Interior Architecture

The Bachelor of Interior Architecture produces graduates capable of designing and implementing creative, socially and environmentally sustainable settings which positively impact the way in which people live and work. The Interior Architecture program focuses on the integration of design research, theory and practice, and is unique because it offers courses in the expanding field of furniture design which provide students with hands-on experience in the production and fabrication of furniture. Throughout their studies, students can also pursue particular design areas of interest, with course options including multidisciplinary practice and Sustainable Design Strategies. 

Students also have the opportunity to work on real-life projects with community groups in local, regional and remote areas in Australia and overseas, and are taught by staff who are practising, award-winning designers. Students undertake work placements throughout their studies and are matched with design mentors to support them in their final year and with their transition into professional practice. These unique aspects ensure that our students are studying professionally relevant courses while maintaining close links with the design profession and industry partners. 

Graduates of a Bachelor of Interior Architecture will have a broad and coherent body of knowledge, with depth in the underlying interior architecture and design principles and concepts that serve as a basis for involvement through various stages of a design or building project, from its conceptual design and documentation through to its production and beyond.

Graduates will develop research and methodological skills to integrate theoretical, technological, behavioural, environmental and ethical issues within interior design practice; cognitive and creative skills to develop the design of interior fit outs and facilities of a range of scales and complexities in their environmental, social and cultural context; verbal, written and graphic communication skills including traditional drawing methods and computer based representation; cognitive and technical skills to demonstrate a broad understanding of knowledge in contemporary design culture, with an emphasis on current interior architectural practice internationally and in Australia.

Graduates of the Bachelor of Interior Architecture will demonstrate the application of knowledge and skills to research, plan, implement and evaluate broad aspects of creative practice and contexts relating to interior architecture, to make informed independent judgements in a range of design based, technical and management functions in all fields of interior architecture and with personal responsibility and accountability for ethical and sustainable design outputs in consideration of others, their functions and occupational needs. 

The students will complete 144 units of study with Year 1 establishing basic skills and concepts in design creativity, research, environmental awareness, materials and technologies and communication; Year 2 proficiencies in representation, construction, documentation and detailing; Year 3 developing competence in research and sustainable design issues and Year 4 professional management and mastering design and research in social, cultural and physical contexts.

To be eligible for selection, applicants are required to:

Qualify for the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE), and

• obtain a competitive ATAR, and
• meet any prerequisite requirements with a minimum grade of C-

Alternatively, applicants can fulfil one of the following requirements with a competitive result, and demonstrate that they fulfil any prerequisite requirements, and other academic requirements for the program:

• Complete secondary education qualifications equivalent to SACE, or
• Complete the International Baccalaureate Diploma with a minimum score of 24 points, or
• Complete or partly complete a recognised higher education program at a recognised higher education institution, or
• Complete at least four Open Universities Australia (OUA) courses at undergraduate level or above, or
• Complete an award from a registered training organisation at Certificate IV level or above, or
• Qualify for Special Entry, or
• Complete a University Foundation Studies program

English language entry requirements

In addition, international students who speak English as a foreign language must have obtained one of the following standards within the last two years prior to admission. Possession of one or more of these qualifications, in addition to the academic entry requirements, does not, in itself, guarantee a place at the University of South Australia. Applications are considered on an individual basis and selection is competitive. Where previous study/work experience was conducted in English, the application must be accompanied by certified documentation from the educational institution/employer certifying that the language of instruction/employment was English.

English language test

• IELTS total: - 6.0
• IELTS reading: - 6.0
• IELTS writing: - 6.0

Each year, more than 2,500 students at the University of South Australia benefit from scholarships and grants worth millions of dollars. We welcome high achieving students from developing countries who are supported by the Australian government program, Australia Awards. We also host around 500 students who are sponsored by their home government, university or employer.