Online
BA (Hons) Top Up
Design for Outdoor Living
Enrol at any time & choose your start date. No term times or semesters.
12 months
flexible online study
No exams — Tutor assessment
of design projects & moderation
by De Montfort University
Low fees, and monthly payments for all self paying students (student loans available for UK students)
The BA (Hons) Top-Up Degree in Design for Outdoor Living consists of the final 3 specialist modules of the full 3 year BA (Hons) Design for Outdoor Living. Specialist modules include design technology & materials and how to source and specify for outdoor spaces, plants & planting for outdoor living and how to use plants to enhance your outdoor design.
You will also complete a research project and a final design project on outdoor living to add to your professional design portfolio. You can add these specialist outdoor design skills to your existing interior design knowledge for a career as a specialist designer.
Those who wish to top-up their FdA, BTEC (Level 4&5), HND or International 2 year degree to a full BA (Hons) Design for Outdoor Living with just one year’s online study. This is an ideal route to a career as a specialist interior designer or to progress onto an M.A.
Direct entry students, students transferring from another institution and international students with equivalent qualifications or alternatively, those with a CV & portfolio of relevant industry experience, are all welcome to apply; all applications are treated on an individual basis. There are no term times – so you can apply and start at any time.
Successful NDA students completing this BA (Hons) top-up will receive a guaranteed place on the MA Interior Design with a generous progression scholarship.
Study flexibly online through our bespoke virtual learning studio (VLS)
The VLS is our exclusive, online resource which replaces the normal lectures given in Colleges and Universities. This provides links to other online resources and may contain videos, images, quizzes and lectures.
Students can rewind and re-watch until they are sure they have understood. No frantic note taking and no missing an important lecture! Study when and where it suits you! You will also be invited to attend group tutorials focussing on each course module. Delivered online via zoom, join NDA tutors and like-minded peers to discuss course content and gain valuable live feedback.
The majority of NDA students will complete their BA (Hons) ‘top-up’ degree online in approximately one year others may take a little longer and a few may need the maximum study time of 3 years.
Personal Tutors
Every NDA student has a Personal Tutor to guide them through their qualification. You have unlimited access to your tutor and can contact them by email, telephone, Zoom, Skype or in-person as often as you wish.
Student Support Team
We also have a dedicated Student Support and Administration Team to help deal with any other queries such as payments, student loans advice and anything else you may need a helping hand with.
Our Student Helpline is available Monday–Friday from 9am–5pm UK Time.
You will not have to take an exam! Your tutor will assess your design projects as you submit them throughout the course and your portfolio is moderated by De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) who will award your degree.
The BA (Hons) Interior Design degree is awarded by our academic partner, De Montfort University Leicester (DMU).
You will study three modules for this BA (Hons) Top-up Degree
This is the first of the specialist Design for Outdoor Living modules, and here you will be able to start tailoring your portfolio towards your specialist sector. Within this module you will explore the principles of outdoor living and designing the transitional space between the indoors and out. Selection of products, materials, finishes and furniture for outdoor living are also covered. You will also start to explore environmental issues, durability of materials and installation techniques.
This module will focus on the selection and placement of plants and planting to further enhance an environment and how they can be displayed to maximise both the interior and outdoor areas of your design. As part of this module you will create a range of drawings, from development sketches to your final design, with final presentation boards which will form part of your portfolio to display your skills in this specialist sector.
Building on the skills and understanding you have developed in previous modules, and with the support of your tutor, you will be given double the amount of time of previous modules to focus on a design and research based project of your choosing. This will be the culmination of your course and you will be able to add visuals, presentation boards, development sketches and technical drawings to complete your extensive portfolio, together with a written dissertation.
This is the first of the specialist Design for Outdoor Living modules, and here you will be able to start tailoring your portfolio towards your specialist sector. Within this module you will explore the principles of outdoor living and designing the transitional space between the indoors and out. Selection of products, materials, finishes and furniture for outdoor living are also covered. You will also start to explore environmental issues, durability of materials and installation techniques.
This module will focus on the selection and placement of plants and planting to further enhance an environment and how they can be displayed to maximise both the interior and outdoor areas of your design. As part of this module you will create a range of drawings, from development sketches to your final design, with final presentation boards which will form part of your portfolio to display your skills in this specialist sector.
Building on the skills and understanding you have developed in previous modules, and with the support of your tutor, you will be given double the amount of time of previous modules to focus on a design and research based project of your choosing. This will be the culmination of your course and you will be able to add visuals, presentation boards, development sketches and technical drawings to complete your extensive portfolio, together with a written dissertation.
A sample of work completed by our talented design for outdoor living students
After you top-up to a full BA (Hons) you will be offered a guaranteed place on the online M.A. Interior Design with a generous progression scholarship.
Qualifications
Applicants should hold one of the following:
English Language
The course is taught in English, so international students will require a good standard of written English to study. IELTS average 6.5 or TOEFL score of 550 is usually required, however all students are considered on an individual basis as we are aware that many international students have already been taught in English at school, college or university.
Progression
Take your career to the next level!
Career
The interior design industry is growing year on year and the demand for specialist designers is on the rise globally. Have a look through our Student Spotlights to see what they have achieved
Design Intuition Meet Jane Mahood, a BA (Hons) Interior Design student with a deep passion for transforming spaces. Jane’s interest in interior design started when she
From Apprentice to Master Meet Kate Nuttall. She began her journey into interior design at 18 when she became intrigued by the design department while starting
Portuguese Influence Meet Orla Lindsay, a recent graduate from the BA (Hons) Interior Design course. Like many students, Orla has worked in a variety of corporate
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