Top Design Entrance Exams 2026: Check Official Notification, Exam Date & Latest Updates
Call 8585951111Got Doubts?
Check the list of top entrance exams conducted in India for admission to Design courses. Find out the important dates, patterns, and list of colleges accepting scores of the top design entrance exams conducted in the country.
While design is considered a niche academic program by many, it is slowly by surely gaining traction among the student community. These days, the NIFTs and NIDs are considered among the top colleges in the country, and this is not just limited to the design stream. The popularity of design can be attributed to a number of factors - high packages, more and diverse employment opportunities, the boom of social media celebrities, Bollywood, etc.
Experts share that to consider this as a course choice, one needs to possess the natural flair to assess trends and basic knowledge of design elements. Aspirants can consider pursuing different specializations in the design discipline to get professional guidance on how to explore and enhance their instincts.
Also read:
Some of the top design schools in the country include NIFT Delhi, NIFT Kolkata, NIFT Bangalore, IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, etc. Admission to these institutes is done based on entrance exams like NIFT, NID DAT, UCEED, and CEED.
In this article, we discuss these entrance exams in detail, including their admission schedule.
Design as a course is offered at colleges like the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), National Institute of Design (NID), Pearl Academy, etc. However, to secure admission to these colleges, candidates need to clear an entrance exam. Most of the design entrance tests conducted in India are at the college level, and candidates have to clear 2-3 rounds to be selected for admission.
This article will give you the following information about the top entrance exams in India:
- Application date
- Exam date
- The syllabus and pattern of each exam
- List of colleges that accept these design exam scores
This information will help you make an informed decision on the design entrance exams that you can take, as well as the colleges where you can apply for admission. The table below lists the application and exam dates for the top 10 design exams in India.
- List of Top Design Entrance Exams in India 2026
- Top Design Entrance Exams in India 2026
- Ranking of Top Design Government Colleges
- List of Other Popular Design Entrance Exams
List of Top Design Entrance Exams in India 2026
The design exams listed below are not mentioned in any particular order.
| Design Exams |
Exam Date |
Declaration of Results (Expected) |
|---|---|---|
| February 08, 2026 |
Written Exam Result - March 20, 2026 FINAL results: May 2026 |
|
| January 18, 2026 |
March 4, 2026 |
|
| January 18, 2026 |
March 4, 2026 |
|
| December 21, 2025 |
DAT Prelims:
DAT Mains:
|
|
| June 06 and June 07 | To be notified |
|
| To be notified |
To be notified |
|
| May 10, 2026 |
To be notified |
|
| B.Des: March 22, 2026 M.Des: May 03 |
May 15, 2026 |
|
| May 30, 2026 |
To be notified |
|
| January 11, 2026 |
To be notified |
Most of the design entrance exams in India are held in January/February. One of the most common questions among candidates applying for design course admissions is regarding important dates, exam patterns, syllabi, etc., of one or multiple exams. Since students have so many options at hand, there is bound to be confusion. Further in this article, aspirants can check out important details regarding the top design entrance exams in India.
Commonly asked questions
Tips for NIFT exam preparation are given below.
- Check NIFT exam pattern and syllabus.
- Check the topics and plan accordingly
- Make sure you follow only the updated syllabus.
- Stay updated with trends, fashion shows, exhibitions, etc.
- Make a timetable taking into account the difficulty level of each topic.
- Solve sample papers and previous years' question papers.
- Practice mock tests.
NIFT Application 2026 is closed now. The registration started on December 08, 2025. NIFT 2026 Application forms and Notifications can be out anytime now for B.Des, M.Des, B.F. Tech, M.F.Tech, and M.F.M programmes. The application form will be released at @nift.ac.in. The NIFT entrance exam application form is the same for all courses. The application fee for NIFT is INR 2,000 (INR 500 for SC, ST, and PwD categories). NIFT Application forms can also be filled with late fees. The late fee is INR 5,000.
The National Institute of Design (NID) conducted the DAT Prelims exam on December 21, 2025.
