MBA in Interior Design

MBA in Interior Design is a two-year full-time postgraduate course that is intended to equip students with the knowledge, competencies, and skills they require to succeed in a demanding and dynamic global environment. As the name suggests, the course is an integration of the management and interior designing field that help students develop the skills required by a modern interior designer.

To be eligible for MBA in Interior Design courses, students must pass entrance exams like AIEED, XAT, CAT, CEED, NID, SNAP, CMAT, etc. In India, many of these courses are delivered both offline and online/distance modes of schooling. Some of the top colleges offering these courses are Birla Institute of Management Technology, Chandigarh University, Alliance University, Loyola Institute of Business Administration, etc. On average, the course fee ranges from around INR 35,000 to 14 LPA. Graduates in this field earn decent starting salaries ranging between INR 2.3 and 5.5 lakhs annually.

Here are the highlights of an MBA in Interior Design course:

Students who are good at playing with colours, raw materials, and fabrics should consider studying MBA in Interior Design. This is because the field provides a thorough understanding of architecture, management, home decor, and business. Effective utilisation of loft space has become crucial for humans due to the growing population and limiting amount of available space. To help address the many issues in the interior design industry, there is an indispensable need for professional interior designers. The following are the reasons why the majority of students choose to study an MBA in Interior Design:

• It takes a comprehensive look at how colours, textures, light, and shapes can be manipulated to create a desirable result.
• They get the opportunity to explore a variety of art and design fields, preparing them for careers as professional interior designers.
• This course equips them with the technical know-how and skills required to convert the projected visual into creative environments.
• They learn about architectural elements, the intended function of interior space, and how to design a space that reflects the needs and desires of users.

If you have a creative instinct in you, then MBA Interior Design is a favourable career choice. It involves the concepts and processes involved in designing the interiors of residential and commercial spaces and giving them an entirely new look. MBA Interior Design courses are offered to prospective students in various modes such as full-time, part-time, online and distance. Here is a comprehensive outlook of the types of MBA Interior Design:

• Full-time MBA Interior Design: A full-time MBA Interior Design course extends over two years. Students have to attend classes regularly and must maintain their attendance. They will have internship opportunities with industry players and get both classroom and practical training. 
• Part-time MBA Interior Design: Part-time MBA Interior Design course is fit for professionals already in the industry and who want to accelerate their career with a business administration degree. They can carry on their professional life along with academics by attending weekend or evening classes. 
• Distance/Online MBA Interior Design: To save the unnecessary hassle of travel, online or distance MBA Interior Design is the best option. Students who have job commitments and still want to pursue this degree can opt for this mode of study. The curriculum of the distance/ online MBA in Interior Designing course covers topics related to designing various furniture, management, marketing, accounting, etc.

There are no such aptitude-based tests or common national-level entrance exams that are mandatorily required for admission to MBA in Interior Design. One of the reasons for this could be that this is a field of colourful creativity and innovativeness, instead of complex calculus or good aptitude skills. 

Nevertheless, applicants must take multiple admission exams held by the respective universities or other authorities. The following are the popular entrance exams for MBA in Interior Design in India:

• XAT
• TS ICET
• AP ICET
• SNAP
• NID
• TANCET
• MAH CET
• CMAT
• CEED
• NMAT
• CAT
• AIEED

In India, the eligibility criteria for MBA in Interior Design courses may vary from one college or university to another. The detailed MBA in Interior Design eligibility criteria are discussed below:

• Students must hold a three-year bachelor's degree in any discipline or field of study from a recognised institution with a minimum of 45% to 50% aggregate.
• Applicants must sit for university-level or state-level exams like the AIEED, MAH CET, XAT, CAT, CEED, NID, SNAP, CMAT, etc.
• Although not compulsory, a few institutions in India may require applicants to have obtained a minimum of 80 to 90 percentile in entrance exams as a part of their admission cut-off.

Through MBA Interior Design students harness the technical know-how and skills to transform visualised intent into creative spaces. The admission process for this specialisation is the same as others. Students have to undergo the following steps to complete admission for MBA Interior Design: 

• Entrance Exams: It is widely acknowledged that students need to take an entrance test such as XAT, MAT, CAT, SNAP, ATMA or CMAT for MBA Interior Design and clear the cut-off of the particular college to be eligible for the next steps.
• Group Discussions: Group Discussions are conducted in the next round of selection by each college. Students are given a topic to discuss for 20 to 25 minutes and are thoroughly assessed on their knowledge, participation, communication skills and leadership qualities. 
• Interviews: Personal interviews are taken by a panel of experts who study the body language of the aspirants. These are generally one-to-one conversations that try to analyse if the candidate is the right fit for the course and university.

