There is no doubt that living in this glorious climate on the Costa del Sol has many advantages; one that shines above all others is the Marbella Design Academy, targeted towards nurturing future generations of interior architects, graphic and fashion designers with their 3-year programmes in design.

Marbella Design Academy is an international, exclusive design school, originally founded in downtown Marbella in 1995 by Danish designer Helle Byrn. The Academy relocated in 2008 to a large specifically-designed facility situated in Monda, 10 minutes from Marbella, and subsequently became state recognised in 2009 by the Ministry of Education in Spain.

There is no other academic institution of its kind in Spain that can guarantee a university BA (Hons) degree, awarded by Middlesex University London, to students successfully completing their 3-year courses, with 95% of students securing employment upon graduation. The partnership agreement between Marbella Design Academy and Middlesex University was signed this year.

Prior to this highly coveted academic endorsement, the Academy in 2009 won the Costa del Sol Business Award as ‘The Best Integrated Company in Andalucía’. It has also received commendation from the Saatchi Gallery and has been ranked 25 out of 100 of the top design schools worldwide.     

Needless to say students throughout the world apply each and every year in their droves for one of 230 placements.  From conception, the Academy instantly recognized the need to cultivate great talent and therefore remains small and exclusive. In a nutshell, their students enjoy the privilege of one-to-one fashion, interior architecture and graphic design tutoring, in idyllic surroundings with relatively small overheads; accommodation is 250 Euros per month including utilities. It is also significantly cheaper than universities in the UK. The ‘boutique-style’ school will also assist with visa applications and students have the opportunity of receiving scholarships.

With the Fashion Design programme the Academy ensures their graduates acquire all the necessary resources that allow them to excel as professionals in the ever-evolving fashion design industry.

Within the Interior Architecture Programme, Marbella Design Academy is not only offering their graduates a high standard of education but extensive proficiency in the latest technologies, including computer programmes such as Auto Cad, 3D MAX, Photoshop, InDesign and Illustrator, which enables their students to develop an unrivalled expertise in all the computer programmes currently in demand in today’s market.  

The Graphic Design training offered at the Marbella Design Academy has been conceived to combine high academic standards with a thorough immersion into contemporary techniques that have placed the Academy alongside the world’s best design schools.  

For those wishing to truly integrate into the Spanish lifestyle, the Academy offers students free Spanish lessons throughout their course.

Over almost 20 years the great team at the Marbella Design Academy have worked very hard to create an unsurpassed scholastic environment. The Academy provides a very personal individual tuition that is delivered to such a high academic level that the programmes have been validated and approved by Middlesex University in London who themselves award the graduated students directly with BA (Hons) degrees upon successful completion of their respective courses. No one else in Spain can boast that! 

What's more, the tuition fees are very competitive compared to taking the same degrees in the UK, not to mention the unbeatable location, weather and lifestyle offered by Spain's 'sunny coast'. The students don't just study hard, they enjoy an equally rewarding social life.

If that isn't enough, the students complete their three years training not with just their BA (Hons) degree, but over ninety percent also leave with employment already lined up.

Tempted to be a student at the Marbella Design Academy and be awarded an official BA (Hons) degree by Middlesex University?

The programmes start twice per year in September or January.  You can apply online at www.designschool.com or phone: +34 952 457090 or +34 682 200 583.