Interior Design Academy of Ireland Reviews 

Overall, I have had a very pleasant, positive, and excellent experience with Interior Design Academy of Ireland (idai.ie). My tutor, Eleanor, is always available at the end of emails to offer advice, support, and motivation, which is crucial when completing assignments. Thank you

Fantastic lecturer - Lisa. So kind, knowledgable and engaging. Online content top class. A truly professional operation. Delighted to be taking my course IDAI

For me, this course has been a very positive experience, as it has allowed me to learn and develop my knowledge in the field of interior design, which is one of my greatest passions. What I appreciated most was the constant availability to contact my tutor whenever I needed support and the speed with which she responded to any questions. In my case, my experience with Fiona has been excellent – a 10 out of 10.

In addition, the course is very flexible and accessible, making it easy to combine studying with work or other personal commitments. This flexibility has allowed me to progress at my own pace while continuing to meet my daily responsibilities.

I would not recommend untertaking study with the IDAI. I signed up to the Diploma Live Classes option and joined a group of approx 20 people.
While I enjoyed the in person classes and found the teacher very engaging and knowledgable, the 10 related course assignments were overwhelming in the level of detail of required.
When I originally inquired about the course I was told this could be completed part time and was contacted a number of times after my intital inquiry to encourage me to sign up as places were limited etc.. However as the classes went on it became clear from the teacher and the outline of the assignments, that a much bigger time commitment would be required.
My reasons for doing the course were a keen interest in interiors and a curiosity to see if maybe I could work in the area as a potential career change. These were also the reasons that most of my classmates chose the course, who were in the main women and working mothers. Everyone displayed a flair for the subject during the classes however of my original group only 1 person actually completed the course. Most did not get past the second of the 10 assignments due to the level or work required, which all agreed was not made clear on signing up and paying.
Once fees have been paid there is no contact from the academy. There doens't appear to be any monitoring of enagement levels/assignment submissions within in the student portal to check in/encourage students.
Overall the whole experience left me feeling like a failure and foolish for taking it on and wasting my savings.

Amazing courses that cover a lot of information getting you ready for the real world. Tutors are very helpful and knowledgeable. I love this course!

Great instructors , very interesting course , great for giving constructive feedback, overall I am enjoying the course

The diploma programme offers a highly supportive learning structure, particularly through the extended timeframe provided for completing assignments. This flexibility is extremely beneficial for those balancing busy schedules, as it allows learners to manage their commitments effectively. It also creates a more relaxed and less stressful environment, enabling students to approach their work thoughtfully and produce higher-quality outcomes.

My tutor Fiona has been extremely helpful throughout and always responds to my emails promptly with detailed, clear explanations. Her continuous support has helped me with the assignments and has made a big difference to my understanding of the course!

Great course, gained so much real life and useful knowledge. I feel like it has definitely given me to confidence and know how to progress my career. All the tutors were super helpful and very fast with feedback and support.

Have enjoyed the course so far. When in doubt, I have been in contact with my Tutor Fiona Kensington who has always provided feedback in a very timely manner. She has been great

The course is very comprehensive which makes the study and assignments all the more worthwhile.
The marking of assignments is very prompt so one loses no time getting started with the next module.

I've only just started but loving it. 45 and have been in the entertainment business my whole life and recently wanted to work on my other passion which is interiors. Excited to see what the future holds

I hesitated before writing this review, but I believe an honest review will help future students (especially since the academy often asks for reviews from students who have just started).

I enrolled in the BA Interior Design course in 2020. I was told that “Based on 15 hours per week, the duration of this course is approximately 18 months to 36 months and could be up to a maximum of 48 months for completion.”The flexibility, affordable price, and the fact that the Bachelor’s degree was recognised in France (where I live) convinced me to enrol.

I was ready to study 30–35 hours per week, so I expected to finish within three years. However, after five months of studying for around 30 hours per week, I had completed only 5 of 45 assignments. I raised my concerns several times to the student team, but did not feel heard. Many assignments were very long and repetitive, and some briefs were unclear, which led to failed submissions and resits.

After one year, I realised the BA would take at least four years, so I downgraded to the HND. I received a partial refund, but still lost €1000 due to increased fees and not being refunded at the original price, despite being misled about the workload.

The academy has since stopped promoting the course as achievable in 15 hours per week and has improved the assignment briefs. However, for me, the damage was done.

In my opinion, the HND may take around three years and the BA four years — but only if you can commit at least 35 hours per week with very few breaks. It is a very independent and sometimes isolating course, with repetitive and lengthy assignments that can take 4–6 months to complete.

One of the main positives was the Portuguese tutors — especially my tutor, Rita — who were kind, supportive, and professional. They are the reason I did not give only one star.

I graduated from the HND after five years (including one year off to care for my baby, studying around 25 hours per week). I am proud of finishing, as the majority of students dropped out.

Overall, I would not recommend enrolling with IDAI / BAID. I invested a lot of time and money in a qualification that is not recognised in France. While I gained skills, many were self-taught.

After graduating, I was not offered internship opportunities as I do not live in Ireland. I also waited seven months for my diploma and only received it after contacting Pearson directly, who confirmed it had been sent to the academy months earlier. It was only found after I formally complained.

I hope this review helps others make a truly informed decision — a chance I feel I didn’t have when I enrolled.

My journey in interior design studies on IDAI it’s been very smooth and pleasured. They give me all support I need to conclude every lesson without any doubt.

A very thorough course! Fantastic tutoring and support from student services. A varied course with plenty of tutor support and peer support groups! Challenging yet enjoyable so far.

I am doing the online certificate and could not recommend it highly enough. It is very manageable so far in terms of the knowledge you gain and the assignments. The website is very clear and my tutor is very encouraging and exceptionally helpful and responsive. I signed up on a whim, but I am really enjoying it.

I have started the classroom based post grad diploma. So far I am having a great experience. The classes are excellent and very beneficial. The Assignments are full on but there are great resources on the student website to help. The online tutor is very prompt with response.

The support provided by the IDAI tutor team really assists me in progressing my assignments. Any time I have a question or need clarification, they are super quick to respond and I always feel that they actually welcome questions and are happy to help - both at the in-person classes and also remotely.
The feedback on assignments is also really helpful providing both positive feedback and helpful advice where improvements can be made for the next submission. Their support and encouragement helps me to stay focussed and to further my learning.

I have recently completed the online Certificate in Interior Design, and I am now completing my assignments to receive my certificate.
I really am delighted to have had the opportunity to start to study again after 20years since leaving college
and I have thoroughly enjoyed the course.
The tutors are always available to help with any queries and you can complete your assignments at your own pace.

Very helpfull course, instructor and tutor, i learned alot and looking forward to apply what i learned in real life