Bachelor of Interior Design (Honours)
Student type:
Quick facts
-
Duration
Full-time 4 years -
Location
Melbourne City -
Fees
Next intake
February
Entry score
Range of criteria
Duration
Full-time 4 years Location
Melbourne City Fees
AU$36,480 (2019 annual)
Next intake
February, July
Overview
Focused on the dynamic relations between people and the surrounding environment, this ideas-led design program explores the potential and future of interior design as a practice.
In the 21st century, the definition of ‘interior’ can no longer be simply equated to the inside of a building. Conditions of interior and interiority are increasingly affected and transformed by contemporary technologies as well as social and cultural forces and relationships.
This program will challenge your assumptions about interior design. You will learn to think and operate like a designer and, studying in a highly creative studio setting, you will learn from distinguished design practitioners.
You will learn to design through the process of responding to a range of design briefs from the conceptual to real-life situations. You will be provided with technical and communication tools such as AutoCAD, 3D imaging, hand-drawing, film production and model making, as well as verbal presentation skills.
You'll have the opportunity to travel and engage with industry through workshops and projects that allow you to respond to complex design challenges.
Students in third and fourth year will have the opprtunity to undertake interships and gain valuable experience with leading design practices in Melbourne and internationally.
Four years of ideas-led designing
Working in a highly creative studio setting, you will develop rich experiential sensibilities and a sophisticated range of approaches to the design of interior environments. These could range from detailed, material-focused projects including furniture and joinery, to event-based situations like exhibitions, installations and performances, or large-scale complex projects such as commercial spaces, retail precincts and public or community centres.
Different interiors are considered from architectural, retail, exhibition and urban environments to digital and filmic spaces, performance and theatre design, art installations and more.
Your studies conclude with highly-celebrated graduate exhibition INDEX. This event brings together industry, staff, and students to celebrate the discipline of Interior Design and its future through the work of these emerging designers.
Details
What will you learn?
Your studies will focus on the following areas:
- communications
- design
- design theory
- digital technologies
- event design
- history (design)
- interior design
- spatial design
Learn to think and operate as a designer
Design studios make up a majority of your studies and are generally taught in small groups. In these classes, you will explore conceptual ideas and experiment with a breadth of media and innovative technologies. These range from detailed hands-on making processes to sophisticated digital modelling.
What is a design studio?
Design studios provide a unique way of exploring ideas by challenging future designers. Studios are run by academics and practicing design leaders from local and international architectural and design firms.
Design studios model the best practice of local and global design firms. The studios allow you to explore design, connect with your peers, industry and integrate with other disciplines.
The city is your urban laboratory
Studying in the dynamic urban setting of Melbourne’s CBD will allow you to develop sophisticated design proposals in response to your immediate surroundings. In this way, RMIT’s Bachelor of Interior Design (Honours) uses Melbourne’s CBD as a kind of urban laboratory to test design ideas.
INDEX Graduate Exhibition
INDEX is the final year graduate exhibition. Each year generates a unique event and the exhibition is an interior design project in its own right. The exhibition brings together industry, staff, and students to celebrate the discipline of Interior Design and its future through the work of these emerging designers.
Each semester, practising professional designers present studios or specialisations that engage directly with contemporary design projects and/or issues. These projects may involve clients and actual projects where you will develop your design proposals within a scenario-based, simulated design practice environment.
The program has developed strong community and industry relationships, which allow you to be exposed to real-life projects. Examples include projects with HASSELL, design proposals for the re-design of the Quiksilver Headquarters in Torquay, and prototyping lighting design in collaboration with Euroluce.
Internships – third and fourth year
You will have the opportunity to gain valuable industry experience in a range of leading design practices located both locally in Melbourne, and internationally across South-East Asia.
These placements will embed you into design teams under the supervision of an experienced industry mentor, allowing you to develop your design skills and professional capabilities whilst working on real projects.
Local internship partners:
- Bates Smart
- HASSELL
- National Gallery of Victoria
- Doherty Design Studio
International internship partners:
- Woods Bagot
- Cush Cush Gallery
Through this program, you will engage in an ongoing global dialogue through conferences, student and staff exchange, travel studios and regular participation in/contribution to an international network of practitioners and academics.
