List of Documents Required to Apply for NID DAT 2027: Type, Photo Format, Size & More

If you qualify for the NID DAT 2027 exam you can appear in the DAT Mains which is the 2nd stage of the two-stage NID admission process.

The DAT Mains exam will include tasks like Model Making, Audio-Visual Exercises, Evolving ideas, Material Manipulation, Importance of body language, Creative thinking, and Doodling. The Studio Test is hands-on test that will be conducted in offline mode.

To prepare for the Studio Test, develop their sketching skills, including line drawing, shadow drawing etc. Practice other stuff mentioned in the syllabus, including doodling, and try to improve their creativity. 

 

NID DAT, along with NIFT and UCEED are among the most competitive national-level entrance exams in the country. The fact that there are only 425 seats for the B. Des and 347 seats for the M.Des programme makes it very competitive. But that being said, if the candidate prepares well and with the correct strategy, then the NID DAT exam can be cracked. Among the first things the candidate needs to do is prepare a efficient study timetable get familiar with the syllabus and pattern, and use good books as reference material. 

NID Studio Test is said to be the hardest. Here, students are asked to prepare a model using the material given. It checks creativity, imagination, and problem-solving skills. 

The NID Entrance Exam is considered to be one of the toughest design entrance exam conducted in the country. 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 NID exam.

For preparing the final results for the  B. Des program, the DAT Prelims will be allocated 40% weightage, while DAT Mains will be given 60%.

During the DAT Mains, which comprises a Studio Test, the candidate is tested hands-on and have to show their drawing abilities, creativity, innovativeness, and material-handling ability.

Yes, NID Studio Exam is a bit tough because it will check your creativity and imagination. You can learn some formulas here and apply them to get the answer. The main objective is to evaluate technical skills and critical thinking skills. So, it is said to be a bit tough.

Admission to the NIDs is conducted through the NID Entrance Examination. The NID exam has two stages - the candidate first appears in the DAT Prelims. Scores of the NID DAT Prelims are used to then shortlist candidates for DAT Mains. The final merit list for NID DAT will be prepared by giving weightage to Mains. 

Joining a coaching for NIFT preparation is not really needed. Coaching is for those who want to learn how to draw things. But, if someone has this talent, which most students passionate about sketching and painting do possess, there is no need for coaching. One can prepare through self-study. For your understanding, I would like to give an example. In coaching, students are made to learn how to draw the 3D image by various techniques using measuring instruments but one who is natural at art can imagine what 3D image would look like if it has to be drawn on a paper and would draw the same. In both cases, the outcome is the same. Regarding theory, that is, GAT, if you are confident to solve Maths, History, Geography, General science up till class 10th level, then there is definitely no need for coaching. Though the level of English is a bit high you can improve it yourself.

While filling out the NID application form, candidates have to enter their personal, academic, and personal information. They are also required to upload a photograph and signature, and caste Certificate if applicable. In case of candidates seeking admission under reserved categories, they also need to upload a category Certificate. PwD category candidates will also have to upload the relevant Certificate.

The category and PwD certificates should be in PDF format and max 2 MB.

Meanwhile, the photograph and signature should in JPG/JPEG format and within 75-100 KB.

The NID Design Aptitude Test (DAT) is a two-step entrance exam. The candidate first appears in DAT Prelims. If shortlisted, the candidate has to next appear in DAT Mains.

Here are some suggested study material for NID DAT:

Quantitative Aptitude - Physics and Maths syllabus up to Class 10.  

Logical Reasoning - Step-by-Step Verbal Reasoning by Philip Kay, How to Pass Diagrammatic Reasoning Test by Mike Bryon.  

GK and Current Affairs - Read newspapers daily for current affairs. For static GK, read any good GK book for NID.

English - The Ultimate Guide for NIFT/NID/IIFT Entrance Exam by Arihant

It is the sole responsibility of the candidate to provide correct and verifiable information during the application process. If the candidate is found to be using incorrect or counterfeit information, his or her candidature could be cancelled at any stage of the admission process. Further, if the candidate tries to influence, either directly or indirectly, to influence the management or employees, then also the candidate could be disqualfiied.

Note that the NID DAT counseling will have a document verification process. During this stage, all the information and documents furnished by the candidate will be cross-checked.

It is not mandatory to take coaching to get a good rank in NID DAT. It is because, the entrance exam will test the creative, drawing, and innovative skills of the candidate. Now, a coaching institute cannot exactly teach you to be creative or become innovative. Instead, with a little effort these skills can yourself learn these skills yourself. Also, a major thrust of the design aptitide test is to evaluate the drawing skills of the candidate. So, make it a point to work on your design skills, including learning how to draw line, shadow, figure, gesture, cartoon drawing, etc. When practicing drawing, also keep a tab on the drawing speed, as it will help you complete the paper in the allotted time.

NID application form 2027 opened on September 10, 2026. The application form opens online on the NID admission portal. Candidates who meet the program-specific eligibility criteria may apply before the last date.

The NID application form is for admission to the B. Des and M.Des courses offered by participating colleges. 

The application fee of NID DAT for the B. Des for General, General-EWS, OBC-NCL candidates is INR 3,000. SC, ST, PwD candidates only ned to pay INR 1,500. 

The NID DAT 2026 admit card will carry the following like the application number, Candidate's name, Roll number, Date of birth, Name of the course applied for admission, Reporting time for exam, Date of exam, Exam duration, GATE closing time, Test center code, NID DAT test centre address, Photograph, and Signature. Additionally, it will also contain the Dos and Donts for candidates inside the exam venue. On the day of the NID DAT exam, the candidate needs to report at the exam center as per the reporting time mentioned on the admit card. Candidates arriving at the exam after the exam has commence may not be allowed entry inside the exam venue.