Interior Design MA
Subject and course type
- Design
- Postgraduate
Create incredible spaces. Kingston University’s Interior Design MA will give you the knowledge and skills you need to seize vibrant opportunities in the diverse interior design industry.
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Create and transform amazing spaces
Studying this masters in Interior Design at Kingston University will prepare you for a range of opportunities in the world of work.
Recent graduates have progressed to roles in interior, space and production design, as well as visual merchandise, exhibitions and more.
Through a blend of multidisciplinary work, research, analysis, and practice-based learning, you’ll explore London’s interior design practices and focus on sustainable spatial design.
You’ll address global issues, work on art-based speculative briefs and attend expert talks through Kingston University’s well-established industry connections.
Teaching will come from practising designers, researchers and academics, who'll enrich your experience with contemporary issues, events and challenges.
During the course, you’ll examine practical and strategic spatial design approaches. You’ll focus on practice, engage with live industry briefs and explore digital, physical and contextual considerations.
This course will allow you to pursue diverse briefs in both industry- and research-focused practice. You’ll also work closely with teams in other disciplines to enhance your problem-solving skills.
Student work
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Adam Gojdics
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Baina Badmaeva
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Georgia Pearce
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Hannah Gould
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Izabela Heftowicz
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Joseph Beadle
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Kasia Turowska
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Matilde Menezes
Why choose this course
While you study, you’ll benefit from top quality teaching at Kingston University. Not only are we ranked Gold in the Teaching Excellence Framework, we’re also No.1 in the UK for Interior Design (Guardian University Guide league tables 2023).
University museums and galleries
Kingston University has two on-site galleries, which offer exciting opportunities for career progression. Grade II-listed Dorich House is the former home of the sculptor Dora Gordine, while the Stanley Picker Gallery is one of the UK’s leading university galleries. Our Knights Park campus also has a bookable project space for large-scale exhibitions.
Workshops and studios
Explore, collaborate and share ideas in our state-of-the-art workshop facilities, designed by Stirling Prize-winning studio, Haworth Tompkins. Facilities are open to all Kingston University students, and include:
- 3D workshops, with spaces for ceramics, concrete, resin-casting, plastics, metalwork, woodwork, bronze-casting foundry, set design and large scale model making
- Animation and post-production studios
- A digital media workshop
- Knitting and sewing workshops with digital and analogue facilities, plus a working dress archive including from 1750 to the present day
- A HackSpace for collaborative, creative, solutions-focused projects
- A letterpress and printmaking workshop
- A moving image workshop, with studios, an editing suite and industry-standard equipment
- A fully-equipped photography workshop
Kingston is ranked No.1 in the UK for Interior Design (Guardian University Guide league tables 2023).
The Art School Experience
As part of Kingston School of Art, students on this course benefit from joining a creative community where we encourage collaborative working and critical practice.
Our workshops and studios are open to all disciplines, enabling students and staff to work together, share ideas and explore multi-disciplinary making.
Course content
This course is part of the Design School's Postgraduate Framework, which promotes interdisciplinary practice opportunities, underpins research, supports personal trajectory and industry contact, and includes a supporting lecture series.
Modules
This postgraduate Interior Design programme offers an open platform to develop as an interior space designer and other related areas of practice. MA Interior Design aims at the development of a high level of intellectual and practical mastery of the analysis and design of diverse interior spaces, with broader implications for spatial design. The approach of the spatial exploration, solutions and design involves research contexts transferred into new design strategies and design interventions.
Compulsory modules
60 credits
The Major Project - the capstone project - consolidates the knowledge gained in earlier modules, and is informed by your prior learning within the Design School's postgraduate interdisciplinary framework and course-specific specialist study. You will extend your work on the course thus far in the form of a practical design proposal, defining and developing a substantive solution to an individually defined design-related problem. In so doing, you will demonstrate advanced understanding and application of contemporary design practice as it can be brought to bear on a specific challenge of sustainability.
