Everything to know if you want to study interior design in Turkey
Interior design is a study where you design the interiors of a building. It starts off with developing the idea and then actually carrying out the design. Choosing to study interior design in Turkey means you will learn about human needs, user experiences and site context, among other exciting topics.
The degree will be covered in various different modes, such as lectures and practice sessions, where you will learn the history of interior design, design elements, colour theory and more. In Turkey, you’ll also experience a hands-on internship, which will allow you to get a real taste of the professional working world.
About studying interior design in Turkey
Interior design, as a field, emerged hundreds of years ago but only recently have universities started to offer it as an academic degree program, universities in Turkey included. Studying interior design in Turkey is an exciting experience, offering students the chance to learn about the technical side of drawing, colours and interior lighting.
Students of the degree learn invaluable skills like how certain colours can make areas look bigger and how certain types of lighting can draw attention to different pieces of furniture and highlight any colours of choice. Students will study many exciting courses, though which ones exactly depends on the Turkish university you choose to study in. That’s why we always recommend looking at the website of the program of choice to see exactly what you’ll study!
Read more about: How to begin studying in Turkey?
Why study interior design in Turkey?
So, why should you choose to study interior design in Turkey? That’s a great question to ask as a student interested in the field. There are various reasons why studying interior design in a Turkish university is a great option to consider, with these being some of the most important ones:
- Istanbul is home to many beautiful architectural sights, so they can be inspired by the interior designs there and apply them in their work.
- Living costs in Turkey are cheap, compared to most other countries where they could pursue the degree.
- Turkish universities offer students a wide range of Interior design course options, so you can find the perfect course for you.
- Degrees in Turkey are internationally recognized and are taught by well renowned professors.
Learn more about: Advantage and disadvantage of Studying in Turkey
Courses of Interior Design in Turkey
If you study a degre in interior design in Turkey, you can expect to study courses in the following areas:
- Computer-aided design models
- Free drawing
- Furniture Design
- Ventilation Systems
- Building Layouts
- Construction history
If you want to know more specifically, here’s an example of the courses you may study in the four academic years it takes to earn a degree:
First year
During the first year, you’ll study courses like basics of interior design, introduction to design and architecture and the visual media basics of design. You’ll also take several elective courses related to interior design and more advanced interior design courses.
Second year
In the second academic year, you can expect to study courses more related to the history of architecture and interior design. You’ll also cover courses about the history of art and architecture, as well as some studio courses.
Third year
Delving into your third year, you’ll study more advanced interior architecture design courses and courses relating to design theory. You’ll also take on some courses that discuss the history of furniture and furniture design.
Fourth year
In most Turkish universities, your fourth year will focus on highly advanced interior architecture design courses and drawing measurement courses. You’ll also undertake a graduation project, where you will come up with the interior design of your own building.
Read also about: Guide to Study Architecture in Turkey
Duration of study interior design in Turkey
In most cases, your bachelor’s degree in interior design will take two to four years of education to complete. If you study a graduate program in the field, your program will last for at least two years.
Skills required for interior design in Turkey
If you want to study a Turkish interior design degree, you’ll need to ace the following skills:
- Knowledge of computer drawing programs
- Good free drawing skill
- Willingness to carry out fieldwork
- The ability to correctly select and coordinate colours
- Leadership qualities
- Passion for design and decoration
- Good and unique design taste
Fields of work for interior design in Turkey
Job prospects for interior design graduates in Turkey are pretty impressive, with many orders to remodel spaces around the cities. Large and medium-sized companies often want to redesign their interiors to keep up with the latest design features, so you’ll find plenty of work opportunities after graduation.
Gastronomy, tourism, healthcare, the theatre industry, the automotive industry and event industry are all examples of fields where you might be able to find work as an interior designer. You can also work in the film and television industry, shipbuilding and museums, among various other fields that need redesigning or designing from scratch a new building.
Some of the jobs you may want to work as after you study interior design in Turkey are the following:
- Interior and spatial designer
- Exhibition Designer
- Production Designer
- Visual Merchandiser
Those who have gained an interior design degree may also choose to do further studies or courses and work as architects, architectural technologists, furniture designers, graphic designers, stylists and more! The sky’s the limit for those who studied an interior design degree in Turkey, as everything focuses on beautifying designs, which you will be an expert at after graduating!
Interior design graduate salaries in turkey
All students are interested in salaries after graduation, so you’ll be glad to know that interior design graduate salaries in Turkey are pretty lucrative. The average interior design salary is about TRY 21,500 per month, while the salary for an interior design assistant in Turkey is about TRY 5,000 per month.
Other job options include working as a visual merchandiser, in which you’ll receive about TR 14,200 TRY per month. Exhibition designers, another job option for interior design graduates, reels in about TRY 35,700 per month in the city of Istanbul.
Famous Universities to study interior design in Turkey
If you’ve got your heart set on studying an interior design degree in a Turkish university, you’ll want to know the most famous ones, the specialisations, the degree type, the language of instruction and the tuition fees. We’ve rounded up the key info on the most famous universities down below so you can find out everything you want to know!
