Design Courses Offered by IITs: Course List, Eligibility Criteria and Fees

Design Courses Offered by IITs: Course List, Eligibility Criteria and Fees

6 mins read2.3K Views Comment
CallCall 8585951111Got Doubts?
Sayeba
Sayeba Naushad
Assistant Manager
Updated on Jul 17, 2026 17:33 IST
Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) offer a wide range of design courses at undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral levels through their dedicated design departments. Popular programmes include B.Des, M.Des, PhD in Design, and Dual Degree options, with admissions primarily through entrance exams like UCEED (for B.Des) and CEED.

Want to be an IITian and pursue design at the same time? Yes, you heard it right. IIT gives an opportunity to pursue design Undergraduate and Postgraduate courses from its department. Almost all the IITs have a design department, which offers B.Des, M.Des, and Ph.D programmes. IIT Bombay has the IDC School of Design, IIT Guwahati and IIT Hyderabad has the Department of Design, etc. Read on to know more.

Design Course at IIT

Design Course offered by IIT

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) is recognised globally for its academic excellence in science and engineering. Design education is becoming a mainstream course and an important part of IIT programmes. It offers opportunities to students to combine creativity with innovation, science and technology. It offers a career in product design, industrial design, UI/UX, vehicle design, animation, design research, etc. 

Almost all UG and PG courses are offered at IITs in India. The programmes include B.Des, M.Des and Ph.D. The admission in these programmes is through UCEED and CEED, which is conducted by IIT Bombay every year. The application for UCEED and CEED opens in October every year and the exams are conducted in the third week of January.

Also read:

Table of contents
  • Design Courses Offered by IITs
  • Undergraduate Design Courses at IITs
  • Eligibility Criteria of Undergraduate Courses in IITs
  • Eligibility Criteria for B.Des at IITs
  • Postgraduate Design Courses at IITs
  • Eligibility Criteria of Postgraduate Courses in IITs
  • Doctoral Programmes in Design at IITs
  • Eligibility Criteria for Ph.D Programme at IITs:
  • List of Design Specialisations Offered in IIT
  • Placements After Design Course at IIT
  • Top Recruiters at IITs
  • Domains of Employment for Design at IITs
  • Placement Cell at IITs
  • IIT Bombay Fee Structure
View More

Design Courses Offered by IITs

IITs offer the following design courses:

  • B.Des
  • M.Des
  • Ph.D
Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   What is NIFT tie-breaker policy?
A: 

In the scenario where two or more candidates score the same marks in NIFT, the tie-breaker policy will be applied.

  1. The marks scored by the candidate in tests with higher weightage will be considered to break the tie. For example, for the B. Des programme, marks obtained in the CAT exam will be compared to break the tie.
  2. If the marks obtained in the CAT are equal, then marks obtained in GAT will be considered.
  3. If tie is undecided, then subject-wise marks in the following order will be considered: Communication Ability, English Comprehension, Quantitative Ability, Analytical Ability &General Knowledge and Current Affairs.
Q:   How will CEED 2026 cut-off used to shortlist candidates and what is the formula?
A: 

Formula to determine CEED shortlisting criteria is µ + (σ 2) = δ, where µ and σ are average marks and standard deviation of distribution of marks obtained by all candidates in Part-A of CEED. 

µ and σ will be rounded off after first decimal place. 

Candidates belonging to reserved categories shall have to fulfill a relaxed cut-off mark. It will be

0.9 for EWS

0.5 for SC/ST

0.5 for PwD

Q:   How will the CEED 2027 qualifying cut-off be calculated?
A: 

Qualifying cutoff for CEED 2027 will be calculated categorywise. Formula used to calculate cutoff is given below.

Category

Calculation for CEED Cutoff

Open

μ + (σ⁄2) = δ

OBC-NCL

0.9δ

SC/ ST/ PwD

0.5δ

 

Q:   What happens if I do not meet the CEED 2026 qualifying cut-off?
A: 

The CEED 2026 exam will have two mandatory parts - Part A and Part B. Interestingly, Part B answer booklet will be evaluated only if the candidate qualifies Part A. If the candidate fails to qualify Part A or doesn’t meet the qualifying cut-off, then his or her Part A answer booklet will not be evaluated. 

The scorecards of candidates who fails to meet Part A cut-off would only include Part A marks. Part B and Total marks, along with merit rank, will only be issued to those candidates who meet the cut-off.

Undergraduate Design Courses at IITs

The undergraduate course offered at IIT is B.Des. It is offered at IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Guwahati, etc. The table shows a list of courses offered at IIT.

