Our Bachelor of Interior Design and Bachelor of Interior Design (Honours) programs are all about experimenting, discovering, problem-solving, and innovating. Our students learn by doing, by immersing themselves, by pushing the boundaries, by challenging the notions of failure, and by delving deep into the design process. We think this makes them great designers and we know this has earned our program wide respect within the industry.
Our classes are purposefully small which allows our students 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 (Honours) is the first in western Canada. Students in the program may now declare an intention to apply for an Honours Degree in their third year of the program. As one of a small handful of Interior Design Honours programs in Canada, we are excited to offer this exciting new pathway.
Program Overview
Bachelor of Interior Design
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. Visit NCIDQ for more information.
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. Visit Design Field School for more information.
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. For information about transfer credit applications, please visit the Office of the Registrar.
Visit our Program Model page for more information or download a printable version. Still have questions? Check out our FAQ.
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
For more information about the Honours option, contact Design Advising.
Program Overview Admission Requirements
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. Visit Student Awards and Financial Assistance for more information.
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. Visit Design Field School to find out more.
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. To find out minimum specifications and recommended software, please visit our Equipment & Software page.
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.
What You’ll Experience
Our Bachelor of Interior Design program is a full-time, four-year undergrad focused on the built environment. Our program curriculum is integrated and content is interwoven throughout all four years. Our course content streams are organized into the following:
1) Studio
The heart of our program where students experiment, research, define, apply learning from other streams, and produce solutions to design problems. Interwoven and integrated into the Studio is the critical awareness of history, theories, and methodologies. Our Studios mimic a design firm where feedback, communication, teamwork, and mentoring is encouraged. This is where students learn methods for creative and critical thinking. This is where they learn the design process in-depth.
2) Building Technologies
As in our Studio, students learn and synthesize the vocabulary, technical skills, and technical knowledge specific to interior architecture. Students become familiar with structure and building codes, circulation, drafting principles, and diagramming which are then integrated within Studio projects.
3) Design Communication
Seeing, thinking, and drawing (by hand or digitally) are interrelated. Students explore how design ideas are communicated visually to clients. This is also where students find their unique expression and discover their design process.
4) Site Studies
In order to learn essential observation skills, students travel outside of the classroom to see projects in progress or completed. This is also where students learn to measure and document, where history meets the contemporary, and where global differences in design inform their decisions. Importantly, students also discover innovative materials and components that are essential for ‘real-world’ application.
5) Professional Practice
Even the most talented designers cannot launch a career without knowledge of office policies and procedures, business ethics, global issues, sustainability practices, and legal issues. Students study the practice of interior design and learn how to better transition from school to the workplace. An integral part of this professional study is the integration of a Professional Work Experience where students put theory to practice in a design firm under a Registered Interior Designer.
6) Liberal Education Electives
We want our students to become well-rounded and thoughtful members of society. Our graduates are culturally literate and can place their design practice in context by drawing on a thorough knowledge base and critical thinking skills. Liberal education is an important component in rounding out skills.
Resources
To ensure that every student is set up for success, we also support students with the following resources:
Industry Support
professional experience, professional critiques, workshops, connection to industry events, and vendor visits.
Design Lab/Tech Hub
product samples, product databases, computers, scanners, plotters, 3D printers, laser cutters, and print resources.
Workshop
hand tools, power tools, and drafting equipment.
Learning Supports
online databases, librarians versed in design resources, educational and personal counsellors, and tutors.
International Opportunities
semester abroad and out-of-university travel experiences including an integrated Design Field School.
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. To take your first steps, APPLY NOW.
"The CIDA reaccreditation confirms the rumour is true: KPU offers one of the best interior design programs in Canada! It takes a bold, committed and confident department to voluntarily put their curriculum up for review by an independent review panel. Given the majority of evidence analyzed by CIDA is previous student work, this reaccreditation also proves KPU successfully translates academic theory into applied design skills. Past performance is the best indicator of future achievements; I look forward to many more success stories. Many thanks to everyone in the KPU Interior Design department!"
Taryn Chisholm, Alumni
Design Principal - West Acre, Victoria, BC