Quick facts
| Qualification type |
Level 3 Extended Diploma |
| Duration | 2 years |
| Study times |
You will be expected to be in college for a minimum of 3 days per week, from 9:00 to 4:00. Your timetable will be confirmed at induction. |
| Entry requirements |
4 x GCSEs at Grade 4 or above. At least one of these should be Maths or English. Entry is via an interview where your commitment, enthusiasm and motivation should shine through. |
| Campus |
Leonardo House, West Suffolk College sixth form campus, Bury St Edmunds |
| Work placements | Work related experience |
Is it for me?
If you want to develop the skills and knowledge to shape the places and spaces we call our own, then this is the course for you.
You will learn to combine the art and science of enhancing the interior of a building to achieve an innovative, creative, healthier or comforting environment for contemporary life.
On this course you'll be given the skills, experience and guidance, to develop and progress as an interior designer or stylist. You will respond to creative project briefs, hear from guest speakers, go on relevant studio visits and trips offsite, with trend-focused workshops and more. You will be immersed in a highly creative environment, with access to professional resources to assist you in fully realising your interior design ideas.
What you'll learn
Creative and Technical skills:
- Proportion
- Floor planning
- Colour selection
- Creative lighting
- Interior styling
- Upcycling
- Textile sourcing
- Print design
- Budget management
- Designing for commercial spaces
- Interpreting client briefs
Professional Skills:
- Working on 'live' assignments
- Meeting deadlines
- Working with focus and independence
- Communication
- Presentation of outcomes
- Online professional social media profile
Work experience placements
Work related experience is encouraged as part of this course, this practical experience is invaluable for your creative journey and future career prospects. By actively engaging in hands-on work, you will have the opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills you acquire in the classroom to real-life situations.
Assessment
The certificated qualification at the end of the two years is: UAL Extended Diploma in Creative Practice: Art, Design & Communication (Level 3). Within this qualification specifications our specialist pathways are delivered. This is the model across the UK for this qualification. This is a full Level 3 qualification - fully aligned to the value of 3 x A-levels in terms of UCAS points and academic value. This course is assessed by deadline-driven coursework with no exams. The final grade is assessed via the summative unit at Pass, Merit, Distinction levels against the qualification unit criteria. We are proud to be a University of the Arts London (UAL) accredited college, the largest creative awarding body in Europe.
Further study
Example careers
- Interior designer
- Interior stylist
- Set designer
- Visual Merchandiser
- Model Maker
- Print Designer
Days & times
Starting September 2025