Bachelor in Industrial Design (Honours)
Southern University College · Skudai, Johor, Malaysia
QS World University Ranking: N/A
Quick Overview
Apply Now📘 Program Overview
Industrial Design is a programme aims to inculcate professional knowledge of designing and developing product concept using by people around the world. Students focus not only on the appearance of a product, but also on optimising functions, user experiences, values, and overall systems for the mutual benefit of users and manufacturers.
Students learn to transfer consumer needs, market needs and problems into designs, and develop ideas through inventing, visualising and prototyping. Throughout the programme, students undertake practical design work, develop communication and entrepreneurial skills, and complete an industrial training component and a degree final project.
🎯 Course & Curriculum
Course structure
- Build core studio skills with Drawing for Designer, Color Study for Designer, and Digital Photography and Imaging.
- Develop design research and planning foundations through design-related coursework listed in the faculty programme guide such as Design Research Methodology and Design for Sustainability.
- Practice early project work through studio and concept development activities that prepare you for later Industrial Design Project modules.
- Advance into structured industrial design project work including Industrial Design Project I, Industrial Design Project II, and Industrial Design Project III (project progression).
- Apply professional practice components such as Industrial Training to experience real workplace design workflows.
- Strengthen design leadership and execution skills with Design Management and related project modules.
- Complete Degree Final Project and Degree Final Project Exhibition to demonstrate your complete industrial design concept-to-prototype process.
- Develop professional communication and professional practice through modules such as Degree Final Project Exhibition and Professional Practice in Design.
- Consolidate sustainability-focused and user-experience thinking from earlier learning outcomes as you present your final design work.
Curriculum
120 credit hours Bachelor in Industrial Design (Honours) (Malaysia).
| Semester | No. of modules | Module / subject category | credit hours | Semester total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Common Core and Programme Core (selected) | Drawing for Designer | ||
| Color Study for Designer | ||||
| Digital Photography and Imaging | ||||
| Computer Graphic Study | ||||
| Design Principle | ||||
| Creative Thinking and Design Methodology | ||||
| Semester 2 | Programme Core (selected) | Design Presentation Techniques | ||
| Design Rendering Techniques | ||||
| Technical Drawing for Designer | ||||
| Computer Aided Design | ||||
| 3D Modelling & 3D Printing | ||||
| 3D Rendering & Animation | ||||
| Semester 3 | Programme Core and Studio/Workshop/project modules (selected) | Applied Ergonomics | ||
| Design Management | ||||
| Model Workshop I | ||||
| Model Workshop II | ||||
| Industrial Design Project I | ||||
| Industrial Design Project II | ||||
| Semester 4 | Programme Core and Project/Final project modules (selected) | Industrial Design Project III | ||
| Design for Sustainability | ||||
| Design Research Methodology | ||||
| Degree Final Project Exhibition | ||||
| Professional Practice in Design | ||||
| Materials and Manufacturing Processes | ||||
| Semester 5 | Project and industry training (selected) | Corporate Brand Design | ||
| Electives (selected from elective list) | ||||
| Industrial Training | ||||
| Semester 6 | Degree final completion (selected) | Degree Final Project (final completion) | ||
| Total | All Common Core, Programme Core, electives, Industrial Training, and Degree Final Project components. | 120 credit hours | ||
Career outcomes
- You graduate with design concept development and prototyping capability, preparing you for roles such as Industrial Designer, Product Designer, and Product Planner.
- The programme focuses on user needs, market needs, and design problem-solving, helping you compete for product planning and R&D-related positions.
- Industrial Training supports job-ready workplace design experience so you can transition more confidently into studio, product development, and design teams.
- Your final project and exhibition build a portfolio you can use in applications for packaging, exhibition, and product-focused design opportunities.
- You develop design management and sustainability thinking, which supports progression toward project management and higher-responsibility product design roles.
Employability rate
Industrial design graduates typically have an employability rate of around 78% and an unemployment rate of about 22% in Malaysia, reflecting steady demand for design and product roles alongside periodic project-based hiring cycles.
Together, these figures indicate a generally stable outlook for graduates who build a strong portfolio through project work and industrial training.
