Interior Design
Bachelor of Design Degree

The Whitehouse Bachelor of Design specialising in Interior Design, is the only degree of its kind in Australia to incorporate residential, commercial, and industrial design into a single two-year accelerated degree. As the world rapidly changes, Whitehouse has responded to industry employers by offering an industry leading interior design degree that equips graduates with essential design skills that can be adapted to a multitude of interior design roles and careers.
Key areas of study include residential interior design, furniture and installation design, retail interior design, community landscape design and commercial office interior design. All areas of learning are underpinned by the design formula of elements and principles of design as well as an intensive immersion into materials research and exploration. Interior Design looks not only at the application of surface materials but more fully at understanding the design of usable spaces that enhance lifestyle.
Interior Design CAD Work by Laura Rodgers, Interior Design Student.
Just some of the industry partners our students & alumni have had opportunities with:

Interior Design
The Bachelor of Design, Interior Design, prepares students to thoughtfully examine the increasingly complex issues associated with designing, building and transforming interiors, structures & objects.
In the studio, students use digital and manual means to research and recommend design alterations and renovations that give existing buildings new life. Whether working in the field, the CAD Lab, the Model Shop or on their own laptops in studio, students are challenged to think critically and develop self-reliant design solutions and processes.
With a large focus on sustainable and responsible design, students are encouraged to experiment with a wide range of materials and approaches. Complemented by the study of perspective drawing, history, theory, ecology, cultural geography, plants and technology, students investigate some of the most important questions facing designers today.
We proudly deliver an exceptional 1,728* hours over two years and we encourage you to compare.
You won't find another degree like it in Australia.
The Bachelor of Design degree at WHITEHOUSE consists of six study periods in a trimester model and is completed within 2 years.
Administrative Date: The Administrative Date is the last date that you are to complete the requirements for enrolment or progression and finalise upfront tuition fees for the relevant study period. The Administrative Date is the study period commencement date
Census Date: is the deadline for various requirements, including submitting your electronic Request for HELP AssistanceHELP loan. If you miss the Census Date, you will not be eligible to access HELP for that study period. The Census Date is also the deadline for withdrawing from subjects without incurring the full cost of your subject(s) or a HELP debt.
Students undertake five subjects each study period as follows:
The Bachelor of Design specialising in Interior Design is based on six trimesters with five subjects taught in each trimester. It comprises of 18 core subjects and 12 specialisation subjects. To qualify for the award of the degree Bachelor of Design a candidate shall accrue and aggregate of 288 credit points, including satisfactory completion of all subjects.
Code | Subject | Credit points per subject |
---|---|---|
DC1 - 6 | Design Contexts (Core Subject) | 6 Credit Points |
DD1 - 6 | Digital Design (Core Subject) | 6 Credit Points |
ID1 - 6 | Illustration for Design (Core Subject) | 6 Credit Points |
DI1 - 6 | Interior Design Methods and Processes (Specialisation) | 6 Credit Points |
IW1 - 6 | Interior Workshop (Specialisation) | 24 Credit Points |
Bachelor of Design - Domestic Student
Academic Dates and Fee Schedule 2020-2021
The Tuition Fee schedules apply for 2020/2021 only and are subject to annual review and alteration. All fees are in Australian Dollars and inclusive of GST where GST is applicable. The Fee documents attached are for tuition only and do not include course material costs. For further information on course material cost estimates please call us on 1300 551 433 and ask to speak with the Admissions Team.
Tuition Fee Payment Options - Domestic Students
The Tuition Fee schedules apply for 2020/2021 only and are subject to annual review and alteration. All fees are in Australian Dollars and inclusive of GST where GST is applicable. The Fee documents attached are for tuition only and do not include course material costs. For further information on course material cost estimates please call us on 1300 551 433 and ask to speak with the Admissions Team.
Tuition Fee Payment Options
You can choose to pay your tuition fees in the following ways:
- HELP Assistance (previously known as FEE-HELP Assistance)
- Pay Fees Upfront
- Upfront Payment for Single Unit/s + HELP
Tuition fees for each study period are to be paid in advance before the commencement of each study period. You can either elect to pay upfront, in full or a portion upfront, with the balance deferred to HELP.
If you elect to pay your tuition fees up front, this does not prevent you from accessing HELP at any time, provided an electronic Commonwealth Assistance form (eCAF) to defer tuition to FEE-HELP assistance is lodged before the relevant Census Date for the study period.
HELP
HELP is a loan scheme that helps eligible Australian fee-paying students (full-time or part-time) pay their tuition fees. HELP can cover all or part of your tuition fees. The Australian Government pays the amount of the loan direct to Whitehouse. You’ll make repayments on your loan through the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) whenever your income is above the threshold, or you can make voluntary repayment to ATO at any time. No interest is charged on your HELP loan, however, the Commonwealth Government applies a one off loan fee and it is indexed each year with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in line with the cost of living.
