Program Overview

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BDes (Hons) Interior & Spatial Design

Overview

Taught by expert practitioners, our course produces graduates with a deep understanding of real projects, real clients and real materials.

Mode of Study:

Full-time

Duration:

4 years

Start date:

Sep

UCAS code:

W251

Course details

This is a full-time course studied over four years. Through a carefully choreographed series of projects, you'll explore the large and the small, the public and the private, the old and the new, the solid and the void. Specialist tutors in computer-aided design, technological studies and theoretical perspectives inform and support the core design projects.

You'll design interior and exterior spaces relating to a wide range of themes including social (e.g. schools, hospitals, libraries), commercial (e.g. retail, leisure, offices) and the arts (e.g. theatres, museums, galleries).

The primary focus is to allow you to develop a sophisticated design language and an understanding of the relationship between space, form, structure and materials within the context of building purpose, the end-user and the wider environment.

In addition to traditional skills such as drawing and model making you'll learn to use specific design software (AutoCAD, 3D Studio Max) to articulate design ideas and design processes and to investigate the associated technical issues of design proposals.

You'll gain the skills to develop unique design ideas, establish rigorous design processes, deal with complex design issues, make informed judgements and communicate conclusions clearly to a professional audience.

Design development is supported by research and experimentation and is augmented by conceptual, technical and regulatory studies as the course advances.

In Year 3 you'll have the opportunity to study with one of our overseas partners in Europe, China, or North America, or undertake a work placement.

In the final year you'll devise your major project, articulating an individual design philosophy and further enhancing your subject specific skills and knowledge.

There is a strong studio culture supported by a multidisciplinary staff team of academics and industry-based practitioners. This course will provide you with the increasingly trans-disciplinary skills of the design profession and a thorough understanding of contemporary creative practice.

You'll also gain transferable skills in problem solving, planning, leadership, teamwork, communication and time management.

Graduates are equipped with the collaborative, professional and computer-aided design skills required to operate in design practice and work in fields as diverse as exhibition and museum design, retail design, lighting design, design for responsive environments, exterior spaces and both commercial and residential interiors.

Additional mandatory costs

• All Years: Printing and model-making material costs, approx. £150 per year
• Year 2 &3: Field trip in January, approx. £350
• Year 4: Trip to London. The total cost may vary, but you are expected to pay for travel and accommodation for a few nights

How you’ll be taught

You'll learn by a variety of teaching methods including lectures, tutorials, studio projects and independent study.

Assessments

You'll be assessed through a combination of portfolio reviews, essays and group work.

Work placement

Underpinned by a studio culture designed to foster collaboration and peer learning, the course offers you the opportunity to undertake live projects with clients such as the National Museum of Scotland, and engage with internationally recognised practices for work placements.

Study abroad

In Year 3, you'll have the opportunity to study with one of our overseas partners in Europe, China, or North America, or undertake a work placement.

Popular modules

Year 1

• Foundation Digital Media 1
• Foundation Interior & Spatial Design 1
• Visual Research Methods
• Foundation Digital Media 2
• Foundation Interior & Spatial Design
• Debating Design 1

Year 2

• CAD (Construction & Detailing)
• Designing for Living Spaces
• Debating Design 2
• CAD (Digital Visualisation)
• Designing for Commercial Spaces
• Design & Business

Year 3

• Design for Exhibition and Display
• Light and Colour in the Built Environment
• Design Research Methods

Option modules:

• Prototyping Interactive Experiences
• Design for Public Spaces
• Design and Urbanism
• Design and Media Work Based Learning (Minor, Major or Extended)
• International Design Studies

Year 4

• Minor Project
• Design Professional Practice
• Major Project
• Design Research Portfolio

Disclaimer

Study modules mentioned above are indicative only. Some changes may occur between now and the time that you study.

