Interior Design

Canadian citizens and permanent residents; meet one named entry category, plus programme prerequisites

• Canadian citizens and those with permanent residence status in Canada are eligible for admission to Academic programs if they meet one of the following conditions:
• graduation from a BC secondary school, or equivalent, with a minimum “C” grade in either English Studies 12 or English First Peoples 12;
• previous degree from a recognized university;
• visiting student from a college or university (a “Letter of Permission” from the home institution is required);
• a transfer student from a college or university (at least 24 transferable university-level credits completed);
• academic mature student category: 21 years of age (or will turn 21 during their first semester) and has a minimum “C” grade in either English Studies 12 or English First Peoples 12.

Interior Design applicants; BC secondary courses or equivalent

• Meet VIU general admission requirements.
• English 12: minimum C for ENGL 115 enrolment.
• At least C in one of Principles of Mathematics 11, Applications of Mathematics 11 or Foundations of Mathematics 11.

Domestic (Canadian); entry Sep 7, 2027; Nanaimo

• Accepting Late Applications: Yes
• Document Deadline: Applicants are encouraged to complete their application/portfolio by January 15, 2027, for early consideration. The department will consider accepting students for Fall 2027 in January 2027, after an initial portfolio review period. Applications submitted/completed after January 15, 2027 (and those that did not receive early consideration), will be reviewed on march 31, 2027. Applications are open until March 31, 2027, or until the program is filled. There is a possibility qualified applicants may be waitlisted.

International; entry Sep 7, 2027; Nanaimo

• Accepting Late Applications: Yes
• Document Deadline: Applicants are encouraged to complete their application/portfolio by January 15, 2027, for early consideration. The department will consider accepting students for Fall 2027 in January 2027, after an initial portfolio review period. Applications submitted/completed after January 15, 2027 (and those that did not receive early consideration), will be reviewed on March 31, 2027. Applications are open until March 31, 2027, or until the program is filled. There is a possibility qualified applicants may be waitlisted.

First-year Interior Design applicants who meet the English and mathematics subject requirements

• Apply to VIU first, then submit the programme package electronically through SlideRoom.
• Provide a 300-word statement about your reasons for applying, academic and career goals, and research into the profession.
• Provide 6–12 original creative pieces; describe each piece, its medium and inspiration.
• Pay the required SlideRoom fee and complete the programme consent forms; contact the chair to arrange alternative portfolio submission if necessary.
• Attend a phone, video or in-person interview only if the committee requests further information.

First-year applicants using the current Interior Design SlideRoom package

• The how-to paragraph also names a resume and questionnaire, but the numbered required-item list describes only the statement and portfolio. Confirm the live package requirements with the programme before submission.

Interior Design applicants seeking Year 2 or Year 3 only

• Email the Interior Design programme chair about possible advanced standing before applying. The reviewed page does not publish a guaranteed transferable-credit or GPA threshold.

Interior Design applicants; portfolio package and advanced-standing route remain separately scoped

• Familiarity with fundamental computer skills, such as word processing, is recommended for coursework.
• Enrolment is limited; minimum requirements do not guarantee admission.

First-year Interior Design applicants; advanced standing has a separate route

• Submit your 300-word programme statement and 6–12 original portfolio pieces with short descriptions through SlideRoom.
• The current instructions also name a resume and questionnaire, programme payment and consent forms. Contact the chair for an alternative portfolio submission method if required.
• A phone, video or in-person interview occurs only if the committee requests more information.

Canadian citizens and Canadian permanent residents seeking Academic programmes

• The public Academic policy recognizes BC secondary graduation or equivalent with at least C in English Studies 12 or English First Peoples 12; a prior degree from a recognized university; or transfer status with at least 24 completed transferable university-level credits. A visiting student instead requires a home-institution Letter of Permission and is not thereby admitted to a degree.
• These are general Academic categories. Programme-specific entry still applies, including separate third-year entry requirements in Education, Criminology, Child and Youth Care and Tourism Management. International students follow the separately linked international policy, which is not certified here. No held grade or programme minimum is changed.

Canadian citizens and permanent residents aged 21, or turning 21 during the first semester

• The Academic mature category also requires at least C in English Studies 12 or English First Peoples 12. Individual course prerequisites and programme requirements still apply. The different age 19 rule for Trades/Applied Technology is not applied to these Academic degrees.

Students who do not meet a general Academic admission category

• An applicant may take academic classes as an Unclassified Undergraduate after BC secondary graduation/equivalent, or at age 19 or turning 19 in the first semester. Students must meet each course prerequisite.
• Unclassified status does not admit the student to a specific university programme. Registration follows other Academic programme students and course availability is limited. It does not promise subsequent programme admission.

Applicants seeking Academic admission on a previous recognized university degree

• Applicants admitted on a previous degree must still satisfy course prerequisites. In most cases a secondary-school transcript is also required to confirm those prerequisites. This route does not itself certify entry to a programme with separate admission criteria.