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LOCATION
Docklands Campus
Location Fees and Funding
Here's the fees and funding information for each year of this course
Overview
Our course will give you the educational and creative framework - and the necessary contacts - to launch you on your path to becoming an interior designer.
From the outset, you'll set about amassing a huge range of skills, including drawing, photography, model-making, measuring and documenting spaces and buildings.
You'll study design in all its forms - architectural, commercial and retail, residential, furniture, set and exhibition designs. Much of the work will be done on your feet as you visit local sites and examine their features.
You'll enjoy frequent visits to the rich cultural array of galleries, shops and museums on our doorstep in London.
Download our yearbook to view examples of our students' work.
We have excellent links with the local community, and our students spend a lot of time developing design ideas for specific projects such as restoring historical sites in the East End, or designing a new café.
The extended course BA (Hons) Interior Design with Foundation Year is perfect if you want a degree in Interior Design but you don't meet the standard entry requirements. First we prepare you for your degree during the Foundation year, bringing you up to speed with academic skills and a firm grounding in the subject. Then you can go on to do the full undergraduate degree.
What makes this course different
Great location
You'll be right in the heart of east London, with easy access to galleries, museums and groundbreaking retail projects such as Victoria Beckham's boutique in Mayfair, designed by renowned architect Farshid Moussavi.
One-to-one support
We have a low staff-to-student ratio, which means you'll get to work in small groups and have more contact with tutors and lecturers.
Student showcases
As a design graduate, you'll be able to showcase your work at UEL and at Free Range - an annual exhibition in central London for interior architecture and design students.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
Our emphasis on project work will give you the chance to develop creative solutions to design briefs, enhancing and developing your creative talent and design skills.
We'll also teach you the specialist skills you'll need as an interior design professional, such as observational and spatial drawing, computer drawing, model-making and material investigations.
Our close connections to UEL's architecture and design departments will give you the chance to work collaboratively, and our excellent London location will mean you can use local commercial, cultural and historical sites for design ideas, projects and inspiration.
On recent visits we've organised, students have explored sculptures by Richard Serra in the Gagosian Gallery and drawings by Wangechi Mutu at the Victoria Miro Gallery, as well as Victoria Beckham's boutique in Mayfair, with interiors by celebrated US architect Farshid Moussavi.
As you progress through the course, your developing individuality and attitude towards interior design will be reflected in your projects and in your personal academic portfolio.
We consistently review our courses to ensure we are up to date with industry changes and requirements from our graduates. As a result, our modules are subject to change.
MODULES
- Core Modules
Techniques for Designing CloseTechniques for Designing
This module introduces you to a set of tools for designing (materials, methods, attitudes and techniques) involved in design generally in both 2 & 3D. It aims to develop your confidence and ability to use a range of methods and media in exploring, developing and presenting your ideas clearly and effectively, as well as an ability to evaluate and rework your output in response to feedback in terms of its technical, craft and aesthetic qualities. Briefs are introduced so that design ideas are explored both individually and in groups. These aim to introduce a suitable work ethic and the practise of design as an iterative process, and to support experiment and trial and error, through short design orientated projects and exercises that build confidence and competence.
This module works in partnership with the Design Project module (AR3002) in that it prepares you for exploring & practising the potential of selected media, materials, methods and techniques used in the development of your own design work in Design Project module (AR3002).
The module introduces safe and appropriate workshop practice.
Design Project CloseDesign Project
The module aims to provide you with a broad, varied, stimulating range of projects that introduce you to the skills, processes and practices involved in making design projects. The module intends to facilitate you to develop a critical, disciplined and productive approach to the act of designing and to support independent thinking, making and communicating.
This open ended interpretive and longer individual projects allow for fostering a personal perspective and sense of direction, reinforcing independence and commitment to generating and developing more self-motivated, innovative, enquiry based project work within a principal area of specialisation.
Through completing design projects set in this module, you will develop and evolve your portfolio of work in a distinctive way that is evidence of increasing subject specificity and an ability to make an informed choice of progression pathway.
A&D Design Workshop CloseA&D Design Workshop
This module introduces you to a broad range of Art and Design practical disciplines through a series of short workshop activities. It aims to develop your confidence and ability to use a range of methods and materials by synthesising methods and practice across art and design.
