Everything you need to know...
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What is the fee?
Home: £9,535 per year
International/EU: £17,155 per year (£1,200 for placement year) -
How long will I study?
4/5 Years
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Where will I study?
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What are the entry requirements?
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What is the UCAS code?
A012
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When do I start?
September 2025
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Placement year available?
Yes
Come to an open day
Visit us to learn more about our gold-rated teaching and why we were awarded the highest possible rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework.
Course summary
- Develop your skills alongside interior designers, architects and engineers
- Produce sophisticated architectural solutions led by contemporary design thinking
- Learn the latest media and 3D technology to communicate spatial and technical information
- Respond to site-specific briefs to design for inclusive and sustainable environments
- Build a unique portfolio and exhibit to industry professionals at our Future Now Festival of Creativity
You’ll become part of an inclusive, and collaborative studio community where you will learn creatively alongside industry specialists. By the end of the course, you’ll have the professional skills and knowledge to start your career in interior architecture and design sustainable spaces for diverse audiences.
If you don't meet the entry requirements for our BA (Hons) Interior Architecture and Design, or you’d like extra preparation before starting degree-level study, we recommend you join the foundation year – which has been designed to encourage exploration and experimentation.
Creative UK membership
We are members of Creative UK, which means our art and design students are also members until they graduate. With 10,000 members in its network, Creative UK represents, champions and supports the UK’s creative industries, advocating on the issues that matter the most to creative communities.
View our students' work
View our gallery of student work and learn more about the exciting projects they've been working on this year.
How you learn
This foundation course brings together students across all our art and design courses as one creative community. You’ll work and learn together in a dedicated studio space and have access to our top-class facilities.
Based in our bespoke studios, workshops, and digital spaces, you’ll become part of a dynamic and collaborative learning community. Together, you’ll undertake creative adventures, explore possibilities, and challenge conventions.
Through our teaching, we unfold your potential to contribute as a creative thinker and doer and apply your knowledge to art practice, culture, society, and life systems. Your learning will be informed by experts in contemporary interior design, architecture and engineering – a versatile approach that provides a detailed understanding of the technical requirements you can apply in a variety of settings.
You learn through:
- Studio practice
- Workshops
- Technical demonstrations
- Group work and collaboration
- Reviews
- Lectures
- Guest talks
- External visits and field trips
We take a holistic and person-centred approach to assessment to support your creative growth while respecting the diverse ways people learn.
Key themes
Your foundation year will help you get to grips with University life as you study alongside a creative community of Art and Design students. Expect to be hands-on in the studio, learning through doing as you explore the creative process with collaborative projects, workshops and field trips.
Find out more about your foundation year.
Using a variety of research and design techniques you’ll learn how to produce sophisticated solutions informed by current design thinking. You’ll be encouraged to nurture your own individual design approach to create environments that blend aesthetics with function. And you’ll learn how to design spaces that champion inclusivity, ergonomics and sustainability.
Through studio-based learning, you’ll engage with various aspects of the industry – exploring real-world issues and gaining an understanding of the challenges facing the profession, both locally and globally.
Using the latest media and 3D technology, you’ll learn how to communicate spatial and technical information.You’ll also develop key vocational skills, such as cross-disciplinary collaboration and communication, allowing you to thrive in a broad range of professions.
Course support
The course develops strategies of attention, empathy, imagination, courage and resilience in the face of an uncertain future. Our course prioritises care as a critical activity – care for global human contexts and for the more-than-human world.
Throughout your learning journey, you’ll experience a range of dedicated personal, academic and career development support, such as:
- Access to our Skills Centre with one-to-ones and online resources to help with planning and structuring your assignments
- Access to office and studio space, expert workshops, freelancing opportunities and a vast business network to tap into
- Industry-specific employability activities and careers support for up to five years after you graduate
Course leaders and tutors
Tony Broomhead
Senior LecturerTony joined Sheffield Hallam in 2016 and is also a Practice Mentor for the Royal College of Arts
Applied learning
Your course has been designed to embrace real-world challenges and provide you with the practical skills and knowledge to be successful.
