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.
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Applying as an International applicant

International students should apply online.
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Admissions - August 2026

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) OR Conestoga College Preparatory Advanced Functions for Degrees (MATH0150)

      *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.

  • Students missing a required Math course, options include:
    • Taking the online course OLRN142
    • Completing a high school course through their local school board
    • Enrolling in an online course through Virtual High School or TVO/ILC.
  • Students missing a required English course, options include:
    • Completing a high school course through their local school board
    • Enrolling in an online course through Virtual High School or TVO/ILC.
  • For more information on preparatory programs, visit Academic Upgrading

Note re: admission requirements

  • If your transcripts are from outside of Canada, you will need to obtain a comprehensive course-by-course credential evaluation. You can use an approved provider of credential evaluation services such as ICAS or WES, or applicants can request a credential evaluation through the college using the Assessment of International Credentials for Admissions and Credit Transfer online form.
  • Applicants with transcripts from institutions where the language of instruction is not English must demonstrate English language proficiency. Please refer to English language requirements for details.

Canadian admissions contact

International admissions contact

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

Submitting a portfolio is a mandatory part of the admission process for the Bachelor of Interior Design (Honours) program.

Portfolio submission process

Eligible applicants will receive an email inviting them to submit a digital portfolio.

How to submit

  • Email the URL (web address) of your online portfolio to BIDportfolio@conestogac.on.ca.
  • Do not send PDFs or attach files. Only links to digital portfolios will be accepted.

Important notes

  • Portfolios are reviewed in the order they are received.
  • Admission offers cannot be made until your portfolio has been submitted and reviewed.
  • To be considered for an offer at the earliest opportunity, submit your portfolio as soon as possible after receiving the invitation email.

Questions?

If you have questions after reviewing the information below, please email Ann Callaghan, Program Coordinator.

Portfolio submission guidelines

Your portfolio must include three components:

1. Portfolio Cover Sheet

Include the following:

  • Full name
  • Conestoga Student Number (from your invitation email)
  • Email address
  • Phone number
  • Date of submission
  • 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

Submit 3 to 5 original pieces of creative work which represent your strongest work and demonstrate your ability to communicate ideas visually, showcase your artistic strengths and support your interest in interior design. Suggested types of work (but not limited to):

  • Freehand drawing of an interior space
  • Freehand drawing of a collection of objects (minimum 3 items)
  • Pencil and ink drawings
  • Multimedia presentations
  • Photographs of 3D objects you've designed or created
  • 2D/3D drawings, sketches, posters, or graphic designs
  • Artwork using colour (e.g., coloured pencil, watercolour, markers)
  • Architectural drafting (hand-drawn or digital; max 1 item)
  • Any other creative work that supports your application and reflects your design potential

For each portfolio piece, include:

  • Title of the work
  • Media used (e.g., pencil, ink, digital, watercolour)
  • Brief description:
    • What does the piece represent?
    • What inspired it or what was your creative process?
    • How does it reflect your interest or skills in interior design?

Note: Students who have not had art classes can demonstrate their creativity through other mediums and/or may submit at least one item from Graphical Content above and a more extensive written submission (outlined below, up to 700 words). If you have any questions, please contact the Program Coordinator.

3. Written Content

Submit a 250–500-word essay that demonstrates your writing style and quality.

Describe your interest in and knowledge of interior design as a profession. The essay should indicate an understanding of the difference between interior design and interior decorating. You may wish to include architectural or design influences and research relevant websites such as ARIDO or CIDA.

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.

Advanced standing 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:

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?

  • Graduates of Conestoga's Architecture Construction Engineering Technology program should complete the Advanced Standing Application and apply to Level 3.
  • Graduates of programs from other institutions should apply to Level 6 of the program through ontariocolleges.ca (program 1068C). Applicants are required to submit transcripts from their 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 are done virtually. 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.