Interior Design Course Requirements in Kenya

Interior Design Course Requirements in Kenya 2023

Interior designers in Kenya work with diverse clients to create artistic and reliable living spaces. The clients range from individual house owners to government-owned institutions and large corporations. The career is a satisfying sector with well-paying jobs for creative and innovative interior designers.

Several higher learning institutions in Kenya offer interior design courses, including certificate, diploma, and degree levels. These institutions like  Kenya College of Interior Design act as a crucial bridge connecting learners to the relevant knowledge and creativity.

For a person to take any interior design course in these institutions, various requirements are necessary for enrollment. The path you pursue hugely depends on your KCSE grades and personal interest. The course requirements also depend on the level of study you wish to undertake. They include;

1. Certificate in interior design

 A certificate in interior design is an entry-level course that is a significant starting point for individuals who wish to venture into the expansive field. It equips you with crucial skills to produce presentable designs and interior living spaces that meet clients’ requirements and needs.

Various institutions that offer certificate-level in interior design studies have diverse requirements for enrollment into the course. They include; (interior design Kenya schools)

Kenya College of Interior Design (KENCID)

You can study for a certificate in interior design at this institution for less than a year. The institution admits individuals with work experience in any field who desire to study the course. The minimum requirement to enroll for a certificate in interior design is a KCSE mean grade of D or an equivalent to the mean grade. Interior design experts and professionals oversee the training activities in well-spaced design studios in the college.

They have a pocket-friendly fee structure meant to cushion Kenyan students and support them in pursuing interior design certificates. After successfully finishing your certificate-level studies at Kenya College of Design, you can take part in formal employment or become a junior interior design consultant. However, you can opt to further your studies by taking a diploma course in the same field at the institution.

CONTACT @KENCID

Buruburu Institute of Fine Arts (BIFA)

This institution falls under the management of the catholic church and can be an ideal place to pursue your interior design certificate. It has been in operation since 1993, and it offers informative training on design-related courses. The minimum requirement for pursuing a certification in interior design in this institution is a mean grade of D+ in your KCSE.

Other institutions

Other institutions that offer certificate-level courses in Kenya include Kirinyaga University, Egerton University, Ashley’s Beauty College, and Dedan Kimathi University. Subsequently, the minimum requirement for pursuing the interior design course is D+ in your secondary school final exams.

2. Diplomas in interior design

A diploma in interior design will equip you with the knowledge and experience to collaborate with design professionals to create reliable and self-sufficient living spaces. Some institutions that offer diplomas in interior design in Kenya include;

Kenya College of Interior Design

This institution is an ideal place where you can pursue a diploma in interior design. At KENCID, they have interior design professionals who will ensure that you are well equipped with fundamental knowledge and skills to cope with industrial changes and challenges in the sector. The minimum requirement for pursuing a diploma course in interior design is a KCSE mean grade of C- or an equivalent of the same.

After completing a diploma in interior design from Kenya College of Interior Design, you can become a freelance interior designer, seek formal employment in executive interior design companies or opt to join a degree program at top Kenyan university.

Maseno University

To pursue interior design at this university, you need a minimum KCSE mean grade of C plain with a C- and D+ in English and Mathematics, respectively.

Evelyn College of Design in Nairobi and Buruburu Institute of Fine Arts

At the Evelyn college of design, you learn the diploma in three stages that take a total of two and a half years to complete. The minimum grade for pursuing a diploma course at the Evelyn college and Buruburu Institute of Fine Arts is C- in the KCSE examinations.

3. Degree in interior design

A degree in interior design will take four years to complete. That means a total of over eight semesters are included in the study of the course that has interior design as a subsequent course.

The higher learning institutions that offer degree programs in interior design include;

• Nairobi university offers a bachelor of interior design
• The Technical University of Kenya offers a bachelor of technology (Design)
• Maseno University offers Bachelor of Arts on Design- with Interior Design

The interior design degree requirements are similar in all institutions. They include a KCSE mean grade of C+, a diploma in interior design, or any other related fields. A Higher National Diploma may also apply in some institutions.

Other institutions that offer interior design courses include The Dedan Kimathi University, KIrinyaga University, Egerton University, and Ashley’s Beauty College.

In conclusion, the general requirements of pursuing interior design include;

1. For certificate levels, you require a minimum KCSE mean grade of D+.
2. For diploma levels, a KCSE mean grade of C- or PASS in a recognized certificate course can grant you access to a degree course in a recognized university. Some universities can be lenient enough to allow a mean grade of C plain.
3. A KCSE grade of C+ can secure your place at the university for degree courses. Alternatively, a diploma in interior design can guarantee the same position at the university.

Learning interior design at Kenya College of Interior Design will equip you with knowledge and advanced skills highly marketable in Kenya. They will help you compete and collaborate with other professionals in the industry. However, for your designs to become more proficient, you must master the design process and other vital features like texture, scale, lighting, and proportion when developing interior living spaces.

KENCID also offers short courses in interior design that can take up to three months with a fair budget.