MA Interiors Architecture and Design

1 Years On Campus Masters Program

Middlesex University London

Program Overview

The MA in Interiors (Architecture & Design) at Middlesex University is designed for creative thinkers who want to transform spaces — from individual interiors to larger urban contexts. It’s perfect for students passionate about sustainability, adaptive reuse, and designing interiors that are both functional and inspiring, giving you the freedom to explore your own creative direction.

Curriculum Structure

The course is structured over one year full-time (or two years part-time) and balances research, experimentation, and professional practice:

Semester One: In Rethink and Reuse, you’ll explore existing spaces and develop innovative, sustainable design proposals. Research and Record complements this by teaching you how to investigate, document, and analyse spaces using both model-making and digital tools.
Semester Two: Design Development: Adaptive Reuse challenges you to creatively intervene in existing buildings while considering context, materials, and user experience. Research by Design helps you communicate your ideas clearly through digital and physical models, blending theory and practice.
Semester Three: Sustainable Interiors: Synthesis is your capstone, bringing together research, design skills, and critical thinking into a cohesive, professional-level project that showcases your unique design perspective.

Focus Areas

Adaptive reuse, spatial storytelling, sustainability, material innovation, urban interiors, research-led design.

Learning Outcomes

You’ll graduate with advanced design and research skills, able to develop, communicate, and prototype spatial solutions that respond to social, environmental, and architectural challenges.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

While the MA doesn’t directly confer professional architecture licensure, it equips you with industry-relevant skills, portfolio-ready projects, and practical experience aligned with interior architecture and design practice.

Reputation

Middlesex’s Interiors MA connects you to London’s dynamic design community, with graduates moving into roles in interior architecture, exhibition and furniture design, and spatial research.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At Middlesex University, the MA Interiors (Architecture & Design) is all about learning by doing. You’ll combine hands-on making with digital tools to bring your ideas to life, whether it’s sketching, modeling, or creating full-scale prototypes. With purpose-built studios, workshops, and expert guidance, you’ll develop practical skills that are directly relevant to professional design practice.

Here’s how your experience unfolds:

Creative Studios: Work in dedicated interior design studios with access to Apple iMacs, design software, model storage, and a design-focused library.
Workshops & Fabrication Labs: Build and prototype using materials like wood, metal, and plastics, and experiment with laser cutters, CNC routers, and 3D printers.
Materials Room: Explore textures and samples to inform your designs, with hands-on experimentation in the Sheppard Library’s curated materials collection.
Digital & Design Tools: Gain expertise in industry-standard software like Photoshop, InDesign, Vectorworks, SketchUp, and Cinema 4D.
Studio Practice & Critiques: Participate in group critiques and one-on-one tutorials to refine your work with feedback from tutors and peers.
Field Research & Visits: Visit real-world sites and buildings to apply your design knowledge in practical contexts.
Online & Hybrid Workshops: Engage in practical online sessions for digital sketching, media experimentation, and design communication.
Library & Learning Hubs: Use over 1,000 study spaces, 600+ computer stations, and both print and digital resources to support research and studio work.
Technical Mentorship: Receive guidance from technical staff in workshops to master specialist tools, from model-making to digital fabrication.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduating from the MA Interiors (Architecture & Design) at Middlesex University equips you to step confidently into creative roles where your ideas can really make a difference. Many graduates become interior architects or designers, spatial and exhibition designers, design strategists, or consultants, using their skills to shape inspiring and functional spaces. With a strong focus on both research and practical design, you’ll leave with a portfolio and experience that impresses employers and collaborators alike.

Here’s how Middlesex supports your career journey:

Comprehensive Career Support: MDX Works offers one-to-one coaching, career workshops, and industry panels, helping you connect your design skills to real job opportunities.
Internships & Real-World Projects: You can take part in internships and employer-led projects that give you hands-on experience and a foot in the door of the professional world.
Industry Connections: The course has strong links with London’s design sector, with alumni working at studios like Brinkworth, Universal Design Studio, Casson Mann, and Dalziel & Pow.
Long-Term Career Value: Beyond design skills, the course builds critical thinking, research, and sustainability awareness — qualities that are highly valued in studios, consultancies, and academia.
Graduate Roles & Outcomes: Alumni move into positions such as Interior Architect/Designer, Exhibition/Set Designer, Design Strategist, and Consultant.
Earnings Potential: Around 80% of graduates secure highly skilled roles, with typical salaries approximately £30,000 within 15 months of graduation.

Further Academic Progression:
If you want to take your studies further, this MA is a strong foundation for a PhD in Interior Architecture, Spatial Design, or Design Research, giving you the opportunity to explore topics like sustainability, adaptive reuse, or experimental urban interiors.