This module supports Design Project module (AR3002) in that it prepares you for exploring selected media, materials, methods and techniques used in the development of their own design work.
The module introduces safe and appropriate workshop practice.
Design Media CloseDesign Media
This module introduces a variety of contemporary media techniques that are relevant to design and artistic practice in its widest sense.
It aims to support the evolution of the creative habits of recording, collecting, documenting, reading, reworking and evaluating. It seeks to build broad understanding of the relationship between context and creative practice, first in analogue, then in digital formats. The complexity of the media employed and exercises set will increase as the module develops and depending on the ambition and skills of each student.
The projects will be organised in both individual and groups, and that support students in learning to articulate & share ideas, work effectively in teams and at pace, and to be able and organise and deliver projects.
History and Theory CloseHistory and Theory
The module introduces you to a basic understanding of History & Theory Studies in the subject of architecture and design, through engaging with selected histories and theories relevant to art, culture, technology and contemporary practice.
The module prepares you for helping you to structure and plan your research work and the communication outputs, for further critical and theoretical work in higher education.
As a result, you will begin to acquire a range of basic skills in observation, research & reviewing methods, critical thinking, writing and communication.
Mental Wealth Professional Life CloseMental Wealth Professional Life
Developing the key intellectual and practical skills, and the psychological and physical determinants of human performance are increasingly critical for successful graduate-level employment, entrepreneurship and career progression in the 4th industrial revolution.
This module will provide you with the opportunity to identify the skills, competencies and experience required for successful development prior to embarking on your university degree. It also aims to help to inform you about your future direction of study as well as providing useful insights into your potential and abilities. You will begin to recognise the areas for your own personal professional development (including emotional, social, physical, cultural and cognitive intelligences) through taught and workshop activity.
Central to the developmental process will be for each student to cultivate the reflective skills, openness and self-awareness to enable themselves to assess what they are doing, identify areas for improvement, and confidently receive and give constructive feedback. You should also begin to acquire a range of skills in observation, research & reviewing methods, critical thinking, writing and communication.
- Core Modules
Design Investigation 1 CloseDesign Investigation 1
The module aims to introduce you to the skills, processes and practices involved in a spatial design project. It engages you in a range of processes by means of which you can understand, think about and engage with the academic and practical design discipline of architectural design.
The module enables you to develop an understanding of space and materials. It familiarises you with methods for fabricating models, prototypes, 2D and 3D drawings, sketches, diagrams, collage, photographs and mixed media representations, and to practice their use in generating and communicating ideas.
The module supports experiment, trial and error through short projects and exercises that build confidence and competence. It introduces you to the role of representation in design and links with art practice as well as an understanding of the materials, processes and techniques that apply specifically to spatial design.
Design Resolution 1 CloseDesign Resolution 1
The module enables you to produce imaginative, appropriate and competent design proposals in response to a variety of sites, briefs, cultural, social and technological issues. Furthermore it aims to develop a general understanding of the materials, processes and techniques that are applied in the architectural and interior, and product design disciplines.
The module aims to develop your confidence and ability to apply a range of communication methods and media to present their design proposals clearly and effectively as well as an ability to evaluate and rework ideas in response to review and feedback.
The module supports the ability of students to see and reflect on how their design proposals are beginning to develop into fully-fledged interior and product design projects, and the kinds of work and thinking involved in taking their ideas further. Therefore, the module familiarises you with design development processes including the analysis and interpretation of a range of project sites and the development of project specific research. The module demonstrates strategies for producing spatial, material and programmatic ideas that satisfy aesthetic as well as technical requirements and how to present them using a range of appropriate media and methods of communication.
Material Integration 1 CloseMaterial Integration 1
The aim of this module is to relate design skills with the use and application of materials in the Term 2 main design project. You should understand the nature and character of various types of materials in common categories such as types of stone, casting material, glass, metalwork and woodwork. The use of workshops will be intrinsic to your learning outcomes. You will also be expected to have a thorough body of research.
Running in parallel with "Design Resolution 1", you should come equipped with a knowledge of your prescribed materiality and be prepared to deliver, during the course of the module, a resolved design project that will become both spatially and materially coherent across a number of scales.
