Interior Design Schools and Programs in Bangladesh

Interior Design Studies in Bangladesh

Interior design deals with the spaces inside buildings: homes, offices, shops, hotels, hospitals and cultural venues. Designers plan layouts, furniture, lighting, materials and building services so that a space works for the people who use it. In Bangladesh, students can learn interior design in two ways: as a dedicated degree in interior architecture, or as part of a five-year architecture degree.

SpainExchange lists one school in Bangladesh for this subject: Stamford University Bangladesh in Dhaka, where interior design is taught within the Bachelor of Architecture. The sections below also describe a dedicated interior architecture programme in Dhaka, as an example of the other route.

Interior design within an architecture degree

At Stamford University Bangladesh, interior design is a 3-credit-hour studio course (ARCH 4204) in the fourth year of the Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch). The course covers the elements and principles of interior design, the effect of interiors on people, and the design of residential and commercial interior spaces, with attention to technical, economic, social and cultural aspects. The B.Arch itself takes a minimum of five and a maximum of seven years and carries 187 credit hours.

Other architecture programmes in Dhaka follow a similar pattern. American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB), for example, includes an Interior Design Studio in the seventh semester of its B.Arch. This route suits students who want to become architects and keep interiors as one part of their work.

Dedicated interior architecture degrees

Shanto-Mariam University of Creative Technology (SMUCT), a private university on the University Grants Commission (UGC) list, opened its Department of Interior Architecture in 2003. It offers two programmes:

• BA (Hons) in Interior Architecture: 4 years, 8 semesters, 136 credits
• MA in Interior Design: a 1-year track (40 credits) or a 2-year track (71 credits), with a dissertation

The bachelor's programme covers the design of cultural, institutional, commercial and domestic spaces. Modules include interior design studios, furniture design, lighting for interior design, construction detailing, building services, cost estimation, soft furnishing and professional practice. Students learn computer graphics with software such as AutoCAD, SketchUp and 3D Studio Max, and the programme includes an internship.

Admission

For SMUCT's BA (Hons) in Interior Architecture, applicants need a GPA of at least 2.50 in both the SSC and HSC school exams, or equivalent results. Students with British-style qualifications need at least five O-level and two A-level examinations. A 12-year high school diploma or the International Baccalaureate can also be accepted. The MA requires a bachelor's degree in interior architecture or design, or in architecture.

For the B.Arch route, admission follows the architecture rules of each university and usually includes an admission test. At Stamford, foreign students pay a service charge of BDT 20,000 at admission.

Costs

Fees are published in Bangladeshi taka (BDT):

• SMUCT, BA (Hons) in Interior Architecture: BDT 557,000 in total (BDT 3,500 per credit, plus a BDT 25,000 admission fee and a session fee each semester)
• SMUCT, MA in Interior Design: BDT 153,200 for the 1-year track and BDT 284,000 for the 2-year track
• Stamford, B.Arch: BDT 743,000 for the full programme

Careers

Graduates work in interior design and architecture practices, with furniture and fit-out companies, in retail and hospitality design, in exhibition and event design, or as independent designers. A B.Arch also leads to work as an architect. Students who plan to work abroad should check how their target country recognises the qualification.

Frequently asked questions

Can I study a degree only in interior design in Bangladesh?

Yes. Shanto-Mariam University of Creative Technology in Dhaka offers a four-year BA (Hons) in Interior Architecture and an MA in Interior Design. At Stamford University Bangladesh, interior design is part of the Bachelor of Architecture.

How long does an interior design degree take in Bangladesh?

The BA (Hons) in Interior Architecture at SMUCT takes four years (8 semesters). The MA takes one or two years. A B.Arch with interior design courses takes at least five years.

How much does it cost?

SMUCT lists BDT 557,000 for the full bachelor's programme. Stamford lists BDT 743,000 for its five-year B.Arch.