We do this by developing your expertise in collaboration with the professional creative and cultural sectors, commercial and creative practitioners, commissioners and clients and arts organisations.
Work placements
You’ll have the opportunity to undertake a year-long work placement (25 weeks minimum) or multiple placements before your final year. This gives you valuable work experience to prepare you for your future career and allows you to graduate with an Applied Professional Diploma to add to your CV.
Previous students have secured placements with companies such as YourStudio, Mynt Design and Fosters + Partners and have completed placements abroad in Dubai, Melbourne, LA and New Zealand.
Live projects
You'll have the opportunity to take part in live projects each year, working with external partners and real-world briefs on socially-driven community and commercial briefs.
As the course progresses, you’ll collaborate with industry leaders and international partners to experience all forms of interior architecture – from retail and hospitality to cultural and exhibition design.
Previously, students have designed and developed projects on homelessness, theatre, exhibitions, student accommodation and luxury spas – allowing them to make an active contribution to the industry and engage with current issues.
Field trips
In each year of your course you’ll have the opportunity to go on study trips in the UK and abroad. In recent years these trips have included workshops, design exhibitions or visits to practitioners’ studios and museums.
You can further enhance your studies with our optional field trips. Recent international trips have taken students to Berlin, Barcelona and the Venice Architecture Bienne.
You can also apply for funding through the Turing Scheme to support a study exchange or placement outside of the UK.
Networking opportunities
This course benefits from excellent links with national practices and local design agencies that bring valuable industry insight.
Experience guest talks delivered by external practitioners from design practices within the UK and abroad, and build your network with industry leaders.
Competitions and exhibitions
You're supported to develop and showcase your professional creative work and profile by entering national and international competitions such as the RSA Student Design Awards.
The course has seen great success in the national awards, with students consistently recognised across several categories.
At the end of your final year, you’ll have the opportunity to exhibit your work in our annual Future Now Festival of Creativity. Hosted in the city centre, the festival is widely attended – by VIP guests, employers, businesses, influencers, friends and family, and the general public.Alongside this, all our students will curate and exhibit their work on our online Gallery.
Future careers
This course prepares you for careers and future study in:
- Interior and spatial design
- Architectural design
- Branding and retail design
- Landscape architecture
- Exhibition design
- 3D computer modelling and visuals
- Related careers in architectural technology and management
Previous graduates of this course work for a range of local and global design companies working across diverse sectors:
- 93 feet
- BDP
- Bond Bryan Architects
- Fletcher Preist
- Fosters + Partners
- HKS
- HLM Architects
- IKEA
- Lister + Lister
- TP Bennett
- Whittam Cox Architects
Where will I study?
You study at City Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.
City Campus
City Campus is located in the heart of Sheffield, within minutes of the train and bus stations.
City Campus map | City Campus tour
Adsetts library
Adsetts Library is located on our City Campus. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.
Learn moreLearn more about your department
Art and Design facilities tour - shared workshops
Take a look around the shared workshops in the Department of Art & Design at Sheffield Hallam University.
Equipment and facilities
You'll have access to a wide variety of facilities across the university campuses – including a 24-hour learning centre, Students’ Union, cafes and eateries, lecture theatres, exhibition spaces and more.
You'll be based in a fully equipped and purpose-designed studio, with state-of-the-art facilities including:
- Industry-standard computer hardware
- Virtual reality equipment and software for coding
- Digital design print facilities
- Extensive workshops for soft modelling and prototyping
- Multi-material fabrication workshops – print, wood, plastics, metal, mixed media, casting and ceramic
- CNC equipment including laser cutters, CNC routers (2D and 3D)
- 3D printing (including SLA, FDM, SLS, Metal 3DP)
- Industry-standard spray painting and colour-matching facility
- A photographic studio and creative media centre
Media Gallery
Entry requirements
All students
UCAS points
- 80
This must include at least 32 points from at least one A level or equivalent BTEC National qualifications (to include a relevant subject, such as Art, Design and Technology, Textiles or Graphics). For example:
• CDD at A Level with a grade C in a relevant subject.
