SEED 2026 Counselling: Date, Merti List for M.Des & B.Des, Admission Process and Fees

Symbiosis Entrance Exam for Design 2026 ( SEED )

DeskCalelnderRegistration - 12 Jan '26 - 12 Mar '26

Sayeba Naushad
Updated on Feb 9, 2026 11:22 IST

By Sayeba Naushad, Assistant Manager

The Symbiosis Institute of Design (SID) conducts SEED Counselling 2026 after the declaration of the First Merit List. SEED First Merit List for B.Des and M.Des. is to be released on April 21, 2026 for B.Des Round 1 and Round 2 on the website. Seat allotment cum merit list of SEED B.Des 2026 will be tentatively out in the third week of April 2026. SEED M.Des first merit list will be released on May 15, 2026.

Latest update:

SEED 2026 merit list will include the names of selected candidates. Allotment of seats to the B.Des and M.des programs will be based on the merit rank prepared by SID. The merit rank of SID 2026 will be prepared based on SEED exam, PRPI and Personal Interaction. Candidates included in merit list have to pay seat acceptance fee and confirm their seats before the last date.

SEED 2026 written exam was held on January 11, 2026. 

Table of contents
  • Eligibility Criteria for Participation in SEED 2026 Counselling
  • SEED 2026 Exam Dates & Schedule
  • SEED 2026 Counselling: Required Documents
  • SEED Merit List 2026
  • SID Pune Admission Process 2026
  • What should the Portfolio include?
  • FAQs related to SEED Counselling
View More
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Eligibility Criteria for Participation in SEED 2026 Counselling

Candidates will be shortlisted for SEED 2026 counselling and seat allotment based on their merit rank in the entrance exam conducted by SID.

As mentioned above, the merit rank is prepared by considering the cumulative performance of the candidate in:

  • SEED 2026 written exam
  • Portfolio review
  • PRPI Task
  • Personal interaction.

The 1st merit list-cum-seat allotment of SEED 2026 will be available for download on April 21, 2026. Candidates who are included in the list will have to confirm their seats by paying the seat-acceptance fee within the given deadline. In case the candidate fails to make the payment, the seat allocation will be cancelled and allocated to the candidate next in the order of merit.

Also read:

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   What is the total seat intake for the B.Des program through SEED 2026?
A: 

The B.Des programme has an intake capacity of 180 seats (Indian nationals only). In addition, there are 27 seats reserved for international students. The candidate may note that the seat intake is however subject to approval from SIU. There is also reservation of seats for SC, ST, and Differently Abled candidates.

The B.Des programme is available in four specialisations - Communication Design, Industrial Design, Fashion Design, and Fashion Communication.

Q:   What is the fee structure for the B.Des program through SEED 2026?
A: 

The Symbiosis Institute of Design (SID) offers a Bachelor of Design (B. Des) of four years duration. Admission to the course is conducted through the SEED entrance exam and PRPI rounds. The fee structure for the B.Des programme is given in the table below.

SEED- Tuition Fees for the B.Des program

Particulars

Indian Students [All Category] Fees Per Annum [in INR]

1 st Installment

2 and Installment

Academic Fees

Rs. 2,33,500

Rs. 2,33,500

Security Deposit (Refundable)

Rs. 20,000

-

Total

Rs. 2,53,000

Rs. 2,33,500

Last date of payment

At the time of admission

To be notified

SEED 2026 Exam Dates & Schedule

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

DatesPast Exam Dates
23 Jan ' 26

Shortlist Declaration (B.Des)

19 Jan ' 26

SEED Result Declaration (B.Des)

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SEED 2026 Counselling: Required Documents

Candidates must have below documents to apply for participating university SEED counselling 2026:

  • Class 10 mark sheet
  • Class 12 mark sheet
  • Graduation mark sheet and pass certificate
  • SEED 2026 scorecard
  • SEED admit card 2026
  • Category certificate (if any) 

The SEED 2026 counselling dates for the participating universities will be announced after the declaration of results.

SEED B.Des Seat Intake

The seat intake of B.Des programme is as follows.