Full information is available in our disclaimer.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

Year 1

• Minimum Year 1 SQA Higher
  • Standard Entry Requirement: BBBC preferably including one of: Art and Design, Design and Manufacture or Daydream Believers Level 6 Creative Thinking at grade B.
  • Minimum Offer Entry Requirement: BCCC preferably including one of: Art and Design, Design and Manufacture or Daydream Believers Level 6 Creative Thinking at grade B.
• A Level
  • CCC preferably including one of: Art and Design/Design and Technology: (Product Design)
• Irish Leaving Certificate
  • H2, H3, H3, H3 at HL preferably including Art.
• BTEC (QCF) Extended Diploma Level 3
  • Minimum grades MMM (Merit, Merit, Merit) in a related subject. Related subjects include - Art and Design/Art and Design Practice/Creative Media Practice/Creative Media Production/Creative Digital Media Production. Others may be considered please refer to admissions team.
• BTEC (QCF) National Diploma Level 3
  • Minimum grades DD (Distinction, Distinction) in a related subject. Related subjects include - Art and Design/Art and Design Practice/Creative Media Practice/Creative Media Production/Creative Digital Media Production. Others may be considered please refer to admissions team.
• International Baccalaureate Diploma
  • Award of Diploma with 27 points overall with three HL subjects with grades 6,5,4 preferably including one of: Visual Arts or Design Technology.
• T Level
  • Grade Pass
  • T Level should preferably be completed in a Creative/Design subject. Please contact to check if you meet the subject specific requirements.

Year 2

• Minimum Year 2 SQA Advanced Higher
  • BBC including preferably one of: Art and Design or Design and Manufacture
• A Level
  • BBB including preferably one of: Art and Design/Design and Technology: (Product Design)
• HNC
  • Pass HNC in Interior Design, 3D Design and Interior Design, Visual Communication, Art and Design, 3D Interior Design: Interior Architecture or Interior Architecture and Design with grade B in the graded unit.

Year 3

• Minimum Year 3
  • HND
    • Pass HND in 3D Design, Interior Architecture and Design or 3D Design: Interior Design with grade B at SCQF Level 8 in all graded units.

English language

If your first language isn't English, you'll normally need to undertake an approved English language test and our minimum English language requirements will apply.

This may not apply if you have completed all your school qualifications in English. Check our country pages to find out if this applies to you.

If you do not currently meet our minimum English language requirements, we offer a number of pre-sessional English language courses which could help you achieve the required level.

International students

We welcome applications from students studying a wide range of international qualifications.
Entry requirements by country

Please note that international students are unable to enrol onto the following courses:

• BM Midwifery/MM Midwifery
• All Graduate Apprenticeship courses.

See who can apply for more information on Graduate Apprenticeship courses.

Admissions policies

We’re committed to admitting students who have the potential to succeed and benefit from our programmes of study.

Our admissions policies will help you understand our admissions procedures, and how we use the information you provide us in your application to inform the decisions we make.

Undergraduate admissions policies
Postgraduate admissions policies

Fees & funding

The course fees you'll pay and the funding available to you will depend on a number of factors including your nationality, location, personal circumstances and the course you are studying. We also have a number of bursaries and scholarships available to our students.

• Undergraduate student fees and funding information
• Postgraduate student fees and funding information
• International student fees and funding information

Tuition fees for 2024/25

Students from | 2024/25 | 2025/26 |
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Scotland | £1,820 | £1,820 |
England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland | £9,250 | £9,535 |
Overseas and EU | £19,340 | £20,310 |

Students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland will be invoiced the tuition fees for 3 years of their 4 years of study.

Tuition fees are subject to an annual review and may increase from one year to the next. For more information on this and other tuition fee matters, please see our Fees and Funding links above.

If additional compulsory costs other than the tuition fees are applicable, these will be detailed in the course details.

Please note that the tuition fees liable to be paid by EU nationals commencing their studies from 1 August 2021 will be the Overseas fee rate. The University offers a range of attractive Tuition Fee bursaries to students resident in specific countries. More information on these can be found here.

View Tuition Fees for 2025/26

Careers

As a graduate of Interior & Spatial design, you'll find your skills in high demand. The skills you gain will prepare you for work in a number of design and creative disciplines including:

• Interior design
• Exhibition and museum design
• Lighting design
• Property development
• Retail design
• Urban design
• Sustainable design
• Design for interactive spaces

You can also apply for postgraduate study on one of our MA/MDes Design programmes.