Bachelor of Interior Design
Your path to becoming a registered interior designer starts with Canada’s only online CIDA-accredited BID degree.
From working for a design firm to launching my own, Yorkville provided the foundation that helped shape my career.
Tiffany Piotrowski
Principal Designer and Founder,
Tiffany Leigh Design
Shape Environments Where People Live, Work, and Connect
Build the creative and technical skills to design spaces that enhance human experience. Turn concepts to reality through studio-based learning, industry-standard software, and an optional 150-hour industry internship. Our CIDA-accredited curriculum integrates spatial planning, technical detailing, building systems, sustainability, and professional practice. While industry-active faculty share insights that connect design thinking to real-world application. Graduate with a professional portfolio, applied experience, NCIDQ eligibility pathway, and design spaces that support environmental and social responsibility, health and safety, and community wellbeing.
Duration
As Few as 2.5 Years*
*With full course load, year-round study and/or approved transfer credits. Contact an Admissions Advisor for more information.
Tuition
$53,320*
Cost per credit: $409
Total credits: 130
Application fee: $150
Campus
Online
Starts
January, April, July, October
Your Program. Your Advantage.
Start Your Application
Start Your Application
Hear From Our Graduates
Accreditation and Professional Recognition
Graduate with confidence knowing your degree is backed by leading accreditation and recognition bodies across Canada and North America. This reflects the quality of your education, strengthens your credibility with employers, and supports your path toward professional registration.
Admission Requirements
To Apply You Will Need
- Completed online application
- Official high school or post-secondary transcripts
- Resume and statement of interest
- $150 application fee
- Proof of English language proficiency with a TOEFL score of at least 80, IELTS overall score of 6.5 (no band score below 6), or equivalent on other recognized tests
Conditional Admission
If you meet all other admission requirements and have an IELTS score of 6.0 in every band, you may qualify for conditional admission. In your first term, you can take up to three courses, including required ENGL101, where you must earn a minimum C+ grade.
Admissions Pathways
Whether you’re applying as a high school, college, or university graduate, a mature student, or an international student, there’s an admissions pathway designed to support your next step.
Course Descriptions
Start Your Application
Start Your Application
Program Description
The Bachelor of Interior Design degree offered by Yorkville University produces interior design professionals with broad technical skills and personal scope. Graduates of this program develop expertise in the latest technical and digital media, public health standards, safety, and welfare issues, and develop a deeper cultural and ecological awareness. Students also gain an understanding of the business side of Interior Design. Graduates are equipped with well-developed visual literacy, collaborative team approaches, and creative problem-solving skills to prepare them for the next step in their career. The curriculum is taught by a diverse faculty of industry-connected, working professionals who prepare students to become design leaders in the industry. Projects include the design of residences, hotels and restaurants, offices, and industrial spaces.
4 Credits
This introductory course examines interior environments through the lens of space planning. Students engage with foundational concepts including anthropometrics, ethnographic observation, site analysis, human factors, accessibility principles, and design standards. Emphasis is placed on integrating user needs with spatial qualities through programming methodology and schematic design.
Prerequisite(s): None
Corequisite(s): BIDC 101
4 Credits
This course explores principles of space utilization and organization in residential settings. Students develop conceptual approaches to small-scale residential environments, emphasizing the integration of human behavioral theory within three-dimensional spatial planning and design.
Prerequisite(s): BIDC 101, BIDS 101, BIDE 101
Corequisite(s): BIDC 102.
4 credits
This course explores principles of commercial design with a focus on branding and user experience. Students develop programming skills, space planning techniques, and circulation strategies to create interior environments that reflect brand identity while adhering to architectural constraints and regulatory codes.
Prerequisite(s): BIDS 102
Corequisite(s): BIDC 103.
4 Credits
Students explore programming and planning methodologies for commercial interiors, focusing on the design of efficient, functional, and comfortable corporate office environments. The course examines architectural constraints, system furniture integration, and principles of office ergonomics in the context of workplace design.
Prerequisite(s): BIDS 103, BIDC 103
Corequisite(s): none
4 Credits
This course introduces knowledge of healthcare design and applies these principles to a small commercial project focusing on a healing environment. Emphasis is on applied research and theoretical advances within the healthcare environment, applied building code knowledge, space planning, privacy and circulation strategies, universal design, and the contribution of design to healing.
Prerequisite(s): BIDS 201
Corequisite(s): none
4 Credits
This course enhances student knowledge underlying considerations in approaching different types of healthcare design facilities. The focus of this course is on facility types such as long-term care, autism centers, mental health, addiction treatment, and hospice care, emphasizing space planning and environmental factors in specialized design contexts.
