Masters in Interior Design in UK - Top Universities, Application Process, Cost of Study, Scholarships and Job Prospects

Masters in Interior Design in UK- Top Universities, Application Process, Cost of Study, Scholarships and Job Prospects

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Syed Yusuf Ashraf

Study Abroad Content Specialist

Masters in Interior Design in UK is a 1-year postgraduate degree offered by top universities like Royal College of Art, University of the Arts London, Glasgow School of Art among others. These universities are ranked among the top 15 in the world for arts and design by the QS World University Rankings 2024.

For admission to the program, you need a 4-year bachelor’s degree with 65-70% average with a 6.0-6.5 band in IELTS or a 79-93 score in TOEFL IBT. Indian students with 70-80% in higher secondary English can be exempted from submitting IELTS/TOEFL scores.

  • Applications for Masters in Interior Design in UK opens for Autumn and Spring term every year. However, Indian students are encouraged to apply in Autumn as most universities accept applications in this intake only.
  • University of the Arts London and Royal College of Art are the most expensive universities to study Masters of Interior Design with an annual tuition fee of 32,260 GBP (35.51 lakhs INR) and 35,950 GBP (39.57 lakhs INR) respectively.
  • More affordable options are available in Teesside, York St. John University, and De Montfort with annual fees between 10,000 to 15,900 GBP (11 lakhs to 17.50 lakhs INR).
  • University of Hertfordshire, University of Westminster and Royal College of Art require an application fee around 50 to 348 GBP (5,506 to 38,325 INR) unlike most UK universities.

To get a job after a Master of Design in UK, you must complete at least 2 years of practical experience. Post completion of this, one must appear in the Architect Registration Exam in order to obtain an Architect license in UK. As a fresh graduate you can expect a salary between 18,000 to 23,000 GBP (19.83 lakhs to 25.43 lakhs INR) per year while those with experience typically earn a salary between 25,000 to 40,000 GBP (27.55 lakhs to 44 lakhs INR). Interior designers in UK can either start their own business or work with commercial and construction companies, government firms, theaters, hotel and leisure industries etc.


Top Universities for Masters in Interior Design in UK

More than 30 universities in UK offer A Masters in Interior Design program. Some of top universities for QS Arts and Design Rankings 2024 are as follows:

QS Arts and Design Rankings 2024 Location Universities Program Course Duration IELTS/TOEFL Score Application Fee (GBP) Annual Tuition Fees (GBP) Autumn Application Deadline Spring Application Deadline Weekly Shared Accommodation Cost (GBP) Cost of Living Per Year (GBP)
#51-100 Manchester Manchester Metropolitan University MA Interiors 1 year 6.5 | 89 Not Required £20,00 (22 lakhs INR) Apply Anytime beforeSeptember - £137 - £198 (15,072 - 21,783 INR) £9,207 (1.01 lakhs INR)
#51-100 Nottingham Nottingham Trent University M.A Interior Architecture and Design 1 year 6.5 | 74 Not Required £17,500 (19.28 lakhs INR) Apply Anytime beforeSeptember - £129 - £155 (14,199 - 17,061 INR) £5,376 - £6,432 (5.91 lakhs - 7.08 lakhs INR)
#101-150 Kingston upon Thames Kingston University M.A Interior Design 1 year 6.5 | 88 Not Required £21,800 (23.99 lakhs INR) Apply Anytime Before September - £126 - £320 (13,869 - 35,224 INR) £6,500 - £10,000 (7.15 lakhs - 11.88 lakhs INR)
#151-200 Sheffield Sheffield Hallam University MA Design (Interior) 1 year 6.0 | 79 Not Required £17,205 (18.94 lakhs INR) Apply Anytime Before September - £91 to £190 (10,016 - 20,914 INR) £10,800 (11.88 lakhs INR)
#201-240 Coventry Coventry University MA Interior Design 1 year 6.5 | N.A Not Required £18,600 (20.53 lakhs INR) September 9, 2024 - £275 - £365 (30,361 - 40,297 INR) £15,180 to £16,800 (16.75 lakhs - 18.54 lakhs INR)
#201-240 London University of Westminster M.A Interior Design 1 year 6.5 | 88 £200 (22,026 INR) £17,000 (18.71 lakhs INR) July 1, 2025 - £198.59 - £395.01 (21,860 - 43,481 INR) £14,100 - 33,787 (15.52 lakhs - 37.19 lakhs INR)
- Portsmouth University of Portsmouth MA Interior Architecture and Design 1 year 6.5 | 91 Not Required £17,200 (18.95 lakhs INR) Apply Anytime beforeSeptember Apply Anytime before January £114 - £200 (12,548 - 22,015 INR) £7,200 – £11,240 (7.92 lakhs - 12.37 lakhs INR)
- Lincoln University of Lincoln M.A Interior Architecture and Design 1 year 6.0 | 79 Not Required £17,600 (19.37 lakhs INR) Apply Anytime beforeSeptember - £99 - £186 (10,897 - 20,474 INR) £14,856 - £18,396 (16.35 lakhs - 20.24 lakhs INR)
- Huddersfield University of Huddersfield MA Interior Design 1 year 6.0 | 87 Not Required £17,600 (19.37 lakhs INR) Apply Anytime beforeSeptember Apply Anytime before January £340 (37,425 INR) £12,000 - £18,000 (13.20 lakhs - 19.81 lakhs INR)
- Cambridge Anglia Ruskin University MA Interior Design Innovation 1 year 6.5 | 88 Not Required £19,500 (21.46 lakhs INR) 1 month beforeSeptember - £108 - £266 (11,881 - 29,264 INR) £7,440 – £22,456 (8.18 lakhs - 24.70 lakhs INR)
- London Middlesex University M.A Interiors - Architecture and Design 1 year 6.5 | 79 Not Required £16,800 (18.50 lakhs INR) Apply Anytime before September - £165 - £220 (18,153 - 24,204 INR) £14,400 (15.84 lakhs INR)
- Birmingham Birmingham City University M.A Interior Architecture and Design 1 year 6.0 | 80 Not Required £17,710 (19.49 lakhs INR) July 17, 2025 - £145 to £208 (15,952 - 22,883 INR) £13,260 - £28,713 (14.58 lakhs - 31.58 lakhs INR)
- Oxford Oxford Brookes University MA Interior Architecture 1 year 6.5 | N.A Not Required £17,350 (19.09 lakhs INR) June 30, 2025 - £129 - £210 (14,199 - 23,115 INR) £17,180 to £21,320 (18.91 lakhs - 23.46 lakhs INR)
- Hertfordshire University of Hertfordshire M.A Interior Architecture and Design 1 year 6.0 | 72 £50 (5,506 INR) £16,450 (18.10 lakhs INR) Apply Anytime Before September - £125 - £252.70 (13,759 - 27,816 INR) £19,200 (21.13 lakhs INR)
- Preston University of Central Lancashire M.A Interior Design 1 year 6.5 | 86 Not Required £17,900 (19.70 lakhs INR) July 15, 2025 - £85 - £149 (9,356 - 16,401 INR) £8,592 - £9,048 (9.45 lakhs - 9.95 lakhs INR)
- Cardiff Cardiff Metropolitan University MA Interior Design 1 year 6.0 | 72 Not Required £16,000 (17.61 lakhs INR) July 26, 2025 - £148 - 224 (16,291 - 24, 657 INR) £10,000 - £12,276 (11 lakhs - 13.51 lakhs INR)

Affordable Universities for Masters in Interior Design in UK

Tabulated below are some of the most affordable universities for Masters in Interior Design in UK:

THE Rankings 2024 Location Universities Program Course Duration IELTS/TOEFL Score Annual Tuition Fees (GBP) Autumn Application Deadline Spring Application Deadline Weekly Shared Accommodation Cost (GBP) Cost of Living Per Year (GBP)
#101-150 Brighton University of Brighton M.A Interior Design 1 year 6.0 | 72 £15,900 (17.50 lakhs INR) No Specific Deadline No Specific Deadline £120 - 225 (13,244 - 24,833 INR) £9,207 (10 lakhs INR)
- Middlesbrough Teesside University MA Interior Design  1 year to 16 months 6.0 | N.A £17,000 (18.71 lakha INR) August 26, 2024 December 16, 2024 £85 - £165 (9,356 - 18,162 INR) £9,207 (10 lakhs INR)
MA Interior Design (Advanced Practice) 20 months to 2 years £10,000 (11 lakhs INR)
- York York St. John University MA Interior Design 1 year 6.0 | 75 £11,300 (12.43 lakhs INR) June 30, 2025 - £160 - £240 (17,612 - 26,418 INR) £18,000 - £26,400 (19.81 lakhs - 29.06 lakhs INR)
- Leicester De Montfort University M.A Interior Design 1 year 6.0 | N.A £15,800 (17.39 lakhs INR) July 30, 2025 - £95 - £158.55 (10,457 - 17,452 INR) £9,207 (10 lakhs INR)
- London University of East London M.A Interior Design 1 year 6.0 | N.A £15,960 (17.56 lakhs INR) August 21, 2024 November 29, 2024 £168 - £224 (18,492 - 24,657 INR) £8,280 - £8,400 (9.11 lakhs - 9.24 lakhs INR)

Masters in Interior Design in England

England house the the world's top 2 arts and design colleges with Royal College of Art occupying #1st rank and University of the Arts London occupying 2nd rank in QS World University Rankings.