Examples of recent connections include a student field trip to Hanoi, Vietnam to redesign a café which offers training and support to an orphanage of over 400 children living with disabilities.
Travel studios
International travel studios provide you with an opportunity to engage in projects and workshops that bring into focus issues surrounding space, local customs, society and contemporary culture.
Students focus on developing design projects in response to these complex issues.
Previous locations include, India, Argentina, Mexico, New York, Germany, Eastern Europe, South Korea and Morocco.
You will also have the chance to go on a full semester overseas exchange in your third year.
Year 1
You'll undertake courses in design and communications, history and theory, and technical studies that introduce you to concepts of interior design.
Years 2 and 3
Studies are integrated in design studios and electives in technology, communications, specialisations and history/theory.
Each semester, practising professionals and academics offer a selection of studios and specialisations investigating timely and relevant topics.
In second and third year, you have the opportunity to develop your design skills and awareness through overseas travel studios. In third year, you may also choose to study over seas for a semester.
Year 4
You'll pursue an individual thesis and design project based on your accumulated skills and interests in design, theory, technology and communications. Final year work is celebrated through a public exhibition, INDEX.
Specialisations include furniture design, retail design, design for film and TV, design for theatre, exhibition and event design, model making, design publishing, lighting, materials, computer-aided design, projection, digital video and website design.
Choose a program structure
| Title | Location | Duration | Plan code | CRICOS | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Interior Design (Honours) | City Campus |
4 years full-time
|
4 years full-time
|
BH115 | 083945G |
Choose a program structure
Program code: BH115
Career
Many graduates work in interior design and architectural practices where commissions may range from domestic interior, retail and entertainment, to hospitality, corporate office and public building design. These practices range in scale from large corporate offices to teams of two or three.
Design practices are becoming increasingly multidisciplinary, with interior designers, landscape architects, architects, industrial designers and graphic designers collaborating on large-scale projects. Many graduates also establish their own design practices.
As an interior designer, you may also work in film and television design, set design for theatre, furniture design, exhibition design and curating, event planning and design journalism.
Graduate successes
- Lucy Mcrae
Sci-fi Artist, Lucy Mcrae - Billy Ip
Principal Interior Designer, Woods Bagot – Hong Kong - Ingrid Rhule
Exhibition Designer, National Gallery of Victoria
Graduates are eligible for membership of the Design Institute of Australia (DIA).
This RMIT degree participates in a local and global conversation and network through membership of:
- Interior Design/Interior Architecture Educators Association (IDEA)
- Design Institute of Australia (DIA)
- International Federation of Interior Architects and Interior Designers (IFI)
Admissions
RMIT is committed to providing transparency to the admissions process. In line with this commitment, we provide you with information that will help in making informed choices about your undergraduate study options.
RMIT admits students from a range of educational pathways, including Year 12 results, previous higher education or vocational education study, work experience, and for some programs - interviews, auditions or portfolios.
Gain a better understanding of the Admission criteria for this program by viewing RMIT’s Admission information.
The highest level of education you have previously completed will determine which category applies to you.
Applicants with recent secondary education (current or within the past two years)
Successful completion of an Australian Year 12 senior secondary certificate of education or equivalent in 2016, 2017 or 2018. If applicable, this includes equity access schemes and any other adjustment factors.
School Network Access Program (SNAP)
The SNAP access scheme is designed to increase tertiary access and participation of eligible students from SNAP partner schools.
Applicants with Vocational Education and Training study
Satisfactory completion of an Australian Certificate IV or above (or equivalent).
Applicants with Higher Education study
Satisfactory completion of at least two courses (subjects) at an Australian undergraduate level (or overseas equivalent).
Applicants with Work and Life Experience
Successful completion of an Australian senior secondary certificate of education (Year 12) or overseas equivalent.
Prerequisites: VCE Units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 30 in English (EAL) or at least 25 in English other than EAL (or equivalent) or achieve an overall score of at least 155 in the STAT multiple choice.
You must:
- complete and submit the Interior Design pre-selection kit.
- VTAC applicants must register and submit the selection kit here.
- All kits must be submitted by the dates noted below for each VTAC round:
- Early round (Non year 12 only): 27 September 2018
- Main round (All applicants): 2 November 2018
- All subsequent rounds (if places are available): 15 February 2019
- RMIT current or recent students please click the apply button to submit your direct application. The link to submit your pre-selection kit will appear on the applicant dashboard after you have submitted your application.
