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Subject · 165 verified programs

Interior Design degrees

Degrees in planning and designing interior spaces, covering layout, materials, lighting, furnishings and how people use rooms.

Also called: Interior Architecture and Design, Interior Design and Decoration, Spatial Design, Interiors, Environmental Design.

47 Other bachelor’s award · 41 BFA · 33 BA / BA (Hons) · 16 Other master’s award · 11 MFA · 10 MA · 5 BDes · 1 Other research doctorate · 1 MDes · 8 named major, 139 dedicated degree, 14 official concentration, 4 documented pathway

165 programs

How results are ordered: alphabetically by institution, or by most recently checked when you choose that sort. There is no price ranking, because tuition in different currencies, fee categories and bases (per year, per credit, whole program) is not comparable. A program appears under a subject only through a verified link (dedicated degree, major, concentration or documented pathway). A value we could not verify is shown as “not published”, never as “no”. Items marked Sponsored are paid placements; they never change verification or order. Online programs are not counted as physically located in a state or city, and an institution’s location does not tell you whether it enrols students from your country.

About interior design study

Interior design is concerned with how interior spaces are planned, organized and experienced. Degree study covers spatial layout, materials, color, lighting, furniture and finishes, together with human factors such as accessibility and comfort. Students learn to develop a concept, communicate it in drawings and models, and consider building context, regulations and sustainability.

Programs typically center on studio projects of increasing scale, from small rooms to retail, hospitality, workplace, residential and public interiors. Teaching includes technical drawing, digital modeling, construction and materials knowledge, history of interiors and design theory. Presentation, critique and collaboration with other disciplines are regular features.

Architecture and interior architecture are different fields from interior design, with their own scopes and training, although they overlap. Some countries have professional accreditation bodies or registration rules that shape how interior design programs are structured, and these differ widely. Interior design also differs from industrial design, which concerns manufactured products, and from textile design, which concerns cloth.

What study typically involves

  • Space planning and interior design studios
  • Technical drawing and digital modeling
  • Materials, finishes and construction basics
  • Lighting, color and furniture design
  • Human factors, accessibility and sustainability
  • History and theory of interiors
  • Presentation and professional practice

Award titles. Interior design is commonly studied within BA, BA (Hons), BFA or BDes programs, and at postgraduate level within MA, MFA or MDes degrees. Research degrees including practice-based PhDs may exist in some countries. Award titles vary, and professional recognition rules differ by country, so rely on the official program page.

Interior design may appear as a degree title, a major in a design school or a pathway beside architecture or product design. The directory lists a program under this subject only with a verified dedicated degree, major, official concentration or documented pathway.

Portfolio and admissions guidance

Requirements differ for every program. Always check the official admissions page; this directory cannot guarantee acceptance.

Applicants to interior design programs are often asked for a portfolio showing drawing, spatial or three-dimensional thinking and creative work of any kind. Sketchbooks, models and photographs can be useful, and prior technical drawing experience is not always required.

Requirements vary by country and program. Some programs ask for a design exercise, interview or written statement, and some use entrance examinations. Postgraduate applicants may need a prior design-related degree or a portfolio showing relevant work.

Confirm formats, limits and deadlines on each official admissions page, and check whether any professional accreditation is relevant to your goals. Admission is never guaranteed, and no universal template applies.

See also the guide to preparing an art portfolio.

Funding and costs

At MFA and PhD level, funding in some programs may include teaching assistantships, studio or fabrication roles, tuition remission or competitive scholarships.

Terms vary by program, country and year, and many students receive partial or no support. Verify details directly with the program and funding bodies.

Costs beyond tuition. Students often pay for design software, a capable computer, model-making materials, printing and plotting, and sample materials or site visits.