NDA vs KLC School of Design vs ASDAV For Interior Design

Choosing the right interior design institute in the UK depends on more than its reputation or course fees.

Students need to consider the course content, practical projects, teaching format, software training, career support, and qualification options.

In this comparison, we look at ASDAV alongside popular UK institutes, including the National Design Academy (NDA) and KLC School of Design, to help learners understand what each provider offers.

We compared their publicly available course details, learning methods, practical training, and student feedback to highlight their strengths and key differences.

So, this comparison guide can help aspiring interior designers in the UK choose a course that fits their learning needs, budget, and career goals.

1. ASDAV’s interior design course for the UK

• Course name: Professional Interior Design Certification Course
• Course fee: 499 GBP
• Training duration: 24 weeks
• Training mode: Live online classes

ASDAV’s Professional Interior Design Certification Course combines residential and commercial design training with technical drawing, 3D visualization, and project work. The 24-week program includes 40+ live sessions, guided projects, and training in tools such as AutoCAD, SketchUp, and Lumion.

Students complete two projects, one residential and one commercial, with drawings and visual presentations. ASDAV also includes career guidance and portfolio support. The course is delivered online, so students can attend live classes without relocating or traveling to a campus.

ASDAV’s interior design course USPs

Residential and commercial design in one course

ASDAV covers residential and commercial interior design within a single 24-week program. Students learn to plan homes and commercial spaces, considering layout, functionality, materials, lighting, and different users’ needs.

Here are some of the short masterclasses on interior design:

• Master in Interior Photography
• Interior Styling and Spatial Decoration
• Freehand Sketching & Illustration
• Green Building & Sustainable Design
• Landscape Design in Interior & Architecture

Live classes with direct instructor interaction

ASDAV uses live, instructor-led sessions in which faculty explain concepts, demonstrate workflows, and answer student questions. Students can discuss assignments and design problems during classes rather than depending entirely on recorded lessons.

Training in design software and technical documentation

ASDAV integrates software training with interior design projects. The course includes AutoCAD for technical drawings, SketchUp for 3D modeling, and Lumion for visualization, along with other curriculum tools such as Revit, V-Ray, Photoshop, and 3ds Max.

Two complete projects for portfolio development

ASDAV highlights two complete portfolio projects, one residential and one commercial. Students create design outputs that connect the initial concept to AutoCAD drawings and 3D visualizations. This lets them demonstrate more than isolated exercises when applying for design roles or approaching potential clients.

Here’s a student’s review on Trustpilot after completing one of our online training programs at ASDAV:

Real client briefs and guided capstone projects

ASDAV includes guided design projects, real client briefs, case studies, and capstone assignments. These activities help students practice interpreting requirements, planning spaces, and developing design proposals around a defined brief.

ASDAV lists 3+ capstone projects based on real client briefs, although the exact deliverables can depend on the batch and curriculum. Students should ask for a sample project brief if they want to understand the expected workload before enrolling.

Here are some of the real projects our students built during the course program:

Career guidance alongside design training

ASDAV includes 10+ guided career sessions as part of the course offering. These run alongside the technical and project-based curriculum, giving students opportunities to present their skills and prepare for professional opportunities.

Flexible access to live online learning

ASDAV’s online format allows students to join classes from different locations without attending a physical campus. Its course page states that sessions are recorded and that students can revisit lessons and course resources.

This can help learners review technical demonstrations or catch up after missing a class.

👉 Download Residential Interior Design Course Syllabus

2. KLC School of Design’s interior design courses

• Course name: Online Certificate in Residential Interior Design
• Course fee: £1,000
• Training duration: Up to 12 months
• Training mode: Self-paced online learning

KLC School of Design offers interior design education through online certificates and on-site programs in London. Its online Certificate in Residential Interior Design focuses on residential projects, while the Diploma HE in Applied Interior Design covers residential, commercial, and hospitality design.

Students can choose a self-paced certificate or a more intensive classroom-based program with practical study, tutor guidance, and live projects. This distinction matters because KLC’s online certificate and its higher education diploma have different course structures, learning experiences, and qualification outcomes.

