Interior Design - BFA (2024)

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Interior Design - BFA

How to apply

Tuition and fees

Academic requirements

Non-academic requirements

Is it for you?

The Interior Design program combines professional development and applied learning to prepare you to become a leader in the design industry. Gain an understanding of all aspects of the interior environment for corporate, residential, retail and hospitality, with a focus on health, wellness, inclusion and sustainability.

In this leading program, you will have the option of completing an internship or taking a deep dive into the industry by completing co-operative education placements.

Accreditations:

  • For fall 2024 admissions:When combined with our Master of Interior Design (MID) program, forms a program of study that will be accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA)

Updated: December 20, 2023

Program info

Faculty:
The Creative School

Program format(s):
Full time: 4 Year

Degree:
Bachelor of Fine Arts2

Grade range:
Mid 70s1

Requirements:
Grades-Plus

Experiential learning:
Internship and co-op options available

  • Tuition and fees
  • Courses
  • Your future

Tuition and fees

For detailed fees information, visittuition and fees by program.

Full-time format 2023-2024:

Ontario students fees range:$7,232 - $7,738
Out-of-province students fees range:$8,060 - $8,582
International student fees range:$33,462 - $33,881

First-year courses

Here is a preview of first-year courses based on the available undergraduate calendar information.

1st & 2nd Semester

Revised curriculum begins 2024-2025 for students admitted Fall 2024 and after.

1st Semester
  • CSE 101 Design Theory
  • IDN 101 Design Communications I
  • IDN 102 Fabrication I
  • IDN 103 Materiality
  • IDN 105 Intro. History of Design
2nd Semester
  • IDN 201 Design Communications II
  • IDN 202 Fabrication II
  • IDN 203 Sustainable Systems
  • IDN 204 Design Theory II

LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table A - Lower Level Liberal Studies.

More program courses

Program website

Your future

  • Interior design
  • Exhibition design
  • Set design
  • Contemporary interior design offices
  • Independent consulting forms
  • Furniture manufacturers
  • Marketing and promotion
  • Facility management
  • Film production design
  • Product design
  • Visual merchandising
  • Pursue professional membership with the Association of Registered Interior Designers of Ontario (ARIDO) if desired
  • Graduate studies including TMU’s Master of Interior Design program

Thinking of applying? Make sure the program is still accepting applications.

Requirements

Academic requirements

Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent with a minimum of six Grade 12 U or M courses including the following program specific requirements.

  • English/anglais (ENG4U/EAE4U preferred, minimum grade 70%)
  • Grade 11 U or M or Grade 12 U mathematics (one of MCF3M, MCR3U, MHF4U, MCV4U, MDM4U,minimum grade 60%)
  • Subject to competition, candidates may be required to present subject prerequisite grades above the minimums
  • Typically, a minimum overall average of 70% establishes eligibility for admission consideration; subject to competition, a higher overall average may be required

Academic admission requirements for all other applicants are available on theadmission requirementspage.

Find your requirements

  • Ontario secondary school students
  • Out-of-province secondary school students
  • International secondary school students
  • University and college transfer students
  • Other applicants

Non-academic requirements

This is a Grades-Plus program. In addition to meeting competitive academic requirements, you are required to submit the following non-academic requirements. Your ability to follow and adhere to the requirements is part of the assessment of your application.

Fall 2024 non-academic requirement due date:
February 1, 2024 or 10 business days from your application submission date, whichever comes later.

Creative project: Interior images and text

Present a sequence or collection of three to five (3-5) photographs of spaces that inspire you. Try to tell a story about the "interior" through the images, and show us how you see the qualities of the built environment.

Provide a written statement (120 words min. - 250 words max.). Reflect on how and why the interior(s) chosen for your collection or sequence resonates with you. You can expand your perceived definitions of the terms "space", "interior" and "built environment." Compositionally aim to integrate the text and images in a way that best reinforces your idea.

  1. Photographs must be original and taken by the applicant. Photographs taken with a camera or mobile phone are acceptable formats. There are no other parameters other than points two and three.
  2. AI image and text generators are not permitted.
  3. Applicants should not include or refer to their names in the submitted images and text.
  4. Please ensure the images and your written response are saved and submitted as a single .pdf file.

Submissions will be evaluated on originality, composition, and creativity/passion.

Inquiries about non-academic requirements can be directed to Jeanine Webster (jeanine.webster@torontomu.ca).

Assessment fee

The non-academic requirements assessment fee is $50 CDN and must be paid in order for your submission to be reviewed. Here’s how to pay:

  1. Access your ChooseTMU Applicant Portal account (instructions to access the portal can be found below under Submission Instructions).

  2. Click on the button to link to the eForms Centre.

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  3. Next, click on the eForms Center tile.

    Interior Design - BFA (3)

  4. Then click on the Non-Academic Fee Form link.

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Submission instructions

Applicants are required to submit all components of their non-academic requirements via theChooseTMU Applicant Portal. Due to the volume of applications received and our system performance, we strongly encourage you to submit your documents well in advance of the noted deadlines.

Here’s how to access your ChooseTMU Applicant Portal account:

  1. Get your TMU Student Number in the email acknowledgement of your application
  2. Activate your TMU Online Identity. Fill in the Activation Form on the Accounts website.When asked for your Student/Applicant ID, enter your nine-digit TMU Student Number. Keep a record of your user name and password
  3. 24 hours after activating your TMU Online Identity, visit the ChooseTMU Applicant Portal

How to upload your documents

Document submission FAQs

Applying for readmission or reinstatement?

