Interior Architecture & Spatial Design BA (Hons)

Key Facts

  • UCAS Code

    BA: W250
    BA with Foundation: W252

  • Level

    Undergraduate

  • Duration

    Full Time: 3 years
    Full Time Foundation: 4 years
    Part Time: 5 - 6 years

  • Starting

    September

  • BCC at A-Level or,
    DMM at BTEC

  • Fees UK 24/25

    Full Time: £9,250
    Part Time: £1,540 per 20 credit module
    Integrated Foundation Year: £9,250

  • Fees International 24/25

    Full Time: £15,200
    Integrated Foundation Year: £15,200

  • Location

Get in touch


For questions regarding study and admissions please contact us:

UK/EU Students enquiries

study@northampton.ac.uk
0300 303 2772

International Students enquiries

international@northampton.ac.uk
+44 (0)1604 893981

Overview


The University of Northampton’s Interior Architecture & Spatial Design (IASD) BA (Hons) course gives you the opportunity to be part of a challenging and rewarding experience, both in terms of your personal development and for your vocational aspirations. With its combination of visual communication, spatial design awareness and professional practice skills, together with your development as a questioning individual, your enthusiasm and endeavours will make your vision a success.

Our interior architecture and spatial design degree curriculum engages with real local, regional and global issues through which we seek innovative spatial, sustainable and technical solutions. IASD provides students with an appreciation for and an understanding of place making. We work with light, material and surface qualities to propose places that have distinctive atmospheres.

The structure of our IASD BA (Hons) course enables students to develop challenging design solutions that benefit society as well as contributing to their broader understanding of interior architectural design as a professional pathway.

Updated 19/03/2024

Highlights


Course Content


  • Our Interior Architecture & Spatial Design BA (Hons) degree aims to develop both creative and professional skills. There is a high demand for this expertise in the design industry, with the regional expansion scheme, including public and private building plans, so you are in the perfect place to study this evolving discipline.

    By joining the interior architecture degree course, you will become part of a unique learning environment with very close and guided support from tutors and technical staff. Our lecturers are experts in industry, many of whom run their own design practices and hold extensive links to the industry.

    You will work with contemporary technologies and develop your own visual language, giving you the knowledge and confidence to design for a range of applications. Our design studio and technical workshops provide the environment for you to be innovative in your production of two and three-dimensional work. You will focus on aspects of design technology that can be applied to designing commercial, domestic and public living spaces, linking practical 3D projects to the theory you will learn.

    Changing Futures Week

    The University of Northampton’s annual Changing Futures Week is an exciting event and an excellent opportunity for our students to explore the potential of their course and understand where their university experience can lead them beyond graduation. It offers a unique chance to network with high profile industry professionals.

    Materials, Exhibitions, Events and Visits

    Materials for graphic and 3D workshops, competition entry fees associated with your modules and those visits that are necessary for your Interior Architecture & Spatial Design course are subsidised by the University.

    We recommend that you budget approximately £400 per academic year for essential materials and study trips. Please note that this is not a precise estimation and will depend on personal choices and external factors. Students are encouraged to participate in the organisation of study trips, previously our students have visited Amsterdam, Milan, Rotterdam and Madrid.

    We also suggest that interior architecture degree students allow approximately £300 for the Graduate Exhibition, for items such as printing, travel, publicity, and general expenses.

    Please note the modules shown here relate to the academic year 23/24. The modules relating to the academic year 24/25 will be available from June 2024.

