Course Overview
Course summary
Our degree courses with Foundation year offer the opportunity to prepare you for advanced study before you progress onto a full honours degree at the University of Westminster.
Whether you're looking to expand your knowledge and skills towards degree-level study, or want to change your subject specialism, we aim to encourage a broad range of students to undertake our Foundation year to progress onto full honours degree with us.
Our Foundation year in Architecture and Design offers an introduction to the creative professions that shape the design of interiors, buildings and urban spaces. Through design projects you'll learn about the spatial, technical and cultural issues, and develop the grounding skills and creative practices necessary for further study. The first semester begins with an exploration of the design and inhabitation of urban space, followed by a materials and making project based in the Fabrication Laboratory, our outstanding Marylebone campus workshop facility. Running alongside these will be studio and field-based exercises to develop your drawing and creative skills. In the second semester, a project on the design of existing spaces will be followed by the development of a creative work driven by your own interests. Students from the Foundation will have the opportunity to exhibit in the School of Architecture and Cities summer exhibition. Your practical development will be accompanied by modules in both semesters on academic skills in writing and critical thinking.
On successful completion of the Foundation year, you'll be able to move on to study for the Interior Architecture BA Honours degree over a further three years of study.
Interior architecture is a distinct and separate discipline to architecture. Its specific focus is the creation of innovative and exciting interior spaces, primarily through the adaptation and spatial manipulation of existing buildings.
The course is concerned not just with physical intervention but also with how space is understood and occupied. The course implicitly embeds issues of sustainability, through its concern with reuse, and refurbishment, as well as the critical ability to respond appropriately to a given context.
It is interdisciplinary in its outlook and acknowledges the importance of other closely related areas, including interior design, exhibition design, set and lighting design, retail and product design, interior conservation as well as multidisciplinary and traditional design practice.
The Interior Architecture BA course is designed to equip you with the practical skills and theoretical knowledge required to pursue a career in interior architecture and design-related fields and/or go on to further awards in tertiary education, most typically a Master's qualification.
The design modules promote creativity, aesthetic sensibility and intellectual enquiry, together with the skills needed to work individually and in groups in developing design proposals.
The work produced in the design studios forms the basis of your design portfolio through which you will prepare for practice/employment, or in support of your application for postgraduate study. Technical skills, cultural context, design management and economics, and the commercial aspect of interiors necessary for practice are integrated with design projects.
Top reasons to study with us
- State-of-the-art facilities, including designated studio spaces open 7 days a week at our Marylebone Campus, creating a vibrant academic and creative studio culture. Our fully staffed workshops are equipped with CNC, laser-cutting and rapid prototyping equipment.
- Extracurricular projects – you'll have opportunities to work on live projects with real clients, live competitions and exhibitions beyond the classroom. Recent collaborators have included the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Freud Museum London and Battersea Arts Centre.
- Extracurricular workshops – previous workshops have included a steam-bending workshop with Samuli Naamanka Design Finland, a papercrete workshop with Aberrant Architecture, an art depot workshop and a workshop with local schoolchildren working with Disabled Artists Making Dis/Ordinary Space.
- Expert speakers and workshop leaders to help you develop niche, in-demand skills. Previous workshop leaders have included a lighting designer, a production designer, a motion graphics designer and a filmmaker.
- An International outlook – previous opportunities have included a five-day field trip to a European destination for all third years, a semester-long exchange to Australia, China and Oslo for second years, and one-off travel opportunities such as visiting the VOLA factory in Denmark or a design workshop run with students from the Pratt Institute in New York.
- Westminster is ranked 4th for 'Student Satisfaction' in Architecture in the Complete University Guide 2025.
Course structure
You'll learn through studio discussions, seminars, individual and group tutorials, and workshops, all focused on supporting you with the development of your project work. Your learning will be enriched with studio visits to sites, exhibitions, galleries, projects and field trips.
You will be assessed through your design portfolio, design project work and an academic portfolio, along with visual and oral presentations in the form of individual or group seminars, tutorials and presentations of design project work.
You'll learn and progress by attending studio sessions and through developing design project work that involves learning to conceptualise, make architectural proposals and evaluate them.
