The National Institute of Design is one of the best institutes for Design. It holds the top ranks in many rankings. To get admission in NIDs, candidates need to clear the NID DAT entrance exam conducted every year in December-January. Let's see all about NID 2027 in detail.
National Institute of Design conducts NID DAT Entrance Exam to provide admission to its NID B.Des and NID M.Des Institutes. The NID is expected to have an intake of 425 seats for the B.Des program and 347 seats for the M.Des program in the NID Institutes. The exam is conducted in two stages: NID DAT Prelims and NID DAT Mains. NID DAT consists of written exam and NID DAT Mains has Studio Test and Interview. The mains exam is given by students who have cleared the NID Prelims Exam.
The application opens in the second week of September and closes in December. The exam is also held in the third week of December in offline mode.
- Overview of NID Entrance Exam 2027
- NID DAT 2027 Exam Dates
- NID Registration Form 2027
- How to fill NID Application Form?
- NID Eligibility Criteria for UG and PG
- NID DAT Entrance Test 2027
- NID DAT Syllabus 2027
- NID DAT Exam Pattern 2027
- NID DAT 2027 Participating Colleges
- NID DAT Answer Key 2027
- NID Result and Scorecard 2027
- NID Counselling 2027
Overview of NID Entrance Exam 2027
The important highlights for NID DAT 2027 are listed in the table below.
| Particulars | NID DAT Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | NID Entrance Exam 2027 |
| Full Form | National Institute of Design Entrance Exam |
| Exam Level | Undergraduate (B.Des) & Postgraduate (M.Des) |
| Exam Frequency | Once a year |
| Courses Offered | B.Des, M.Des, GDPD |
| NID 2027 Registration Start Date | Second week of September 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | First week of December 2026 |
| Application Form Fee | INR 3,000 (General/OBC), INR 1,500 (SC/ST/PWD) |
| Admit Card Release Date | Second week of December 2026 |
| Exam Mode | DAT Prelims: Pen-and-Paper, DAT Mains: Studio Test/Interview |
| Exam Date | Third week of December for B.Des and M.Des |
| Exam Duration | 3 Hours |
| Exam Centers | Across major cities in India |
| Counselling Process Start Date | June 2027 |
| Seat Intake | 425 seats for B.Des and 347 seats for M.Des |
| Official Website | www.nid.edu |
Commonly asked questions
The NID DAT translates to the National Institute of Design - Design Aptitude Test. The Design Aptitude Test has two parts - DAT Prelims and DAT Mains. The candidate has to first appear in DAT Prelims. If shortlisted, the candidate has to appear in DAT Mains.
Note that NID DAT scores are accepted for admission to the B.Des and M.Des programs offered by participating colleges. This means, the NIDs will not accept scores of no other entrance exams for admission purposes.
The DAT Prelims exam is typically conducted in January.
Candidate will be provisionally allowed to appear for NID DAT Prelims, if shortlisted, based on the information given by candidate in NID DAT application form. It is the responsibility of candidate to provide/upload valid information and certificates at the time of submitting application form.
Details entered by candidate will be verified during NID counseling. On verification, if the information given by candidate is found to be incorrect or invalid, he can be disqualified. Decision of NID will be final and binding in this case.
The reporting time for NID DAT will be mentioned in the Admit card, along with gate closing time, and exam timings and date.
The candidate needs to report for the DAT Prelims exam at 8 am. The gates of the exam center will close at 9:30 AM (or 30 minutes before the commencement of the exam). After that no candidate will be allowed inside the exam hall.
