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Chelsea College of Arts

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Graduate Diploma Interior Design

College
CHELSEA
Start date
September 2021
Course length
1 year (full time)
Apply Open days

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

  • Digital render of exterior architecture and garden design.
    Exterior architecture and garden design - Graduate Diploma Interior Design
  • Architecture model by Anna Mackie.
    Anna Mackie - Graduate Diploma Interior Design
  • Computer generated architecture drawing by Sara Alrashed.
    Sara Alrashed - Graduate Diploma Interior Design
  • Architecture model by Victoria Lin.
    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

  • You will learn how to connect with interior design in a variety of ways, for example, through designing, visually communicating, researching and writing
  • Develop a flexible open-mindedness when thinking about interior design and to critically engage with contemporary design approaches
  • Work on residential, commercial and public realm creative design projects as well as research and professional development
  • Research and study visits and trips during the year
  • Various live projects across the field of interior design, including retail, restaurants, hotel and 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
  • 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.

  • Projects that focus on how a client/user inhabits interior space
  • An introduction to research led practice
  • You will explore the design of a series of domestic and other residential interiors
  • Be introduced to various design and presentation methods you have as interior designers to communicate to different audiences
  • Explore a variety of ways of analysing design problems - sketching, collage, technical drawing and model making techniques
  • Develop your designs by using a selection of materials, construction techniques and technology
  • Work collaboratively with your peers
  • Keep a reflective journal
  • Learn about professional communication within interior design, specifically the writing requirements
  • Look at the cultural context of interior design, as well as the wider subject area of design
  • 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.

  • You will look at the spatial organisation, material concerns and the experiential qualities of your design proposition
  • Communicate the fabrication, construction and sustainability aspects of your design
  • Present work in the college show
  • 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 guest artists, designers and architects
  • Workshops on academic research and writing
  • Group and individual tutorials
  • Seminars on professional practice

Learning and teaching methods

  • Group crits, demonstrations and workshops
  • Lectures and seminars
  • Group and individual tutorials
  • Teaching by practitioners
  • Visiting specialists

Assessment methods

  • Oral and visual presentations
  • Peer assessment
  • Self-assessment
  • Written work

Staff

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 digital drawing and modelling 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:

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

Applications may stay open until Saturday 15 May 2021.

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

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.

Please add ccw.ukeu@arts.ac.uk to your contacts to ensure that you do not miss any important updates about your application to UAL.

Initial application check and selection

We check your application to see if you meet the standard entry requirements for the course. If you do, you will be invited to submit a digital portfolio through UAL’s online portfolio review system.

Following receipt of your digital portfolio you will be invited to book an online interview selection event.

How we notify you of the outcome of your application

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

Applicants for this course may be given an alternative offer. This decision will be based on our assessment of your creative and potential interests.

Feedback requests:

This course receives a high number of applications. Unfortunately, we can’t provide feedback to everyone who is unsuccessful. We can only provide feedback after you’ve had an interview.

If you would like to request feedback - please email ccw.ukeu@arts.ac.uk. We are only able to provide feedback to you directly, or to someone you have told us in writing can receive it on your behalf.

Deferring your place

This course allows offer holders to defer. If you have an offer of a place, but you would like to defer starting for a year, please contact our Admissions Service as soon as possible via your UAL Portal. Make sure you check our Admissions Policy before requesting a deferral.

Transfers

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.

There are 2 ways international students can apply to a graduate diploma course:

Read our immigration and visa information to find out if you need a visa to study at UAL.

Application deadline

Applications may stay open until Saturday 15 May 2021.

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

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.

Please add ccw.international@arts.ac.uk to your contacts to ensure that you do not miss any important updates about your application to UAL.

Immigration history check

Whether you’re applying online via UCAS, through a UAL representative or by direct application you will need to complete an Immigration History Check to establish whether you are eligible to study at UAL. If you don’t complete the check we won’t be able to proceed with your application.

Initial application check and selection

We check your application to see if you meet the standard entry requirements for the course. If you do, you will be invited to submit a digital portfolio through UAL’s online portfolio review system.

Following receipt of your digital portfolio you will be invited to book a telephone interview selection event.

How we notify you of the outcome of your application

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

Applicants for this course may be given an alternative offer. This decision will be based on our assessment of your creative and potential interests.

Feedback requests:

This course receives a high number of applications. Unfortunately, we can’t provide feedback to everyone who is unsuccessful. We can only provide feedback after you’ve had an interview.

If you would like to request feedback - please email ccw.international@arts.ac.uk. We are only able to provide feedback to you directly, or to someone you have told us in writing can receive it on your behalf.

Deferring your place

This course allows offer holders to defer. If you have an offer of a place, but you would like to defer starting for a year, please contact our Admissions Service as soon as possible via your UAL Portal. Make sure you check our Admissions Policy before requesting a deferral.

Transfers

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.


Fees and funding

Home / EU fee

£11,220 (2020/21).

International fee

£22,920 (2020/21).

Course fees may be paid in instalments.

Additional costs

In addition to tuition fees you are very likely to incur additional costs such as travel expenses and the cost of materials. Please read the information on our additional costs page.

Accommodation

Find out about the accommodation options available and how much they will cost.

Scholarships and awards

Use our search tool to find out more about the scholarships and awards available to students.

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Careers and alumni

Many of our graduates go on to further study programmes in interior design and other related disciplines, and we also encourage students to arrange a meeting with an employability adviser from the University's Student Jobs and Careers service before students leave.

Alumni

Find out how careers and employability helps our students and graduates start their careers.

Chelsea College of Arts

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Contact

Telephone

+44 (0)20 7514 7751
Address
Chelsea College of Arts
16 John Islip Street
London
SW1P 4JU