The following subjects are indicative of what you will study on this course
The Foundation year offers four studio-based modules which include Recording Place, Making Practices, Reading Spaces and the Major Project. The latter is a design challenge that asks students to draw on skills and interests ignited by their earlier studio-based work and topics explored in the Foundation Pathway Modules. The work from this project will form the centrepiece of the final exhibition showcasing the students' skills and creative visions.
Subjects of study include:
- Critical Thinking for Academic and Professional Development
- Introduction to Academic Practice
- Major Project
- Making Practices
- Reading Spaces
- Recording Place
Credit Level 3
Subjects of study include:
- A History of Architecture
- Materials and Technologies for Interior Architecture
- Studies in Design: Design Fundamentals
- Studies in Design: Design Strategies
Credit Level 4
Subjects of study include:
- Architectural History and Urbanism
- Exhibition Design
- Studies in Design: Culture and Alteration
- Studies in Design: Material and Detail
- Time-Based Media
Credit Level 5
This course gives you the opportunity to take a year in industry (work placement) after completing the second year of your study. This will help you gain work experience and increase your chances of employability after you graduate.
Students who complete their placement year successfully will have the additional wording appended to their degree title, for example, "BA (Hons) Interior Architecture with Professional Experience".
Find out more about the costs involved in taking a placement year.
Subjects of study include:
- CC3: Dissertation
- Interior Practices
- Studies in Design: Spatial Narratives
- Studies in Design: Thesis Project
Credit Level 6
Course membership
The course is a member of Interior Educators and graduating students are invited to participate in their annual exhibition FreeRange, held at The Old Truman Brewery in East London. This is the largest employer-focused student interior show in the country.
Course climate action statement
This course builds on a fascination for reuse and alteration of existing buildings. In re-imagining interior environments from the scale of the room to that of the building and city, the course embeds issues of sustainability, climate impact and action into its teaching.
Architecture and Interiors at Westminster
For more details on course structure, modules, teaching and assessment Download the programme specification (PDF).
To request an accessible version please email [email protected]
Get your copy of the University of Westminster prospectus and browse the range of courses on offer.
Contact us for general course enquiries:
+44 (0)20 7911 5000 EXT 65511
(Mon–Fri, 10am–4pm GMT)
Live chat with us
(Mon–Fri, 10am–4pm GMT)
Open days
Join us at an open day online or on campus. Get a feel for student life at the University of Westminster and talk to course leaders and our support teams.
Can't attend? See more open events
Careers
Our course equips graduates with the practical skills and theoretical knowledge they need to pursue a career in interior architecture or related fields such as interior design, exhibition design, set and lighting design, retail and product design and interior conservation.
The course also prepares students for study at postgraduate level. We offer a range of Master’s courses including the Interior Design MA, Architecture MA and Architecture and Environmental Design MSc. Additionally, graduating students have gone on to study information experience design, urban design and project management in the UK and abroad.
Career development is embedded in the course. You'll learn about industry roles, tasks, practices, salaries and have the opportunity to visit external interior architecture offices.
With a growing global network of 3,000 employers, our Careers and Employability Service is here to support you to achieve your full potential.
CV and interview skills
In your third year, we organise an Employability Week to help you transition from academia to practice, which covers graduate employment expectations, CV advice, interview experience and much more.
Industry links
We have strong links with a range of international design companies who present at our events and appear as guest speakers throughout the course.
Annual prizes
Interior Architecture students benefit from annual prizes sponsored by Danish interior company VOLA UK. Over the last 8 years, VOLA UK have generously donated over £25,000 to support an annual prize fund for students on our Interior Architecture BA.
Industry links
We have strong links with a wide range of international design professionals and companies including Professor Sadie Morgan from de Rijke Marsh Morgan Architects, Perkins + Will and VOLA. These companies support our students by presenting at our Employers Events, inviting students to in-office design crits and judging student awards.
You'll be taught by practitioners with years of experience gained across the world. Industry professionals regularly appear as guest speakers, with past speakers including Architype, Casson Mann, Es Devlin Studio, Extinction Rebellion, Hawkins Brown, Retrouvius Reclamation & Design, Richard Griffiths Architects, Spaced Out, Thomas Heatherwick Studio, Woods Bagot UK, Ullmayer Sylvester Architects, and YourStudio.