Prerequisite(s): BIDS 202
Corequisite(s): none
4 Credits
This course examines mobile, deployable, and compact spaces with a focus on design solutions for highly specialized conditions. Students explore concepts that serve contemporary social issues for emergency shelter, emphasizing innovative and sustainable design solutions.
Prerequisite(s): BIDS 203
Corequisite(s): none
4 Credits
Students engage in an interdisciplinary collaborative project focused on developing a cohesive design solution within a group. The course explores advanced design methodology using collaborative approaches to a multi-use project, integrating evidence-based design research and criteria for renovating historic buildings through adaptive reuse and design philosophies that honour heritage values.
Prerequisite(s): BIDS 301, BIDP 301
Corequisite(s): none
4 Credits
Building on the foundation and successful completion of thesis research and programming, students develop advanced conceptual frameworks to inform the direction of the design and presentation of their thesis projects through integrated theoretical and spatial approaches.
Prerequisite(s): BIDP 303, ALL STUDIOS 1-8
Corequisite(s): none
4 Credits
Students develop the final presentation of their thesis project, emphasizing the documentation of the project, using a planned methodology to illustrate the design development stage of the design process. The final project represents students’ highest achievement, demonstrating their knowledge and skills as a preprofessional designer.
Prerequisite(s): BIDS 401
Corequisite(s): BIDP 402
Creative Thinking Meets Technical Expertise
Studio Courses That Mirror Real-World Projects
Build creative confidence through studio courses across residential, hospitality, workplace, and healthcare design. Strengthen your ability to solve spatial challenges and communicate ideas through projects that reflect real client and space needs.
- Work on projects that reflect real client and space needs
- Strengthen presentation, planning, and design judgment
- Build experience across multiple design sectors
Technical Skills Built for Professional Practice
Turn ideas into buildable solutions using AutoCAD, Revit, SketchUp, and Photoshop. Develop the technical precision, documentation, and systems knowledge needed to contribute confidently in professional design environments.
- Build proficiency in leading design software
- Develop technical drawing and documentation skills
- Strengthen knowledge of systems, codes, and detailing
Where Our Graduates Work
Meet the Program Chair
Reem Habib brings nearly two decades of experience across interior design practice and higher education, with expertise spanning hospitality, residential, and commercial design in Lebanon, Dubai, and Canada.
An NCIDQ-certified professional, she also holds LEED and WELL credentials and is currently pursuing a PhD in Environmental Design at the University of Montreal. Reem joined the Bachelor of Interior Design program in 2020 and has served as Program Chair since 2022.
Frequently Asked Questions
Explore answers to common questions. If you don’t see what you’re looking for, connect with an Admissions Advisor for personalized support.
Careers & Professional Recognition
What careers can I pursue after graduating from the BID program?
Graduates of the online Bachelor of Interior Design degree can pursue careers in hospitality, healthcare, corporate, educational, residential, lighting, exhibit design, furniture manufacturing and supply, and facilities management. Many graduates work as interior designers, interior design technologists, design consultants, project coordinators, and space planners in design firms, architectural offices, and related industries.
Will this program help me become a professional interior designer?
Yes. The program is designed to support your pathway toward National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) eligibility and future professional registration in many jurisdictions across Canada and North America.
What accreditations and recognitions are associated with the program?
Yorkville University has been granted consent by the Ministry of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security to offer the BID program.
The program is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) and recognized by the Association of Registered Interior Designers of Ontario (ARIDO) and Interior Designers of Canada (IDC). Graduates also meet the educational requirements to pursue the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) examination.
Flexibility & Program Format
What is the Yorkville University Bachelor of Interior Design program?
The Yorkville University Bachelor of Interior Design is a CIDA‑accredited, fully online degree that prepares you for entry‑level interior design practice, advanced study, and eligibility to sit for the NCIDQ examination.
Who is the online BID program best suited for?
The program is ideal for aspiring interior designers, career changers, and design professionals who need a flexible online degree they can complete while working and managing other commitments.
Can I complete the BID program while working full time?
Yes. The program is delivered fully online, allowing many students to continue working while completing their degree.
How can the program be completed in as few as 2.5 years?
The undergraduate academic year runs across four 12-week terms, beginning in January, April, July, and October. By studying continuously across all four terms, many students can complete the program in as few as 2.5 years.
When can I start the BID program?
The program has four start dates each year: January, April, July, and October.
