Overview
The Interior Design Fundamentals Certificate is the first year of the Interior Design program and serves as a foundation year that introduces students to the concepts and theories of interior design, with a focus on residential spaces.
Course content includes design theory, programming, analysis, concept development, space planning, lighting, colour theory and application, design history, materials and fabrics, residential construction drawing, sustainability & responsible environmental stewardship, written and oral communication skills, and visual communication – through both freehand and computer-generated drawings.
The Interior Design Fundamentals Certificate program is offered in both Flexible Learning and full-time formats. In Flexible Learning, students register on a course-by-course basis. This allows students flexibility in the number of courses they take in any given term. There are offerings of all courses in each term, starting in January, April, and September. The full-time students follow a fixed curriculum of common courses delivered in eleven months (three terms), starting in September each year.
Upon completion of the Certificate in Interior Design Fundamentals, students are encouraged to proceed to the Diploma in Interior Design and Bachelor of Interior Design. Students must ensure they have completed ENGL 1177 – Academic Writing as either part of their Certificate in Interior Design Fundamentals program or prior to beginning the Diploma.
Students wishing to proceed to the Diploma in Residential Interiors can do so directly after completion of the certificate.
Please be aware that these courses fill quickly. This may impact both the number of courses a student is able to take in a given term as well as the time it takes to complete the credential. Students who require a minimum course load to retain eligibility for financial aid or international student status are strongly advised to exercise caution when enrolling in this program as there is no guarantee that the minimum required course credits can be sustained from term to term.
Please attend an info session for more information. If you need further assistance please contact our part-time studies program assistant at BCIT_interior_design@bcit.ca.
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Entrance Requirements
Application processing
Full-time
Applications are accepted:
- October 1st* to February 1st*
- February 1st* to April 15th*
*or next business day
This program has multiple application deadlines and may fill after each deadline date.
We recommend you apply early. All supporting documents must be submitted by the application deadline to be considered.
Part-time
This program is open to applications beginning:
- February 1st* for the January intake
- May 1st* for the April intake
- October 1st* for the September intake
Entrance requirements
Full-time
Competitive entry: Two-step process
Admission to the full-time program is competitive, with preference given to applicants who have:
- Academic grades above the minimum
- Requirements completed within the last five years
- Additional post-secondary academic courses
Part-time
Part-time program applicants must meet all entrance requirements outlined in Step 1a. Acceptance will be based on a first-qualified basis.
Step 1a for all applicants: Meet the following entrance requirements
- English language proficiency: Category 2 – English Studies 12 (67%) or equivalent
- Math: one of the following:
- Pre-Calculus 11 (50%) or
- Foundations of Math 11 (50%) or
- Workplace Math 11 (50%) or
- Other acceptable BC and Yukon courses
Step 1b for full-time program applicants: Complete the following form for submission with your online application:
- Mandatory Applicant Questionnaire [PDF]: This form will be used with other entrance requirements in the competitive selection for the program.
Read more about how to meet BCIT’s entrance requirements
Step 2 for full-time program applicants: Department assessment
Full-time program applications will be reviewed by the program area at the application deadline. Admission to the full-time program is competitive and will be offered to the most qualified applicants.
International applicants
The full-time option is available to international applicants. A valid study permit is required prior to starting the program.
The part-time option is available to international students who currently have a valid status in Canada. A valid study permit is required prior to starting the program.
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
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Costs & Supplies
Tuition fees
Full-time Studies
Use our tuition estimator to find tuition and fees for this program.
For more information on full-time tuition and fees, visit:
Flexible Learning
Flexible Learning (Part-time Studies) tuition is charged on a course-by-course basis. Please see the Flexible Learning Tuition & Fees page for more information on domestic and international tuitions.
Books & supplies
A laptop computer with sufficient memory to run programs such as AutoCAD, Sketch Up and Photoshop is required.
Financial assistance
Financial assistance may be available for this program. For more information, please contact Student Financial Aid and Awards.
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- Next up Courses
Courses
Program matrix
Check current availability of courses for this program.
Term 1 | Credits | ||
---|---|---|---|
COMM 1120 | Communication 1 | 3.0 | |
INTD 1100 | Design Theory 1 | 3.0 | |
INTD 1120 | Materials for Interior Design | 3.0 | |
INTD 1140 | Freehand Drawing | 2.5 | |
INTD 1180 | Visual Communication 2D | 3.0 | |
INTD 2120 | Fabrics and Applications | 2.0 | |
Term 2 | Credits | ||
INTD 1160 | Introduction to InDesign | 0.5 | |
INTD 2130 | Colour for Interior Design | 3.0 | |
INTD 2150 | Visual & Graphic Communication | 3.0 | |
INTD 2160 | AutoCAD for Interior Design | 3.0 | |
INTD 2300 | Residential Studio A | 3.0 | |
INTD 2375 | History of Interiors and Furniture | 3.0 | |
Term 3 | Credits | ||
ENGL 1177 | Academic Writing | 3.0 | |
INTD 1360 | Digital Illustration for Interior Design | 3.0 | |
INTD 2240 | Introduction to Lighting | 3.0 | |
INTD 2360 | Residential Construction Drawings | 3.0 | |
INTD 2400 | Residential Studio B | 3.0 | |
Total Credits: | 47.0 |
Check current availability of courses for this program.
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
Full-time
There is an opportunity to complete the required curriculum in eleven months based on a required sequence of courses and approved pre-requisites.
Part-time
The rate of progress through the part-time program varies. Students have a maximum of five years to complete the program.
Grading
Students will be required to achieve a passing grade of 65% in each of the Interior Design courses.
COMM 1120 requires 50% to pass and to complete the Certificate in Interior Design Fundamentals (year 1). Students continuing to the Diploma in Interior Design (year 2) must achieve 70% in COMM 1120.
Program delivery
Full-time
In person: The full-time program is delivered on campus.
In the full-time program students follow a fixed curriculum of common courses delivered during the day over an eleven-month period (three terms), starting in September each year.
Part-time
In person: The part-time program is delivered on campus.
The part-time program allows students flexibility in the number of courses they take in any given term. There are offerings of all courses in each term. Students are responsible for checking the prerequisites for each course before registering. Students who do not meet the mandatory prerequisites will be dropped from their courses without notice. To maximize the program’s flexibility, courses are offered during the day, evenings and on weekends, in the fall, winter and spring/summer terms.
Continue your education
Graduates of this program may continue their studies to complete the Diploma in Interior Design program.
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Graduating & Jobs
For those individuals seeking employment after completion of the Certificate in Interior Design Fundamentals, employment may be found in the field of Interior Design as manufacturer’s representatives in wholesale resource firms and as consultants in retail design showrooms.
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.
Apply for graduation
Upon successful completion of all program requirements, complete an Application for BCIT Credential [PDF] and submit it to Student Information and Enrolment Services.
Allow approximately six to eight weeks for processing.
All financial obligations to the Institute must be met prior to issuance of any credential.
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Contact Us
Program Assistant
Tel: 604-456-8150
Email: Interior_Design@bcit.ca
Questions or comments?
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