      • Module code: 3DD1005
        Status: Compulsory
        This module enables students to research and apply established working practises, concepts and principles through a variety of design tasks. Interior architecture and spatial design projects will include all aspects of the design process, and aim to develop critical and practical skills with an understanding of contextual and technical considerations.
      • Module code: 3DD1021
        Status: Compulsory
        This module provides an introduction to the skills and knowledge required to use appropriate computer software as an aid to design. Students will appreciate the difference in approach between manual and computer aided design (CAD) and acquire the skills to produce both two-dimensional 'lay-out' drawings and to generate three-dimensional models.
      • Module code: 3DD1061
        Status: Compulsory
        Developing an understanding of construction detailing at human scale is a key principle when considering the design of 3-Dimensional environments. Through drawing, modelling and design projects students are introduced to design skills and processes that inform and support idea generation, development and refinement, and communicate outcomes to different audiences.
      • Module code: 3DD1062
        Status: Compulsory
        Designing for the built environment requires knowledge and understanding of historic, environmental, social, and economic factors. Investigating, combining, and applying knowledge effects the design process. This introduction explores contemporary design practice based on historical precedence and focuses on understanding of the role of the design professional in wider real-world context.
      • Module code: 3DD2009
        Status: Compulsory
        This module enables students to research, explore and develop design practices, concepts and principles through a variety of design based projects. Project tasks are drawn from contemporary commercial and social contexts and professional design practice. Emphasis is placed on innovative critical thinking in response to context, user and communication requirements.
      • Module code: 3DD2029
        Status: Compulsory
        Building on previous experiences students explore relationships between 2D and 3D CAD whilst investigating more complex built environments. Experimenting and developing skills, knowledge and understanding between industry standards convention drawings in 2D; creative sketch concepts using 3D CAD & Drawing Packages; Rendering packages and applying a crossmedia approach for presentations.
      • Module code: 3DD2070
        Status: Compulsory
        Building on knowledge you will research, explore and apply understanding of construction and material technology through a series of three-dimensional design problems that involve both large scale architectural intervention and smaller installations. Learning will be through observation, precedent studies, drawing and making. Assignment outcomes link directly to 3DD2009 assignment briefs.
      • Module code: 3DD2071
        Status: Compulsory
        This module encourages the development of personal research interests and lays the ground work for the Level 6 Dissertation in encouraging students to independently identify suitable research subjects, sources and develop a research methodology. Lectures, seminars and research tasks focus on current and developing sustainable and ethical approaches and practices.
      • Module code: 3DD3022
        Status: Compulsory
        Developing and strengthening skills and knowledge explored in level 5, you will undertake a sketch scheme project where you will define and resolve functional, aesthetic and technical issues within a real-world scenario. Project briefs are externally set by outside agencies such as the Royal Society of Arts Student Design Competition.
      • Module code: 3DD3042
        Status: Compulsory
        Developing and strengthening skills and knowledge explored in level 5, you will undertake a sketch scheme project where you will define and resolve functional, aesthetic and technical issues within a real-world scenario. Project briefs are externally set by outside agencies such as the Royal Society of Arts Student Design Competition.
      • Module code: 3DD4006
        Status: Compulsory
        Students negotiate a research project that is relevant to `Interior? with an outcome in the form of a 5000 word written/visual dissertation. During tutorials students develop skills at written communication: academic research, analysis and development; exploration through a range of knowledge bases, culminating in the ability to present cohesive ideas.
  • A typical offer for Interior Architecture & Spatial Design would be:

    • BCC at A-Level or,
    • DMM at BTEC/Cambridge Technical or,
    • Pass (C and above) at T Level

    A Foundation Diploma in Art and Design will also be accepted. We also consider students with wide variety of industry skills, please contact the admissions office for more information on this.

    Applicants are interviewed and are requested to provide a portfolio of their own work in Art and Design. International students may submit their portfolio electronically.

    Students with a relevant HND or Foundation Degree with a suitable profile of achievement may be admitted on to year two or three.

    We welcome applications from students with a mix of A levels and BTEC/Cambridge Technical qualifications.

    For more information on how to make an application, please visit our How to Apply page.

    If you are an International student and would like information on making an application, please see our How to Apply page.

    Integrated Foundation Year (IFY) Entry Requirements

    Admission to this foundation Interior Architecture & Spatial Design programme is normally:

    • DEE at A-Level or,
    • MPP at BTEC or,
    • Pass (D or E) at T Level

    However, we would also like to hear from you if you have professional or industry experience instead, a range of other qualifications or self-developed subject knowledge that relates to the programme you wish to study.

    Interview

    Once your application has been reviewed, you may be invited to attend an interview with us.

    Prior to your interview you will be asked to send in a digital portfolio of some of your work. We’d like to see 10 examples of your best work, and this can include sketches, model making, sketchbook work demonstrating idea development, and any final pieces of work you may have.

    Your interview will be with a member of the programme team and you’ll go over your portfolio with them. They’ll ask you some questions around your work and your interest in the course. This is also a great opportunity for you to ask them any questions you may have about the course.

    We hold our Interior Architecture & Spatial Design interviews online and it will take around 30 minutes.

    English Language Requirements

    All International and EU students applying for a course with the University of Northampton must meet the following minimum English language requirements:

    • IELTS 6.0 (or equivalent) with a minimum of 5.5 in all bands
      for study at undergraduate level.

    For information regarding English language requirements at the University, please see our IELTS page.

