Enter OTP
The Bachelor of Interior Design at American University of Sharjah is a studio-based, design-led degree that prepares you to shape meaningful, functional, and visually compelling interior environments. It’s ideal for creative students who enjoy hands-on learning and want to combine design thinking, technical skill, and cultural awareness in preparation for professional interior design practice.
Curriculum Structure
Foundation Year
Your first year builds essential creative and technical foundations shared across the College of Architecture, Art and Design. Through courses such as Design Studio, Drawing and Visual Communication, and Digital Media, you develop core skills in design thinking, representation, and critical observation that prepare you for specialist interior design study.
Year 2
In the second year, you formally enter the interior design discipline and begin focused studio work. Courses such as Interior Design Studio I & II, History of Interiors, and Materials and Methods introduce spatial planning, human-centred design, and material selection, helping you understand how interiors respond to function, culture, and context.
Year 3
Year three deepens your technical and conceptual abilities through Interior Design Studio III, Lighting Design, and Furniture Design. You explore more complex interior environments, sustainability, and building systems, while strengthening your ability to translate concepts into detailed, professional design proposals.
Year 4
Your final year is centred on advanced studios and independent design thinking. Through Interior Design Studio IV and the Senior Design Project, you develop a comprehensive design portfolio that demonstrates your readiness for professional practice, supported by electives that allow you to refine your interests within the field.
Focus Areas
Interior design studios, spatial planning, materials and finishes, lighting and furniture design, digital visualisation, sustainability, design history and theory, professional practice.
Learning Outcomes
Graduates gain the ability to design functional and aesthetically refined interior environments, communicate ideas visually and verbally, apply technical and material knowledge, think critically and creatively, and work professionally within multidisciplinary design contexts.
Professional Alignment (Accreditation)
The programme is delivered within AUS’s internationally recognised academic framework and aligns with professional interior design education standards, supporting graduate readiness for practice and further professional development.
Reputation (Employability & Rankings)
American University of Sharjah is consistently recognised for excellence in architecture and design education in the region, with strong graduate employability and a studio-intensive approach that prepares interior design students for competitive creative industries.
At American University of Sharjah, interior design is taught through immersive, studio-based learning that mirrors professional design practice. From your earliest studios to your final senior project, you learn by designing, testing ideas, receiving critique, and refining your work using industry-relevant tools and facilities within a collaborative creative environment.
This hands-on experience is woven throughout the programme in the following ways:
Design studios every year: Interior Design Studios form the core of the degree, where you work on real-world inspired briefs that develop spatial planning, concept development, and professional presentation skills.
Critiques and reviews: Regular pin-ups, juries, and formal critiques with faculty and visiting professionals help you learn how to present ideas clearly and respond to professional feedback.
Specialist workshops and labs: You have access to design studios, digital fabrication facilities, model-making workshops, and computer labs that support physical and digital prototyping.
Digital design tools: Studio work is supported by industry-standard software for drafting, modelling, and visualisation, helping you translate concepts into detailed design proposals.
Collaborative learning culture: Many projects encourage teamwork and interdisciplinary thinking, reflecting how interior designers work with architects, engineers, and consultants in practice.
Portfolio development: From early coursework to your final year, you continuously build a professional portfolio that showcases your creative identity and technical ability.
By graduation, you don’t just understand interior design in theory — you leave with a strong portfolio and the confidence to operate in real professional design settings.
Graduates of the Bachelor of Interior Design at AUS are well prepared for creative careers in the built environment and design industries. Alumni typically progress into roles such as Interior Designer, Interior Design Assistant, Spatial or Exhibition Designer, Furniture or Lighting Design Associate, or Design Consultant, working in architectural firms, interior design studios, retail and hospitality design, or creative consultancies.
Your career prospects are strengthened through:
Portfolio-driven employability: The studio-intensive curriculum ensures you graduate with a strong, professional portfolio — a key requirement for interior design roles worldwide.
Industry-aligned skills: Emphasis on materials, lighting, sustainability, digital tools, and professional practice prepares you for real workplace expectations.
Professional recognition: Graduates benefit from studying within an internationally respected design education framework, supporting career mobility in the UAE and abroad.
Transferable creative skills: Skills in design thinking, visual communication, problem-solving, and project development are valued across design, creative, and built-environment sectors.
Global outlook: AUS’s international academic environment helps graduates compete confidently in regional and global design markets.
Further Academic Progression:
After completing the degree, students may choose to continue with postgraduate study in interior design, architecture, urban design, sustainability, or related creative disciplines. The programme also provides a strong foundation for professional certification, advanced portfolio development, and lifelong learning within the design profession.
Official secondary school certificate with equivalency from Ministry of Education. Certificate of Equivalency from the UAE Ministry of Education (required from all applicants except UAE Thanaweyya 'Ammah and Applied Technology graduates). IB Diploma with six subjects (excluding Islamic Education) with at least three in the higher level, and attain a minimum score of 24 points.Applicants must have five IGCSE/GCSE (O-Level) subjects with a minimum grade of 5 or B in each subject, and either three AS-Level subjects, or two A-level subjects with a minimum grade of B in each subject. Applicants who earned their secondary education certificate from a private school inside the UAE should apply for a Certificate of Equivalency. This excludes students from the UAE General Secondary School Certificate system (Thanaweyya 'Ammah and Applied Technology).Applicants who earned their secondary education certificate from a school outside the UAE must present a Certificate of Equivalency for their secondary education certificate from the UAE Ministry of Education.A minimum TOEFL iBT score of 80, or TOEFL ITP score of 550, or an IELTS Academic score of 6.5 are accepted.India: Minimum of 60% or more in the Senior Secondary School Certificate (12th Standard), or 60% or more in the best two years of the last three years.American: A minimum CGPA of B or an average of 80% in Grade 12, or a minimum CGPA of B or an average of 80% (equivalent to CGPA 3.0 on a scale of 4.0) in the best two years of Grades 10, 11, and 12. SAT-Math score of 450 and above or an ACT Math score of 16.China: Applicants must attain a minimum of 85% or more or its equivalent in the final year national exam, or a minimum of 85% or more or its equivalent in the best two years.Interior DesignerResidential Design ConsultantCommercial Space DesignerFurniture DesignerLighting DesignerExhibition DesignerSet DesignerVisual MerchandiserDesign Project CoordinatorInterior Styling Consultant
Embark on your educational journey with confidence! Our team of admission experts is here to guide you through the process. Book a free session now to receive personalized advice, assistance with applications, and insights into your dream school. Whether you're applying to college, graduate school, or specialized programs, we're here to help you succeed.
American University of Sharjah
 in Europe1779357712.webp)
