Top 10 Interior Design Schools around the World

In Depth

Is Interior Design a promising career? While most architecture schools have studios that teach interior design, it is also clear that interior architecture has become a branch of its own. Many interior design schools focus only on studying it, but there are some things you need to know before becoming an interior designer.

The interior design emerged as a multi-faceted profession in which creative and technical solutions are applied within a structure to achieve a built internal environment. Interior designers combine knowledge, creativity, problem-solving skills, and aesthetic vision to develop safe, functional, aesthetically pleasing environments that meet clients’ needs.

Specialized knowledge includes programming, design analysis, space planning, interior construction, building codes, materials, furnishings, and equipment.

Best Interior Design Schools List:

Based on Designschoolshub, QSWorldUniversityRanking, and Domus’s official ranking for 2015 of the best Interior Design Schools worldwide, Arch2O picked up its selection of the top 10 Interior Design schools across the globe, depending on infrastructure, education, staff, and expenses. Here is our list:

1) Florence Design Academy, Florence

©Florence Design Academy

Program: The interior design course is offered as one year course, a two-year course, and a three-year course
Location: Via dei Martelli, 4, Firenze, Italy
Degree offered: Interior Design Master, Bachelor’s Degree, and Diploma courses
CIDA Accredited: Yes
Online Learning: Yes
Cost: $664-1,340 per month
Notable alumni: Desiree Emrani and Monica Mese Reveron

Located in the heart of Florence, surrounded by historic structures, F.D.A. is considered number one when it comes to interior design schools, as it provides top-quality education due to the well-trained and professional teaching staff, of which most of whom hold senior positions in the top design organizations and private practice in Italy and throughout Europe. State-of-the-art technological advancements are provided to the students, aiding their understanding of the discipline.

Also Read: 17 Interior Design Tricks for a Heavenly Sanctuary in 2023

2) The Interior Design School, London

©Interior Design School, London

Program: A wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs
Location: 22 Lonsdale Rd, London NW6 6RD, United Kingdom
Degree offered: Professional Diploma in Interior Design
CIDA Accredited: N/A
Online Learning: Yes
Cost: N/A
Notable alumni: N/A

Nestled in the northwest of London, the design school’s tutoring is to emulate a real-life design studio so that the students are provided with the necessary skills to survive in the practical world. Freehand is preferred to the computer till the end of the program.

The curriculum is closely monitored to ensure that the standard of education is up to mark the daily advancements and to check the requirements of the leading interior design organizations. The lectures are provided in tiny briefs, which the student has to work out, design, and complete their projects while keeping the high-up firms in the market.

3) Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah

©SCAD

Location: Savannah, Georgia, and satellite campuses in Atlanta, Georgia, and Lacoste, France
Degree offered: B.F.A., MA, and MFA
CIDA Accredited: Yes
Online Learning: Yes, B.F.A., MA, and M.F.A.
Cost: $38,340 per year
Notable alumni: Christian Sottile, Maruja Fuentes

The best American school on our list at number three is SCAD – the school is well spread out, with its founding campus in Savannah, Georgia, and three more of them are based in Atlanta, Georgia, Hong Kong, and Lacoste, France.

The schools cater to more than 12,000 students from over 100 countries. SCAD is well known for its faculty’s talent and dedication, cutting-edge technology, and learning resources that get the students up to speed to jump directly into the firms after graduating.

Also Read: 12 Interior Design Trends We’re Presuming To Run The Show In 2023

4) Pratt Institute, Brooklyn NY

©Pratt Institute

Program: Interior Design
Location: Brooklyn, New York
Degree offered: B.F.A., MFA
CIDA Accredited: Yes
Online Learning: No
Cost: $55,575 per year for full-time students
Notable alumni: Annabelle Selldorf, Peter Zumthor

Pratt Institute is allocated the number 4 spot among the best interior design schools, with a success of 93% of students finding job placements as soon as they graduate. P.I.’s motto is “Put your passion to work,” which shows the continuing support of everyone involved in the school to help the students reach their full potential with dedication and hard work.

The flagship program of the school Bachelor of Fine Arts, B.F.A in interior design is accredited by the Council of Interior Design (CIDA). The faculty is filled with well-accomplished professionals who challenge the students to transform their passion into meaningful pieces of art.

Also Read: Top 10 Online Interior Design Courses for Beginners

5) The Visual College of Art and Design, Vancouver

©Vancouver College of Arts

Program: Architecture, Game Development, and Interior Design
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Degree offered: Ranging from interior design to animation to many more
CIDA Accredited: Yes
Online Learning: Yes
Cost: $41,895 per year
Notable alumni: Jared Leto and Gerard Way

The college is located in downtown Vancouver and offers a broad prospect of programs ranging from interior design to game design. The program creates an opening in the market for jobs, as the skills learned in thesix6 term tenure are directly implemented to the practical experience, keeping in mind the use of space, color, and lighting. The students are guided every step of the way to help them develop a portfolio to showcase their potential to employers.

