Interior Design BA

  • UCAS Code W250
  • Duration Up to 4 years
  • Delivery type Full Time
  • Study location
  • Scottish Borders
  • Number of places
  • 20

Overview

The Course

The programme explores the creative process of Interior Design, from materials and furnishings through retail and event design to architectural alteration and technology. The programme is delivered jointly by the School of Textiles and Design and the School of the Built Environment and provides a core set of design skills required by the industry, supported by contextual studies, technology and material expertise. Students tackle projects and tasks that enable them to articulate their own niche in Interior Design.

Career Prospects

Students develop the key skills required for employment as a designer such as the conceptual and creative thinking that underlies all good design; the technical know-how and analytical skills that get interiors built; and the interpersonal skills that make interiors useful and delightful to those who inhabit them.

Advanced entry

Please note that students will articulate into year 3, as we are only running Interior Design at years 3 and 4 in the UK. This course is taught at our Scottish Borders Campus in Galashiels.

A four year BA Interior Design programme is offered at our Dubai Campus.

Portfolio requirement

Once you have applied to UCAS you will be required to submit samples of your portfolio. The portfolio requirements are explained in the Guidelines to Applicants for Portfolio Programmes.

This programme is taught at our Scottish Borders Campus in Galashiels.

Overview

The Course

The programme explores the creative process of Interior Design, from materials and furnishings through retail and event design to architectural alteration and technology. The programme is delivered jointly by the School of Textiles and Design and the School of the Built Environment and provides a core set of design skills required by the industry, supported by contextual studies, technology and material expertise. Students tackle projects and tasks that enable them to articulate their own niche in Interior Design.

Career Prospects

Students develop the key skills required for employment as a designer such as the conceptual and creative thinking that underlies all good design; the technical know-how and analytical skills that get interiors built; and the interpersonal skills that make interiors useful and delightful to those who inhabit them.

Advanced entry

Please note that students will articulate into year 3, as we are only running Interior Design at years 3 and 4 in the UK. This course is taught at our Scottish Borders Campus in Galashiels.

A four year BA Interior Design programme is offered at our Dubai Campus.

Portfolio requirement

Once you have applied to UCAS you will be required to submit samples of your portfolio. The portfolio requirements are explained in the Guidelines to Applicants for Portfolio Programmes.

This programme is taught at our Scottish Borders Campus in Galashiels.

Programme content

Level 3

Focuses on students working in appropriate interdisciplinary projects and industry collaborations through a combination of independent study, team working and appropriate external projects. This external activity provides students with industry awareness as well as giving them first hand knowledge of contextualising their own work in the contemporary Interior Design discipline.

Level 4

Students will consolidate their skills and develop their own Interior Design agenda and creative identity through the initiation, development and production of a selfselected major project.

Laura Mackay Helen Finlayson Annika Arvidsson

Laura Mackay

Degree BA (Hons) in Design for Textiles (Fashion, Interior, Art)
Present Job Designer
Laura Mackay

I chose Heriot-Watt because of the reputation the School has for excellence in the field and links with
industry. After visiting, I loved the look of the print room and the facilities, not to mention the friendly
technicians!

I specialised in print and thoroughly enjoyed screenprinting and mixing up different dyes. I spent half of my time in the CAD lab and the other half in the print room combining digital prints with discharge, devore and foils. I was lucky enough to win a placement with Tigerprint and this helped me gain valuable work experience. I also spent my other two summers in work placements, Cath Kidston in London and John Robshaw in New York City.

I have now been at Cath Kidston for two years and have moved on to design prints specifically for our fashion range. I would highly recommend Heriot-Watt for anyone wishing to begin a career in the textile industry.

Helen Finlayson

Degree BSc (Hons) Fashion Technology
Present Job Owner of 'nelfin'

I decided the Fashion Technology course would be best suited to me. My initial interest was in design but I was keen to take advantage of the invaluable technical production and business skills that the course also offers. I feel this balanced outlook on fashion design has thoroughly equipped me for my chosen career path. I am now running my own bespoke fashion label, nelfin, in Glasgow, utilising the broad skillset gained at Heriot-Watt.

I design and produce all my garments from start to finish, which is my favourite part of the job. I also deal with the business and marketing side of things, which may not be quite so much fun but fortunately the Fashion Technology course has given me a good grounding. I hope to develop my label further into a respected design brand, as well a commercially viable business.

Annika Arvidsson

Degree BA (Hons) Fashion
Present Job Paul Smith, Knitwear Technical Design Assistant

The Fashion course gave me a good insight into what to expect in real working life. It was here that I discovered my passion for knitwear. There are quite a few textile businesses in the Scottish Borders, so I managed to get a job with a knitting studio where I learned a lot of skills and gained excellent work experience between study terms.

After graduating, I worked as a designer/assistant/sales person for 'Suttle Textiles' in Leicestershire. This gave me a lot of invaluable contacts and taught me more of the basics. With all these combined experiences, I was able to move into a really exciting role as a Knitwear Technical Design Assistant at Paul Smith in Nottingham. I have learnt that hard work and determination can take you anywhere you want!

Entry requirements

Level 3 entry

  • SQA Higher National Dip A in graded unit. Entry into Year 3 from appropriate articulated HND/BTEC courses or from Approved Learning Partners (dependent upon places available).
  • Additional information Online portfolio submission is a prerequisite and will demonstrate an individuals interest in Interior Design

Tuition fees

Status* Scotland / EU** England / Northern Ireland / Wales International
Fee Paid by SAAS £9,000 £11,370

* Your residency 'status' is usually defined as the country where you have been ordinarily resident for the 3 years before the start of your programme. Find out more about tuition fees.

** European Union countries, not including England, Northern Ireland or Wales.

Scholarships & bursaries