Creative Connections - Sat Nov 2
Join us on Saturday November 2, from 11am to 2pm
at our Richmond Campus for Creative Connections.
This free collaborative event will showcase programs
in the Wilson School of Design and KPU’s Faculty of Arts.
Featuring info sessions, hands-on workshops, campus tours, interactive demos
and an opportunity to connect with KPU alumni working in creative industries,
plus a chance to win great prizes! Register to attend here!
Fall 2025
Applications for Fall 2025 opened on October 1, 2024.
Have questions? Contact the Future Students' Office at 604-599-3030 or study@kpu.ca.
Interior Design
You have an eye for detail and a passion for interiors and architecture. You are interested in learning about creative design solutions for interior environments that improve the lives of occupants. We have the most practical path toward becoming a professional interior designer.
We’re proud of our studio-based curriculum, which provides an intensive education in the built environment. Our students graduate with an accredited degree, a well-developed design process, a robust portfolio, and the industry experience and connections needed to launch a career in interior design.
Why Study Interior Design @ KPU?
- Our Bachelor of Interior Design degree is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation and has professional degree status, making it the quickest path to becoming a professional interior designer.
- As the first accredited program in BC, our CIDA accreditation continues to ensure that our curriculum meets and exceeds industry standards.
- We provide a practical and theoretical knowledge base that meets the definition and practice of interior design as described by the National Council for Interior Design Qualification.
- Our graduates are not only job-ready but are also original thinkers who can problem-solve and create novel solutions — necessary skills for the designers of the future.
- The purpose-built building for the KPU Wilson School of Design allows for collaboration and community-building with designers in all of our disciplines.
- Our small class sizes ensure that our faculty can mentor each and every student and help them realize their own unique potential.
- Our program is not only CIDA accredited but is guided by our Program Advisory Committee, which allows us to respond quickly to changes in the marketplace and continually adapt our curriculum to reflect current industry needs and standards, ensuring you're getting the most up-to-date education possible and positioned for success.
Who Studies Interior Design?
Aspiring interior designers come from a wide variety of backgrounds and vary in age and experience. What connects you is a passion for design, sculpting interior space, and a need to understand and master the art and skill of interior design.
Our students are curious creatives, critical thinkers and innovative problem solvers. To be successful you'll need solid communication and time management skills, a working knowledge of computers and word processing, an ability to measure and draft, and an awareness of the interior design profession. Don’t worry if your experience is limited. If you’ve got the creativity and persistence it takes, we'll give you the skills and experience to turn your design dreams into reality.
Want to know what IDSN students are working on? Check out some of our students' capstone projects.
Alyssa Scott
"I was intrigued by how spaces make you feel and shape your behavior."
A lifelong passion for designing interior spaces and a fondness for changing perception through spatial design led Alyssa Scott to enroll in the interior design program at KPU. Through experimentation and collaboration with fellow students and instructors, her passion flourished. Nearing graduation, she feels confident and prepared. Armed with an education that covers all aspects of interior design, Alyssa has her sights set on a career working with boutique design firms.
Learn how Alyssa's warm and welcoming design philosophy became award winning.
Check out what our grads have to say.
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.
Admission Requirements
Once you have completed your application, you will receive instructions on how to submit your Portfolio and other required documents through an online submission platform.
Your portfolio is your chance to show us your creative skills and interests. Our Admission Requirements section will help you submit the strongest portfolio possible.
Please visit our How to Apply pages for more information about applying to KPU.
Career Information
Our CIDA-accredited program prepares students for entry-level interior design practice and for advanced study, as well as applying for membership in professional interior design organizations. Graduates may work on hospitality and retail design projects, exhibition, theatre/television, and set design, the design of office/corporate or residential projects.
Interior designers are involved with many important aspects of designing interiors including preparing construction documents, floor and furniture layouts, millwork details, and lighting plans. Through extensive experience and further education, some graduates become senior partners in design/architectural firms and may also go on to start their own firms.
To ensure the health, safety, and well-being of those who occupy interior spaces, interior designers must have the appropriate amount of education, practical experience, and complete extensive examinations (NCIDQ certification). Those within this profession must understand building structures and complicated building codes, as well as many other technical aspects of the built environment.
Visit Career Options for more information on what to expect as an interior design professional.