Swinburne Sarawak offers new Bachelor of Design (Interior Architecture) (Honours) programme

KUCHING: Design students in Sarawak will soon have the chance to start their studies here and graduate with an Australian degree in Melbourne under a new global pathway launched by Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak (Swinburne Sarawak).

In announcing this, Dean of the Faculty of Business, Design and Arts, Professor Dr Brian Wong, said the new Bachelor of Design (Interior Architecture) (Honours) programme will be available starting with the September 2025 intake.

“This programme is structured as a 2+2 pathway – students will begin with two years of foundational and applied study here at Swinburne Sarawak, followed by two final years at Swinburne Melbourne, where they will join a global design community and graduate with an internationally recognised Australian degree,” he said in his speech during the GradX 2025 event held at The Spring Kuching today.

According to him, the programme will expose students to how the environments in which people live and work are formed and fabricated, while applying conceptual processes, creative tools and management strategies to develop public and private spaces.

“From homes to hospitals, museums to marketplaces, they will learn how to create interior environments that are not only functional but meaningful.

“Importantly, they will also flex their technical abilities, designing both indoor and outdoor 3D spaces, while integrating digital tools, sustainability principles, and human-centred thinking,” he said.

Wong further explained that the new programme was a reflection of the faculty’s future-oriented vision, where design education is globally connected, industry-relevant, and grounded in innovation and impact.

He also highlighted that Graphic Design students this semester are working on branding, packaging design, and social media content in collaboration with several local businesses, including Omben Kopitiam, Wawa Kuching, Bear Garden Kuching, MAMA SU Group Sdn Bhd, and The Baker’s Son.

“These collaborations are more than classroom projects – they are active industry engagements.

“Students are solving real problems, meeting client expectations, and learning to navigate the intricacies of client communication, visual strategy, and brand development.

“This is Swinburne’s commitment to work-integrated learning in action, preparing students not just to graduate, but to contribute immediately and meaningfully in their chosen fields,” he said.