Interior Design - Course Transition Information
Torrens University Australia has made some changes to the current Diploma of Interior Design and Decoration course (DIDD20).
What does this mean?
- Torrens University will no longer accept NEW enrolments into DIDD20
- Students currently in this course can continue their studies as per the existing course structure
- A new Advanced Diploma of Interior Design and Decoration (ADIDD24, AQF Level 6) has been released in parallel.
- The new ADIDD24 course, starting in Trimester 1, 2025, features updated subjects, including three Advanced Diploma-specific topics and a Common Core subject on fundamental design skills and higher education design studies.
- Current DIDD20 students may be eligible to transition into the new program.
More information about your eligibility to transition, along with your specific progression and study guide, was sent to your student email on 27 November 2024.
Can I transition to the new ADIDD24 course?
You are eligible to transition to the new course if you have completed 90 credit points (9 subjects) or less by the end of Trimester 3 2024.
You are not eligible to transition to the new course if you have completed 100 credit points (10 subjects) or more by the end of Trimester 3 2024.
Eligible to transition
If you have completed 90 credit points (9 subjects) or less by the end of 2024, you are eligible to transition into ADIDD24.
More information about your eligibility to transition, along with your specific progression and study guide, was sent to your student email on 27 November 2024.
The transition is not automatic and you must complete a Course Transfer Application.
Mapping of DIDD20 to ADIDD24
| Current course: DIDD20 Diploma of Interior Design and Decoration |
New course: ADIDD24 Advanced Diploma of Interior Design and Decoration |
|---|---|
| Subject code & name | Subject code & name |
| DSO102 Design Studio 1 | DSG101 Introduction to Design |
| DGC100 Graphic Communication | DGC100 Graphic Communication |
| DBD100 Bespoke Decoration | DBD100 Bespoke Decoration |
| DDW100 Design Drawing | DDW100 Design Drawing |
| DPK100 Product Knowledge | DPK100 Product Knowledge |
| DCC100 Construction and CAD | DCC100 Construction and CAD |
| DJF100 Joinery and Finishes | DJF100 Joinery and Finishes |
| DWL200 Work Integrated Learning | DWL200 Work Integrated Learning |
| DHI100 History of Interior Design and Decoration | INT101 History of Architecture, Interior Design and Decoration |
| DPS100 Project Site Analysis | N/A |
| DMP100 Major Project | N/A |
| DPP100 Professional Practice | N/A |
| N/A | INT202 Project Site Analysis |
| N/A | INT203 Capstone A (Major Project) |
| N/A | INT204 Capstone B (Professional Practice) |
Note: If you have only DPS100, DMP100, and DPP100 left to complete in DIDD20, they will be running from T2 2025 and you will need to contact our “Help Me Enrol” team on HelpMeEnrol@torrens.edu.au to arrange your specific transition timeline.
Frequently asked questions
Our current Diploma of Interior Design and Decoration is a wonderful course, built with industry input and guidance, and we have had excellent results from graduates as they finish the course and head off into industry! However this year there were legislation changes in NSW and Victoria to how an interior designer is able to work on projects of different types - sole practitioners need to be accredited in their profession to complete these works, and offices need to have at least one person within them with the new accreditation that can sign off on relevant drawings and documents. These changes were made very quickly, and other states and territories are expected to follow suit in the very near future. The Design Institute of Australia (DIA) has then set up an accreditation program that all interior designers are welcome to apply for.
You can find all of the details on the accreditation program here and on the DIA Accredited Designer - Eligibilty document
This accreditation program was developed by the DIA independently using their expertise in education and industry, and all education providers have been issued with the same information regarding it.
Torrens has moved quickly in turn to ensure that our courses are updated to reflect this industry change - in fact we have been the first university or higher education provider in Australia to do so. And so we have developed an Advanced Diploma of Interior Design and Decoration (ADIDD24) to meet the new requirements that these legislation changes ask for of self-practicing interior designers.
Both qualifications are perfect for people starting out in interior design and decoration!
All students start together, and move through drawing, drafting, product knowledge, joinery detailing, and even get the chance to design for a real client with a live brief!
The Advanced Diploma offers students a deeper understanding of interior design and decoration knowledge, and a higher skill level in the digital drawing and 3D rendering programs used by industry. Diploma students use these programs also, but at a level appropriate for residential interior decoration. Advanced Diploma students move beyond residential design to learn more about commercial interior design also, such as hotels, restaurants, and retail projects.
Both qualifications are industry level, it just depends on which part of the industry you want to work in!
Diploma graduates will be more suited to residential interior decoration projects, property and magazine styling, and architectural sales.
Advanced Diploma graduates will be qualified to do the same work as the Diploma, but they will also be able to take on interior design projects such as residential kitchens and bathrooms with some structural changes, as well as commercial projects in the fields of hospitality, retail, workplaces, and others.
In addition to this, upon graduating, Advanced Diploma graduates are able to immediately apply for a higher level of professional accreditation in Interior Design through the Design Institute of Australia, which means they can take on more complicated projects backed by the professional structures of this accreditation program. This level of accreditation is only open to Diploma graduates once they have completed their studies and a certain amount of relevant work experience.
Think about where you want to end up. It's always best to approach studying any course with at least a bit of an idea of what kind of job you want out of it. If you're looking to move into styling and decoration, then the Diploma is your best bet.
However, if you're looking to work on design and construction projects, selecting finishes like tiles, marble, flooring, and special wall finishes to be installed, drawing technical details of how your project will be built, deciding on lighting schemes, and choosing bathroom and kitchen fittings and appliances, then the Advanced Diploma is the course for you!
DSG101 is a new subject written to replace DSO102 in the Advanced Diploma. It is a different subject, but students who have completed DSO102 will get credit for DSG101 applied to their Advanced Diploma enrolment.
