Jason Livingstone
Graduate
Graduated: 2017
BA (Hons)Interior Design Decoration
Apply on UCAS
- 2023
- 2024
- 3 years
- 4 years with foundation year
UCAS code: IDD1
Institution code: S30
UCAS points: 112-128Flexible entry options available
Campus: Southampton City CentreView on Google Maps
Why study an interior design decoration degree at Solent University
With award-winning graduates and a teaching team of industry professionals, our SBID-accredited degree will provide you with the design skills to turn your vision into reality.
- 0%overall student satisfaction (NSS 2022)
- 0%overall satisfaction for teaching (NSS 2022)
- 0%overall satisfaction for learning opportunities (NSS 2022)
- Solent is an SBID Centre of Excellence, and the making us a central hub for interior design professionals in the south-east. Our course is also accredited by SBID.
- Opportunity to work on a range of live briefs. Recent projects have been with Ted Baker, The Clothes Show, IKEA, Hampshire Kitchens, Bulthaup, Linden Show Homes and Blendworth interiors.
- Study under the guidance of an expert teaching team who are experienced professionals with a wealth of interior and lifestyle industry experience to share.
- Access to a range of specialist equipment for surface decoration, spatial design and interior styling. These include a digital fabric printer, digital laser cutter and industry-standard photographic studios.
- You will gain practical experience by working on industry-led projects and the support required to create a professional portfolio and get your career off to the ideal start.
This video 'BA (Hons) Interior Design Decoration' is available as a text transcript, with a description of visuals.
Course overview
Whether you're interested in interior design, surface decoration, textiles or interior styling, Solent University’s interior design decoration programme will help you to improve your practical skills and begin a unique career in this exciting creative industry. With an expert teaching team and a strong emphasis on the decorative elements of the interior and lifestyle industry, you’ll gain the practical experience and support required to create a professional portfolio and get your career off to the ideal start.
The course places a strong emphasis on gaining hands-on experience and students are encouraged to work on industry-led projects. Through the course team’s strong industry links, past students have had the opportunity to gain self-directed work experience in both commercial and domestic design-led environments.
Students on the interior design decoration course enjoy free access to specialist equipment and facilities. These include a digital fabric printer, digital laser cutter and industry-standard photographic studios. Students will also have access to large format scanners, printing equipment and Apple Mac computers loaded with Vectorworks, Google SketchUp, Adobe Creative Suite and a range of other software packages.
Past students have also exhibited their work at important interior design events including New Designers in London - read about 2022 graduate, Jasmine Baldock's experience at New Designers 2022. Attending events like this provides them with opportunities to meet employers and network with their industry colleagues.
Any questions?
Contact international admissions
Call: +44 (0)23 8201 5066Email: admissions.international@solent.ac.ukAccredited by:
Course features
Foundation year available
If you're not quite ready for a full undergraduate degree, there's alternative entry through one of our foundation years
Further studies
After successfully completing your studies, there's an opportunity to continue your studies at Solent
Professional accreditation
This course has been accredited by a professional body
Specialist facilities
This course has access to specialist facilities
Top-up option
If you have an appropriate Level 5 qualification, you can top it up to a degree in just a year
Who is this course for?
Interior design and decoration at Solent prepares students for careers in interior design for domestic and commercial spaces, visual merchandising, surface and textile design, photographic and editorial styling and creative direction.
Students may come from a range of creative or academic backgrounds. Students will be given time and support to develop a professional portfolio.
What does this course lead to?
Recent graduates have found employment in a range of interior design and related roles: high-end residential and commercial interior designer, interior yacht designer, home buyer, creative projects assistant, design consultant, kitchen designer and textile designer. Graduates have found employment with companies such as Dulux, Fortnum and Mason, Ted Baker, Harvey Jones, Claydon Reeves, Magnet and a range of independent interior design practices.
Meet the team
The University cannot guarantee any particular members of staff will teach specific aspects of the course in the future, but will endeavour to ensure the teaching team maintains their balance of experience and qualifications.
Facilities
The course has specialist equipment for surface decoration, spatial design and interior styling. These include a digital fabric printer, digital laser cutter and industry-standard photographic studios.
There are also large format scanners, printing equipment, the latest PC and Mac computers, with subject specific software including Vectorworks, Google SketchUp, Adobe Creative Suite and a range of other software packages.
