Program Overview
The Interior Design at The University of Edinburgh is a MA programme in Arts & Design over 12 months, delivered On-campus. This programme equips graduates with advanced knowledge and practical skills for professional and academic careers in the field.
Students gain a rigorous grounding in both the theoretical foundations and applied dimensions of arts & design. The programme combines coursework, research components, and practical projects that develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and specialist expertise relevant to industry and research needs.
Graduates of the Interior Design programme are well-prepared for careers in academia, industry, government, and the private sector across United Kingdom and internationally. The programme provides an internationally recognised qualification within the Bologna higher education framework.
Key Program Features
- Duration: 12 months
- Language of instruction: English
- Study mode: On-campus
- English requirement: IELTS 7
- Tuition: GBP 20,100 (Tuition (Year)) — International students; GBP 9,500 (Tuition (Year)) — EU/EEA students
- Location: Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Career Opportunities
Graduates of the Interior Design programme are prepared for diverse careers in arts & design:
- Creative Director
- Graphic / UX Designer
- Art Director
- Curator
- Visual Artist
- Media Producer
Program Curriculum
This programme runs over three consecutive semesters and is full time. The programme is composed of core and elective courses.
Semesters 1 and 2 are split into 3 courses of 20 Credits each, covering design practice and theoretical studies in the field of design. The summer semester consists of a single 60 credit course.
Semester 1
In Semester 1, there are two core courses:
- Adapting Interiors
- Reading Interiors
Both are taught by IASD staff and focus on a chosen site, situation, or institution.
The remaining 20 credit course is elective, which you will choose from a selected list of courses with a more theoretical and written focus. These are delivered by other colleagues in ECA.
Semester 2
In Semester 2, the two core courses are:
- Connecting Interiors (taught by IASD staff and focusing on the chosen site)
- Disseminating Design Practices (delivered by other colleagues in ECA)
The third course in this semester is elective. You are encouraged to choose a course that will develop your design thinking beyond interiors to gain valuable experience in a related field.
You may take suitable elective courses from anywhere within the University. Options vary each year and are dependent on level, availability and timetable suitability.
Summer semester
The final summer semester consists of a single core course, Intersections, which contains three elements:
- An individual ‘synthesis’ design research project, based in our site/situation/institution, but following a project brief of your own choice.
- A group project in which you work together as a team disseminating the approaches and work of the programme to the broader public beyond ECA.
- A portfolio in which you document your learning throughout the year and propose the future directions of your practice.
Find courses for this programme
Find out what courses you can study on this programme and how each of them are taught and assessed.
The courses on offer may change from year to year, but the course information will give you an idea of what to expect on this programme.
Full-time
We link to the latest information available. This may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.
Field trips
Our core course consists of design projects that are site-based and you be spending much time engaging with these sites and situations in the city. In the past, these have included:
- various historic buildings on the university campus
- the former Edinburgh Royal Infirmary
- the Edinburgh Freemason’s Hall
- Summerhall Arts centre
- Leith Custom House.
In addition, where appropriate, we organise day trips to encounter buildings, exhibitions or events that are relevant to your studies.
Approach to site
We think of Edinburgh as a ‘living lab’ which we can use to experiment with the ways in which interior, architectural and spatial design can unlock the potential of buildings and the communities and institutions that o
Admission Requirements
Academic Requirements
You need the following GPA score:
Applicants for graduate programs must have the equivalent of a bachelor\xe2\x80\x99s degree with a minimum GPA equivalent to Upper Second Class on the UK Honour scale. Admitted applicants typically have an undergraduate GPA of or better on the UK Honour scale. No exam grade should be lower than 4.5 (European grade scale) or D (American grade scale).
Your GPA (Grade Point Average) is calculated using the grades that you received in each course, and is determined by the points assigned to each grade (e.g. for the US grading scale from A-F).
Normally a UK 2:1 honours degree or its international equivalent, in a relevant subject such as interior design, interior architecture, architecture, landscape architecture, product design or 3D design. A
You must submit a portfolio as part of your application. Your portfolio can include:
- interiors, architectural, landscape or product projects, as well as other artworks
- a range of media and arenas of enquiry
unfinished development work as well as finished projects \xc2\xa0 Selection will be made on four key criteria:
research and conceptual ambition: what are the big ideas driving your work?
- development: how have you developed those ideas in your project work?
- resolution: how have projects been resolved and communicated?
- awareness: what do you consider interior design to be,\xc2\xa0and where does your work sit within the discipline?
We may also consider your application on the basis of your portfolio and/or relevant professional experience.
English Proficiency: IELTS 7 or equivalent.
Tuition & Financial Information
Tuition Fee
GBP 20,100 (Tuition (Year)) — International students; GBP 9,500 (Tuition (Year)) — EU/EEA students
Tuition fees: GBP 20,100 (Tuition (Year)) — International students; GBP 9,500 (Tuition (Year)) — EU/EEA students
IELTS requirement: 7
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Contact The University of Edinburgh directly for scholarship, grant, and financial aid information for this programme. Many European universities offer merit-based and need-based funding for international and domestic students.
About The University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
University of Edinburgh (Universitas Academica Edinburgensis) is a historic and globally respected public research university in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK, founded in 1583, making it one of the...
University Profile- Application Deadline 14 September 2026
- Start Date 2017-09-18
- Language English
- Duration 12 months