University Name |
Specialisation |
Degree Type |
Language of Instruction |
Tuition Fees |
Kadir Has University |
Interior Architecture and Environmental Design |
Bachelor |
English |
$6,000 |
Istanbul Gedik |
Interior Architecture and Environmental Design |
Master’s without Thesis |
Turkish |
$2,500 |
Istanbul Gedik |
Interior Architecture and Environmental Design |
Master’s with Thesis |
Turkish |
$3,000 |
İstanbul Esenyurt |
Interior Architecture and Environmental Design |
Bachelor |
Turkish |
$2,200 |
Fenerbahçe |
Interior Architecture and Environmental Design |
Bachelor |
English |
$3,000 |
Fenerbahçe |
Interior Architecture and Environmental Design |
Bachelor |
Turkish |
$2,500 |
Okan University |
Interior Architecture and Environmental Design |
Master’s Without Thesis |
Turkish |
$5,400 |
Okan University |
Interior Architecture and Environmental Design |
Master’s With Thesis |
Turkish |
$5,400 |
İstanbul Nişantaşı |
Interior Design |
Vocational School |
Turkish |
$1,600 |
ISTANBUL MEDIPOL |
Interior Architecture and Environmental Design |
Bachelor |
English |
$6,120 |
ISTANBUL MEDIPOL |
Interior Architecture and Environmental Design |
Bachelor |
Turkish |
$5,400 |
Altinbas University |
Interior Architecture and Environmental Design |
Bachelor |
Turkish |
$3,500 |
Altinbas University |
Interior Architecture and Environmental Design |
Bachelor |
English |
$4,500 |
Kadir Has University
Kadir Has University follows the Khas educational model at the department of interior architecture and environmental design. This means that students will study courses from the core program in the first semester, to open up their way of thinking. The university aims to collaborate with leaders in the interior design sector and integrate theoretical knowledge with practical project courses so that students get a fully-fledged interior design experience by the time they graduate from the program.
Istanbul Gedik
Istanbul Gedik University offers students a unique interior design program offered by the Fine Arts and Architecture Faculty. The course aims to train designers to care about user needs and learn about functional, structural and aesthetic criteria, as well as create economically and environmentally-friendly interior design structures. Students will also take part in an intensive training program, work in design offices and construction sites and even work in furniture and store designs before graduation.
İstanbul Esenyurt
Istanbul esenyurt offers an exclusive bachelor’s degree program in interior and environemntal design that lasts for four years. The school has a lovely modern campus that is located on the European side of Istanbul so students can find the whole city of Istanbul easily at their fingertips!
Fenerbahçe
Fenerbahçe university has an interesting four-year interior design program that allows students to develop critical perspectives when it comes to human-space relations and space design. Students learn to develop unique design ideas, research and compare methods and carry out practical project applications so they can master their design skills.
Okan University
Okan University allows students of the interior design program the chance to deal with complex concepts liek the relationships between human, space and furniture designs, learning disciplines like functionality, colour, construction, form and material. Students learn basic design principles, as well as get their own unique design identity that is creative and intellectual, so they are ready to compete on a global level.
İstanbul Nişantaşı
İstanbul Nişantaşı University offers a bachelor’s degree program in Interior design that lasts for four years and is instructed in the English language. Interior design students also get the unique options to study a double major or minor with their degree subject, to be able to delve into learning what they love as much as they possibly can!
Istanbul Medipol
Istanbul Medipol University’s department of interior architecture and environmental design lets students become interior design professionals with advanced analytical and critical thinking skills. They learn to solve interior design problems with a user-centric and highly-technological approach, while learning valuable design knowledge from national and international professors known for their interior design prowess.
Altinbas University
Finally, Altinbas University offers an interior design program by the Interior Architecture and Environmental Design department that aims to develop creative interior architects and designers, who keep human values at heart in their designs. They learn about the social, cultural and psychological aspects of the built environment and become socially responsible while using the most advanced technology forms to create their designs.
What are the requirements to study interior design in Turkey?
As with any other degree field, there are certain requirements to study interior design in Turkey. Admission to these universities includes the following requirements:
- Passing the Turksih YÖS Test , American SAT or GCSE depending on the country of origin, with cutoff scores depending on the university program and university of choice, though it’s usually around 50 or 60 per cent.
- Proof of English language of Turkish language proficiency, depending on the study program chosen. You can also attend the preparatory language year if you haven’t passed any of these language proficiency tests.
- Valid identification document such as passports or other form of photo ID
- Copy of your high school or bachelor’s degree diploma and transcript, depending on the degree level you are applying to
There may be various other requirements that you’ll need to hand in depending on the degree program and university but Study Fans can help you find out exactly what you need to apply!
Know about: Application Requirements to Study in Turkey in 2023
Sum up about study interior design in Turkey
In general, choosing to study interior design in Turkey is a great idea! Turkey is a unique and cultured place to live, with reasonable living costs and tuition fees, which is always a benefit for any international student. There are also many unique options for degree programs in the field of interior design, whether you’re looking at the bachelor’s or graduate degree level, so you can find the perfect program for you.
When it comes to choosing between universities to study your interior design degree at, you have many options at your fingertips, from Kadir Has University to Istanbul Gedik to Altinbas University. They all offer great programs which will cultutivate the unique design skills you need to work on a global level after graduation, like free drawing skills, passion for design and decoration, teamwork and leadership skills.
If you still don’t know if you want to study an interior design degree in Turkey, Study Fans can help you find out more about the degree, the options for universities you have and can help you carry out your application from A to Z.. Just reach out to us!
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