Online (via Zoom)
Fast-Track Diploma

Professional
Interior Design

Online (via Zoom)
Fast-Track Diploma

Professional
Interior Design

As a not-for-profit foundation, we are so confident in the price of our Diploma’s that if you can find the same level of education for less, we will match it!

Entry Requirements

No previous qualifications required, just an interest & enthusiasm for interior design

Course Duration

14 weeks of home study
including 20 x bi-weekly
online sessions (via Zoom)

Next Course Date

16th June - 26th September
10am - 12.30pm (UK Time)
Tuesday & Friday

UK Student Loans

No upfront course fees. If you are aged 19+ and have lived in England for 3+ years you are eligible.

Assessment

No exams!
Tutor assessment only

Course Summary

With twice weekly live Zoom classes, the Online Fast-Tracked Diploma combines the intensive pace of the ‘In-Studio Fast-Track’ Diploma and the convenience of the ‘Online Flexible’ Diploma. This 14 week course is ideal for those students wanting to study from home and speed up their learning in a live environment. 

The Level 3 Diploma in Professional Interior Design provides you with the skills and qualification to work professionally as an interior designer… without having to go back to school full-time allowing you to balance the demands of work and family life.

The skills you’ll learn can help you carry out design projects for yourself or for family and friends, prepare you for work as a designer, or enable you to pursue further studies in the subject.

This course is Ofqual Level 3 accredited and globally recognised, meaning you can work legally as an interior designer or gain enough educational credits to study a Bachelors Degree if you so choose.

We have over 30 years of experience in teaching interior design and over 35,000 alumni, this course is a trusted way to help you pursue your passion and kick-start your career as an interior designer

Why Learn Online?

For students who want all the benefits of remote online learning, but are also looking for more structure and live interaction with tutors and peers, the ‘Online Fast-Track’ course offers an ideal mix.

Because the course is delivered fully online, it means students can study from anywhere in the world without the need to travel or commute and attend a full-time course. But it also adds the valuable element of live lectures online with tutors and other students, to cover key content and enable discussions.

What Will I Study?

You will study eight dedicated Units during this Professional Diploma

Interior Design & the Role of the Designer

This unit introduces you to the fundamental elements and principles that are common within a successful design scheme and how they are adopted by Professional Interior Designers today. You’ll learn how and why interior design has changed over time and to identify key interior design trends. What you learn in this unit will provide an essential foundation to underpin your future designs. This unit also includes:-

  • The 7 design elements of good design
  • Interior Design history and contemporary practice
  • The role of an Interior Designer and different project types
  • Professional presentation boards
  • How to write a short design report

Using Colour in Interior Design

This unit will spark your creativity by giving you the opportunity to play with colour. You’ll explore practical colour theory to enable you to design both historical and contemporary colour schemes. This unit also includes:-

  • Basic colour principles and terminology
  • The impact of colour in a design scheme
  • The psychological importance of colour in an interior space
  • Historical and contemporary colour trends
  • Creating a successful interior design colour scheme

Exploring Surface Finishes in Interior Design

This unit covers the wide and exciting range of surface finishes now available to create fabulous interiors. You’ll explore the versatility and impact of materials for walls, floors and soft furnishings and how to use them to create an effective design scheme. This unit also includes:-

  • The characteristics and suitability of different materials
  • Sourcing and using materials to develop a design scheme
  • Practical skills to represent colour, pattern and texture
  • How to visually present your design ideas

Plans and Space Planning in a Professional Context

This unit shows you how to plan the space for a room design. From initial sketches to final layouts, you will visualise and present design solutions to meet a client brief. This unit also includes:-

  • Understanding the space and the client brief
  • Traffic flow and zoning of space
  • Developing floor plans
  • Creating elevations
  • Practical sketching and drawing techniques

Furniture & Accessories in Interior Design

This unit focusses on the limitless range of furniture and accessories available to the Interior Designer. You’ll learn to recognise key styles in furniture and accessory design and how to select and source appropriate furniture and accessories to meet a client brief. This unit also includes:-

  • Understanding of different furniture and accessory styles, historical and contemporary
  • Influential practitioners and design movements
  • The characteristics and suitability of furniture and accessories
  • Choosing and sourcing items
  • Producing furniture layouts

Creative Lighting in Interior Design

This unit explores the potential of creative lighting in interiors and develops your knowledge of lighting design, including traditional and contemporary products. You’ll learn how to choose lighting for your schemes and how to deal with suppliers. This unit also includes:-

