NID DAT 2026 (Mains): Studio test for M.Des (March 08), Interview (March 21 to April 01), Latest Updates

NID is one of the most prestigious institutions for design in India. It offers undergraduate and postgraduate programs. Aspiring students who wish to get admission in B.Des and M.Des programmes need to fill out the application form once it is released and clear the NID Design Aptitude Test (DAT), followed by other processes. Read in detail to know more about the NID 2026 application, dates, results, counselling, etc.

NID 2026: B.Des and M.Des

The National Institute of Design has announced the dates for NID DAT Mains for M.Des. The Studio Test will be conducted on March 08, 2026. The NID Interview will be conducted from March 21, 2026, to April 01, 2026. NID Mains Admit card will be released on February 24, 2026.

National Institute of Design offers B.Des and M. Des programmes. The Admission in these programmes is done through NID DAT (Design Aptitude Test), which is a national-level entrance exam for admission to these programmes at NID Campuses across India. The NID DAT 2026 is designed to check candidates' aptitude for design, creativity, visual perception, imagination, etc.

Latest Update: 

• NID DAT M.Des Mains Schedule Out; Check Studio Test and Interview Dates Here
• NID DAT M.Des Prelims Result 2026 Declared; Check Now

NID DAT 2026 Mains Dates for M.Des

Check out the dates for NID DAT Mains.

NID conducted the NID Entrance Exam 2026 on December 21, 2025, for B.Des and M.Des. The NID DAT Prelims were conducted from 10 AM to 1 PM for B.Des and M.Des programmes. NID released NID DAT 2026  M.Des result for Prelims on February 12, 2026. The result was declared on the website of NID - admission.nid.edu. Candidates can download the result by using their Email ID and Date of Birth. The NID DAT 2026 rechecking window was open till February 14, 2026.

NID DAT 2026 Key Aspects

The key aspects of NID DAT 2026 are

• Conducting Body: It is conducted by the National Institute of Design
• Programmes: NID offers Undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. The UG and PG programmes include B.Des and M.Des.
• Stages: NID DAT is conducted in two stages: NID DAT Prelims and NID DAT Mains for B.Des and M.Des. Mains include NID Studio Test and NID Personal Interview.
• Eligibility: Eligibility requirements vary for B.Des. and M.Des. For B.Des, candidates must have completed 10+ 2 and for M.Des, they must have a bachelor's degree.

• Exam Levels: The exam is conducted in two stages:

  1. DAT Prelims: Design Aptitude Test

  2. DAT Mains: Studio test and personal interview

1. NID DAT Prelims 2026: This will include textual and visual questions. It is conducted to check aptitude. It will be conducted in English, and the duration will be mentioned in the NID DAT Admit Card 2026.
2. NID DAT Mains 2026: Students who pass the NID DAT Prelims will be eligible to give the NID DAT Mains Exam 2026. It includes Studio Test and Personal Interview. It is usually conducted at NID campuses.

NID DAT Entrance Exam 2026 Highlights

Check important highlights for NID DAT 2026 in the table below. 

NID DAT 2026 Exam Dates

Important dates for the National Institute of Design (NID) Admissions 2026

The following table shows the NID Bachelor of Design (B.Des) dates:

NID DAT 2026 Important Dates - M.Des

The following table shows the NID DAT 2026 Bachelor of Design (M.Des) dates:

NID DAT 2026 Result

NID DAT Result is declared separately for Prelims and Mains. It is declared on the official website and candidates can check their results by logging in with their registered Email ID and Date of Birth. NID Prelims is released for candidates who have filled in application forms and appeared for the NID DAT Prelims Exam. NID Mains Result is declared for the candidates who have passed the NID Prelims and Mains Exam. NID prelims result for M.Des will be out on February 12, 2026 at 4 PM. Earlier, it was suppose to be out on February 17, 2026.

• Shortlisting of candidates for DAT Mains: Candidates were shortlisted for the DAT Mains based on their scores in the DAT Prelims. The National Institute of Design will release the category-wise cut-off marks for DAT Prelims. 
• FINAL result of NID DAT 2026: The DAT Mains 2026 Final results for B.Des and M. Des will be determined based on the candidate's performance in both DAT Prelims and DAT Mains. Candidates who do not qualify for the DAT Prelims 2026 or fail to appear for the DAT Mains 2026 will not be included in the DAT Mains results.
• Further, only such candidates who qualify for the DAT Mains will be eligible to participate in NID DAT 2026 counselling. The final results of NIFT will be prepared by giving weightage to DAT Prelims and DAT Mains.

