Interior Design MA

About the course

An opportunity to develop, research and practice design skills to an advanced level and to apply these skills to the formulation, investigation and detailed development of a personally selected design project. Particular emphasis is placed on the integration of research within the creative design process and the effective rationalisation of the relevant functional, legislative, idealistic and aesthetic parameters.

You will work in a multidisciplinary environment and benefit from the advantages of both collaborative and individual developmental experiences.

Graduates from this MA will have demonstrated the ability to produce, articulate, defend and communicate design solutions at an advanced level. As such, graduates will be equipped to function at a professional level.

• A creative and practice-based course, with an inspiring curriculum that broadens and deepens design skills and knowledge
• Strategic business and entrepreneurial focus
• Multidisciplinary international graduate community
• Pathway to PhD-level study

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Key facts

UKPASS code: W25071

Duration: One year full-time, two years part-time

Location: Fletcher Building

Start date: September 2013

Entry and admission criteria

• You should have the equivalent of a good UK bachelor’s honours degree in interior design or a field appropriate to the area of study
• If you have other professional qualifications and industry experience we will consider your application on an individual basis. Evidence of design work in a digital/ portfolio of work is also required
• We welcome equivalent international qualifications
• If English is not your first language an IELTS score of 6.0 or equivalent when you start the course is essential. English Language tuition, delivered by our British Council-accredited Centre for English Language Learning, is available both before and throughout the course if you need it.

Teaching and assessment

Full-time study entails a commitment of about 40 hours per week over 48 weeks of the year, and the part-time route a corresponding proportion of time. Modules in the first two semesters are taught through seminars, lectures, team-working and design workshops, with modules in the last semester being supported by tutorial guidance. You will undertake independent research, analysis, design development and writing up of your projects, supported by individual tutorials.

Academic expertise

Academic staff teaching on the course have a wide variety of expertise and knowledge in many different areas, including design management, innovation management, creativity management, enterprise, technology transfer, multimedia design, web design, new product development, design history, retail design and resource efficient design.

The course is based in excellent and well-equipped accommodation. Group work and tutorials take place within a dedicated centre, enabling you to benefit from strong group cohesiveness and a vibrant multidisciplinary graduate community. There are specialist areas for CAD, video and modelscope capture, electronic imaging and printing. Also workshops for specialised processes in wood, metal, glass and plastics. There is also open access to resource areas available to architecture students.

Industry links and professional accreditation

A large proportion of our lecturers are active practitioners and specialists in their field, including for example, working as architects, choreographers, composers, interior designers, journalists, new product developers, public relations consultants.

This ensures that you will learn real world skills that are in touch with the commercial sector, the latest technologies and current thinking.

Our creative staff also work as authors, composers, performers, freelance designers, practising fine artists and photographers who exhibit or perform internationally.

Other lecturers are involved in world class research and consultancy which enhances the quality of our teaching. Current projects range from digital media and holography to textile materials, fine art sculpture and the built environment, film and Hollywood to Women's TV History.

Our expertise in innovation has led us to advise regional businesses on developing new products. We are currently leading an initiative in resource efficient design for the retail supply chain. We also conduct consultancy and training for a number of clients including George at Asda, Oxford Instruments and Halfords and our major expertise in knowledge transfer and exchange offers benefits to a range of industrial partners.

Other members of our staff have connections with media organisations such as Amanda Blue independent award winning television producer 'Prescott the Class System and Me', 'World's Oldest Mother', Supernanny, 'Big School lottery' 'Young Black Farmers'

We also have partnerships and collaborations with the city's creative and cultural centres. These include Phoenix Square, The Curve Theatre and Leicester Comedy Festival

De Montfort University is highly rated by employers and offers excellent links with industry, the creative and cultural world, and the professions.

Graduate careers

You will graduate with a wide range of design skills creating career opportunities in retail, public spaces, leisure environments, contract interiors and workplaces, working for employers such as Conran Design, Pinewood Studios, Kelly Hoppen, Tesco’s Design Think Tank, Blue Print, Haley Sharpe, and Foster and Partners. Opportunities are also available in further research study at PhD level.

Fees and funding

Fees and funding options for 2013/14 entry are still under review and are subject to change.

Full-time UK/EU Postgraduate courses fees £4,200 Students Equivalent or Lower Qualification Status* £5,000 International
Postgraduate courses fees £11,700 Part-time Part-time fees are charged on a credit basis, you will need to complete 180 credits over the course of an MA/MSc programme. 15 credits £350 Students Equivalent or Lower Qualification Status* 15 credits
£420 Continuation UK/EU Fee** £150 Continuation International Fee** £5000

For more information please take a look at our Funding|| section.

* ELQ Student definition - If you are a Home or EU status student and you already have a qualification at or above the level of the programme you wish to study from any country you will be considered as an Equivalent or Lower Qualification (ELQ) student. In 2008 the UK Government decided to stop funding universities for student in this situation and therefore the following fees will apply £5,000. Students from outside the EU are not affected by the policy.

** A fee that is charged on a periodic basis where Postgraduate or Research students need to extend their registration to complete the course.

Scholarships

Learn more about postgraduate funding and finance|

Facilities

The course is based in excellent and well-equipped accommodation. Group work and tutorials take place within a dedicated centre, enabling you to benefit from strong group cohesiveness and a vibrant multi-disciplinary graduate community. IT facilities include Mac, PC, CAD, graphics and multimedia labs, with software for drawing, multimedia, painting/DTP, 3D modelling, animation and video.