Interior Design

Available for September or January intakes.

Course overview
We are proud to be on of the longest established Interior courses in Europe with our graduates working all over the world and are a SBID Centre of Excellence. You work in a dedicated design studio environment with access to high quality Computer Aided Design and superb workshop facilities. You are encouraged to get involved in a wide range of extra curricula activities, including guest lectures and workshops from both professionals in practice and our successful graduates and alumni now working throughout the world.

The course prepares you to become excellent design graduates but also successful design professionals. Often based around the conversion of existing buildings, the Interior Designer considers many design matters and factors including; the needs of the building’s end user, creating interior spatial layouts, improving circulation and function, interpreting buildings, space and use. The Interior Designer’s role also embraces the specification of materials, designing bespoke textiles, fittings and furniture and selecting colour palettes and lighting schemes.

Projects are designed to replicate professional practice ensuring you are ready for the design profession. As a design student you will have the opportunity to work on live projects with real clients and enter prestigious competitions such as those offered by the Royal Society of Arts.

Some recent live briefs have included: working with a national chain to redesign a public house, proposals for a jewellery gallery for Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art, residential apartment design, specialist hospital provision working to create enabling environments for those with visual impairment, train stations and the experience of travel, and office concepts in collaboration with a major furniture manufacturer.

Top reasons to study this course

• Nationally recognised: Interior Design is ranked 1st in the UK three years running as part of our Graphic Design subject area ranking. (Guardian University Guide 2026, 2025 and 2024, tees.ac.uk/source)

• Adobe Creative Campus: our courses and campus are powered by Adobe and Apple. We’re Europe’s first Adobe Creative Campus and the only Apple-accredited university. This equips you with the digital tools and resources to transform the creative world. Our courses have a built-in Creative Week – a workshop based, festival style, off-timetable week each semester where you can experiment with new materials, make visits and upgrade your tech skills.

• Work-ready: the course includes short, career-focused modules helping you understand working in the arts and creative industries.

• Industry connected: collaborate with our alumni and network at Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art (MIMA), our very own international contemporary art gallery. You benefit from supportive voices, specialist expertise, shared wisdom, new ideas, a helping hand or a friendly catch-up, establishing critical relationships that support you in developing your unique creative voice and propel you into your creative career.

• Creative UK: take advantage of our Creative UK membership and help futureproof your career, with networking events, a resource hub to support professional development, and bespoke workshops in partnership with industry leaders and mentors. Sign up for free student membership to get opportunities, events and newsletters sent directly to your inbox.

Employability
You might pursue a career in interior design or as a designer in the retail, exhibition, set design, leisure, surface pattern, merchandising or housing areas, or you might continue to postgraduate study.

Course Modules

Access course information through Teesside University’s website using the course page link provided (or visit www.tees.ac.uk).

Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.

• The Society of British & International Interior Design (SBID)