Top 10 Interior Design Schools in the World 2017
10 Top Interior Design Schools
We rank the top interior design schools in the world for the provision of higher education in interior and spatial design. Comprehensive analysis has been undertaken in order to score interior design schools on a quantitative + qualitative scoring matrix.
Read also:
- Top 10 Best Interior Design Schools in the United States
- Top 10 Best Architecture Design Schools in the World
- 10 Interior Design Blogs
- 15 Good Reasons to Study Interior Design
Disclaimer: This ranking was made through available information to authors and is a ‘best endeavours’ attempt to critically evaluate and rank interior design schools in an unbiased and independent manner. Schools that have not made our top 10 list on aggregation of their metrics, may score higher than those on this list in specific variables.
Top 10 Interior Design Schools in the World 2017
#1. Florence Design Academy
Firenze (Florence) Design Academy is located right in the heart of old Florence, a historical center of design. The location of this design academy is the first signal of its importance, as depicted in the photo it is right next to Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and the building directly in front The Baptistery of St. John. Aside gaining a world leading education, living abroad in this glorious Italian city has a value of its own in the rich life experiences and opportunities for new friends and contacts. How can one not get inspired creatively when surrounded by this historic city, the birthplace of the Renaissance.
The FDA is our pick for the top design school in Europe and almost by extension, our pick for number one Interior Design school in the world. The FDA Interior Design School offers Interior Design as one year course, with two and three year courses available. FDA provides students with a world leading design education made possible due to the calibre of its teachers, most of whom have held, and hold senior positions in design consultancies and private practice in Italy and throughout Europe.
Students of the Interior Design school utilize state of the art equipment to transform their imagination into computer models and ultimately into reality. Workstations are equipped with high resolution multi screen computers and graphics tablets. The school maintains the latest software suites including Autocad, 3D Studio MAX, Adobe Suites. During the interior design course students have the opportunity to take part in international interior design competitions in order to benefit from practical experience in a competitive design environment. Upon completion of the interior design program, graduates are among the most well equipped from any school of higher learning to create professional interior design spaces for commerce, industry, retail, animation stage and television and general private practice.
Tuition Fees 2017-2018
Enrolment fee: 850 Euro (V.A.T. is included)
Tuition fee: 6000 Euro (V.A.T. is included)
Tuition fee for second year: 6850 Euro (V.A.T. is included)
Tuition fee for third year: 6850 Euro (V.A.T. is included)
#2. The Interior Design School, London
The Interior Design School is located in trendy north west London in the Queens Park Design District which enjoys a thriving community of cafes and independent shops.
The pedagogy of The Interior Design School is to emulate a practicing design studio in order to provide the skills necessary for professional private practice. The school emphasizes the use of freehand to final construction drawings, lighting to textiles and all aspects of interior design theory and practice. The syllabus is under constant review to ensure it is at the leading edge of interior design theory globally while ensuring that practice is in keeping with the highest industry standards. The teaching process is based upon briefs provided to students, and the completion of projects presented to practicing interior designers. The school offers unparalleled access to professional networks in the field of interior design.
The schools studio is equipped with workstations that benefit from the latest in software applications as well as an extensive library of design and reference books, catalogues and current interior design magazines. Classes are conducted with students utilizing a combination of sketch books, drawing boards and Mac Pro computers.
The IDS offers a one year Professional Diploma in Interior Design aimed at students seeking to gain an understanding of the skills and knowledge required to enter a career in Interior Design.
Tuition Fees 2017-2018
Ten months 10 September 2017 – 29 June 2018
Monday – Friday 10.00 am – 4.30 pm
Cost: £25,600 (inclusive of current vat)
#3. Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah
SCAD is the first American interior design schools in our global ranking, coming in at number 3. The school has its founding campus in the Savannah, Georgia, and further three interior design schools based in Atlanta, Georgia, Hong Kong, and Lacoste, France.
SCAD counts 12,000 students from more than 100 countries among its students, 23% of whom are classed as international students (non-US resident).
SCAD is known for the talent and dedication of its faculty and staff, its utilization of leading-edge technology and learning resources and the strength of its industry and alumni networks.
