National Design Academy · Undergraduate
BA (Hons) Design for Outdoor Living Bachelor's degree at National Design Academy
BA (Hons) Design for Outdoor Living at National Design Academy is recognised as a nationally accredited UK degree. Study covers core theory, research and methods, applied practice, specialist options, an independent project, and professional skills development.
BA (Hons)
Award
–
Years
Part-time
Study mode
65%
continuation
About this course
Our BA (Hons) Design for Outdoor Living provides students with the tools needed for a career in the design industry. Flexible Online Study. From the provider’s course page.
BA (Hons) Design for Outdoor Living is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at National Design Academy. It is studied part-time; duration varies by route.
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Art & Design, see the sections below.
Course evidence score
The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.
7.5
/ 10
2 of 3 official measures
Student satisfaction
What students say in the National Student Survey
Excellent84
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Continuation
Students who continue past their first year
Solid65
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 65% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
- Research & ContextualisationCore
Module details
You will be introduced to world leaders in both residential and commercial design. Research underpins all good design projects therefore this module will introduce you to the skills and methods needed to undertake this research. You will gain a comprehensive knowledge of interior design and its history through the ages.
- Space PlanningCore
Module details
You will learn how to design a space to meet the requirements of its function. You will learn how to plan and design an efficient, comfortable and safe space within a number of different briefs for both residential and commercial interiors. You will also start to learn the importance of development work at the initial stages of a project.
- Design in Historical ContextCore
Module details
You will be encouraged to actively research heritage buildings within your local area. This module examines the factors that have played a part in the development of interior design since the Renaissance and gives you the opportunity to recreate some of the most fascinating design styles throughout history.
- Creative Lighting and TechnologyCore
Module details
Good lighting and the creative use of technology is integral to any good interior design project. This module will cover the vast array of products and technologies which can be used within a space. You will further develop the scheme produced in your Space Planning module, adding lighting and audio-visual technology.
- Sustainable Design and TechnologyCore
Module details
You will need to understand how and when to use sustainable products, materials and technologies. You will discover a range of architects and designers who specialise in eco-friendly interiors, all whilst exploring the world of restaurant design.
- Home Staging and Show Home DesignCore
Module details
In this module you will focus on how to design interiors that sell! By designing two different properties for clients who will not be the intended residents. You will learn how to produce letters to clients, design packs and 3D visuals.
- Professional PracticeCore
Module details
You will be given the tools you need to create your own design practice and a marketing plan. You will explore the importance of branding to a business, and be given the opportunity to develop your own brand. You will also have the skills required to work within an existing practice at a professional level.
- Major Design ProjectCore
Module details
Through the development and presentation of a major design project, this module will allow you to apply everything that you have learnt so far. You will produce a great range of work to include within your portfolio. There is a choice of different client briefs, and you will also complete work experience.
- Design Technology & MaterialsCore
Module details
This is the first of the specialist Design for Outdoor Living modules. You will explore the principles of outdoor living and designing the transitional space between the indoors and out. Selection of products, materials, finishes and furniture for outdoor living are also covered. You will also explore environmental issues, durability of materials and installation techniques.
- Plants & Planting for Outdoor LivingCore
Module details
This module will focus on the selection and placement of plants and planting to further enhance an environment and how they can be displayed to maximise both the interior and outdoor areas of your design. You will create a range of drawings, from development sketches to your final design, with final presentation boards.
- Research & Independent StudyCore
Module details
Building on the skills and understanding you have developed in previous modules, you will be given double the amount of time of previous modules to focus on a design and research based project of your choosing. You will be able to add visuals, presentation boards, development sketches and technical drawings to complete your extensive portfolio, together with a written dissertation.
Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
This course equips you with practical design skills and industry knowledge for a career in outdoor living design. You'll usually start with visual fundamentals, colour, composition and form, alongside workshops in materials and making techniques. As you progress, you'll develop sustained studio practice and explore digital tools, working on real client briefs alongside your own directed projects. In your later stages, you'll specialise in areas such as graphic design, illustration, fashion & textiles, or UX & digital, whilst building a professional portfolio. The course culminates in a final major project and degree show, where your work is publicly exhibited. Throughout, contextual studies ground your practice in design history and contemporary thinking.
Who it's for
This course suits part-time learners seeking a structured qualification in design. Most entrants hold A-levels or equivalent qualifications. You'll need to check entry requirements directly with the university. Bursaries and scholarships may be available, consult the university's funding pages for details.
Careers & job market
Across Art & Design courses nationally, 87% of graduates are in work or further study within 15 months of completing their degree. Of those working, 55% are in highly skilled roles or undertaking further study. National earnings data shows graduates earn £22,000–£27,000 at the 15-month point, £17,000–£24,000 after three years, and £20,825–£29,400 after five years. These figures reflect the broader graduate population, not a guaranteed salary. First-year retention stands at 85% across the student cohort.
University & format
BA (Hons) Design for Outdoor Living is delivered by National Design Academy as part-time online study in English. The course is offered by a recognised UK degree-awarding body, making the award nationally recognised.
Student satisfaction
How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.