In MBA Interior Design students will be able to gain expertise through industry-standard design techniques and digital tools and gain insight through lectures and seminars and live projects. There are numerous MBA colleges across India, but very few of them provide Interior Design as a specialisation. Here are some of the colleges for MBA Interior Design and their location: 

Studying an MBA Interior Design abroad helps to address current spatial and interior theory. Besides the development of creative design projects, students will develop the theoretical and design skills needed to practice the profession.

• Students can explore the design potentials for old or redundant spaces.
• They can work with a given building through a variety of research..
• They will be able to work on projects of varying scale and complexity.
• They will develop interior practice within a professional context. 

The top MBA Interior Design colleges abroad are:

The course fee for MBA Interior Design varies from one college to another. Government institutions have lower tuition fees as compared to private or public colleges. Students can expect to shell out INR 1.5 lakhs to 3 lakhs for MBA Interior Design. The table summarises the list of b-schools and their approximate average tuition fees: 

First Year

Second Year

MBA Interior Design engages students in exploring ideas and issues related to distinct aspects of the design of the interior. Students will be trained to work in Interior Design studios of respective colleges and workshops and can explore more about scale, colour, light, materials, texture and acoustics. They will master a variety of techniques and visualisation methods such as: 

• Sketching by hand
• Collage
•  Industry-standard 3D digital platforms
• Model-making
• Photography

Workshops, seminars, projects, internships, summer projects, practical sessions, lab sessions and electives are part of the MBA Interior Design curriculum.

A world of exciting opportunities awaits MBA Interior Design graduates. As people’s interest in the designer interior is increasing, the need for professionals in this field is also growing.

The course facilitates a conceptual and technical understanding of the subjects that help students secure the best position in the industry. The salary is between INR 4 to 6 lakhs for beginners and it increases with expertise and skills. Here are some of the common job roles and their expected annual salary: 

In a developing country such as India with a growing construction sector, there are ample career opportunities for MBA in Interior Design graduates. The construction industry is expected to generate a revenue of over USB 5 billion in 2020. Plus, growth in the sector is imminent with the government giving a boost to infrastructure projects such as the development of smart cities. As per an estimate, the construction sector in India is expected to become the third-largest in the world by 2025.

The current market has a good demand for Interior Design professionals and the job prospects are only expected to grow in the future. This is because Design will play a fundamental role in the development of Indian cities where the population is rapidly expanding and spaces are depleting at an equally fast pace. In such an environment, the services of professionals who can direct the creation of spaces for humans while keeping in minds the efficient use of space and practical as well as economical aspects of design will be highly desirable.

Also keeping in mind the shift of the Indian middle class to an apartment-style living will further cause a growth in the Interior Design segment. MBA in Interior Design graduates can expect to work in good positions and demand comfortable salaries. Whether it be in the luxury segment where aesthetic values get preference or in the economy sector, where the focus is laid on maximising the use of available space, individuals who understand the art of Interior Designing will hold command.

Following are the prime areas where career opportunities for MBA in Interior Design professionals arise.

• Interior Design / Decorating Firms or Agencies

• Architecture Companies

• Fashion Houses

• Construction Companies - Residential and Commercial

• Construction of Hospitality Establishments

• Construction of Hospitals

• Educational Institutions etc.

Here are some of the job roles open for candidates who have completed an MBA in Interior Design.

• Interior Designer

• Furniture Designer

• Exhibition Designer / Organizer

• Kitchen Designer

• Design Consultant etc.

Interior designing professionals help to breathe new life to spaces. Having competitive job skills is an essential part of developing a career as an Interior Designer. The candidates must have the ability to develop or create innovative and unique designs after MBA Interior Design. Designers need more natural style and design to impress clients. The skills that are needed for this specialisation are: 

• Creativity: Professionals need to modify their vision according to the taste and needs of the clients. One needs to find out artistic and creative solutions to elevate spaces.
• Communication Skills: Even if one has creativity and vision, it requires communication skills to transfer into reality. One must be an active listener to understand the needs of the clients.
• Budgeting Skills: Clients need an estimate of the expenditures for a particular project. Often it is found that the actual cost far exceeds the estimation. Budgeting skills are essential to provide an idea of how much it will cost and how things can be managed within the allocated funds.
• Time Management: It is extremely essential to manage the time of the project as it can seriously hamper the cost of the project. One needs to provide a realistic deadline for the project.