Tuition Fees 2017-2018
Total full-time student for one academic year: US $35,190
#4. Pratt Institute, Brooklyn NY
The Pratt Institute comes in at number 4 in our ranking of the world’s best interior design schools. The Pratt Institute ‘PI’ was founded in 1887 and has remained a global leader in art, design and architecture higher education throughout its 128 year history. PI’s interior design school operates from its main Brooklyn campus (PI also has a Manhattan campus), from where it has maintained its reputation for both the creative flexibility and practical rigor of its program. PI has around 4,500 undergraduate and graduate students in total and in the subject of interior design offers both degree level and postgraduate studies.
The schools flagship undergraduate program leads to the award of the Bachelor of Fine Arts, B.F.A. in Interior Design following the completion of an eight semester degree program (4 yeas), and the program is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA).
The Pratt Institute boasts impressive statistics on the destination of its graduates, 93% of whom found job placements following graduation in May 2014 and of those continuing into postgraduate study 100% were accepted into graduate programs.
Pratt is a living lab of craft and creativity with an esteemed faculty of accomplished professionals and scholars who challenge their talented students to transform their passion into meaningful expression.
Tuition Fees 2017-2018
1–11 Undergraduate Credits: $1,584 per credit
12–18 Undergraduate Credits: $47,986 annually
19+ Undergraduate Credits: $47,986 plus $1,584 per credit in excess of 18 credits
#5. The Visual College of Art and Design of Vancouver
The Visual College of Art and Design of Vancouver ‘VCAD’ is located in downtown Vancouver, and offers diploma programs in interior design, graphic design, game design, 3D modelling animation and marketing and merchandising. Students of the 6 term interior design program obtain practical experience implementing design concepts with reference to the use of color and lighting, space planning, drafting and gain proficiency in the use of industry standard software packages. Students are able to develop a portfolio to showcase their designs to potential employers in the areas of interior designer, planning, project management and design consultancy.
Tuition Fees 2017-2018
Estimated* CAD $38,430 per academic year
#6. Rhode Island School of Design
RISD is situated in Providence, Rhode Island, a city of around 180,000 which provides its own lively art scene and is conveniently located near the two major cultural centers of Boston and New York.
RISD offers a full four year Bachelors in Fine Arts, B.F.A. in Interior Architecture and 1 and 2 year post graduate programs.
RISD differentiates Interior Architecture from Interior Design as follows.
“At the intersection of architecture, conservation and design, Interior Architecture takes an innovative approach to the reuse and transformation of existing buildings. Advanced design studios focused on adaptive reuse are central to both the undergraduate and graduate programs. And unlike the fields of interior design and decoration, Interior Architecture looks less at the application of surface materials than at understanding the design of buildings from inside out.”
RISD provides its students with practical instruction through development of realistic projects and coursework, leading to skills and knowledge that is ready to be applied in the real world post graduation. The school is keen to foster the collaborative abilities and communication skills of its students enabling each individual to grow creatively and become socially and environmentally aware, key qualities for success in their professional careers.
Tuition Fees 2017-2018
Approx US $48,210
#7. Chelsea College of Arts, University of the Arts London
BA (Hons) Interior and Spatial Design at Chelsea College of Arts is a three year course that develops students’ skills in conceptualizing, designing and creating new spaces. Students can focus on designing complex architectural spaces, multimedia or sensory environments.
Recent graduates have found careers in interior design, architecture, exhibition and film and TV set design as well as multimedia and game design. Postgraduate study is often undertaken in spatial design or architecture and the school offers a MA in Interior and Spatial Design.
Graduates of the school have gone on to lead in their specializations, examples include:
- Nicholas Hill – Planner, Vitsoe
- Jei Ryung Lee – Artist
- Glyn Owen – Set designer and props stylist
Tuition Fees 2017-2018
GBP £17,920
#8. University of Technology, Sydney
UTS Sydney offers a 3 year full time Bachelor of Design in Interior and Spatial Design at its Sydney City Campus. UTS seeks to equip students with the critical skills to enable them to critique and extend beyond traditional boundaries of commercial interior design, while at the same time gaining core competency in the necessary skills of the profession. UTS students are made aware of the rapid changes in cities and the environment and the necessity to adapt to these changes to in order to stay relevant and provide people with positive experiences of interior and public spaces. The degree also has the choice of a major in performative space.
UTS is known for the strength of its practice and research in interior design. Collaborative design studios provide the proper environment for students to share, discuss and debate ideas as they would do in professional private practice. Interior design students utilize both analogue and digital design tools and tackle real world projects in their regular design studios and through competitions arranged by the school in association with major public institutions such as the Art Gallery of NSW and other public and private institutions in the design world.