  • Understanding different lighting products and lamps
  • Task, ambient and decorative lighting
  • Lighting levels for room design
  • Cool and warm lighting
  • Creating a lighting scheme for a furniture layout
  • Applying symbols appropriate to industry lighting plans
  • Developing a lighting plan to meet a client brief

Professional Practice in Interior Design

This unit explores the diverse possibilities for a career in the Interior design industry and helps prepare you to work successfully in the professional environment, whether this be in an established practice or setting up an interior design business. With a focus on your personal and professional development, you will consider the steps you should take to achieve your own progression ambitions. This unit also includes:-

  • Being employed, self-employed and setting up an interior design service
  • Portfolio development
  • Working with others in a professional environment
  • Effective marketing and promotion
  • How to charge for your design service
  • Studying for a degree

Professional Interior Design Project

For this final unit of the course, you bring together all your newly learned skill by producing conceptual designs to create a wonderful interior design scheme for a new client. When complete, your work will form an asset to your developing portfolio to show future clients. This unit also includes:-

  • Developing a design concept
  • Creating a colour scheme
  • Selecting surface finishes
  • Space planning, including furniture and accessory arrangements
  • Creating a lighting plan
  • Professional presentation techniques
Unit 1

Interior Design & the Role of the Designer

This unit introduces you to the fundamental elements and principles that are common within a successful design scheme and how they are adopted by Professional Interior Designers today. You’ll learn how and why interior design has changed over time and to identify key interior design trends. What you learn in this unit will provide an essential foundation to underpin your future designs. This unit also includes:-

  • The 7 design elements of good design
  • Interior Design history and contemporary practice
  • The role of an Interior Designer and different project types
  • Professional presentation boards
  • How to write a short design report
Unit 2

Using Colour in Interior Design

This unit will spark your creativity by giving you the opportunity to play with colour. You’ll explore practical colour theory to enable you to design both historical and contemporary colour schemes. This unit also includes:-

  • Basic colour principles and terminology
  • The impact of colour in a design scheme
  • The psychological importance of colour in an interior space
  • Historical and contemporary colour trends
  • Creating a successful interior design colour scheme
Unit 3

Exploring Surface Finishes in Interior Design

This unit covers the wide and exciting range of surface finishes now available to create fabulous interiors. You’ll explore the versatility and impact of materials for walls, floors and soft furnishings and how to use them to create an effective design scheme. This unit also includes:-

  • The characteristics and suitability of different materials
  • Sourcing and using materials to develop a design scheme
  • Practical skills to represent colour, pattern and texture
  • How to visually present your design ideas
Unit 4

Plans and Space Planning in a Professional Context

This unit shows you how to plan the space for a room design. From initial sketches to final layouts, you will visualise and present design solutions to meet a client brief. This unit also includes:-

  • Understanding the space and the client brief
  • Traffic flow and zoning of space
  • Developing floor plans
  • Creating elevations
  • Practical sketching and drawing techniques
Unit 5

Furniture & Accessories in Interior Design

This unit focusses on the limitless range of furniture and accessories available to the Interior Designer. You’ll learn to recognise key styles in furniture and accessory design and how to select and source appropriate furniture and accessories to meet a client brief. This unit also includes:-

  • Understanding of different furniture and accessory styles, historical and contemporary
  • Influential practitioners and design movements
  • The characteristics and suitability of furniture and accessories
  • Choosing and sourcing items
  • Producing furniture layouts
Unit 6

Creative Lighting in Interior Design

This unit explores the potential of creative lighting in interiors and develops your knowledge of lighting design, including traditional and contemporary products. You’ll learn how to choose lighting for your schemes and how to deal with suppliers. This unit also includes:-

  • Understanding different lighting products and lamps
  • Task, ambient and decorative lighting
  • Lighting levels for room design
  • Cool and warm lighting
  • Creating a lighting scheme for a furniture layout
  • Applying symbols appropriate to industry lighting plans
  • Developing a lighting plan to meet a client brief
Unit 7

Professional Practice in Interior Design

This unit explores the diverse possibilities for a career in the Interior design industry and helps prepare you to work successfully in the professional environment, whether this be in an established practice or setting up an interior design business. With a focus on your personal and professional development, you will consider the steps you should take to achieve your own progression ambitions. This unit also includes:-

  • Being employed, self-employed and setting up an interior design service
  • Portfolio development
  • Working with others in a professional environment
  • Effective marketing and promotion
  • How to charge for your design service
  • Studying for a degree
Unit 8

Professional Interior Design Project

For this final unit of the course, you bring together all your newly learned skill by producing conceptual designs to create a wonderful interior design scheme for a new client. When complete, your work will form an asset to your developing portfolio to show future clients. This unit also includes:-

  • Developing a design concept
  • Creating a colour scheme
  • Selecting surface finishes
  • Space planning, including furniture and accessory arrangements
  • Creating a lighting plan
  • Professional presentation techniques

Student Gallery

A sample of work completed by our talented interior design students

How Is The Course Run?

