MDes Admission 2026: Registration, Qualification, Selection Process
Akansha BishtSenior Executive
MDes Admission 2025 is based mainly on the entrance exam procedure. MDes full form is Master of Design, a 2-year postgraduate degree program pursued by students with a keen interest in the artistic field and who want to achieve the pinnacle standard in the design field. Similar to BDes programs, MDes courses are also available in various specializations like - Fashion Design, Interior Design, Textile Design, UI/UX Design, Graphic Design, and so on.
Some popular MDes colleges in India, apart from NIFTs, include Amity University, Pearl Academy, Srishti Manipal Institute, World University of Design, MIT-ADT University, etc. The average course fee ranges between INR 2,400 and INR 29.9 Lakh. Interested candidates can continue reading the article for more MDes admission 2025 details.
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MDes Course Eligibility Criteria
The M Des eligibility requirements of every college differ depending on the specializations they are offering. However, here are some basic conditions that every candidate must fulfil:
MDes Admission 2025: Top Colleges Eligibility Criteria
Thousands of MDes Colleges in India offer MDes programs in many specializations; hence, the eligibility criteria for all the courses and their specializations may differ. Here are some top MDes specializations, along with their top colleges and their eligibility criteria:
| Mdes Specializations | Top MDes Colleges | Eligibility Criteria |
|---|---|---|
| MDes in Fashion Design | NIFT Bangalore |
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| Amity University Mumbai |
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| Pearl Academy Mumbai |
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| World University of Design |
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| JD Institute of Fashion Technology |
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| MDes in Interior Design | Amity University Noida |
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| Pearl Academy Mumbai |
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| World University of Design |
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| KIIT School of Architecture and Planning |
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| JECRC University |
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| MDes in Textile Design | Amity School of Fashion Technology |
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| INSD Pune |
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| NID Ahmedabad |
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| The Design Village |
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| Central India Institutes of Mass Communication |
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| MDes in Product Design | Pearl Academy New Delhi |
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| World University of Design |
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| Poornima University |
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| MIT Institute of Design |
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| Lovely Professional University |
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| MDes in Communication Design | Symbiosis Institute of Design |
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| NID Ahmedabad |
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| UPES School of Design |
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| MIT WPU |
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| IDC School of Design - IIT Bombay |
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Source - Official/counselling body of the institute/exam.
MDes Admission 2025: General Eligibility Criteria
The general requirements for MDes are shown below:
- A bachelor's degree in BDes, BSc, BA, or BVoc,
- In a relevant discipline
- With a minimum of 55% aggregate score from a recognized university.
Links relevant to MDes Admission 2025:
NID Courses Fee Structure 2025 (BDes & MDes)
MDes Admission Process 2025
The admission process for the MDes courses may differ depending on the college and specialization, Follow the steps given below to get an idea of how the basic admission procedure works:
Eligibility Criteria
The first step is to qualify the eligibility set by the colleges to let the applicant participate in the admission process.
Registration and Application Form
The next step is registration and filling the application form. Candidates must make sure to fill in all the relevant information and upload all the required documents while filling out the MDes application form.
Choose Entrance Exams
CEED, NIFT Entrance, and CUET-PG are some of the popular MDes entrance exams conducted by the institutions.
Prepare and Appear for Entrance Exams
Prepare and appear for entrance
Await Results
Wait for the results, then check your scores.
Counselling
Attend the counselling session.
Links useful for MDes Admission 2025:
NIFT Entrance Test 2026 General Ability Test (GAT) Preparation Tips
MDes Entrance Exams 2025
Candidates are expected to pass certain entrance exams to be admitted into one of the MDes courses. Candidates must take part in writing, drawing, and interview-based Design Entrance Exams to be admitted to BDesign programmes. The admissions procedure for MDes courses consists of several parts. To be considered for admission to the MDes programme, an applicant must adhere to a set process that involves written entrance exams, group discussions, and other requirements.
Given below are the basic criteria for admission to the MDes course:
|
M Des Exams |
M Des Entrance Exam Dates |
MDes Entrance Exam Schedule |
|---|---|---|
|
CEED 2026 |
January 2026 (Tentative) |
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CUET-PG 2026 |
March - April 2026 (Tentative) |
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NIFT Entrance 2026 |
February 2026 (Tentative) |
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NID DAT 2026 |
January 2026 (Tentative) |
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Pearl Academy Entrance Exam 2026 |
May - June 2026 (Tentative) |
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FDDI AIST 2026 |
May 2026 (Tentative) |
Source - Official/counselling body of the institute/exam.
Students also liked the following topics on the Master's in Design entrance exam:
MDes Admissions 2025: Top Entrance Exams Syllabus
The M Des entrance exams test general knowledge, current affairs, and basic aptitude, along with the creative skills required for the course. Given below are the various entrance exams for the MDes course along with a generic and brief exam syllabus:
|
MDes Exams |
Exam Syllabus |
|---|---|
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Creative Ability Test (CAT) and the General Ability Test (GAT). |
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Common Design Aptitude Test and Discipline-Specific Test. |
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General Proficiency Test (GPT), Design Aptitude Test (DAT), and Personal Interview. |
Source - Official/counselling body of the institute/exam.
