NID Entrance Exam Dates 2026 (OUT): Check DAT B.Des & M.Des Prelims Exam Schedule Here
National Institute of Design Entrance Exam 2026 ( NID Entrance Exam )
Registration - 11 Sep '25 - 1 Dec '25
NID Exam Important Dates 2026 - NID UG and PG 2026 exam dates is announced at admissions.nid.edu/. The National Institute of Design issued the official NID 2026 notification, which will provide candidates with the application form dates and exam dates. NID 2026 registration is open now at the official website of NID. Candidates desirous of taking admission to NID institutions must apply online. NID DAT Entrance Exam 2026 will be held on December 21, 2025 for B.Des and M.Des programmes.
There is no official notification on the number of applicants for NID DAT 2024.
However, as per unofficial sources, around 15,000 applicants appeared in the NID DAT 2024 (Prelims) exam. Note that only shortlisted candidates were eligible to appear in DAT Mains. The DAT Prelims was held on December 24, 2023.
If the National Institute of Design releases the exam statistics for the NID DAT exam, the details will be updated here. Note that the current session of the NIFT exam is conducted by the NTA. Now considering the NTA releases the exam stats, including the number of applicants registered, appeared, qualified - it is likely the details will also be released for the NIFT 2024 exam.
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.
NID application form 2025 opened on September 3, 2024. The application form is open 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 2025 is December 6, 2024 (extended from December 3). The candidate can also edit the submitted application from December 4-9, 2024.
The NID DAT 2025 (Prelims) exam will be conducted on January 5, 2025.
- NID Entrance Exam 2026 Exam Dates & Schedule
- NID DAT 2026 Important Exam Events & Dates
- NID DAT 2026 - B.Des Admission Schedule
- NID DAT 2026 - M.Des Admission Schedule
- NID DAT 2026 (Mains) Admission Schedule
- NID DAT Important Dates 2026 - FAQs
NID Entrance Exam 2026 Exam Dates & Schedule
Take a look at the table below for the complete schedule of NID Entrance Exam 2026 exam
| Dates | Upcoming Exam Dates |
|---|---|
| 11 Sep ' 25 - 01 Dec ' 25 | NID DAT 2026 Registration Date ONGOING |
| 02 Dec ' 25 - 04 Dec ' 25 | NID DAT 2026 Application Correction Window |
| 11 Dec ' 25 | NID DAT 2026 (Prelims) - Issue of Admit Cards |
| 21 Dec ' 25 | NID DAT 2026 (Prelims) Date: B.Des & M.Des |
| 17 Feb ' 26 | NID DAT 2026 (Prelims) - Results for M.Des |
| 17 Feb ' 26 - 18 Feb ' 26 | NID DAT 2026 (Prelims) - Results Recheck for M.Des |
| Feb ' 26 | NID DAT 2026 (Mains) - Issue of Admit Cards for M.Des TENTATIVE |
NID DAT 2026 Important Exam Events & Dates
Candidates can go through the list of important NID exam events below:
- NID DAT Application Form Dates: The application form for NID DAT 2026 is expected to open from the first week of September 2025 to the first week of December 2025. The NID 2026 application form-filling process included steps like registration, uploading of documents, and payment of fees.
- NID DAT Admit Card Dates: The call letter/admit card of NID DAT 2026 (Prelims) is expected to be released in the last week of December 2025. The DAT Mains B. Des Admit Card is likely to be out in the second week of April 2026.
- NID DAT Prelims 2026 Date: The first stage of the NID admission process is DAT (Prelims). The exam is likely to be conducted in the first week of January 2026. The written test comprises objective as well as subjective questions.
- NID Prelims Result Dates: NID DAT (Prelims) B.Des result 2026 will be declared in the first week of April 2026, and M.Des Prelims Result will be out tentatively in the third week of February 2026.
- NID DAT Mains 2026: Candidates who meet the NID DAT (Prelims) cut-off must next appear for NID DAT (Mains), including a Studio Test; M.Des candidates must also appear in a Personal Interview round.
- B.Des DAT Mains Studio Test will be tentatively scheduled to be conducted in the first week of May 2026.. The test will take place at the following National Institute of Design (NID) campuses.
- NID Final Merit List Date: Based on a candidate's performance in NID DAT (Prelims) and NID DAT (Mains), the final merit list for NID admissions is prepared. Aspirants can check the merit list for NID admissions on the official website of the exam.
