Skip to main content
Postgraduate

MA Interior and Spatial Design

Architectural model by Yifei Ouyang - MA Interior Spatial Design.
Yifei Ouyang
MA Interior and Spatial Design, Camberwell College of Arts, UAL
College
Camberwell College of Arts
Start date
September 2024
Course length
15 months (full time)

MA Interior and Spatial Design at Camberwell College of Arts is committed to the critical investigation of space through the theoretical and practical research interests and activities of our students.

Applying for more than 1 course

You can apply for more than 1 postgraduate course at UAL but we recommend that you apply for no more than 3. Find out more in the Apply Now section.

Course overview

The course has a distinctive identity as it takes a contemporary view of experimental spatial practice and thrives on blurring disciplinary boundaries. It also benefits from a unique position of being a design course in an art school environment.  

With a focus on research-led practice, you’ll be encouraged along a path of personal discovery. This starts with an area of individual research interest. 
 
We have a particular expertise in experiential and sensorial aspects of what it means to inhabit space and interact with our environment. 

We work with existing structures both internally and externally, with film and video, and between digital and analogue. We consider both physical and virtual space as equally valid forms of experience. 

We treat making, drawing, text and debate as equal and complimentary forms of expression and representation.   
 
The course encourages and facilitates cross-disciplinary activity. We provide opportunities for working on live projects and working on collaborations with practitioners in various fields.

There is scope within the course structure to negotiate what your portfolio submission can be at the end of each unit. In this regard, you might develop your writing, film making or other forms of practice as well as the more usual installation or design propositions. 

What to expect  

  • Questioning: You’ll think about what constitutes space and spatial practice and how we inhabit, experience and remember space. 
  • Develop design sensibilities: These will enable you to observe, reflect and intervene in existing and speculative spatial situations. 
  • Social responsibility: You’ll be asked to position yourself and your practice in a contemporary environment that responds to current aesthetic, political and social situations. We do not expect you to be passive in your actions. 
  • An iterative approach: This method is aimed at encouraging understanding and critical reflection. 
  • Build confidence: You’ll be encouraged to take control of your decision making and progression in forming an individual identity.
  • Access to Camberwell's shared workshops: Including printmaking, photography, film, moving image, digital, plastic, ceramics, wood and metalwork. View the Camberwell facilities.

Industry experience and opportunities

We aim to run several live projects with partners. We also have more regular collaborations that you can choose to be involved in. These will vary year to year. 

The self-defined nature of projects allows you to develop approaches that align with your own career interests, whether in a professional studio, as an artist or performer or in other related fields such as theatre, film or game environments. We also encourage further study through MRes or PhD study for students who are interested in pursuing careers in research and academia.

Mode of study 

MA Interior and Spatial Design is offered in full-time mode and runs for 45 weeks over 15 months. You will be expected to commit an average of 40 hours per week to your course, including teaching hours and independent study.

Course units

Unit 1: Discover and define  

This unit offers an introduction to your course, the College and the University. First, you’ll present your current portfolio of work, sharing and exchanging ideas and techniques with your peers. 

You’ll then participate in a series of short exercises to help you fully define your research interests. To contextualise and test your research ideas, you’ll be encouraged to explore physical spaces and undertake direct observational and spatial investigation. This will provide a basis for your research-led proposal. We also aim to run several optional live projects with partners. 

Unit 2: Define and develop  

Unit 2 will help you position your creative practice within broader social and professional contexts. Through experimentation, you will start to focus and refine your research-led proposal. To help you learn new techniques and expand your creative practice, you’ll also participate in a collaborative activity with other MA design students. 

By the end of this unit, you will have produced studio practice-based developmental work to add to your portfolio along with an extended written paper covering all the work you’ve completed during unit 1 and 2.

Unit 3: Develop and deliver  

This final unit of the course is about taking the final steps toward resolving and presenting your research and proposal developments through your ongoing practice. The aim is to fully communicate the body of work you have undertaken in a format that is appropriate to the nature of your project. 

You’ll be expected to demonstrate how your practice has developed and evolved throughout the course and highlight how it relates to key contextual and theoretical perspectives. 

