Diploma of Interior Design and Decoration
Student type:
Quick facts
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Entry score
Not applicable
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Duration
Full-time 2 years or 1.5 years accelerated -
Location
Melbourne City -
Fees
Next intake
February, July Entry score
IELTS 5.5
Duration
Full-time 2 years or 1.5 years accelerated Location
Melbourne City Fees
C5333:AU$21,250 (2019 annual), C5333ACC: AU$28,333 (2019 annual)
Next intake
February, July
Overview
Great interior designers and decorators understand what makes a space work for a particular purpose, whether it be a home, office, hotel or commercial environment.
In this dynamic, practical, industry-relevant course you'll learn 2D and 3D design skills and the decorative aspect of design. You’ll develop high-level documentation and technical skills in order to present your ideas to both residential and commercial clients in a professional brief.
Projects are themed around exploration into colour, material and finishes, interior construction techniques, soft furnishings, fabrics and furniture, based on historical and contemporary styles and trends.
You'll develop a deeper understanding of commercial and residential interiors, spatial layout, furnishings and decorative treatments and the documentation process.
Your knowledge and skills will expand allowing you to create and communicate your design concepts, evaluate design briefs and apply basic business skills to domestic and commercial projects.
As an interior designer/decorator you will:
- develop beautiful, functional spaces (working to a design brief)
- decorate residential and commercial environments
- draw sketches and produce samples of your design ideas
- work with clients and provide advice
- source paint colours, lighting, furniture and flooring
- provide advice on artwork, pillows, rugs and accessories
- supervise on-site design and construction
- keep up to date on global trends
Details
RMIT offers a variety of learning and teaching approaches including lectures, seminars, studios, workshops, presentations, group discussions and syndicate work. These are primarily in English.
You will have access to online resources through the myRMIT student portal.
The learning and teaching of this course emulates how you would work in a commercial design studio. Teachers will interact and work with you as if you are a junior designer.
You will study in state of the art facilities at RMIT’s Melbourne City campus, working with industry-experienced teachers with up-to-date knowledge of the market and latest trends and innovations.
You’ll learn through lectures, workshops, studios, online learning, classroom and industry presentations and briefs and on-site visits. Practical demonstrations may be held in class or in an on-site industry environment.
You will acquire a broad range of hands-on skills (rendering, architectural drafting, CAD, Rivet, model making, Photoshop, client presentation) along with learning the history and theory of colour and design.
During the course you’ll interact with key people from external companies on live projects. This models the consultancy practice of interior designers and decorators for client presentations.
It is recommended that you own a computer but this is not a requirement as students have access to computer labs on campus. Students have access to program specific and industry standard software and can purchase these at discounted rates.
Ongoing assessment throughout the semester includes concept design development , digital and verbal presentations, group projects, research and practical tasks.
This course has a long-standing agreement with the Design Institute of Australia (DIA). This sees our top 40 students participate in a mentor program, gaining valuable experience while maintaining their general studies.
This course focuses heavily on industry-led, real client projects. You'll graduate work-ready due to the amount of exposure you will have to industry projects, scholarships, competitions, industry networks and mentors.
Students have the chance to connect with industry by participating in a number of competitions throughout their studies. In the past students have participated in:
- Dulux Colour Awards
- Grand Designs Live
- GOTYA (Graduate of the Year award at DesignEx)
- BQ Design and Zepel Fabrics awards
- Buhus Rugs
- Wendy Royle Scholarship.
The company BQ Design offers second year students the opportunity to design a bedroom suite, with the winning work being put into production and photographed for the BQ website.
The Wendy Royle Scholarship is supported by Radford Furnishings and offers $1500 to a first year student to support their ongoing studies at RMIT.
You will undertake simulated and real-life client projects. Examples of previous projects include redesigning the Fitzroy swimming pool and the Abbotsford Convent Gallery.
This course is investigating options for future overseas study and learning connections.
RMIT’s Global Mobility supports students to undertake an exchange or short-term mobility activity with over 165 partner universities worldwide.
2 years full-time
Part-time study is available for the Certificate IV in Interior Decoration: 2 years.
Midyear entry: 1.5 years full-time (accelerated).
International student visa holders can only study full-time.
2 years full-time
Midyear entry: 1.5 years full-time (accelerated).
This is a 2-year, full-time course. Your first year of studies is in the Certificate IV of Interior Decoration. After you successfully pass first year you will progress into your second year, and upon successful completion will graduate with a Diploma of Interior Design and Decoration.
In second year you can apply to take part in the unique mentor program that pairs you with an industry professional who will become your mentor. The mentors taking part are some of Australia’s most well known designers, decorators and associated business figures.
You are expected to attend 21 hours of classes over 4 days and undertake a minimum of 20 hours extra study and research weekly. Concentrated periods of self-directed learning are often required out of class hours when assessments are due.
You’ll work with major Australian companies such as Dulux, Boyac, Jardan, Hermon & Hermon and BQ Designs on simulated and real-life projects delivered on-site and in a studio environment.
Year 1 – Certificate IV in Interior Decoration
You will study residential briefs to develop your understanding of:
- architectural views
- space planning
- colour
- materials
- furnishings
- decorative arts
- research into historic and contemporary interior style
Visual technology and communication skills underpin the presentation aspects of working as a designer/decorator. You will work with computer-aided design (CAD), Photoshop and other industry-standard software.
Year 2 – Diploma of Interior Design and Decoration
Deepen your knowledge of residential and commercial briefs. Sustainability underpins the approach to all projects including lighting, soft furnishings, interior building materials and techniques.
You'll develop your 3D visualisation and modelling skills to produce detailed and accurate spatial documentation.
You'll also hone your presentation skills in design practice studios for both concept and finished presentations and engage with experienced professionals through the industry-mentoring program.
