Interior Architecture - BA (Hons) Degree

Year One

Interior Design Studio 1.1 - 40 credits

This module will develop the basic knowledge of the underlying concepts and principles required to create creative and exploratory design proposals. Students will learn to situate their creative practice within the wider territory of the discipline which spans adaptive reuse, regeneration, spaces and places. 

Throughout the module students will develop a working knowledge of appropriate design processes, the critical analysis of the adaptive re-use of host spaces / sites in a responsible and sustainable way as well and the visual and verbal communication skills used to present design proposals. 

Interior Design Studio 1.2 - 20 credits

This module consolidates the learning across first studio module and begins to define student identity

as an interior designer or interior architect. Students will be supported in applying their knowledge through exploration, implementation and critical reflection as a part of a student led design proposal.

This student led project will develop students’ knowledge and skills in the connected but distinct

disciplines of Interior Design and Interior Architecture respectively.

Research Basics - 20 credits*

This module aims to develop students’ core academic research skills including locating sources, evaluating credibility, and analysing information. It will provide the foundations from which students will cultivate their confidence to engage in theoretical discourse and idea-driven dialogues which will be required throughout their undergraduate studies.

Interdisciplinary Understanding - 40 credits  

This module aims to introduce you to the principles of Interdisciplinary working: collaborative working, critical thinking and reflection. Projects within the module will challenge you to work with another discipline to explore a societal and cultural theme or challenge. 

Year Two

Interior Architecture Studio 2 - 40 credits

The module focuses on providing students with a thorough understanding of potential trajectories in Interior Architecture. It aims to boost confidence in advocating for unique approaches within the discipline. The goal is to cultivate a strong professional stance, addressing challenges in creative industries. Throughout the module, students develop confidence in exploring their creative identity within the context of Interior Architecture, navigating practical constraints in the commercial sphere for well-rounded preparation. 

21st Century Challenges - 40 credits

The 21st Century Challenges module builds upon the introduction to Interdisciplinary problem-solving developed at level 4 to continue to refine, and begin to apply, your skillsets through real-world projects and live briefs.  

Projects will tackle 21st Century Challenges to develop your leadership, collaboration, future literacy/critical thinking skillsets.  

Real-world Contexts - 20 credits  

The Real-world contexts module challenges you to apply the situated awareness and future-thinking skills to deploy your own practice in the creation or promotion of value for a variety of external stakeholders and communities.  

Research Proposal – 20 credits

The Research Proposal offers you an opportunity to strengthen your research skills, consolidate your research experience and orientate your level 6 contribution around an enquiry of your choosing that is inspired by your learning across all modules at level 4 and 5.    

 This research proposal will be used to continue your personal and professional development at level 6 where you will identify a route for your own enquiry. 

Year Three

Major Project - 60 credits

This 60 credit ‘Major Project’ module aims to encourage you to build an advanced level of intellectual expertise and vocation within the core of your practice, whilst positioning you at the forefront of an Interior Architecture discipline that expansively explores the adaptive reuse, remodelling and augmentation of pre-existing places. It provides you with an opportunity to improve your studio practice, whilst testing your individual knowledge, skills, and competencies in Interior Architecture research and practice, in response to a design concept and brief that you set yourselves.   

Navigating your project through the design stages from concept, scheme, to communication deliverables, you will better understand the role of the professional Interior Architect and their contribution to society in the wider context; produce tectonic construction detailing, material science and building physics information; understand legal and regulatory frameworks; and prepare you for the intellectual and strategic rigours of professional practice.

Positioning in Practice - 20 credits

The module aims to support your readiness in developing your unique professional career in Interior Architecture. It will embed attributes reflective of the requirements of real-world practice aligned to your specialist discipline.  

You will have the opportunity to reflect upon how your experiences over the last 3 years have allowed you to position yourself as a professional in preparation for graduate level work, continued study, research, and entrepreneurial ventures. 

Contribution - 40 credits

Your practice is underpinned by your knowledge. Demonstrate your research and analysis skills in your final research submission, where you explore ideas in both written and practical forms.​
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*modules available through the medium of Welsh

All undergraduate programmes within the School of Art & Design are taught within an interdisciplinary learning environment.

