NIFT B.Des vs B.Ftech: Which Is Better?

National Institute of Fashion Technology Entrance Exam 2026 ( NIFT Entrance Exam )

shadow

NIFT Registration for e-Counselling / Seat Allotment

To be notified

Sayeba
Sayeba Naushad
Assistant Manager
Updated on Mar 16, 2026 16:32 IST
NIFT B.Des and B.FTech are both UG programmes of NIFT. The entrance into these programmes is through NIFT Entrance Exam. For B.Des, you need to give NIFT Stage 1 and Stage 2, but for NIFT B.FTech, you need to give NIFT Stage 1 only. For B.Des maths is not compulsory, but for B.F,.Tech, it is compulsory.

Do you want to pursue a UG programme from NIFT, and wondering which programme is best for you? NIFT offers B.Des and B.F.Tech in the category of UG programmes. Read on to find which is better. NIFT B.Des or NIFT B.F.Tech?

NIFT B.Des vs B.Ftech: Which Is Better?

NIFT B.Des vs B.Ftech: Which Is Better?

B.Des stands for Bachelor of Design. It focuses on designing products, visuals, apparel, jewellery, etc. NIFT has many specialisations like Fashion Design, Fashion Communication, Interior Design, Graphic Design, Animation, etc. The career options after pursuing B.Des are Fashion DesignerFashion Stylist, Design Consultant, Jewellery Designer, etc., whereas NIFT B.FTech or Bachelor of Fashion Technology is a 4-year UG degree course that provides knowledge and techniques used in the production of fashion garments and accessories. It was first introduced by the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT). It focuses more on the technical aspects of fashion.

The Application for NIFT, for B.Des and B.F.Tech opens in the first week of December. The exam is held at the NIFT Centres for both programmes. NIFT Entrance Exam for these programmes are held in the second week of February.

Table of contents
  • NIFT B.Des Overview 2026
  • NIFT B.F.Tech Overview
  • NIFT B.Des vs NIFT B.F.Tech: Which is better?
  • NIFT B.Des and NIFT B.F.Tech Specialisation and Duration
  • Eligibility Criteria for NIFT B.Des and NIFT B.F.Tech
  • NIFT B.Des and NIFT B.F.Tech Weightage
  • NIFT B.Des and NIFT B.F.Tech Pattern
View More

NIFT B.Des Overview 2026

Check out the highlights of NIFT B.Des.

Parameters B.Design Course Details
B.Des Full Form Bachelor of Design
B Design Course Duration 4 Years
B.Des Course Level Undergraduate
B.Des Admission Process NIFT Entrance Exam
B Des Eligibility Criteria Class 12 with a minimum 50% aggregate score from a recognised board.
NIFT Institutes 20 NIFT Institutes
Average B.Des Salary INR 4 LPA - INR 6 LPA
B.Des Job Profiles Fashion Designer, Graphic Designer, UI/UX Designer, Textile Designer, Product Designer, Industrial Designer, and Art Director.
B.Des Top Recruiters Amazon, Snapdeal, Benetton, Pearl Global, Pantaloons, Shoppers Stop, Ubisoft, EA, Arvind Ltd, Vardhman Textiles Ltd., Welspun India Ltd., Raymond Ltd., etc.
Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   How to calculate scores using the NIFT Provisional Answer Key 2026?
A: 

To calculate the scores from NIFT Provisional Answer Key:

  • Download the NIFT answer key from the NTA NIFT Website.
  • Compare your answers with the answer key to calculate the number of correct attempts.
  • Using the NTA NIFT marking scheme, calculate probable scores.
  • Probable scores can be used by the candidate to assess the chances of admission.
Q:   What is the expected cutoff for NIFT 2026 M.Des?
A: 

The expected cutoff for NIFT M.Des is given below:

CategoryExpected Cutoff M.Des
Open26-70
EWS22
OBC22
SC16
ST16-18
Q:   What is the expected cutoff for NIFT 2026 for B.Des?
A: 

The expected cutoff for NIFT 2026 for B.Des is:

CategoryExpected Cutoff for B.Des
Open30-80
EWS26-29
OBC26-29
SC22
ST19
Q:   What are the components of NIFT Stage 2 Exam?
A: 

NIFT Stage 2 will have Situation Test and Personal Interview. 

