Online BA (Hons) Top Up
Interior Design

Online
BA (Hons) Top Up

Interior Design

Start Date

Enrol at any time & choose your start date. No term times or semesters.

Course Duration

12 months flexible
online study

Assessment

No exams — Tutor assessment only & moderation by De Montfort University.

Affordable Fees

Low fees, and monthly payments for all students (student Loans available for UK students.)

Course Summary

The BA (Hons) Top-Up Degree in Interior Design 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.

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Tuition Fees
COURSE GUIDE

Who Should Do This Course?

Those who wish to top-up their FdA, BTEC (Level 4&5), HND or International 2 year degree in interior design 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 an M.A.  

Direct entry students, students transferring from another institution and international students with equivalent qualifications or alternatively, those with a CV and portfolio of relevant industry experience, are all welcome to apply: all applications are treated on an individual basis. There are no term times – so you can apply and start at any time.

Successful students completing this BA (Hons) top-up will receive a guaranteed place on the MA Interior Design with a generous progression scholarship.

Background – NDA BA (Hons) Student Work

Learning Online

Study flexibly online through our bespoke virtual learning studio (VLS)

The VLS is our exclusive, online resource which replaces the normal lectures given in Colleges and Universities. This provides links to other online resources and may contain videos, images, quizzes and lectures.

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! You will also be invited to attend group tutorials focussing on each course module. Delivered online via zoom, join NDA tutors and like-minded peers to discuss course content and gain valuable live feedback.

The majority of NDA students will complete their BA (Hons) top-up Degree online in approximately one year, others may take a little longer and a few may need the maximum study time of 3 years.

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Support & Guidance

Personal Tutors

Every NDA 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, Skype 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–Friday from 9am–5pm UK Time.

Get in touch

Assessment

You will not have to take an exam! Your tutor will assess your design projects as you submit them throughout the course and your portfolio is moderated by De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) who will award your degree.

Student Loans

UK 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).
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Accreditation

The BA (Hons) Top-Up Interior Design is awarded by our academic partner, De Montfort University Leicester (DMU).

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What Will I Study?

You will study three modules for this BA (Hons) Top-up Degree

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.

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.

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.

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.
DEGREE COURSE GUIDE
Module 1a (option)

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 1b (option)

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 2

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

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.
DEGREE COURSE GUIDE

Student Gallery

A sample of work completed by our talented interior design students

Entry Requirements

Qualifications

Applicants should hold 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.

What's Next?

Progression

Take your career to the next level!

Career

  • Establish your own commercial or residential interior design practice
  • Work as a freelance designer in the exciting world of interior design
  • Work within a design or architectural practice
  • Work within a property development company as a home staging/ show home designer
Take Your Career to the Next Level!

After you top-up to a full BA (Hons) you will be offered a guaranteed place on the online M.A. Interior Design with a generous progression scholarship.

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Student Spotlights

The interior design industry is growing year on year and the demand for qualified interior designers is on the rise globally. Have a look through our Student Spotlights to see what they have achieved.

MORE SUCCESS STORIES

BA (Hons) Top-up Degree Tuition Fees

UK Students

Top-Up your Fda, HND
or BTEC to a BA (Hons)
with 1 year's online study
Tuition Fee £6,195
There are 3 ways for
UK students to pay
for their Top-Up Degree

UK
Student Loan

  • COVERS ALL TUITION FEES
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No Upfront Fees!

One Payment

£ 6,195 On Enrolment
  •  
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10 x Monthly Payments

£ 645 Per Month*
  • £6,450 in total
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* Monthly payments include admin fee.

International Students

Top-Up your 2 year
degree to a BA (Hons) with 1 year's online study
Tuition Fee $7,950
There are 2 ways for
International students
to pay for their Degree:

One Payment

$ 7,950 On Enrolment
  • Save $650 by paying in full
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Most Popular

10 x Monthly Payments

$ 8,600 IN TOTAL*
  • $1,625 on enrolment
  • + 9 x $775 monthly payments
Enrol Now

* Monthly payments include admin fee.
International fees in US Dollars.

Ready to pursue your passion for Interior Design?

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What Our Students Say...

Hear what past and present students have to say about studying at the NDA

I would recommended to NDA to all people who have a passion for interior design, and those looking to get an Accredited UK Degree in Interior Design.
Ibrahim Mohamad AljasemBA (Hons) Interior Design
For a working mum like myself the flexibility of the course enabled me to study around my personal life. The course content was structured and provided ample reading information to underpin the knowledge required for the brief.
Katie OlderBA (Hons) Interior Design
Studying with the NDA cemented the reasons why I decided to inaugurate myself into the study of interior design, giving me the drive and skills to commence my career as an interior designer.
David DohertyBA (Hons) Interior Design
The course was absolutely fantastic, I really enjoyed it. It's quite flexible; I've got two children at home, so while I was bringing them up I could also study and open up doors of opportunity for myself.
Rachel FayeBA (Hons) Interior Design
It's been a real journey, because I've worked more or less full time whilst I've done it, so it's a matter of studying every night. Now it's over I really miss it, I really, really enjoyed it, every minute.
Claire EdholmeBA (Hons) Interior Design
The tutors at NDA have been great and have helped me to develop a lot from when I first started, I've come a long way since and It's given me a lot of confidence; I'm now going to start setting up as a freelance designer.
Heather SpearsBA (Hons) Interior Design
I started doing the course as a hobby, but now as I've gained experience working with friends and family, I'm thinking about actually changing it into a career, I just love it.
Rajvi KantariaBA (Hons) Interior Design

What is UK Government Funding?

UK 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.