NID DAT Exam timings:
- B.Des - 10 am - 1 pm
- M.Des - 10 am - 12.30 pm
NID DAT 2027 Exam Dates
The following table shows the NID Bachelor of Design (B.Des) dates:
| S.N | Admission Stages | 2026 | 2027 (Tentative) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Accepting Application Forms online begins | September 11, 2025 | Second week of September 2026 |
| 2 | Last date for submitting online applications | December 1, 2025 (11:59 pm, midnight) | First week of December 2026 |
| 3 | Window to Edit the application forms | December 2, 2025 (4 pm) to December 4, 2025 (11:59 pm, midnight) | First week of December 2026 |
| 4 | Download Admit Cards for DAT Prelims** | December 11, 2025 (4 pm) | Second week of December 2026 |
| 5 | DAT Prelims Exam | December 21, 2025 (Sunday) | Third week of December 2026 |
| 6 | DAT Prelims Result | April 2, 2026 (OUT) | First week of April 2027 |
| 7 | Rechecking Request for DAT Prelims Exam | April 2, 2026 (4 pm) to April 4, 2026 (11:59 pm, midnight) | First week of April 2027 |
| 8 | Download Admit Card for DAT Mains Exam | April 09, 2026 and April 23, 2026 | Second week of April 2027 |
| 9 | DAT Mains Exam | April 26, 2026 | Third week of April |
| 10 | DAT Mains Exam Result | To be announced later | May 2027 |
| 11 | Rechecking Request for DAT Mains Exam | To be announced later | To be announced later |
| 12 | Admission Counselling, Payment of Fees & Physical Verification of Documents | Tentatively in the second/third week of June 2026 | Tentatively in the second/third week of June 2027 |
NID DAT 2027 Important Dates - M.Des
The following table shows the NID DAT 2027 Master's of Design (M.Des) dates:
| Admission Stages | 2026 | 2027 (Tentative) |
|---|---|---|
| Accepting Application Forms online begins | September 11, 2025 | Second week of September 2026 |
| Last date for submitting online applications | December 1, 2025 (11:59 pm, midnight) | First week of December 2026 |
| Window to Edit the application forms | December 2, 2025 (4 pm) to December 4, 2025 (11:59 pm, midnight) | First week of December 2026 |
| Download Admit Cards for DAT Prelims | December 11, 2025 (4 pm) | Second week of December 2026 |
| DAT Prelims Exam | December 21, 2025 (Sunday) | Third week of December 2026 |
| DAT Prelims Exam Result | February 12, 2026 (4 pm) (OUT) | Second week of February 2027 |
| Rechecking Request for DAT Prelims Exam | February 12, 2026 (6 pm) to February 14, 2026 (11:59 pm, midnight) | Second week of February 2027 |
| Download Admit Card for DAT Mains Exam | February 24, 2026 | Last week of February 2027 |
| DAT Mains Exam Studio test | March 08, 2026 | First week of March 2027 |
| DAT Main Interview | March 21, 2026 to April 01, 2026 | Last week of March 2027 |
| DAT Mains Exam Result | April 23, 2026 (OUT) | Last week of April 2027 |
| Subsequent Round of Seat Allotment | To be announced later | Tentatively in the second/third week of June 2027 |
NID Registration Form 2027
NID Registration opens around the second week of September. NID Application can be filled online only, and the registration fee is around INR 2,000. The application will be available at admissions.nid.edu. Candidates must check the eligibility criteria before filling the Application form.
| Particulars |
Details |
|---|---|
| NID DAT registration start date |
September 2026 |
| NID DAT UG application form last date | December 2026 |
| NID DAT correction window |
December 2026 |
| NID DAT official website |
admissions.nid.edu |
| NID DAT registration 2027 official link |
admissions.nid.edu |
| Application mode |
Online |
| NID DAT 2027 number of attempts |
One |
| Frequency of application |
Once |
| Details Required to fill the Application Form |
Personal, Academic and Contact Details |
| NID DAT 2027 Registration Fee |
Varies on the number of subjects and category |
| Mode of fee payment |
Online through Net Banking/Credit Card/Debit Card/UPI |
| Scanned documents |
|
Commonly asked questions
NID DAT Prelims exam will be conducted offline and will be of 3 hours duration.
- Test will be conducted in the English language and include a maximum of 26 questions.
- Question paper will include both subjective and objective-type questions.
- Paper will be for 100 marks.
- Candidates who qualify in DAT Prelims have to next appear in DAT Mains.
