Overview
Note: The BCIT Bachelor of Interior Design is Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) Accredited!
The purpose of the Bachelor of Interior Design program is to develop graduates who combine research and critical thinking to generate creative solutions that support human behaviour within the interior environment.
Students will work on studio projects that include healthcare environments, ageing in place, multi-use designs, and public spaces. Aspects of cultural histories, socioeconomics, human behaviour, sustainability and global citizenship will be explored and incorporated into their design solutions. Students will expand their knowledge of related fields through discussions with building specialists in electrical, carpentry, plumbing and HVAC trades. The program includes a field study component where students will explore a location of interest for 8 – 10 days as part of the program. In addition, students will take business and communications courses to develop leadership, marketing and professional written and oral communication skills. Students will also choose several general education electives to complete their Bachelor’s Degree.
Two additional options are available to students in this program: a co-op and an opportunity to study abroad for a term. These options have limited openings, and interested students will need to go through an application process.
The Program
Students must complete the Diploma in Interior Design before starting the Bachelor of Interior Design.
The Goals of the Bachelor of Interior Design Program:
- Generate creative solutions to complex design problems that support human factors within the interior environment.
- Apply creative, critical, analytical, and strategic thinking skills in all phases of the design process.
- Use current industry-specific software to communicate ideas and documents digitally.
- Apply current sustainable practices to the built interior environment, including indoor air quality and sustainable circular economy.
- Incorporate evidence-based research techniques into design solutions.
- Engage in multi-disciplinary collaboration, teamwork and consensus building.
- Demonstrate the attitudes, traits, and values of professional responsibility, accountability, and ethics within the context of the interior design field.
- Incorporate a global perspective, with consideration to socio-economic, cultural, environmental, design, organizational and societal structures.
- Demonstrate leadership skills and effective business practices.
- Apply theories of human behaviour and factors, including psychology, ergonomic and anthropometric principles, and be cognizant of diverse social and cultural norms.
- Apply appropriate codes, standards, and guidelines to creative design solutions.
- Design the interior environment to enhance the health, safety, welfare, and performance for the building occupants.
- Apply a variety of communication techniques and technologies appropriate to a range of purposes & audiences.
- Prepare in-depth written reports using appropriate terminology, research, graphics, and supporting documents.
The program is delivered in a standard fall and winter term full-time format, commencing in September each year. The schedule is fixed, and students are block registered.
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Entrance Requirements
Application processing
Applications are accepted from October 1st* to April 15th*.
We recommend that you apply early. All supporting documents must be submitted by the application deadline.
*or next business day
Entrance requirements
Admission to this program is competitive. Successful applicants held a Full-Time Diploma in Interior Design at BCIT or exceeded entrance requirements, including the Part-Time Diploma in Interior Design at BCIT.
Competitive Entry: Two-step process
Preference will be given to applicants with a BCIT Diploma in Interior Design that are continuing on through full-time studies.
Step 1: Meet the following entrance requirements
- English language proficiency: Category 2 – English Studies 12 (67%) or equivalent
- Post-secondary: one of the following options:
Option 1: BCIT Interior Design diploma* with:- 65% in COMM 2320 and all INTD courses
- 65% in INTD 3260 - Revit for Interior Design
- 65% in INTD 3460 - Virtual Reality for Interior Design
- 50% in ENGL 1177 - Academic Writing
- 50% in LIBS 7001 - Critical Reading and Writing
- 3.0 credits of General Education electives [PDF]
Option 2: Non-BCIT Interior Design diploma or degree with:- Completion of a Diploma in Interior Design from another public or private post-secondary institution in Canada with a 65% minimum grade in all interior design courses. The credential must be no less than 60 credits in interior design or related coursework that culminates in a diploma or degree.
- Complete the following form for submission with your online application:
- Submit your portfolio: Portfolio to include a resume and maximum of ten double-sided pages.
- Portfolio pieces are to be student projects from former education or industry related work and should demonstrate a cross section of skills.
- A maximum of two pages of design-related work such as photography, fashion, artwork, sculpture, graphics, painting, or any piece that demonstrates a highly developed design aesthetic can be included in the portfolio.
- Portfolio size is based on 11" x 17".
- Presentation should be clear, neat, and professional. Label each page and provide a brief description for each item of the work presented. This description should also explain the significance of each submitted piece.
- Portfolio to be submitted digitally with your online application:
- Submissions must be a single PDF file.
- You are allowed to add a single link in your PDF portfolio to represent the items such as music or performance art (maximum of one minute).
- Compress your PDF file to appropriate file size (maximum of 2MB). If your file is too large, you can use ArtStation.com to create your PDF portfolio.