  • 90% of the graduates from Royal Arts College secure jobs within 15 months of graduation. Meanwhile 85% of graduates from University of the Arts secure employment upon graduation.
  • Royal College of Arts graduates typically secure job offers in popular design companies like Design Museum, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, DCA Design International among others.
QS Arts and Design Rankings 2024 Location Universities Program Course Duration IELTS/TOEFL Score Application Fee (GBP) Annual Tuition Fees (GBP) Autumn Spring Weekly Shared Accommodation Cost (GBP) Cost of Living Per Year (GBP)
#1 London Royal College of Art M.A Interior Design 1 year 6.5 | N.A £348 (38,325 INR) £35,950 (39.57 lakhs INR) Mid February - £240 - £300 (26,418 - 33,022 INR) £14,844 - £27,048 (16.33 lakhs - 29.77 lakhs INR)
#2 London University of the Arts London M.A Interior and Spatial Design 15 months 6.5 | 90 Not Required £32,260 (35.51 lakhs INR) Mid December - £193 - £481.50 (21,244 - 53,001 INR) £19,200 (21.13 lakhs INR)
#101-150 Farnham University for the Creative Arts M.A Interior Design 1 year 6.5 | 90 Not Required £18,000 (19.81 lakhs INR) August 23, 2024 December 18,2024 £153 - £191 (16,839 - 21,021 INR) £3,480 - £5,000 (3.83 lakhs - 5.5 lakhs INR)
- London University of West London MA Interior Environment Design 1 year 6.5 | 86+ Not Required £17,250 (18.98 lakhs INR) At Anytime before September - £153 (16,841 INR) £13,440 (14.79 lakhs INR)
- London London Metropolitan University MA Interior Design 1 year 6.0 | 72 Not Required £20,000 (22 lakhs INR) August 16, 2024 - £160 - £489 (17609 - 53,820 INR) £16,008 (17.61 lakhs INR)
- Buckingham University of Buckingham MA Decorative Arts and Historic Interiors 1 year 6.5 | 79 Not Required £16,480 (18.14 lakhs INR) August 2, 2024 - £155 - £225 (17,059 - 24, 764 INR) £12,936 (14.23 lakhs INR)
- Northampton University of Northampton MA Interior Architecture 1 year 6.5 | 88 Not Required £16,995 (18.70 lakhs INR) September 6, 2024 - £88 - £190 (9,685 - 20,911 INR) £12,276 (13.51 lakhs INR)

Masters in Interior Design in Scotland

Only 3 universities in Scotland offer Master of Interior Design programs with Edinburgh being one of the top 100 universities globally by THE Rankings 2024.

  • Glasgow School of Art is ranks #13 in the world and #7 in Europe by QS WUR Rankings 2024 for Arts and Design.
  • Another popular university in Scotland is Heriot Watt which has a employment rate of 95% and it ranks #351-400 for Arts and design by QS WUR Rankings 2024.
QS Arts and Design Rankings 2024 Location Universities Program Course Duration IELTS/TOEFL Score Annual Tuition Fees (GBP) Autumn Spring Weekly Shared Accommodation Cost (GBP) Cost of Living Per Year (GBP)
#13 Glasgow Glasgow School of Art M.A Interior Design 1 year 6.5 | N.A £25,000 (27.52 lakhs INR) July 26, 2024 - £122.04 - £235.32 (13,432 - 25, 899 INR) £13,200 - 20,400 (14.52 lakhs - 22.45 lakhs INR)
#51-100 Edinburgh University of Edinburgh MA Interior, Architectural and Spatial Design 1 year 7.0 | 100 £29,900 (32.94 lakhs INR) Early November to Mid June - £84 - £227 (9,245 - 24,984 INR) £11,040 - 27,084 (12.15 lakhs - 29.80 lakhs INR)
#351-400 Edinburgh Heriot Watt University MA Interior Architecture and Design 1 year 6.5 | 85 £19,056 (20.99 lakhs INR) August 2, 2024 - £159 to £191 (17,499 - 21,021 INR) £12,144 - £14,448 (13.36 lakhs - 15.90 lakhs INR)

Application Process for Masters in Interior Design in UK

You can apply for admissions to Master of Interior Design in Autumn or Spring term as per convenience.