The Studio Test for the M.Des programme will be conducted in offline mode at various NID campuses - NID Bangalore, NID Gandhinagar and NID Ahmedabad. The Studio Test will be conducted programme-wise and the schedule will be released soon.
The details of the campus allotted to the candidate will be mentioned on the NID DAT Mains 2027 admit card.
There is no negative marking in NID DAT 2026 exam. The candidate is recommended to go through the detailed exam pattern to get insights into the question paper structure, including types of questions asked, sections, etc. The DAT Prelims exam for the B. Des programme has two parts. Part I will include 22 objective-type questions, whereas Part II will include 4 subjective-type questions. Objective-type questions carry 1-2 marks, while subjective-type questions carry 15-20 marks. The total marks for the NID DAT Prelims will be 100 marks.
Explore colleges based on NID Entrance Exam
How to fill NID Application Form?
- Click on the NID registration link on NID website.
- Select a program of study and then fill in details like your name, email ID, mobile number, date of birth, etc. On registration, a unique applicant account will be created. You can log in to the account using your email ID and date of birth. Fill in all the required fields in the application form, including educational qualifications, contact details and personal information. You will also have to select NID exam centre.
- Upload scanned copies of your signature, photograph and category documents as per the specified format.
-
Pay the application fee.
NID Eligibility Criteria for UG and PG
The following table shows the eligibility criteria for NID B.Des and M.Des:
| Parameters | NID B.Des | NID M.Des |
|---|---|---|
| Age Limit |
Note: In case of foreign nationals applying for admission under the Overseas (Supernumerary) Category, the candidate must be born on or after 1 July 2006. |
Note: In case of foreign nationals applying for admission under the Overseas (Supernumerary) Category, the candidate must be born on or after 1 July 1995. |
| Educational Qualification | 10+2 in any discipline | Bachelor's degree of minimum four years duration OR its equivalent. |
Also Read:
Commonly asked questions
There is no negative marking in NID DAT Prelims.
So, the candidate may attempt all the questions. If the wrong answer is selected, the candidate won't be penalized. However, if the correct answer option is selected, the candidate may get some free marks.
Note that the DAT Prelims exam will be conducted in an OMR-based mode. The candidate will need a blue/black ball-point pen for filling the OMR sheet.
NID DAT Entrance Test 2027
The NID Entrance Exam is conducted offline at the NID DAT Test Centres. The exam for B.Des and M.Des is conducted on the same day. The exam is of 3 hours. The reporting time for the NID DAT design exam will be around 8:00 AM and the gate closing time for the NID entrance exam will be 9:30 AM. Aspirants will not be allowed to enter the NID exam centre 30 minutes after the Design Aptitude Test (DAT) starts. Candidates who qualify NID DAT (Prelims), which is a written exam, have to appear in NID DAT (Mains), which comprises a Studio Test and Interview round.
NID DAT Syllabus 2027
NID DAT Syllabus is different for NID DAT Prelims and NID DAT Mains. The written paper consists of Design aptitude test, logical reasoning, mental reasoning, language, general knowedge and current affairs.
In the Studio Test, material will be provided and candidates have to make a model and provide solution to the question asked.
| NID DAT Prelims Syllabus for B.Des Program |
||
|---|---|---|
| Design Outline for Beginners |
Colour Terminology | Inspiration & Design Development |
| Mood, Theme & Colour Inter-relationship | Design Theory |
Elements & Principles Of Design |
| Natural & Geometrical Form | Innovation in Design | Principles of Composition |
| Lettering |
Optical Illusion | Understanding Light & Shade |
| Colour Psychology & Optical Illusions | Form & Function |
Colour, Pattern & Texture |
| Theme Development | Creative thinking & writing | Picture Analysis |
| Visual Logic |
Good Design vs Bad Design | Drawing Fundamentals |
| Use of Measurements, Scale & proportions | Optical Illusion |
Foreshortening & Perspective |
| Developing Themes & Colour Associations | Inspiration & Creativity | Ornaments & motifs |
| Memory Drawing |
Usage of Colour in Compositions | Expression & Emotion |
| Exercises on imagination |
Lateral Thinking |
Story Pictures |
| Presentation Techniques | Imagination & Doodling | 3D Visualisation |
| Graphics & Pictograms |
Innovation & Creation | Design Awareness |
| Developing Observation |
||
Before starting the preparation for NID B.Des or M.Des, candidates must have proper knowledge of the NID Design Aptitude Test (DAT) syllabus. The NID DAT Syllabus for Prelims and Mains is different.