Mental Wealth: Professional Life 1 CloseMental Wealth: Professional Life 1
Developing the key psychological and physical determinants of human performance are increasingly critical for successful graduate-level employment, entrepreneurship and career progression in the 4th industrial revolution.
This module will provide you with the opportunity to develop skills, competencies and experience required for successful development to, and in, a range of potential future career areas.
Herein you will begin to recognise the areas for your own personal professional development (including emotional, social, physical, cultural and cognitive intelligences) through taught and workshop activity.
Central to the developmental process is for each student to cultivate the reflective skills, openness and self-awareness to enable themselves to assess what they are doing, identify areas for improvement, and confidently receive and give constructive feedback. Students will additionally develop knowledge of strategies to advance their own physical intelligence through 'life style' and 'self-care' approaches to inform their health and wellbeing.
Having acquired understanding of the key developmental areas, you will have opportunity to pitch a small scale design project to a panel of practitioners, and be mentored and supervised by students from higher years. In this position you will learn and begin to apply the cognitive, cultural and social intelligences developed elsewhere in your studies (and from external activities) as required in the workplace, namely cognitive flexibility, emotional resilience, motivation, ethical decision-making, managing your audience, coordinating with others, negotiation, creativity, active listening, attention, problem solving, research, synthesis and analysis.
History and Theory 1 CloseHistory and Theory 1
The module aims to orient and critically engage you in the subject of architecture, interior and product design in your relationship with art and design culture through engaging with selected histories and theories relevant to art, culture, technology and contemporary practice.
Whilst beginning to develop a sound knowledge in their field, you are encouraged to see, read and articulate connections between developments in architecture, design and contemporary practice.
The module introduces you to the range of academic researching, analysing and essay writing tools you need to produce graduate-level discussions and writing, while encouraging you to articulate and take responsibility for the development of your own learning and to be able to reflect critically on your own work and that of others.
Technical Studies and Representation 1 CloseTechnical Studies and Representation 1
The module aims to prepare you for the task of visualising and communicating their work at all stages of its development, and setting their work in relation to the final design project Design Investigation, Design Resolution and Design Integration and the technical demands of the design proposal.
In this regard, drawing ability is a necessary skill for observation, recording, analysis, visualisation, evaluation and communication of different technical aspects of the design project.
This module aims to develop your repertoire of practical, technical and computer-aided skills that can keep pace with your growing knowledge of the design process.
- Core Modules
Design Investigation 2 CloseDesign Investigation 2
The module provides a forum for you to develop a creative, inventive and productive design process in relation to a design project or projects. In particular to raise your awareness and understanding of the occupants and users and their physical, social and psychological needs through the design of both objects and environments at appropriate scales, as well as exploring key characteristics of design projects.
There is a particular focus on investigations of site and context that may involve the gathering of empirical data, making analytical studies and conducting observations of people, place, context and materials that are appropriate to the project.
By setting one design project, the module aims to engage with the practices, protocols and conventions that apply to the design and delivery of projects within the design and construction industry. The module fosters the development of a personal position and working methods as part of the attributes required by a professional architect.
Design Resolution 2 CloseDesign Resolution 2
The aim of this module is to rehearse the production of more complex design projects in preparation for the final project undertaken in the final year. It also opens up the range of opportunities available to a student of architectural design looking to work in a discipline which is extremely varied, but where individual practices often specialise. The module therefore allows for a degree of choice in relation to the design unit and therefore the project type and site.
Running in parallel with Design Integration 2, you will be equipped with a brief and during the course of the module deliver a resolved design project that will become both spatially and materially coherent across a number of scales.
The module fosters the development of a personal position and working methods as part of the attributes required by a designer. You will also develops the capability of testing and evaluating the potential impact of your design proposals on the users and the broader environment.
You will be expected to offer articulate explanations of your proposals, be able to discuss your design considerations, present your case for specific social and environmental strategies and demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between materials, technology and the execution of their design.
The design process continues to be expansive and exploratory, and emphasises the creative and imaginative thinking involved. Working within vertical design units, you are also encouraged to cultivate a shared understanding of your project contexts and your briefs enabling you to work collaboratively, share tasks and review each other's work.
