These are the best interior design schools in Australia

Love interiors? Love design? Looking for a career change? If you’re reading this story, it’s likely you just answered yes to at least one of these questions.

We’re blessed with many exceptional education choices in Australia, but the quantity and quality of options can sometimes be a minefield to navigate when deciding which one is best for you and your aspirations.

Whether you’re looking for a career change, wanting to upskill in your current role, or to simply grow your love and knowledge of interiors, we’ve found the country’s best interior design schools just for you.

Whitehouse Institute of Design

Courses: Bachelor of Design (Interior Design)

Location: Sydney and Melbourne

Duration: Two years full-time

What to expect: The Whitehouse Institute of Design focuses on a diverse range of interior design areas including residential interior design, retail interior design, community interior design and commercial office interior design. The course provides a relevant, contemporary course that engages the current and future directions of the interior design industry.

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RMIT University

Courses: Associate Degree in Interior Decoration and Design; Bachelor of Interior Design (Honours); Certificate IV in Interior Decoration; Diploma of Interior Design and Decoration.

Location: Melbourne

Duration: Associate Degree in Interior Decoration and Design (two years); Bachelor of Interior Design (Honours) (four years); Certificate IV in Interior Decoration (two years part-time); Diploma of Interior Design and Decoration (two years).

What to expect: RMIT University is a renowned global university of technology and design and its interior design courses offers three leading programs centred on the design of interior spaces. The courses see students working on client projects, learning from industry mentors and having their work recognised through scholarships and competitions.

Raffles College of Design and Commerce

Course: Bachelor of Interior Design

Location: Sydney

Duration: Three years full-time

What to expect: The Raffles College of Design and Commerce interior design course combines practical skills with an essential and thorough understanding of all the processes of interior design. Students learn how to produce working drawings and have comprehensive knowledge of all the technical, engineering and service aspects of the discipline, in addition to materials and finishes.

Billy Blue College of Design at Torrens University

Courses: Bachelor of Interior Design (Commercial); Bachelor of Interior Design (Residential); Diploma of Interior Design and Decoration

Location: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide

Duration: Bachelor of Interior Design (Commercial) (three years full-time or six years part-time); Bachelor of Interior Design (Residential) (three years full-time or six years part-time); Diploma of Interior Design and Decoration (one year full-time or two years part-time)

What to expect: Billy Blue College of Design at Torrens University is one of Australian’s most reputable design colleges with courses in interior design, fashion, communication, and digital media. The design agency, Billy Blue Creative, who founded the design school back in 1987 was known for its unconventional, non-conformist, yet commercially relevant approach.

International School of Colour and Design (ISDC)

On-campus courses: Certificate IV in Interior Decoration; Diploma of Interior Design & Decoration; Styling Diploma

Online courses: Certificate IV in Interior Decoration Online; Online Diploma of Interior Design & Decoration; Online Styling Diploma

Location: Sydney, Melbourne and online

Duration: Certificate IV in Interior Decoration (five terms); Diploma of Interior Design and Decoration (one to two years); Styling Diploma (nine months); Certificate IV in Interior Decoration Online (one to two years); Online Diploma of Interior Design and Decoration (one to two years); Online Styling Diploma (one year)

What to expect: Since opening its doors more than 30 years ago, the International School of Colour and Design has been offering a range of nationally recognised and industry-driven courses and workshops that cater for all levels of skills and experience. ISCD is ideal for budding artists, colour specialists, decorators, designers or stylists.

Sydney Design School

On-campus courses: Certificate IV in Interior Decoration; Diploma of Interior Design; Advanced Diploma of Interior Design

Online corses: Certificate IV in Interior Decoration; Diploma of Interior Design

Location: Sydney and online

Duration: Certificate IV in Interior Decoration (6 or 12 months); Diploma of Interior Design and Decoration (12 or 18 months); Advanced Diploma of Interior Design (18 or 24 months); Certificate IV in Interior Decoration Online (12 months); Diploma of Interior Design and Decoration Online(24 months)

What to expect: Sydney Design School offers a unique and creative approach to design education and incorporates strong conceptualisation as well as the practical and business skills relevant to working in any interior design or decoration business. The courses, which are taught by practising designers, are fast paced, highly practical and industry focused.

Interior Design Institute

Course: Diploma of Interior Design

Location: Online

Duration: 24 weeks – 12 months

What to expect: The Interior Design Institute offers a thorough and comprehensive home study course in interior design using the very latest online learning techniques and a high-quality training program.

Coco Republic Design School

Courses: Interior Decoration Essentials 101; Styling Essentials 101; Colour for Interiors 401

Location: Sydney and online

Duration: Interior Decoration Essentials 101 (seven weeks); Styling Essentials 101 (seven weeks); Colour for Interiors 401 (18 weeks)

What to expect: The Coco Republic Design School offers a real-life and hands-on experience. The comprehensive courses offer flexible learning options – both on campus and online – and offer course start times all year round.

University of Technology Sydney (UTS)

Courses: Bachelor of Design in Interior Architecture

Location: Sydney

Duration: Three years full-time

What to expect: This esteemed university degree helps students to re-imagine interior environments and public spaces in local and global contexts. With a strong emphasis on people’s experiences of space, this degree equips students with the critical skills required to interrogate and transgress the traditional boundaries of commercial interior design.