A Level Results? We're Open For Clearing  -  BA (Hons) Interior Design Places Available  –  Study Online  -  Choose Any Start Date!  -  Earn While You Learn  –  Low Tuition Fees  -  Full UK Student Loans Available  -  
A Level Results? We're Open For Clearing  -  BA (Hons) Interior Design Places Available  –  Study Online  -  Choose Any Start Date!  -  Earn While You Learn  –  Low Tuition Fees  -  Full UK Student Loans Available  -  
A Level Results? We're Open For Clearing  -  BA (Hons) Interior Design Places Available  –  Study Online  -  Choose Any Start Date!  -  Earn While You Learn  –  Low Tuition Fees  -  Full UK Student Loans Available  -  
A Level Results? We're Open For Clearing  -  BA (Hons) Interior Design Places Available  –  Study Online  -  Choose Any Start Date!  -  Earn While You Learn  –  Low Tuition Fees  -  Full UK Student Loans Available  -  

In-Studio (Dubai)

Professional Interior Design Diploma

(AIM Qualifications Level 3 Diploma in Professional Interior Design)

As a not-for-profit foundation, we are so confident in the price of our Diploma’s that if you can find the same level of education for less, we will match it!

NEW 3 Course Bundle!

Interior Design Mastery Bundle

Dive deeper with our Ultimate Design Mastery Bundle – Interior, Exterior, CAD. Enrol now, save 10%

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Entry Requirements

No previous qualifications required, just an interest & enthusiasm for interior design.

Course Duration
12 Weeks Total

Weekday Course
10 days (Mon to Fri) in studio
+ home study

or

Sunday Course
10 Sundays in studio
+ home study

Next Course Dates

Weekday Course
2 weeks in studio
Week 1: 7th – 11th April
Week 2: 14th – 18th April
or
Sunday Course
10 Sundays In-Studio
13th April – 22nd June
More Dates

Assessment

No exams — Tutor assessment only, portfolio moderation by AIM Qualifications.
Read more about Accreditation here
Course Guide
Course Dates
Fees

Course Summary

As an alternative to flexible online study our live ‘In-Studio’ Course Diploma in Professional Interior Design allows you to join other like-minded design enthusiasts for a more hands-on and collaborative approach to learning. Working with a client brief, you will work on an array of skills to take you from concept stage, through to design development and final proposal stage for a residential project.

What Will You Learn?

You will learn the skills to be able to tackle your own projects more professionally, start your own business or enter the interior design industry with the practical knowledge required to work with potential clients.

You’ll also learn how to establish industry contacts, where to source materials, samples, furniture, lighting and start to build a design community with your peers.

Whilst receiving hands-on advice directly from our highly experienced NDA Tutors, the In-studio course brings together a fantastic mix of students, helping to create an exciting, friendly and dynamic class and the chance to share ideas with fellow up and coming designers.

A Recognised Qualification

Accreditation

Online Interior Design Courses

The NDA takes accreditation very seriously. Our In-Studio Diploma course is accredited by Aim Qualifications. These qualifications are globally recognised throughout the world including the UAE and MENA region (equivalent to a British A-level).

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KHDA TVET License (UAE)

The NDA has a Vocational Education License (TVET License) to teach in the UAE. In order to teach professional courses in the UAE the institute must have a TVET license. 

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What Will I Study?

You will study eight dedicated Units during this Professional Diploma

Interior Design & the Role of the Designer

This unit introduces you to the fundamental elements and principles that are common within a successful design scheme and how they are adopted by Professional Interior Designers today. You’ll learn how and why interior design has changed over time and to identify key interior design trends. What you learn in this unit will provide an essential foundation to underpin your future designs. This unit also includes:-

  • The 7 design elements of good design
  • Interior Design history and contemporary practice
  • The role of an Interior Designer and different project types
  • Professional presentation boards
  • How to write a short design report

Using Colour in Interior Design

This unit will spark your creativity by giving you the opportunity to play with colour. You’ll explore practical colour theory to enable you to design both historical and contemporary colour schemes. This unit also includes:-

  • Basic colour principles and terminology
  • The impact of colour in a design scheme
  • The psychological importance of colour in an interior space
  • Historical and contemporary colour trends
  • Creating a successful interior design colour scheme

Exploring Surface Finishes in Interior Design

This unit covers the wide and exciting range of surface finishes now available to create fabulous interiors. You’ll explore the versatility and impact of materials for walls, floors and soft furnishings and how to use them to create an effective design scheme. This unit also includes:-

  • The characteristics and suitability of different materials
  • Sourcing and using materials to develop a design scheme
  • Practical skills to represent colour, pattern and texture
  • How to visually present your design ideas

Plans and Space Planning in a Professional Context

This unit shows you how to plan the space for a room design. From initial sketches to final layouts, you will visualise and present design solutions to meet a client brief. This unit also includes:-

  • Understanding the space and the client brief
  • Traffic flow and zoning of space
  • Developing floor plans by hand
  • Creating elevations by hand
  • Practical sketching and hand drawing techniques

