Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Interior Architecture
Sunway University · Sunway City, Malaysia
QS World University Ranking: #354
Quick Overview
Apply Now📘 Program Overview
The Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Interior Architecture is an exciting programme designed for students who seek to become innovative interior architecture professionals of the 21st century. Spanning a period of 3 and 1/2 years, you will engage in various aspects of design for interior environments and develop skills which enable you to contribute to the profession with creativity and confidence.
The programme includes studio experience covering the fundamentals of the design process and thinking, with a balanced mixture of theoretical and practical subjects such as design practice, modelling, drawing, furniture design, and sustainable design. You will also experience an immersive learning environment in the real world during a 6-month industrial placement programme, developed according to the guidelines of the Board of Architects Malaysia (Lembaga Arkitek Malaysia, LAM).
🎯 Course & Curriculum
Course structure
- Learn foundational design thinking and develop studio experience through Design Thinking Fundamentals and Drawing Techniques.
- Build technical capability with Architectural Graphics, Computer Aided Design 1, and Model Making.
- Study the design context through History of Architecture and Design and Interior Architecture 1.
- Develop core building knowledge with Building Materials & Construction 1 and learn early design-to-product workflows using interior-focused coursework.
- Strengthen applied design and documentation skills with Computer Aided Design 2 and Interior Architecture 2 and 3.
- Advance your understanding of construction and sustainability-relevant systems through Building Materials & Construction 2 and Building Services & Technology.
- Explore aesthetic and specification work with Colour, Materials & Finishes and design in context through Design for Society.
- Choose an elective in Year 2 (for example Advanced Architectural Graphics, Exploring Cultures, History of Southeast Asian Architecture, or Interior Visual Composition).
- Develop specialised interiors capability through Furniture Design and Interior Architecture 4, alongside Lighting Design.
- Build industry readiness through Professional Practice & Management, focused on professional and managerial elements of practice.
- Advance sustainability-focused design understanding with Sustainable Interior Design.
- Complete a Research Proposal to prepare for final-year study and project work.
- Complete the Final Year Project as a capstone design and research-focused component.
- Gain real-world industry experience through Internship (Part 1) and Internship (Part 2).
- Apply your studio learning to professional workplace tasks and project workflows during the full internship sequence.
Career outcomes
- You can pursue design-led career paths such as Interior Architect / Designer, Interior Technician, Project Manager, and Design Consultant, supported by studio-based learning and professional practice content.
- You graduate with practical, job-relevant capabilities across CAD/graphics, furniture and lighting design, and interior design processes, which helps you perform confidently from day one in professional roles.
- The 6-month industry placement and internship parts help you build workplace experience and understand how interior architecture projects are managed and delivered in real settings.
- You develop communication and technology skills alongside design thinking, preparing you for roles like Design Entrepreneur, Creative director, and VR / AR Designer where presentation and digital workflows matter.
- The programme structure links design fundamentals to advanced interior specialisation and final-year project work, helping you build a coherent portfolio for future employers.
Employability rate
Interior architecture graduates in Malaysia typically see an employability rate of around 78% and an unemployment rate of about 22%, reflecting steady demand for design and built-environment talent alongside normal hiring seasonality.
Together, these figures point to a stable, career-building outlook when you use the internship and project portfolio to secure design-focused roles.
✅ Entry Requirements
Academic qualification
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| International / foreign school-leaving or pre-university qualification (entry routes) | International applicants may be admitted based on qualifications such as STPM (Average C or CGPA 2.0 with a minimum of 2 principals), A-Level (minimum 8 points with minimum Grade D in at least 2 subjects), Australian Matriculation (ATAR 55), Canadian Matriculation (55%), Monash University Foundation Year (55%), Sunway Foundation in Arts (CGPA 2.0), Sunway Foundation in Science Technology (CGPA 2.0), Unified Examination Certificate (maximum 30 points from 5 subjects, all Grade Bs), or International Baccalaureate (minimum 24 points excluding bonus points). |
| Portfolio requirements (and other programme-specific items for international applicants) | Applicants must pass a portfolio review by the university. The portfolio should include at least five (5) interior design drawings, and it should contain items such as pencil and ink drawings, sketches of ongoing work, AutoCAD drawings, hand-drafted architectural drawings, 3D models, and other design work examples, with all artwork coloured and completed. |
Language requirements
For this programme, Sunway University states the following English language requirements for international applicants.
IELTS Academic
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 42000 / total program | Sunway University states an Estimated Annual Course Fee (Year 2026) of RM42,000 for Malaysian students and USD10,291 for international students; international students must pay in RM equivalent. |
| Application fee | Not published |
Proof of financial resources
International applicants should prepare funds to cover programme fees and the required payments listed by Sunway University for international student processing. Any further student pass or visa-related processing information is handled through the university's international admissions workflow.
- RM 742 enrolment fee (non-refundable, non-transferable).
- RM 3,300 student pass/visa processing fee paid to EMGS (non-refundable).
- Plan tuition fees in RM equivalent; Sunway provides an annual course fee estimate for international students for the programme year stated on the programme page.
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
Eligibility check and contact the university if needed
Before submitting your application, read the programme entry requirements and confirm you meet the international applicant criteria. Sunway advises international applicants to email or contact the university first to confirm eligibility before applying, so you can avoid delays. Start early to ensure you can prepare your portfolio in the required format and timeframe.
Prepare documents and submit the International Student Application Form
Fill out and submit the International Student Application Form during the application window. Attach required documents including your completed application form, health declaration form, passport-sized photographs, passport copy, certified true copies of academic qualifications, and English language evidence where applicable. Sunway also states the portfolio review is required for this programme, so ensure you submit your interior design drawings as part of the portfolio process.
Pay required international admissions fees after eligibility is confirmed
Once eligibility is confirmed, Sunway instructs applicants to proceed with payments as part of the international admissions workflow. The page lists an RM 742 enrolment fee and an RM 3,300 student pass/visa processing fee paid to EMGS. Keep proof of payment, as outstanding items can affect processing timelines.
Receive offer letter, complete acceptance, and proceed with Student Pass
Successful applicants receive offer letters via email within 3 working days. You must accept the offer as detailed in the Letter of Offer and sign and return the Acceptance of Offer to the International Office along with any required documents listed for incomplete records. Sunway notes that Student Pass approval processing time can take up to 6 to 8 weeks.