KLC School of Design’s interior design course USPs

A specialized online certificate for residential interiors

KLC’s online certificate focuses on designing residential spaces. Students study spatial planning, color, lighting, materials, furniture, and the process of developing design schemes. The course also introduces sourcing, technical drawing, and client presentations.

Students who want broader training should consider KLC’s onsite Diploma HE, which includes commercial and hospitality design as well as residential work.

Classroom training with residential, commercial, and hospitality projects

KLC’s onsite Diploma HE in Applied Interior Design gives students a broader curriculum than the online residential certificate. The program covers residential, commercial, and hospitality design, with practical study and input from tutors and industry professionals.

Students work on live projects and learn to develop design proposals while considering the requirements of different spaces.

The full-time course runs for one academic year, while the part-time route takes two years. This can suit learners who prefer structured classroom teaching and a longer vocational program.

Detailed training in textiles, furnishings, and finishes

KLC’s residential course covers textiles, trims, curtains, blinds, upholstery, furniture, materials, and surfaces. Students learn how these elements contribute to a complete design scheme, along with sourcing and estimating quantities. This focus is useful for learners interested in residential design, where material selection and furnishings play a major role in the finished space.

The course also covers color and lighting, helping students consider how different elements work together. Students should compare the exact curriculum of each KLC program, as not every subject is taught in the same format.

A self-paced online option for busy learners

KLC’s online certificate gives students up to 12 months to complete the course. The learning materials include instructional videos, narrated presentations, quizzes, and practical tasks, which students can work through around other commitments. The course recommends around 12 hours of study per week for completion within a year. This format may suit people balancing work, family responsibilities, or other studies. Unlike a live cohort course, however, the online certificate relies mainly on independent study, so learners should consider how much scheduled interaction they want.

Professional practice and business skills

KLC includes professional practice topics that help students understand the business side of interior design. Its curriculum introduces sourcing, cost and specification sheets, client presentations, and the steps involved in beginning a design career.

The onsite Diploma HE also covers professional practice, including estimating, budgeting, project management, and documentation. These subjects are relevant to students who want to work with clients or eventually run their own design business. They help connect creative design work with the planning, communication, and administrative tasks involved in delivering a project.

Industry exposure through projects and professional contacts

KLC’s onsite diploma includes live projects, input from industry professionals, and opportunities to engage with design companies. The school also describes career support, portfolio guidance, and networking opportunities for students on relevant programs.

These experiences can help learners understand how interior design practices approach briefs, coordinate with others, and present proposals. Students who value in-person collaboration may find this particularly useful. These benefits apply to specific on-site programs and should not automatically be assumed to be part of the self-paced online certificate.

3. National Design Academy (NDA)

• Course name: Professional Diploma in Interior Design
• Course fee: Not available
• Training duration: Around 10 months online, or 14 weeks on the fast track route
• Training mode: Flexible online, fast track online, and in-studio options

The National Design Academy offers interior design education through professional diplomas and degree pathways. Students can study online at their own pace, take a fast track course with live online interaction, or attend in-studio training in Nottingham or Dubai. NDA’s diploma courses are accredited by AIM Qualifications, while its degree programs are awarded by academic partner De Montfort University Leicester. The academy also provides tutor support and progression options, making it relevant to learners who want flexible professional training or a longer route through higher education.

National Design Academy’s interior design course USPs

A route from professional diploma to degree study

NDA offers professional diploma courses alongside bachelor’s and master’s degree programs. Its diplomas are accredited by AIM Qualifications, while its degree courses are awarded by De Montfort University Leicester. This gives students a range of study levels to consider, from introductory professional training to higher education.

The academy also outlines progression routes between qualifications, subject to the requirements of the chosen program. This can be useful for learners who want to plan their education over several stages instead of choosing a single standalone course.

Three ways to study interior design

NDA offers flexible online learning, fast-track online courses through Zoom, and in-studio diploma training. The online format allows students to study around work or family commitments, while fast track classes provide more structure and interaction.