Furniture & Accessories in Interior Design

This unit focusses on the limitless range of furniture and accessories available to the Interior Designer. You’ll learn to recognise key styles in furniture and accessory design and how to select and source appropriate furniture and accessories to meet a client brief. This unit also includes:-

  • Understanding of different furniture and accessory styles, historical and contemporary
  • Influential practitioners and design movements
  • The characteristics and suitability of furniture and accessories
  • Choosing and sourcing items
  • Producing furniture layouts

Creative Lighting in Interior Design

This unit explores the potential of creative lighting in interiors and develops your knowledge of lighting design, including traditional and contemporary products. You’ll learn how to choose lighting for your schemes and how to deal with suppliers. This unit also includes:-

  • Understanding different lighting products and lamps
  • Task, ambient and decorative lighting
  • Lighting levels for room design
  • Cool and warm lighting
  • Creating a lighting scheme for a furniture layout
  • Applying symbols appropriate to industry lighting plans
  • Developing a lighting plan to meet a client brief

Professional Practice in Interior Design

This unit explores the diverse possibilities for a career in the Interior design industry and helps prepare you to work successfully in the professional environment, whether this be in an established practice or setting up an interior design business. With a focus on your personal and professional development, you will consider the steps you should take to achieve your own progression ambitions. This unit also includes:-

  • Being employed, self-employed and setting up an interior design service
  • Portfolio development
  • Working with others in a professional environment
  • Effective marketing and promotion
  • How to charge for your design service
  • Studying for a degree
online interior design courses

Professional Interior Design Project

For this final unit of the course, you bring together all your newly learned skill by producing conceptual designs to create a wonderful interior design scheme for a new client. When complete, your work will form an asset to your developing portfolio to show future clients. This unit also includes:-

  • Developing a design concept
  • Creating a colour scheme
  • Selecting surface finishes
  • Space planning, including furniture and accessory arrangements
  • Creating a lighting plan
  • Professional presentation techniques
DIPLOMA COURSE GUIDE
Unit 1

Interior Design & the Role of the Designer

This unit introduces you to the fundamental elements and principles that are common within a successful design scheme and how they are adopted by Professional Interior Designers today. You’ll learn how and why interior design has changed over time and to identify key interior design trends. What you learn in this unit will provide an essential foundation to underpin your future designs. This unit also includes:-

  • The 7 design elements of good design
  • Interior Design history and contemporary practice
  • The role of an Interior Designer and different project types
  • Professional presentation boards
  • How to write a short design report
Unit 2

Using Colour in Interior Design

This unit will spark your creativity by giving you the opportunity to play with colour. You’ll explore practical colour theory to enable you to design both historical and contemporary colour schemes. This unit also includes:-

  • Basic colour principles and terminology
  • The impact of colour in a design scheme
  • The psychological importance of colour in an interior space
  • Historical and contemporary colour trends
  • Creating a successful interior design colour scheme
Unit 3

Exploring Surface Finishes in Interior Design

This unit covers the wide and exciting range of surface finishes now available to create fabulous interiors. You’ll explore the versatility and impact of materials for walls, floors and soft furnishings and how to use them to create an effective design scheme. This unit also includes:-

  • The characteristics and suitability of different materials
  • Sourcing and using materials to develop a design scheme
  • Practical skills to represent colour, pattern and texture
  • How to visually present your design ideas
Unit 4

Plans and Space Planning in a Professional Context

This unit shows you how to plan the space for a room design. From initial sketches to final layouts, you will visualise and present design solutions to meet a client brief. This unit also includes:-

  • Understanding the space and the client brief
  • Traffic flow and zoning of space
  • Developing floor plans by hand
  • Creating elevations by hand
  • Practical sketching and hand drawing techniques
Unit 5

Furniture & Accessories in Interior Design

This unit focusses on the limitless range of furniture and accessories available to the Interior Designer. You’ll learn to recognise key styles in furniture and accessory design and how to select and source appropriate furniture and accessories to meet a client brief. This unit also includes:-

  • Understanding of different furniture and accessory styles, historical and contemporary
  • Influential practitioners and design movements
  • The characteristics and suitability of furniture and accessories
  • Choosing and sourcing items
  • Producing furniture layouts
Unit 6

Creative Lighting in Interior Design

This unit explores the potential of creative lighting in interiors and develops your knowledge of lighting design, including traditional and contemporary products. You’ll learn how to choose lighting for your schemes and how to deal with suppliers. This unit also includes:-

  • Understanding different lighting products and lamps
  • Task, ambient and decorative lighting
  • Lighting levels for room design
  • Cool and warm lighting
  • Creating a lighting scheme for a furniture layout
  • Applying symbols appropriate to industry lighting plans
  • Developing a lighting plan to meet a client brief
Unit 7

Professional Practice in Interior Design

This unit explores the diverse possibilities for a career in the Interior design industry and helps prepare you to work successfully in the professional environment, whether this be in an established practice or setting up an interior design business. With a focus on your personal and professional development, you will consider the steps you should take to achieve your own progression ambitions. This unit also includes:-