Our sector-leading curriculum has been designed in relation to current literature and best practices across the UK and Europe, providing students with authentic learning opportunities with a focus on real-life situations and solving real world problems. Our graduates are ready for, and adaptable to, 21st century working and living, driven by creativity, social responsibility, futures literacy and entrepreneurial thinking and behaviours. You can read more about our undergraduate curriculum here.

Studio-Based Learning

All programmes are delivered through a studio-based learning approach, with an authentic environment that encourages collaboration, independent exploration, and a shared learning experience. Studio spaces are designed to meet the specific needs of your discipline, offering a range of learning opportunities such as group seminars, critiques, presentations, one-on-one tutorials, technical workshops, and guided independent study. This environment supports the development of student-led learning, where you can shape your research focus and expertise, working autonomously with guidance from expert academic and technical staff.

Hands-On Practical Workshops

You will engage hands-on in practical studio sessions and workshops, building core skills in materials and processes relevant to your discipline. Lectures provide a theoretical framework that complements your studio practice, while smaller group seminars offer targeted support for practical growth. Collaborative group projects create opportunities to build connections and develop teamworking skills that may extend into extra-curricular or personal projects. Regular critiques (studio crits), briefing sessions, and presentations are designed to develop critical thinking, effective communication, and build confidence to present work both visually and verbally.

Project-Based Learning

Learning strategies aim to develop professional competencies while promoting critical and creative thinking. A strong focus is placed on project-based and problem-based learning, where you will tackle projects that vary in scope: from set briefs to student-led and real-world live projects. Each project challenges you to analyse problems, conduct research, make decisions, and develop both technical and creative solutions. Projects will have defined objectives, but you are encouraged to develop an individual interpretation.

Self-Reflection

Students are further supported through a structured Personal Development Plan (PDP), which encourages self-reflection and professional development. This document serves as both a record of growth and a portfolio, highlighting your evolving body of work. Throughout your studies you will be introduced to real-world scenarios, often collaborating with external industry professionals, guest speakers, or on placements, giving you valuable exposure to industry standards and practices.

Virtual Resources

Additional support is available through personal academic tutors, who provide guidance on academic matters and your journey through the degree, contributing to student well-being and helping you to find a professional path within the programme. A Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) complements in-person learning by offering a range of resources, discussion forums, and self-assessment tools. This platform also enables formative assessment and facilitates communication within the programme.

This integrated learning and teaching approach ensures that students acquire both foundational knowledge and advanced, discipline-specific skills. By blending theoretical understanding with practical application, the course prepares students for sustained, lifelong learning and equips them with the competencies to navigate and contribute to their chosen fields.

Throughout the duration of your studies, you will be evaluated on three main criteria, which underpin all of the disciplines being taught at CSAD: 

Skills:

The practical, technical and conceptual skills you acquire during your course.

Context:

Your understanding and knowledge of broader intellectual context within which your discipline and work is located. This includes historical, environmental and ethical issues and will often be explored in your 'Theory and Context' modules.

Ideas:

Your understanding of intellectual and creative ideas from within and beyond your discipline; plus your ability to acquire new concepts and form new ideas. Ideas will be explored in your written work, as well as being evident in your practical progress. Each of these criteria is given equal weighting during the assessment process. That is to say that they are seen as equally important and critical to your development; an emphasis which is designed, for example, to enable a more well-rounded skill set from a student who may be skilled technically, but weak in generating ideas, or a student with much creative flair who may struggle to hone a broad concept into a strong, individual design. 

We provide a number of ways for you to track your progress en route to submitting your work for marking. Understanding that the emphases will revolve around the core areas of skills, context and ideas, you will also become familiar with the structured assessment form used by your tutors and learn to relate to your work back to the intended learning outcomes of each brief. 

The main types of formative assessment are; academic (feedback from your tutors); peer (from your course-mates or project partners); and self-assessment (which is your own critique, in light of other forms of feedback). You won't just be receiving feedback at the end of a brief, however – your tutors will often assess your progress as your work develops, providing formative feedback at crucial moments where it is hoped to encourage you to take risks, maintain your motivation or shape-up your ideas ahead of deadline.