The B.Des exam was held around 10 am - 1 pm; meanwhile, the M.Des exam was 10 am - 12.30 am. The candidates were required to report for the exam at 8 am. Gates' closing time was 9.30 am.
DAT Prelims for the B.Des programme was conducted in a paper-and-pencil/pen mode.
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 2026 will be prepared by giving weightage to Mains.
Top Design Entrance Exams in India 2026
Aspirants can get an idea of the most popular design entrance exams conducted in India below:
1. NIFT Entrance Exam: One of the most popular design entrance exams conducted in India, the NIFT entrance exam is usually conducted in February by the NTA and the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT). Based on the NIFT exam, aspirants can secure admission in design courses such as Bachelor of Design (BDes), Bachelor of Fashion Technology (BFTech), Master of Design (MDes), Master of Fashion Management (MFM) and Master of Fashion Technology (MFTech).
2. UCEED: Conducted by IIT Bombay, UCEED is the means through which aspirants can secure admission in the BDes course offered at IITs. UCEED 2026 is of three hours duration and is usually conducted in January.
3. CEED: A popular MDes entrance exam, CEED is usually conducted by IIT Bombay in January every year. CEED exam comprises two parts, that is, Part A and Part B. CEED Part A exam comprises multiple-choice questions, whereas Part B of the exam consists of subjective, drawing-related questions.
4. NID Entrance Exam: The admission process of the National Institute of Design (NID) is three-tiered. In order to secure admission in BDes, and MDes courses offered at NID, candidates need to appear for the NID Entrance Exam. This design entrance exam comprises both objective-type questions as well as subjective drawing questions.
5. Pearl Academy Entrance Exam: The Pearl Academy Entrance Exam is usually conducted in January and April every year. The exam pattern for this design entrance exam varies depending on the course for which aspirants have applied for admission. Pearl Academy Entrance Exam for design courses comprises of General Proficiency Test (GPT) as well as the Design Aptitude Test (DAT).
| List of Colleges Accepting Pearl Academy Entrance Exam Scores |
|
6. AIEED: Conducted by Arch College of Design and Business, AIEED is conducted to offer admission to aspirants in undergraduate and postgraduate design courses. AIEED exam comprises a Creative Aptitude Test (CAT) as well as a General Aptitude Test (GAT).
7. FDDI AIST: Footwear Design and Development Institute (FDDI) conducts FDDI AIST to shortlist aspirants for admission in undergraduate and postgraduate design programs offered by it. FDDI AIST exam consists of four sections in the entrance test and is usually conducted in May every year.
8. SEED: conducted by Symbiosis International University, SEED is the means through which aspirants can secure admission in the BDes course offered at Symbiosis Institute of Design (SID). SEED exam comprises objective-type multiple-choice questions.
9. GD Goenka DAT: This design exam is conducted by GD Goenka University to shortlist aspirants for admission in design courses offered at the School of Fashion & Design (SOFD). GD Goenka DAT is of three hours duration, and its exam pattern is similar to the NIFT and NID entrance exam.
10. UID Aptitude Test: Conducted by Unitedworld Institute of Design (UID) in January, the UID Aptitude Test is the gateway to secure admission in BDes and MDes courses offered at this design school. UID admission process is two-tiered. Here, first candidates need to appear for UID Design Aptitude Test and thereafter appear for the Situation Test and Portfolio Evaluation round.
|
|
10. IIAD Entrance Exam: This Design entrance exam is conducted by the Indian Institute of Art and Design every year, and it typically has four to five admission cycles. Through this exam, candidates can secure admission in BA (Hons) courses (in Fashion Design, Communication Design, Interior Architecture & Design, and Fashion Business Management) and Master's courses (in Fashion Design and Fashion Business Management).
11. MAH CET B.Design: MAH CET B.Design application is closed now. Candidates could fill the application on the website of MAH CET. The application of MAH CET B.Design is available online. Candidates can only register and apply for MAH CET. The last date to fill out the application form was February 24, 2026.