The unit concludes with the submission of your portfolio and written research work. Past projects have included online or physical exhibitions with drawings, models, installations, video work and performance.

Note: 120 Credits must be passed before the final unit is undertaken.

Learning and teaching methods

  • Independent research
  • Individual and group tutorials
  • Lectures
  • Online posting of work for staff and peer review
  • Presentations, peer review and feedback
  • Research methodology workshops
  • Technical support

MA Interior and Spatial Design

Open day recording

Course Leader Amritt Flora gives an overview of MA Interior and Spatial Design at Camberwell College of Arts.

MA Interior and Spatial Design

Student work

Explore work by our recent students on the UAL Showcase

  • Moon II
    Moon II, Xuxiang Zhang, 2022 MA Interior and Spatial Design, Camberwell College of Arts, UAL
  • Form Follows Olfaction
    Form Follows Olfaction, Terry Kuo, 2022 MA Interior and Spatial Design, Camberwell College of Arts, UAL
  • Ruins N' Roses
    Ruins N' Roses, Haya Abahussain, 2022 MA Interior and Spatial Design, Camberwell College of Arts, UAL
  • When Crossing Red Lines
    When Crossing Red Lines, Mille Marie Udnæs Franck, 2022 MA Interior and Spatial Design, Camberwell College of Arts, UAL
  • Un|homely dining table
    Un|homely dining table, Manasnan Sunpawatr, 2022 MA Interior and Spatial Design, Camberwell College of Arts, UAL

Film

Tokyo 1964: Design Tomorrow exhibition

Staff

  • Amritt Flora - Course Leader
  • Anna Baranowska - Associate Lecturer
  • Simon Kinneir - Associate Lecturer
  • Pete Maloney - Senior Lecturer
  • Maria McLintock - Associate Lecturer
  • Aaron McPeake - Associate Lecturer
  • Colin Priest - Senior Lecturer
  • Matthew Rosier - Associate Lecturer
  • Maria Venegas Raba - Associate Lecturer
  • Jack Wates - Associate Lecturer
  • Rain Wu - Associate Lecturer
  • Sophie Yetton - Senior Lecturer

Fees and funding

Home fee

£14,600

This fee is correct for 2024/25 entry and is subject to change for 2025/26 entry.

Tuition fees may increase in future years for new and continuing students on courses lasting more than one year. For this course, you can pay tuition fees in instalments.

Home fees are currently charged to UK nationals and UK residents who meet the rules. However, the rules are complex. Find out more about our tuition fees and determining your fee status.

International fee

£32,260

This fee is correct for 2024/25 entry and is subject to change for 2025/26 entry.

Tuition fees may increase in future years for new and continuing students on courses lasting more than one year. For this course, you can pay tuition fees in instalments.

Home fees are currently charged to UK nationals and UK residents who meet the rules. However, the rules are complex. Find out more about our tuition fees and determining your fee status.

Scholarship search

Entry requirements

The standard minimum entry requirements for this course are:

  • BA (Hons) degree or equivalent academic qualifications
  • 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 and personal statement.

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:

  • The necessary subject specific skills, including architectural drawing, model making and computer aided design (CAD). Some exception may be made with regards to applicants with an alternative background who can demonstrate an equivalent exploration of spatial ideas
  • A developed spatial awareness and an ability to creatively organise space and represent spatial ideas
  • Evidence of an engagement with the critical debates surrounding contemporary interior and spatial design practice within current contexts 

Apply now

Application deadline

Deadline

Round 1:

13 December 2023 at 1pm (UK time)

Round 2:

3 April 2024 at 1pm (UK time)

Digital portfolio and video task deadline

Round 1:

16 January 2024

Round 2:

16 April 2024

Decision outcome

Round 1:

End of March 2024

Round 2:

End of June 2024

Round 1
Round 2
Deadline
13 December 2023 at 1pm (UK time)
3 April 2024 at 1pm (UK time)
Digital portfolio and video task deadline
16 January 2024
16 April 2024
Decision outcome
End of March 2024
End of June 2024

All applications received by 3 April will be treated equally. If there are places available after this date, the course will remain open to applications until places have been filled.

