BHC School of Design (Pty) Ltd: Courses, Fees & Admissions

University profile

About BHC School of Design (Pty) Ltd

BHC School of Design is a private interior design and interior decorating college at 72 Salt River Road, Woodstock, Cape Town, just outside the city centre and within walking distance of bus routes, cafes and shops. It describes itself as a close-knit, family-run college with almost 40 years in interior design, and it teaches full-time, part-time and online students.

The full-time programmes are the Bachelor of Arts in Interior Design (three years, NQF Level 7, 360 credits), the Diploma in Interior Design (three years, NQF Level 6, 360 credits) and the Higher Certificate in Interior Decorating (one year, NQF Level 5, 120 credits). The degree covers design principles, interior design materials, visual technology (from technical drawing to 3D modelling, rendering, AR and VR), style and structure, critical studies, building construction and compliance, professional practice and work-integrated learning. Final-year students build a professional portfolio through advanced hospitality, retail, office and commercial design briefs.

Part-time and short courses include a 24-week Digital Design course (2D presentation design, 3D modelling and rendering, immersive presentation and capture, and CAD fabrication), an eight-week Saturday-morning Interior Decorating course, and short courses in 2D AutoCAD, SketchUp Pro and Revit Essentials. Online courses, each running about eight to nine weeks with weekly assessments and no exams, cover interior decorating basics, products and materials, lighting design and furniture design; completion earns a digital certificate of competence and the African Institute of the Interior Design Professions awards CPD points of 1 to 4 depending on the course.

Teaching is led by the school's directors and lecturers, who include practising interior designers and architectural technologists, a Head of Academics, and former BHC students. The Diploma and Higher Certificate pages state that the programmes are registered and accredited by the CHE, DHET and SAQA, and show affiliation with SAIID and SACAP.

The building houses a computer room, lecture rooms, a sample library, a virtual reality room, a 3D printer table, a social lounge and an outdoor area. Three furnished flats on the top floor (one three-bedroom and two two-bedroom) are available as student accommodation. International students pay an additional registration fee.

University information

Funding support

BHC points students to three funding routes on its funding support page.

ARRCC Bursary Programme: offered by ARRCC, a Cape Town interior architecture, interior design and decor studio, to South African students. Applications open at the end of July and close at the end of October each year. Applicants submit a portfolio, CV, cover letter, acceptance letter, certified ID and a 60-second motivational video. Apply via the ARRCC application page.
Study finance via Student Hero: BHC has partnered with Student Hero so students and families can compare study-finance offers from major banks and alternative funding providers.
ZA Bursaries: a South African bursary listing platform with construction and built environment bursaries for students in matric or already in tertiary study.

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Full-time programmes

BA in Interior Design: 3 years full-time, NQF 7, 360 credits; tuition listed at R133,500; starts 1 February; applications close 22 February 2027.
Diploma in Interior Design: 3 years full-time, NQF 6, 360 credits; tuition R116,000; starts 1 February; applications close 22 February 2027.
Higher Certificate in Interior Decorating: 1 year full-time, NQF 5, 120 credits; tuition R64,400; applications close 22 February 2027.

How to apply

Applications are submitted online through the school's student management portal, with a separate application page for each qualification. Prospective students can also book an open-week visit (open week 23 November to 2 December 2026, with a portfolio exhibition) for course information and application guidance. A portfolio of evidence from the eight-week Interior Decorating short course can be used to apply for the full-time Diploma or Higher Certificate.

International applicants

An additional registration fee applies for international students.

Part-time and online courses

The Interior Decorating short course (R5,900, eight Saturday mornings, 09:00 to 13:00) has no minimum entry requirement. Online courses cost R12,500 each, run four intakes a year, and require only the ability to read, write and speak English plus access to the tools the course needs. The Digital Design course is R15,100 for 24 weeks.

BHC campus, Woodstock, Cape Town (72 Salt River Road, Woodstock 7925). Single building, all full-time, part-time contact and short courses taught here; online courses are delivered through a learning management system.

Ground floor: computer room and a coffee shop and eatery.
First floor: lecture room and sample library.
Second floor: second and third year lecture room, virtual reality room, 3D printer table, social lounge and outdoor area.
Top floor: three self-contained furnished flats (one three-bedroom, two two-bedroom), each with a living area, bathroom and kitchenette with fridge, hotplate and microwave; tenants supply linen and towels; rent includes water and armed response, with electricity metered per unit.

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