The Application registration fee is INR 1,900 for all Indian Candidates. The date of MAH CET B.Design are out. The exam was conducted on April 05, 2026. The B.design entrance exam aims to check creativity, visual perception, drawing skills, and general awareness of the candidates.
| Paper |
Subject |
Paper Type |
No. of Questions |
Duration |
Total Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part A |
Visualization and Illustration Ability |
Sketching/Illustration using pencils, colour pencils, ink pens |
01 |
45 Minutes |
40 |
| Break |
15 Minutes |
||||
| Part B |
Design Thinking & Problem Solving |
Sketching Product/Idea using pencils, markers, sketch pens, etc. |
01 |
60 Minutes |
60 |
| Break |
30 Minutes |
||||
| Part C |
General Knowledge – MCQ Type |
Multiple choice and numerical answer type questions |
60 |
60 Minutes |
100 |
| Total |
62 |
2 hours 45 mins |
200 |
Ranking of Top Design Government Colleges
Check out the top design government colleges as per the IIRF Ranking 2025.
| All India Rank | Name of Institutes | State | State Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NID Ahmedabad - National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad | Gujarat | 1 |
| 2 | NID Madhya Pradesh - National Institute of Design, Bhopal | Madhya Pradesh | 1 |
| 3 | IIT Bombay - Indian Institute of Technology, IDC School of Design, Mumbai | Maharashtra | 1 |
| 4 | IIT Delhi - Indian Institute of Technology, Department of Design, Delhi | Delhi | 1 |
| 5 | NID Andhra Pradesh - National Institute of Design, Guntur | Andhra Pradesh | 1 |
| 6 | NID Haryana - National Institute of Design, Kurukshetra | Haryana | 1 |
| 7 | IIT Kanpur - Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur | Uttar Pradesh | 1 |
| 8 | IIT Roorkee - Indian Institute of Technology, Department of Design, Roorkee | Uttarakhand | 1 |
| 9 | IIT Guwahati - Indian Institute of Technology, Department of Design, Guwahati | Assam | 1 |
| 10 | NID Assam - National Institute of Design, Jorhat | Assam | 2 |
Commonly asked questions
NID application form 2026 opened on September 11, 2025. The application form opens online at the NID admission portal -admissions.nid.edu. 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 last date to apply for NID DAT 2026 was December 01, 2025.
The application fee of NID DAT 2026 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. However note that the application fees for overseas candidates seeking admission to supernumerary seats is INR 5000. In case of the M.Des programme, the application fees for General, General-EWS, OBC-NCL candidates applying for one discipline is INR 3,000. If two disciplines are chosen, the application fee is INR 6000. Meanwhile, SC, ST, PwD candidate need to pay INR 1,500 for one discipline, and INR 3000 for two disciplines.
The NID DAT 2026 application form is now open.
UCEED 2026 Application was open from October 01, 2025, on the official website. Last date to apply with regular fees was on November 05, 2025. Candidates who met the prescribed eligibility criteria were able to apply for admission.
The NID DAT 2026 (Prelims) exam will be conducted in the first week of January 2026. The exam will be conducted in the following 22 cities - Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Bhubaneshwar, Chandigarh, Chennai, Dehradun, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kochi, Kolkata, Kurukshetra, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, New Delhi, Patna, Raipur, Ranchi, Thiruvananthapuram, Vijayawada.
The candidate has to select their choice of exam city at the time of filling out the NID DAT 2026 Application form. Note that an exam city may have one or more test centres. The allotment of exam centres will be made considered available seats in respective centres and choice of the candidate.
Discover top B.Des colleges explored by similar minds
Students like you who showed interest in this article are also exploring the following colleges
Want better recommendations?
There is a 90% more chance of getting best college recommendations by sharing preferences.
- Chat with our counselor
- Get your personalised list of colleges & exams matching your preferences
Explore more Design exams with upcoming dates
1 Sep '25 - 22 May '26
22 May '26
22 May '26
19 May '26 - 27 May '26
30 May '26
1 Nov '25 - 31 May '26
8 Sep '25 - 4 Jun '26
1 Jun '26 - 8 Jun '26
List of Other Popular Design Entrance Exams
Check out the list of other design exams.
| Colleges |
|
|---|---|
Also Read:
Comments
(1)
4 years ago
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