30 credits
This module is based on the assumption that the best jobs/careers in the creative industries do not exist – they are invented from individual creative ambitions. The module explores how this can be approached in practical terms. The programme of study encourages you to develop a personal and critical approach to your future career, and how this can inform the development of your individual major project for the Major Project.
30 credits
The aim of this module is to map a route forward that best facilitates progress on to the capstone project, reflecting upon all previous learning. Students will construct a substantial body of iterative, experimental, practical design investigation through a rigorous process of measured trial and error, in support of an evolving Interior Design Major Project proposal.
30 credits
The aim of the module is to give you an understanding of the design research tools and methods that are available to you, to inform and support the development of your practical study, and to provide the basis of your further study on your course. Practical research methods are explored, with an emphasis on the development of creative and evidence-based approaches to experimentation, and critical reflection on practical design work.
30 credits
This module provides dedicated interior design study opportunity. It occurs in teaching block 1. This module enables the student to develop a contemporary interior portfolio at Masters level. A series of fashion context briefs are provided to engage the individual in practical spatial design skills, working towards a spectrum of physically sketchbooks and models and digitally generated outcomes. Project briefs are devised to interrogate interior developments and trends and engage the student in exploring and debating the role of space and its sustainability and societal issues implications. These briefs introduce the practice and problems of spaces, with a focus on effective solutions and visualising outcomes.
Career opportunities
You’ll complete this course fully prepared for diverse design practice, as well as a range of opportunities in the interior design industry. Recent graduates have progressed to roles including interior designer, space designer, visual merchandiser, space researcher, production designer, exhibition designer and more.
Teaching and assessment
The teaching on the course is very much in line with the 3D Design Department ethos, involving studio practice, research, workshops, guest lecturers and visiting lecturers, who enrich the provision. We also have rich blended learning content.
When not attending timetabled sessions you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. This typically will involve reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, undertaking preparing coursework assignments and presentations, and preparing for exams. Your independent learning is supported by a range of excellent facilities including online resources, the library and CANVAS, the online virtual learning platform.
At Kingston University, we know that postgraduate students have particular needs and therefore we have a range of support available to help you during your time here.
When you arrive, we'll introduce you to your personal tutor. This is the member of academic staff who will provide academic guidance, be a support throughout your time at Kingston and who will show you how to make the best use of all the help and resources that we offer at Kingston University.
A course is made up of modules, and each module is worth a number of credits. You must pass a given number of credits in order to achieve the award you registered on, for example 360 credits for a typical undergraduate course or 180 credits for a typical postgraduate course. The number of credits you need for your award is detailed in the programme specification which you can access from the link at the bottom of this page.
One credit equates to 10 hours of study. Therefore 180 credits across a year (typical for a postgraduate course) would equate to 1,800 notional hours. These hours are split into scheduled and guided. On this course, the percentage of that time that will be scheduled learning and teaching activities is shown below. The remainder is made up of guided independent study.
- 16% scheduled learning and teaching
The exact balance between scheduled learning and teaching and guided independent study will be informed by the modules you take.
Your course will primarily be delivered in person. It may include delivery of some activities online, either in real time or recorded.
Assessment typically comprises briefs assessments and final submissions are portfolios compiled at a professional standard.
The course also includes developing research books, formative reviews and group feedback.
The approximate percentage for how you will be assessed on this course is as follows, though depends to some extent on the optional modules you choose.
Type of assessment
- Coursework: 100%
We aim to provide feedback on assessments within 20 working days.
To give you an indication of class sizes, this course will enrol 20 students and lecture sizes are normally 100-120 together with the school's postgraduate framework. However this can vary by module and academic year.
Fees and funding
| Fee category | Fee |
|---|---|
| Home (UK students) | |
| Full Time | £12,400 |
| Part Time | £6,820 |
| International | |
| Full Time | £21,800 |
| Part Time | £11,990 |
| Fee category | Fee |
|---|---|
| Home (UK students) | |
| Full Time | £11,900 |
| Part Time | £6,545 |
| International | |
| Full Time | £20,900 |
| Part Time | £11,495 |
Funding support for postgraduate students
If you are a UK student living in England and under 60, you can apply for a loan to study for a postgraduate degree on the government's website.
