Bachelor of Interior Design (Honours)

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Applying as a Canadian applicant

Domestic students should apply online or by phone at 1-888-892-2228.

Applying as an International applicant

International students should apply online.

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Admissions - August 2025

Admission requirements

Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), or equivalent, OR 19 years of age or older
A minimum of six (6) required Grade 12 courses with a minimum cumulative average of 65%, including one (1) specified U level course and five (5) additional U or M level courses.
The following courses are required:
- English (ENG4U)

A Grade 12 U level course in Mathematics OR a grade 11* Mathematics (U or M).
*Minimum grade of 65% is required; a Grade 11 Math is not a substitute for a 12 U or M course. If a Grade 11 Math U or M, is used for admission consideration, applicants must still have six (6) Grade 12 U /M courses to be eligible to apply for this program.

Note re: admission requirements

For applicants not meeting the Admissions Requirements, successful completion of the design Foundations program, and having a grade 12 U level math may be used to meet the admission requirements for the Bachelor of Interior Design degree. Please email BID@conestogac.on.ca for more information.
Applicants must have basic computer literacy. Courses in art, CAD/drafting, and history are recommended. Grade 11 or 12 Physics is highly recommended.
Applicants possessing degrees/diplomas from institutions where the language of instruction was not English will be required to provide test scores as evidence of their English language proficiency. Test scores, if required, would be a minimum of TOEFL iBT 88 with no individual skill less than 22; IELTS 6.5 with no bands less than 6.0; CAEL 70 with no sub-test band scores less than 60; PTE Academic 58; 82 or higher; Cambridge Exams 180 with no individual score less than 170; or equivalent scores in other recognized standard tests of English.
We offer a language program for students whose English language skills are below the standard required for admission but who have met all other admission criteria. You will be eligible for admission to the degree program after completion of level 4 of the General Arts and Science – English Language Studies (ELS) program with an overall grade average of 80% and no grade less than 75%. Your placement in the ELS program is determined by scores on an in-house English language test or TOEFL or IELTS.

Canadian admissions contact

admissions@conestogac.on.ca

International admissions contact

internationaladmissions@conestogac.on.ca

Admission procedures

Academic strength is calculated by averaging all submitted Grade 12 marks (or equivalent) of the required subjects and four additional U or M courses. If more than four additional courses are submitted, the courses with the highest marks will be used.
Other factors as well as grades are considered. Applicants are required to submit a portfolio and a writing sample.

Portfolio requirements

The portfolio submission is a mandatory component of the admission process for the Bachelor of Interior Design program.

Portfolio submission

Admissible applicants are invited to submit a digital portfolio as part of the admission process.

Email with the website address (i.e., URL) of your digital portfolio to BIDportfolio@conestogac.on.ca. Do not email the portfolio.

Portfolios are reviewed in order of date of receipt. An offer of admission is not possible until a portfolio has been received and reviewed. In order to be considered for an offer at the earliest opportunity, applicants are encouraged to submit a portfolio as soon as possible.

After reviewing the information below, please email questions regarding the portfolio to Ann Callaghan, the program coordinator: acallaghan@conestogac.on.ca.

Portfolio contents

There are three components to submit:

Portfolio cover sheet (including declaration of ownership)
Graphical content
Written content

1. Portfolio cover sheet

Your name
Your Conestoga Student Number
Your email address
Your phone number
Date of submission
The following declaration of ownership:
"I declare that the contents of this portfolio are my own work. I understand that any misrepresentation of material as my own will result in rejection of my application to Conestoga College's Bachelor of Interior Design program." Signed ________________________________

2. Graphical content

You are required to submit 5 - 10 pieces of your own work.

Photographs, quality photocopies or scans are acceptable. All pieces must be formatted at 8 1/2" x 11".

5-10 pieces of the applicant's own work are to be submitted.

Portfolios will be evaluated based on the applicant's ability to effectively communicate visually. The following mandatory items must be included in the portfolio submission:

A freehand drawing of an interior space to include an architectural element.
A freehand drawing of a collection of items (min. 3 items).

The selection of the remaining 3 - 8 pieces for the portfolio is at the discretion of the applicant. Consideration of pieces that best reflect the skills that will support the application to the BID program should be given in the selection of these. These may include (but are not limited to):

2D and 3D Drawings, sketches, posters, graphics, etc.
Artwork demonstrating use of colour (at least one piece in colour pencils, water colour, markers, etc.)
Design work (including pieces that were designed at school or individually)
3D Object (photographs of an object that were designed/created by applicant)
Architectural drafting (hand or computer generated, max. 1 item)
Any other work that may support the application.

For each piece of work, identify the media used and include a brief description of the work.

3. Written content

A 250 - 500 word essay to demonstrate writing style and quality.

