What is Design aptitude test?

Design Aptitude is a test that is a part of most of the Design entrance exams in India. Through this test, the Design institutes examines the designing and creative ability of candidates. It includes questions related to sketching, drawing and reasoning. This test usually is the first step of any design exam. Candidates must focus on its preparations.

Who conducts the NMIMS DAT exam?

The NMIMS DAT entrance exam is conducted by SVKM’s NMIMS Deemed to be University. The scores of the exam is considered for admission to design courses offered by the institute. The NMIMS DAT 2026 exam will be conducted for admission to the BDes (Humanising Technology) programme offered at the School of Design, NMIMS Mumbai. The candidate needs to follow this page to be updated about all the latest events related to the NMIMS DAT entrance exam.

What are the design courses offered through NMIMS DAT?

The SVKM’s NMIMS Deemed to be University offers a B. Des. (Humanising Technology at its School of Design (Mumbai Campus). Admission to the programme is based on merit of the NMIMS DAT exam. Interested candidate need to fill out the NMIMS DAT application form. The application link will be given on this page. Note that only such candidate who qualify in the exam and meet the prescribed criteria will be considered for admission.

What skills are tested in a Design Aptitude Test (DAT)?

Skills that are tested in DAT include Design ability, Observation skills, Illustration skills, Problem-solving skills, Imaginative skills, Space Visualization. To get a good score on DAT, candidate must work on each of these skills. Some of skills are natural and some of them are acquired.

Do I need to upload a portfolio for admission through NMIMS DAT?

Yes, you need to upload portfolios for NMIMS DAT. When uploading portfolio, you have to follow guidelines given by admission committee. Candidate must complete all stages of NMIMS admission process. Or else, candidate will not be considered for admission.

What is the mode of NMIMS DAT exam?

The NMIMS DAT exam is conducted in an offline mode. Note that the exam includes a Studio Test and Personal Interview. Candidates had to appear in both the exams. When preparing for the exam, the candidate must strictly follow the official pattern. Also, along with the syllabus, also refer to the official exam syllabus.

What type of questions are asked in DAT?

In a Design Aptitude Test, candidates are asked drawing, sketching and general reasoning questions. Candidate needs to prepare for each question type to get a good score in DAT. Some of the top design entrance exams that candidates can take include NIFT, NID DAT, UCEED, and SEED.

What will NMIMS DAT Entrance Exam comprise of?

The Design Aptitude Test (DAT) will comprise the following test components. Studio Test (Offline) Personal Interview (Offline) Submission of Portfolio

Is UCEED Score accpeted in NMIMS B.Des Admission?

Yes, UCEED Exam score is accepted for NMIMS DAT Admission. Such candidates have to submit their portfolios and appear for a Personal interview.

What is the application fee for NMIMS DAT B.Des?

The application fee for NMIMS DAT is INR 2000.

NMIMS DAT Portfolio should have how many pages?

NMIMS DAT Portfolio should have a minimum of 5 pages. It should be in hard copy.

How do I download NMIMS DAT admit card?

To download NMIMS DAT 2026 admit card Go to admission portal Click on the admit card download link A log-in window will open Enter your candidate credentials On successful log-in, you can download the admit card.

Is it easy to crack DAT?

DAT entrance exam is considered to be moderate. IN NID DAT, more weightage is given to subjective, drawing related questions. Thus, candidates need to be extremely creative and have a clear understanding of their concepts when appearing for the DAT. But note that difficulty level can also be subjective, as it may also depend on your level of preparation. For instance, if you prepare well, you may be able to solve even the so-called difficult questions easily.

What is the application fee for NMIMS DAT 2026?

The application fee for NMIMS DAT 2026 is INR 2000. The application form are available on the website of NMIMS.

NMIMS DAT 2026: Registration (Open), Eligibility, Pattern, Syllabus and Admission Process

Updated on Sep 4, 2026 15:23 IST

By Sayeba Naushad, Assistant Manager

NMIM DAT 2026 Registration is open. Candidates can register at nmims.edu. Exam is conducted for admission to the B. Des (Humanising Technology) program offered by NMIMS - Mumbai Campus. NMIMS admission process includes a Studio Test, Personal Interview and Portfolio Review. Candidates with valid UCEED scores by the registration end date are exempted from appearing in the Studio Test. Such candidates have to submit their portfolios and appear for a Personal interview.

Latest Updates:

Admission closed on July 19, 2026.
Programme commenced from July 03, 2026.
NMIM DAT 2026 was conducted on June 19, 2026.

Table of contents

What is NMIMS DAT?
NMIMS DAT 2026 Exam Dates & Schedule
NMIMS DAT 2026 Eligibility
NMIMS DAT 2026 Application
NMIMS DAT 2026 Exam Pattern, Syllabus and Preparation
NMIMS DAT 2026 Admit Card
NMIMS DAT 2026 Result
NMIMS DAT 2026 Admission Process
NMIMS DAT Entrance Exam 2026 - FAQs

What is NMIMS DAT?

Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies Design Aptitude Test (NMIMS DAT) is a design entrance exam conducted by SVKM’s NMIMS Deemed-to-be-University every year. The entrance exam is conducted in the form of a studio test, personal interview, and portfolio review round to offer admission to the BDes (Humanising Technology) program offered at the School of Design, NMIMS Mumbai.

Highlights of NMIMS DAT

Check the highlights for NMIMS DAT.

Particulars	Details
Exam Name	NMIMS DAT
Conducting body	NMIMS School of Design
Exam level	Undergraduate (UG)
Exam frequency	Multiple cycles
Mode of examination	Offline
Medium of examination	English

Also read:

NMIMS DAT 2026 Exam Dates & Schedule

Take a look at the table below for the complete schedule of NMIMS DAT 2026 exam

Dates	Upcoming Exam Dates
Dec ' 25 - Sep ' 26	NMIMS DAT 2026 Online registrations TENTATIVE

Dates	Past Exam Dates
15 May ' 26	Phase 2: Merit List 1 (after 5:00pm)
05 May ' 26	NMIMS DAT 2026 Conduct of Studio Test & Personal Interview & submission of Portfolio (Lot 1)
27 Mar ' 26	Call Letter for Offline Studio Test & Personal Interview & submission of Portfolio. (2nd lot of paid candidates upto 20 th April 2025)

NMIMS DAT 2026 Eligibility

Candidates seeking admission to the B.Des offered by SVKM’s NMIMS DAT 2026 must fulfill the eligibility criteria.

Eligibility Criteria for NMIMS DAT

Candidates should have passed Class 12 or equivalent in any stream from a recognized board with at least 50% marks in aggregate
Candidates with an International Baccalaureate Diploma are also eligible to apply, provided they are IB certificate/ & DP awarded candidates and have cleared their IB exam with a total of 24 credits, having passed 3 HL & 3 SL mandatorily
Candidates over 25 years of age are not eligible to apply.

Also Read:

Best Strategy to Crack Design Aptitude Test

Learn how to prepare for Design Aptitude Test (DAT) with weekly study plan, exam strategy, key topics and expert tips by Shiksha.com

📃 DAT Preparation Guide PDF

NMIMS DAT 2026 Application

The application process for NMIMS DAT 2026 is open for B.Des programmes. All candidates who want to pursue B.Des from NMIMS School of Design must read the eligibility criteria and then apply for admission process by filling the NMIMS DAT registration form.

NMIMS DAT Application 2026

NMIMS DAT application opens in cycles. The application fee is given below.

Aspect	Details
Application Status	Open
Application Fees	INR 2,000

How to fill NMIMS DAT Application form 2026?

To fill out the form, candidates must follow the steps given below.

1. Fill NMIMS Application Form

Candidates can fill out the NMIMS application form either offline or on the official website of NMIMS University of Design. To apply offline, the candidate needs to download the application form from the college website, ask for it by email or collect it from the campus. Those going for offline mode can fill out the application forms and send them via email or post.

2. Pay the application fee

The application fee for NMIMS is INR 2,000/-, which can be paid by RTGS/NEFT bank transfer for online mode and by cash/cheque/ Demand Draft for offline mode.

3. Download NMIMS Admit Card

Next, candidates will get their NMIMS DAT 2026 admit card through email.

4. Appear for NMIMS

After receiving the application form, it will be processed for the eligibility of the candidate. Eligible candidates will be informed about the date/time of the tests/interview. Candidates need to appear for their NMIMS Aptitude Test as per the details mentioned on their admit card.

5. Check results

The students shall be shortlisted on the basis of their performance and the list of students qualifying for the next stage will be announced online.

Also read:

NMIMS DAT 2026 Exam Pattern, Syllabus and Preparation

Knowing the NMIMS DAT paper pattern and syllabus helps candidates prepare better for the exam. The Design Aptitude Test (DAT) will comprise the following test components.

Studio Test (Offline)
Personal Interview (Offline)
Submission of Portfolio – hard copy. (to be presented to the Personal Interview panel)

Pattern of NMIMS DAT Studio Test

The pattern for NMIMS DAT.

Particulars	Details
Studio Test Part- A	MCQ = 20 questions Time = 20 minutes Marks = 40 marks
Studio Test: Part- B	Design Challenge = 2 questions. Time = 60 minutes Marks = 60 marks (30 marks each question)

Syllabus for NMIMS DAT 2026 Studio Test

Check out the exam syllabus for NMIMS DAT.

Sections	Topics
Part A: 20 MCQ Questions	Visual and spatial ability Environmental and social awareness Logical reasoning Observation & Memory
Part B: Design Challenge	Creative thinking Representation of the concept Uniqueness of the solution
Personal Interview	Reasoning skills Observation skills Alignment of Interest
Portfolio	Sketching skills Creativity & Originality Uniqueness of the solution

Design Awareness Topics

Check Design Awareness Chapters and topics for NMIMS DAT

Download Chapters

NMIMS DAT Preparation Tips

Some of the tips to score well in NMIMS DAT Exam are given below.