Is the Bachelor of Interior Design program offered fully online?
Yes. Yorkville University’s Bachelor of Interior Design is a fully online CIDA-accredited interior design degree with no residency requirement.
Internship, Portfolio & Thesis
Is there practical experience built into the program?
Yes. The program offers an optional 150-hour industry internship, providing exposure to professional workflows, collaboration, and real-world design practice. The internship is offered as an elective and is not a graduation requirement.
Will I graduate with a portfolio?
Yes. Studio-based projects, software-based design work, and the final thesis help you build a professional portfolio throughout the program.
Is there a thesis or capstone project?
Yes. The program includes a showcase thesis project designed to demonstrate your design thinking, technical skills, and professional readiness.
Do I have to find my own internship placement?
Internship opportunities are typically arranged in collaboration with students and program faculty or staff; details about how to secure and approve an internship placement are provided during the program. While the benefits of an internship are well known, remember that this 150-hour internship is optional and not a graduation requirement.
Admission
What is the application process for the BID program?
The application process depends on your academic and professional background. Multiple pathways are available for high school, college, university, mature, and international students. To learn more, please review the admission requirements or connect with an Admissions Advisor.
What specific documents do I need to provide for my application?
Standard requirements typically include:
-
-
- A completed online application
- Official transcripts from previous studies
- Proof of English language proficiency (if applicable)
Additional documents based on your admissions pathway, such as transfer credit documentation
-
For full details, please refer to the admission requirements page.
Can I transfer credits from previous studies?
Yes. Transfer credits from previous post-secondary education may be assessed on a case-by-case basis and may reduce your time to completion.
What are the admission requirements for high school students?
High school applicants typically need an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent with at least a 65% average in six Grade 12 courses, including Grade 12 English and one Grade 11 or 12 math at the U/M level or equivalent.
Does Yorkville University accept mature or non‑traditional students?
Yes. Yorkville University offers a mature student pathway for applicants who can demonstrate academic competence equivalent to Ontario high school graduates through prior post‑secondary coursework or proficiency assessments.
English Language Requirements
What IELTS or TOEFL score do I need to be accepted?
Proof of English language proficiency is required, with a TOEFL score of at least 80, an IELTS overall score of 6.5 (with no band below 6.0), or an equivalent score on another recognized test. For more details, please refer to the English language requirements page.
What if I don’t meet the minimum English language requirements?
If you meet all other admission requirements and have an IELTS score of 6.0 in every band, you may qualify for conditional admission. In your first term, you can take up to three courses, including required ENGL101, where you must earn a minimum C+ grade.
Technical Requirements
What computer requirements do I need for the program?
You will need a computer that meets the minimum system requirements for design software, including:
• Intel Core i5/i7 or AMD equivalent
• 8 GB RAM minimum (16 GB recommended)
• Minimum 8 GB free disk space (30 GB recommended for software suites)
• Graphics card with at least 512 MB memory
• Broadband internet connection
• Speakers, microphone, or headset
A Windows-based system is strongly recommended for the best experience with design software.
What software will I need?
The program uses industry-standard tools, including:
• Autodesk Building Design Suite
• SketchUp Pro
• Twinmotion
• Adobe Creative Cloud
Mac users may use native Mac versions where available, though a Windows emulator or virtual machine is recommended for full compatibility.
Do I need any specific drawing or drafting equipment?
While much of the work is digital, some courses may recommend basic drafting tools and sketching materials; detailed lists are provided in course outlines once you are enrolled.
Tuition & Financial Support
How much does the BID program cost?
For the most current tuition and fee information, please visit the tuition page or connect with an Admissions Advisor.
Does Yorkville University offer scholarships?
Yorkville offers scholarships and bursaries and can help you explore financial aid options and payment schedules. For details, please visit the financial aid page.
Can I apply for Canadian provincial student loans?
Domestic students may be eligible to apply for provincial student loan programs such as OSAP and other provincial funding options.
Faculty & Student Support
Who teaches the BID program?
Courses are taught by experienced faculty and industry practitioners who bring both academic expertise and real-world interior design practice into the classroom.
What support is available for online learners?
Students have access to technical support, library resources, academic services, and Admissions Advisors throughout their learning journey.
Is disability or accessibility support available for online students?
Yes. Yorkville University provides accessibility and accommodation support for eligible students; you can work with Student Services to discuss your needs and available academic accommodations.
What if I have more questions?
If you cannot find your question on this page, you can contact an Admissions Advisor, who will be happy to help.
Latest News
View All
View All
