Study an online BA Interior Design degree with OCA

Have you ever looked at an empty space and imagined what it could become? Do you find yourself thinking about making places, creating completely new interiors or adapting what is already there? A distance learning interior design degree could be the one for you.

Our online Interior Design degree gives you the opportunity to challenge your preconceptions of spatial design and explore what Interior Design really means. Discover what spaces can become and how you can learn to create them.

While completing our distance learning interior design degree, you’ll research spatial ideas and understand how people and societies relate to their interior environments. The course will harness your creativity to become an architectural investigator and playful innovator of new interior spaces.

Through drawing, model-making, creative research and self-reflection you’ll be encouraged to investigate your own approach to interior spatial design. You will develop techniques of creative visual and written communication, to articulate your ideas to others, and learn the important tool of collaboration in relation to design project work.

Throughout your course of study completing OCA’s distance learning interior design degree, your tutor will support you to develop the skills you need to become a professional interior designer, enabling you to work with clients to create exciting and innovative interior spaces.

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What is an online BA interior design degree?

OCA’s online interior design degree is a full undergraduate bachelor’s distance learning degree, ideal for anyone looking to become a professional designer or pursue their interest in interior design for personal development. This online interior design degree is open to anyone who has a deep interest in interior design, and this means that you can apply to join regardless of previous experience or qualifications.

Distance learning courses like our interior design online degree are a fantastic way of developing your skills and knowledge at a pace that fits around your existing personal and professional life. You’ll be fully supported in your studies to allow you to grow creatively throughout your degree.

Looking to complete an Interior Design bachelor’s degree online? Begin your journey today with OCA!

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Course Structure

The degree is split into nine units: three at Level 1 (HE4), three at Level 2 (HE5), and three at Level 3 (HE6). These are core units that all students take, and are prerequisites for moving onto units at higher levels.
As a flexible degree, you can complete the programme in 9 years, with a maximum of three years to complete each level of the course.

Course Units

At Level 1 (HE4), you’ll take three units, Exploring Principles and Theories, Exploration Through Experimentation and Exploring Creative Practice. You’ll be introduced to the basics of interior spatial design and the built environment, through a series of creative exercises, evaluation, reflection and synthesis of ideas, practical output and contextual studies.

Level 2 (HE5) covers all scales in three units, firstly Small: Detailed Spatial Understanding, followed by Medium: Design at a Human Scale, and then finally Large: Expanding Horizons. You will build on the basic principles learnt in Level 1, and develop your knowledge and skills further to thoroughly investigate the world of interior spatial design.

At Level 3 (HE6) all students take Final Major Project, Critical Research and Sustaining Your Practice. You’ll study Final Major Project and Critical Research together, combining everything you’ve learnt throughout the programme. Sustaining Your Practice is about preparing you for your life after study, enabling you to continue as a professional designer and using your degree in your hobbies and interests, or even to develop a new career.

We regularly review our curriculum; therefore, the programme of study described on this page – including its availability, its structure, and available units – may change over time. If we make changes to this programme, we’ll update this page as soon as possible. Once you’ve registered or are studying this programme, where practicable, we’ll inform you in good time of any upcoming changes. If you’d like to know more about the circumstances in which OCA might make changes to the curriculum please contact enquiries@oca.ac.uk.

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We regularly review our curriculum; therefore, the qualification described on this page – including its availability, its structure, and available units – may change over time. If we make changes to this qualification, we’ll update this page as soon as possible. Once you’ve registered or are studying this qualification, where practicable, we’ll inform you in good time of any upcoming changes. If you’d like to know more about the circumstances in which OCA might make changes to the curriculum, see our Academic Regulations or contact us. This description was last updated on 14 December 2022.

Interior Design Degree Pathway

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Programme Specification 2023/24

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Interior Design Accessibility Statements

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Foundations

£1025

Per course

Level 1 (HE4)

£4,950

For the level

Level 2 (HE5)

£4,950

For the level

Level 3 (HE6)

£4,950

For the level

Total approximate undergraduate fees

Breakdown of costs...

Foundations

£1,175

Per course

Level 1 (HE4)

£5,670

For the level

Level 2 (HE5)

£5,670

For the level

Level 3 (HE6)

£5,670

For the level

Total approximate undergraduate fees

Breakdown of costs...

More Information
  • OCA degrees are paid for on a unit-by-unit basis and are around a third of the cost of a degree at a campus university. Unit costs depend on the level of the unit, and also whether you live in the UK or rest of the world.

    If you are funding your course yourself you can either pay for units in full or you can spread the cost by taking advantage of our deposit and instalment facility.

    All OCA courses are listed with Student Finance England, Wales, and Northern Ireland allowing eligible students to apply for a Student Loan to cover the cost of fees. You may also be able to apply for a maintenance loan and/or Disabled Students Allowance to assist you with the cost of study.

    The OCA Learner Support Scheme can provide partial bursaries towards course fees for students who are not eligible for funding via Student Finance, based on financial hardship.

    Other sources of funding may include employer contributions, Enhanced Learning Credits (for Armed Forces Serving Personnel and Service Leavers) and Prisoner Education Trust.

  • You will require regular use of a computer or laptop and internet access. Most essential reading materials can be accessed through the digital library services and eBooks.

    Students are responsible for sourcing and, where necessary, purchasing any additional software and resources specified. These can be around £400 at Level 1, £500 at Level 2, and £550 at Level 3. Where possible, open or freeware equivalents will be discussed alongside industry standard options.

    You may be eligible for any student discounts on computer equipment and software by using your student email, and you can find out more information about student discounts here.

  • Interior Design is an open access degree; this means that there are no formal qualifications or experience required to join the course. All you need is a passion for the arts, and willingness to learn.

    All OCA courses require students to be IT literate, have a good internet connection, and have a good standard of English equivalent to CEFR B2. Further details on the entry requirements can be found in the Student Regulations.

  • We accept enrolments for our BA (HONS) courses in monthly intakes throughout the year.

    Review the key enrolment deadlines on the link below.



  • Our part-time degree courses are completed on average between 6 and 9 years. The degree is structured into three levels (instead of three years) so you’re able manage study around other commitments.

    Once enrolled, you’ll have a maximum of 12 years to complete your degree course. There are unit and level timeframes within the overall degree time frame, and you’ll need a minimum of 10 study per week to keep on track. To find out more about course duration and managing your time, click here.

  • Your course materials are accessible online through the virtual learning environment, OCA Learn, where you’ll also have access to student forums, a subject space, the student handbook and the online library. You’ll work primarily from a set text of course materials and resources, but can also sign up to webinars, workshops and study groups in addition to your core learning.

    Once you’ve completed the required assignments within a course unit and received tutor feedback, you’ll submit a portfolio of work to an assessment event. This gives you the opportunity to develop your work before you have it formally assessed to achieve credits towards your degree.

  • Upon completing this degree you’ll have the skills ready to be a professional Designer. This can encompass a variety of interior designer or spacial designer opportunities, such as in commercial, leisure, or domestic settings, as your own boss or in a consultancy. Prospects can tell you all you need to know about interior design jobs and vacancies.

    In May 2022 the Department for Culture, Media, & Sport estimated there were some 2.3 million jobs in the UK creative industries, and post pandemic the Creative Industries are growing faster than the UK economy as a whole.

  • The Academic Regulations for Subsidiary Institutions of The Open University are applicable to all taught courses offered by the Open College of the Arts (OCA).

    You can review the Academic Regulations on our policy page.

To Join

Join a network of creatives and enhance yourself as a design professional by enrolling here!