​Upon graduating you could pursue a career as an Interior Architect creating potent and memorable experiences in the residential, commercial, public or private sector, such as living spaces, bars, restaurants, exhibition spaces, or working within sustainable design futures. There is also the option to pursue further postgraduate studies within Cardiff School of Art & Design.

During the course, there will be the opportunity to undertake live briefs and work experience. This will include building contacts and undertaking placements as well as exposure to professionals through industry talks and mentoring. You will be offered support in forming your own business if you choose to do so. ​

Some graduates become teachers by taking a PGCE, or elect to continue their studies with CSAD by pursuing a Master’s level qualification, or into research with a PhD or a Professional Doctorate in Art or Design. 

Typical Offers

Tariff points: 96-120

Contextual offer: See our contextual offers page.

GCSE: Preferably five GCSEs at Grade C / 4 or above to include English Language / Welsh First Language, Mathematics / Mathematics – Numeracy.

English Language Requirement: Academic IELTS 6.0 overall with at least 5.5 in all elements, or equivalent.

A level: Minimum three A levels. No specific subjects required. Welsh Advanced Skills Baccalaureate considered as a third subject.

BTEC National / Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma: MMM-DDM

T Level: No specific subjects required.

Access to Higher Education Diploma: No specific subjects required.

International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma: 24 points. No specific subjects required.

Irish Leaving Certificate: No specific subjects required. Higher level subjects only considered with a minimum grade H4.

Scottish Advanced Highers: No specific subjects required.

Other requirements: Successful portfolio review. For more information please read our Advice for Applicants page.

Combinations of the above qualifications are accepted if they meet our minimum requirements. If your qualifications aren’t listed, please contact Admissions or refer to the UCAS Course Search.

Further information on Overseas qualifications can be found here.​

If you are a mature applicant, have relevant experience or RPL that you would like us to consider, please contact Admissions.

How to Apply

Further information on how to apply can be found here​.

What’s included?

We offer a wide range of specialist facilities for our creative programmes, with dedicated studios, purpose-built workshops, and extensive technical equipment. You will have access to these workshops following successful inductions, and will be supported by a highly skilled technical team.

You will not be charged a studio fee and will be provided with all the essential materials that you need to learn the processes that your course requires.

Cardiff Met is an Adobe® Creative Campus, and CSAD students have access to the full Adobe® Creative Cloud at no additional cost.

We pride ourselves on leading the way in sustainable studio and workshop practices. Whether that’s carbon literacy, re-use, waste reduction and material science, you will be encouraged to use materials consciously as you develop your own way of working. You will also get:

• Dedicated studios for independent work or group study
• UK-based study trips that are core to your learning experience
• Creative digital facilities tailored to your course, such as specific software, print facilities or digital visualisation tools
• IT and library facilities, which include an extensive range of artists’ books, publications, journals, magazines, and digital resources to support your learning and research

What is an additional cost?

When developing individual projects, you will select and provide your own materials, many of which can be purchased at cost price on campus. We will support you in sourcing additional materials depending on your creative ambitions and budget, and in keeping with our sustainable and safe practices.

You may require course-specific equipment and tools, but this will vary depending on your practice. A joining pack will be sent to you before you start, containing detailed information about any recommended equipment including laptop specification advice. We recommend that you don’t make major purchases before receiving the joining pack or speaking with a member of staff.

Some examples of additional costs:

• Students will find a laptop or tablet helpful and will need to allow for the purchase of apps and software
• Optional UK or overseas study trips and exchange programmes
• Placements and associated costs such as travel and accommodation
• Optional access to Cardiff FabLab which is subject to charges for equipment use and materials
• Material costs when opting to use specialist equipment independently, such as digital fabric printing, 3D printing and laser cutting
• Other costs such as printing, copying, and the purchase of textbooks

For up-to-date information on tuition fees and financial support that may be available whilst at Cardiff Met, please visit www.cardiffmet.ac.uk/fees.

If you have any questions in the meantime, please contact us.

For general enquiries, please contact the Admissions Team on 029 2041 6044 or email askadmissions@cardiffmet.ac.uk.

For course-specific enquiries, please contact Carlo Convertini, CCConvertini@cardiffmet.ac.uk.