Material Integration 2 CloseMaterial Integration 2
The aim of this module is to relate design skills with the use and application of materials in the Term 2 main design project. You should understand the nature and character of various types of materials in common categories such as types of stone, casting material, glass, metalwork and woodwork. The use of workshops will be intrinsic to the student’s learning outcomes. You will also be expected to have a thorough body of research.
Running in parallel with "Design Resolution 2", you should come equipped with a knowledge of their prescribed materiality and be prepared to deliver, during the course of the module, a resolved design project that will become both spatially and materially coherent across a number of scales.
Mental Wealth: Professional Life 2 CloseMental Wealth: Professional Life 2
Developing the key psychological and physical determinants of human performance are increasingly critical for successful graduate-level employment, entrepreneurship and career progression in the 4th industrial revolution.
This module will provide you with the opportunity to apply several of the skills, competencies and experience required for successful development to, and in, a range of potential future career areas.
Herein you will advance the areas identified at level 4 for your own personal professional development (including emotional, social, physical, cultural and cognitive intelligences) through taught and workshop activity.
This module will help you develop: an understanding of job market forces and influences; required skills to enable you to make successful applications for a job in the architecture sector; effective representation in interviews; opportunities to gain work experience in an architectural practice (as a placement) to learn more about how to apply your knowledge and learning in practice.
Through engagement with the Career Passport, you will reflect on the success of the strategies that they employed to further develop your reflective skills, self-awareness, 'life style' and 'self-care' approaches and where necessary improve their approaches.
You will use a design project chosen and set by the academic staff. This may be a competition or a live project. In so doing, you will apply the cognitive, cultural and social intelligences you have learnt elsewhere.
History and Theory 2 CloseHistory and Theory 2
The module aims to orient and critically engage you in the subject of architecture and interior/product, and also in its relationship with urbanism and urban space through engaging with selected histories and theories and through engagement with relevant art, culture, technology and contemporary practice.
The history and theory element further prepares you as independent and critical thinkers, capable of producing a sustained piece of study in the form of a written essay. The module sets out the resources and methods, and rehearses the thinking, historical, analytical and discursive skills that will be required in relation to architecture and interior design.
Throughout the module you are supported to think creatively and to take more responsibility for the development of your own learning and academic and professional direction whilst examining broader ethical questions resident in the practice of design.
Technical Studies and Representation 2 CloseTechnical Studies and Representation 2
The module aims to equip you with the knowledge and skills to engage with the technical demands of the main design project in Design Investigation 2, Design Resolution 2 and Design Integration 2, and to represent this appropriately.
This module builds upon and extends the knowledge, skills and understanding gained in Technical Studies and Representation 1 in that it continues to develop your repertoire of conceptual, practical, technical and computer-aided skills in order to be able to inform, support and describe their architectural design development.
The module aims to:
- Provide an overview of the principles of architectural structures, material construction and sustainable design.
- Provide you with a range of representational and descriptive skills in order to record, analyse, visualise, develop, evaluate and communicate architectural design and observations.
- Allow you to learn and apply representational skills to a design project across a range of drawing scales and details.
- Core Modules
Design Investigation 3 CloseDesign Investigation 3
The module consolidates skills and knowledge gained at Levels 4 and 5. Together with Design Resolution 3 and Design Integration 3 which requires highly detailed reflection on the integration of cultural, professional, technical and environmental issues within the design project, this set of 3 modules is intended to prepare you for independent practice, entry into the professional workplace, or for higher studies.
Whilst improving your practical skills and refining your ability to use them productively, the focus of this module is on developing a depth of knowledge and understanding about research and project development, appropriate to graduate level. It also aims to help you to offer evidence of self-management in respect of planning, monitoring, recording and evaluation within the portfolio work that is produced.
Design Resolution 3 CloseDesign Resolution 3
The module consolidates skills and knowledge gained at Levels 4 and 5. Together with Design Investigation 3 and Design Integration 3 which requires highly detailed reflection on the integration of cultural, professional, technical and environmental issues within the design project, this set of three modules is intended to prepare students for independent practice, entry into the professional workplace, or for higher studies.
