MOU Creates Graduate Pathway for Bachelor of Interior Design Graduates
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TORONTO, ON / NEW YORK, NY, May 21, 2026 – Yorkville University and the New York School of Interior Design (NYSID) have formalized an articulation agreement that creates a direct pathway to post-professional masters-level studies for graduates of Yorkville’s Bachelor of Interior Design (BID) program. The agreement marks the first of its kind for the BID program – a milestone that strengthens Yorkville’s curriculum presence and its commitment to providing students with clear pathways to advanced academic achievement.
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A New Pathway to Graduate-Level Study
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Under the terms of the agreement, graduates of Yorkville University’s BID program now have a streamlined pathway to apply to five masters programs – four of which can be completed online – at NYSID, one of the top-ranked interior design colleges in the United States located in the heart of Manhattan. The programs available through this pathway are:
– Post-Professional Master of Fine Arts in Interior Design (MFA2) (on-site)
– Master of Professional Studies in Design of Healthcare Environments (MPSH) (on-site and online)
– Master of Professional Studies in Digital Practice Management (MPSM) (online)
– Master of Professional Studies in Lighting Design (MPSL) (on-site and online)
– Master of Professional Studies in Sustainable Interior Environments (MPSS) (on-site and online)
These programs are designed for professionals in interior design, architecture, environmental design, and closely related fields seeking advanced creative and academic scholarship. The breadth of specializations available through this pathway – spanning healthcare environments, lighting design, sustainable interiors, and digital practice – reflects the range of career directions that Yorkville’s BID curriculum actively prepares students for.
As Canada’s only fully online CIDA-accredited Bachelor of Interior Design program without a residency requirement – and one of only four such online programs in North America – Yorkville’s BID is recognized by the Association of Registered Interior Designers of Ontario (ARIDO) and Interior Designers of Canada (IDC). It also prepares graduates to sit the NCIDQ exam and practice at the highest levels of the profession. Yorkville’s students have earned recognition in competitions hosted by ARIDO, NKBA, and IDEC, among others – reflecting a culture of excellence that extends well beyond the classroom.
The BID program at Yorkville has already developed studio-based courses in healthcare design and has built strong foundations in sustainable and lighting design, areas in which student interest has grown steadily.
The articulation pathway is structured to support students in continuing their education while simultaneously pursuing professional opportunities, enabling them to complete their graduate degree within a defined timeframe.
Streamlined Admissions Process
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Eligible BID graduates must meet NYSID’s general admission criteria – a benchmark that reflects the rigour, commitment, adaptability, and resilience the BID program develops in its students. In recognition of the strength of Yorkville’s BID curriculum, for students with a GPA of 3.3 or higher, NYSID will waive three standard application requirements for articulation applicants: the application fee, the portfolio submission, and letters of recommendation. Those with a GPA lower than 3.3 will need to submit a portfolio and letters of recommendation, but the fee will be waived. NYSID’s Admissions team will also provide expedited review of applications received through this pathway.
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All applicants are required to submit the following materials: a completed application, a personal essay, a résumé, official transcripts, and proof of English language proficiency.
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Yorkville supports students with graduate school ambitions through its tutoring and learning centre, as well as skills-focused workshops designed to help them meet these benchmarks.
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A Shared Vision for Design Education
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The partnership between Yorkville and NYSID is a natural fit – one that Reem Habib, Chair of the Bachelor of Interior Design program at Yorkville University, recognized firsthand when visiting NYSID in 2024 for the Interior Design Educators Council conference.
“I had the opportunity to tour the facilities, observe their student work, and visit their lighting laboratory. I immediately saw strong similarities, especially with both programs being CIDA-accredited…At the core, we share the same commitment to our students. Both NYSID and Yorkville University’s BID program promote a vision of inclusive, innovative, and professionally oriented design education that empowers learners to improve human well-being and contribute responsibly to society and the built environment.”
– Reem Habib, Chair, Bachelor of Interior Design, Yorkville University
“What makes this pathway particularly meaningful is that four of the five NYSID programs can be completed online. Our BID graduates can pursue graduate-level ambitions without uprooting their lives – continuing to live, work, and contribute to their communities while advancing their education. That kind of accessibility is a significant added value, not just for the individual, but for the communities they serve.”
– Angela Antohi-Kominek, Principal & Vice President, Academic, Yorkville University Ontario
“We are excited to welcome Yorkville BID grads to NYSID, where they will be able to study – in person or online – with a world-class graduate faculty who work at top firms such as Perkins & Will, CannonDesign, and HOK, among others. NYSID students are taught by, work with, and network with giants in their fields. They learn from these leaders and their fellow students, and create invaluable life-long, professional connections.”
– Ellen Fisher, Vice-President for Academic Affairs & Dean, New York School of Interior Design
About Yorkville University
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Yorkville University began with a bold vision: to offer flexible, rigorous, and career-focused programs that transform lives. Since 2004, Yorkville University has expanded to campuses across Canada, offering both online and on-campus programs. Our graduates have advanced their careers through programs in the behavioural sciences, social sciences, business, design and the creative arts. Yorkville University’s student-centred, practitioner-oriented approach equips graduates with skills that employers value, making us one of Canada’s largest private universities. Learn more at https://www.yorkvilleu.ca/
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About New York School of Interior Design
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New York School of Interior Design is a private, nonprofit college focused exclusively on interior design. The college offers certificate, undergraduate, and graduate programs for students at all stages of their careers – whether they’re just becoming familiar with the discipline, considering a career change, or looking to deepen knowledge in a particular area. Consistently ranked one of the top interior design programs in the United States, students study both residential and commercial interior design, some with specialties in sustainable design, lighting, and healthcare interiors. NYSID students enjoy a small class size and sharp focus, a great deal of personal attention from dedicated faculty, and they go on to practice at the highest levels of the profession. Founded in 1916, New York School of Interior Design has been leading the study of interior design for more than a century. NYSID has trained the designers whose work defines interior design today, and, by rigorously preparing students for professional success, it is shaping the future of the entire field. To learn more, visit NYSID.edu