Discipline Specialization Indian Students International Students Total
Communication Design Graphic Design 80 12 92
User Experience Design
Animation Film Design
Video Film Design
Industrial Design Product Design 45 7 52
Interior Space Design
Fashion Design   29 4 33
Fashion Communication   26 4 30
  Total 180 27 207

Seat Intake of M.Des programme

The seat intake of M.Des programme is

Sr. No. Specialization Indian Students International Students Total
1 User Experience Design 20 4 24
Total 20 4 24
Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   What is the seat intake of the M.Des programme through SEED 2026?
A: 

The seat intake of the M.Des programme through SEED 2026 is 24. 20 seats are for Indian students and 4 seats are for International students. Intake is subject to approval from the SIU.

Q:   What is the intake of the B.Des programme through SEED 2026?
A: 

The total seats offered by Symbiosis through B.Des programme is 207. For communication design, it is 92, for industrial design, it is 52, for fashion design 33 and for fashion communication, it is 30.

 

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SEED Merit List 2026

The First Merit List for M.Des will be released on May 15, 2026. The list will be released on the official website for the candidates who have successfully cleared the SEED Entrance Test, Studio Test, and Personal Interaction. The Final Selection to the M.Des Programme also depends upon the details and specialization provided in the SEED Application form.

The merit list will include details like the names of candidates who are selected for admission to the B.Des program offered by the Symbiosis Institute of Design. In addition, it will contain the merit ranks and scores of selected candidates.  

Candidates who are included in the selected list will have to pay the admission fee and complete other formalities to confirm their seats. 

Event Date
Declaration of First Merit List April 21, 2026
Period for fees payment and online registration for the programme for the First Merit List Candidates April 21, 2026 to April 30, 2026
  • The SEED 2026 merit list can be downloaded from the SID admission portal - sid.edu.in. 
  • In case there are any vacant seats left after the completion of the 1st admission round, the Symbiosis Institute of Design may release additional merit lists.
Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   What will be the basis of SEED 2026 seat allotment?
A: 

SEED 2026 seat allotment will be made considering the following factors:

  1. Merit rank of the candidate in the SEED written exam

  2. Portfolio Review

  3. PRPI Task

  4. Personal Interaction

Additionally, the information entered by the candidate at the time of filling out the SEED 2026 application form will also be considered. Note that the candidate has to select the B.Des specialisation when applying for SEED 2026.

Q:   When will SEED 2026 merit list be released?
A: 

The Symbiosis Institute of Design (SID) released the first merit list in the last week of April 2026. Candidates can check the same by visiting the official website: sid.edu.in.

To download the merit list, the candidate will have to log in to the result portal using their B.Des ID and password.

The merit list will include the merit rank of the candidate and the seat allotment status. Candidates who are included in the merit list will have to get registered for the programme.

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SID Pune Admission Process 2026

The SID applicant has to first appear in a written exam. If shortlisted, the candidate has to next appear in a Portfolio Review and Personal Interaction round. The performance of the candidate in the SEED exam, PRPI Task and Portfolio uploaded, and the personal interaction will be used to prepare the SID merit list for admission

The admission process for SID Pune is explained below:

  1. The candidate has to first appear in the SEED 2026 written exam.
  2. Shortlisted candidates have to next appear in a Portfolio Review and Personal Interaction (PRPI) round.
  3. As part of the PRPI, the candidate has to upload their portfolios and PRPT task. The digital portfolio should be of file size up to 3 MB, and it should be in a PDF file format. Candidates need to compile a PowerPoint presentation with good-quality images of their work, including Sketches, mixed-media illustrations, digital work, Collaging of images, 2D and 3D articles, Photography, 3D objects like sculpture, fabric products, gadgets, art-inspired products, etc. The presentation slides should be limited to 15. Candidates must upload their portfolio, or they will lose 60% marks. 
  4. Note that to appear in the PRPI, the candidate has to book their slots. 
  5. The Symbiosis Institute of Design will consider the cumulative performance of the candidate in the SEED 2026 written exam, PPRI Task, portfolio review, and personal interaction to prepare the final merit list.