Topics:

My Perspective on the Interior Design Industry, or
The Reason I Am Interested in Interior Design

Program requirements

The academic requirements to be eligible for a co-op work term in a degree program are as follows:
- Minimum 65% session weighted average in the eligibility term two academic semesters prior to any co-op work term

Maximum two failures or withdrawals during the academic semester that occurs in the eligibility term two academic semesters prior to any co-op work term

Must have successfully completed all but two core courses, according to the program design, by the eligibility term prior to any given work term (regardless of the level the student was placed in advanced standing)

Students (even those on special timetables) will not be permitted to complete a co-op work term until conditions above are met and all but two core course deficiencies, according to the program design, are cleared

Co-op work terms may need to be re-sequenced to allow academic deficiencies to be cleared or in the event a student changes cohorts (i.e. graduation is delayed by one year or more). Students may not repeat a passed work term

Should a student’s academic performance decline considerably during the term just prior to any work term, the college reserves the right to withdraw the student from the upcoming work term

In the case of back to back work terms eligibility to participate in consecutive work terms will be granted upon approval to participate in the initial work term

Where two or more work terms occur back to back, should a student fail to achieve academic eligibility for the first work term, their eligibility for the second work term will be based on the term that occurs two terms prior to the second work term

Students in degree programs may only fail/defer each work term in their program design once

Credit transfer

You might be eligible to enter a program at an advanced level, or be exempt from a course, if you have formal post-secondary education. Learn more about credit transfer opportunities.

Pathways

Some Conestoga programs have pathways for current students, including certificate-to-diploma, diploma-to-diploma and diploma-to-degree opportunities. Learn more about pathways at Conestoga.

Articulation agreements

Conestoga partners with other post-secondary institutions, allowing students the opportunity to study elsewhere, usually in pursuit or an academic credential. Learn more about articulation agreements.

Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR)

Through PLAR, Conestoga may credit prior learning or skills acquired through employment, formal and informal education, or life experiences. Learn more about PLAR at Conestoga.

Bridging opportunity

Conestoga College offers the ability for a degree completion in the Bachelor of Interior Design (Honours) program.

Credit Transfer/Degree Completion Opportunity: Bachelor of Interior Design

Conestoga College offers the ability for a degree completion in the Bachelor of Interior Design program.

Who can apply?

Graduates from advanced diploma programs in interior design who meet the admission requirements.

Degree completion admission requirements:

Applicants must have 70 per cent or higher program average from a previous interior design program.
Applicants must attend an interview and portfolio review.
Applicants must have either a 4U, 3U, or 3M math credit from secondary school or equivalent math credit from their post-secondary studies.
Applicants without the required math credit must complete an approved math course prior to being admitted. Options for this include:
- OLRN1425 Technical Mathematics - an online math course that is available each semester (fall, winter, spring) through Conestoga’s Continuing Education
- MDM4U Mathematics of Data Management - available online through the Independent Learning Centre
- Any other math course that meets the admission requirements and has been pre-approved by the program coordinator or Chair.

Program entry:

Transfer credits are awarded for diploma courses and students are placed into a modified year 3 of the degree program in September.

How to apply?

Applications are made through ontariocolleges.ca by selecting Level 6 of Conestoga's Bachelor of Interior Design program.
Applicants are required to submit transcripts from their advanced diploma program, even if it is yet to be completed.
Applicants will then be invited to attend an interview/portfolio review. These are held on an ongoing basis and can be completed in person or via Skype. It is recommended that an application be made before February 1.
The portfolio must include studio work from the advanced diploma program and/or professional practice and should demonstrate a breadth of knowledge in interior design.

For more information:

Please email BID@conestogac.on.ca

Ministry consent

Conestoga College has been granted a consent by the Minister of Colleges and Universities to offer this applied degree for a five-year term starting April 29, 2019. Conestoga College shall ensure that all students admitted to the above-named program during the period of consent will have the opportunity to complete the program within a reasonable time frame. Application to the Ministry for renewal of the consent to deliver is a prescribed and cyclical requirement for all degree programs at all Ontario colleges.

Disclaimer

The College reserves the right to alter information including requirements and fees and to cancel at any time a program, course, or program major or option; to change the location and/or term in which a program or course is offered; to change the program curriculum as necessary to meet current competencies in the job market or for budgetary reasons; or to withdraw an offer of admission both prior to and after its acceptance by an applicant or student because of insufficient applications or registrations, over-acceptance of offers of admission, budgetary constraints, or for other such reasons. In the event the College exercises such a right, the College’s sole liability will be the return of monies paid by the applicant or student to the College. Students actively registered in cohort delivered programs who take longer than the designed program length of time to complete their studies are accountable for completing any new or additional courses that may result due to changes in the program of study. Unless otherwise stated, students registered in non-cohort delivered programs must complete the program of study within seven years of being admitted to the program.