IIT Institute

Institute/Department

Courses/Programmes

IIT Bombay

IDC School of Design

B.Des

IIT Delhi

Department of Design

B.Des

IIT Guwahati

Department of Design

B.Des

IIT Hyderabad

Department of Design

B Des

IIITDM Jabalpur

Design Discipline

B.Des

IIT Roorkee

Department of Design

B.Des

IIT Indore

School of Innovation

B.Des in Innovation

IIT Jodhpur

School of Design

 -

IIT Kanpur

Design Programme

 -

IIITDM Kancheepuram

School of Interdisciplinary Design and Innovation

Basics in Product Design, Minor in Product Design

Entrance Exam: UCEED (Undergraduate Common Entrance Examination for Design), which is conducted by IIT Bombay.

Staying updated about the latest educational events is just a click away
Enter Mobile Number

Eligibility Criteria of Undergraduate Courses in IITs

  • Candidate should meet the age criteria as prescribed by the UCEED Entrance Examination.
  • Candidates from the Science Stream (at 10+2 level) with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics as subjects are eligible to apply to all IITs.
  • Candidates from any other stream (Science without Mathematics or Physics or Chemistry, Commerce, and Arts & Humanities) are eligible to apply to IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Hyderabad and IIT Indore.
  • Candidate should have passed all five subjects in the qualifying examination (Class XII or equivalent) in 2025 or 2026. Those who appeared for the first time in their qualifying examination in 2024 or earlier are NOT eligible.
  • Candidate should have qualified, i.e., obtained a rank, in UCEED 2026.
Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   What are the cut-off marks for Part A of CEED 2026?
A: 

The mean and standard deviation for Part-A (CEED 2026) are 39.35 and 16.89. CEED cutoff marks 2027 will be released after the results.

Q:   Can I get admission in M.Des programme if I do not meet Part A cut-off?
A: 

IIT Bombay will release the qualifying cut-off for Part A in the first week of February 2026. Cut-off is released in the form of mean and standard deviation. 

The mean and standard deviation for Part-A (CEED 2025) are 45.48 and 16.98, respectively and for Part A (CEED 2024) were 41.90 and 16.72, respectively.

The qualifying cut-off is the minimum marks a candidate needs to score in the paper to get shortlisted. Part B answer booklets will only be evaluated if the candidate gets shortlisted.

So, if you don’t meet Part A cut-off marks, you will not get shortlisted and you Part B answer booklets will not be evaluated. Also, note that only shortlisted candidates will be assigned a merit rank in CEED 2026.

Q:   How many students appear for CEED exam?
A: 

In CEED 2026 is 6000+ students appeared for the entrance exam.

YearExamNo. of ApplicationsSeats
2024CEED4910300
2025CEED6037300
2026CEED6000+300 (Approx.)
Q:   What is the eligibility criteria for appearing in the CEED 2027 entrance exam?
A: 

To appear in the CEED 2027 exam, the candidate must have passed a degree, Diploma, or postgraduate degree exam of a minimum three years. There is no upper age limit or limit on the number of attempts for appearing in CEED.

Explore colleges based on UCEED

Bangalore
₹10.00 L
Chennai
₹10.00 L
Bangalore
₹14.00 L
Pune
₹17.00 L

Want better recommendations?

There is a 90% more chance of getting best college recommendations by sharing preferences.
Chandigarh
₹12.10 L
Bangalore
₹17.40 L
Hyderabad
₹13.45 L
Sonepat
₹11.00 L
Greater Noida
₹4.40 L
Mumbai
₹19.60 L
Confused about which college or exam to opt for?assitentRcpRhsImage
  • Chat with our counselor
  • Get your personalised list of colleges & exams matching your preferences
View allCollections

Eligibility Criteria for B.Des at IITs

Check out the subject-wise eligibility criteria for B.Des.

Sl. No Participating Institute for B.Des Admission Subjects in 10+2 for eligibility
1 IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Hyderabad, IIT Indore All streams
2 IIT Guwahati and IIT Roorkee Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics
3 IIITDM Jabalpur Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics/Biology
  • Duration of Programme:  4 years
  • Fees of the UG programmes: 1.2 lakhs – 1.5 lakhs per semester.

Postgraduate Design Courses at IITs

Postgraduate courses at IITs include M.Des. It is offered through the CEED Entrance Examination. The table below shows the list of Master's programmes offered at IIT.

