MA Interior Architecture and Design

1 Years On Campus Masters Program

University of Hertfordshire

Program Overview

The MA Interior Architecture & Design at the University of Hertfordshire is perfect for creative thinkers who want to explore how interior spaces influence people, behavior, and emotions. The course combines practical design, research, and professional practice, giving you the skills to shape inspiring, functional, and context-sensitive spaces.

Curriculum Structure

The course is structured to gradually build your research and design skills, preparing you for a professional career:

Early Stage: In Design Studio Practice 1 and Research Methods, you’ll start developing your practical design skills while learning how to ground your work in solid research, exploring how spaces function and affect users.
Middle Stage: Advanced Design Skills Lab encourages experimentation with materials, scale, and form, while Design Studio Practice 2 helps you refine your ideas into well-developed design proposals.
Final Stage: Professional Design Practice equips you with real-world skills for working with clients and navigating the design industry. Your Major Study: Interior Architecture & Design project allows you to bring together all your research and creative work into a portfolio-ready, professional-level project.

Focus Areas

Spatial psychology, materiality, research-led design, professional practice, creative entrepreneurship

Learning Outcomes

You’ll graduate ready to conduct independent design research, create innovative and context-sensitive interior architecture proposals, and apply professional design processes to real-world challenges.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

While the MA does not directly grant architectural licensure, it connects you to the industry through professional practice modules, visiting professionals, and entrepreneurial skill-building.

Reputation

Herts has strong links with the design world, with graduates going on to work with studios and organisations like Foster + Partners, Zaha Hadid Architects, Aston Martin, and The National Gallery.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At Herts, the MA Interior Architecture & Design is all about learning by doing. You’ll get hands-on experience designing and shaping spaces, combining practical making with research and theory. The course gives you access to modern workshops, digital labs, and studio spaces, allowing you to experiment, prototype, and bring your creative ideas to life. Through real-world briefs, site visits, and collaborative critiques, you’ll develop the skills and confidence to succeed as a professional designer.

Here’s what your learning journey looks like in practice:

Workshops & Labs: Access specialist architecture and design workshops with tools like 3D printers, CNC machines, laser cutters, and rapid prototyping equipment.
Studio Practice & Critiques: Work in dedicated studio spaces and get constructive feedback through group critiques and one-on-one tutorials.
Live Projects: Take part in real-world briefs, including design competitions and collaborative projects, giving you practical experience before you graduate.
Digital Tools & Software: Use industry-standard software and digital resources in Herts’ creative labs to complement your physical making.
Research & Making: Apply research methods directly to your design projects, experimenting with materials, spatial layouts, and user-centered concepts.
Professional Practice Preparation: Learn how to manage client projects, build a professional portfolio, and understand workflows in the design industry.
Exhibition Opportunities: Showcase your work in the University’s Art + Design Gallery, gaining experience presenting your designs in a professional environment.
Library & Academic Support: Use the University’s learning resources, study spaces, and staff guidance to support both your creative and research work.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduating from the MA Interior Architecture & Design at Herts opens doors to a range of exciting creative careers. Many alumni become interior architects, spatial designers, design consultants, or even lead their own creative studios. With a strong combination of research, practical design, and professional skills, you’ll be ready to make an impact in design firms, cultural institutions, or start your own venture.

Here’s how Herts helps you turn your degree into a career:

Career Support: The Herts Careers & Employment Service offers personalised guidance, CV and portfolio advice, interview coaching, and access to opportunities for up to four years after graduation.
Internships & Real-World Experience: Take advantage of placements, work experience, and industry projects that give you hands-on exposure to professional practice.
Industry Connections: Benefit from strong links with top design and architecture firms, including Zaha Hadid Architects, Foster + Partners, Aston Martin, and The National Gallery.
Professional Practice Skills: The “Professional Design Practice” module equips you with practical business and project management skills, preparing you to work independently or in a studio setting.
Graduate Success: Herts graduates have gone on to influential roles in prestigious design studios and cultural organisations, building a strong professional reputation.
Long-Term Career Value: Beyond design expertise, the course develops critical thinking, research skills, and creative problem-solving — skills that keep you competitive in a variety of creative and consultancy roles.

Further Academic Progression:
If you want to continue your studies, this MA provides a solid foundation for a PhD in Interior Architecture, Spatial Design, or Environmental Psychology, enabling you to explore advanced topics such as neuro-architecture, adaptive reuse, or the emotional impact of space.