Scholarships and bursaries
Interested in studying Interior Design MA at Kingston? The following funding support is available:
Get a 40% reduction in fees for taught masters or postgraduate diploma courses with September start dates. Find out more.
Receive up to £5,000 towards tuition in your first year of study. Find out more.
Get a 15% reduction in tuition fees. Find out more.
Kingston University offers a 10% discount on full- and part-time postgraduate degree course tuition fees to our alumni. Visit our alumni discount page to find out more.
Student work
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Natalia Carballo
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Robyn Abraham
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Sergiu Dan Lacatus
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Xinning Li
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Hannah Gould
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Izabela Heftowicz
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Kasia Turowska
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Sergiu Dan Lacatus
Additional course costs
Some courses may require additional costs beyond tuition fees. When planning your studies, you’ll want to consider tuition fees, living costs, and any extra costs that might relate to your area of study.
Your tuition fees include costs for teaching, assessment and university facilities. So your access to libraries, shared IT resources and various student support services are all covered. Accommodation and general living expenses are not covered by these fees.
Where applicable, additional expenses for your course may include:
Our libraries have an extensive collection of books and journals, as well as open-access computers and laptops available to rent. However, you may want to buy your own computer or personal copies of key textbooks. Textbooks may range from £50 to £250 per year.
While most coursework is submitted online, some modules may require printed copies. You may want to allocate up to £100 per year for hard-copies of your coursework. It’s worth noting that 3D printing is never compulsory. So if you choose to use our 3D printers, you’ll need to pay for the material. This ranges from 3p per gram to 40p per gram.
Kingston University will pay for all compulsory field trips. Fees for optional trips can range from £30 to £350 per trip.
Your tuition fees don’t cover travel costs. To save on travel costs, you can use our free intersite bus service. This route links the campuses and halls of residence with local train stations - Surbiton, Kingston upon Thames, and Norbiton.
You’ll need to buy your own laptop (minimum specification CPU 2.6 GHz+, 8GB Memory RAM) to use for the duration of your studies. This laptop should support 3D CAD software for your course, such as Revit, SolidWorks, KeyShot, Vectorworks and 3D Photoshop. The University will give you access to these programmes. Estimated costs for a laptop start at £500.
Project materials will cost between £100 and £200 per year. You’ll also need to purchase tools at a cost of around £50.
You’ll need to buy your own board and cardboard materials, which should cost between £40 and £80 per year. The course also requires you to have your own interior model-making tool set, which will cost between £25 and £40.
How to apply
Before you apply
Please read the entry criteria carefully to make sure you meet all requirements before applying.
How to apply online
Use the course selector drop down at the top of this page to choose your preferred course, start date and mode, then click 'Apply now'. You will be taken to our Online Student Information System (OSIS) where you will complete your application.
If you’re starting a new application, you’ll need to select ‘new user’ and set up a username and password. This will allow you to save and return to your application.
Please note: If you’re from a country outside the EU or EEA that’s classified as overseas fee-paying, you won’t be eligible to apply for a part-time course because of visa regulations in the UK. For information about exceptions, please visit the UKCISA website or email our CAS and Visa Compliance team.
Application deadlines
We encourage you to apply as soon as possible. Applications will close when the course is full.
After you apply
If the admission tutor wants to see your portfolio, we will email asking you to upload your zipped portfolio to the OSIS portal within three weeks. If we need more information or want to invite you for an interview, we will be in touch directly. After that you will then hear whether your application has been successful.
Course changes and regulations
The information on this page reflects the currently intended course structure and module details. To improve your student experience and the quality of your degree, we may review and change the material information of this course. Course changes explained.
Programme Specifications for the course are published ahead of each academic year.
Regulations governing this course can be found on our website.