NID DAT 2026 Re-checking Window of Result

Candidates have the option to re-evaluate their answer sheets by applying for the rechecking process on the official website. They will also be allowed to apply for re-checking the DAT results. The rechecking window for NID DAT M.Des Prelims exam will open on February 12, 2026 and will close on February 14, 2026.

NID DAT 2026 Rechecking Window

The main points that candidates must know about the NID DAT Rechecking window are

• Rechecking is usually limited to verifying calculation errors or unmarked answers, not a re-evaluation of subjective content.
• It is available for a limited time after the declaration of NID DAT results.
• Candidates must submit a request online via their login portal during the window.
• A nominal fee is usually charged per paper.

NID DAT 2026 Cutoff

The NID Cutoff 2026 will be released at the time of NID B.Des and M.Des Counselling. Cut off is the minimum marks a candidate needs to secure in their category to get admission

The NID Cutoff 2026 will be prepared considering the following points:

1. The total number of candidates appearing in the NID DAT 2026 exam
2. The merit rank  of applicants in NID DAT 2026
3. NID Seat intake to the program for admission.
4. The category under which admission is sought. 

Also Read:

NID DAT 2026 Minimum Qualifying Criteria 

The minimum qualifying criteria for the year 2025 for NID DAT are given below. This will provide a fair idea of the NID 2026 cut-off.

Note: Only such candidates who meet the category-wise minimum qualifying marks will be in contention for admission.

NID DAT 2026 Exam Pattern

The NID DAT 2026 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 2026. The FINAL result of NID DAT 2026 will be prepared by giving weightage to DAT Prelims and DAT Mains. The NID Pattern 2026 will be released on the official website.

NID DAT 2026 Exam Pattern - DAT Prelims (Overview)

The following table shows the DAT Prelims Overview.

NID DAT 2026 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.

Weightage for the B.Des Program

The Weightage for the B.Des Program is as follows:

Weightage for the NID DAT final results 2026 - M.Des Program 

The Weightage for the M.Des Program is as follows:

NID DAT 2026 Syllabus

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:

1. Candidates will be included in the final NID DAT 2026 merit list only if they take both the DAT Prelims and DAT Mains.
2. The weightage for DAT Prelims and DAT Mains will be announced before the declaration of NID DAT 2026 (Final) Results.
3. Requests for rescheduling the Studio Test will not be entertained
4.  Admit cards will be issued separately for the NID Studio Test and Online Interview.
5. If a candidate fails to appear in the online interview, admit cards will not be generated for the Studio Test.
6. 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.
7. Simply appearing in the DAT Mains does not guarantee admission.

DAT Mains 2026 Components

The NID DAT Mains 2026 test for the M.Des program has two test components:

1. Studio Test
2. 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

1. Candidates who get shortlisted for the DAT Mains will have to upload a Statement of Purpose (SoP) and Portfolio during the given window.
2. 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.
3. The candidate has to upload SoPs and Portfolios separately for each discipline they are shortlisted for.
4. 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).
5. Format of the Portfolio - The candidate has to upload a digital copy of their Portfolio in a single file (maximum size - 10 MB).

NID DAT 2026 Preparation Tips

The preparation for NID DAT 2026 will include the following steps:

1. Get familiar with the exam syllabus. Stay updated about the added and deleted topics.
2. Check out the exam pattern. Go through the NID previous year's question papers to know the trend and the pattern.
3. Collect the best books for NID 2026 preparation.
4. Make a timetable. Try to follow it.
5. Solve past years’ question papers, sample papers, and mock tests.
6. Get proper rest and stay positive. Avoid screen time activities.

