to turn my lifelong dream into reality. I am now working as a freelance Interior Designer in Manchester. At the moment I am working on a beauty salon and spa, transforming the reception areas and treatment rooms.
Joining the NDA and doing the Master’s course has really given me a fresh lease of new design perspective. It helped me push out of comfort zones and in turn provided me with more self-confidence to go out and achieve my work goals. When I complete this course, I plan on continuing to grow my freelance business and see where it takes me.
Student Gallery
A sample of work completed by our talented BA (Hons) Interior Design Degree students.
Get Equipped
To complete your NDA BA (Hons) Degree, you’ll need access to the right tools – and we’ve got you covered! Be sure to read our full Equipment & Resources page before you apply.
NDA also offers specialist Online Short Courses in Exterior Design, Software (CAD) and AI for Interior Design. Perfect to upskill your design provision before or alongside your BA (Hons) Degree study.
