Art and Design

Bachelor of Interior Design

The Bachelor of Interior Design is a four-year programme that prepares students for interior design, space planning and interior architecture. Students study interior design, space planning, materials, lighting, colour theory and computer-aided design. The programme combines creative design with technical skills for interior environments.

Students develop competencies in interior design, space planning, material selection, lighting design, 3D modelling and project management. They learn to design interior spaces, select materials, create 3D models and manage design projects. The programme covers design theory, materials, lighting, CAD, sustainability and professional practice.

In Kenya, interior design is a growing field with demand from construction, hospitality, retail and residential sectors. Kenya's construction boom and real estate development create opportunities. Graduates find roles in interior design firms, architectural firms, construction companies, furniture companies and as independent designers.

Teaching is delivered through lectures, design studio sessions, computer laboratory sessions, industrial attachment and design projects. Students create design concepts, use CAD software, build models and undertake industrial attachment. The programme includes a final-year design project.

Graduates pursue careers as interior designers, space planners, design consultants, furniture designers and project coordinators. Some work for design firms or architectural companies. Others join construction companies or establish independent practice.

This programme is ideal for individuals with creativity, spatial awareness and interest in design and aesthetics.

Duration: 4 years
Public, up to: Ksh 286,000
Job market: Moderate

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 3 months
Average class: 30 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

10 subjects

Interior Design Principles and Theory
Space Planning and Design
Materials and Finishes
Lighting Design
Computer-Aided Design (CAD)
Colour Theory and Application
Furniture Design
Building Systems for Interiors
Sustainable Interior Design
Professional Practice and Project Management

Modules

12 in the programme

Introduction to Interior Design
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Introduction to Interior Design: Fundamentals of interior design, principles and design process Covers design principles, creative processes, and practical project development.
Design Drawing and Graphics
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Design Drawing and Graphics: Technical drawing, sketching and graphic communication for design Covers design principles, creative processes, and practical project development.
Colour Theory and Application
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Colour Theory and Application: Colour principles, psychology and application in interior design Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Space Planning and Design
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Space Planning and Design: Space planning principles, layout design and functional space organisation Covers design principles, creative processes, and practical project development.
Computer-Aided Design (CAD)
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
AutoCAD, SketchUp and 3D modelling for interior design. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests,...
Materials and Finishes
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Materials and Finishes: Interior materials, finishes, textures and material selection Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Lighting Design
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Lighting Design: Lighting principles, types, design and lighting for interior spaces Covers design principles, creative processes, and practical project development.
Furniture Design
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Furniture Design: Furniture design principles, construction and custom furniture Covers design principles, creative processes, and practical project development.
Building Systems for Interiors
Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore
Building Systems for Interiors: HVAC, plumbing, electrical and building systems for interiors Covers construction technology, materials science, and project execution.
Sustainable Interior Design
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
Sustainable Interior Design: Sustainable materials, green design and environmental considerations Covers design principles, creative processes, and practical project development.
Professional Practice and Project Management
Year 4Semester 23 creditsCore
Professional Practice and Project Management: Professional practice, contracts, project management and business Covers project lifecycle, resource allocation, risk management, and stakeholder engag...
Final Year Design Project
Year 4Semester 36 creditsCore
Final Year Design Project: Comprehensive interior design project demonstrating all skills Covers design principles, creative processes, and practical project development.

Specialisations

Lighting Design
Specialization in Lighting Design, preparing graduates for careers such as interior-designer. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.
Hospitality Design
Specialization in Hospitality Design, preparing graduates for careers such as interior-designer. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.
Sustainable Design
Specialization in Sustainable Design, preparing graduates for careers such as interior-designer. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.
Furniture Design
Specialization in Furniture Design, preparing graduates for careers such as interior-designer. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.
Commercial Interior Design
Specialization in Commercial Interior Design, preparing graduates for careers such as interior-designer.
Residential Interior Design
Specialization in Residential Interior Design, preparing graduates for careers such as interior-designer.

A day as a student

A typical day combines morning lectures on design theory or materials with afternoon design studio sessions or computer laboratory work. Students may create design concepts, use CAD software, build 3D models, select materials or work on design projects.

The trade offs

In its favour

Creative and fulfilling career in design
Growing demand from Kenya's construction and real estate
Opportunity for independent practice
Diverse career paths in residential, commercial and hospitality

Against it

Building a client base takes time
Design software and equipment can be expensive
Income can be project-based and variable
Some clients may have limited budgets affecting design scope

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 73 art and design courses

Public204k to 286k

204k at Maseno University286k at University of Nairobi

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

UoN 286K, Egerton 255K, Maseno 204K/yr (uonbi.ac.ke, egerton.ac.ke, newsblaze). Private: unverified.

Students may access HELB loans and county bursaries. Some design firms and construction companies offer internship stipends.

Funding options

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB)
LoanKsh 60,000
National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF)
Bursary
County Government Bursaries
Bursary

Scholarships

3 recorded

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan students admitted to recognised universities
Higher Education Fund (HEF)
BursaryKenyan
Kenyan undergraduate students placed by KUCCPS in public universities
County Government Bursaries
BursaryKenyan
Residents of respective counties

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C+
Alternative entry: Relevant diploma or equivalent qualification

English or Kiswahili
C+
Mathematics A/B or any Group II
C+
Any Group III, IV or V subject
C+
Any Group III, IV or V subject
C+

How you are assessed

4 components

Industrial Attachment Report
Coursework10% of the mark
Design Studio and Project Work
Coursework30% of the mark
Final Examination
Coursework40% of the mark
Continuous Assessment Tests (CATs)
Coursework20% of the mark

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE).

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
InstitutionalRequired

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

Design Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 60,000 to Ksh 250,000
Provides interior design consulting to clients
Project Coordinator
Moderate demandKsh 55,000 to Ksh 200,000
Coordinates interior design projects from concept to completion
Interior Designer
Moderate demandKsh 60,000 to Ksh 300,000
Designs interior spaces for residential, commercial and hospitality
Space Planner
Moderate demandKsh 55,000 to Ksh 200,000
Plans and optimises interior space layouts
Furniture Designer
Moderate demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 200,000
Designs custom furniture and furnishings

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as interior designers, space planners, design consultants, furniture designers and project coordinators in interior design firms, architectural firms, construction companies, furniture companies and independent practice.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

QGIS
Design
Google Earth Engine
Analytics
AutoCAD
DesignPrimary
ETABS
Structural analysis
MS Project
Project management

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Interior design is just about decorating
Interior design involves space planning, technical systems, materials, lighting and project management.
There are no jobs in interior design in Kenya
Kenya's construction and real estate boom creates demand for interior designers.
Interior design is not a serious profession
Interior design requires technical knowledge, creativity and professional practice.
Interior design is the same as architecture
Interior design focuses on interior spaces while architecture covers entire buildings.