- all kits must be submitted by 1 March 2019*
- *Kits will be assessed in the order they are received until this date unless places are filled prior.
- Applicants who have successfully completed a minimum of one full year of tertiary study in architecture, interior design, industrial design or landscape architecture may be exempt from submitting the pre-selection kit.
- attend a folio presentation (some applicants).
- Shortlisted and exempt applicants are required to attend a folio presentation.
- Folio presentations will be held in October (VTAC Early round) and November/December (VTAC main round).
- For all subsequent rounds and direct applicants, folio presentations will be arranged after you have submitted your application.
- Advisory letters will be sent in late October (Early round) and late December (Main round).
Pre-selection kit
The pre-selection kit requires:
- an applicant statement outlining your interest in interior design (maximum 150 words)
- a statement describing your experience such as employment, voluntary work, etc., or a description of what you have done, over what periods and how it strengthens your application to this program (maximum 150 words)
- a 2 part Design exercise which provides an opportunity to communicate your creative thinking through an image and written responses. You should draw on your own experience, imagination and skills in putting forward a thoughtful and creative response of your own. There is no one correct response that we are looking for and we do not expect you to have any substantial prior knowledge of interior design. In this task we are looking for you to demonstrate a critical and considered understanding of your own work.
- Part 1: Provide a piece of your own work (a single image) that demonstrates your creative abilities. You are free to use any medium, including drawing, illustration, model making or sculpture, photography, collages, painting - anything that you think will express your creativity.
The image must be formatted as JPEG or PDF and must be no larger than 3MB or you may provide a URL to your single image if hosted online. - Part 2: In no more than 300 words, discuss the thinking behind the creative piece you selected in Part 1 including the reasons why you selected it.
- Part 1: Provide a piece of your own work (a single image) that demonstrates your creative abilities. You are free to use any medium, including drawing, illustration, model making or sculpture, photography, collages, painting - anything that you think will express your creativity.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
The Indigenous Access Program will support your application into RMIT programs through an informal interview process with support from the Ngarara Willim Centre. Your relevant life, work, educational and training experience as preparation for study, in addition to any formal qualifications, are all considered.
Elite Athlete Program
The RMIT Elite Athlete Program (REAP) supports elite athlete and emerging athletes to achieve sporting and academic excellence.
You must have successfully completed an Australian Year 12 (or equivalent senior secondary school qualification) with a minimum 70% average (check calculator below).
Equivalent qualifications may also include completion of the RMIT Foundation Studies program or a recognised post-secondary diploma in the relevant discipline with the required grades.
Meeting the minimum academic requirements does not guarantee entry. Your application will still need to be assessed and accepted.
Selection tasks for international students completing year 12 in Australia and applying through VTAC
Folio: You must supply evidence of your creativity in the form of a folio that contains a variety of your personal work in art, design or media relevant to the program/s you are applying for. The folio should demonstrate your interests and creative thinking as well as your conceptual, design, problem solving and technical skills. You should include evidence of how ideas were developed as well as finished works.
Examples of work to include in your folio are drawings, paintings, graphic designs, photographs, digital images, models, sculpture, video, scripting, short stories, and/or 2D and 3D Flash animation.
We recommend you explain each work to help the Selection Officer understand the purpose and background of that work.
Folios should be submitted electronically with files in PDF, JPEG, SWF, DCR or QuickTime format suitable to be read on Mac OSX or later, unless otherwise specified. Each electronic file should be no larger than 10MB.
You must present your folio at an assessment session. If you are living outside Melbourne, this can be conducted via email, phone or video call.
To study this program you will need to complete one of the following English proficiency tests:
- IELTS (Academic): minimum overall band of 6.5 (with no individual band below 6.0)
- TOEFL (Paper Based Test): minimum score of 580 (TWE 4.5)
- TOEFL (Internet Based Test - IBT): minimum overall score of 79 (with minimum of 13 in Reading, 12 in Listening, 18 in Speaking and 21 in Writing)
- Pearson Test of English (Academic) (PTE (A)): minimum score of 58 (with no communication band less than 50)
- Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE): minimum of 176 with no less than 169 in any component.
