What is NID - Full Form, How to get Admission, NID Flagship Programmes and NID Colleges

NID DAT is one of the most important design entrance exams in India. Here we discuss what NID is, what it does, how to get admission in the NIDs, and much more. Read on.

NID DAT 2026

NID is one of the topmost institutions for design in India. It is known for offering undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs in various design disciplines. It was established under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India. NID is recognised as an Institute of National Importance.

NID DAT 2026 Exam will be conducted on December 21, 2025 for B.Des and M.Des. The exam will be conducted from 10 AM to 1 PM.

What is the full form of NID?

NID stands for the National Institute of Design. The institute is responsible for conducting the NID DAT entrance exam. The full form of DAT is the Design Aptitude Test. The NID DAT entrance exam is conducted in two stages - DAT Prelims and DAT Mains. The candidate first appears in DAT Prelims, and, if shortlisted, must appear in DAT Mains. The final score or merit list of NID DAT will be prepared by giving weightage to DAT Prelims and DAT Mains.

NID offers B.Des and M.Des courses. Candidates who have passed the 10+2 exam can seek admission to the B.Des program, whereas graduate students can apply for M.Des admission. 

Key Aspects of NID DAT Exam 2026

Some of the key points of NID DAT 2026 Exam are:

• Exam Name: NID Design Aptitude Test (DAT)
• 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 Studio Test and Personal Interview.
• Eligibility: The eligibility varies 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 Focus: NID DAT is conducted to check knowledge, skill, and creativity in the field of design.

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

  1. DAT Prelims: A written exam evaluating design aptitude.

  2. DAT Mains: A studio test and personal interview for shortlisted candidates.

What are NID DAT Flagship Programmes?

• B.Des (Bachelor of Design)
• M.Des (Master of Design)
• Ph.D in Design

NID Institutions/ Colleges

The NID Institutes for Bachelor of Design (B.Des.) are

• 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

The NID Institutes for Master of Design (M.Des.) are:

• National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad (Main Campus)
• National Institute of Design, Bengaluru (Extension Campus)
• National Institute of Design, Gandhinagar (Extension Campus)

What is the NID Entrance Exam 2026?

The National Institute of Design conducts an entrance exam, NID DAT, to shortlist candidates for admission to the B.Des and M.Des courses.

The NID DAT entrance exam has two parts:

1. DAT Prelims
2. DAT Mains

Candidates will be shortlisted for the DAT Mains based on their DAT Prelims scores. The FINAL result of NID DAT will be prepared by giving weightage to DAT Prelims and DAT Mains.

What is the purpose of the NID entrance exam?

As discussed above, the NID entrance exam is conducted to shortlist candidates for admission to the B.Des and M.Des courses. The NIDs are among the top design institutes in the country. For instance, NID Ahmedabad has been bestowed with the Institute of National Importance recognition by the Government of India. So, students who study in the NIDs can learn the key concepts and get practical exposure to become skillful designers and contribute to the country’s growth. The NIDs have among the best infrastructure, faculty, and industry connections, meaning students get a holistic education.

Why study in the NIDs?

Students who complete their B.Des and B.Des courses from the NIDs go on to make successful careers in design and allied sectors. The NIDs have many prominent alumni, one of the many reasons why students want to study a degree course in the NIDs. Some of the famous NID Alumni are Rahul Mishra, Harun Robert, Aditya Vikram Sengupta, etc. NID Placements are also very good. Passouts from the NIDs get good placements. Considering financial security is a major criterion for selecting an educational institute, it is easy to see why there is a beeline to get admission to the NIDs.

How to get admission to the NIDs?

The candidate has to sit in the NID DAT entrance exam for admission to the NIDs. The candidate can select the program of study at the time of filling out the NID DAT application. The NID DAT application form usually opens in the first week of September and ends in the first week of December. The NID DAT 2026 (Prelims) exam is usually conducted in the first week of January.

If the candidate qualifies in the DAT Prelims exam, he or she will have to take the DAT Prelims, which includes a Studio Test. In the case of M.Des candidates, they are also required to appear in a Personal Interview.

NID Eligibility Criteria 2026

It is recommended that the candidate carefully go through the NID DAT eligibility criteria before applying for their chosen program. This is because if the candidate doesn’t meet the eligibility criteria, he or she could be disqualified. Also, note that all documents will be verified at the time of NID DAT counseling and seat allotment. So, if the candidate fakes their identity, they may get caught. The NID DAT eligibility criteria are program-specific. The detailed eligibility criteria are outlined in the respective Admission Handbooks for the B.Des and M.Des courses.

Courses and Specializations Offered at NID

The NIDs offer a four-year B.Des and a two-and-a-half-year M.Des course.

The B. Des course has the following specializations:

• Film and Video Communication
• Exhibition Design
• Animation Film Design
• Graphic Design
• Ceramic and Glass Design
• Furniture and Interior Design
• Product Design
• Textile Design

Meanwhile, the M.Des program offers the following specializations:

• Graphic Design
• Film and Video Communication
• Animation Film Design
• Photography Design
• Ceramic and Glass Design
• Furniture and Interior Design
• Product Design
• Textile Design
• Apparel Design
• Lifestyle Accessory Design
• New Media Design
• Information Design
• Digital Game Design
• Strategic Design Management
• Design for Retail Experience
• Universal Design
• Transportation and Automobile Design
• Toy and Game Design

Fee Structure at the NIDs

When you are choosing an educational institute, one of the key elements to check is the fee structure of that institute. The fee structure for the NIDs is available on the NID admission portal - admissions.nid.edu. The NID tuition fee for the B.Des program is INR 1,83,000. Other fee components include student activity funds, hostel charges, mess charges, etc. Meanwhile, the tuition fee for the M.Des program is INR 2,13,500.

NID B.Des 2026 Fee Structure

The fee structure for NID B.Des 2026 will be updated once it is released. Meanwhile, candidates can have a rough idea by going through the fee structure of 2026-26:

NID M.Des 2026 Fee Structure

The fee structure for NID M.Des 2026 will be updated once it is released. Meanwhile, candidates can have a rough idea by going through the fee structure of 2026-26:

Major Recruiters of NID 

NID has a separate placement cell for the placement of its candidates. It organizes placement drives every year for its students. Students are encouraged to pursue opportunities in areas such as social communication, service sectors, technology-enhanced learning, Craft Design, Green Design, Universal Design, and Experiential Design. Some of the top recruiters of NID are:

• Adidas Group India
• Adobe 
• Ddecor Exports
• Deloitte Consulting India Pvt Ltd.
• Design Factory India
• House Of Anita Dongre Limited

• Info Edge (India) Ltd.
• Infosys Technologies Ltd.
• J.P.Morgan
• Jaanch Ur Style
• Label Sailesh Singhani
• Ritika Private Limited (Ritu Kumar)
• Robert Bosch Engineering And Business Solutions Limited
• Samsung Design Delhi