In-studio programs combine classroom sessions with home study, giving learners time to practice between sessions. NDA runs studio training at its Nottingham headquarters and in Dubai Knowledge Park. These options give students more choice over where and how they learn, depending on their schedule and preference for in-person teaching.

A large international alumni community

NDA reports more than 35,000 alumni across over 100 countries, along with more than 35 years of experience in design education. These figures give prospective students a sense of the academy’s scale and international reach. Its online programs also allow learners to study without relocating to the UK.

Tutor support during independent study

NDA supports online learners through personal tutors, a virtual learning environment, student forums, and communication options such as email, phone, Zoom, or Teams. This structure gives students ways to ask questions and receive feedback while completing assignments independently.

The virtual learning environment also holds course materials and tracks progress. Tutor support can be especially helpful for learners who need flexibility but do not want to study entirely on their own.

Practical assessments instead of relying on exams

NDA’s professional diploma courses use tutor-assessed project work rather than exams, according to the academy’s course information. Students develop design assignments that demonstrate their understanding of interior design principles and their ability to apply them.

The studio diploma in Dubai, for example, includes a live residential client brief that takes students from initial concept through design development to a final proposal.

In-studio training in the UK and Dubai

NDA offers classroom-based interior design diploma training at its Nottingham headquarters and Dubai studio. The Dubai route combines 10 days in the studio with home study, while students can choose weekday or weekend schedules depending on the published intake.

The studio format gives learners direct access to tutors and the opportunity to work alongside other aspiring designers. This can be useful for people who prefer structured in-person sessions but still want some flexibility outside the classroom..

A not-for-profit model and progression scholarships

NDA operates as part of the NDA Foundation, a not-for-profit organization. The academy states that profits are reinvested into the foundation and that progression scholarships are available to students who continue their studies. This may be relevant to learners considering a diploma followed by further qualifications, as the overall cost of education can extend beyond the first course.

Scholarship terms and eligibility should be checked before budgeting. The not-for-profit model does not mean every course is free or that all students will receive the same financial support.

NDA vs KLC School of Design vs ASDAV For Interior Designing?

ASDAV, KLC School of Design, and the National Design Academy differ in their course structure, teaching format, practical training, and qualification options. ASDAV focuses on live online training in residential and commercial interiors, KLC offers residential specialization alongside broader classroom programs, and NDA provides flexible study formats with diploma and degree pathways.

The table below compares their fees, duration, design coverage, instructor support, practical learning, and qualifications to help you identify the option that best matches your learning and career goals.

Why ASDAV can offer stronger value for interior design students

ASDAV combines residential and commercial interior design training in one 24-week program. Students learn technical drawing, 3D visualization, and space planning while working on real client briefs and portfolio projects. At 499 GBP, the course offers a structured live online option without requiring students to relocate.

KLC’s online certificate focuses on residential interiors, while its broader on-site diploma requires classroom study in London. NDA offers professional diplomas, degree pathways, and in-studio training in Nottingham and Dubai. For students who want live online instruction, practical projects, and exposure to both residential and commercial design, ASDAV offers a focused alternative.

Jasmine Ahluwalia

Jasmine Ahluwalia is a Licensed Architect, Interior designer, Global Vastu consultant and the founder of ASDAV.

She is a graduate of Scuola Master F.lli Pesenti, Politecnico di Milano, and brings strong global exposure through academic learning and professional design projects. Her background combines architecture, interior design, and applied design education.

Before founding ASDAV, Jasmine worked as an assistant professor at Amity School of Architecture and Planning, Amity University Noida. Her research covers sustainable architecture, urban heat island reduction, and circular economy practices in construction. Her work has been published in Scopus indexed and peer reviewed journals as well. She also has strong international on-site experience from countries like Canada, Mauritius, UK, and many more.

Through ASDAV, she has trained more than 500 students across 25 cities. The ASDAV platform has 12+ instructors from IIT, SPA, CEPT and NID, and has delivered over 200 live learning sessions. Her mission is to bridge the gap between design education and real industry expectations, to deliver real growth for her students.

She designs spaces for a living, but her favourite project is designing careers.