The 14 week course consists of a 8-week study period that covers each of the 8 subject units in the Diploma course, one unit per week. Also upto 4 ‘Independent Study’ weeks within the duration to allow students to complete assignments.

Study Week Course Schedule

Please Note: This is an intensive, fast-track course. If you are unable to commit to the course schedule, other study options are available.

Available Course Dates

International students (non-UK) – Please check the timings of each course in your country, using our handy Timezone Converter below. All courses are listed in UK (London) Timezone.

  • 16th June - 26th September
    10am - 12.30pm (UK Time)
    Tuesday & Friday
Morning
  • 13th July - 23rd October
    10am - 12.30pm (UK Time)
    Monday & Thursday
Morning
  • 11th August - 21st November
    6.30pm - 9pm (UK Time)
    Tuesday & Friday
Evening
  • 21st September - 8th January
    12.30pm - 3pm (UK Time)
    Monday & Thursday
Afternoon
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A Recognised Qualification

Accreditation

At the National Design Academy, we fully believe in the importance of accreditation. After all, what value is there in investing time and money into a course if it doesn’t offer a recognized qualification? The Diploma course is accredited by AIM Qualifications, an independent accrediting body for UK courses, and is recognised globally. It offers a level-3 UK qualification that allows to you work as a professional interior designer or start your own design business.

UK residents pay approximately 50% course fees and funding from the UK government will pay the rest.
No upfront course fees to find. If you are aged 19+ and have lived in England for 3+ years you are eligible.

Online Fast-Track Diploma Course Fees

UK Students

Non-Funded
Course Fee £1,800
Less
UK Government Funding
NDA Funded Course Fee £1,200

There are three ways for UK students to pay for their Online Fast-Track Diploma:

UK Student Loan

COVERS FULL COURSE FEE
£ 50 ADMIN FEE
  • Refunded on completion
Most Popular

One Payment

£ 1,200 On Enrolment
  •  

3 x Monthly Payments

£ 450 Per Month*
  • £1,350 in total
* Monthly payments include admin fee.

International Students

There are two ways for International students to pay for their Online Fast-Track Diploma:

One Payment

$ 2,425 ON ENROLMENT
  • Save $250 by paying in full
  • Limited spaces available!!

3 x Monthly Payments

$ 2,675 IN TOTAL*
  • $1,125 on enrolment
  • + 2 x $775 monthly payments

* Monthly payments include admin fee.

All International fees in US Dollars.

What Will I Need To Study?

Alongside a computer and an internet connection, there is also essential and recommended design equipment and resources required to complete your NDA Course, the majority are available through the online NDA Art Shop at student prices!

What's Next?

Higher Education

Successful completion of your NDA Diploma provides a guaranteed place on one of our online BA (Hons) degrees with a generous Progression Scholarship. Degrees are validated by De Montfort University (DMU).

For those who wish to continue their study at an on campus university, all NDA Professional Diplomas carry a UCAS tariff point value. You can top up any existing UCAS points you may have with points from an NDA Diploma. 

Diploma in Professional Interior Design = 24 UCAS tariff points.

Careers

The NDA Diploma in Professional Interior Design is designed to help you start your own Interior Design business. Like the Diploma course itself, you can work flexibly for your clients around your family commitments and gradually expand your business.

Many of our Diploma students start their own business and study for their degree flexibly alongside their client projects.

Student Success Stories...

Ready to pursue your passion for Interior Design?

What Our Students Say...

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

Course Schedule

  • Induction Session (1 hr)

    Friday 16th June @ 10am

  • Unit 1 - Live Lecture (2.5 hrs)

    Tuesday 20th June @ 10am

  • Unit 1 - Q&A (2.5 hrs)

    Friday 23rd June @ 10am

  • Independent Study (1 week)

    W/C Monday 26th June

  • Unit 2 - Live Lecture (2.5 hrs)

    Tuesday 4th July @ 10am

  • Unit 2 - Q&A (2.5 hrs)

    Friday 7th July @ 10am

  • Unit 3 - Live Lecture (2.5 hrs)

    Tuesday 11th July @ 10am

  • Unit 3 - Q&A (2.5 hrs)

    Friday 14th July @ 10am

  • Unit 4 - Live Lecture (2.5 hrs)