  • Autumn begins in September while the Spring term starts in January every year. Typically, there is no fixed deadline to apply for admissions to this course in UK.
  • Indian students must submit their application by July or August for Autumn term and between November to December for Spring term.

You must submit your application online using the respective university's official portal. Following are the required documents that must included while submitting an application for Masters of Interior Design in UK:

Application Requirements

  • Academic transcripts
  • Letter of references
  • Personal statement
  • Portfolio
  • English language test results
  • Resume or CV
  • Passport copy

Cost of Pursuing Masters in Interior Design in UK

Cost of Living in UK

  • Cost of accommodation is relatively higher in London and Manchester with weekly rent ranging between 205 to 753 GBP (22,588 to 82,970 INR) for private apartments and 208 to 420 GBP (22,918 to 46,278) for shared apartments.
  • Edinburgh, Leicester, Cardiff and Glasgow have affordable housing options with weekly rent starting from 95 GBP (10,467 INR) for shared apartments and 113 GBP (12,451 INR) for private apartments.
Cities Apartment Type Rent Per Week (GBP)
London Private 215 - 753
Shared 208 - 420
Edinburgh Private 113 - 420
Shared 199 - 398
Cardiff Private 136 - 234
Shared 129 - 327
Cambridge Private 173 - 427
Shared 124 - 290
Oxford Private 207 - 276
Shared 153 - 225
Manchester Private 205 - 313
Shared 272 - 298
Birmingham Private 179 - 240
Shared 156 - 202
Glasgow Private 130 - 595
Shared 185 - 260
Leicester Private 115 - 320
Shared 95 - 200

Check out the average monthly cost of living in UK across popular cities offering this course:

Cost of Living in UK By City

Masters in Interior Design in UK Scholarships

Indian students are eligible for numerous scholarships either through university fundings and external sources based on academic performance. Given below are some of the popular scholarships in UK which Indian students can receive:

Scholarships Eligibility Criteria Award
Chevening Scholarship Bachelor’s degree with 2 years of work experience 18,000 GBP per year
Commonwealth Scholarship Must hold permanent residency of commonwealth country | Honours equivalent bachelor’s degree 1,110 GBP per month
UK-India TOEFL Scholarship Must be an Indian students with TOEFL score of 75 2.5 lakhs (2,270 GBP)
GREAT Scholarships Must hold a bachelor’s degree and demonstrate interest in the field of study | Candidate must be willing to attend networking event with British Council for all GREAT scholars based in UK 10,000 GBP

Masters in Interior Design in UK Job Prospects

Some of the popular that can start after completion of Masters in Interior Design in UK are as follows:

Job Roles Average Annual Salary (GBP) Average Annual Salary (INR)
Interior Architect 68,400 75.37 lakhs
Interior Designer 67,800 74.71 lakhs
Architectural Designer 80,900 89.15 lakhs
Architectural Manager 135,000 1.48 crores
Interior Decorator 64,900 71.52 lakhs
Landscape Architect 99,800 1.09 crores

Masters in Interior Design in UK Graduate Salaries By Job Roles

The interior design industry in UK is rapidly growing with over 4,000 new job opportunities across the country. Recently, around 81% of Interior design graduates have secured employment within 15 months of graduation in UK. 45% of those in employment are working in the Interior design industry. This shows a Masters in Interior Design is worth pursuing in the UK for Indian students seeking high employment opportunities after graduation.

Faqs

Ques. Is the UK good for masters in interior design?

Ans. UK is one of the best country to pursue a Masters in Interior Design degree as it houses the world's top 3 universities for arts and design. The Royal College of Arts ranks no.1 in the world for Arts and Design rankings by QS WUR by Subject Rankings 2024. It is followed by University of the Arts (#2), and Glasgow School of Art (#13)

Ques. How do I become a certified interior designer UK?

Ans. To become a certified interior designer in UK, you must hold a bachelor’s or masters in interior design with 2 years of practical experience. Additionally, you must appear in the Architect Registration Exam to obtain work as a registered Interior designer.

Ques. Is there scope for interior designing in UK?

Ans. There is a wide scope for interior designing in UK with a strong job market. As an interior designer in UK, a graduate with Masters degree can expect an annual salary between 18,000 to 23,000 GBP (19.83 lakhs to 25.43 lakhs INR) per year as a starting while experienced Interior designer generally earn a salary between 25,000 to 40,000 GBP (27.55 lakhs to 44 lakhs INR).

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