Course summary

Learn the fundamentals of residential interior design, styling and sourcing whilst still fulfilling your busy work / life commitments on this industry respected part time course

The Part Time Certificate Interior Design course has been producing quality employable graduates to the interior design industry for over 15 years. This part time, one-year course is the perfect option for those with busy life commitments who want to become a professional residential interior designer in an intensive, but manageable way.

Contact us

Our friendly team are ready to help you - Mondays to Fridays, 09.00 to 17.30 - Tel: +44(0)20 7376 3377.   

Make an enquiry Apply now Click to call

Great reasons to apply

• Ideal for anyone needing to balance work, life or studies
• The curriculum is enhanced with regular inspirational talks from leading designers and industry experts as well as showroom visits and design trips
• Offers the opportunity to progress into the full time or part-time Diploma HE Level 5 Qualification partway through that course
• High levels of tutor support by a team of professionally trained practising interior designers with added careers support.

Open days... Now Online!

Despite the coronavirus lockdown, at KLC it is still business as usual having moved completely online! Join us at our NEW virtual Open Day - Online and watch a presentation by one of our course tutors giving an overview of the courses and see samples of student work. You can also book video chats with our Course Advisors or Course tutors and have all your questions answered to find out which course and study mode is best suited to you.

Register for our Virtual Open Day - Online

Latest News

View the 2020 KLC Online Exhibition

Certificate Alumnus, Kate Aslangul, receives International Design and Architecture Award! 

View Kate Aslangul's Alumni Profile

Course details

This tried and tested vocational course is taught by a team of professionally trained interior designers with extensive industry experience between them and all of whom studied at KLC in the past. So, they know where you are at now, where you need to get to and how to get you there.

KLC has always been at the forefront of innovating teaching methods and using the latest technologies to improve the student learning experience. In December 2017, this strategy was recognised officially when KLC won two accolades at the inaugural 2017 Independent Higher Education Awards for ‘Breakthrough in Course Design and Delivery’ and 'Innovation in Digital Teaching and Learning’.

Tailored to help students develop their personal creativity and encourage them to start thinking like an interior designer, this part-time course is a great option for those looking to fast track their route to employment. Alongside engaging and carefully formulated lectures and workshops, the course is enhanced with regular inspirational talks from leading designers and industry experts as well as showroom visits and trips to the V&A.

In between easy-to-follow inspirational lessons and fundamental skills workshops, students undertake a number of learning research projects and sourcing assignments in the first half of the course. This gives them a good foundation of knowledge as they work towards commencing their first concept design project where they have an opportunity to put skills learned into practice.  The course then culminates in an exciting final live project where students are able to work with an actual client, pitching their design exactly as they would in a real-life job.

Students will leave the course ready to work in the residential interior design industry with all the key decorative and technical skills to design, style and source for kitchens, bathrooms living and sleeping areas of the home. Others may wish to combine previous knowledge and workplace experience with their new skills to open up exciting entrepreneurial opportunities.

Course Dates

(two entry points)
20 January 2021 - 2 December 2021
OR
27 September 2021 - 28 June 2021

Duration
1 Year

Progression
KLC Diploma HE Interior Design (Level 5)

Study Hours
Part Time, 2 days a week (10.00am - 4.00pm). Wednesday & Thursday (January start), Monday & Tuesday (September start) plus a minimum of 5 hours self-directed study per week is required to complete the course. During projects, many students voluntarily spend more than the minimum.

This course has one-week half-term for each of the three terms.

Course units

Projects and Assignments

Design Project 1 - Residential bedroom and bathroom

Design Project 2 - Residential kitchen, dining and living space  

Research Project 1 - Evolution of Style project and test 

Research Project 2 - Sourcing Assignments x3.

Syllabus

Design Process

• Taking the brief, research and conceptual work
• Design analysis and development
• Design implementation and evaluation. 