    Tuesday 18th July @ 10am

  • Unit 4 - Q&A (2.5 hrs)

    Friday 21st July @ 10am

  • Unit 5 - Live Lecture (2.5 hrs)

    Tuesday 25th July @ 10am

  • Unit 5 - Q&A (2.5 hrs)

    Friday 28th July @ 10am

  • Independent Study (1 week)

    W/C Monday 31st July

  • Unit 6 - Live Lecture (2.5 hrs)

    Tuesday 8th August @ 10am

  • Unit 6 - Q&A (2.5 hrs)

    Friday 11th August @ 10am

  • Unit 7 - Live Lecture (2.5 hrs)

    Tuesday 15th August @ 10am

  • Unit 7 - Q&A (2.5 hrs)

    Friday 18th August @ 10am

  • Unit 8 - Live Lecture (2.5 hrs)

    Tuesday 22nd August @ 10am

  • Unit 8 - Q&A (2.5 hrs)

    Friday 25th August @ 10am

  • Independent Study (1 week)

    W/C Monday 28th August

  • Q&A Session (2.5 hrs)

    Tuesday 5th September @ 10am

  • Q&A Session (2.5 hrs)

    Friday 8th September @ 10am

  • Q&A Session (2.5 hrs)

    Tuesday 12th September @ 10am

  • Q&A Session (2.5 hrs)

    Friday 15th September @ 10am

  • Independent Study (1 week)

    W/C Monday 18th September

  • Completion Date (Hand-in)

    Tuesday 26th September

Course Schedule

  • Induction Session (1 hr)

    Thursday 13th July @ 10am

  • Unit 1 - Live Lecture (2.5 hrs)

    Monday 17th July @ 10am

  • Unit 1 - Q&A (2.5 hrs)

    Thursday 20th July @ 10am

  • Independent Study (1 week)

    W/C Monday 24th July

  • Unit 2 - Live Lecture (2.5 hrs)

    Monday 31st July @ 10am

  • Unit 2 - Q&A (2.5 hrs)

    Thursday 3rd August @ 10am

  • Unit 3 - Live Lecture (2.5 hrs)

    Monday 7th August @ 10am

  • Unit 3 - Q&A (2.5 hrs)

    Thursday 10th August @ 10am

  • Unit 4 - Live Lecture (2.5 hrs)

    Monday 14th August @ 10am

  • Unit 4 - Q&A (2.5 hrs)

    Thursday 17th August @ 10am

  • Unit 5 - Live Lecture (2.5 hrs)

    Monday 21st August @ 10am

  • Unit 5 - Q&A (2.5 hrs)

    Thursday 24th August @ 10am

  • Independent Study (1 week)

    W/C Monday 28th August

  • Unit 6 - Live Lecture (2.5 hrs)

    Monday 4th September @ 10am

  • Unit 6 - Q&A (2.5 hrs)

    Thursday 7th September @ 10am

  • Unit 7 - Live Lecture (2.5 hrs)

    Monday 11th September @ 10am

  • Unit 7 - Q&A (2.5 hrs)

    Thursday 14th September @ 10am

  • Unit 8 - Live Lecture (2.5 hrs)

    Monday 18th September @ 10am

  • Unit 8 - Q&A (2.5 hrs)

    Thursday 21st September @ 10am

  • Independent Study (1 week)

    W/C Monday 25th September

  • Q&A Session (2.5 hrs)

    Monday 2nd October @ 10am

  • Q&A Session (2.5 hrs)

    Thursday 5th October @ 10am

  • Q&A Session (2.5 hrs)

    Monday 9th October @ 10am

  • Q&A Session (2.5 hrs)

    Thursday 12th October @ 10am

  • Independent Study (1 week)

    W/C Monday 16th October

  • Completion Date (Hand-in)

    Monday 23rd October

Course Schedule

  • Induction Session (1 hr)

    Friday 11th August @ 6.30pm

  • Unit 1 - Live Lecture (2.5 hrs)

    Tuesday 15th August @ 6.30pm

  • Unit 1 - Q&A (2.5 hrs)

    Friday 18th August @ 6.30pm

  • Independent Study (1 week)

    W/C Monday 21st August

  • Unit 2 - Live Lecture (2.5 hrs)

    Tuesday 29th August @ 6.30pm

  • Unit 2 - Q&A (2.5 hrs)

    Friday 1st September @ 6.30pm

  • Unit 3 - Live Lecture (2.5 hrs)

    Tuesday 5th September @ 6.30pm

  • Unit 3 - Q&A (2.5 hrs)

