Graduate Diploma Interior Design

College

CHELSEA

Start date

October 2020

Course length

1 year (full time)

Apply Open days

Applications for 2020/21

Applications have now closed for international students.

Coronavirus updates

If you're thinking about applying, or you've applied for a postgraduate course starting in 2020/21, see guidance for prospective students during the Coronavirus outbreak.

Graduate Diploma in Interior Design at Chelsea College of Arts provides you with the skills and experience required for study at MA level.

Student work

Exterior architecture and garden design - Graduate Diploma Interior Design
Anna Mackie - Graduate Diploma Interior Design
Sara Alrashed - Graduate Diploma Interior Design
Victoria Lin - Graduate Diploma Interior Design

Course overview

The course is equivalent to the third year of an interior design undergraduate course. As well as helping to progress onto postgraduate level study the course will also aid transition into the professional world of interior design. Students on this course come from many different backgrounds but most have already gained a first degree.

What to expect

Learn how to connect with interior design in a variety of ways, for example, through designing, visually communicating, researching and writing
To develop a flexible open-mindedness when thinking about interior design and to critically engage with contemporary design approaches
To work on residential and commercial/public realm creative design projects as well as research and professional development
There are various research and study visits and trips during the year - in London, the UK and abroad
Be involved in various live projects. These are across the field of interior design, including retail, restaurants, hotel, other hospitality, and of course residential. We work closely with industry professionals and our students are offered a range of possible work experience and internships, often leading to employment
A personal tutor who supports your development
To have access to Chelsea's shared workshops. These include ceramics, casting, laser cutting, photography, audio-visual editing suite, metal and woodwork. View the Chelsea facilities

Mode of study

Graduate Diploma Interior Design is offered in full-time mode and consists of 30 teaching weeks over 1 academic year. You will be expected to commit an average of 40 hours per week to your course, including teaching hours and independent study.

Course units

A short description of each unit and what you can expect.

Unit 1 - Commodity and design

This unit is an introduction to your course, the college and the university.

To explore the design of a series of domestic and other residential interiors
Projects that focus on how a client/user inhabits interior space
To introduce you to various design and presentation methods you have as interior designers to communicate to different audiences
To explore a variety of ways of analysing design problems - sketching, collage, technical drawing and model making techniques
To develop your designs by using a selection of materials, construction techniques and technology
To work collaboratively with your peers
An introduction to research led practice
To keep a reflective journal
To learn about professional communication within interior design, specifically the writing requirements
To look at the cultural context of interior design, as well as the wider subject area of design
To undertake writing and research that is concerned with professional practice and your creative processes

Unit 2 - Negotiated design programme

In this unit you will initiate your own design project. You will choose a location, make an analysis of an interior and establish a design brief for a new programme of habitation or occupation.

To look at the spatial organisation, material concerns and the experiential qualities of your design proposition
To communicate the fabrication, construction and sustainability aspects of your design
Written work that clarifies your design methodology, outcomes and use of design precedents
Exercises in site analysis
Workshops on how to present and negotiate a design solution
Talks by artists, designers and architects
Workshops on academic research and writing
Group and individual tutorials
Seminars on professional practice
To present work in the college show

Learning and teaching methods

Group crits, demonstrations and workshops
Lectures and seminars
Site and gallery visits
Studio based group and individual tutorials
Studio teaching by practitioners
Visiting specialists

Assessment methods

Oral and visual presentations
Peer assessment
Self-assessment
Written work

Staff

Josef Huber - Course Leader
Emma Hunter

How to apply

Opportunities for all

We are committed to making university education an achievable option for a wider range of people and to supporting all of our students in achieving their potential both during and after their courses.

We welcome applications from people with disabilities. If you have a disability (e.g. mobility difficulties, sensory impairments, medical or mental health conditions or Asperger’s syndrome) we strongly encourage you to contact us on disability@arts.ac.uk or +44 (0)20 7514 6156 so that we can plan the right support for you. All enquiries are treated confidentially. To find out more, visit our Disability & Dyslexia webpages.

Entry requirements

The standard minimum entry requirements for this course are:

BA (Hons) degree or equivalent academic qualifications
Evidence of ability in art or design
Some experience of architectural drawing is required
Alternative qualifications and experience will also be taken into consideration
Personal statement
Portfolio of work

Entry to this course will also be determined by the quality of your application, looking primarily at your portfolio of work, personal statement and reference.

APEL - Accreditation of Prior (Experiential) Learning

Applicants who do not meet these course entry requirements may still be considered in exceptional cases. The course team will consider each application that demonstrates additional strengths and alternative evidence. This might, for example, be demonstrated by:

Related academic or work experience
The quality of the personal statement
A strong academic or other professional reference
A combination of these factors

Each application will be considered on its own merit but we cannot guarantee an offer in each case.

English language requirements

All classes are taught in English. If English isn't your first language you must provide evidence at enrolment of the following:

IELTS level 6.0 or above, with at least 5.5 in reading, writing, listening and speaking (please check our English language requirements).

Selection criteria

We look for:

Evidence of visual and conceptual creative abilities
A clear commitment to the chosen field of study
The potential to develop the full range of practical, expressive, critical and conceptual skills necessary to complete the course
The ability to benefit from the learning environment and experience
An awareness of the contemporary and historical context of interior design
Some understanding of the role that contemporary critical thought and historical study can play in the development of personal creative work
The ability to communicate and discuss issues and ideas both verbally and in writing
The ability to manage your own time and initiate projects

Making your application

Portfolio advice

A portfolio with 30 images of creative design work. This does not need to be specifically interior design focused.

Personal statement

This should be about 500 words long and include:

Your reasons for choosing the course
Your current creative practice and how this will help with your future plans
If you do not have any formal academic qualifications please describe your relevant education and experience

Apply

Application deadline

Home/EU applicant period may stay open until midday Monday 31 August 2020.

Although we advise you to apply sooner than this. Some courses are very popular and may close to applicants early.

External Student Transfer Policy:

If you are currently studying at another institution and if you have successfully completed 60 credits in the equivalent units and modules on your current graduate diploma course and wish to continue your studies at Chelsea College of Arts, you can apply to transfer. The Admissions Tutor will consider applications on a case by case basis, subject to places being available. You must apply directly to the course via the course webpage as early as possible. Further information can be found in our UAL External Student Transfer Policy.

Deferred entry application:

This course will consider deferred entry applications. If you are interested in requesting a deferral, you can only request this if you are successful at application.

What happens next

Communicating with you

After you’ve submitted your application, you’ll receive a confirmation email providing you with your login details for the UAL Portal. We’ll use this portal to contact you to request any additional information, including inviting you to upload documents or book an interview, so please check it regularly.

Initial application check

We check your application to see if you meet the standard entry requirements for the course. If you do, you’ll be invited to or asked to book onto a suitable date to attend an interview selection event.

Interview selection event

You will be expected to bring your portfolio, which will be reviewed by the academics conducting the event. Please be prepared to talk about your work, what inspires you and your influences. We may not discuss all of these topics at the event.

The event will also give you a chance to meet current students, take a tour of the college and see the facilities.

More details about your interview selection event will be emailed to you once you have chosen or been allocated your date.

Selection for Home/EU applicants happens in a variety of different ways:

In person at Chelsea College of Arts
By phone or Skype

If you choose phone or Skype, you will be sent an email requesting that you upload a digital portfolio using UAL’s online portfolio review system.

How we notify you of the outcome of your application

You will receive the final outcome of your application through the UAL portal.

Please note that applications made to this course may be given an alternative offer. This decision will be based on our assessment of your creative and potential interests.