Our course has a long-standing relationship to VOLA UK, who award annual portfolio prizes and invite students into their studio each year. Other engagement from VOLA UK has included hosting an exhibition of student work in their showroom and inviting a group of students to visit the VOLA Academy in Denmark.
Our Employability Week is designed to make the transition from academia to practice as smooth as possible. It covers graduate employment expectations, roles, tasks, practices, salaries, office visits, CV advice, and interview tips. It also includes interview experience with employers and an alumni networking event.
Our course is a member of Interior Educators and previous graduating students have participated in the annual exhibition FreeRange, held at The Old Truman Brewery in East London. This is the largest employer-focused interior student show in the country.
Job roles
This course will prepare you for roles in fields such as:
- Conservation and heritage
- Exhibition design
- Interior architecture and design
- Lighting design
- Retail design
Graduate employment
Graduates from this course have found employment at organisations including:
- Perkins & Wills
- Foster + Partners
- Make Architects
- YourStudio
- Pippa Nissen Architects
International opportunities
The Interior Architecture BA offers many international opportunities throughout the course. Previously, students have been on semester-long exchanges in the second year studying interior design at RMIT Australia, spatial and furniture design at Oslo National Academy of Art, and environment and interior design at Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
In addition to a field trip to a major European city, student have experienced opportunities such as the Parallel Cities exchange, which includes a week’s workshop in New York.
We also provide a range of other international opportunities that all students can apply for. More details can be found on our Working and studying abroad page.
Course Leaders
The Foundation year is an intensive introduction to the essential creative skills for success in the field – an ideal pathway if you’ve not studied art or would like to explore your career options in a practical way.
Julian Williams
Principal Lecturer
Julian is an architect and academic with extensive experience working in architectural practice. He was BA Architecture Course Leader from 2011 to 2020. He is currently the Deputy Director of Teaching, Learning and Quality for the School.
His writing and research have focused on pedagogy in architectural education, which has informed course innovations and contributed to the set up of the AAE (Association of Architectural Educators), the UK network of design studio teachers. A second strand of research has examined issues of gender in the construction professions.
Julian is involved in a number of projects engaging students with primary schools and their communities around the subject of climate and its interaction with buildings and cities.
More about meSee full profile of Julian WilliamsDiony Kypraiou
Senior Lecturer
Diony is a Senior Lecturer, qualified architect, researcher, and fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA, UK).
She joined the Interior Architecture BA at Westminster in 2016 with a focus on design studio.
Prior and in parallel, she has taught on architecture, design, and multi-disciplinary courses in higher educational institutions that include the Syracuse University (SUL) and, the Bartlett School of Architecture (UCL), where she is completing a Doctorate in Architecture by Design (MPhil/PhD). She has presented, exhibited, and published work in the UK and abroad, and is a member of the Interior Educators (IE) Network, UK.
In 2021 Diony became Course Leader of the Interior Architecture BA programme in the School of Architecture and Cities.
More about meSee full profile of Diony Kypraiou
The Interior Architecture BA sets a balancing act between place-making and experience design. With strong links to practice, we equip the next generation of designers with the practical skills and theoretical knowledge to challenge, reimagine, and sustainably adapt complex interior environments to meaningfully contribute to our emerging patterns of life.
Course Team
Every member of the team contributes to the delivery of the Design Studio, as well as leading in another specific area, including Professional Practice, Theory, Technology and Admissions. In addition to the course team there are a range of part-time specialist staff who provide discipline specialist knowledge (such as exhibition design, computing, film) and valuable insight from practice.
Why study this course?
Award-winning students
Our student success is recognised in awards. Recent awards include: Foster + Partners Prize for Technical Innovation (2019), Katherine Shonfield Prize for History and Theory (2019/16) and the Retail Design Student Award (2019/18).
International opportunities
You'll have many travel opportunities throughout the course. Previous opportunities have included a five-day field trip to a European destination, a semester-long exchange to Australia, China and Oslo, and one-off travel opportunities to take part in design workshops overseas.
Intellectually stimulating
In the 2020 National student survey, 94% of our students said they found the course intellectually stimulating. (Source: Discover Uni - site accessed in November 2020)
Architecture Tour and Facilities
Watch the video below to find out more about our facilities at the University's Marylebone Campus.