6) Rhode Island School of Design

Rhode Island School of Design campus exterior. ©Jo Sittenfeld

Program: Interior Architecture
Location: Providence, Rhode Island
Degree offered: B.F.A., MA, MDes
CIDA Accredited: No
Online Learning: No
Cost: $56,435
Notable alums: Nader Tehrani, Michael Maltzan

RISD is situated in Providence, providing a lively art scene, and the cultural centers of Boston and New York are in the midst of it. The school offers bachelor’s as well as postgraduate programs. The interior design course is separated into three main focus areas, theater, exhibition, and retail, and helps the students specialize in all three program requisites.

RISD emphasizes the knowledge necessary for applying it in the real world. The school also helps enhance collaboration abilities and communication skills, enabling each individual to grow creatively and become socially and environmentally aware for better success.

7) Chelsea College of Arts, University of the Arts London

©UAL

Program: Graphic design, spatial and textile design
Location: London, United Kingdom
Degree offered: Up to the Ph.D. level
CIDA Accredited: Yes
Online Learning: Yes
Cost: £22,920 per year
Notable alumni: Steve McQueen, Lydia Wilson, John Berger, and Peter Doig

The three-year program taught at the Chelsea College of Arts helps develop students’ skills in creating, designing, and visualizing the spaces around them. The college prepares students to deal with complex architectural spaces, refine them, and make them easier to interpret.

8) University of Technology, Sydney

©UTS

Program: Architecture, Art, and Design
Location: 15 Broadway, Ultimo N.S.W. 2007, Sydney, Australia
Degree offered: Bachelor of Design in Architecture, Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (Honours), Bachelor of Design in Interior Architecture
CIDA Accredited: Yes
Online Learning: Yes
Cost: $24,492 to $32,292
Notable alumni: Hugh Jackman, Natasha Liu Bordizzo, Sonia Kruger, and Tanya Plibersek

The program offered by U.T.S. is of 3 years and deals with interior and spatial design. The studios are built to help enhance the student’s capacity and make an environment for them as it is in the practical world. Analogue and Digital tools are both taught so that they can solve real-life issues in the studios.

Also Read: What are the Fundamentals of Minimalist Interior Design?

9) Dublin Institute of Design

©Free-apply.com

Program: Graphic Design, Fashion Design, Interior & CAD Design, and UX Design & Front-End Development courses
Location: Dublin, Ireland
Degree offered: Higher National Diploma to BA
CIDA Accredited: Yes
Online Learning: Yes
Cost: 8,000 EUR Tuition Fee
Notable alumni: N/A

The Dublin Institute of Design offers a 3-year Bachelor of Arts in Interior Design program, which was started in 1991. The institute has been building its reputation since then, which has enabled it to become a top contender in the market.

The institute has made it mandatory for students to study technical programs rather than keeping them optional, keeping in mind the market’s growing demand and keeping the race close.

10) New York School of Interior Design

©Wikimedia

Program: Basic Interior Design Certificate, Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.), and Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) in Interior Design. Five graduate (M.F.A. and M.P.S.) programs are also available.
Location: Manhattan, New York City
Degree offered: A.A.S., B.F.A., and several graduate programs
CIDA Accredited: Yes
Online Learning: Yes, for M.P.S. only
Cost: $1,150 per credit (16-17 credits per full-time semester)
Notable alums: Rose Tarlow, Penny Drue Baird

Founded in 1916, the school focused on providing some of the most in-depth, detailed, and innovative education in the U.S.A., making it stand out as one of the best interior design schools worldwide.

The ratio of successful graduates who landed jobs within six months of graduating is 92%, whereas the postgraduate enrollment is at an all-time high of 94%. The fact that the alums and professional staff are freely available also enables the students to pick up on things quickly and overall boost the chances of prospects.

Top Factors in Picking the Right Interior Design Program for You

Finding the best interior design schools to suit your needs can be challenging. However, once you understand what to expect, it’s not complicated. Think about the standards you’re using. What you desire to achieve in your academic pursuits should guide your decisions.

1) Verify the School’s Status as Accredited by the CIDA

First, be sure the school of your choice in interior design has been granted accreditation by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA). It is the responsibility of this authority to verify the legitimacy of any educational program claiming to train future interior designers.

2) Make a Choice: Do You Want a Loose or Tight Schedule?

Some of the programs mentioned above provide students with a great deal of freedom to discover their artistic and design aspirations, with countless degree choices available and specializations to choose from.

However, others are more narrowly focused and may be better suited to students who already know what they want to pursue. The best way to determine if a program suits you is to devote some time to the respective websites.

3) Pick a College That Offers Your Desired Degree

Most schools that offer interior design courses provide either a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or a Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) degree. However, Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degrees are also available. A BA program is more likely to be a traditional liberal arts curriculum aiming to produce well-rounded artists and intellectuals.

In comparison, the coursework for a B.S. degree is narrower in scope and requires fewer electives than a B.A. Finally, Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees are professional degrees. At the same time, they do need some general education coursework. The program’s primary goal is to help you develop your unique artistic voice and skill set.

4) Find the Portfolio Criteria You Can Fulfill

Any institution, as mentioned earlier, requires an applicant to present a portfolio when applying for their design or arts degree. You may find some portfolio requirements easy to achieve, while others seem excessive. So, always Look into the portfolio criteria of various programs well before the application deadlines.