Good Design Colleges Besides NID & NIFT: Admission 2026, Courses & More Updates
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Design Colleges Besides NID & NIFT
We all certainly want the best for ourselves in whatever we aim for...and why not? If we have it in us and work hard enough, we deserve it! However, the fact of the matter is that even though we desire and deserve to secure admissions at a good college, sometimes we may not be able to achieve it because there is a third ‘D’ that plays an equally important role, if not bigger, in shaping our lives – Destiny! Indeed, sometimes certain things may just not be destined for us. A major reason why it is so difficult to get admission to the NIDs and NIFTs is that they have very limited seats, especially if we are speaking of the top institutes like NIFT Delhi and NIFT Ahmedabad. So, it is not a bad idea to look beyond the NIFTs and NIDs. After all, many private colleges have come up in recent years that offer good education.
- About NID DAT and NIFT
- Design Admission 2026 for Top Entrance Exams
- Eligibility Criteria for B.Des Course
- B.Des Admission Process 2026
- List of Private B.Des Colleges
About NID DAT and NIFT
The National Testing Agency (NTA) conducted the NIFT Entrance exam on February 08, 2026. The exam included the CAT and GAT written exams. Candidates applying for the B.Des course and the M.Des course need to take both the CAT and GAT, whereas B.F.Tech, M.F.Tech, and M.F.M. candidates need to take only the GAT. Meanwhile, the National Institute of Design (NID) conducted the NID DAT (Prelims) exam on December 21, 2025.
Let us thoughtfully plan our course of action if you are not selected for admission to NID or NIFT. Some equally good design colleges of repute in the industry are as follows:
Commonly asked questions
Candidates will be shortlisted for NIFT Situation Test on the basis of their performance in NIFTEE exams. Situation Test will test material handling and innovative ability of the candidate. Some of factors that will be checked include Space Visualization, Innovative and creative use of given material, the composition of elements, color scheme, construction skill, the finesse of the model and overall presentation.
The expected cutoff for NIFT 2026 for B.Des is:
| Category | Expected Cutoff for B.Des |
|---|---|
| Open | 30-80 |
| EWS | 26-29 |
| OBC | 26-29 |
| SC | 22 |
| ST | 19 |
After completing NIFT 3D model in Situation Test, candidates are required to write a brief explanation of model. This is known as Write Up. It should be clear, concise and structured. It should explain process, inspiration, theme and materials.
Design Admission 2026 for Top Entrance Exams
The entrance exam for Design in the top design colleges is:
| Institute |
Location |
Programmes |
Forms |
Exam date |
| National Institute Of Design (NID) |
NID Institutes |
B.Des MDes |
September 12, 2025 |
DAT Prelims - December 21, 2025 NID DAT Mains for B.Des: May-June NID DAT Mains for M.Des: March 21, 2026
|
| National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) |
20 NIFTs |
B.Des, B.F.Tech, M.Des, M.F.M, M.F.Tech |
December 28, 2025 |
Stage 1: February 08, 2026 Stage 2: May-June 2026
|
| UCEED |
IIT Bombay and other participating IITs |
B.Des |
Closed |
January 18, 2026 |
| CEED |
IIT Bombay and other participating IITs |
M.Des |
Closed |
January 18, 2026 |
| Pearl Academy Of Fashion (PAF) |
Delhi, Noida, Jaipur, Mumbai
List of colleges accepting Pearl Academy Entrance Exam scores |
B.Des
|
Open | April 25 and April 26, 2026 |
| Footwear Design Development Institute (FDDI) |
Noida, Raibareli, Chennai, Kolkata, Jodhpur, Rohtak, Chindwara, Guna
|
B.Des and M.Des
|
Open |
April 05, 2026 |
| Northern India Institute of Fashion Technology (NIIFT)
|
Mohali, Ludhiana, Jalandhar |
B.Des |
Open |
First week of June |
| MIT Institute of Design (MITID) |
Pune |
B.Des | Open
|
April 12, 2026 |
| Symbiosis Institute of Design (SID)
|
Pune |
B.Des and M.Des |
August 01, 2025 |
March 22, 2026 |
| JD Institute of Fashion Technology |
Delhi, Mumbai, Lucknow, Guwahati |
B.Des in Fashion Design, Interior Design, Fashion Communication, Fashion Business Management |
Open |
- |
| MAH CET B.Design |
Colleges in Maharashtra |
B.Des |
Closed |
April 05, 2026 |
| School of Fashion Technology (SOFT) |
Pune |
B.Des and M.Des
|
Open |
- |
All the above-mentioned colleges follow an entrance process similar to NIFT's. Therefore, if you have prepared for NIFT and NID, you will be well-equipped to attempt these entrance exams with continued practice. I would also like to emphasize that, regardless of the NIFT/NID written results, you should begin preparing for the second stages, such as the Situation Test and Personal Interview, as these skills are essential for other entrance processes as well.