ProgrammeStage 2 Components
B.Des (Bachelor of Design)Situation Test – Model-making, material handling, creativity, innovation
B.Des (NLEA)Studio Test + Personal Interview
B.Des (Artisans)Artisan Skill Test + Personal Interview
B.F.Tech (NLEA)Technical Ability Test (OMR-based) + Personal Interview
PG Programmes (M.Des, M.F.M., M.F.Tech)Personal Interview

NIFT B.F.Tech Overview

Check out the highlights of NIFT B.F.Tech.

Parameters B.Design Course Details
B.F.Tech Full Form
Bachelor of Fashion Technology
B.F.Tech Course Level
Undergraduate
B.F.Tech Course Duration
4 Years
B.F.Tech Eligibility Criteria
Class 12 with Mathematics
B.F.Tech Admission Criteria
NIFT Entrance Exam
B.F.Tech Average Fees
INR 20,830 - INR 12.96 Lakh
B.F.Tech Top Colleges
NIFT Institutes
B.F.Tech Job Profiles
Production Controller, CSR Professional, Sampling Room Coordinator, Industrial Engineer, Industrial Manager.
Average B.F.Tech Salary
INR 6 LPA
B.F.Tech Top Recruiters
Raymonds, Benetton, Arvind Garments, ITC Ltd., Levi's, Lifestyle, Madura Garments, Modelama Exports, etc.
Staying updated about the latest educational events is just a click away
Enter Mobile Number

NIFT B.Des vs NIFT B.F.Tech: Which is better?

Candidates must choose B.Des, if they are more interested in drawing, sketching, fashion, etc. The specialisation here will be Fashion communication, Textile design, etc. Choose this if you have a creative mindset and strong imagination skills.

Candidates must choose B.F.Tech, if they are more interested in how the apparel industry functions, what techniques are used, etc. It is for candidates who have a technical mindset. Further, this leads to garment engineering, IT in Fashion, etc.

Check out the difference between NIFT B.Des and NIFT B.F.Tech.

Parameter NIFT B.Des NIFT B.F.Tech
Focus Area NIFT B.Des focuses on creativity, aesthetics and design thinking. NIFT B.F.Tech focuses on technical operations, manufacturing and management related to apparel.
Eligibility 10+2 All streams 10+2 with Mathematics
NIFT Entrance Exam

Stage 1: GAT and CAT

Stage 2: NIFT Situation Test

Stage 1: GAT and CAT
Result Declaration Last week of April 2026 Last week of April 2026
Job Roles Fashion Designer, UI/UX designer/illustrator Production Manager, Merchandiser, Quality Controller
Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   What is the NIFT 2026 exam pattern for the GAT paper (M.F.M)?
A: 

As per exam pattern released by NIFT, question paper for GAT M.FTech will be of 180 minutes. Exam will be conducted in a LAN-based, CBT mode. The GAT paper will have 150 multiple-choice questions. These questions will be asked from - Communication Ability and Comprehension, Case Study, Quantitative Ability, Analytical & Logical Ability, and GK and Current Affairs. Also, the GAT paper will be bilingual, meaning the candidate can appear in the GAT paper either in English or Hindi language. The choice of language has to be made when filling out the NIFT online application form.

Q:   When do I need to start my preparation for NIFT 2027 exam?
A: 

NIFT exam is among the most competitive and the toughest. So, it is recommended that candidate start their exam preparation in advance, around 1 year before.

Q:   What will be the mode of the NID DAT 2027 Entrance Exam?
A: 

NID DAT Entrance Exam 2027 Prelims exam will be conducted offline in pen and paper mode. It will be conducted at the NID test centres.

NID DAT Mains exam: Studio Test and Interview, will be conducted offline at the test centres in Ahmedabad, Bengaluru and Gandhinagar.

Q:   What will be the basis of NIFT 2026 seat allotment?
A: 

The allotment of seats will be based on: 

  1. Choice opted at the time of counseling registration (academic programs + campuses)
  2. The category of the candidate
  3. Seat intake in the college opted for admission
  4. NIFT 2026 merit rank of the candidate. 