Commonly asked questions
It is not mandatory to take coaching to get a good rank in NID DAT. It is because, the entrance exam will test the creative, drawing, and innovative skills of the candidate. Now, a coaching institute cannot exactly teach you to be creative or become innovative. Instead, with a little effort these skills can yourself learn these skills yourself. Also, a major thrust of the design aptitide test is to evaluate the drawing skills of the candidate. So, make it a point to work on your design skills, including learning how to draw line, shadow, figure, gesture, cartoon drawing, etc. When practicing drawing, also keep a tab on the drawing speed, as it will help you complete the paper in the allotted time.
If you intend to get a good rank in NID DAT, you must be able to sketch quickly without compromising on the sketch quality. This means you must be able to able to conceive the idea as you sketch. Remember, when you are in the exam hall, time seems to just fly. So, it is vital that you are able to sketch uninhibited and fast, and with confidence. To improve your drawing skills, you can start by drawing tiny thumbnails first, then switching to the light hand and finishing with dry colours. You can use pencils, crayons, or even a pen to make the sketches.
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 2026 - B.Des Admission Schedule
The NID DAT 2026 application form is common for the B.Des and M.Des courses. However, the admission schedules for the two are different. Here we bring you the NID DAT 2026 tentative dates for the B.Des program.
NID DAT 2026 Important Dates - B.Des
The tentative schedule for NID DAT B.Des 2026 is:
| NID DAT B.Des Admission Stage | Timeline (Tentative) |
|---|---|
| Accepting Application Forms online begins | First week of September 2025 |
| Last date for submitting online applications | First week of December 2025 |
| Window to Edit the application forms | First week of December 2025 (till second week) |
| Download Admit Cards for DAT Prelims | Last week of December 2025 |
| DAT Prelims Exam | First week of January 2026 |
| DAT Prelims Result | First week of April 2026 |
| Rechecking Request for DAT Prelims | First week of April 2026 |
| Download Admit Card for DAT Mains | Second week of April 2026 |
| DAT Mains Exam | Last week of April 2026 – First week of May 2026 |
| DAT Mains Result | Third week of May 2026 |
| Window for submission of Campus Preference | Third week of May 2026 |
| Rechecking Request for DAT Mains | Third week of May 2026 |
| Seat Allotment, Payment of Token Fees & Uploading of Documents | Last week of May 2026 |
| Provisional Offer Letter | Second week of June 2026 |
| Payment of Remaining Semester Fees | Second week of June 2026 |
| Subsequent Round of Seat Allotment | To be announced later |
| Physical Verification of Documents at respective NIDs | To be announced later |
NID DAT 2026 - M.Des Admission Schedule
The candidate can select their program of study when filling out the NID DAT 2026 application form. Check out the NID DAT 2026 admission schedule for the M.Des program below.
NID DAT 2026 Important Dates - M.Des
The tentative dates for NID DAT M.Des are:
| Admission Stage | Timeline (Tentative) |
|---|---|
| Accepting Application Forms online begins | First week of September 2025 |
| Last date for submitting online applications | First week of December 2025 |
| Window to Edit the application forms | First–Second week of December 2025 |
| Download Admit Cards for DAT Prelims | Last week of December 2025 |
| DAT Prelims Exam | First week of January 2026 |
| DAT Prelims Result | Third week of February 2026 |
| Rechecking Request for DAT Prelims | Third week of February 2026 |
| Download Admit Card for DAT Mains | Last week of February 2026 |
| DAT Mains Exam | First week of March – First week of April 2026 |
| DAT Mains Result | First week of May 2026 |
| Rechecking Request for DAT Mains | First week of May 2026 |
| Seat Allotment, Payment of Token Fees & Uploading of Documents | First week of May 2026 |
| Provisional Offer Letter | Third week of May 2026 |
| Payment of Remaining Semester Fees | Third–Fourth week of May 2026 |
| Subsequent Round of Seat Allotment | To be announced later |
NID DAT 2026 (Mains) Admission Schedule
The National Institute of Design conducts the NID DAT entrance exam in two stages: NID DAT Prelims and NID DAT Mains.
NID DAT Stage 1 includes the DAT Prelims. Candidates who get shortlisted for NID DAT Stage 2 will have to appear in DAT Mains. The DAT Mains exam for the B.Des program will be conducted in the last week of April 2026. Meanwhile, the DAT Mains exam for M.Des is likely to be held in the last week of March 2026. The DAT Mains result for B.Des will be declared in the third week of May 2026 and for M.Des will be announced tentatively in the first week of May 2026.