Also Read:
Eligibility Criteria for B.Des Course
The eligibility criteria for the Bachelor of Design course are decided by the institutions offering it. It can also vary by specialization. Given below are the eligibility criteria that must be fulfilled by candidates who wish to pursue a B. Des course.
|
Particulars
|
Details
|
|---|---|
|
B.Des Academic Qualifications
|
|
|
B.Des Marks Criteria
|
Should have secured at least
50% aggregate marks in Class 12 or an equivalent qualification.
|
|
B.Des Appearing or Passed Criteria
|
Those students appearing for Class 12 board exams and those who have already passed Class 12 are eligible.
|
|
B.Des Age Limit
|
Those who are
not more than 24 years of age on 1st August of the year of B.Des admission.
|
Commonly asked questions
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.
No, there is no negative marking in NIFT Situation Test. Negative marking is only there in NIFT GAT part in stage 1.
Topics for NIFTEE GAT paper are given below.
| Quantitative Ability | Addition, Multiplication, Division, Fractions, Percentage, Rate of Interest, Work and Task, Ratio and Proportion, and Distance. |
| Communication Ability and English | Comprehension, synonyms, antonyms, words with corresponding meanings, singular, plural, one-word substitutes, idioms and phrases, correct spellings, comprehend a situation from a given passage, etc. |
| Analytical Ability and Logical Ability | Concepts and practices of creative and lateral thinking |
| GK | General knowledge and Current Affairs |
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B.Des Admission Process 2026
The admission process for the B.Design can be different for colleges, coruses, specialisation, etc. The admission process given below is generic and is mostly followed by all.
| Parameters | Details |
|---|---|
| Eligibility Criteria | Check out the eligibility criteria for the desired college and make sure you meet the same. |
| Application Form | Fill the college application forms before the last date. |
| Appear for Entrance Exam | Give entrance exams and get qualified. |
| Result | Wait for the college to release the entrance results. For merit admissions, the college will send a confirmation email to the selected candidates. |
| Portfolio | A majority of the top colleges ask for a solid portfolio showcasing individual skills and work. |
| Counselling and Seat Allotment and Fee Payment | Appear for the counselling session and pay the B.Des admission fees to confirm admission. |
Explore more Design exams with upcoming dates
1 Mar '26 - 31 Mar '26
14 Mar '26 - 10 Apr '26
12 Apr '26
1 Sep '25 - 15 Apr '26
1 Nov '25 - 15 Apr '26
16 Apr '26 - 17 Apr '26
17 Apr '26
10 Oct '25 - 7 Apr '26
List of Private B.Des Colleges
Check out the table to find the list of colleges apart from NID and NIFT.
| Best Private Colleges | B.Des Course Fees (Expected) |
|---|---|
| Amity University, Kolkata | INR 3.88 Lakh - 5.72 Lakh |
| Amity University, Mumbai | INR 4.88 Lakh - 11.68 Lakh |
| Parul University | INR 5.4 Lakh - 14.16 Lakh |
| Amity University, Noida | INR 7.92 Lakh - 8.8 Lakh |
| Chandigarh University (CU) | INR 8.72 Lakh |
| DOT School of Design | INR 10 Lakh - 32 Lakh |
| Pearl Academy | INR 15.86 Lakh - 27.89 Lakh |
| MIT Institute of Design, MIT-ADT University | INR 17.8 Lakh |
| Unitedworld Institute of Design, Karnavati University | INR 24 Lakh - 40 Lakh |
| FLAME University | INR 37.5 Lakh |
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7 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
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