  • 2024/25 Tuition Fees

    Fees quoted for the interior architecture and spatial design course relate to study in the Academic Year 24/25 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

    • UK – Full Time: £9,250
    • UK – Part Time: £1,540 per 20 credit module
    • UK – Integrated Foundation Year: £9,250
    • International – Full Time: £15,200
    • International – Integrated Foundation Year: £15,200
    Additional Costs

    Study trips / exhibitions: approx £400 per academic year + £300 for Graduate Exhibition (please see ‘Course Details’ above for further details)

    2023/24 Tuition Fees

    Fees quoted for the interior architecture and design course relate to study in the Academic Year 23/24 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

    • UK – Full Time: £9,250
    • UK – Part Time: £1,540 per 20 credit module
    • UK – Integrated Foundation Year: £9,250
    • International – Full Time: £14,750
    • International – Integrated Foundation Year: £14,750
    Additional Costs

    Study trips / exhibitions: approx £400 per academic year + £300 for Graduate Exhibition (please see ‘Course Details’ above for further details)

     

    For information on the scholarships available to you, please see our scholarships page.

    For more information about possible funding options, please visit our Fees and Funding pages.

  • At the University of Northampton, everything we do, from funded trips to paid internships, is to give you everything you need to make a difference when you leave.

    If you join this full-time Interior Architecture & Spatial Design BA degree at Northampton, you will receive a laptop when your course begins*. The laptops are built to a bespoke custom specification ideal for use in the seminar room, collaborative group work or studying at home.

    Whatever your ambitions, we’re here to help you to achieve them. We’ll support you to identify the skills you’re learning during your course, find your strengths and secure practical experience so that when it comes to applying for jobs or further study in interior and spatial design you’ll feel confident in standing out from the crowd. We’ve created the Northampton Employment Promise because we are so confident that if you focus on your studies and complete one of our awards you’ll be highly employable by the time you graduate. Putting you in a great position to secure employment or continue your studies.

    To check out the full list of perks, visit our Student Perks page or dedicated International Perks page.

    *UK fee payers only (see Terms and Conditions for further details).

  • The Integrated Foundation Year (IFY) offers a new and exciting route into studying for an interior architecture and spatial design degree, attracting ambitious and driven students who are willing to learn and advance.

    If you have non-standard qualifications or do not quite meet the admissions requirements we can offer you a fantastic opportunity to study a four year programme which includes an Integrated Foundation Year. The Integrated Foundation Year will help you develop the theoretical/practical and academic skills you need, in order to successfully progress to the full award.

    The University of Northampton’s four-year courses will enable you to successfully follow the degree pathway of your choice while gaining essential study skills. The foundation year of your chosen degree will be studied on a full-time basis and is aimed at supporting the transition to higher education. Years two, three and four are then studied as a standard degree programme.

  • How will I be taught on Interior Architecture & Spatial Design BA (Hons)?

    You will be taught through a combination of lectures, seminars and/or workshop based sessions.

    Find out what it’s like to study on the Interior Architecture and Spatial Design BA course:

    How will I be assessed on the Interior Architecture & Spatial Design course?

    You will be assessed through a mixture of studio based design critiques and written assessments. Through your final year of your interior architecture course, you will be assessed continually, culminating in a major exhibition of your design work.

    Do you offer any specialist facilities?

    You will have access to the following specialist facilities:

    • studio based course
    • blending learning opportunities via university website
    • dedicated studio with individual workspaces.
    • computer facilities.
    • digital 3D model making.
    • photography studio.

Staff


Placeholder image for Nasir Ahmed, Senior Lecturer in 3D Design
Nasir Ahmed

Senior Lecturer in 3D Design


Interior Architecture & Spatial Design BA (Hons)

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Careers and Employability


This Interior Architecture & Spatial Design course will offer a vast range of career opportunities, including but not limited to:

  • Exhibition Design
  • Residential Design
  • Leisure & Hospitality Design
  • Workplace Design
  • Conservation
  • Graphic Design
  • Concept Visualisation
  • Freelance Interior Architects & Spatial Designers
  • Architectural Practice
  • Project Management
  • Master’s degrees
  • Model Makers
  • Teaching
Master’s Opportunities

Our master’s courses are a great way to enhance the skills you have already learnt. Benefit from our 20% alumni discount on master’s fees to give yourself a CV that will catch the eye of employers.

Facilities


Specialist Facilities on the interior architecture and spatial design BA include:

  • IASD Studio
  • 3D Printing workshop
  • 3D workshop
  • Photography studio

Onsite printmaking workshop


Our onsite printmaking workshop can enhance the creative practices of students on a variety of courses

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