The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design course at Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar prepares students to work in the field of interior design.

VCUarts Qatar's BFA in Interior Design is a studio-based programme where students engage in interdisciplinary, critical and hands-on design approaches that explore the built environment. Using space, form, materials, colour and light, students in this programme imagine and re-imagine human-centric living and working spaces.

Why study Interior Design? Interior designers are essential to the architecture, engineering and construction sectors to design user-centric spaces. Their solid understanding of construction and building systems helps them create practical and appealing spaces where people can live, work and play.

The programme is multi-disciplinary, where art, architecture, design, psychology and technology intersect. Students on this pathway study the theoretical and practical elements of interior design alongside environmental and behavioural sciences, including sustainability, communication, codes and regulations, as well as business practices.

Students who have completed this programme have joined Qatar Museums, Qatar Airways, Arab Engineering Bureau, Blueprint, Doha Film Institute, Film House, Katara Hospitality, Qatari Diar, ASHGHAL, Qatar Foundation, FROMM, Msheireb Properties, Doha Design District and HOK (one of the largest architecture firms in the US), among others.

School: Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar
Course: Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Interior Design
Type: Undergraduate
Location: Doha, Qatar
Course dates: September 2026 (four year programme)
Application deadline: 15 January 2026

Applications have now closed.

What will I learn during this course?

– Apply ethical and sustainable design practices
– Understand environmental psychology, materials, building codes and design history
– Create two and three-dimensional design concepts using both manual and digital tools
– Develop strong collaboration and leadership skills

What are the requirements?

– Individuals can apply using the Common App and submit portfolios using Slideroom
– A high school diploma or equivalent and English proficiency

What facilities and resources are available?

– Creative spaces to design and create
– VCUarts Qatar Libraries
– Innovative Media Studio
– Materials Library
– Tinker Lab
– VCUarts Qatar FabLab

What career prospects can I expect upon graduating?

Graduates are prepared for diverse careers in interior and spatial design, exhibition and display design, furniture and product design, set design and project management.

They may work with architecture and design firms, cultural institutions, the hospitality and retail sectors or establish their own studios.

With strong foundations in sustainability, technology and collaboration, graduates are well equipped to meet the growing demand for innovative and human-centred design solutions in Qatar and beyond.

Who teaches this course?

– Mohammad Suleiman, chair of interior design, associate professor
– Haithem El-Hammali, associate professor
– Johan Granberg, associate professor
– Liam Colquhoun, associate professor
– Matthew Holmes-Dallimore, associate professor
– Simone Carena, associate professor
– Sherin Karawia, assistant professor
– Alaa El Khatib, adjunct faculty
– Jennifer Davis, adjunct faculty
– Hagar Farag Ataallah, adjunct faculty
– Hala Alzawaydeh, adjunct faculty
– Marwa Abdelmonem, adjunct faculty
– Pornprapha Phatanateacha, adjunct faculty
– Sabir Numan, adjunct faculty
– Aia Zaina, teaching assistant
– Mina Zahid, teaching assistant
– Sarah Abdeen, teaching assistant
– Marynol Amat, administrative business coordinator

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