- Name your PDF using this format: INTD_BID_INTAKEYEAR_A0NUMBER_PORTFOLIO.pdf.
Note: Students who are continuing from BCIT’s full-time diploma will be exempt from submitting a portfolio and Interior Design Entrance Project. Please contact us at BCIT_Interior_Design_FTS@bcit.ca for required forms.
Applicants who have completed post-secondary studies outside of Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia or New Zealand will require a comprehensive evaluation of their credentials by the International Credential Evaluation Service (ICES). Credential evaluation reports from other Canadian services may be considered. These reports must include course-by-course evaluations and GPA calculations.
Read more about how to meet BCIT’s entrance requirements
Step 2: Department assessment
Applications will be reviewed and assessed by the program area when the entrance requirements are complete. Applicants may be contacted for the following:
-
Option 1: BCIT Diploma in Interior Design* with:
- Currency in the BC Building Code (Part 3) and computer skills (completed within three years of the program start date). Applicants lacking these requirements will need to take applicable bridging courses:
- Equivalent courses to BCIT Diploma in Interior Design, currency in the BC Building Code (Part 3), and computer skills (completed within three years of the program start date). Applicants lacking these requirements will need to take applicable bridging courses, as outlined in a meeting with the program head.
- Interior Design Entrance Project: An Interior Design Entrance Project will be given to all applicants on one day only. This will take place the first Friday in May from 1 - 5 pm. Attendance is mandatory.
If you are eligible to take the Entrance Project, please contact BCIT_Interior_Design_Entrance_FTS@bcit.ca for further instructions one week before the exam.
Note: Students who are continuing from BCIT’s full-time diploma will be exempt from the Interior Design Entrance Project. Please contact us at BCIT_Interior_Design_Entrance_FTS@bcit.ca for required forms.
International applicants
This program is available to international applicants. A valid study permit is required prior to starting the program.
Students enrolled in this program must complete the mandatory work component to qualify for graduation. A co-op work permit is required prior to starting the work component.
Transfer credit
If you completed General Education electives at another public post-secondary institution, you may be eligible for transfer credit. For more information, contact Program Advising at program_advising@bcit.ca or 604-434-1610.
To apply for Interior Design transfer credit, please contact the Program Assistant.
Apply to program
To submit your application:
- Include proof of meeting all entrance requirements.
- Convert all transcripts and supporting documents to PDF files.
- Have a credit card ready to pay the application fee.
Apply Now
Scheduled Intakes
September each year.
myCommunication
Within two business days of submitting your completed application, BCIT will send a message to your personal and myBCIT email addresses. All correspondence regarding your application will be posted to your online myCommunication account at my.bcit.ca. We will send you an email when a new message is posted. It is important to watch for these emails or regularly check your account online.
You can expect to receive communication concerning the status of your application within four weeks.
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Costs & Supplies
Tuition fees
Use our tuition estimator to find tuition and fees for this program.
For more information on full-time tuition and fees, visit:
Books & supplies
$3,500 per year (general estimated cost includes SketchUp Pro and Enscape). All costs are subject to change.
In addition, before the first term of the Bachelor of Interior Design, all students are required to purchase a laptop computer suitable to run software used in their courses. The purchased laptop must support Revit.
A mandatory field trip scheduled in the spring term of level 6 has additional fees that students pay on their own. It is approximately $4000 per person and includes various costs such as flights, accommodations, and food. A passport or visa may be required for field trips.
Financial assistance
Financial assistance may be available for this program. For more information, please contact Student Financial Aid and Awards.
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Courses
Class hours
8:30 am - 5:30 pm, Monday through Friday.
Program matrix
Level 5 (Fall) | Credits | ||
---|---|---|---|
INTD 5100 | Research Methods | 3.0 | |
INTD 5110 | Systems and Trade Liaison | 3.0 | |
INTD 5300 | Degree Studio A: Inclusive Environments | 7.0 | |
INTD 5310 | Interior Construction Detailing | 3.0 | |
Level 6 (Winter) | Credits | ||
INTD 6300 | Degree Studio B: Cultural Exploration | 7.0 | |
INTD 6370 | Field Study for Interior Design | 3.0 | |
Electives (6.0 credits): Complete 6.0 credits of Program/General Education Electives* |
|||
Level 7 (Fall) | Credits | ||
COMM 7520 | Proposal Writing for Interior Design | 3.0 | |
INTD 7340 | Professional Practice | 3.0 | |
INTD 7500 | Capstone Proposal | 5.0 | |
LIBS 7002 | Applied Ethics | 3.0 | |
Electives (3.0 credits): Complete 3.0 credits of Program/General Education Electives* |
|||
Level 8 (Winter) | Credits | ||
COMM 8520 | Professional Communication Skills for Interior Design | 2.0 | |
INTD 8370 | Industry Experience | 2.0 | |
INTD 8500 | Capstone Project | 9.0 | |
LIBS 7031 | Selected Topics in Liberal Studies | 3.0 | |
*Program/General Education Electives | Credits | ||
All Program/General Education Electives are offered within the program. If you completed General Education electives at another public post-secondary institution, you may be eligible for transfer credit. For more information, contact the Bachelor of Interior Design department. |
|||
BSCI 5200 | Acoustic Science and Ecology | 3.0 | |
Co-op Work Term (optional) | Credits | ||
To be completed between Level 6 and Level 7. | |||
INTD 6990 | Interior Design Co-operative Education Workterm 1 | 32.0 | |
INTD 7990 | Interior Design Cooperative Educational Workterm 2 | 16.0 | |
Total Credits: | 65.0 |
Transfer credit
Do you have credits from another BC/Yukon post-secondary school? Do you want to know if they transfer to courses here at BCIT? Check out BCIT's Transfer Equivalency Database to find out.