The Advanced Diploma has also replaced DHI100 with INT101. This is a new version of this subject with new content and resources, and so while a student will get credit for INT101 in the Advanced Diploma if they have taken DHI100 previously, they are different subjects.
Project Site Analysis INT202, Capstone A (Major Project) INT203, and Capstone B (Professional Practice) INT204 have replaced DPS100, DMP100, and DPP100 completely. These subjects have had their AQF level raised from Level 100 to Level 200 and so they ask more of students than the older versions of these subjects. The time taken to complete the subjects is the same, but the complexity of the assessment outcomes are increased to align with the higher assessment requirement of a level 200 subject. Therefore we cannot offer credit for these three subjects in the Advanced Diploma.
Complete the Course Transfer Form as soon as you can and send it to Student Services - they’ll handle everything from there!
If you want to know more about transferring courses at Torrens you can look over the Course Transfer Procedure - section 5 in particular covers the course transfer process.
International students on a student visa should consider the potential visa implications of transferring courses and chat to the Department of Home Affairs with any questions you may have about your visa.
Not eligible to transition
You are not eligible to transition to the new course if you have completed 100 credit points (10 subjects) or more by the end of Trimester 3 2024.
More information about your eligibility to transition, along with your specific progression and study guide, was sent to your student email on 27 November 2024.
If you have completed 100 credit points (10 subjects) or more by the end of Trimester 3 2024, there is no change to your current course.
The terms and conditions of your enrolment will remain the same.
You will still graduate with the DIDD20 Diploma of Interior Design and Decoration award when all course requirements have been met and there is no disadvantage in staying in your current course.
There is sufficient time for all students to finish their course.
However, we recommend that you seek advice before taking any Leave of Absence from this point onwards.
If you need any assistance in making sure you choose the right subjects in your course, please contact our “Help Me Enrol” team on HelpMeEnrol@torrens.edu.au.
If your course is not completed by the deadline, you can transfer into a different course such as:
- Bachelor of Interior Design in either Commercial or Residential, or
- Bachelor of Architectural Technology
Important to note:
These courses can also be articulated into once a student has completed the Diploma of Interior Design and Decoration.
You may not be able to transfer across all the subjects you have completed to date. The Program Director of the destination course will assess your transcript to determine how many subject credits you will be entitled to.
The teach-out delivery schedule is subject to timetable changes based on student progression within the teach-out period.
Frequently asked questions
It might be better if we discussed the courses using their course codes, rather than the names, as the codes show the difference in the courses more easily!
- You are currently enrolled in DIDD20
- The new diploma is DIDD24
- The new advanced diploma is ADIDD24
DIDD20 is a wonderful course, built with industry input and guidance, and we have had excellent results from graduates as they finish the course and head off into industry!However this year there were legislation changes in NSW and Victoria to how an interior designer is able to work on projects of different types - sole practitioners need to be accredited in their profession to complete these works, and offices need to have at least one person within them with the new accreditation that can sign off on relevant drawings and documents. These changes were made very quickly, and other states and territories are expected to follow suit in the very near future. The Design Institute of Australia (DIA) has then set up an accreditation program that all interior designers are welcome to apply for.
You can find all of the details on the accreditation program here and on the DIA Accredited Designer - Eligibilty document
This accreditation program was developed by the DIA independently using their expertise in education and industry, and all education providers have been issued with the same information regarding it.
Torrens has moved quickly in turn to ensure that our courses are updated to reflect this industry change - in fact we have been the first university or higher education provider in Australia to do so. And so we have developed an Advanced Diploma of Interior Design and Decoration (ADIDD24) to meet the new requirements that these legislation changes ask for of self-practicing interior designers.
Yes, you are still hireable with your DIDD20 Diploma!!
The legislation changes require self-practicing interior designers (those working on their own and not within a company), or at least one person in a design office or company, to be accredited through a professional registration program from the Design Institute of Australia in order to be able to sign off on relevant technical drawings and documents that propose structural or wet area changes (including bathroom and kitchen works).
Your DIDD20 qualification is still industry relevant, and you have had the skills taught to you that offices require of their juniors to get their work done.
If you are looking to practice on your own once you graduate, then this is also still possible!
It is common practice for interior designers to work with joinery companies and builders to complete ‘shop drawings’ of final designs for kitchens and bathrooms before they are built. This means that any liability for any works done are held by the joiner or builder. The changes in the legislation means that sole-operators will now need to always use this method of completing drawing packages for final sign off, until they have enough experience to apply for the relevant level of accreditation with the DIA.
Remember that this change does not apply to designers working in decorating or styling! Changes made to interiors that involve non structural changes such as a change of paint or wall finish, or selection of furniture or materials, do not require an accredited designer to carry these works out. It also does not affect roles in architectural sales, industry sales, photo or real estate styling, or most other roles open to anyone who holds a Diploma in interior design and decoration.
The primary change between these two courses is the AQF Level has been changed.
The Australian Qualification Framework (AQF) sets out what is required in the assessment and learning outcomes for each learning level in Australian tertiary courses.
DIDD20 is an AQF Level 5 course, and ADIDD24 is an AQF Level 6 course. Even though the length of DIDD20 and ADIDD24 is the same, they are two very different courses. ADIDD24 has a number of subjects delivered and assessed at a higher AQF level to align with the requirements for an Advanced Diploma (Level 6). And so the courses are not ‘like for like’.
The DIA are currently working to draft some learning and assessment outcomes that would form the basis of any bridging short course that an individual could take to accrue more points in their accreditation system. Once the DIA have finalised that, then Torrens can build our own course and offer that to anyone looking to increase their points.
Please refer to the DIA document outlining the accreditation points system to see other ways in which anyone can increase their eligibility.