Bachelor of Built Environment (Honours) (Interior Design)/Bachelor of Business

5 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Queensland University of Technology

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Built Environment (Honours) (Interior Design)/Bachelor of Business at QUT is a five-and-a-half-year double degree that gives you the best of both worlds: creative interior design skills and solid business knowledge. It’s perfect for students who want to design beautiful, functional spaces while also understanding how to lead, manage, or even run a design-focused business.

Throughout the program, you’ll learn to think like a designer and a business professional at the same time. From studios and workshops to business case studies and leadership projects, you’ll graduate with both a strong portfolio of design work and the confidence to take on management, consultancy, or entrepreneurial roles in the creative industries.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1 – Foundations in Design and Business
Your first year is all about getting the basics right. In design, you’ll start with impact lab units and studio sessions that teach you how to visualize, sketch, and think creatively about spaces. Meanwhile, your business units introduce you to the fundamentals of marketing, management, and professional communication, giving you a head start in understanding how businesses operate.

Year 2 – Developing Creative Skills and Practical Know-How
By the second year, your design work becomes more detailed with 2D and 3D drafting, digital visualization, and model-making. In business, you’ll learn to apply theory through practical exercises in management, marketing, and problem-solving. This combination helps you see how creative solutions fit into real-world organisational contexts.

Year 3 – Integration and Collaboration Across Disciplines
In the third year, you’ll tackle more complex design briefs independently and in teams, using physical models, digital tools, and feedback from tutors. Your business studies continue with units like strategy, finance, or customer insights. Collaborative projects let you experience how interdisciplinary teams solve real design and business challenges.

Year 4 – Honours and Applied Practice
Your fourth year is when the honours component really kicks in. You’ll take on independent, research-led interior design projects that tackle real industry challenges, including sustainability and human-centered design. Higher-level business units teach leadership, ethical decision-making, and specialised topics, helping you combine design creativity with commercial insight.

Year 5 – Capstone Integration and Industry Engagement
In your final year, you’ll complete major capstone projects that showcase your design and business skills. You’ll engage with industry partners, take part in work placements, and refine your professional portfolio. By graduation, you’ll be prepared to step confidently into careers as a designer, consultant, or creative business professional.

Focus areas: Interior design studios, design technology and process, business strategy and management, professional communication, ethical decision-making, interdisciplinary projects.

Learning outcomes: Creative problem-solving, technical design skills, portfolio development, business acumen, leadership skills, and work-ready capability across design and commerce.

Professional alignment (accreditation): The degree supports eligibility for professional recognition, including Graduate Membership of the Design Institute of Australia (DIA) for the interior design component, and leverages QUT’s strong reputation for industry-relevant education.

Reputation (employability rankings): QUT is ranked among the top 100 universities globally for architecture and built environment subjects in the QS World University Rankings by Subject, reflecting strong industry respect and graduate success.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At QUT, this double degree is all about learning by doing. From day one, you’ll spend time in design studios, sketching, modelling, and using digital tools to explore how spaces work and how people interact with them. As you progress through the program, you’ll take on real interior design briefs, work closely with peers across different disciplines, and complete work placements that connect you directly with industry. These experiences ensure you graduate not only with skills, but also with confidence and a professional portfolio that employers value.

Here’s what your hands-on learning looks like in practice:

Design studios and workshops: Use 2D and 3D digital drafting software, laser cutters, and physical modelling materials to bring your interior design ideas to life.
Collaborative projects: Work alongside students and industry professionals on real design challenges, learning how teams operate in a professional setting.
Work Integrated Learning (WIL): Complete up to 100 hours of approved work placement or industry projects, giving you real-world experience and connections before you graduate.
Client briefs and site visits: Engage with real clients and visit project sites to see how theory translates into practice.
QUT’s design facilities: Access creative spaces, labs, and collaborative zones to experiment, learn new software, and refine your technical and professional skills.

These opportunities are built into your degree so that by the time you graduate, you’re ready not just to start your first job, but to make an impact in both design and business.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduating from this double degree at QUT gives you a unique combination of creative interior design skills and practical business knowledge, which opens doors to a wide range of careers. Many students go on to work as interior designers, project managers, design consultants, or even entrepreneurs, giving them the flexibility to apply both their creative and commercial skills. Because you’ve learned both the hands-on design side and the business side, you’re prepared to create inspiring spaces while understanding how projects and organisations function — a skill set that employers really value.

Here’s how QUT helps you make the leap from study to career:

Career support services: Personalised guidance, workshops on resumes and portfolios, interview coaching, and access to networking events help you confidently step into the professional world.
Work Integrated Learning (WIL) and industry connections: Real placements and project collaborations with firms and professionals give you practical experience and valuable industry contacts.
Industry recognition: The interior design component is recognised by the Design Institute of Australia, and QUT’s strong reputation in architecture and built environment education adds credibility to your qualification.
Graduate outcomes: QUT graduates enjoy strong employment prospects, with high rates of full-time work and positive employer feedback, reflecting the practical, industry-focused learning in the program.
Versatile career pathways: With experience in design studios, business strategy, and teamwork, you’re ready for a variety of roles — from design practices and consultancies to project management or even running your own business.

Further Academic Progression:
If you want to continue your studies, this degree provides an excellent foundation for postgraduate study. You could pursue a Master by Research or specialised postgraduate programs in areas such as design leadership, sustainable environments, or business innovation. The honours component also equips you with strong research and independent project skills, making you well-prepared for higher study or academic roles.