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Program Details
Program length
2 years full-time (after completion of the Diploma in Interior Design).
This program commences in September each year.
Students must complete the bachelor's degree component of the program within 5 years.
Note: This program cannot be completed through distance education. All courses are classroom-based and require attendance at the BCIT Burnaby campus.
Grading
Students will be required to achieve a passing grade of 65% in each of the Interior Design and COMM courses within the degree program.
Program delivery
In person: This program is delivered on campus.
The program will be offered at BCIT’s Burnaby.
The face-to-face delivery will give students access to facilities such as design studios and collaborative workspaces for group work, which will support the practical aspects of project development. As well, field trips will be integrated into the program to expose students to the field of interior design.
Program location
Burnaby Campus
3700 Willingdon Avenue
Burnaby, BC
Program structure
Courses | Credits |
Studio and Capstone Project
INTD 5300, 6300, 8500 |
23.0 |
Research
INTD 5100, 7500 |
8.0 |
Systems and Components
INTD 5110, 5310 |
6.0 |
Field Study
INTD 6370 |
3.0 |
Business and Communications
COMM 7520, COMM 8520, INTD 7340, and INTD 8370 |
10.0 |
Liberal Studies and General Education | 15.0 |
Total credits | 65.0 |
Co-operative education
Optional 8-month work experience Co-op option:
- 32 additional credits
- Students will graduate with a Co-op option
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Graduating & Jobs
Accredited Status
The BCIT interior design program leading to the Bachelor of Interior Design is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation, www.accredit-id.org, 206 Grandville Avenue, Suite 350, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503 USA. The BCIT Bachelor of Interior Design has been CIDA Accredited since 2017.
The CIDA Accredited Degree program prepares students for entry-level interior design practice, for advanced study, and for application for membership in professional interior design organizations. The Bachelor of Interior Design granted by the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) meets the educational requirement for eligibility to sit for the National Council for Interior Design Qualification Examination (NCIDQ Exam). For more information about NCIDQ Exam eligibility, please visit: https://www.cidq.org/paths
Job Opportunities
BCIT’s Bachelor of Interior Design graduates will be able to apply for jobs at Interior Design and Architectural firms across Canada, the USA and abroad. They will also have a direct path to becoming a Registered Interior Designer in Canada and are eligible to write the NCIDQ exam upon completion of the required work experience.
Student Achievements
Graduation Rates
The CIDA-accredited Bachelor of Interior Design at BCIT is a Four-year program. It is based on the completion of the Two-year BCIT Diploma in Interior Design, with an additional two years of study to earn the Bachelor Degree.
2023 Graduates: Bachelor Degree (15 students)
80% (12) of the students enrolled in the Bachelor Degree component graduated within the two-year scheduled time frame. Note: due to the COVID-19 pandemic, none of these graduates had participated in the Co-operative work experience for their Bachelor Degree component.
20% (3) of the graduates completed the Bachelor Degree component in three years.
Diploma Component (First two years of 4-year Bachelor Degree) – One of these 15 graduates completed the Diploma component of the program in two years, and the remaining 14 students took 3-5 years.
2022 Graduates: Bachelor Degree (16 students)
100% (16) of the students enrolled in the Bachelor Degree component graduated within the scheduled time frame. Note: due to the COVID-19 pandemic, none of these graduates had taken part in the Co-operative work experience for their Bachelor Degree component.
Diploma Component (First two years of 4-year Bachelor Degree) – All graduates (16) completed the Diploma component of the program took 2.5 – 5 years. (i.e. None of the graduates completed the Diploma component of the program in two years.)