The school has built strong links with other design schools globally and UTS academics lead annual design studios in European and Asian centers of design, while the school is also host to regular international guests from academia and professional private practice.
Tuition Fees 2017-2018
Tuition fees for international students vary between courses and range from A$27,040 to A$40,350 per year.
#9. Dublin Institute of Design
The Dublin Institute of Design has been providing courses in interior design since 1991 building its reputation in part through the ongoing success of its graduates.
Interior Design programs offered:
- BA Interior Design Add-on
- BA Interior Design
- 2 yr Higher National Diploma – Interior Design
The full 3 year Bachelor of Arts in Interior Design provides qualifies students to pursue careers in fields including residential and commercial interior design, commercial fit-outs, retail branding and design, hotel, leisure and tourism spatial construction and sustainable design.
New technologies are mandatory for students to study rather than being optional courses in line with the school’s views on the most important skills that any graduate of the Dublin Institute of Design must have before leaving their program.
Tuition Fees 2017-2018
EURO 8,000 per annum for the 3 year B.A.
#10. New York School of Interior Design
NYSID is a specialist interior design school founded in 1916. The school’s focus on interior design has enabled it to provide some of the most in-depth and creative education available in the United States to its 600 undergraduate and graduate students. The school is particularly adept at preparing students to enter professional careers in interior design, with the quality of the school’s graduates evident in the high proportion that gain employment following graduation. 92% of students from undergraduate programs gained employment within 6 months of completing their studies, and the rate for postgraduate programs was 94%. The school has a strong alumni and professional network that students can draw on to enhance their career prospects.
NYSID offers 1 year certificate programs, suitable for those without a portfolio wishing to establish one. The 1 year Basic Interior Design Certificate – BID then optionally feeds into the second year of the 2 year Associate of Applied Science – AAS which includes core syllabus of practical residential and commercial interior design.
Those having completed the AAS have the option to further enhance their interior design education by entering year 3 of the 4 year Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design – BFA, a CIDA accredited professional level degree.
Examples of the standard of work produced by NYSID students:
Tuition Fees 2017-2018
Approximate fees per academic year US – tbc
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Is there any list of interior firms?
hey.. i need your help..m actually studying in 12th and i further wanna go for interior designing.i want to be best and i will work hard bout .i wanna know which designing school should be best and not much fee as m from a very middle class family and cannot afford to pay much..please kindly hope for your reply as soon as possible..
Hey can u pls suggest me the cheap nd best school for interior designing..
Pls mail me at meghal.2593@gmail.com
m also from middle class family
HELLO,
Iam in the same situation as you are. Could you please share with me the name of schools? please
Hello
I’m considering attending Cal State Long Beach to get a BFA in interior design. I was hoping for input on regards to the program and what would it be ranked?
UCLA should be higher in the top 10 – the top for interior design in the US but you are missing out a whole lot of other great schools from your list – please create a US only list
Just wanted to say I love this site and thanks. But would you please update some of the older pages?
thank you for the great list loved reading it and dreaming!
I love browsing this site but I would like more information about how European (swiss) students can study outside Europe in USA for example. How do I go about visas etc , please email me
i am confused between florence institute and domus academy for masters in interior design. please suggest
Hey! I’m trying to decide between Domus and Florence as well. Do you have any further information on the subject since your comment??
Interior designing school ,London
Total fees of bachler of interior designer
Pls tell
please i’ll like to know if the courses are available for Nigerians as I noticed that a lot of the schools exclude my country for reasons I sincerely understand.
I will appreciate a response.
FAKE NEWS
VCAD is the worst program for interior design in Vancouver. I swear they spent my entire tuition on advertising. I was promised an iPad, I’m still waiting. They say 80% of graduates get jobs within 6 months in the industry which is a blatant lie. Local Interior Design firms haven’t even heard of the program. 4/30 students got jobs under non-registered interior designers, which means you’re limited to residential, being underpaid, and liable until you go back to school elsewhere. They can’t hold a teacher for long enough, the facilities are horrible, it feels like its run by 25 year olds. This is a school that offers a 2 year diploma in Architecture. SUCH BULLSHIT. They will say or do anything to take your money. RUN!