Whilst improving your practical skills and refining your ability to use them productively, the focus in this module is on you demonstrating your ability as professionals: your capacity to define and analyse spatial and design problems, generate proposals, integrate knowledge derived from different fields and sources, produce socially relevant inhabitable spaces, design technically competent buildings of aesthetic quality, and to take into account issues relating to human comfort and sustainability.
In this module you are expected to draw on your previous experience as well as the agenda offered by your choice of design unit in order to formulate and communicate a resolved final design project that frames the specific aspects of architectural design that you are interested in.
The module reiterates and supports the requirement to produce high quality design proposals that satisfy aesthetic and technical requirements, and for these to be presented using a range of suitably professional and appropriate media. It also aims to help you offer evidence of self-management in respect of planning, monitoring, recording and evaluation within the portfolio that is produced.
Material Integration 3 CloseMaterial Integration 3
The aim of this module is to relate design skills with the use and application of materials in the Term 2 main design project. You should understand the nature and character of various types of materials in common categories such as types of stone, casting material, glass, metalwork and woodwork. The use of workshops will be intrinsic to your learning outcomes.
Running in parallel with "Design Resolution 3", you should come equipped with a knowledge of your prescribed materiality and be prepared to deliver, during the course of the module, a resolved design project that will become both spatially and materially coherent across a number of scales.
Mental Wealth: Professional Life 3 CloseMental Wealth: Professional Life 3
Developing the key psychological and physical determinants of human performance are increasingly critical for successful graduate-level employment, entrepreneurship and career progression in the 4th industrial revolution.
This module will provide you with the opportunity to apply the full range of skills, competencies and experience required for successful development to, and in, a range of potential future career areas.
Herein you will advance the areas identified at level 5 for your own personal professional development (including emotional, social, physical, cultural and cognitive intelligences) through taught and workshop activity.
This module will help provide: an overview of professional responsibilities of the profession, the regulations and procedures involved in the approval and construction of designs, and the relevant context of the construction industry; and a framework within which you practice the integration of Professional and Technical concerns within a design proposal.
Through engagement with the Career Passport, you will reflect on the success of the strategies that you employed to further develop your reflective skills, self-awareness, 'life style' and 'self-care' approaches and where necessary improve your approaches.
History and Theory 3 CloseHistory and Theory 3
The module aims to critically engage you in the subject of architecture and interiors/product with the related art and design technologies and human sciences through engaging with selected histories and theories, and by considering these in relation to architecture contemporary practice.
This module provides a platform for ambitious individual work and it calls for graduate levels of achievement in the submission of an essay or dissertation about a subject relating to architecture, interiors/Product cities or politics. You will receive guidance on critical thinking, the analysis of texts, information retrieval, time management, bibliography, referencing, acknowledgement and the requirements for essay presentation.
Throughout the module you are required to think creatively and to take responsibility for the development of your own learning and academic and professional direction whilst examining broader questions resident in the practice of design.
Integrated Technology CloseIntegrated Technology
This module establishes your ability to integrate the key areas of your technical design knowledge within the context of the final design project Design Investigation 3, Design Resolution 3 and Design Integration 3.
The module provides an overview of the necessary design skills required to meet building users' requirements within the constraints imposed by cost factors and building regulations.
HOW YOU'LL LEARN
We teach design in small groups in studios, along with supporting studies that include representation, computing, design history and theory.
We place a strong emphasis on completing 'live' group and competition projects, as these will enable you to develop interpersonal skills and the ability to negotiate and work collaboratively. For some of these tasks, you'll study the spaces and interiors around London in minute detail. It's amazing what you see when you really study something.
Through the involvement of design mentors and regular talks from visiting designers, we'll give you enviable access to and connection with the design industry.
In your first year we'll help you to develop the practical skills you'll need, such as drawing, model-making and computer-aided design. You'll be assigned a personal design tutor whom you'll meet at least once a week.
We create a strong studio culture on this course which allows our students and academic team to support each other through common design projects.
Together you'll make creative decisions, developing skills in time management and become more critical and reflective about your own project work.
On our Interior Design course, you'll be working alongside students and staff from our Architecture and Product Design courses, and you'll benefit from observing, sharing and engaging with them.