Note: During the PI, candidates will be asked to demonstrate something quickly with their own creativity. So, candidates should keep the basic stationery items required for the demonstration. 

Important Date for SEED B.Des Admission Process

Check out the important dates of the Admission process of SEED 2026 B.Des Round 1 and Round 2.

SEED B.Des Event Date
SEED Round 1 SEED Round 2
Online Registration at www.sid.edu.in begins August 6th, 2025 (Wednesday) January 12th, 2026 (Monday)
Last date for online registration and payment for SEED and SID December 28th, 2025 (Sunday) March 15th, 2026 (Sunday)
SEED Admit Card From: January 5th, 2026 (Monday)
To: January 11th, 2026 (Sunday)
From: March 18th, 2026 (Wednesday)
To: March 22nd, 2026 (Sunday)
SEED Mock Test January 7th, 2026 (Wednesday) March 20th, 2026 (Friday)
Symbiosis Entrance Exam for Design (SEED) January 11th, 2026 (Sunday) March 22nd, 2026 (Sunday)
Declaration of SEED Result January 19th, 2026 (Monday) March 25th, 2026 (Wednesday)
Declaration of SEED Shortlist for PRPI January 23rd, 2026 (Friday) March 28th, 2026 (Saturday)
Slot Booking for Personal Interaction From: March 28th, 2026 (Saturday)
To: March 31st, 2026 (Tuesday)
PRPI Admit Card From: April 3rd, 2026 (Friday)
To: April 12th, 2026 (Sunday)
Portfolio Upload Start Date April 6th, 2026 (Monday)
Portfolio Review and Personal Interaction (PRPI) From: April 7th, 2026 (Tuesday)
To: April 12th, 2026 (Sunday)
Declaration of First Merit List April 21st, 2026 (Tuesday)
Period for fees payment and online registration for the programme (First Merit List Candidates) From: April 21st, 2026 (Tuesday)
To: April 30th, 2026 (Thursday)
Commencement of the Programme (Tentative) 1st July 2026 (Wednesday) – Tentative

Important Date for SEED M.Des Admission Process

The following table presents dates of SEED M Des 2026.

SEED M.Des Event Date 
Online Registration Commences on January 05, 2026 (Monday)
Registration/Payment closes on April 25, 2026 (Saturday)
Entrance Exam Admit Card April 29, 2026 (Wednesday)
Entrance Exam May 03, 2026 (Sunday)
Announcement of Entrance Exam Result May 07, 2026 (Thursday)
Declaration of shortlisting for STPI May 07, 2026 (Thursday)
Studio Test and Personal Interaction (STPI) May 09 and 10, 2026 (Saturday and Sunday)
Declaration of First Merit List May 15, 2026 (Friday)
Programme Commencement July 01, 2026 (Wednesday)

 

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   How many rounds of SEED 2026 seat allotment will be conducted?
A: 

The Symbiosis Institute of Design (SID) will conduct a solitary seat allotment round for SEED 2026. In case there are vacant seats left after the 1st round of admission, a 2nd round of seat allotment may also be conducted. 

Note that SID will release the 1st merit list in the last week of April 2026.

The seat allotment will be as per the merit rank of the candidate and specialisation selected at the time of filling out the SEED application form. Note that SEED seat allotment will be released in the form of a merit list that will contain the names of candidates shortlisted for admission.

Q:   Will there be any counselling session for SEED 2026?
A: 

There will be no specific counseling registration process for SEED 2026. In fact, candidates will be allocated seats to the B.Des programme based on their merit rank in the SEED 2026 entrance exam.

The merit list will be prepared by considering the cumulative performance of the candidate in the SEED 2026 written exam, Portfolio Review, PRPI Task and Personal Interaction. The first merit list cum seat allotment for SEED 2026 will be announced in April 2026. Candidates who are included in the merit list need to pay the seat-acceptance fee and register online for the program.

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What should the Portfolio include?

The Symbiosis Institute of Design determines the structure of the portfolio round, including the items the candidate needs to upload.