Colour, Texture and Styling

• Theory and psychology of colour
• Suitability, composition and application of textiles and trimmings, wall and floor coverings and materials and finishes
• Upholstery
• Window treatments
• Accessories, art and antiques
• Styling.

Decorative Schemes and Sourcing

• Putting together a successful decorative scheme, incorporating patterned and plain fabrics, paint finishes and wallpaper
• Sourcing furniture and accessories for a given brief
• Sourcing from different trade suppliers
• Writing a professional design statement.

 Introduction to Technical Understanding

• Introduction to the principles of design to include scale, proportion, ergonomics and space planning
• Introduction to lighting
• Introduction to building construction
• Introduction to kitchen and bathroom design. 

Communication Skills

• Drawing from survey notes
• Drawing plans, elevations, sections, furniture layouts and lighting plans
• Graphics
• Freehand sketching
• Introduction to EstiPC / EstiMac
• Visual presentation skills to include concept, presentation and sample boards
• Rendering techniques
• SketchUp
• AutoCAD.

Evolution of Style

• French and English interior styles from the 17th to early 21st Century
• Influential interior designers and decorators. 

Professional Practice

• Specifying, ordering, estimating and invoicing
• Record keeping and business administration
• Preparation of fee proposals
• Setting up trade accounts and the use of trade showrooms
• Time management and working to budget
• Planning permissions
• Contracts and insurance requirements
• Working in the industry and introduction to BIID
• Portfolio preparation
• Advice on finding work in the industry.

Please note that students cover the same content and receive the same qualification whether they take the full time or part time study option. 

Fees and Funding

Home/EU/International fee

£9,995

Schedule of Fee Payments for September 2021

Enrolment fee: £1,800.00 inc VAT non-refundable but deductible from the overall fees.

Followed by 1 payment of £8,195 inc VAT (8 weeks before the course start date)

• VAT will be charged at the rate in force at the date payments are made which may increase the total fees quoted if the VAT rate changes.
• Please make a careful note of our refund policies, so that you are clear about what you might expect in the event of cancellation.

Instalment Plan

Schedule of Fee Payments for September 2021

An Instalment Plan is available for this course starting July 2021

Enrolment fee: £1,800.00 inc VAT non-refundable but deductible from the overall fees.

Followed by 3 payments of: £2,865 inc VAT:

Schedule of Fee Payments for January 2022

An Instalment Plan is available for this course starting November 2020

Enrolment fee: £1,800 inc VAT non-refundable but deductible from the overall fees.

Followed by 3 payments of: £2,865 inc VAT:

• VAT will be charged at the rate in force at the date payments are made which may increase the total fees quoted if the VAT rate changes.
  
  
• Please make a careful note of our refund policies, so that you are clear about what you might expect in the event of cancellation.
  
  
• Each instalment includes a charge of £133.33 inc. VAT for using this facility.
  
  
• The instalment option is only available to UK bank account holders (incl. Northern Ireland).

Funding

There are a number of funding options available for our different courses and it can be complicated establishing the most appropriate route for you, so if you would like any advice then please do not hesitate to contact our Registrars by telephone (020 7376 3377) or email (registrar@klc.co.uk)

Personal Education Loan
There are many different companies offering personal loans, including some that specialise in private education loans which have a reduced repayment through the duration of your course.

Please note that we are unable to accept the 24+ Advanced Learner Loan for our courses.

Alumni and careers

Alumni

Certificate Interior Design students leave KLC with a broad and industry-ready knowledge of residential interior design. 

Careers

During the course, KLC's dedicated Careers service ensures Certificate students are educated on CV preparation and portfolio presentation. Students will also benefit from a very useful 1-to-1 careers session helping to facilitate career entry.

On graduation, students will get access to the KLC Online Jobs Board to assist with their self-directed job searches with Alumni support provided on an ongoing basis.

Out of the Certificate students who used the Careers Service in 2018, 93% are now working in the industry.