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PhD (Interior Design) - School of Housing, Building and Planning


  • OVERVIEW

    Doctor of Philosophy in Interior Design are research programmes offered throughout the year. These programmes are offered as full-time and part-time modes to qualified Malaysian and international students to do independent research supervised by respective lecturers in various specialisations in the field of Interior Design. These research programmes have attracted many academicians as well as industry players to enhance their knowledge in various related issues in Interior Design.

    Research Thrust Areas:

    Interior Design

    • Exhibition and Display
    • Interior Lighting
    • Human Comfort
    • Design Management
    • Building Preservation
    • Interior Design Management
    • Design with Cultural Influence
    • Theory in Design
    • Indoor Landscape in Interior design
    • Building’s Interior Defects

    As a graduation requirement(s), students are required to fulfil the below requirement(s):

    • Minimum grade C+ for RUL670 (Research Methodology)
    • Fulfil the publication(s) requirement
    • Minimum Grade C for Bahasa Malaysia course (LKM111) (Applicable for International Only)

    Expertise available in the following School: School of Housing, Building & Planning

  • ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

    Applicants should possess one of the following:

    • A Master's degree in research mode; or
    • A Master’s degree in related area with CGPA 3.00/4; or
    • A Master’s degree in related area with CGPA 2.50-2.99/4 with additional requirements; or
    • Bachelor’s degree in related area with minimum CGPA 3.67/4 (fast-track to PhD)
  • LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

    (Applicable for International Applicants Only)

    The minimum score for each programme can be vary from the below list, candidates are required to check for each programme requirements.

    • A minimum of Band 5 for IELTS; or
    • A minimum score of 40 for TOEFL (Internet-based); or
    • A minimum of Band 7.5 for TOEFL Essentials (Online); or
    • A minimum score of 154 for Cambridge English: Advance (CAE)/Proficiency (CPE) /Preliminary (PET) /First (FCE)/ Linguaskill Online min. score 154; or
    • A minimum score of 47 for Pearson Test of English (PTE); or
    • A minimum of Band 107 for CIEP Level (ELS); or
    • A minimum of Band 3.5 for Malaysian University English Test (MUET)

    Exemption is given to candidate if:

    • English is the candidate’s mother tongue or National Language; or
    • Candidate graduated from an Institution of Higher Learning in which the medium of instruction at Bachelor and/or Master degree level is English (statement of proof required)
  • DURATION

    • Full-time : Min 4 semesters / Max 10 semesters
    • Part-time : Min 6 semesters / Max 15 semesters
  • FEES

    Malaysian (MYR)*
    Full Time Part Time
    • Registration Fee : 330.00
    • Tuition Fee (Semester) : 3,550.00
    • Thesis Evaluation Fee : 800.00
    • Convocation Fee : 200.00
    • Research Methodology : 320.00
    • Registration Fee : 330.00
    • Tuition Fee (Semester) : 2,975.00
    • Thesis Evaluation Fee: 800.00
    • Convocation Fee : 200.00
    • Research Methodology : 320.00

     

    International (USD)*
    Full Time Part Time
    • Registration Fee : 225.00
    • Personal Bond : 1000.00
    • Tuition Fee (Semester) : 1,850.00
    • Thesis Evaluation Fee: 250.00
    • Convocation Fee : 50.00
    • Research Methodology : 80.00
    • Registration Fee : 225.00
    • Personal Bond : 1000.00
    • Tuition Fee (Semester) : 1,570.00
    • Thesis Evaluation Fee : 250.00
    • Convocation Fee : 50.00
    • Research Methodology : 80.00

    *NOT inclusive 6% Sales and Service Tax (SST) imposed by Government of Malaysia

    **Fees are subject to change

     

Postgraduate

Institute of Postgraduate Studies
Universiti Sains Malaysia,
11800 Penang, Malaysia.

Tel: +604-653 6309 / 6027 / 2606 / 2946 / 2958
Fax: +604-653 2931

Disclaimer

This website uses the GTranslate component to provide translation into Bahasa Melayu & Chinese Simplify. In the event of any inaccuracies in the translation, the English version shall be referred to as the official reference of this website.

Last Update: Tuesday 03 March 2026.

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