Entry Requirements
- A levels – CCC (96 UCAS Tariff points)
- T levels – 96 UCAS Tariff points
- International Baccalaureate – 96 UCAS Tariff points from all components of the Diploma Programme. International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme will be considered on a case-by case basis
- BTEC Extended Diploma – MMM
- BTEC Diploma – DD
- Access – 96 UCAS Tariff points from the Access course
In addition to one of the above, you should have:
- GCSE English Language grade 4/C - IB grade 4 Higher level, GCSE Maths grade 4/C - IB grade 4
If your first language is not English, you will need an IELTS of 6.0 overall, with 5.5 in each component.
We also welcome applications from students who are taking a combination of qualifications listed above. For further information, please contact Course Enquiries.
View more information about our entry requirements and the application process.
- International Baccalaureate – 96 UCAS Tariff points from all components of the Diploma Programme. International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme will be considered on a case-by-case basis. You can refer to the UCAS calculator to determine your point score
- We accept a wide range of international high school level qualifications. Please see information on Country-specific entry requirements
- We work in partnership with Kaplan International College London who provide International Foundation Certificate courses for students who don’t meet our entry requirements. Upon successful completion, you can progress to your chosen degree at the University of Westminster. Find out about a range of university preparation courses that are accepted for entry.
English language requirements
- If your first language is not English, you should have an IELTS score of 6.0 overall, with a score of 5.5 in each component. Please note we accept a wide range of English language qualifications and assessments. Find out more at English language requirements.
- If you don't meet the English language requirements yet, then we offer online and on campus pre-sessional English programmes to help develop your English language skills to the required level before you start your course. Find out more about our pre-sessional English programmes.
More information
Student work
Each year we showcase the achievements and emerging talent of students from our School of Architecture and Cities at our end-of-year exhibition, OPEN.
Watch the video below to see the most recent exhibition or have a look through our OPEN catalogues on ISSUU.com. You can also check out our broader calendar of events on our open studio website – or find out what we're up to via Instagram at openstudio_wm or Twitter at @openstudio_wm
OPEN 2024 – end-of-year exhibition video
Peckham Catalysts exhibition
This film, made by second-year Interior Architecture students for their Peckham Catalysts exhibition, gives you an idea of the kind of work you will do on the course.
Learn new skills
Learn a new language
From Arabic to Spanish, you can learn a new language alongside your degree with our Polylang programme.
Develop your entrepreneurial skills
Our award-winning Westminster Enterprise Network offers industry networking events, workshops, one-to-one business advice and support for your startup projects.
Gain extra qualifications
We provide access to free online courses in Adobe and Microsoft Office applications, as well as thousands of specialist courses on LinkedIn Learning.
Fees and Funding
UK tuition fee: £9,250 (Price per academic year)
When you have enrolled with us, your annual tuition fees will remain the same throughout your studies with us. We do not increase your tuition fees each year.
Find out how we set our tuition fees.
Funding
As well as tuition fee loans, there is a range of funding available to help you fund your studies.
Find out about undergraduate student funding options.
Scholarships
The University is dedicated to supporting ambitious and outstanding students and we offer a variety of scholarships to eligible undergraduate students, which cover all or part of your tuition fees.
Find out if you qualify for one of our scholarships.
Additional costs
See what you may need to pay for separately and what your tuition fees cover.
International tuition fee: £17,000 (Price per academic year)
When you have enrolled with us, your annual tuition fees will remain the same throughout your studies with us. We do not increase your tuition fees each year.
Find out how we set our tuition fees.
EU Qualifications Welcome Award Scheme
If you are an international student accepted on an undergraduate programme starting in September 2024 or September 2025 at level 3 (Foundation) or level 4 (first year) on the basis of an eligible EU qualification only, you will be awarded a tuition fee reduction which will align your fee more closely to the one for UK students. For more information, see the EU Qualifications Welcome Award Scheme.
International student funding
Find out about funding for international students.
Additional costs
See what you may need to pay for separately and what your tuition fees cover.
Facilities
Find out more about facilities at the School of Architecture and Cities.
Architecture studios
Our architecture studios provide unrivalled facilities for study and collaborative learning.
Architecture studios
Our architecture studios provide unrivalled facilities for study and collaborative learning.