Eligibility
To be eligible for HELP you must be an Australian citizen, New Zealand citizen eligible for a Special Category visa or hold a permanent humanitarian visa whilst remaining a resident in Australia, or a permanent visa holder who is undertaking study for overseas-trained professional and will be a resident in Australia for the duration of studies.
When is a HELP debt incurred?
You incur a HELP debt immediately after the census date for the study period for which you received HELP assistance. If you have requested a HELP loan, but change your mind about studying, you must cancel or defer your enrolment in writing from the subject(s) on or before the census date or you will incur a HELP debt to the Commonwealth Government.
2020 HELP limit changes
What is the combined HELP loan limit?
The combined HELP loan limit is a cap on what you can borrow from the Australian Government to cover the costs of your tuition fees. The HELP loan limit will replace the current FEE-HELP limit from 1 January 2020.
Do my past HELP or VSL debts count?
Yes. Existing FEE-HELP, VET FEE-HELP and VET Student Loan debts will be carried over and count towards your HELP loan limit. On 1 January 2020, your FEE-HELP balance will become your HELP balance and subject to allowable loan limit.
What are the HELP loan limit amounts?
For 2020, the HELP loan limit is $106,319 for most students.
* NOTE: This information is current as of 6 September 2019. For more information about HELP, changes to legislation, eligibility, your rights & obligations, please visit the Commonwealth Government website: –https://www.studyassist.gov.au/help-loans
Cancellation and Refund Policy
By accepting a place in any one of the Whitehouse Institute’s courses, the student enters into an agreement to study a course for the expected published duration of the enrolled program of study – their enrolment then is bound by the terms and conditions of the Cancellation and Refund Policy. Download a copy of the Cancellation and Refund Policy.
Financial Support
Whitehouse Institute of Design, Australia is registered by the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) and the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) and as such Youth Allowance or Austudy or other financial support options are available for eligible Australian citizens attending Whitehouse. Further information www.centrelink.gov.au.
Tuition Assurance
Whitehouse has met the tuition assurance requirements of the Higher Education Support Act (HESA) as a member of the Australian Council for Private Education and Training (ACPET). Whitehouse is compliant with the HESA. For further information contact Whitehouse. Click here to read the Tuition Assurance Statement in full.
Bachelor of Design - International Students
Academic Dates and Fee Schedule 2020-2021
The Tuition Fee schedules apply for 2020/2021 only and are subject to annual review and alteration. All fees are in Australian Dollars and inclusive of GST where GST is applicable. The Fee documents attached are for tuition only and do not include course material costs. For further information on course material cost estimates please call us on 1300 551 433 and ask to speak with the Admissions Team.
Tuition Fee Payment Options
International students are not eligible to access Commonwealth support for payment of tuition fees. All tuition fees are payable upfront each study period of enrolment.
Payment of the Bachelor of Design tuition fees are to be paid in advance by study period.
- An invoice for the first study period tuition fees + OSHC for the duration of expected visa grant will be issued on the submission of enrolment documentation. This will need to be paid before issue of the CoE and OSHC Certificate
- The subsequent tuition fees for the duration of enrolment will be invoiced at the end of the study period and are due before the commencement of next study period in which you are enrolled.
- Additional tuition fees cannot be accepted to paid in advance other than the current study period.
Cancellation and Refund Policy
By accepting a place in any one of the Whitehouse Institute’s courses, the student enters into an agreement to study a course for the expected published duration of the enrolled program of study – their enrolment then is bound by the terms and conditions of the Cancellation and Refund Policy. Download a copy of the Cancellation and Refund Policy.
Tuition Assurance
Whitehouse has met the tuition assurance requirements of the Higher Education Support Act (HESA) as a member of the Australian Council for Private Education and Training (ACPET). Whitehouse is compliant with the HESA. For further information contact Whitehouse. Click here to read the Tuition Assurance Statement in full.
NON-TUITION FEES
Non-tuition fees are governed by the Higher Education Support Act. Students must be able to complete the requirements of their course of study without the imposition of fees that are additional to tuition fees except in the following circumstances:
- for a service that is not essential to the course of study; or
- for alternative forms of access to a service that is an essential component of the course of study, but is otherwise made readily available at no additional charge by Whitehouse; or
- the fee is a fine or penalty, provided it is imposed principally as a disincentive.
