BA (Hons) Interior Design Decoration Bachelor's degree at Southampton Solent University
BA (Hons) Interior Design Decoration at SSU covers core theory, research and methods, applied practice, specialist options, an independent project, and professional skills.
About this course
Whether you're interested in interior design, visual styling or textile design, this degree provides design skills and experience for a career in industry. From the provider’s course page.
BA (Hons) Interior Design Decoration is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at SSU, based in East Park Terrace. It runs 3 years, studied full-time.
For Design studies graduates from this provider, 95% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 85% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £24,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
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.
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)
Moderate evidence Published sample: 35; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2022-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 95% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 95% (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.
Year one 4 modules
- Thinking Like a DesignerCore
Module details
This module provides the essential foundations of interior design by introducing core skills in conceptual sketching, technical drawing and the progression from 2D representation to 3D visual communication. Through a practice-led approach, you will explore design challenges and respond to the needs of clients, sites and spatial contexts. In the process, you will investigate how designers develop and refine design ideas through research, drawing, and material exploration, and apply these methods
- Playing with PatternCore
Module details
Throughout this module you'll build on your existing knowledge of surface design by playing with pattern through drawing and mark making - crucial in textile design as it forms the foundation of the creative process, enabling designers to generate unique ideas, while developing a personal artistic voice. For inspiration, you'll research the work of contemporary designers, and historical and traditional furnishing designs. You'll also learn how to deconstruct surface designs and learn new design
- Creative StylingCore
Module details
This module introduces you to the core principles of interior styling, helping you build the theoretical understanding and practical skills to interpret and create interior design imagery with confidence. You'll experiment with arranging materials, colour and objects to communicate clear intentions to a client, and you'll explore real-world practices such as creating concepts, crafting visual narratives and selecting materials and compositions. Through briefs, studio work and case studies, you'l
- Spatial Design and DecorationCore
Module details
In this module you'll explore the processes of residential design, focusing on the analysis and application of information within the interior design industry, specifically focusing on home staging, decorative styling, surface design, and interior decoration to inspire innovative approaches to contemporary living.
Year two 4 modules
- Mixing and Matching PatternCore
Module details
This module introduces you to the creative and technical foundations of surface design within interior spaces, expanding your understanding of how surface designs shape atmosphere, function and identity. You'll explore applications such as flooring, carpets, window treatments, ceilings, and bespoke patterned elements to understand how design decisions extend far beyond the wall. Through experimentation, you'll investigate materials, textures, finishes and decorative approaches that respond to bo
- Interior Design in IndustryCore
Module details
This module engages with industry - either through site, client, location, or materials you will develop an understanding of the importance of these aspects in your design process and the real world needs and possible constraints of industry. Working with a given design project you will generate initial concepts and produce design ideas which can be refined and synthesised to present and promote to an identified audience.
- Decorative Surfaces and TextilesCore
Module details
The expertise of decoration within interior design is forever growing with new materials, technologies and innovation in both hard and soft materials. This module will expand your understanding of the impact of texture, surface pattern, and form within any given space. It exploits the aesthetic potential of surface pattern and printed textile design practice in its wider contexts and enables you to create innovative decoration in both 2D and 3D, using traditional processes combined with modern t
- Spatial StorytellingCore
Module details
This module will introduce you to the role of the interior designer within stage set design and set dressing. You'll explore the role of a stage set designer through script analysis, storyboarding techniques, and the use of space, light, colour and form, and develop your understanding of film and stage terminology, including how to 'read' existing stage and film set designs and how to follow a stage/film script. You'll also develop your ability to create and communicate a specific mood, tell a s
Final year 3 modules
- Trends StylingCore
Module details
As an interior designer, clients will often require you to furnish or adorn of a space with fashionable or beautiful things. Understanding how to arrange materials, products, colour or pattern to successfully 'sell' to a client relies on understanding social-cultural use of images, current trends, and design theories. This module will build on the skills you learned in years one and two, but now with a more refined understanding of design processes acquired through previous modules.
- Professional ProjectsCore
Module details
This module concentrates on professional practice and is designed to include involvement in competitions or live projects where possible. It should be seen as an opportunity to work to professional standards and deadlines in preparation for the workplace. Evaluation and critical analysis of project briefs is an important part of the module, as are structuring, planning, client relations, and time management.
- Major Project - ResearchCore
Module details
This module represents the culmination of your studies and the opportunity to undertake and evidence sustained research and development to inform a coherent, original and c
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 degree equips you with design skills and industry experience across interior design, visual styling and textile design. You'll usually begin with visual fundamentals, colour, composition and form, alongside materials, processes and contextual studies that ground contemporary practice. In Year 2, studio work deepens as you develop a personal direction, exploring digital and emerging media tools, and engaging with live client briefs. Year 3 lets you specialise in areas such as graphic design, illustration, fine art, fashion and textiles, or UX and digital work, culminating in a major self-directed project and degree show. Throughout, you move from foundational techniques to sustained practice and professional positioning.
Who it's for
This course suits those interested in interior design and decoration as a career path. Most accepted students held A-levels or equivalent qualifications; the typical UCAS tariff among entrants was 96–111 points. You'll need to be prepared for full-time study and ready to engage with both theoretical and practical elements of the discipline.
