Live and breathe interior design with our Diploma HE qualification course. Validated by the University of Sussex and entirely career-focused, this inspirational and engaging course will open your eyes to the amazing possibilities of design
Interior Design
Diploma HE in Applied Interior Design - Part Time
Campus Open Day - 10 October 2026 - Register Now
Virtual Open Day - 21 October 2026 - Register Now
Award: Diploma HE in Applied Interior Design
Duration: 2 academic years, part time (September 2026)
School: KLC School of Design
Campus: London
Scholarships and bursaries: See available funding
Our part-time Diploma of Higher Education in Applied Interior Design is a unique and specialised vocational higher education qualification designed to make its students highly employable industry-ready Interior Designers.
This highly intensive two-year, part-time course is packed with extensive practical study time, constant direction from tutors, and input from industry experts while offering flexible study alongside work or family commitments.
Favoured by career changers, this rigorous programme, covering residential, commercial and hospitality design, equips students with the array of creative, professional and technical skills to gain employment in the interior design industry with leading practices.
Why study Interior Design at West Dean
- Professionally recognised course (Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education QAA)
- Explore residential, commercial and hospitality design through live projects with unprecedented access to design companies and professionals throughout the year
- Get involved in projects involving charities, local communities and commercial organisations. Previous collaborations have included Tom Faulkner, Chesneys and the Royal Hospital of Neuro-disability, Neuro Kinetix, Imperial NHS Trust, and many more
- Access to career advice and graduate job board
Student gallery
Live and breathe interior design with our Diploma HE qualification course. Validated by the University of Sussex and entirely career-focused, this inspirational and engaging course will open your eyes to the amazing possibilities of design
Facilities
Diploma Interior Design students have access to professional studio space with plenty of natural light, state of the art IT suite with digital editing software including Sketch-Up, Library, Refreshment area and food shop, collaborative work spaces and common rooms
KLC School of Design
Our KLC School of Design offers industry-leading interior design degrees and garden design courses with unrivalled teaching, flexible learning and ongoing career support
Work placements & careers
Our extensive links with designers, suppliers, manufacturers, specialists and professionals within the interior design and garden design industries allow us to offer our students unmatched opportunities to work on live design projects, placements and employment opportunities.
As part of our commitment to offering industry-ready qualifications, our students are offered guidance on CV preparation, portfolio presentation, professional practice and upon graduation; our careers service also helps graduates find internships, job placements, and freelance appointments through out Alumni Careers Newsletter.
Stories & news
Interior Design
7th April 2026
Life after graduation: Interior Design with Caio Xerri-Alves
From Cabin Crew to Creative Director: Designing a Second Life
Find out more
My name is Caio Xerri-Alves, and I am the Founder and Creative Director of BLAK Creative Studio (formerly BLAK Interiors), a Dubai-based interior architecture studio specialising in high-end residential and hospitality projects. Before stepping into design, my career began in hospitality. I spent over six years working across F&a...
Interior Design
1st October 2025
Life After Graduation: Interior Design with Sonia B Design
- By Interior Design alumna, Sonia
I am Sonia, Founder of Sonia b design, half French, half Spanish and London has been my home for many years now. Before re-training and creating my interior design practice in London, I pursued a career in risk management and strategy in engineering and financial services. I retrained in 2020 with the Full Time Diploma HE in Ap...
Interior Design
22nd April 2025
Life After Graduation: Interior Design with Courtney Devine
- By Certificate in Residential Interior Design graduate, Courtney Devine
I completed the Certificate in Residential Interior Design at KLC School of Design in 2023. Today, I run my own interior design studio, Room Service Interiors, creating bold, creative, and thoughtfully curated spaces that reflect personality and function. My business is based in London and Edinb...
Interior Design
10th March 2025
Interior Design students experience the heritage of West Dean’s Sussex Campus
Over the course of two inspiring days, Diploma HE in Applied Interior Design - Part Time students from our London campus had the opportunity to explore the West Dean Estate at our Sussex campus, gaining valuable insight into the spaces they’ll be designing for their final projects. The commercial project focuses on the Old Biomass Building, transforming it into a craft shop and visitor ce...
Interior Design
25th November 2024
Life after graduation: Interior Design with Rebecca Leivars
- By Diploma HE Applied Interior Design graduate, Rebecca Leivars
I am the Founder and Creative Director of LEIVARS Interiors Studio, I started the studio in 2007 following my one year Diploma in Interior Design course at KLC School of Design in 2006/2007. Prior to this I was in HR Management, a role that I left as I wanted to do something that I was passionate a...