NID DAT Important Dates 2026 - FAQs
Go through the frequently asked questions (FAQs) related to the NID DAT important dates below.
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.
The NID DAT exam will be conducted in an OMR-based (offline mode). Note that exam officials will not provide any stationery inside the exam hall.
So, you need to bring the following items with you: A blue/black ball-point pen (for filling the OMR sheet), scissor, glue stick, lead pencil (of varying grades), colors (such as oil pastels/color pencils/sketch pens, etc.) eraser, sharpeners, ruler etc. for the purpose of examination.
If any of you are wondering, exam offials will also not arrange for refreshments for the candidates.
Check here the detailed NID DAT Prelims exam day guidelines.
The NIDs offer a full-time B.Des programme of 4-year duration, and a full-time M.Des programme of two-and-half years duration.
The institute, in addition, also offers a PhD program. The programme can be pursed full-time or part-time.
Admission to the design courses at the NID is conducted through a Design Aptitude Test (DAT). The exam comprise DAT Prelims and DAT Mains.
The final result or merit list is prepared by giving weightage to DAT Prelims and DAT Mains.
NID Entrance Exam Exam
Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered a month ago
Candidates will be able to apply online by registering on the official portal, filling out the form, uploading documents, and paying the application fee. The registration process will start after the release of the NID DAT 2026 official notification. National Institute of Design is expected to relea
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
The NID DAT 2026 notification will provide information about eligibility, application process, fees, exam dates, exam pattern, and selection process. The notification provides details of seat capacity at each NID campus for both B.Des and M.Des.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
NID DAT 2026 notifications will be available on the official website of NID at admissions.nid.edu. Official notification of the NID entrance exam is all set to be out by the first week of September 2025. The notifications will be out for UG and PG programmes.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
National Institute of Design is expected to release the NID DAT 2026 Applications by the first week of September 2025 for B.Des and M.Des programmes. The registration for NID DAT 2026 will be on the official website of NID. Candidates can fill out the application form by registering, filling in info
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
NID notification for 2026 is expected to be out by the first week of September 2025. The official notification will be out on the official website of the NID and will contain details about the NID entrance examination.
The NID notifications will include:
General Information
Important Dates
Intake Capa
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
One can follow these tips for NID 2026 preparations:
- Know your NID Syllabus.
- Understand the exam pattern of NID DAT.
- Make the NID DAT 2026 preparation plan.
- Books to refer.
- Practice till you are perfect using mock tests and previous year's papers.
- NID DAT Exam Day Strategy.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
In general, the average salary after passing from NID is between 8-12 lakhs. It can also range between 17 and 50 lakhs, depending on the recruiter and the performance of the student.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
Yes, there are placements in NID campuses. NID has separate Placement cells for the placement process. Placement in NID completely depends on the performance of the student during the selection interview. Some of the top recruiters of NID are:
- Malabar Gold & Diamonds
- J.P.Morgan
- Tcs
- The Asian Heritage F
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
NID students can get job opportunities in graphic designing, UX designing, animation, fashion communication, furniture designer, fashion consultant, Textile designer, web designer, product designer, film and video communication and much more.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
NID Ahmedabad has a good record of placements. NID Ahmedabad consistently leads in placement outcomes among NID campuses. In 2025, the average package was around ?21.3 LPA and the highest package was around ?30 LPA. The Total offers made were 620.
S
Contributor-Level 10
32 Institutes accepting NID Entrance Exam
National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad
Paldi, Ahmedabad • Public
3.9- ₹ 16.84 Lakh
- 4 years
- |
- Full Time
Lavale Village, Pune • Private
- NIFT Entrance Exam, NID Entrance Exam, UCEED, FLAME Design Aptitude Test (FDAT)
- ₹ 35.85 Lakh
- 4 years
- |
- Full Time
Dr. D.Y. Patil School of Design
Tathawade, Pune
- ₹ 12.00 Lakh
- 4 years
- |
- Full Time
Hyderabad • Private
- Woxsen Design Test (WDT), NIFT Entrance Exam, NID Entrance Exam, UCEED, SAT India, CUET
- ₹ 13.00 Lakh
- 4 years
- |
- Full Time
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How can I apply after the NID DAT notification is released?