The portfolio for SID 2026 should include the following items:

  1. Your best works showcase your skills, interests, and passion in a variety of fields and techniques 
  2. Instead of including run-of-the-mill works, include items that will help you to stand out from the crowd. 

You may be asked to draw/sketch during the PI round. So, it is recommended that you carry stationery items like a pen, paper, and a pencil. 

Important dates regarding SID 2026 Portfolio and Personal Interaction

Some of the important dates regarding SID Portfolio and Personal Interaction are:

Dates Event
Portfolio upload start date Last week of March 2026
Portfolio Review and Personal Interaction (PRPI) Phase 1 Last week of March 2026
Portfolio Review and Personal Interaction (PRPI) Phase 2 Second week of April 2026

Key points about the SID 2026 Personal Interaction Round

  • The candidate has to book a slot for the PI round.
  • The candidate will be informed about the personal interaction round through the registered email ID.
  • If the candidate has a homemade portfolio, the candidate has to take pictures of the best work, compile it in a PPT, and upload the PDF format on the official link. Also, the portfolio cannot be displayed at the time of the PI.

Also Read:

 

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   Will my B.Des seat be cancelled during SEED counselling if I do not meet the prescribed eligibility criteria?
A: 

The eligibility criteria for admission to the B.Des programme will be prescribed by the Symbiosis Institute of Design (SID). Candidate must meet the eligibility criteria. Only then he or she will be offered admission. However, if the candidate fails to meet the eligibility criteria, the candidate can be disqualified at any stage of the admission process. Note that the documents and information submitted by the candidate at the time of submitting the SEED application form will be verified at the time of counseling and seat allotment.  

Q:   What are the major disciplines and specializations offered at SID through SEED 2026?
A: 

The Symbiosis Institute of Design (SID) offers four major disciplines at SID in the following areas.

Discipline

Specialization

Communication Design

Graphic Design

Video Film Design

Animation Film Design

User Experience Design

Industrial Design

Product Design

Interior Space Design

Fashion Design

-

Fashion Communication

-

The candidate will have to select their programme of study at the time of filling out the SEED 2026 application form. Admission to the above courses will be conducted on the basis of merit rank of the candidate in SID.

Note that the merit rank will be prepared considering the performance of the candidate in the SEED 2026 written exam, Personal interaction, and Portfolio and PRPI Task review.

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FAQs related to SEED Counselling

Check out the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) related to SEED Counselling 2026 below.

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   What are the design courses offered admission through SEED 2026?
A: 

The Symbiosis Institute of Design (SID) offers four major disciplines at SID in the following areas.

Discipline

Specialization

Communication Design

Graphic Design

Video Film Design

Animation Film Design

User Experience Design

Industrial Design

Product Design

Interior Space Design

Fashion Design

-

Fashion Communication

-

The candidate will have to select their programme of study at the time of filling out the SEED 2026 application form. Admission to the above courses will be conducted on the basis of merit rank of the candidate in SID.

Note that the merit rank will be prepared considering the performance of the candidate in the SEED 2026 written exam, Personal interaction, and Portfolio and PRPI Task review.

Q:   When will the results of SEED 2026 exam be declared?
A: 

The results of the written exam or SEED 2026 B.Des was announced on January 19, 2026. To check your result, go to SID admission portal and click on result link. In log-in window, enter your SID ID and password. On log-in, result would be displayed on the screen. Download and take a printout of result. 

Result would include details like sectional and overall score, and also the qualifying status. Such candidates who qualify in exam will next have to appear in a PRPI round.

Q:   How many times is the SEED exam conducted in a year?
A: 

The Symbiosis Entrance Exam for Design (SEED) is a national level entrance exam conducted by Symbiosis International University. The exam is conducted once a year. The SEED exam is conducted as a home-proctored exam that candidates can take from the comfort of their home. The scores of the exam are considering for admission to the B.Desprogrammeoffered by participating colleges.

The application form for SEED 2024 will open around the 1st week of September 2023.