Entry requirements
The standard entry requirements for this course are as follows:
Previous degree (in any subject)
- No previous art and design experience is required
- We can also accept applications from mature students who do not hold the above qualifications but have achieved sufficient prior learning experience. In this instance, the School will review any short courses, internships or work experience undertaken
- All accredited courses require a portfolio or ‘creative project exercise’ if shortlisted for interview
- Computer-aided design is a vital part of this course; therefore, applicants must be computer literate and able to confidently use their personal laptop
English Language Requirements
- Good command of written and spoken English is required for all applicants
- If you reside in the UK, but English is not your first language, you may be asked to undertake an approved English language test
- Applicants applying from outside the UK requiring a student visa must complete a UKVI approved English test, also known as Secure English Language Test (SELT). You can read more about the test requirements on the Gov.uk website.
Fees & funding
2026/27 Tuition fees
UK Home students
• £24,400 (tuition fee is for both years of study)
Find out more about tuition fees and admissions.
Funding
You may be eligible to apply for a Student Loan to cover course fees and/or maintenance; more information can be found on the Government Student Finance website.
Scholarships and Bursaries are also available based on individual need.
How to apply
Entry onto this course is by interview only. Applications for this course can be made by submitting a completed application form and emailing it to: [email protected].
All accredited courses require a portfolio or ‘creative project exercise’ if shortlisted for interview.
Computer-aided design is a vital part of this course; therefore, applicants must be computer literate and able to confidently use their personal laptop.
How to create a portfolio
Do you need help creating a portfolio to apply for one of our Interior Design courses? Read our portfolio advice to learn about the general requirements, what we look for in a good portfolio, and what it should reflect.
Related courses
Our full-time Diploma of Higher Education in Applied Interior Design is a specialised vocational qualification designed to make its students highly employable and industry-ready interior designers in just one year.
Ask a question
Need more information? Have a question? Speak to our course advisors
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +44 01243 818 300 and select option 1
Student Life
Discover more about student life, campus facilities, accommodation and more
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International Students
We welcome students from around the globe. Discover more about studying in the UK, fees and student life
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Book an Open Day
Come and see for yourself. Join us for a virtual or campus Open Day and hear from our tutors, students and ask specific questions about a subject or course
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Tutors
Carly McGlynn BA (Hons)
Course Manager - Diploma HE Applied Interior Design
Carly studied Photography (BA Hons) at the Manchester School of Art. Upon graduating she freelanced at several photography studios. After moving to London in 2014, she worked for a Health and Fitness website, before joining West Dean in 2018.
Sharon Ting
Programme Leader (Validated Programmes)
Sharon is an internationally exhibited textile designer-maker and educator, whose scarf collections have been stocked by Liberty, Selfridges, and Takashimaya New York, with work held in the V&A and Crafts Council UK collections. Alongside a career spanning commissioned textile projects, awards including the Pantone European Colour Award and the Liberty Print Prize, and over 30 years teaching at institutions such as Central Saint Martins and the Royal College of Art, she brings a rich, materials-led approach to her practice.
Ariela Cassinelli
Programme Leader (Non-Validated)
Ariela Cassinelli is an experienced fully-trained Architect and Interior Designer with 13 years of practical experience working in London, Miami, Lima and Tel Aviv. Ariela holds a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture as well as a Master's degree in Resilient Sustainable Building Technology from the University of Miami, where she graduated with a First Class Honours / Summa Cum Laude.
Ayanthi Attanayake
Subject Tuor, Interior Design
Ayanthi has a wealth of industry experience working for both large architectural firms and smaller boutique interior design practices. She has worked on large scale developments, hotels and a vast array of high-end residential schemes.
Malou Savelkoul
Subject Tutor, Interior Design
After a career in investment banking, Malou completed the Full-Time Interior Design Certificate Course at KLC School of Design before establishing her own Interior Design business. She specialises in Residential Design across London and the Home Counties.
Caireen O'Hagen
Subject Tutor, Interior Design
Caireen is a practising architect and interior designer. She has worked for over 20 years in Glasgow, Boston, New York and London, completing projects in the UK, Ireland, US, Colombia, Russia and China. Her design experience ranges from the big idea to the design and curation of objects, from public squares to hand-crafted hammock hooks.
Fiona Caulfield
Subject Tutor, Interior Design
Fiona is an interior and spatial designer, researcher and educator with more than 25 years of experience across design, retail, product development and commercial leadership. She holds a BA (Hons) in Three-Dimensional Design and an MA in Interior Design and Sustainable Futures with Distinction from the University of Brighton, where she received the Perkins&Will Interior Design Prize for community engagement.