• MMP in BTEC Extended Diploma in a relevant subject.
• Pass overall from a T level qualification with C from core
• A combination of qualifications which must include an A level grade C or BTEC grade M in a relevant subject and may include AS levels, EPQ and general studies
• Access to HE Diploma from a QAA recognised Access to HE course. Normally we require 15 credits at level 2 and 45 at level 3. At least 15 level 3 credits must be at merit grade or above from a QAA-recognised Access to HE course, or an equivalent Access to HE certificate.
You can find information on making sense of UCAS tariff points here and use the UCAS tariff calculator to work out your points.
GCSE
• English Language or Literature at grade C or 4
We may also accept you, if you have limited qualifications but can show evidence of ability and a genuine commitment to studying Art and Design.
We treat the foundation year as part of the Art and Design degree programme. Offers made to students will be for four years of study (or five years of study including a placement). This is made up of the foundation year plus one of our Art and Design degrees.
If English is not your first language, you will need an IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in all skills or equivalent. If your English language skill is currently below IELTS 6.0 we recommend you consider the Sheffield Hallam University Pre-sessional English course which will enable you to achieve an equivalent English score.
Portfolio review
If your application is successful, you will receive an email inviting you to submit a link to your portfolio.
The portfolio helps us understand whether we are able to offer you a place on the course you’ve applied for. Your UCAS statement and portfolio provide you with the opportunity to demonstrate your creative experience, potential ability and enthusiasm for the course you’ve applied for. Visit our portfolio review guidance.
Additional information for EU/International students
If you are an International or non-UK European student, you can find out more about the country specific qualifications we accept on our international qualifications page.
For details of English language entry requirements (IELTS), please see the information for 'All students'.
Modules
Important notice: The structure of this course is periodically reviewed and enhanced to provide the best possible learning experience for our students and ensure ongoing compliance with any professional, statutory and regulatory body standards. Module structure, content, delivery and assessment may change, but we expect the focus of the course and the learning outcomes to remain as described above. Following any changes, updated module information will be published on this page.
You will be able to complete a placement year as part of this course. See the modules table below for further information.
Year 1
Compulsory modules
Foundation Projects — Developing Creative Practice
Foundation Skills & Methods
Year 2
Compulsory modules
Interior Principles: Space, Form + Architecture
Interior Strategies: People + Place
Year 3
Compulsory modules
Future Now: Collaboration In Action
Interior Context: Eat + Sleep
Interior Practice: Work + Play
Elective modules
Study Abroad - Creative Industries
Year 4
Optional modules
Placement Year
Final year
Compulsory modules
Interior Exterior: Cultural Context
Interior Futures: Professional Pathways
Fees and funding
Home students
Our tuition fee for UK students on full-time undergraduate degree courses in 2025/26 is £9,535 per year (capped at a maximum of 20% of this during your placement year). These fees are regulated by the UK government and therefore subject to change in future years. We are currently reviewing our tuition fees for the foundation year stage of this course following the Government announcement of fee changes for some foundation year courses and will confirm fees as soon as possible.
If you are studying an undergraduate course, postgraduate pre-registration course or postgraduate research course over more than one academic year then your tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with Government regulations or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) published fees. More information can be found in our terms and conditions under student fees regulations.
International students
Our tuition fee for International/EU students starting full-time study in 2025/26 is £17,155 per year. During your placement year you will pay a reduced fee of £1,200.
Financial support for home/EU students
How tuition fees work, student loans and other financial support available.
Additional course costs
The links below allow you to view estimated general course additional costs, as well as costs associated with key activities on specific courses. These are estimates and are intended only as an indication of potential additional expenses. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.
General course additional costs
Additional costs for Sheffield Creative Industries Institute (PDF, 268.6KB)Legal information
Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.