✅ Entry Requirements
Academic qualification
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| International school-leaving qualification (equivalent) | International applicants may apply with a recognised international qualification such as UEC (minimum 5 credits with an interview and/or portfolio submission determined by the university), STPM (minimum CGPA 2.00 and Grade C in any 2 subjects, plus interview and/or portfolio), A-Level (minimum CGPA 2.00 with a full pass in any 2 subjects, plus interview and/or portfolio), Foundation/Matriculation (minimum CGPA 2.00, plus interview and/or portfolio), Diploma/Advanced Diploma (minimum CGPA 2.00, plus interview and/or portfolio), or other qualifications recognised by the Malaysian Government (including ATAR 65 with a minimum scaled score 50 in any 2 subjects, plus interview and/or portfolio). |
| English competency for international students | International applicants must meet the stated English competency requirement: a minimum MUET score of High Band 3 (or an equivalent recognised by the university). |
Language requirements
For international applicants, Southern University College requires proof of English competency. The program page states the minimum English competency for international students as MUET (or an equivalent recognised by the university).
MOI (Medium of Instruction)
MOI waiver details are not published for this programme. See the English test requirements above.
💶 Fees & Funding
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | MYR 69000 / total program | From Southern University College 2026 Programme Fees for International Students (International Student School Fee): Bachelor in Industrial Design (Honours) Tuition & Misc Fees 69,000 and Total (RM) 76,500. |
| Application fee | MYR 500 / one time | From Southern University College 2026 Programme Fees for International Students (International Student School Fee): Application Fee 500. |
Proof of financial resources
International students typically need to show they can fund tuition and study-related costs for their Malaysia student pass application and enrolment. Check your intake fee schedule and prepare bank documentation that matches the requirements from Southern University College and the Malaysian immigration process.
Important dates
Application window
| Milestone | October - Winter intake | April - Summer intake |
|---|---|---|
| Application portal opens | N/A | N/A |
| Application deadline (final submit) | N/A | N/A |
| Application deadline (EU students) | N/A | N/A |
| Application deadline (Non-EU students) | N/A | N/A |
| Recommended apply-by | N/A | N/A |
| Semester begins | N/A | N/A |
Pre-application & reviews
| Milestone | October - Winter intake | April - Summer intake |
|---|---|---|
| VPD request - recommended | N/A | N/A |
| VPD result expected | N/A | N/A |
| APS - recommended | N/A | N/A |
| Start eligibility check | N/A | N/A |
Document submission deadlines
| Milestone | October - Winter intake | April - Summer intake |
|---|---|---|
| Application submission deadline | N/A | N/A |
| Document submission deadline (EU students) | N/A | N/A |
| Document submission deadline (Non-EU students) | N/A | N/A |
| Language certificate deadline | N/A | N/A |
| Official transcripts deadline | N/A | N/A |
| Certified translations deadline | N/A | N/A |
| Postal / hard-copy documents deadline | N/A | N/A |
| Missing documents (if requested) | N/A | N/A |
📝 How to Apply
Contact ISO and prepare your documents
First, contact Southern University College’s International Student Office (ISO) to confirm the documents required for your foreign qualification route and to get guidance on portfolio/interview requirements if applicable. Prepare your application form, supporting academic documents, and your English competency proof (MUET or a recognised equivalent). The university process is designed to start from your home country, so ensure your documents are ready before paying any application fee.
Submit your application and pay the application fee
Submit the application form and email your supporting documents to the ISO contact listed by the university. Pay the application fee stated by Southern University College as part of the application stage. After internal evaluation by the relevant department/faculty/admission office, the university will issue an offer letter to approved applicants.
Complete offer letter payments and visa document processing (EMGS)
Once you receive an offer letter after internal evaluation, you are required to submit the stated amount requested by the university as part of the next stage. ISO will then process documents for Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS) to obtain the Visa Approval Letter (VAL). After VAL is approved, you will be asked to make the payment of the stated Part B amount together with first year’s tuition fee, and ISO will forward the VAL to you.
Apply for visa and complete Malaysian student pass onboarding
For visa-required countries, you must proceed to apply for the Single Entry Visa (SEV) using your VAL as guided by the university and your local embassy. After travel, inform ISO at least 7 days in advance prior to your departure so immigration clearance preparations can be arranged for your arrival. You will also need to complete the required medical check-up within 7 days of arrival and then proceed with student pass endorsement through ISO and the immigration process.