Program plans
Please note that plan C5333ACC is an accelerated program. Students are required to study from July until January in their first year of study in order meet the requirements of the program. C5333ACC is only offered to students commencing in July intakes.
Choose a program structure
Choose a program structure
Program code: C5333
National curriculum code: MSF50213
Career
As an interior designer and decorator you will work in a wide range of design environments including:
- assisting designers in commercial design offices
- management roles in interior design and decoration departments
- CAD in commercial areas
- decoration and design consultancies in small boutique companies specialising in complete soft furnishings and residential fit outs
- self-employment
- interior textile wholesale areas
- retail consultancies in furnishings, lighting or furniture
- colour consultancies, either for large paint companies or in self employment.
Admissions
You must have successfully completed an Australian Year 12 (or equivalent senior secondary school qualification) with a minimum 50% 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.
Art and Design application tips
Entry requirements
You must complete and submit the Interior Decoration and Design selection kit.
- VTAC applicants must register and submit the selection kit.
- All kits must be submitted by the dates noted below for each VTAC round:
- Early round (Non year 12 only): 26 October 2018
- Main round (All applicants): 2 December 2018
- All subsequent rounds (if places are available): 13 February 2019
- Direct applicants, including 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 13 February 2019*.
- *Kits will be assessed in the order they are received until this date unless places are filled prior. Advisory letters will be sent in late December (Main round).
Selection kit
The selection kit requires:
- an applicant statement outlining why you want to study Interior Decoration and Design (maximum 300 words) and
- a folio of 6–8 bodies of work that reflect both conceptual and finished skills in drawing, problem solving, creative use of colour, communication and 3D/spatial thinking. At least one body of work must be a computer generated project displaying digital skills. Your folio should contain a combination of development and finished work.
- a statement for each body of work, describing the task and the outcome (maximum 100 words per work). Your folio of 6 - 8 images must be collated a single PDF (maximum 10MB), or a URL to a single PDF if online. Please provide the username and/or password if applicable.
Folio: You are required to submit a folio of 6–8 bodies of work that reflect both conceptual and finished skills in drawing, problem solving, creative use of colour, communication and 3D/spatial thinking. At least one body of work must be a computer generated project displaying digital skills. Your folio should contain a combination of development and finished work. Please include a statement for each body of work, describing the task and the outcome (maximum 100 words per work).
Your folio of 6 - 8 images must be collated a single PDF (maximum 10MB), or a URL to a single PDF if online. Please provide the username and/or password if applicable.
Folio presentation: 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 5.5 (with no individual band below 5.0)
- TOEFL (Paper Based Test): minimum score of 530 (TWE 3.5)
- TOEFL (Internet Based Test - IBT): minimum overall score of 50 (with minimum of 5 in Reading, 5 in Listening, 14 in Speaking and 15 in Writing)
- Pearson Test of English (Academic) (PTE (A)): minimum score of 42 (with no communication band less than 36)
- Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE): minimum of 162 with no less than 154 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 Upper Intermediate Certificate at RMIT English Worldwide.
Pathways
When you successfully complete the Diploma of Interior Design and Decoration and achieve a minimum GPA of 3.5, you are guaranteed entry into the Bachelor of Interior Design (Honours) with 2 semesters of advanced standing (equivalent to 96 credit points).
If you achieve below the minimum GPA, you may still apply and will need to submit a folio. You will be assessed on a case by case basis and credit is not guaranteed.
You may be eligible for entry into other RMIT undergraduate programs.
Fees
The tuition fees you will pay for this program will depend on whether you are offered a Victorian Government subsidised place or a full-fee place.
To find out if you are eligible for a government subsidised place, follow the steps at ‘How to check if you are eligible’**.
2019 Fees
- 2019 government subsidised place: AU$6,500* per annum
- 2019 full-fee place: AU$14,000* per annum
*Fees shown are indicative only and subject to change given individual circumstances at the time of enrolment.
Use our fee finder to get an estimate of your fees for this program.
The student tuition fees as displayed by the fee finder are indicative only and subject to change given individual circumstances at enrolment. Fees are adjusted on an annual basis and these fees should only be used as a guide. Learn more about fees for vocational study.
- 2018 full-fee place: AU$13750* per annum
- Maximum VET Student Loan for program: AU$5000**
*Fees shown are indicative only and subject to change given individual circumstances at the time of enrolment.
**The maximum loan amount for a program is indexed annually on 1 January, and the maximum loan amount denoted above is correct at the time of publication.
Eligibility criteria waver
**The Victorian Government is currently waiving two (2) eligibility criteria around prior qualifications. This means that more people who want to study a vocational education program at RMIT, and already have a qualification, will be able to access a government subsidised place in a program. Find out how to check your eligibility.
VET Student Loans
The Australian Government provides financial assistance via the VET Student Loans scheme (VSL), which allows eligible students in eligible programs to defer payment of their tuition fees, up to the maximum loan amount for their program.
How does a VET Student Loan work?
If your VSL application is successful, the Australian Government will pay RMIT your tuition fees on your behalf, up to the maximum loan amount for your program.
If your program is eligible for the VSL scheme and has a loan cap that doesn’t cover the total amount of the tuition fees for your program, then you’ll need to pay RMIT the difference once you exceed the cap.
Your VET Student Loan becomes part of your Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) debt. You will start repaying your accumulated HELP debt to the Australian Government once you earn above the minimum income threshold for repayment, which is adjusted each year (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 see VET Student 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 2019 tuition fee for C5333 (2 years full-time) is AU$21,250.
The total indicative tuition fee for 2019 commencement is AU$43,250.
The annual 2019 tuition fee for C5333ACC (1.5 years full-time) is AU$28,333.
The total indicative tuition fee for 2019 commencement is AU$43,250.
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.