Read more about deadlines

Apply now

Application deadline

Deadline

Round 1:

13 December 2023 at 1pm (UK time)

Round 2:

3 April 2024 at 1pm (UK time)

Digital portfolio and video task deadline

Round 1:

16 January 2024

Round 2:

16 April 2024

Decision outcome

Round 1:

End of March 2024

Round 2:

End of June 2024

Round 1
Round 2
Deadline
13 December 2023 at 1pm (UK time)
3 April 2024 at 1pm (UK time)
Digital portfolio and video task deadline
16 January 2024
16 April 2024
Decision outcome
End of March 2024
End of June 2024

All applications received by 3 April will be treated equally. If there are places available after this date, the course will remain open to applications until places have been filled.

Read more about deadlines

Apply to UAL

Start your application
or

Apply with a UAL Representative

Based across the world, our local UAL representatives can support you with your application from your home country. Check to see if there is a representative available in your country currently.

Find your representative

How to apply

Follow this step-by-step guide to apply for this course

Step 1: Initial application

You will need to submit an initial application including your personal statement.

Personal statement advice

Your personal statement should be maximum 500 words and include:

  • your reasons for choosing the course
  • your current creative practice and how this course will help you achieve your future plans
  • any relevant education and experience, especially if you do not have any formal academic qualifications.

Visit our personal statement page for more advice.

Step 2: Video task and digital portfolio

We will review your initial application. If you have met the standard entry requirements, we will ask you to submit a video task and digital portfolio.

You’ll need to submit these via PebblePad, our online portfolio tool. Please submit your video task on the first page followed by your portfolio.

Video task advice

We’d like you to submit a 2-3 minute video to help us learn more about you. When recording your task, please face the camera and speak in English.

What to include in your video task

  • Describe the view from a window where you live.
  • How does this view change throughout the day and over time? For example, through the seasons.

Read our guidance for how to submit your video task and which file types we accept.

Digital portfolio advice

Your portfolio should consist of recent work that reflects your creative strengths.

It should:

  • be maximum 30 pages, including your video task
  • show subject specific skills including architectural knowledge, drawing, model making, computer aided design (CAD) etc.
  • demonstrate your spatial awareness and ability to creatively organise space and represent spatial ideas
  • illustrate your engagement with critical debates surrounding contemporary interior and spatial design practice through writing or other creative practices
  • include any supporting research, examples of design thinking and experimentation.

For more support, see our Portfolio advice and PebblePad advice.

Step 3: Interview

You may be invited to an interview following our review of your application. All interviews are held online and last 15 to 20 minutes.

For top tips, see our Interview advice.

You also need to know

Communicating with you

Once you have submitted your initial application, we will email you with your login details for our Applicant portal.

Requests for supplementary documents like qualifications and English language tests will be made through the applicant portal. You can also use it to ask questions regarding your application. Visit our After you apply page for more information.

Applying to more than 1 course

You can apply for more than 1 postgraduate course at UAL but we recommend that you apply for no more than 3 courses. You need to tailor your application, supporting documents and portfolio to each course, so applying for many different courses could risk the overall quality of your application. If you receive offers for multiple courses, you'll only be able to accept 1 offer. UAL doesn't accept repeat applications to the same course in the same academic year.

Visas and immigration history check

All non-UK nationals must complete an immigration history check. Your application may be considered by our course teams before this check takes place. This means that we may request your portfolio and/or video task before we identify any issues arising from your immigration history check. Sometimes your history may mean that we are not able to continue considering your application. Visit our Immigration and visas advice page for more information.

External student transfer policy

UAL accepts transfers from other institutions on a case-by-case basis. Read our Student transfer policy for more information.

Alternative offers

If your application is really strong, but we believe your strengths and skillset are better suited to a different course, we may make you an alternative offer. This means you will be offered a place on a different course or at a different UAL College.

Deferring your place

We do not accept any deferral requests for our postgraduate courses. This means that you must apply in the year that you plan to start your course and you will not be able to defer your place to start at a later date.

Application deadlines

For postgraduate courses at UAL there are 2 equal consideration deadlines to ensure fairness for all our applicants. If you apply ahead of either of these deadlines, your application will be considered on an equal basis with all other applications in that round. If there are places available after the second deadline, the course will remain open to applications until places have been filled.

Careers