NATA 2026 is an entrance exam conducted in India for admission to undergraduate architecture courses. NATA exam is administered by the Council of Architecture (COA). NATA Registration 2026 will begin in February 2026. NATA exam dates 2026 will be from March 1, 2026, to June 2026. Read more to know Top Architecture Colleges Based on NIRF Ranking, Best Courses, Benefits and Preparation Tips.
NATA Architecture
NATA 2026: NATA, is an entrance exam in India for undergraduate architecture courses, conducted by Council of Architecture. NATA exam will examine a candidate's skills in drawing, observation, sense of proportion, aesthetic sensitivity, critical thinking, and mathematics. NATA is a computer-based test held multiple times a year across various centres in India. NATA exam dates are announced on official website.
Eligibility for NATA exam requires candidates to have completed their Class 12 with at least 50% Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics marks. NATA application form is generally available from March. NATA is an important step for students aiming to pursue a career in architecture, as successful candidates can gain admission to top architecture colleges.
- Benefits of NATA Exam
- Top 25 Architecture Colleges Based on NIRF Ranking 2024
- Top Architecture Colleges in India
- Jobs After an Architecture Course
Benefits of NATA Exam
Passing NATA exam qualifies candidates to apply for undergraduate architecture courses at various colleges across India. Based on NATA scores, candidates can apply to preferred colleges. After earning an undergraduate degree in architecture, candidates have option to pursue a Master's degree in the field or work as an architect in various firms, government organisations, or even start own practice.
Commonly asked questions
NATA will be conducted by the authorities as an online i.e., computer-based and offline test. The MCQ section will be held as a computer-based test, while the drawing and composition test will be held as an offline test. CoA will conduct NATA at various centres. All registered candidates will have to report to their allotted centres and attempt the examination through the systems provided there. The detailed information regarding NATA exam pattern has been announced online.
Creating a timetable is very important for preparation process of NATA. Students are advised to prepare a timetable that will allow them to complete syllabus well before the examination. While creating timetable, candidates should ensure that the entire syllabus is equally distributed. The subjects and topics should be divided well so that the candidates cover different units in a day and the studying process does not become monotonous. The daily study routine should also include revision and mock test. It is very important that the timetable is created considering the aptitude of the candidate.
CoA will prepare and release the list of NATA exam cities online at nata.in. From the list of exam cities released by the authorities, the candidates will be able to make their choice. The preferred three exam cities for NATA has to be selected in the order of preference while filling out the application form. The allotment of NATA exam centres will be done based on the candidate's preferences and availabilty of centres. The candidates will be able to check the details of their allotted exam centres through the NATA admit card.
It is to be noted that there are chances of cases arising where the candidates will not be allotted centres within their first preferred NATA exam city. The allotment of centres will depend on many factors including preferences, centre availability, total number of candidates for the particular test centre, etc. Hence, the authorities can add or remove centres as per the requirements. If the first preferred city is not available due to some particular reason, then the candidates will be allotted centres as per their second and third preference.
Top 25 Architecture Colleges Based on NIRF Ranking 2024
The candidates can check table below for the names of the Top 25 Architecture Colleges in India based on the NIRF Ranking. The candidates can apply to the best architecture colleges by knowing the NIRF Ranking of the colleges.
| Architecture Colleges | NIRF Ranking |
|---|---|
| India Institute of Technology, Roorkee | 1 |
| India Institute of Technology, Kharagpur | 2 |
| National Institute of Technology, Calicut | 3 |
| Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, Shibpur | 4 |
| School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi | 5 |
| Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology University | 6 |
| Jamia Millia Islamia | 7 |
| National Institute of Technology Tiruchirappalli | 8 |
| National Institute of Technology Rourkela | 9 |
| Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology Nagpur | 10 |
| S.R.M. Institute of Science and Technology | 11 |
| School of Planning and Architecture Bhopal | 12 |
| Chandigarh University | 13 |
| Aligarh Muslim University | 14 |
| Malaviya National Institute of Technology | 15 |
| School of Planning and Architecture Vijayawada | 16 |
| Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology | 17 |
| College of Engineering, Trivandrum | 18 |
| Nirma University | 19 |
| Birla Institute of Technology | 20 |
| M. S. Ramaiah Institute of Technology | 21 |
| Dr. M. G. R. Educational and Research Institute | 22 |
| BMS College of Architecture | 23 |
| Lovely Professional University | 24 |
| Amity University | 25 |
Best Architecture Courses
- Bachelor of Architecture (BArch)
- Bachelor of Planning (BPlan)
- Diploma in Architecture (DArch)
- Master of Architecture (MArch)
- Master of Planning (MPlan)
- Postgraduate Diploma in Urban Planning and Management (PGDUPM)
- Integrated (MArch)
Top Architecture Colleges in India
- Sir Jamsetjee Jeejebhoy College of Architecture, Mumbai
- IIT Roorkee
- Chandigarh College of Architecture
- NIT Tiruchirappalli
- NIT Calicut
Commonly asked questions
Candidates are advised to let parents/guardians safekeep their personal belongings during NATA. However, if candidate is unaccompanied, then they can request NATA authorities to deposit personal belongings during the entrance examination. However, authorities bear no responsibilities for the loss of belongings. Therefore, candidates are advised to not carry expensive and important belongings to examination centre.
NATA exam is conducted multiple times in a year. The exam date of NATA is April to August. The exam is conducted on Friday and Saturday throughout the month.
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered Yesterday
No, NATA and JEE are mainly required for architecture, not interior design. Most interior design colleges in Kolkata admit students based on Class 12 marks or their own entrance test. Some colleges may also ask for a portfolio or sketching test.
T
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 4 weeks ago
Not exactly, though it's the most common route by far. Besides NATA, JEE Main Paper 2 conducted by NTA is another accepted option for many architecture programs. Some states also run their own separate entrance exams for local colleges. So depending on your target college, you might need to prepare
T
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
No, NATA scores do not influence the category structure of tuition fees for BArch programme at VIT Bhopal University. The tuition fee remains the same regardless of entrance exam marks.
R
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 2 months ago
Yes, students can get admission in Sri University BArch with NATA scores. BArch admission is entrance-based. The final selection is based on academic scores and SSU CET/ NATA/ JEE Main Paper-2.
G
Contributor-Level 10
Dhanya writes content on Engineering and Architecture exams. She has completed MSc Physics. She has 8+ years of work experience in the education industry. She likes painting and travelling.
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