BA (hons) Interior Design (Optional Sandwich Year)

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Middlesex University London

Program Overview

The BA (Hons) Interior Design with Optional Sandwich Year at Middlesex University is a creative, hands-on degree that helps you turn ideas into inspiring interior spaces while gaining real industry experience. It’s ideal if you enjoy design, research and problem-solving, and want a course that balances creativity with professional practice in residential, commercial and experiential environments.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1

Your first year introduces you to the fundamentals of interior design and creative thinking. Through modules such as Design Thinking and Communication, Studio: Spatial Design and Studio: Exploring People and Place, you’ll learn how to research design ideas, develop spatial concepts and communicate them through drawings, models and digital tools. This year focuses on building confidence, design awareness and essential technical skills.

Year 2

In your second year, you’ll move into more complex and professionally focused design work. Modules like Interior Design Studio: Commercial Interiors, Interior Design: Context and Construction and Interior Design Studio: Experiential Interiors help you understand materials, construction methods and user needs, while challenging you to design functional, creative interiors for real-world contexts. You’ll also start thinking more strategically about how interiors respond to cultural, social and commercial demands.

Year 3 – Optional Sandwich Year

The optional sandwich year gives you the opportunity to gain valuable work experience in a design studio or related industry. You’ll apply your design skills in a professional environment, build industry connections and gain a deeper understanding of how design projects are delivered in practice. Completing this year also earns you an Advanced Diploma in Professional Practice, adding real value to your CV.

Year 4

Your final year allows you to specialise and work independently on advanced projects. Through modules such as Interior Design: Research for Design, Interior Design Studio: Branded Environments and Interior Design Studio: Explore Sustainable Futures, you’ll develop research-driven design solutions that reflect your personal interests and professional goals. This year focuses on refining your design identity and producing a strong, industry-ready portfolio.

Focus Areas

Interior spatial design, commercial and experiential interiors, materials and construction, design research, sustainability, professional practice, industry placement.

Learning Outcomes

By graduation, you’ll be able to create thoughtful interior design solutions, communicate ideas confidently through drawings and digital visualisation, understand how people interact with space, and translate research into professional design outcomes.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The course is aligned with current industry standards and expectations, ensuring you graduate with the creative, technical and professional skills needed for interior design practice. The optional sandwich year further strengthens your employability by providing recognised professional experience alongside your degree.

Reputation (Employability & Rankings)

Middlesex University’s Interior Design programme is well regarded for its strong creative teaching and industry focus. Its London location places you at the heart of the UK’s design industry, offering exposure to professional networks, design studios and real-world opportunities that support graduate success.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Interior Design at Middlesex University is taught through a hands-on, studio-based approach that mirrors professional design practice. From your first year onward, you’ll learn by designing, testing ideas and refining concepts, supported by experienced tutors and industry-informed teaching.

As you progress through the course, your practical experience becomes more advanced and career-focused:

Dedicated interior design studios, where you develop concepts through sketching, model-making and digital design
Studio-led design projects, encouraging creative experimentation and problem-solving in spatial contexts
Digital design and visualisation tools, supporting technical drawing, 3D modelling and professional presentation
Workshops and making spaces, helping you explore materials, construction details and physical models
Collaborative group projects, reflecting real-world teamwork within design studios
Optional sandwich year placement, offering valuable professional experience and industry networking
Final-year independent project, allowing you to research, design and present a complete interior solution aligned with your career interests
Portfolio development throughout the course, ensuring your work is industry-ready at graduation

This strong emphasis on experiential learning ensures you graduate with more than just creative ideas — you leave with practical studio experience, a professional portfolio and the confidence to succeed in the interior design industry or further study.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of the BA (Hons) Interior Design at Middlesex University leave with a strong professional portfolio, practical studio experience and a clear understanding of how interior design works in real commercial and cultural contexts. The course is designed to help you move smoothly into the creative industries or continue your development through further study.

Typical career paths include roles such as Interior Designer, Junior Interior Architect, Spatial Designer, Retail and Exhibition Designer, Workplace or Hospitality Designer, Design Visualiser, or Set and Environment Designer. Graduates often find opportunities within interior design studios, architectural practices, property development companies, branding agencies, or creative consultancies — with some choosing to work freelance or start their own design practices.

Your employability is strengthened through:

A portfolio-led degree, ensuring you graduate with strong, professionally presented design work
Industry-relevant studio projects, helping you understand real client briefs, budgets and constraints
Optional sandwich year experience, allowing you to gain paid or professional work experience and build industry contacts
Professional practice learning, covering communication, project development and design responsibility
London-based opportunities, giving you exposure to one of the world’s leading creative and design industries

Further Academic Progression:

After completing this degree, you may choose to continue into postgraduate study in Interior Design, Architecture, Spatial Design, Sustainable Design, Exhibition Design or related creative disciplines. This route is particularly suited if you’re aiming for senior design roles, specialisation, teaching, or research-focused careers within the built and creative environment sectors.