Gain a global understanding of the world of interior architecture and design – becoming an Interior Designer who designs and creates spatial environments of the future with an initial foundation year to prepare for the course.
Develop your skills alongside interior designers, architects and engineers
Produce sophisticated architectural solutions led by contemporary design thinking
Learn the latest media and 3D technology to communicate spatial and technical information
Respond to site-specific briefs to design for inclusive and sustainable environments
Build a unique portfolio and exhibit to industry professionals at our Future Now Festival of Creativity

You’ll become part of an inclusive, and collaborative studio community where you will learn creatively alongside industry specialists. By the end of the course, you’ll have the professional skills and knowledge to start your career in interior architecture and design sustainable spaces for diverse audiences.

If you don't meet the entry requirements for our BA (Hons) Interior Architecture and Design, or you’d like extra preparation before starting degree-level study, we recommend you join the foundation year – which has been designed to encourage exploration and experimentation.

Work placements

You'll have opportunities to arrange single or multiple work placement/s in between your second and third years of the full course. Placements give you real-world experience to prepare you for your future career. Students have secured placements with companies such as YourStudio, Mynt Design and Fosters + Partners and have completed placements abroad in Dubai, Melbourne, LA and New Zealand. You may also be able to work or study abroad with the possibility of funding through the Erasmus+ programme (until 2023) or the Turing scheme.

Live projects

You'll engage in authentic work experiences each year, working with external partners and live briefs. You'll have the opportunity to work on socially-driven community and commercial briefs. Previously, students have designed and developed projects on homelessness, theatre, exhibitions, student accommodation and luxury spas, allowing them to make an active contribution to the industry and engage with current issues.

Field trips

We offer opportunities to go on study trips in the UK and abroad – with free travel and accommodation for all mandatory field trips on the course. These could include workshops, design exhibitions or visits to practitioners’ studios and museums. There may be opportunities to further enhance your studies with optional field trips, though these will incur additional costs. Recent international trips include Berlin, Barcelona and the Venice Architecture Bienne.

Networking opportunities

We benefit from excellent links with national practices and local design agencies who bring you industry insight. We'll offer talks delivered by external practitioners from design practices within the UK and abroad, providing you with industry contacts. There are a range of opportunities to work on applied live briefs, expanding your real-world professional experience and wider knowledge base.

Competitions

You're supported to develop and showcase your professional creative work by entering national and international competitions, e.g. the RSA Student Design Awards. You can also exhibit at the Interior Educators' national graduate design exhibition – in 2019 we won the Course Exhibition award and one of our graduates won Best 2D Representation.

All our courses are designed around a set of key principles based on engaging you with the world, collaborating with others, challenging you to think in new ways, and providing you with a supportive environment in which you can thrive.

Through studio-based learning and live projects, you'll gain a deep understanding of design culture and practice. You'll learn how to create innovative and sustainable designs, engage with a variety of architectural spaces, critically reflect on projects and develop your own personal approach. In the first ‘induction’ module you’ll learn to work confidently and creatively with a wide range of different materials. In the second ‘project’ module you’ll be taught by tutors from the BA (Hons) course supported by foundation tutors.

You'll learn through

• studio-based design projects
• designing through making
• industry visits and field trips
• lectures and seminars
• specialist software sessions
• applied industry (live) projects and collaborations with industry professionals
• group work and collaboration
• workshops
• group and individual tutorials
• exhibitions and presentations
• study trips
• Blackboard online learning portal
• presentations and feedback sessions
• self-directed study

Take a look at the department's Instagram and TikTok to see what innovations and creations our students have been working on. For content directly from our BA Interior Architecture and Design students, visit the course Instagram. 

This course prepares you for future study and careers in

• interior and spatial design
• interior architecture
• 3D design
• retail and exhibition design
• promotion and management

Previous graduates of this course work for

• Fosters + Partners
• Jestico + Whiles
• Whittam Cox Architects
• Lister + Lister
• HLM Architects
• Bond Bryan Architects
• Menis Architects
• Next
• Laura Ashley
• IKEA

 

UCAS points

• 80

This must include at least 32 points from at least one A level or equivalent BTEC National qualifications (to include a relevant subject, such as Art, Design and Technology, Textiles or Graphics). For example:

• CDD at A Level with a grade C in a relevant subject.
• MMP in BTEC Extended Diploma in a relevant subject.
• A combination of qualifications which must include an A level grade C or BTEC grade M in a relevant subject and may include AS levels, EPQ and general studies
• Access to HE Diploma from a QAA recognised Access to HE course. Normally we require 15 credits at level 2 and 45 at level 3. At least 15 level 3 credits must be at merit grade or above from a QAA-recognised Access to HE course, or an equivalent Access to HE certificate.

You can find information on making sense of UCAS tariff points here and use the UCAS tariff calculator to work out your points.

GCSE

• English Language or Literature at grade C or 4

We may also accept you, if you have limited qualifications but can show evidence of ability and a genuine commitment to studying Art and Design.

We treat the foundation year as part of the Art and Design degree programme. Offers made to students will be for four years of study (or five years of study including a placement). This is made up of the foundation year plus one of our Art and Design degrees.

If English is not your first language, you will need an IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in all skills or equivalent. If your English language skill is currently below IELTS 6.0 we recommend you consider either the International Foundation Programme: Art, Design and Media or Sheffield Hallam University Pre-sessional English course which will enable you to achieve an equivalent English score.

Portfolio review

If your application is successful, you will be invited to attend a portfolio review, this is where you can showcase your relevant work and highlight any pieces you are particularly proud of.

In light of the updated advice from the Government about the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, we are not currently offering face to face portfolio reviews but are instead accepting portfolios through digital submission. Find out about what happens at a portfolio review and how you can prepare to produce a strong portfolio.

Please note the University will only admit students who are aged 18 or over at the point of enrolment.

Important notice:

The structure of this course is periodically reviewed and enhanced to provide the best possible learning experience for our students and ensure ongoing compliance with any professional, statutory and regulatory body standards. Module structure, content, delivery and assessment may change, but we expect the focus of the course and the learning outcomes to remain as described above. Following any changes, updated module information will be published on this page.

You will be able to complete a placement year as part of this course. See the modules table below for further information.

Year 1 Compulsory modules
Module	Credits	Assessment
Foundation Projects — Developing Creative Practice	60	Coursework
Foundation Skills & Methods	60	Coursework

 

Year 2 Compulsory modules
Module	Credits	Assessment
Interior Principles: Space, Form + Architecture	60	Coursework
Interior Strategies: People + Place	60	Coursework

 

 

Year 3 Compulsory modules
Module	Credits	Assessment
Future Now: Collaboration In Action	20	Coursework
Interior Context: Eat + Sleep	60	Coursework
Interior Practice: Work + Play	40	Coursework

 

Year 4 Optional modules
Module	Credits	Assessment
Placement Year

 

Final Year Compulsory modules
Module	Credits	Assessment
Interior Exterior: Cultural Context	60	Coursework
Interior Futures: Professional Pathways	60	Coursework