Careers & job market
Across Art & Design courses nationally, 87% of graduates are in work or further study within 15 months of graduating, and 55% of working graduates are in highly skilled work or further study. National earnings data shows starting salaries of £22,000–£27,000 at 15 months post-graduation, rising to £20,825–£29,400 after five years. Check the university's funding pages for information on bursaries and scholarships.
University & format
This BA (Hons) is studied full-time over 3 years at Southampton Solent University in Southampton. The University is a degree-awarding body recognised across the UK, and holds Gold for teaching quality in the Office for Students' TEF 2023. Taught in English, the course is nationally recognised and accredited. Check the university's funding pages for bursaries and scholarships.
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 entryCompleted applications can be submitted
Your application needs a reference before you can send it.
- 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
- 2027 entryEqual-consideration deadline
18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.
Show 5 later dates
- 2027 entryUCAS Extra opens
Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.
- 2027 entryLast day applications go directly to providers
Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.
- 2027 entryClearing opens
Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.
- 2027 entryFinal date for 2027 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2027 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
Provider-published requirement; check the linked course page before applying.
The provider publishes contextual-offer information. Eligibility and any reduced offer are applicant-specific.
Placement year. Availability, selection and pay can vary.
See and book current events. Dates can fill or change.
Entry & how to get in
Who gets in
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
UCAS tariff of entrants
Grades are the A-level equivalent of each points band. Tap a band to check your own chances below.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| A-levels or equivalent | 90% |
| No / unknown prior qualifications | 10% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Accepted students came in with a broad spread of qualifications and UCAS points. If you're worried about grades, this course has historically taken a wide range, and contextual offers may apply.
Will you get in? Plot your grades
Pick your predicted A-levels and watch your UCAS points land on the real spread of students admitted to this course.
Each bar is the share of admitted students in that UCAS-points band (lower → higher). Grades show the A-level equivalent.
Based on the official admitted-student tariff distribution. Many universities make contextual (reduced-grade) offers, so a result below the range doesn’t rule you out.
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.
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course (code IDD1). 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 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. 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.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Provider fee page (England 2026/27 cap where not stated).
Check fees at SSU →For students who normally live in England
2026/27 Student Finance England figures. Maintenance support is means-tested and this two-point view is not an entitlement calculator. The course total uses its published length and home fee where both are available; a missing full-time fee uses the clearly labelled England-cap scenario, while part-time fees and unknown lengths are never guessed. Use the official calculator. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use separate systems: SAAS, Student Finance Wales, and Student Finance NI.
Starting on or after 1 January 2027?
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement is a separate system. A new learner’s tuition entitlement is currently stated as £39,160 (about 480 credits at 2026/27 fee levels), subject to prior study and eligibility. Check the official LLE guide.
Paying for it
- Tuition Fee Loan: can cover eligible tuition up to the applicable limit and is paid straight to the provider.
- Maintenance Loan: up to £10,830/yr away from home outside London (England, 2026/27), means-tested on household income.
- Repayment: 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below it; written off after 40 years.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
England figures shown; Scotland, Wales & NI run their own schemes, check gov.uk.
Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
That does not mean no funding exists. Check the university directory for current amounts, eligibility and application dates.
We only display a named award when its provider source identifies the award and who it is for.
Still deciding what to study?
StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.
Careers & earnings
What Art & Design graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
Graduate earnings: this course
| When | Median | Typical range | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 months after | £24,000 | £22,000 – £26,000 | 35 |
| 3 years after | £20,500 | £15,500 – £25,000 | 365 |
| 5 years after | £25,500 | £20,500 – £31,000 | 385 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Moderate evidence. Published sample: 35; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2022-23.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
- 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
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.
were in work or further study
15 months after graduation
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2022-23. Moderate evidence. Published sample: 35; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2022-23. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
Value compared with similar courses
How this course’s 5-year median earnings compare with Art & Design courses at the same study level.
Compared with 1,698 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.
UK occupations graduates enter
Published graduate destinations, joined conservatively to UK SOC 2020, ONS pay and Skills England demand.
- Design occupationsSOC 2020 342 · 75% of published destinations · ASHE median £35,957
- Process, plant and machine operativesDiscover Uni category · 15% of published destinations
Discover Uni JOBLIST/JOBTYPE; ONS ASHE 2025 provisional, all employee jobs; Skills England Occupations in Demand 2025. SOC is shown only for an exact normalised label match; demand is shown only at exact four-digit SOC. Published sample: 20; response rate: 75%. Pay describes the occupation across workers, not a guaranteed graduate salary.
Job market & outlook
How Art & Design graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
How 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 RecruitmentIs this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
Student finance
For comparison, the standard full-time England tuition cap is up to £9,790 per year in 2026/27; the actual fee varies by course and provider. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years.
Where graduates go
95% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £24,000. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
Your entry chances
Use the UCAS points calculator above to see how your predicted grades compare with admitted students, and whether a contextual offer could apply.
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 9.1 out of 10: NSS 81.7% · in work or study 95% · continued 95%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
Southampton Solent University
Design, and creative and performing arts across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around East Park Terrace
3,609 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.
Is Art & Design right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to SSU from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is £25,000 / year for this course (from the provider’s fee page). 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 SSU’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 SSU and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at SSU
Common questions
How competitive is entry?
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates go on to do?
What will it cost me?
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