1. First Phase: NID DAT Prelims (B.Des and M.Des)
DAT Prelims syllabus for the B.Des and M.Des programs will include topics like color terminology, principles of composition, design theory, lettering, optical illusion, picture analysis, theme development, etc.
To get a good score in the exam, it is important to prepare for all the topics. However, during the preparation, if the candidate is not able to complete a topic even after trying hard, it is wise to move to the next topic or get help. Once the candidate has completed the other topics, he or she can always come back and complete the pending topic.
2. Second Phase: NID DAT Mains (B.Des and M.Des)
Candidates who get shortlisted based on their DAT Prelims have to next appear in the DAT Mains exam.
- DAT Mains for the B.Des program will include a Studio Test
- However, M.Des applicants will also have to appear in a Personal Interview in addition to the Studio Test.
The Studio Test will be conducted in offline mode. On the other hand, the personal interview will be held online.
3. Important Instructions for DAT Mains:
- Candidates will be included in the final NID DAT merit list only if they take both the DAT Prelims and DAT Mains.
- The weightage for DAT Prelims and DAT Mains will be announced before the declaration of NID DAT (Final) Results.
- Requests for rescheduling the Studio Test will not be entertained
- Admit cards will be issued separately for the NID Studio Test and Online Interview.
- If a candidate fails to appear in the online interview, admit cards will not be generated for the Studio Test.
- On the day of the Studio Test, the candidate must bring with them a hard copy of the admit card and a valid photo ID proof.
- Simply appearing in the DAT Mains does not guarantee admission.
DAT Mains 2027 Components
The NID DAT Mains test for the M.Des program has two test components:
- Studio Test
- Personal Interview
However, the DAT Mains for the B.Des program has only one test component: Studio Test.
Statement of Purpose and Portfolio Review for DAT Mains
- Candidates who get shortlisted for the DAT Mains will have to upload a Statement of Purpose (SoP) and Portfolio during the given window.
- The specific time/window for uploading SoPs and Portfolio will be intimated to the candidate by the National Institute of Design through the registered email ID/ result page.
- The candidate has to upload SoPs and Portfolios separately for each discipline they are shortlisted for.
- Format of the SoP - The Statement of Purpose should not contain more than 100 words for each question. The SoP should be uploaded as a single file (maximum size - 2 MB).
- Format of the Portfolio - The candidate has to upload a digital copy of their Portfolio in a single file (maximum size - 10 MB).
Commonly asked questions
NID conducts the Studio test and Interview for NID DAT Mains exam in Ahmedabad, Bengaluru and Gandhinagar. Details of the centre will be mentioned in the NID Admit card.
NID DAT Exam Pattern 2027
NID DAT Entrance Exam will have two parts. The first is NID DAT Prelims, and the other is NID DAT Mains. Candidates will be eligible for NID Mains only if they clear the NID DAT Prelims 2027. The FINAL result of NID DAT 2027 will be prepared by giving weightage to DAT Mains. The NID Pattern will be released on the official website.