    Friday 8th September @ 6.30pm

  • Unit 4 - Live Lecture (2.5 hrs)

    Tuesday 12th September @ 6.30pm

  • Unit 4 - Q&A (2.5 hrs)

    Friday 15th September @ 6.30pm

  • Unit 5 - Live Lecture (2.5 hrs)

    Tuesday 19th September @ 6.30pm

  • Unit 5 - Q&A (2.5 hrs)

    Friday 22nd September @ 6.30pm

  • Independent Study (1 week)

    W/C Monday 25th September

  • Unit 6 - Live Lecture (2.5 hrs)

    Tuesday 3rd October @ 6.30pm

  • Unit 6 - Q&A (2.5 hrs)

    Friday 6th October @ 6.30pm

  • Unit 7 - Live Lecture (2.5 hrs)

    Tuesday 10th October @ 6.30pm

  • Unit 7 - Q&A (2.5 hrs)

    Friday 13th October @ 6.30pm

  • Unit 8 - Live Lecture (2.5 hrs)

    Tuesday 17th October @ 6.30pm

  • Unit 8 - Q&A (2.5 hrs)

    Friday 20th October @ 6.30pm

  • Independent Study (1 week)

    W/C Monday 23rd October

  • Q&A Session (2.5 hrs)

    Tuesday 31st October @ 6.30pm

  • Q&A Session (2.5 hrs)

    Friday 3rd November @ 6.30pm

  • Q&A Session (2.5 hrs)

    Tuesday 7th November @ 6.30pm

  • Q&A Session (2.5 hrs)

    Friday 10th November @ 6.30pm

  • Independent Study (1 week)

    W/C Monday 13th November

  • Completion Date (Hand-in)

    Monday 21st November

Course Schedule

  • Induction Session (1 hr)

    Thursday 21st September @ 12.30pm

  • Unit 1 - Live Lecture (2.5 hrs)

    Monday 25th September @ 12.30pm

  • Unit 1 - Q&A (2.5 hrs)

    Thursday 28th September @ 12.30pm

  • Independent Study (1 week)

    W/C Monday 2nd October

  • Unit 2 - Live Lecture (2.5 hrs)

    Monday 9th October @ 12.30pm

  • Unit 2 - Q&A (2.5 hrs)

    Thursday 12th October @ 12.30pm

  • Unit 3 - Live Lecture (2.5 hrs)

    Monday 16th October @ 12.30pm

  • Unit 3 - Q&A (2.5 hrs)

    Thursday 19th October @ 12.30pm

  • Unit 4 - Live Lecture (2.5 hrs)

    Monday 23rd October @ 12.30pm

  • Unit 4 - Q&A (2.5 hrs)

    Thursday 26th October @ 12.30pm

  • Independent Study (1 week)

    W/C Monday 30th October

  • Unit 5 - Live Lecture (2.5 hrs)

    Monday 6th November @ 12.30pm

  • Unit 5 - Q&A (2.5 hrs)

    Thursday 9th November @ 12.30pm

  • Unit 6 - Live Lecture (2.5 hrs)

    Monday 13th November @ 12.30pm

  • Unit 6 - Q&A (2.5 hrs)

    Thursday 16th November @ 12.30pm

  • Unit 7 - Live Lecture (2.5 hrs)

    Monday 20th November @ 12.30pm

  • Unit 7 - Q&A (2.5 hrs)

    Thursday 23rd November @ 12.30pm

  • Unit 8 - Live Lecture (2.5 hrs)

    Monday 27th November @ 12.30pm

  • Unit 8 - Q&A (2.5 hrs)

    Thursday 30th November @ 12.30pm

  • Independent Study (1 week)

    W/C Monday 4th December

  • Q&A Session (2.5 hrs)

    Monday 11th December @ 12.30pm

  • Q&A Session (2.5 hrs)

    Thursday 14th December @ 12.30pm

  • Q&A Session (2.5 hrs)

    Monday 18th December @ 12.30pm

  • Q&A Session (2.5 hrs)

    Thursday 21st December @ 12.30pm

  • Christmas Break (2 weeks)

    24th December - 7th January

  • Completion Date (Hand-in)

    Monday 8th January

Study Now, Pay Later!

Limited Funding Available – Enrol Now & Don’t Miss Out! 

NDA Professional Interior Design Diploma Courses are eligible for UK Student Loans because they are fully accredited. They are called Advanced Learner Loans (ALL) and if you will be aged 19+ when you start your course, you will be eligible. The loan will cover the entire cost of your non-funded course fee—with no tuition fees to find.

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