2021 Graduates: Bachelor Degree (17 students)
100% (17) of the students enrolled in the Bachelor Degree component graduated within the scheduled time frame.
82% (14) of the graduates completed the Bachelor Degree component in two years.
18% (3) of the graduates took part in Co-operative work experience where they worked in the industry for one year, extending their completion to three years.
Diploma Component (First two years of 4-year Bachelor Degree) – Three of these 17 graduates had completed the Diploma component of the program in two years, and the remaining students took 2.5 – 4.5 years to complete the Diploma program.
2020 Graduates: Bachelor Degree (20 students)
95% (19) of the students enrolled in the Bachelor Degree component graduated within the scheduled time frame.
85% (17) of the graduates completed the Bachelor Degree component in two years.
10% (2) of the graduates took part in the Co-operative work experience where they worked in the industry for one year, extending their completion to three years.
5% (1) of the graduates completed the Bachelor Degree component in three years.
Diploma Component (First two years of 4-year Bachelor Degree) – Five of these 20 graduates had completed the Diploma component of the program in two years, and the remaining students took 3 – 5 years to complete the Diploma program.
2019 Graduates: Bachelor Degree (17 students)
100% (17) of the students enrolled in the Bachelor Degree component graduated within the scheduled time frame.
88% (15) of the graduates completed the Bachelor Degree component in two years.
12% (2) of the graduates took part in the Co-operative work experience where they worked in the industry for one year, extending their completion to three years.
Diploma Component (First two years of 4-year Bachelor Degree) – Five of these 17 graduates had completed the Diploma component of the program in two years, and the remaining students took 3 – 4 years to complete the Diploma program.
Retention Rates (Third Year to Fourth Year)
2022 intake (16 students)
100% (16) of the students who enrolled in the fall of 2022 returned for September 2023 to complete their Fourth Year of study, putting attrition at 0%. Note: one of the 16 students went on a one-year Cooperative Education experience and will return to complete their final year in September 2024.
2021 intake (18 students)
94% (17) of the students who enrolled in the fall of 2021 returned for September 2022 to complete their Fourth Year of study, putting attrition at 6% (1). Note: three of the 17 students went on a one-year Cooperative Education experience and will return to complete their final year in September 2023.
2020 intake (21 students)
95% (20) of the students who enrolled in the fall of 2020 returned for September 2021 to complete their Fourth Year of study, putting attrition at 5% (1). Note: due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, students did not go out on a Co-operative work term.
Accepted into Graduate Programs
April 2023 Graduates: None accepted
April 2022 Graduates: None accepted
April 2021 Graduates: One graduate was accepted for 2021
April 2020 Graduates: None accepted
Job Placement
April 2023 Graduates: 80% employed as of December 2023
April 2022 Graduates: 81% employed as of November 2022
April 2021 Graduates: 78% employed as of November 2021
April 2020 Graduates: 53% employed as of September 2020
Note: job placement results are from the previous years of graduation and are subject to industry and occupational trends. The data above includes only the Bachelor of Interior Design graduates.
Data as of December 2023
Graduate employment outcomes
The BCIT student outcomes report presents summary findings from the annual survey of former students administered by BC Stats one to two years after graduation. These reports combine the last three years of available results for the 2021-2023 BCIT Outcomes Surveys of 2020-2022 graduates and for Degree 2019-2021 graduates. The reports are organized into three-page summaries containing information on graduates’ labour market experiences and opinions regarding their education. More detailed information can be accessed at the BC Student Outcomes website.
To view these results, you may need to have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed in your Web browser.
Professional associations
Students may apply for a student membership with the Interior Designers Institute of BC (IDIBC).
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Faculty, Advisors & Staff
- Tiia Manson, Program Head, Bachelor of Interior Design
- Manon Pace, Program Head, Diploma in Interior Design
- Grace Rodrigues Sikich, Program Head, Certificate in Interior Design Fundamentals
- June Fong, Faculty
- Sharon Hollingsworth, Faculty
- Taurra Boucher, Faculty
Advisory committee
- Angie Tilley, Govan Brown & Associates
- Cheryl Broadhead, BYU Design
- Jason Lamb, Stantec
- Jennifer Heffel, HB Design Inc.
- Jessica Kim, Perkins and Will
- Julie Campbell, SSDG Interiors Inc.
- Sally Mills, Kasian Architecture Interior Design & Planning Ltd.
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Contact Us
Program Assistant Part-time Studies (1st and 2nd Year)
Tel: 604-456-8150
Email: Interior_Design@bcit.ca
Program Assistant Full-time Studies (2nd, 3rd and 4th year)
Tel: 604-456-1125
Email: BCIT_Interior_Design_FTS@bcit.ca
Questions or comments?
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