NID DAT Exam Pattern - DAT Prelims (Overview)
The following table shows the DAT Prelims Overview.
| Particulars |
B.Des |
M.Des |
|---|---|---|
| Test duration |
3 hours |
2 ½ hours |
| Mode |
Pen-and-paper-based |
Online |
| Question type |
Textual and Visual questions |
A mixture of subjective and objective questions |
| Total number of questions |
26 |
- |
| Total marks |
100 |
100 |
| Medium of the test |
English |
English |
NID DAT Exam Pattern for the DAT Mains (Studio Test)
The NID DAT Mains for the B.Des will comprise a Studio Test, whereas for the M.Des, it will also include a Personal Interview.
| Particulars | Description |
|---|---|
| Mode of exam | Offline |
| Duration of exam | 3 hours |
| Total marks | 100 |
| Language of question paper | English |
| Type of questions |
Multiple formats (Drawing/ Sketching/ Model Making)
|
Weightage for the B.Des Program
The Weightage for the B.Des Program is as follows:
| Exam Component |
DAT Prelims |
DAT Mains |
|---|---|---|
| Weightage |
40% |
60% |
Weightage for the NID DAT Final results 2027: M.Des Program
The Weightage for the M.Des Program is as follows:
Exam Component |
DAT Prelims |
DAT Mains |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio Test |
Personal Interview |
||
| Weightage |
30% |
40% |
30% |
NID DAT 2027 Participating Colleges
NID offers admissions in UG and PG programmes in the NID campuses.
Bachelor of Design (B.Des.) is offered in the following campuses:
- National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad
- National Institute of Design, Andhra Pradesh
- National Institute of Design, Haryana
- National Institute of Design, Madhya Pradesh
- National Institute of Design, Assam
Master of Design (M.Des.) is offered in the following campuses:
Des is offered in the following campuses:
- National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad (Main Campus)
- National Institute of Design, Bengaluru (Extension Campus)
- National Institute of Design, Gandhinagar (Extension Campus)
NID DAT Answer Key 2027
The answer key for NUD DAT will not be released. As per instructions given in the Admission Handbooks, the answer keys are not shared with the candidate even upon request. The NID has a Rechecking window that opens for result rechecking, not for raising objections against the answer key.
NID Result and Scorecard 2027
NID DAT Result is released online. It is released separately for NID UG and PG programmes. The result is released twice, the first time for NID Prelims and the second time for NID Mains. NID result is released on the website of NID.
| NID DAT 2027 Result Features | Details |
|---|---|
| NID DAT scorecard 2027 direct link | admissions.nid.edu |
| Conducting body | National Institute of Design |
| Status of NID DAT result 2027 | Released for B.Des and M.Des |
| NID DAT result date 2027 (Prelims) | Second week of Feb for M.Des First week of April for B.Des |
| NID DAT Final Result | B.Des: First - Second Week of May M.Des: Fourth week of Feb |
| NID DAT rechecking Window | After the declaration of result |
| Mode of NID DAT result declaration | Online |
| NID DAT expected cutoff | Varies as per the university/college |
NID Counselling 2027
The counselling of NID DAT is held online. After the declaration of the result, NID open the option of NID Seat allotment, campus selection and counselling. NID Seat Allotment is held in multiple rounds. Candidates who are allotted a seat have to confirm by
-
Paying the NON-REFUNDABLE token fees and
-
Uploading the required documents.
| Event | B. Des (Expected) | M. Des (Expected) |
|---|---|---|
| NID DAT Mains Result | Second week of May, 2027 | Fourth week of April 2027 |
| Rechecking Request for DAT Mains Result | Second week of May, 2027 | Fourth week of April 2027 |
| Seat Allotment, Payment of Token Fee and Uploading of Documents | Second week of May, 2027 | First week of May 2027 |
Also Read:

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Student Forum
Answered a week ago
Both institutions offer the BDes course but with completely different admission processes. IIT Indore accepts admission based on the UCEED entrance exam, while BITS Pilani considers the NID Entrance exam/ BITSAT exam result.
See the table below to compare both insttutions on different factors:
| Institution | NIRF Ranking | Tuition Fee |
|---|---|---|
| BITS Pilani | 11 | ₹ 30.8L |
| IIT Indore | 12 | ₹ 8.5L |
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 months ago
Yes, the Admit card for B.Des In Person Sensitivity Test for 2026 has been released. It was released on April 23, 2026.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 months ago
Yes, the NID B.Des 2026 Studio Sensitivity Test Admit Card is out. It was out April 09, 2026. The link is active now.
S
Contributor-Level 10
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
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