Core modules
Interior Design Studio Practice
This challenging module introduces you to the many skills and processes that will give you a foundation in interior design decoration, including conceptual sketching, technical drawing and design development.
Interior Design in Context
This module will introduce you to the historical and cultural development of interior design with a focus on the 20th and 21st Century. You will explore key art and design movements and how they have informed interior design trends in contemporary practice.
Interior Design and Presentation
This creative module builds on the skills and knowledge developed in the Studio Practice module to complete a professional design process and create a unique body of work based on a live project with a real site.
Surface Design and Decoration
Through this module you will learn how to deconstruct surface designs and learn new design processes and applications used in surface decoration for the interiors industry.
Spatial Design and Decoration
Through this module you will learn how to deconstruct spatial designs and learn new design processes and applications used in spatial decoration for the interiors industry.
Creative Styling
On this module you will learn about design principles which will help you to evaluate design and styled images for interiors. Once you know this you will be able to use this, (applied knowledge) to create your own designs.
How you will learn and be assessed
You will learn by:
You may be assessed by a combination of:
- Creative design projects
- Assignments
- Research projects
- Model-making
- Individual presentations
- Group presentations
Solent’s curriculum framework builds on our unique, creative and applied approach to teaching. The transformation of students’ lives is at the heart of our mission as a university, and our curriculum – informed by the latest theory – reflects this shared educational vision.
Find out more
Study support
The student achievement team are on hand to help you succeed during your studies at Solent. They aim to contact you at key times during your time here with personalised information, advice and guidance, by email or phone.
Access Solent provides information, advice and guidance for disabled students.
All students can access Succeed@Solent, Solent's online guide to getting better grades. It offers extensive, practical information and advice on topics such as academic writing, research and presentations.
Why choose the industry?
The fashion and lifestyle industries can provide many opportunities for enthusiastic interior design decoration graduates. Suitable roles for graduates of Solent’s design and decoration degree include: interior design stylist, consultant and visual merchandiser for homes, or working within showrooms and retail companies.
Interior designers can also use their skills within the magazine and publishing industries for editorial features, or as set designers in the performance industry.
Tuition fees
The tuition fees for the 2023/24 academic year are:
- UK, EU (settled status) and Channel Island full-time fees: £9,250 per year
- International full-time fees: £15,000 per year
For further information, please visit our tuition fees page.
Extra course costs
While most course costs are covered by your tuition fees, some essential resources and optional extras may need to be paid for separately. These additional costs are listed below. For advice on budgeting and managing your money, please contact student.funding@solent.ac.uk.
The 2023/24 other costs are not yet available. For guidance, previous other costs have been:
Compulsory costs:
Year one:
Books, quality folders, printing, foam board, memory sticks, sketchbooks, model making equipment and material: £250
Study trips: £100
Year two:
Books, quality folders, printing/binding, foam board, memory stick, sketchbooks: £350
Study trips: £100
Year three:
Books, quality folders, printing/binding, foam board, memory sticks, sketchbooks, final major project: £600
Study trips: £100
Bursaries, scholarships and financial support
Solent University offers a range of bursaries and scholarships that provide financial assistance or waive fees for tuition or accommodation. Each bursary or scholarship has specific eligibility criteria. Check out our bursaries and scholarships pages to find out more.
Graduation costs
There is no charge to attend graduation, but you will be required to pay for the rental of your academic gown (approximately £45 per graduate, depending on your award). You may also wish to purchase official photography packages, which range in price from £15 to £200+. Graduation is not compulsory, so if you prefer to have your award sent to you, there is no cost. Extra guest tickets will go on sale after results publication and will be sold on a first-come-first-served basis. The cost per ticket is currently £15. Please note, we do not guarantee there will be any extra tickets available to purchase.
Financial information videos
Student finance - bitesize This video 'Student finance - bitesize' is available as a text transcript, with a description of visuals.
Student funding - the essentials This video 'Student funding essentials - Student Funding for 2023' is available as a text transcript, with a description of visuals.
Entry requirements
Please select an option below:
Key entry requirements
112-128 UCAS tariff points
- A minimum of two completed A-levels, a BTEC Extended Diploma at DMM or BTEC Diploma at D*D* or equivalent qualification, or a combination of qualifications which comply with the minimum entry requirement of 112 UCAS points.