Make a strategy considering the NMIMS DAT syllabus. Allocate more time for difficult topics and spare time for revision.
Pick the best design aptitude test books.
Focus on your time management skills and improve your problem-solving skills, especially for the DAT sections.
Solve sample papers and practice mock tests.
When studying, make it a point to take notes.
Practice sketching daily.

Also Read:

NMIMS DAT 2026 Admit Card

NMIMS DAT Admit card is released on the NMIMS website. Candidates can download the Call Letter for Studio Test & Personal Interview & and submit physical copy of Portfolio at the time of interview. It is released 9-10 days before the exam.

How to download the NMIMS DAT Admit Card 2026?

Go to the NMIMS DAT 2026 candidate portal.
Click on the NMIMS DAT 2026 admit card download link.
A login window will OPEN.
Enter your email ID and password.
On login, the admit card will be displayed.
Download and take a printout of the admit card.

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Fashion Designing Colleges with Low Fees

NMIMS DAT 2026 Result

The names of all candidates who will qualify for the design entrance exam will appear in the NMIMS DAT merit list. The merit list will be released by NMIMS on its official website.

Candidates can check their results by following the steps given below.

Go to website of NMIMS DAT
Click on NMIMS DAT Result link
Enter ID and password
Click on Login button
View NMIMS DAT 2026 result
Download and print results.

Also read:

NMIMS DAT 2026 Admission Process

NMIMS DAT Selection Process for B.Des. (Humanising Technology) includes the following process:

NMIMS-DAT/HT (NMIMS – Design Aptitude Test for Humanising Technology) comprises Studio Test, Portfolio Review and Personal Interview. A hard copy of Portfolio to be presented to the personal interview panel.
Submission of all your original work. Bring all the original work. (digital Display/photocopy/print copy NOT allowed)
Studio Test, Portfolio Review and personal interview will be scheduled on one single day.
Call letter to candidates will have the date and time and other related instructions. The call letter will be available to candidates on their dashboard as per the schedule.

NMIMS DAT Entrance Exam 2026 - FAQs

Here are a few FAQs related to the NMIMS DAT entrance exam 2026. Read on.

Q: When will the NMIMS DAT exam be conducted?

NMIMS DAT 2026 exam for Lot 1 was conducted in the second week of March 2026. The NMIMS DAT 2026 exam includes a Studio Test and Personal Interview.

Note that the NMIMS DAT exam is conducted in multiple rounds.

The NMIMS exam is conducted by SVKM’s NMIMS Deemed to be University for admission to design courses offered by the institute.

Q: Do I need to solve sample papers for NMIMS DAT 2025?

The candidate is recommended to solve NMIMS DAT 2025 sample papers to prepare for the design entrance exam.

Sample papers contain questions similar to the ones asked in the entrance exam. So, solving these papers, the candidate can get insights into the exam.

Sample papers will help the candidate fix silly mistakes and improve problem-solving and time management skills.

You can solve sample papers at any time/ stage of your exam preparation.

Q: When will the NMIMS DAT classes commence for the B. Des. (Humanising Technology)?

Classes for NMIMS DAT new admission season commenced in July. Candidates who have been selected for admission on the merit lists and have paid the admission fees can join classes.

Q: When will call letters be issued for NMIMS DAT?

SVKM's NMIMS Deemed to be University will notify candidates about the release of call letters.

Call letters for Phase 2 were available for download on April 27, 2026. The candidate could download the call letter using their candidate credentials.

Q: When will NMIMS DAT merit list for selected candidates be released?

SVKM's NMIMS Deemed to be University will release the Merit List I of selected candidates after exam. The merit list includes the names of candidates eligible for admission to the design course.

The candidate can download the merit list from the institute's admission portal. Use your candidate credentials to download the merit list.

If the candidate is not included in the merit list, he or she will not be considered for admission.

Q: How can I accept the NMIMS DAT allotted seat?

Candidates who are included in the NMIMS DAT 2026 selected candidates list need to pay the seat-acceptance fees to confirm their seats. First merit list candidates have to pay the fees within the given deadline.

Note that if the payment is not made within the given deadline, the allotment will be cancelled and offered to the candidate next in the order of merit.

Q: When will the NMIMS DAT exam be conducted?

NMIMS DAT 2026 exam for phase 2 was conducted on May 05, 2026. The exam includes a Studio Test and Personal Interview. Candidates should appear in all the stages of Admission process.

Q: What is the pattern for NMIMS DAT Studio Test?

The pattern for NMIMS DAT studio test is:

Studio Test Part- A

MCQ = 20 questions
Marks = 40 marks

Studio Test: Part- B

Design Challenge = 2 questions.
Marks = 60 marks (30 marks each question)

Q: What is the admission process of NMIMS DAT B.Des programme?

The admission process of NMIMS DAT B.Des programme is:

Registeration
Call Letter for Studio Test & Personal Interview
Conduct of Studio Test & Personal Interview & submission of physical copy of Portfolio at the time of interview
Merit list declaration
Payment of admission fees & Document Upload
Commencement of program

Q: When will NMIMS DAT Admission close for 2026?

NMIMS DAT Admission closed on July 19, 2026.