Program Overview

Interior Design

Program Overview

Our Bachelor of Interior Design is a full-time, four-year degree focused on building your skills in a creative environment. To ensure you're set up for success, you'll learn inside and outside of the studio with access to the Design Lab/Tech Hub that's equipped with scanners, plotters, 3D printers, laser cutters, and print resources, as well as a workshop with hand tools, power tools, and drafting equipment.

Our classes are purposefully small which allows you to form a close connection with faculty. This in turn creates a strong community of talented and passionate designers. And this is why we’re one of a select group of Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) accredited undergraduate programs in Canada. The Bachelor of Interior Design also meets the educational requirement for eligibility to sit for the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) Examination.

Also, as part of the program, there is a mandatory field school in your third year of study. This amazing opportunity gives you the chance to study outside of the traditional classroom with a group of students from a variety of disciplines while experiencing another culture.

After an incredible four years, you’ll graduate with the credentials required by our professional association, IDIBC, to become an intern member, along with the robust portfolio and the industry connections you’ll need to launch your career.

Applicants with experience in the interior design field may gain credits through Prior Learning Assessments (PLA). For more information, please contact the Program Coordinator.

Students may obtain transfer credit for course work taken in other programs at KPU, or at other institutions. All applications for transfer credits are assessed on an individual basis.

Bachelor of Interior Design (Honours)

The Honours credential affords you the opportunity to advance your design knowledge by investigating a topic of personal interest, working interdependently on an individually focused interior design project in semester 7 and semester 8 of the program.

To pursue the Bachelor of Interior Design (Honours), you must be admitted to the Wilson School of Design, Bachelor of Interior Design program and declare your intention by applying to the Interior Design Honours Committee by the time you complete Year 3 of the Bachelor of Interior Design degree program.

At the time of application, you must satisfy all the following requirements:

• Be in good academic standing with the University
• Completion of IDSN 1101, IDSN 1222, IDSN 2303, IDSN 2404, IDSN 3505, and IDSN 3606 with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.3
• Completion of all other required courses for Year 1 through 3 with a minimum grade of C
• Be approved for the Honours option by the Interior Design Honours Committee

Tuition and Fees

For information on tuition, please visit our Tuition Estimator. There are also mandatory student fees and other fees that you are subject to.

You may be eligible for scholarships, student loans or other financial aid.

Textbooks

In 2021, the Interior Design program became the second program within the Wilson School of Design to join the Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) program. KPU's ZTC program allows students to pursue an education without spending money on textbooks.

Design Field School

You are also required to take one of the yearly Design Field Schools as part of your degree requirement and must factor in the cost of a program fee which varies depending on travel destination(s). This fee covers accommodation, city transportation and transfers, and museum/gallery/exhibition entrance. International flight(s), personal expenses, most meals, and tuition are not included in the program fee.

Laptop Requirements

In addition to the standard tuition and fees, students entering the Interior Design program should also factor in the cost of a laptop and recommended software to complete projects and course deliverables.

Lab Fees

Students are charged a studio fee per semester of $198 (cost approximate) which covers many materials and incidentals related to the program. Students entering the program should also keep in mind there may be extra costs for materials in some courses.

Admission Requirements

Your portfolio is your chance to show us your creative skills and interests. Our Admission Requirements section will help you submit the strongest portfolio possible.

Career Information

Our CIDA-accredited program prepares students for entry-level interior design practice and for advanced study, as well as applying for membership in professional interior design organizations. Graduates may work on hospitality and retail design projects, exhibition, theatre/television, and set design, the design of office/corporate or residential projects.

Interior designers are involved with many important aspects of designing interiors including preparing construction documents, floor and furniture layouts, millwork details, and lighting plans. Through extensive experience and further education, some graduates become senior partners in design/architectural firms and may also go on to start their own firms.

To ensure the health, safety, and well-being of those who occupy interior spaces, interior designers must have the appropriate amount of education, practical experience, and complete extensive examinations (NCIDQ certification). Those within this profession must understand building structures and complicated building codes, as well as many other technical aspects of the built environment.