Guided independent study
We are investing in key areas beyond your studies including our career services, library and well-being, to be available both face-to-face on campus and online with many of these available 24/7. We have new, modern library facilities on both campuses offering inspirational environments for study and research. Libraries contain resources in print and digital formats, a range of study spaces and dedicated librarian who can assist with your learning.
Academic support
Students are supported with any academic or subject-related queries by an Academic Advisor, module leaders, former and current UEL students.
If you need a bit of extra help with certain skills such as academic writing, English, maths or statistics, our Academic Tutors offer workshops, drop-in sessions and one-to-one appointments to help our students achieve their potential. You can receive advice and guidance on all aspects of the IT systems provided by the University from our IT Service Desks located on all three campuses. Our Student Support hubs in Docklands and Stratford feature centralised helpdesks to cater for your every need. UEL provides also support and advice for disabled students and those with specific learning difficulties (SPDs).
Workload
Each year you will spend around 300 hours of timetabled learning and teaching activities. These may be lectures, workshops, seminars and individual and group tutorials. Contact hours may vary depending on each module.
The approximate percentages for this course are:
- Year 1: scheduled teaching - 300 hours; guided independent study - 900 hours.
- Year 2: scheduled teaching - 300 hours; guided independent study - 900 hours.
- Year 3: scheduled teaching - 300 hours; guided independent study - 900 hours.
The size of classes can vary depending on the nature of the course, module and activity. This can range from large groups in a lecture theatre setting, to smaller groups taking part in seminars and collaborative work. You will receive your personalised timetable at the beginning of the academic year dependent on your course.
HOW YOU'LL BE ASSESSED
We assess all modules at the end of the academic year. Although each module is assessed separately against specific criteria, the assessed work will form part of an overall academic 'portfolio'.
Design studio work is assessed within a design portfolio and supporting studies are normally assessed in the form of a bound report or within the portfolio. We assess online and multi-media submissions appropriately. There are no closed-book examinations.
Feedback is provided within 15 working days in line with UEL's assessment and feedback policy.
CAMPUS and FACILITIES
Docklands Campus, Docklands Campus, London, E16 2RD
WHO TEACHES THIS COURSE
The teaching team includes qualified academics, practitioners and industry experts as guest speakers. Full details of the academics will be provided in the student handbook and module guides.
Dr Keith Winter
Dr Keith Winter is the course leader for BA (Hons) Interior Design. He has worked in small medium and large practices throughout the UK and Ireland.
See full profileRelated Courses
What we're researching
At the University of East London we are working on the some of the big issues that will define our future; from sustainable architecture and ethical AI, to health inequality and breaking down barriers in the creative industries.
Our students and academics are more critically engaged and socially conscious than ever before. Discover some of the positive changes our students, alumni and academics are making in the world.
Having been out of education for the past four years, I have found settling into UEL to be a surprisingly smooth process. The advantage of starting a newly introduced course is the one-to-one tutorial time we receive. One of the highlights of the Interior Design degree is the mixture of both the architectural element and the use of 'concepts' and why they are so important in design today."
Charlotte Tope
BA (Hons) Interior Design, Undergraduate
YOUR FUTURE CAREER
When you graduate from this course, a wealth of opportunities within the broad area of interior design will be open to you.
You may choose to go into residential design or the commercial and retail field, or to look at architectural and design conservation. You could move into designing exhibitions or TV and stage sets.
Alternatively, you may decide to study further and take an architectural or spatial design course at master's level.
Our graduates have excellent transferable skills, displaying resourcefulness and entrepreneurial qualities.
At a time when there is increasing demand for visual communicators, rapid developments in technology and expanding public interest in interior design, employment opportunities are growing constantly.
As a design graduate you'll be able to exhibit your work at UEL and at Free Range, an annual exhibition in London's Brick Lane for interior, architecture and design students which is increasingly popular with potential employers.
Professional studies modules will also prepare you for the world of work by giving you an understanding of how the industry works, covering areas such as online and published design magazines, making and publishing CVs. You'll also put together you own portfolio to showcase your work to potential employers.
Explore the different career options you can pursue with this degree and see the median salaries of the sector on our Career Coach portal.
