MA Interior Architecture and Design

1 Year On Campus Masters Program

Nottingham Trent University

Program Overview

The MA Interior Architecture & Design at NTU is perfect for creative thinkers who want to explore the fascinating intersection between architecture and interior spaces. You’ll dive into real-world design challenges, experimenting with spatial ideas, sustainability, and human-centred solutions, all while building a portfolio that shows off your unique creative voice.

Curriculum Structure

Even though it’s a one-year full-time course, the programme is carefully designed to guide you through every stage of design exploration:

Design Studio 1 (40 credits): Here, you’ll start by exploring conceptual design projects that help you connect theory and practice. You’ll learn to present your ideas clearly, while engaging critically with different spatial contexts.
Design Research & Practice (20 credits): This module equips you with the research tools you need for thoughtful, evidence-based design. You’ll learn how to plan and conduct design-led research and use it to inform your studio work.
Design Studio 2 (60 credits): Building on your first studio, you’ll tackle more complex challenges like adaptive reuse of buildings, sustainable design, and understanding human behaviour in spaces. This is also where you begin to shape your personal design direction for your final project.
Major Study Project (60 credits): This is your chance to shine. You can choose a Detailed Design Study Project, a Design Consultancy Report, or a Design Thesis — applying everything you’ve learned to produce a professional-level, polished outcome that reflects your personal style and skills.

Focus Areas

“interior architecture, spatial research, adaptive reuse, sustainability, design theory, creative innovation, critical analysis”

Learning Outcomes

“graduates will be able to conduct design-led research, develop context-sensitive spatial solutions, communicate complex design ideas visually and verbally, collaborate effectively, and lead projects with architectural and interior intelligence”

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

While the MA isn’t formally linked to a statutory architecture body, the course mirrors real-world design practice, giving you studio experience, project management skills, and industry-focused outputs that prepare you for professional design work.

Reputation & Employability

NTU’s Architecture department was ranked 1st in the UK for Teaching Quality by the Times & Sunday Times Good University Guide.
The university’s Employability team supports MA students from the first day and continues for up to three years after graduation, helping you connect with employers and shape your career.
Graduates go on to roles such as interior architect, interior designer, retail designer, and creative coordinator, joining companies like Liv FAMA, Sybarite Architecture, and Oktra.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At NTU, the MA Interior Architecture & Design isn’t just about theory — it’s about getting your hands on real projects and seeing your ideas come to life. From day one, you’ll be working in dedicated postgraduate studios and workshops, experimenting with space, materials, and design techniques. The course blends traditional craft with cutting-edge digital tools, giving you the confidence to create, test, and refine your own interior architecture solutions.

Here’s how your practical learning unfolds:

Specialist Studios & Workshops: Access postgraduate studios and model-making facilities, including bandsaws, lathes, milling machines, and vacuum forming equipment, so you can build prototypes big and small.
Wood & Materials Lab: Test materials and experiment with different textures, finishes, and constructions to bring your design concepts to life.
Concrete Lab: Explore structural performance and adaptive reuse projects by testing materials in NTU’s dedicated concrete lab.
3D Printing Facility: Quickly turn your CAD models into physical objects, helping you visualise and refine spatial ideas.
Digital Tools & Software: Learn industry-standard software like AutoCAD, Revit, Rhino, Vectorworks, Solidworks, and Adobe Creative Suite to develop and present professional-quality designs.
Field Trips & Site Visits: Engage with the real world through site visits, architectural practice tours, exhibitions, and design events that complement your studio work.
Live Tutorials & Critiques: Participate in structured group critiques and tutorials that mirror professional design studio interactions.
Group & Individual Projects: Work on collaborative and independent projects, research reports, and presentations that combine theory with practical application.
Research-Led Studio Work: Modules like Design Research & Practice and the Major Study Project ensure your creative work is informed by critical, evidence-based research.
Library & Study Resources: Boots Library on City Campus provides thousands of books, journals, and digital resources — perfect for research, inspiration, and developing your ideas.

This combination of hands-on workshops, advanced digital tools, live projects, and real-world exposure ensures that by the time you graduate, you’ll be ready to step into professional practice with a portfolio that truly reflects your skills and creativity.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates from NTU’s MA Interior Architecture & Design leave with the skills, confidence, and creativity to step straight into the professional design world. Many go on to become interior architects, spatial designers, creative coordinators, or design consultants, combining innovative thinking with practical expertise. Thanks to the course’s strong studio-based and research-led approach, you’ll be ready to make an impact, whether in a leading design practice or by launching your own venture.

Here’s how NTU supports your career journey and what you can expect after graduation:

University Services to Boost Your Employability:

The Employability Team provides support throughout your course and continues for up to three years post-graduation, offering mentoring, one-on-one guidance, and access to job fairs in design, property, and construction.
NTU Enterprise helps you transform creative ideas into real businesses, giving you hands-on experience in launching your own projects.

Employment Stats & Salary:

Around 80% of design graduates are employed or in further study within 15 months of finishing the course.
Typical salaries for design-related roles are around £25,000 five years after graduation.

University–Industry Connections:

You’ll work on live briefs and studio projects with real-world clients, building a professional portfolio as you study.
Alumni have gone on to work with renowned practices such as Liv FAMA, Sybarite Architecture, Oktra, and Welham Architects, in the UK and internationally.

Long-Term Value of the Degree:

The MA equips you with both professional and research skills, ensuring your portfolio and expertise remain relevant as the design field evolves.
Your Major Study Project demonstrates your ability to deliver high-quality, practice-ready work, giving you strong credibility in the industry.

Graduation Outcomes:

Alumni pursue careers as interior architects, retail designers, creative coordinators, or even launch their own design studios.
Others continue in research or academia, contributing to design theory and practice.

Further Academic Progression:
After completing the MA, you could progress to a PhD or MPhil in Architecture or Design, focusing on sustainability, adaptive reuse, or spatial research. Alternatively, postgraduate courses in urban design, heritage conservation, or design strategy can open doors to senior roles in consultancies, public-sector design departments, or research institutes.