NIFT 2026 seat allotment process will be conducted in four regular and one spot rounds.

Explore colleges based on NIFT Entrance Exam

Delhi
₹12.96 L
Bangalore
₹5.63 L
Navi Mumbai
₹9.32 L
Chennai
₹9.02 L

Want better recommendations?

There is a 90% more chance of getting best college recommendations by sharing preferences.
Hyderabad
₹6.07 L
Kolkata
₹9.16 L
Gandhinagar
₹6.07 L
Patna
₹90.20 K
Shillong
₹8.58 L
Uttar Pradesh - Other
₹6.07 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

NIFT B.Des and NIFT B.F.Tech Specialisation and Duration

Read the table given below to know the duration and specialisation offered by NIFT for B.Des and B.F.Tech.

NIFT Program

Duration

Specialisation

 

 

Bachelor Programmes (B.DES.)

4 Years

Fashion Communication (FC)

Accessory Design (AD)

Fashion Design (FD)

Knitwear Design (KD)

Leather Design (LD)

Textile Design (TD)

Fashion Interiors (FI)

Bachelor Programmes (B.F. TECH)

4 Years

Bachelor of Fashion Technology (Apparel Production)

Also Read:

Eligibility Criteria for NIFT B.Des and NIFT B.F.Tech

Check out the eligibility Criteria for NIFT B.Des and NIFT B.F.Tech. For both the UG programmes, the age limit is the same. Only for NIFT B.F.Tech, it is necessary to have Mathematics as a subject in 10+2.

Eligibility Criteria NIFT B. Des. NIFT B.F.Tech
Age Limit

For Bachelor’s Programmes, B. Des, the maximum age should be less than 24 years as on 1st August of the year of admission.

The upper age limit may be relaxed by a period of 5 (five) years for candidates belonging to Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe/ Person with Disability (PwD) categories

For Bachelor’s Programmes, the maximum age should be less than 24 years as on 1st August of the year of admission.

The upper age limit may be relaxed by a period of 5 (five) years for candidates belonging to Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe/ Person with Disability (PwD) categories

Educational Qualification

Passed the plus 2 level examination in the 10+2 pattern of examination from any recognized Central/State Board of Secondary Examination, such as the Central Board of Secondary Education/State Board New Delhi/Council for Indian School Certificate Examination, New Delhi.

OR

A pass grade in the Senior Secondary School Examination conducted by the National Open School with a minimum of five subjects.

OR

3 or 4 years diploma recognized by AICTE or a State Board of Technical Education after secondary examination/10th standard.

OR

Any Public School/Board/University Examination in India or in foreign countries recognized by the Association of Indian Universities as equivalent to the 10+2 system.

OR

General Certificate Education (GCE) Examination (London/Cambridge/Sri Lanka) at the Advanced (A) level/International Baccalaureate (IB).

Passed the plus 2 level examination in the 10+2 pattern of examination from any recognized Central/State Board of Secondary Examination, such as the Central Board of Secondary Education, New Delhi/Council for Indian School Certificate Examination, New Delhi with Mathematics.

OR

A pass grade in the Senior Secondary School Examination conducted by the National Open School with a minimum of five subjects with Mathematics.

OR

3 or 4 years diploma in any branch of Engineering recognized by AICTE or a State Board of Technical Education after secondary examination/10th standard.

OR

Any Public School/Board/University Examination in India or in foreign countries recognized by the Association of Indian Universities as equivalent to the 10+2 system with Mathematics.

OR

General Certificate Education (GCE) Examination (London/Cambridge/Sri Lanka) at the Advanced (A) level with Mathematics/International Baccalaureate (IB).

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   What is the duration of the NIFT 2027 Situation Test?
A: 

NIFT Situation Test will be of 2 hours. In this time, candidates have to draw the given 3D model and write about it. 

NIFT B.Des and NIFT B.F.Tech Weightage

In NIFT B.Des, the candidate has to appear for NIFT Stage 1 and NIFT Stage 2. But in NIFT B.F.Tech, there is only one stage for NIFT B.F.Tech. Read the weightage given by NIFT for both the programmes.

Program

Exam

Weightage

B. Des.

GAT

30%

CAT

50%

Situation Test

20%

B.F. Tech.