Architecture studios
Our architecture studios provide unrivalled facilities for study and collaborative learning.
Fabrication Laboratory
The Fabrication Laboratory allows you to explore the exciting field of digital fabrication.
Fabrication Laboratory
Equipment includes ABS and plaster 3D printing, CNC knife cutting, large-scale CNC routing, CNC metal milling and robot fabrication.
Fabrication Laboratory
Work created in the Fabrication Laboratory.
What our students say
Julie Beech
Interior Architecture BA - 2023
The consistently high quality of education I received stands out as a defining feature of my University of Westminster experience. Moreover, I developed close connections with my fellow course mates.
Eda Morina
Interior Architecture BA - 2023
Studying in London has offered me unique opportunities to explore interior architecture from a unique perspective. I've had the chance to gain valuable experiences by engaging with a wide range of projects within the city.
Lola Rasic
Interior Architecture BA Honours - 2019
The extra curricular activities were excellent. In the second year we exhibited our design work at Battersea Arts Centre, and in the third year had a field trip to Venice as well as working on a competition with a major retail brand. I was one of the winners and was offered a job by the judge. I currently work for Fosters + Partners.
Alice Simmons
Interior Architecture BA Honours - 2014
This course at Westminster is very diverse, you can excel in many different skills (whether you are more technical, or more conceptual) and my tutors quickly picked up on the skills we had and encouraged us to push the boundaries of what we could achieve through our designs.
Lilas Bizrah
Interior Architecture BA Honours - 2013
Westminster has all the facilities required, along with a friendly atmosphere. Furthermore, the architecture and design studios are always showcasing student work which is a great benefit - walking through other studios offers both insight and inspiration.
Westminster OPEN Degree Show
Westminster's OPEN Degree Show celebrates the talent and diversity of our architecture and design students. In addition to a physical exhibition held at our Marylebone Campus, you can see the latest online collection on Westminster OPEN Degree Show.
Image: student work by Shah-Ree Tasaddiq – Architecture BA
Teaching and Assessment
Below you will find how learning time and assessment types are distributed on this course. The graphs below give an indication of what you can expect through approximate percentages, taken either from the experience of previous cohorts, or based on the standard module diet where historic course data is unavailable. Changes to the division of learning time and assessment may be made in response to feedback and in accordance with our terms and conditions.
How you'll be taught
Teaching methods across all our undergraduate courses focus on active student learning through lectures, seminars, workshops, problem-based and blended learning, and where appropriate practical application. Learning typically falls into three broad categories:
- Scheduled hours: examples include lectures, seminars, practical classes, workshops, supervised time in a studio
- Placement: placement hours normally include placement opportunities, but may also include live projects or virtual activity involving employers
- Independent study: non-scheduled time in which students are expected to study independently. This may include preparation for scheduled sessions, follow-up work, wider reading or practice, completion of assessment tasks, or revision
How you'll be assessed
Our undergraduate courses include a wide variety of assessments.
Assessments typically fall into two broad categories:
- Practical: examples include presentations, videos, podcasts, lab work, creating artefacts
- Coursework: examples include essays, reports, in-class tests, portfolios, dissertation
Data from the academic year 2023/24
Supporting you
Our Student Hub is where you’ll find out about the services and support we offer, helping you get the best out of your time with us.
- Study support — workshops, 1-2-1 support and online resources to help improve your academic and research skills
- Personal tutors — support you in fulfilling your academic and personal potential
- Student advice team — provide specialist advice on a range of issues including funding, benefits and visas
- Extra-curricular activities — volunteering opportunities, sports and fitness activities, student events and more
Course location
In the heart of London, our Marylebone Campus is home to the Westminster Business School and our Architecture, Planning and Tourism courses. Specialist workshops, dedicated digital and architecture studios, and our extensive Marylebone Library offer students everything they need for academic success.
Marylebone Campus is opposite Baker Street tube station and within easy walking distance of Regent's Park and Marylebone High Street.
For more details, visit our Marylebone Campus page.
Contact us
Call our dedicated team on:
+44 (0)20 7911 5000 ext 65511
Opening hours (GMT): 10am–4pm Monday to Friday
Opening hours (GMT): 10am–4pm Monday to Friday
More information
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