- UK applicants will be asked to attend a portfolio viewing.
- Applicants resident outside the UK will be required to attend a portfolio viewing.
- Direct entry into the second or third years may be considered for this course.
- Applicants over the age of 21 may be considered based on relevant experience, without having the required tariff points.
- For further information about UK qualifications, please contact admissions.
Key entry requirements
As a general guide, we look for qualifications that are equivalent to the British high school A-levels.
Applicants from outside the UK will be required to attend a portfolio viewing.
If you are applying from outside the UK, find information about entry requirements, visas and agents for your country here.
For further information about EU qualifications, please contact admissions.
Key entry requirements
As a general guide, we look for qualifications that are equivalent to the British high school A-levels.
Applicants from outside the UK will be required to submit an electronic portfolio for consideration.
If you are applying from outside the UK, find information about entry requirements, visas and agents for your country here.
For further information about UK, EU and international qualifications, please contact admissions.
Note to all international students requiring a visa:
All international applicants need to be aware that the English language requirements to attend Solent University, and the English language requirements to obtain a visa from the Home Office, may be different. This means that if you meet the Solent University language requirement to gain a place on the course, you may still have to meet additional requirements to be granted with a visa by the Home Office.
We strongly advise all applicants to visit the Home Office website which outlines all the requirements for a successful visa application and to take a look at this PDF document which outlines both Solent University and Home Office requirements for a number of language tests.
112-128UCAS points
Any questions?
Contact international admissions
Call: +44 (0)23 8201 5066Email: admissions.international@solent.ac.ukHow to apply
Full-time
Any student applying for the first year of a full-time/sandwich undergraduate course must apply through UCAS (University and Colleges Admissions Service). This includes mature, overseas and EU students.
Nearly all schools and colleges offer their students the facility of applying electronically through the UCAS website using 'Apply'; it may also be used by those applying independently in the UK and overseas. This facility and all course information can be found on the UCAS website: www.ucas.com.
Your application should reach UCAS by 25 January if you hope to enter a course the following autumn. Early application is advised for the most popular subject areas. Late applications may be made until the end of June. The UCAS Code for the University is S30, code name SOLNT.
Find out what happens after you apply
Contextual offers
Solent endeavours to offer learning opportunities to students from all backgrounds. When we receive and review an application, we take into consideration the context and personal circumstances of applicants when making a decision, which means our advertised entry tariff could be reduced.
Alternative entry options
Top-up route:
We welcome applications from students currently studying a Foundation Degree, DipHE, HNC, HND or modules of an undergraduate degree course at another university, who wish to enter directly into Years 2 or 3 of one of our undergraduate degree courses. Please contact our admissions team for more information: contact us
Language requirements
Applicants who do not have English as their first language will be required to demonstrate an approved level of proficiency in the use of the English language. The agreed minimum requirements for this course are:
- IELTS minimum 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each individual component
- TOEFL IBT minimum 80 with a minimum of 20 in each individual component
- Duolingo English Language Test - 115 overall with minimum of 95 in each component or equivalent.
Qualifications are checked before enrolment, and international students must bring their original certificates or certified copies when coming to study at the University.
Pre-Sessional English programme
The University also offers a pre-sessional English programme for international students who wish to improve their level of English before starting a degree course.
We will prepare you for your future
Suitable roles for graduates include:
- Interior designer
- Colour consultant
- Magazine and editorial styling
- Interior stylist
- Creative designer
- Visual merchandising
- Show home consultant
- Textile and surface designer
- Kitchen designer
We will help you start your career
The Solent Futures team is committed to getting students into great careers.
While you are studying, the team can help you with finding work experience or placements, link you with a mentor, check your CV, or offer one-to-one guidance.
If you're in your final year, we also have graduate job opportunities just for Solent graduates.
Find out more
Support at Solent
All students at Solent University have access to a range of specialist support services. Whether you are having financial difficulty, need additional help with academic skills or want advice on setting up your own business you'll find that help is always on hand.
Most of our specialist support services are based around the Student Hub, a central space where you can access all the information and support you may need during your time at University. The Student Hub is the first point of contact if you have any queries relating to your course, including questions about your timetable, options, and assessments and extenuating circumstances.
We work in partnership with the University to build a sense of pride and confidence in your Union, University and student experience.
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