Bachelor of Business / Bachelor of Interior Design (Residential)

This is a four-year double degree that pairs a business education with a focused interior design qualification. You graduate with two awards: a Bachelor of Business and a Bachelor of Interior Design (Residential). That combination matters because residential design work is rarely just about drawing. It is about clients, budgets, builders, suppliers, timelines and contracts. The business half gives you the language and the tools to run that side of things.

On the business side you study core units in accounting, economics, marketing, management and business law, then choose a specialisation. The interior design side is where you learn residential design specifically: space planning, materials and finishes, lighting, colour, furniture, joinery and documentation. You produce design drawings and specifications for houses, apartments and renovations, and you learn how the residential approval and construction process actually works. The degree is delivered across trimesters, with units of study carrying credit points, and you will build a portfolio of residential projects as you go. Most double degrees of this length include a capstone unit in the final year where you pull the two disciplines together on one substantial project.

Skills you come out with include design software and drafting, client briefing, concept development, cost planning, project coordination and business planning. You also learn to present design ideas to people who are not designers, which is most of the job. Work-integrated learning is part of the picture: placements or industry projects with design practices, building companies or related businesses, arranged through the university. Torrens University Australia has campus locations in several Australian cities, and the course is registered on CRICOS for international students.

This degree suits two kinds of people. One is the student who wants to design homes but does not want to be dependent on someone else to run the business. The other is the business student who wants a creative, practical specialisation with a clear output. It also works for people already in the building or property industry who want formal design credentials. If you are an international student, note that a Student visa lets you work up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session, and the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream may be available after you finish, depending on your circumstances. Entry requires English proficiency; IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall is the common standard for undergraduate courses, with TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced and the university's own English programmes accepted as equivalents. The Department of Home Affairs sets a separate English threshold for the visa itself. Check the official CRICOS listing and the university page for current tuition, intake dates and entry requirements.

• Residential interior designer in a design studio or architectural practice
• Design consultant working directly with homeowners on renovations and new builds
• Kitchen and bathroom designer for a joinery or fittings company
• Colour and materials consultant
• Property stylist for real estate and display homes
• Business development or operations roles in design and construction firms
• Retail or showroom management in homewares, furniture and finishes
• Small business owner running your own residential design practice
• Project coordinator on residential building projects
• Roles with builders, developers and property groups that need someone who understands both design and the commercial side

Hiring industries in Australia include residential architecture and interior design practices, building and construction companies, joinery and cabinetry manufacturers, property development, real estate styling, and homewares and furniture retail.