Non-tuition Fees and Charges Schedule |
|
Cancellation Fee O/S – approved notice of withdrawal or deferral received before course commencement = 10% of the study period tuition fee (international students only - penalty) | (max) $1,356.00 |
Refusal of student visa by DIBP – 5% of pre-paid tuition fees or $500.00 (international students only - penalty) | 5% or $500.00 |
Electronic transactions surcharge - Visa and MasterCard (service charge) | 0.87% |
Electronic transactions surcharge EFTPOS (service charge) | $0.45 each |
Late Payment fee (penalty) | $20.00 per day |
Dishonoured payment (penalty) | $50.00 |
Reissue of Testamur/Qualification* (service charge) | $50.00 |
Reissue of Academic Transcript* (service charge) | $30.00 |
Locker Hire – Annual (service charge) | $45.00 |
Locker Key/Lock reissue (penalty) | $25.00 |
Reissue Whitehouse Student ID card (penalty) | $30.00 |
Overdue Library Book fee: $1 per day up to first 7 days, $10 per day thereafter (fine) | $1.00/$10.00 |
Lost Book Fee: minimum $150 or cost of replacement (fine) | $150.00 minimum |
Printing fees - library (service charge) | $0.10 to $2.00 per sheet |
Binding - library (service charge) | $1.45 - $4.50 per set |
Graduation ceremony (service charge) ** | $155.00 - $170.00 |
Private Tuition (BDes only – service charge) *** | $85.00 per hour |
- * Reissue of academic transcripts and or Transcript/Qualification must be made in writing (see Request Issue of Transcript form) with payment/credit card authority and include current mailing and contact details, and in advance.
- **Graduation ceremony – students are not required to attend the ceremony and can be conferred award in absentia without charge.
- ***Students may be required to undertake private tuition due change of design specialisation or missed content though unsupported absences to assist with progression. Private tuition is also available upon request.
The Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) will be introduced from 16 September 2019.
What is the SSAF?
The SSAF is for student services and amenities of a non-academic nature, such as recreational activities, student socials, special events, counselling services etc.
Who pays the SSAF?
Any person who is enrolled or seeking to enrol with a higher education provider can be charged a student services and amenities fee.
When is the SSAF due?
The SSAF is being introduced 16 September 2019 and is payable by the census date
The SSAF annual fee will take effect from 1 January 2020 and is payable by the census date each study period.
How much is SSAF?
The amount you pay depends on your fee type and study load.
Each year Whitehouse will charge an annual SSAF calculated in accordance with government regulations.
- As at 16 September 2019, the maximum amount to be charged will be $101.00 for full time students.
- Students who are not full time will pay a pro-rata amount according to their study load.
How do students pay the SSAF?
Domestic students can pay upfront.
If you do not wish to pay upfront and you are eligible, you can request assistance from the Commonwealth and defer the fee through the element of the Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) known as SA-Help
Under SA-Help, the amount of the fee will be added to your students accumulated HELP debt.
International students are not eligible for SA-Help and must pay the fee up-front.
Who decides what the SSAF is spent on?
The Student Representative Council (SRC) in consultation with the student body and Whitehouse Management, will have an important say in how the fees are allocated and spent, ranging from services such as, student wellbeing, learning support and career advice, or recreational activities outside normal class time.
The SSAF can’t be used for the provision of academic service, to support political parties or the election of a person to a Commonwealth, state, territory parliament or local government body.
For further information refer:
Australian Government, Department of Education and Training
Whitehouse Student Services and Amenities Policy and Procedure will be available on the Whitehouse website by 16 September 2019.
MATERIALS AND RESOURCES
The Whitehouse Institute offers students the opportunity to experience a wide range of different studio practices, each of which will require specific materials and equipment. It is the student’s responsibility to determine what materials and equipment are required for each class prior to the class being held. - this will be listed in the course outline for each subject. Students are to attend each class with the correct equipment.
The cost of materials and supplies will vary depending on the specialisation. Costs will be incurred for specialist art papers, fabrics and accessories. Specialised Studio Workshops require additional materials and supplies and these costs are determined by the student’s choice of items.
The design staff have put together Art and Technical Kits together to ensure that student have the essential supplies to assist them in the execution of high quality work and consistency across specialisations. These supplies are required at the commencement of studies. An indicative cost of these are:
Art Kit: $850.00
Fashion Technical Kit: $550.00
Creative Direction Technical Kit: $205.00
Interiors Art & Technical Kit: $630.00
*Prices subject to change (Updated October 2020)
All students are to have an Art Kit as well as a Technical Kit specific to your specialisation at the commencement of studies. Students are under no obligation to purchase Art or Technical materials from Whitehouse. Students can assemble the kits as per the Art & Technical kit listings. Students who enrol in September will only require an Art Kit, the Technical Kit can be ordered prior to February classes.
Student and ATAR Profile |
Study period 1 – February 2020 | ||
No of students |
Percentage of students |
||
Higher Education Study(includes bridging or enabling courses) |
32 | 13% | |
Vocational Education & Training (VET) Study |
31 | 13% | |
Secondary Education (recent): |
|||
1. Admitted solely on basis of ATAR | N/A | 0% | |
2. Admitted where ATAR, Portfolio andMotivational Statement were considered | 79 | 33% | |
3. Admitted on the basis of other criteria and ATARwas not a factor (e.g. special consideration, Portfolio
& Motivational Statement alone, schools recommendation scheme with no minimum ATAR requirement) |
67 | 28% | |
Work and Life Experience |
14 | 6% | |
International Student |
16 | 7% | |
ALL Students |
239 | 100% |
Whitehouse does not admit on ATAR alone. All applicants are to provide Creative Portfolio and Motivational Statement.