IIT

Institute/Department

Courses/Programmes

IIT Bombay

IDC School of Design

M.Des/M.Des Research Program

IIT Delhi

Department of Design

 M.Des

IIT Guwahati

Department of Design

M.Des, Master's in Electronic Product Design

IIT Gandhinagar

Design and Innovation Centre (DIC)

Masters of Design (M.Des) in Integrated Design & Technology

IIT Hyderabad

Department of Design

M Des (Regular) 

M Des (Project) 

M Des (Practice) 

IIITDM Jabalpur

Design Discipline

M.Des

IIT Roorkee

Department of Design

M.Des (Industrial Design)

IIT Indore

School of Innovation

-

IIT Jodhpur

School of Design

M. Des programs, M. Des XR Design, M. Des in Smart Product Design

IIT Kanpur

Design Programme

M.Des

- Design Entrepreneurship

- Design Research

- Design Practice

IIITDM Kancheepuram

School of Interdisciplinary Design and Innovation

M.Des Program

IISC Bangalore

Centre for Product Design and Manufacturing

M.Des (PDDM)

Entrance Exam: CEED (Common Entrance Examination for Design), which is conducted by IIT Bombay.

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   What happens if I apply for CEED but do not meet the eligibility criteria?
A: 

Eligibility criteria for appearing in CEED 2026 exam are prescribed by IIT Bombay. Criteria are given in the information brochure. Candidate needs to carefully go through criteria and only apply for admission if they meet the requirements.

If candidate fails to meet eligibility criteria, he or she could be disqualified at any stage of the admission process. Also, the participating colleges will have a document verification session, where all documents will be cross-checked.

Q:   Which academic stream should I have studied in Class 12 to be eligible for UCEED 2026 exam?
A: 

Candidates from any academic stream are eligible to apply for UCEED exam. However, for admission to IIT Guwahati it is mandatory for candidates to have passed Class 12 from Science stream. The candidate needs to carefully go through the eligibility criteria before they apply. It is because the candidate will not be considered for admission to the B. Des programme even if they get a rank in UCEED 2026 if they don't meet the prescribed eligibility criteria. Also, any candidate who is found to be using incorrect information about their eligibility stands to be disqualified if caught.

Q:   Can I apply for CEED if I am from a non-design background?
A: 

Yes, candidates from engineering, architecture, arts, science, or commerce backgrounds can apply. Candidates must have completed a graduate degree/diploma/postgraduate degree program of a minimum of THREE years (after 10+2 level).

Q:   Will the admission cut-off of CEED 2026 be released by IIT Bombay?
A: 

IIT Bombay will not release any admission cut-offs for CEED 2026. Note that unlike UCEED, IIT Bombay doesn't conduct any Joint Seat Allotment.

In fact, IIT Bombay is only responsible for conduct of the CEED exam and declaration of results.

Candidates will have to apply to the participating institute themselves based on their CEED 2026 scores. These participating institutes will then prepare admission cut-off based on parameters like number of applicants, seat intake, category under which admission is sought, etc.

Eligibility Criteria of Postgraduate Courses in IITs

Candidates must have completed a degree/diploma/post-graduate degree programme of a minimum of THREE years (after 10+2 level), or must be appearing for the final examination of such a program by July 2026, or must have passed the GD Arts diploma programme (10+5 level) by July 2026.

  • Duration of Programme: 2 Years
  • Fees of the UG programmes: 1.3- 1.5 lakhs per semester

Doctoral Programmes in Design at IITs

The doctoral programmes in design at IITs comprise a PhD. It is offered in institutes like IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Guwahati, IIT Hyderabad, and IIT Roorkee.

IIT

Institute/Department

Courses/Programmes

IIT Bombay

IDC School of Design

Ph.D

IIT Delhi

 

Department of Design

Ph.D

IIT Guwahati

Department of Design

PhD in Design

IIT Hyderabad

Department of Design

Ph.D

IIITDM Jabalpur

Design Discipline

Ph.D in design

IIT Roorkee

Department of Design

-

IIT Indore

School of Innovation

-

IIT Jodhpur

School of Design

Ph.D

IIT Kanpur

Design Programme

Ph.D.

- Design Entrepreneurship

- Design Research

- Design Practice

IIITDM Kancheepuram

School of Interdisciplinary Design and Innovation

-

IISC Bangalore

Centre for Product Design and Manufacturing

Research (PhD & MTech)

Professional Development Programmes

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   Do I need to refer to previous years CEED cut-off?
A: 

It is a good idea for candidate to have an idea about the cut-off marks for participating institutes. For one, this will help candidate check the cut-off trends across the years. Candidate will also provide insights into details, which institute has highest cut-off. By gaining insights into the cut-off, the candidate will be able to prepare for the CEED exam accordingly.