  • Being employed, self-employed and setting up an interior design service
  • Portfolio development
  • Working with others in a professional environment
  • Effective marketing and promotion
  • How to charge for your design service
  • Studying for a degree
Unit 8
online interior design courses

Professional Interior Design Project

For this final unit of the course, you bring together all your newly learned skill by producing conceptual designs to create a wonderful interior design scheme for a new client. When complete, your work will form an asset to your developing portfolio to show future clients. This unit also includes:-

  • Developing a design concept
  • Creating a colour scheme
  • Selecting surface finishes
  • Space planning, including furniture and accessory arrangements
  • Creating a lighting plan
  • Professional presentation techniques
DIPLOMA COURSE GUIDE

Course Duration

  • Weekday Courses

The weekday In-Studio Diploma course consists of 2 full weeks (10 days) in-studio, combined with upto 10 weeks home study to complete any project work for submission.

  • Weekend Courses

If you cannot attend weekday courses you can study in-studio on 10 consecutive Sundays instead, alongside home study (12 weeks total).

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What Will I Need To Study?

In-Studio Study – All required design equipment and resources will be provided during your time In-Studio, however you will need access to a laptop computer to view course material and the online learning resources.

Home Study  – Alongside a computer and an internet connection, there is also essential and recommended design equipment required to complete your NDA Course. Throughout home study, you have full online access to our resources and your Personal Tutor.

FIND OUT MORE

What's Next?

Higher Education

Once you have successfully completed the NDA Diploma in Professional Diploma in Interior Design, students completing our diploma will be offered a guaranteed place onto our Bachelor’s degree with a generous Progression Scholarship. Degrees are awarded by our academic partner, De Montfort University Leicester (DMU), and they are studied online in the same way as your Diploma.

Careers

The Diploma in Professional Interior Design is designed to help you start your own Interior Design business. Like the Diploma course itself, you can work flexibly for your clients around your family commitments and gradually expand your business.

Read more about Kadambari’s success here
More Success stories

Next Available Studio Course Dates

There are 2 ways that you can study in-studio:

Weekday In-Studio Course

Weekday sessions run from 9:00am to 4:00pm (Dubai Time)

Week 1: 7th – 11th April
Week 2: 14th – 18th April

Weeks 3-12: Flexible study from home to complete assignments.

Sunday IN-STUDIO Course

Weekend sessions run from 9:30am to 4:30pm

10 x consecutive Sundays in 2025
13th, 20th, 27th April, 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th May, 1st, 8th, 15th, & 22nd June.

Flexible study from home to complete assignments
(12 weeks total).

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Course Fees

One Payment

$ 3,225 ON ENROLMENT
  • Save $275 by paying in full
  • Limited spaces available!!
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3 x Monthly Payments

$ 3,500 IN TOTAL*
  • $1,500 on enrolment
  • + 2 x $1,000 monthly payments
Enrol Now

Fees in US dollars.

*Monthly payments include admin fee.

Why Choose This Course?

  • Fully accredited and globally recognised Interior Design Diploma.
  • Equivalent to a British ‘A-level’.
  • Highly experienced NDA tutors with real industry knowledge.
  • All studio design equipment & materials included.

Get In Touch

Our Studio

The NDA Dubai studio is ideally situated at Dubai Knowledge Park. All our In-Studio Diploma courses take place here. 

Please get in touch if you would like to discuss your study options further, one of our tutor team will be happy to welcome you in-studio.

MESSAGE US NOW

National Design Academy, Block 2b, First Floor, Office 129, Knowledge Park, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, PO Box 333207

Ready to pursue your passion for Interior Design?

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What Our Students Say...

Hear what past and present students have to say about studying in-Studio at the NDA

I am so pleased I decided to do the course this way, everyone was so warm and good company it really made such a difference to the overall learning experience. I loved the course.
Ruth WeaverIn-Studio Diploma Student
Studying with the NDA in Dubai has really opened my eyes to the exciting world of interior design. The course content is structured and in-depth with hands-on practical experience applied on a continuous basis.
Lorraine JamisonIn-Studio Diploma Student
I have massively enjoyed the week. Such a great way to learn both in respect of the different tutors and also meeting such a lovely variety of people. The help in drawing techniques has been superb. Looking forward to week 2!
Ruth WeaverIn-Studio Diploma Student
The studio course gave me an opportunity to meet my fellow peers, and the tutors. Working as a home student would have suited my work commitments, but attending the studio helped me feel more connected to the school...
Annette BryanIn-Studio Diploma Student

Need Help?

From course information to application support, our support team are always here to help.

Get in Touch
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NEW 3 Course Bundle!

Interior Design Mastery Bundle

Dive deeper with our Ultimate Design Mastery Bundle – Interior, Exterior, CAD. Enrol now, save 10%

Find Out More

What is UK Government Funding?

UK students pay approximately 50% of the full course fee – the balance is funded by the UK Government’s Adult education budget (AEB).

The National Design Academy is the only design school to be able to offer this funding as our Diplomas are all fully accredited by AIM Qualifications.