Share of students responding positively.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
2027 entry deadlineApply directly to the provider
Part-time application dates vary by provider. UCAS dates
Open daysOpen Days
See and book current events. Dates can fill or change.
2026 entryLive availability check
Opened 2 July 2026; last choice 19 October 2026. Check vacancies now. A cached page never claims a place is still available.
Entry & how to get in
Most entrants held A-levels or equivalent39% of accepted students came in with A-levels or equivalent (entrants over recent years).
Entry requirements are set by the universityGrades, subjects and contextual offers vary. Check National Design Academy's official course page for the current offer.
Who gets in
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| A-levels or equivalent | 39% |
| No / unknown prior qualifications | 36% |
| another higher-education qualification | 15% |
| Other | 8% |
| a previous degree | 2% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Offer-based entry
Entry is set by the university and based on your offer. Use your predicted grades to see how you compare, then check the university's stated requirements.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
Apply byApply directly to the providerfor this course
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course. One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by Apply directly to the provider
Part-time application dates vary by provider. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
💡 Many universities make a contextual (reduced-grade) offer, for example based on your school’s results, time in care, or where you live. Ask National Design Academy whether you’re eligible before you apply; it can lower the grades you need.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Internationalset by the university
The cap depends on the UK nation the provider sits in; the provider's page is authoritative.
Check fees at National Design Academy →Check the finance route that applies to you
Support depends on ordinary residence, assessed fee status, course and provider nation. The provider nation is unresolved here, so no national cap or loan amount is being guessed.
Find your official student-finance route →Paying for it
- Tuition fee loan: applied for through the student-finance body for the UK nation you live in.
- Living-cost support: means-tested on household income, from your nation's student-finance body.
- Repayment: only above the income threshold set by your nation's student-finance system.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
Each UK nation runs its own student-finance system; check gov.uk for the rates that apply to you.
Funding matched to this course
All National Design Academy funding →Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
Named awards published by the university. Compare the eligibility and application route before budgeting for one.
Amounts, exclusions and deadlines can change. An award is not guaranteed unless the university confirms it.
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Career quizApplication walkthroughSalary & CV check
Careers & earnings
What Art & Design graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
65%
continue past their first year
- 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in art & design · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
- 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs Art & Design nationally
Starting (15 months) HESA GO
£22,000 – £27,000
After 3 years LEO
£17,000 – £24,000
After 5 years LEO
£20,825 – £29,400
national rangeaxis £16,000 – £30,500
National figures for Art & Design graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
What happened to 100 students?
Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.
65 of 100
continued or completed
continued into the next year or completed their qualification
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2022-23. Published threshold met. Sample size is not included in this snapshot. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
Job market & outlook
How Art & Design graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
87%
in work or further study 15 months after graduating, across Art & Design courses nationally.
Graduate Outcomes55%
of working graduates are in highly skilled work or further study.
highly skilled85%
of students continue past their first year (still enrolled or completed).
continuationHow AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Routine information gathering
- First-draft writing and summaries
- Standard analysis and admin
- Repetitive processing tasks
More human than ever
- Judgement and original thinking
- Working with and leading people
- Owning and sense-checking AI output
- Ethics and accountability
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where Art & Design graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- Design studios & agencies
- In-house brand teams
- Games & media companies
- Freelance & self-employed
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Art & Design graduates.
Fine Art TechnicianFirst Choice StaffPharmacy Technician – Brand New State-of-the-Art HospitalCompass AssociatesArtificial Intelligence Engineering ManagerMBN SolutionsArtificial Intelligence EngineerExperis UKDelivery Driver (Part Time 24 hours) - AndoverOcado LogisticsCompliance Business PartnerNashrock Insurance RecruitmentLive from the StudySmarter job board · as of 2026-08-01.See all matching jobs
Is this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
💷
Student finance
Home tuition is regulated and the cap depends on the UK nation the provider sits in; check the provider's course page for the exact figure. Eligible students can apply for a tuition fee loan and living-cost support from the student-finance body for the UK nation they live in. Repayment thresholds differ by nation.
⭐
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 7.5 out of 10: NSS 83.9% · continued 65%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
Design, and creative and performing arts across the UK
Students178,755
Aged 25+15.7%
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Is Art & Design right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to National Design Academy from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is set per course by National Design Academy; international fees are typically £12,000–£30,000/year for classroom subjects and higher for lab/clinical ones. You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
English language
Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.
Student visa
You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.
Scholarships & funding
Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check National Design Academy’s funding pages.
Living costs
Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.
Working while you study
A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.
Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with National Design Academy and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at National Design Academy
Common questions
What are the entry requirements?
Set by National Design Academy. Most accepted students held A-levels or equivalent. Check the university's course page for the exact offer.
What do graduates earn?
See the career and earnings data for Art & Design below (national Graduate Outcomes / LEO figures).
What will it cost me?
Home tuition is regulated and the cap depends on the UK nation the provider sits in; check the provider's course page for the exact figure. Eligible students can apply for a tuition fee loan and living-cost support from the student-finance body for the UK nation they live in. Repayment thresholds differ by nation. See Fees & funding on this page to work out your numbers.
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