Q:   What should be included in the SEED 2026 Portfolio?
A: 

Candidates have to upload a digital portfolio as part of admission process at SID. It must be candidate’s best works that show skills, passion and interest in a variety of areas and techniques. When uploading portfolio, candidate must follow rules and guidelines issued.

SEED Portfolio must contain

  • Sketches, mixed media illustrations and digital work
  • Collaging of images, 2D and 3D articles
  • Photography
  • 3D objects like sculpture, fabric products, gadgets, art inspired products etc.
Q:   What are SEED - M.Des placement and career prosects?
A: 

This is what the SID admission portal reads on placement and career prospects:

"On completion of the M.Des programme, you can kickstart your career as an Interface Designer, UX Architect, UX Designer, Web Designer, Mobile Application Interface Designer, Game Designer, Interaction Designer, Service Designer and so on.

Supported by SID’s robust industry interaction cell, several companies like TCS, Deloitte, PWC, Bajaj Finserv, Infosys, Accenture, Siemens and Capgemini have already been onboarded. for internships, industry-led projects and placements."

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SEED Exam

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Answered Yesterday

There are 24 seats in Symbiosis Institute of Design (SID) M.Des programme. 4 Seats are reserved for International students. 

S

Sayeba Naushad

Contributor-Level 10

Answered Yesterday

SEED 2026 written exam will be 60 minutes. The question paper will include 60 questions. Question paper will have MCQ, Match the Columns, Fill in the blanks, image-based and comprehension-based questions.

SEED Entrance ExamDetails
ModeComputer based
Duration60 minutes
No. of Questions60
Question will be based on
  •  Creative Aptitude
  • Observations
  • Visualizations
  •  Subject-related Knowledge
  • Critical Thinking

S

Sayeba Naushad

Contributor-Level 10

Answered Yesterday

  • Click good quality pictures of these and compile them in a PowerPoint presentation of a maximum 15 slides. Convert this into a PDF of up to 5 Mb.
  • Take pictures that are different from others. Do not copy others.
  • Try to include Sketches, mixed media illustrations and digital work, college of images, 2

...Read more

S

Sayeba Naushad

Contributor-Level 10

Answered Yesterday

The Symbiosis Institute of Design (SID) does not have any provisions for direct admission to the second year. So, candidates have to compulsory take admission in the first year of the B.Des program. Note that admission to the B.Des is only through the SEED 2026 exam.

Scores of the qualifying exam wil

...Read more

S

Sayeba Naushad

Contributor-Level 10

Answered Yesterday

Yes, a portfolio is required to get admission to SEED B.Des and M.Des programmes. You are required to present a digital portfolio that should contain all of your best work. Portfolio should be in the form of a PDF. 

S

Sayeba Naushad

Contributor-Level 10

Answered Yesterday

You can find SEED Sample papers on the website of Symbiosis Institute of Design (SID). The sample papers are available at sid.edu.in/programmes-offered/admission-process.

S

Sayeba Naushad

Contributor-Level 10

Answered Yesterday

In SEED Entrance Exam, MCQ, Match the Columns, Fill in the blanks, image-based and comprehension-based questions can be asked.

The question paper will contain a mix of questions related to Visual Sensitivity and Judgement, Observational, Perceptual and Reasoning abilities, Problem Solving, Basic know

...Read more

S

Sayeba Naushad

Contributor-Level 10

Answered Yesterday

Yes, Symbiosis Institute of Design conducts mock test for SEED entrance exam. SEED Mock test will be conducted for B.Des programme for all the candidates who have filled SEED Application form.

S

Sayeba Naushad

Contributor-Level 10

Answered Yesterday

SEED will conduct B.Des entrance exam for Round 2 on March 22, 2026 (Sunday). The exam will be conducted online and can be given from home.

S

Sayeba Naushad

Contributor-Level 10

Answered Yesterday

As per information on SID website, the institute does not promote or is aware of any coaching classes/preparatory classes. So, the candidate can decide whether they want to join any coaching institute or not. Note that there are many coaching institutes that offer preparation classes for exams like

...Read more

S

Sayeba Naushad

Contributor-Level 10

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