For detailed information on English language requirements and other proficiency tests recognised by RMIT, visit English language requirements and equivalency information.
Don't meet the English language test scores? Complete an Advanced Plus Certificate at RMIT English Worldwide.
Pathways
Graduates of the following programs may be eligible to apply for exemptions of up to one year:
Fees
In 2019, the annual student contribution amount (tuition fee) you will pay for a standard year of full-time study is between AU$6,566 to AU$10,958*.
* Amounts quoted are indicative fees per annum, and are based on a standard year of full-time study (96 credit points). A proportionate fee applies for more or less than the full-time study load.
Additional expenses
Student services and amenities fee (SSAF): AU$303 maximum fee for 2019.
Other items related to your program, including field trips, textbooks and equipment.
Fees are adjusted on an annual basis and these fees should only be used as a guide.
Learn more about fees for undergraduate study.
Defer your payment
You may be eligible to apply for a HECS-HELP loan, which can be used to defer payment of up to the full amount of your student contribution fees. You may also be eligible to apply to defer payment of your SSAF through the SA-HELP loan scheme.
All undergraduate and honours degrees have Commonwealth supported places (CSP) available. In 2019, the annual student contribution amount (tuition fee) you will pay for a standard year of full-time study is between AU$6,566 to AU$10,958.
In a CSP, your tuition fees are subsidised by the Australian Government. Your share of the fee (student contribution) is set each year by the Australian Government and is determined by the discipline areas (bands) of the courses in which you enrol, not the overall program.
How much can I expect to pay for my Commonwealth supported place?
Courses (subjects) fall into one of three bands. The band determines the student contribution amount for the course.
Amounts listed in the table below are based on a standard, full-time study load (96 credit points per year) with all courses in the same band. A proportionate fee applies for more or less than the full-time study load or for enrolment in courses (subjects) from a combination of bands.
You can learn how to calculate your exact tuition fees for units from different bands at fees for Commonwealth supported students.
Maximum student contribution amount for Commonwealth supported places in 2019
Student contribution band by course (subject) |
Maximum annual student contribution amount in 2019 |
Band 1: humanities, behavioural science, social studies, clinical psychology, foreign languages, visual and performing arts, education, nursing |
$6,566 per standard year |
Band 2: mathematics, statistics, computing, built environment, other health, allied health, science, engineering, surveying, agriculture |
$9,359 per standard year |
|
$10,958 per standard year |
HECS-HELP Loans
The Australian Government provides financial assistance via the HECS-HELP loan scheme, which allows eligible students (such as Australian citizens or holders of an Australian permanent humanitarian visa) to defer payment of up to the full amount of their student contribution.
SA-HELP Loans
You may be eligible to apply to defer payment of the Student services and amenities fee (SSAF) through the SA-HELP loan scheme. If you use SA-HELP, the amount will be added to your accumulated HELP debt.
How does a HELP loan work?
If your HECS-HELP and/or SA-HELP loan application is successful, the Australian Government will pay RMIT, on your behalf, up to the full amount of your fees. This amount will become part of your accumulated HELP debt.
You will only start repaying your accumulated HELP debt to the Australian Government once you earn above the minimum income threshold for repayment, which is set each year by the Australian Government (this also applies if you are still studying).
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) will calculate your compulsory repayment for the year and include this on your income tax notice.
For more information about loan repayment options see Commonwealth assistance (HELP loans) or Study Assist.
In addition to tuition fees, you will be charged an annual student services and amenities fee (SSAF), which is used to maintain and enhance services and amenities that improve your experience as an RMIT student.
The SSAF is calculated based on your enrolment load and the maximum fee for 2019 is $303.
For more information about calculating your actual SSAF see Paying SSAF.
You may also be required to purchase other items related to your program, including field trips, textbooks and equipment. These additional fees and expenses vary from program to program.
The annual tuition fee for 2019 is AU$36,480.
The total indicative tuition fee for 2019 commencement is AU$157,440.
In addition to tuition fees you also need to pay for:
- Student services and amenities fee (SSAF) in each calendar year.
- Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) - Student visa holders must have cover for the total duration of their visa.
- Some programs incur additional expenses.
You also need to account for your living expenses. Estimate the cost of living ;in Melbourne.