GAT (Sec-A)

30%

GAT (Sec-B)

70%

Explore more Design exams with upcoming dates

AIEED 2026 Batch Starts

15 Jun '26

NID B.Des Provisional Offer Le...

16 Jun '26 - 18 Jun '26

Round III: Withdrawal of seat...

15 Jun '26 - 19 Jun '26

IIAD 2026 - Application

1 Sep '25 - 30 Jun '26

ADEPT Application Open

1 Nov '25 - 30 Jun '26

PU DAT Application 2026: Last date

7 Jan '26 - 30 Jun '26

SEED B.Des Commencement of the...

1 Jul '26

KALSEE 2026 Exam Dates

12 Jul '26

NIIFT 2026 Application form

25 Mar '26 - 14 Aug '26

UID DAT 2026 Application: UID ...

1 Nov '25 - 30 Jun '26

NIFT B.Des and NIFT B.F.Tech Pattern

Check out NIFT B.Des and NIFT B.F.Tech.

Program

Paper Name

Language of

Written Test

Test Duration

(minutes)

No. of

Questions

B. Des

GAT (CBT)

CAT (PBT)

English/Hindi

120 + 180

100 + 3

B.F. Tech

GAT - Section A (CBT)

English/Hindi

120

100

GAT - Section B (CBT)

English/Hindi

60

50

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
Download Important Dates for Design Exams

News & Updates

Latest NewsPopular News

Explore Other Exams

16 Jun '26 -

18 Jun '26

NID B.Des Provisional Offer Le...

9 Jun '26 -

11 Jun '26

NID B.Des Seat Allotment Round...

15 Jun '26 -

19 Jun '26

Round III: Withdrawal of seat...

10 Mar '26 -

31 Jul '26

UCEED 2026 Score Card

Nov '25

UID DAT 2026 Application: UID ...

25 Mar '26 -

5 Apr '26

UID Tier 2: Situation Test for...

9 Jun '26 -

10 Jun '26

Pearl Academy Personal Intervi...

8 Jun '26

Pearl Academy 2026 Admit Cards...

15 Jun '26

AIEED 2026 Batch Starts

6 Apr '26 -

18 Apr '26

AIEED Examination (Situation T...

27 Jan '26

ISDI Challenge 2026: Result

15 Dec '25

ISDI Challenge 2026: Last date...

1 Jul '26

SEED B.Des Commencement of the...

15 May '26

Declaration of First Merit Lis...

Jan '26

PESSAT DAT 2026 Exam START Dat...

Oct '25

PESSAT DAT 2026 Application ST...

10 May '26

FDDI AIST 2026 Exam date

1 May '26

FDDI AIST Admit Card

The list of exams are recommended based on what other exams do the students in your area show interest in
qna

Student Forum

chatAnything you would want to ask experts?
Write here...

Answered a month ago

NIFT 2026 Final Result for UG and PG programmes was released on June 03, 2026

S

Sayeba Naushad

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 months ago

There is no fixed number of mock tests one should take before the NIFT Entrance Exam. A candidate should take at least one mock test daily for the NIFT Entrance Preparation. 10-15 mock tests will really help in preparing for the exam.

S

Sayeba Naushad

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 months ago

There are 20 participating institutes of NIFT that offer the B. Des and B.F.Tech programmes. B. Des programme offers specializations in the following programs: Fashion Design (FD), Leather Design (LD), Accessory Design (AD), Textile Design (TD), Knitwear Design (KD), Fashion Communication (FC).

For B

...Read more

S

Sayeba Naushad

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 months ago

NIFT cutoff for a participating NIFT is the last rank for which admission is offered in for a particular programme and category. This means, if a candidate fails to score a rank equal to or higher than the cutoff rank, they don't get admission. Typically, a higher ranked institute will invite: More

...Read more

S

Sayeba Naushad

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 months ago

NIFT Delhi is frequently ranked among the top design colleges in the country. So, the admission cut-off for the institute is pretty high, especially when compared to the lower-ranked colleges. This is because being a higher-ranked college, NIFT Delhi receives a higher number of applicants. Another f

...Read more

S

Sayeba Naushad

Contributor-Level 10