In keeping with our polytechnic mandate, the Wilson School of Design's Interior Design program is focused on providing enriched learning opportunities and relevant industry experiences, offered in a supportive and challenging learning environment. This ensures our graduates are positioned for success in their careers. Establishing itself as leader in interior design education, the program is constantly evolving in alignment with industry through a rigorous academic course of study.
Industry Collaboration
The Vancouver area is brimming with numerous small, medium and large design firms. We are grateful to have strong ties with most of these companies, and are proud to say that many of our graduates work in leading positions. Locally, we are so thankful to have access to industry who give our students access on Field Trips and Site Visits, come to our campus and provide Workshops and Guest Speaking Presentations, provide Work Practicum and Mentorship opportunities and so much more. Many of our faculty have worked in industry and maintain strong connections to the local and national design community. These connections give our graduating students incredible resources and skills to secure meaningful employment in the field.
Program Advisory Committee
Our Advisory Committee plays an essential role in maintaining the relevance of our degree program. Design industry leaders provide the perspective needed to ensure our graduates are well prepared to contribute to this creative, technical and innovative industry. In conjunction with faculty, administration, and students, the role of the Advisory Committee is to help enrich the Interior Design program. With an ongoing voice given to our local industry leaders through our Advisory Committee, our program is able to respond quickly to changes in the marketplace and continually adapt our programming to reflect current industry needs and standards. This philosophy also applies to the technology and resources we train our students to use. We have an outstanding reputation for providing state-of-the-art industry equipment, so that when students from our program graduate, they are skilled in using the most current technology, making them work-ready. This work-readiness brings our grads to the front of the line when applying for industry positions.
"Kwantlen Interior Design grads have the discipline and refined thought process that make them terrific team members in our studio."
Jay Brooks, Principal
BOX Interior Design, Vancouver, BC
"Kwantlen grads continually demonstrate how very well KPU prepares them to practice interior design. Every year we have a student join the SSDG team for their internship, and we are always so impressed by the enthusiasm and professionalism that they bring to the table. It is fairly common for us to hire these students upon graduation. It’s been a win / win!"
Susan Steeves, BID, RID, MBA LEED®
Retired Principal, SSDG, Vancouver, BC
"We have been hiring Kwantlen graduates for the last eight years and have been consistently impressed with the quality of their education, their attitude and the speed with which they grow in our firm. It's reassuring to know that year after year, Kwantlen produces designers that are well prepared for practice."
Carol Jones, RID, CFM, FIDC, FIIDA, FIBIBC, LEED AP
Principal, KASIAN Architecture Interior Design & Planning Ltd.
Career Options
Graduates of the Interior Design program pursue careers across diverse sectors, including retail, hospitality, exhibition and museum design, film and television production, commercial and corporate environments, and sustainable design. Many establish their own design firms, while others work with wholesale resource companies. With British Columbia’s construction industry continuing to thrive, there has never been a better time to enter the interior design profession.
Program Outcomes
Graduate Numbers and Student Perspectives
BC Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills provides Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) with access to the BC Student Outcomes reporting system for graduate survey data. This survey collects and distributes information from former post-secondary students who are asked to evaluate many aspects of their educational experience, employment, and further education. The following data was collected using the BC Student Outcomes, institutional data/records, program data and alumni surveys. Survey respondent rates vary; the 2022-2024 survey had a response rate of 38%.
Current Graduate Numbers + Retention/Attrition
The interior design program offers 20 to 22 full time seats per academic year. Students complete approximately 16 credits per semester over four years to complete the program's of 124 credits (128 credits for Honours track). Student completion is calculated from fall of 1st year to completion of spring 4th year. Backfilling of seats sometimes occurs in year 2 of the program; however, backfilling rate of seats is not calculated in final totals at the institutional level. At the program level, we use collected student data and have determined our backfill rate is approximately 1.5%. Our course repeat rate is low at 1.5%. Following are the most recent graduate numbers per year:
Graduate Headcount by Academic Year*:
| 2022/2023 | 2023/2024 | 2024/2025 |
| 14 | 13 | 23 |
*Graduates are approved by KPU Senate from May-Oct of each calendar year.
Graduation Rates
- Of the students graduating from KPU Bachelor of Interior Design in 2023, 74% graduated in 4 years.
- Of the students graduating from KPU Bachelor of Interior Design in 2024, 71% graduated in 4 years.
- Of the students graduating from KPU Bachelor of Interior Design in 2025, 78% graduated in 4 years.
Retention + Attrition Rates:
Retention is calculated from fall of year 1 to fall of year 2. To date, based on last three years as below, overall attrition rate averages at 14%.
- 91% of students admitted in the fall of 2022 returned in the fall of 2023, putting attrition at 9%.
- 85% of students admitted in the fall of 2023 returned in the fall of 2024, putting attrition at 15%.
- 83% of students admitted in the fall of 2024 returned in the fall of 2025, putting attrition at 17%.
Employment Rates
The following data was collected using KPU's Office of Planning and Accountability Graduate Outcomes Report and is based on survey respondents only. Interior design employment outcomes per graduate year are as follows:
- 100% of students surveyed who graduated in 2021 are employed with 100% in interior design or a related profession.
- 88% of students surveyed who graduated in 2022 are employed with 71% in interior design or a related profession.
- 100% of students surveyed who graduated in 2023 are employed with 100% in interior design or a related profession.
The majority of survey respondents above took 1 month or less to find a job upon graduation.
Salary Expectations Upon Graduation
Career prospects in interior design remain strong, particularly during periods of economic growth that drive increased construction activity. Employment opportunities depend on each graduate’s portfolio, experience, and professional development. Over time, many alumni establish their own firms or advance to senior leadership roles within established design practices.
More information on the field of Interior Design and salary outlooks may be found on the National Occupational Classification located on the Human Resources and Skills Development Canada website at NOC-Interior Design OR on the WorkBC website at WorkBC-Occupations.
The current provincial outlook for this occupation:
The current provincial outlook for this occupation:
Source: Interior Designers of Canada 2025 - Interior Designer Salary Report Canada
Acceptance into Graduate Programs
Several graduates move on to Masters programs and most often in Architecture, Design, or Education; informally collected data at the program level shows this rate is approximately one student per year. However, many graduates choose to work for several years in the profession prior to engaging in a Masters program. Our most recent data is below.
- 0 out of 14 students who graduated in 2023 applied for graduate school.
- 0 out of 13 students who graduated in 2024 applied for graduate school.
- 2 out of 23 students who graduated in 2025 applied for graduate school with 2 accepted.
Further to the above, acceptance into further studies at ANY credential level (i.e. BC Building Code, LEED, NCIDQ) is listed in percentages below:
- In the BC Student Outcomes survey from 2022-2024, 37% of KPU Bachelor of Interior Design graduates stated they have taken further studies after graduation.