If candidate is eying one of the top exams, cut-off would be going to be high. So, candidate must check cut-off for their category and check out what rank range is a safe bet for admission.

Q:   Do I need a portfolio to apply to IIT Delhi through CEED 2026?
A: 

The design task/interview for admission to the M. Des. in Department of Design, IIT Delhi is being held.

As part of the design task/interview, the candidate is required to upload their digital portfolio. The portfolio must include the candidate's five best projects (maximum size: 10 MB).

The filename of the pdf must be your IIT Delhi application number. The candidate may carry their physical portfolio on the day of the interview as well, but it is not mandatory.   

Eligibility Criteria for Ph.D Programme at IITs:

  • Must have a Master’s degree in Design.
  • Must have passed CEED/GATE/UCG NET (depending on institute)

Fees of the Doctoral Programme: 60,000 to 90,000 per year.

List of Design Specialisations Offered in IIT

The following specialisations are offered in IIT:

  • Industrial and Product Design
  • Visual Communication & Graphic Design
  • Interaction & UX/UI Design
  • Mobility & Vehicle Design
  • Animation & Film Design
  • Ergonomics & Human Factors
  • Design for Sustainability
  • Human-Computer Interaction

Placements After Design Course at IIT

Placements are very good for Design courses at IITs. IITs have placement cells and industry connections, which benefit the students in getting good placements in India and abroad.

Top Recruiters at IITs

Microsoft, Google, Infosys, Samsung, TCS, Wipro, Ola Electric, Adobe, Flipkart, Amazon, Whirlpool, Siemens, Cognizant, Tata Motors, Byju’s, and several design consultancies and startups.

Domains of Employment for Design at IITs

  • UX/UI and Interaction Design
  • Industrial and Product Design
  • Communication & Graphic Design
  • Animation and Film Design
  • Automotive & Mobility Design
  • Research and Academia

Placement Cell at IITs

  • IITs have a dedicated Design Placement Cell, which focuses on placements.
  • There are ample opportunities for summer internships, live projects, and industry collaboration.
  • There are also opportunities and guidance for start-ups, entrepreneurships, etc.
  • Average Package at IITs for Design Courses
    • B.Des Graduates: ₹9–12 LPA
    • M.Des Graduates: ₹12–16 LPA
    • Top Offers: Can go above ₹25 LPA (varies by institute & recruiter).

Fees for Design Courses Offered by IITs

Explore more Design exams with upcoming dates

IIAD 2026 - Application

1 Sep '25 - 31 Jul '26

Pearl Academy Application Form 2026

8 Sep '25 - 31 Jul '26

ADEPT Application Open

1 Nov '25 - 31 Jul '26

WWI Application 2026

1 Dec '25 - 31 Jul '26

NMIMS DAT 2026 Online registrations

3 Dec '25 - 31 Jul '26

PU DAT Application 2026: Last date

7 Jan '26 - 31 Jul '26

UCEED 2026 Score Card

10 Mar '26 - 31 Jul '26

NIIFT 2026 Application form

25 Mar '26 - 14 Aug '26

SAT India Exam (August) Attempt

22 Aug '26

UID DAT 2026 Application: UID ...

1 Nov '25 - 31 Jul '26

IIT Bombay Fee Structure

The fee structure for the B.Des program at IIT Bombay is given in the table below:

Particulars

Indian Nationals (including PIO/ OCI Card holders) Fee payable (Rs.)

Foreign Nationals

I(A) At the time of Admission (One Time)

1. Admission fee

8750

8750

2. Student Welfare Fund

1250

1250

Total I (A)

10000

10000

Per Semester Fees

   

1. Tuition Fee – Statutory fees

100000

300000

2. Registration Fee & Examination Fee

2200

2200

3. Gymkhana Fee

2200

2200

4. Student Benevolent Fund

700

700

5. Student Accident Insurance Fund

300

300

6. Medical Fee

1950

1950

Total I (B)

107350

307350

I(C) Refundable Deposits (To be paid at the time of admission)

1. Institute Security Deposits

3000

3000

2. Library Security Deposits

3000

3000

Total I (C)

6000

6000

Grand Total of Academic Fees I (A)+I (B)+I (C)

123350

323350

Also Read:

Videos you may like
About the Author
author-image
Sayeba Naushad
Assistant Manager

Sayeba Naushad is a commerce postgraduate from Banaras Hindu University. She has over five years of experience in content writing and editing. She has a nose for current events in design field. At Shiksha.com, she s

Read Full Bio
qna

Comments