MDes Fashion Design: Course Fees, Admission 2025, Syllabus, Top Colleges, Career Scope

MDes in Fashion Design is a popular Design course at master’s level. It is one of the most preferred courses at master's level in Design courses. 

You may already know that MDes stands for Master of Design. It is a postgraduate specialised design degree programme. You can pursue MDes if you have a passion for the arts and want to excel in the design industry. MDes can be the best suited degree for you if you have deep interest in the artistic sector and who desire to acquire the ultimate standard in the area of design. The admissions process and fees for Master of Design programmes differ from university to university. The cost of a master's degree in design varies from university to university. Private universities may charge a little higher tuition fee for MDes admission, whilst government colleges may charge very little. An MDes degree course can be completed between INR 2 to INR 10 lakh. Some colleges require entrance tests, while others accept students based on their high school scores.

The scope of a Master of Design degree is huge as it opens opportunities in various streams such as Industrial Engineering and Design, Product Research Analyst, Communication Design, Product Design and Engineering, Visual Design, Animation and Automotive Designing.

Several MDes graduates are employed as professionals in the design industries in a variety of sectors, including fashion, interior design, industrial design, graphic design, and more. For customers or employers, they produce tangible or visible goods and experiences. Graduates of MDes programmes can work in these fields, developing digital interfaces that are easy to use and enhancing the general user experience of software, apps, and websites. Check BDes Career Scope.

Yes, you can pursue MDes in Fashion Design after BTech. Though some may only allow those candidates who have completed a Design degree. You can pursue the course if you qualify for entrance exams such as CEED, NIFT, NID DAT etc.

No, there is no age limit to pursue MDes in Fashion Design from NIFT. NIFT has age restrictions only for undergraduate level courses and not for postgraduate level courses.

Yes, you can pursue MDes in Fashion Design after completing BDes in Product Design. You could have completed BDes in any specialisation to be eligible to apply for MDes in Fashion Design. Since, most colleges offer admission to MDes course through entrance exams you would have to clear such exams. The syllabus for Mdes Fashion Design entrance exam will include topics from BDes Fashion Design. So, you would have to study Fashion Design subjects to get good marks in the entrance exam.

More than 100 colleges offer MDes in Fashion Design courses in India. The fee structure of every college varies depending on its course curriculum, college rating, placement options, etc. However, the average course fee ranges between INR 46,000 and goes up to INR 30 Lakh.

The counseling process for an MDes in Fashion Design varies by institution, but typically includes personal interview, and portfolio evaluation: 

• Personal interview: Shortlisted candidates are called for a personal interview to assess their aptitude, creativity, professional focus, and communication skills. International applicants may be interviewed online via Skype or video conferencing.
• Portfolio evaluation: May be required for some programs.
• Final selection: Candidates are selected based on their performance in the entrance exam and personal interview.

NID admission process is such that candidates need to first appear for NID that (Prelims) which is a written entrance test. Aspirants who get shortlisted on the basis of their performance in NID that Prelims then need to appear for NID that (Mains) which is the studio test round.Exam Duration: BDes/GDPD: 3 hours, M.Des 2. Exam Name: National Institute of Design Entra. Exam Frequency: Once a year.

Yes, Pearl Academy conducts its own entrance exam. Aspirants must take the Pearl Academy Entrance Exam (also known as the PAF Entrance Exam) and pass it in order to be considered for admission to any of the design college's programmes. This is followed by a round of personal interviews. Pearl Academy assesses applicants as part of the admissions process based on their aptitude, sense of creativity and aesthetics, professional focus, degree of dedication and energy, capacity for self-expression, potential as a team member, eligibility to follow the programme, and communication skills. The General Proficiency Test (GPT), Design Aptitude Test (DAT), and Media Aptitude Test MAT are the sub-exams for the Pearl Academy 2024 admission exam.

MDes in Fashion Design has more practical subjects as it is a technical course. The course has 80% practical subjects and 20% theoritical subjects. The coursework involves theoritical subjects, practical subjects, seminars and project work.

MDes in Fasion Design course students get the following opportunities while pursuing the course:

• Site Visits
• Market Visits
• Fashion Exhibition Visits
• Celebrity Guest Lecture
• Fashion Show
• Interior Product Exhibition
• Model Concept

Here are some recommended books for MDes in Fashion Design students:

For the MDes Fashion Design program, the main areas of study are Design Fundamentals, Fashion History & Theory, Textile Science & Material Design, Design Processes & Innovation, Fashion Communication & Visual Merchandising, Professional Practice & Entrepreneurship, and Social Responsibility & Sustainability. 

Though both the courses aim to promote Fashion Design industry-related skills, the MDes in Fashion Design is more focused on the practical and studio-based coursework. Whereas, MSc Fashion Design is more about providing the theoretical know-how of the Fashion Design field. While MDes is more inclined toward creativity, MSc is focused on principles, elements, and thinking. 

Yes, there are several colleges abroad that offer MDes in Fashion Design course. Some of these are as follows:

Here are some top MDes in Fashion Design college options offering the best placement opportunities in India:

Note: The information is sourced from the official/counselling body of the institute/exam.

Unfortunately, no distance colleges in India offer MDes in Fashion Design. However, some institutes like NIF Global offer MDes in Fashion Design in a part-time classroom mode. This requires students to attend classes less frequently than a full-time course, usually involving fewer hours per week and potentially over a longer time to complete the program. 

MDes Fashion Design equips candidates with certain skills like design, creativity and attention to detail. These skills help candidates excel in the desired fields of the dynamic and creative field of Fashion Design. The following are some of the skills that are required by the candidates to excel in the field of Fashion Design:

• Creativity
• Fashion Illustration
• Textile Knowledge
• Pattern Making
• Draping Techniques
• Fashion Technology
• Trend Analysis
• Branding and Marketing
• Business Management

Here are some of the highest-paying job options in Fashion Design industry for a fresher:

Note: The salary information is taken from Ambitionbox.com.

In India, an entry-level fashion designer can expect to earn between INR 3–5 Lakhs per year. However, salaries can increase based on various factors, which are mentioned below:

With experience over 5–10 years and skill, salaries can increase substantially and can earn between INR 10–20 LPA or more. 

Working for established fashion labels or luxury brands often leads to higher salaries.

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MDes in Fashion Design course aims to impart essential Design skills and concepts in students preparing them for the field of Fashion Design. Here are some of these essentials skills:

• Design Thinking
• Sketching
• Creative Workshop
• History of Design

There are several benefits to studying for a Master of Design (M.Des.) in Fashion Design, including:

• Career opportunities: An M.Des. in Fashion Design can lead to a variety of career paths, such as fashion styling, fashion consultancy, fashion editing, and fashion photography.
• Industry exposure: A reputed university can provide opportunities to learn from and interact with industry leaders.
• Understanding of the fashion industry: You'll learn about the history of fashion design, clothing textiles, sketching, fashion events, and managing a fashion house.
• Advanced curriculum: An effective fashion design programme will balance theoretical knowledge with practical skills.
• Continuous learning: You'll learn to apply design and management principles to your work, and to manage projects in multidisciplinary environments.
• Showcase your skills: You can build a portfolio to highlight your best work and design capabilities.