If you are applying for readmission or reinstatement, you are not required to submit non-academic requirements.

 You must inform the program department of your intentions by February 1, 2024, or 10 business days from your application submission date (whichever comes later).

Student spotlight

Interior Design students take over SPACE on King for annual showcase

Students from the School of Interior Design (SID) held their annual year-end exhibition, titled YES: POV, at SPACE on King Street in Toronto. The annual year-end show serves as an opportunity to respond to current themes and experiences in the industry, and showcases student installations from all four years of the program.

Read more:The exhibit challenges viewers to visualize and interpret space from different perspectives

Image courtesy of Spencer Wither

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Notes:

  1. Actual minimum grade ranges required for fall 2024 admission/wait list consideration will be determined based on grades and qualifications presented by the applicant pool as they become available. Required grade ranges may fluctuate from year to year (up or down) as a result of competition. Applicants not educated in Ontario may present the equivalent of the Ontario requirements. TMU reserves the right to determine equivalency at its sole discretion.
  2. Formerly Bachelor of Interior Design (BID). Updated to Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), December 2023.

Disclaimer:

While every effort is made to ensure accuracy on this site, in the event of a discrepancy, TMU's current Undergraduate Calendar is the official reference.

Interior Design - BFA (2024)

FAQs

What is a BFA in interior design? ›

(132 units) This degree prepares students who will eventually seek a master's degree or a position as a professional designer. The BFA program is a rigorous and competitive one. Portfolios are reviewed in the spring semester for fall admission to Junior standing in this degree program.

What degree is best for interior design? ›

Degrees in fine arts, drafting and design tech, interior architecture, or theater design, for example, from a number of US colleges and universities could set the right foundation for an interior design career—just as long as you carefully plan a course of study that includes a range of design classes.

What is Bachelor of Arts interior design? ›

The Bachelor of Interior Design programme bridges the gap between visual communication and the physical environment. On the one hand, you deal with design aspects such as aesthetics, usability and various creative tools.

What is Fine Arts in interior design? ›

The professional Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Interior Design is a four-year degree program that provides the foundation for becoming a registered interior designer.

Is a BFA better than a BA? ›

While both degrees can prepare students for a career in the arts, their approaches are fairly different. The B.F.A. tends to be a more intensive degree with a higher proportion of classes taken within a student's major, while a B.A. is a bit more balanced in terms of courses outside of the major.

Is a BFA as good as a BA? ›

A Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree has a reputation for being more prestigious than its counterpart, but employers may not understand or appreciate the distinction. The truth is, one degree is not better than the other in general.

Is it worth it to study interior design? ›

Interior designing is a highly lucrative business, but it takes some time to build a high income from this profession. Whether you are starting your own thing or have a job in some firm, your pay initially can be less, and that is one of the most prevalent disadvantages of being an interior designer.

How many years of college do you need to be an interior designer? ›

A bachelor's degree in interior design usually takes four years to complete. These programs offer a more in-depth education in interior design, covering topics such as history and design principles, space planning, computer applications, sustainable design and design research.

Is an interior design certificate worth it? ›

Yes, Interior Designer certifications can be instrumental for those shifting from another career into interior design. These certifications typically encompass essential design principles, industry-specific software, and project management skills, laying a strong groundwork for newcomers.

What is a BFA college? ›

The Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree is considered to be the most prestigious bachelor's degree that you can receive in the visual arts. This option is for students who wish to gain as much experience and skill in photography as possible.

What qualifications do I need to be a art and design? ›

There are no formal qualification requirements for a career in this area, but if you are interested in studying fine art and your first degree is not in a related subject, you might want to explore your options for studying fine art as a second undergraduate degree.

What is the difference between interior design and interior architecture degree? ›

Interior architecture focuses more on structural design, with an emphasis on adaptive reuse and the remodelling of existing buildings. Whereas interior design is the practice of creating interior atmospheres – focusing on finishes, furniture and colour palettes.

Does interior design require art? ›

Most interior design and architecture programs require courses in art history, making the topics learned in this program applicable to an interior design career. Art history majors typically include courses like drawing, architecture and the history of visual arts.

What are the 6 fine arts? ›

One definition of fine art is "a visual art considered to have been created primarily for aesthetic and intellectual purposes and judged for its beauty and meaningfulness, specifically, painting, sculpture, drawing, watercolor, graphics, and architecture." In that sense, there are conceptual differences between the ...

Which is better fine arts or design? ›

What Is the Difference Between Fine Art and Design? Fine art, also known as “high art,” is a creative work made purely for enjoyment and display. Design is considered one of the “low arts” that serve a purpose and have a function. Traditionally, fine art was created to be appreciated for its aesthetic beauty.

What does BFA mean in degrees? ›

The Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree is considered to be the most prestigious bachelor's degree that you can receive in the visual arts. This option is for students who wish to gain as much experience and skill in photography as possible.

What is the difference between a bachelors and a BFA? ›

Students who graduate with a BA degree could pursue professional opportunities as a writer, educator, journalist, or art director. A BFA degree, on the other hand, is typically tailored to a specific craft.

What does BFA stand for in fashion design? ›

The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Fashion Design integrates conceptual, technical and production design knowledge and skills, leading to a synthesis of the design process from concept to production.

What is the full form of BFA in design? ›

The full-form of BFA is Bachelor of Fine Arts.

The BFA programme is a three to four-year undergraduate programme, depending on the area of study. A bachelor's degree in fine arts focuses on visual, performing, or fine arts including art, animation, or pottery.

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