NID DAT 2026 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:

1. National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad
2. National Institute of Design, Andhra Pradesh
3. National Institute of Design, Haryana
4. National Institute of Design, Madhya Pradesh
5. National Institute of Design, Assam

Master of Design (M.Des.) is offered in the following campuses:

Des is offered in the following campuses:

1. National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad (Main Campus)
2. National Institute of Design, Bengaluru (Extension Campus)
3. National Institute of Design, Gandhinagar (Extension Campus)

NID DAT 2026 Counselling

NID starts the Seat Allotment Round 1 or Counselling after the declaration of the Final Result/Mains result. The updates related to the NID counselling are released on the official website, usually in the second week of May. Candidates are given options to select the institute of their preference by logging into the website using their Email ID and Date of birth.

The Seat Allotment, confirmation of Seat and payment of non-refundable fee, and uploading of documents, all need to be completed within the given date. If a candidate fails to do so, his/her seat will be allotted to the next qualifying candidate. 

NID DAT 2026 Issue of Provisional Letter and Commencement of Programme

A Provisional Letter is also issued to the students who have successfully completed all the admission procedures, and they are asked to pay the remaining semester fees. The Provisional Letter is issued in the last week of May. After completing this step, there is commence meant of programme commences in the NIDs. 

NID DAT 2026 Admission Process

The step-wise admission process for NID DAT 2026 is given below, starting from application submission to the allotment of seats:

1. Fill out the Application Form - This is the first step in the NID Admission Process. The candidates are required to fill out the form, pay the fees and submit it before the last date. All the information must be correct. 
2. Download Admit Card - The second step is the release of the NID Admit Card. Admit Card for B.Des and M.Des for NID DAT Prelims will be out on December 11, 2025. The admit card will carry details like the date and time of the exam, roll number, exam center address, and exam-day guidelines. 
3. Appear in DAT Prelims - DAT Prelims will be conducted offline as a paper-and-pen(pencil) exam. The full details of the DAT Prelims exam pattern will be outlined in the admit card.  
4. Check DAT Prelims Result - The results for DAT Prelims can be checked by entering one's email address, date of birth, and roll number/application number. DAT Prelims scores will be used to shortlist candidates for the DAT Mains. 
5. Download DAT Mains Admit Card - All registered candidates will be issued admit cards that have to be downloaded online. After downloading the admit card, take a printout of the admit card.
6. Appear for NID DAT Mains - DAT Mains will comprise a Studio Test; M.Des candidates will also have to appear in an online interview round. In the studio test for NID admissions, aspirants are given hands-on practical assignments, which they need to complete within the stipulated time.
7. Check NID DAT final Result - DAT Prelims and NID DAT Mains performance are considered to prepare the FINAL results. Note that the final result or merit rank will be considered for the admission or seat allotment process.

NID DAT 2026 Admit Card 

NID released the Admit card for DAT Prelims on December 11, 2026. The Admit card is released on the NID website as per the schedule provided by it. Candidates can download the admit card using their credentials (Email ID and Date of birth). No separate admit cards, either digital or hard copy, are provided to the candidates.

The Admit card contains important information like reporting time, centre, and other instructions. NID’s DAT Prelims and DAT Mains Admit Card cannot be used by any person/institution without the prior permission of the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad.

NID DAT 2026 Application Form

NID Application is released on the official website of NID. Applications are released for both B.Des and M.Des programmes. Candidates who fulfill the eligibility criteria can fill out the application with the last date given by the NID. The application fee is around INR 3,000 for (General/OBC) and INR 1500 for (SC/ST/PWD).

NID DAT 2026 Eligibility 

Only eligible candidates can fill up the application form and proceed further for NID B.Des and M.Des. The eligibility criteria for NID B.Des and M.Des are given below:

NID 2026 B.Des Admissions: Qualifying exams

• The candidate must have passed the 10+2 exam
• Those appearing in the 10+2 exam in the academic year 2026-27 may also appear.
• Students from any stream (Science, Arts, Commerce, Humanities, etc.) may apply.

NID 2026 Eligibility criteria (M.Des) - Qualifying Exam 

Candidates must meet the following criteria for NID DAT 2026:

• Bachelor’s degree of a minimum four-year duration in any discipline from a recognized university or college./ or 
• Bachelor’s degree of a minimum three-year duration in any discipline from a recognized university or college./ or
• Full-time diploma of minimum four-year duration in Design/ Fine Arts/ Applied Arts/ Architecture passed from a recognized university or college after clearing Class 12. However, candidates must have passed/ have appeared for/ be appearing for the diploma exams at the time of document verification, tentatively scheduled in May 2025.