Topics related to M.Des entrance exams:
NID Admissions 2025: Colleges accepting NID Entrance Exam Scores for BDes & MDes Courses
MDes Admissions 2025: Quick Preparation Tips
- Official MDes entrance notifications: It is essential to read through the official notification of the entrance exam, which can be downloaded from the website of the exam-conducting body. It is also essential to read the admission brochure and the course prospectus, especially the entrance exam section.
- Syllabus of the entrance exam: The syllabus can guide a candidate on what topics they must prepare for to qualify for an MDes entrance exam.
- Previous year's question papers: Help candidates understand the scope of the exam.
Read more -
10 tips to crack the interview for design courses at NID, NIFT, & IIT
Best MDes Colleges in India: Admission Details
There are more than 200 Design colleges in India offering MDes programs in various specializations and modes. Some popular MDes specializations pursued in India include Fashion Design, Interior Design, Product Design, Graphic Design, etc. Interested candidates can see the tables below for more MDes Admission details.
MDes Admission 2025: NIFTs in India
The National Institute of Fashion Technology is one of the top Design institutes in India. Here are some top NIFT options offering MDes programs in different specializations.
| NIFTs in India | Tuition Fee |
|---|---|
| NIFT Mumbai MDes Admission | INR 5.58 Lakh |
| NIFT Delhi MDes Admission | INR 5.86 Lakh |
| NIFT Bangalore MDes Admission | INR 5.86 Lakh |
| NIFT Gandhinagar MDes Admission | INR 5.86 Lakh |
| NIFT Kannur MDes Admission | INR 5.86 Lakh |
Source - Official/counselling body of the institute/exam.
Read more -
Good Design Colleges Besides NID & NIFT: Admission 2025, Courses & More Updates
MDes Admission: Best Government Colleges
Students can also get admission to government colleges offering MDes programmes. Given below are some government colleges that offer MDes courses:
| MDes Government College Admission Details | Tuition Fee |
|---|---|
| IIT Roorkee MDes Admission | INR 20,000 |
| IIT Hyderabad MDes Admission | INR 24,000 - 60,000 |
| IIT Guwahati MDes Admission | INR 1.14 Lakh |
| Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University MDes Admission | INR 1.4 Lakh - 3.7 Lakh |
| Jamia Millia Islamia MDes Admission | INR 2 Lakh |
| MSU Baroda MDes Admission | INR 2.94 Lakh |
| IIT Delhi MDes Admission | INR 3 Lakh |
| Gujarat University MDes Admission | INR 3 Lakh |
| Delhi Technological University MDes Admission | INR 3.02 Lakh |
| NID Ahmedabad MDes Admission | INR 12.22 Lakh |
Source - Official/counselling body of the institute/exam.
Read more -
List of NIDs in India: Courses, Fee, Eligibility & Admission Process 2025
List of NIFTs in India 2025: Ranking, Admission Process, Courses, and Fees
MDes Admissions Best Private Colleges
More than 140 private Design colleges in India offer MDes programs in various specializations. Here are some of the top options among them:
| MDes Private College Admission Details | Tuition Fee |
|---|---|
| Poornima University MDes Admission | INR 1.35 Lakh |
| JECRC University MDes Admission | INR 1.96 Lakh - 2.43 Lakh |
| HITS MDes Admission | INR 2.17 Lakh |
| Parul University MDes Admission | INR 2.66 Lakh - 3.7 Lakh |
| Amity Noida MDes Admission | INR 2.88 Lakh |
| JD Institute of Fashion Technology MDes Admission | INR 3.6 Lakh |
| Symbiosis Institute of Design MDes Admission | INR 7.5 Lakh |
| World University of Design MDes Admission | INR 8.05 Lakh |
| Pearl Academy MDes Admission | INR 11.85 Lakh |
| UPES School of Design MDes Admission | INR 13.15 Lakh |
Source - Official/counselling body of the institute/exam.
Read more -
Colleges Accepting NIFT Scores 2025
Best MDes Colleges for Placements (in India)
Placement sessions are conducted for final-year MDes students and recent graduates. Many reputed companies participate in the placement sessions and hire candidates for various positions in their companies. The placement scenario is an important factor that is considered by candidates who wish to pursue an MDes course. One can compare the fee structure and the salaries offered during placements to calculate the return on investment.
Given below are some government and private colleges offering MDes courses along with their total tuition fee and average salary offered in placements:
|
Best MDes Colleges for Placements |
Average Package Offered |
|---|---|
| IIT Bombay Placements | INR 17.92 LPA |
| IIT Delhi Placements | INR 17 LPA |
| IIT Hyderabad Placements | INR 14 LPA |
| IIT Guwahati Placements | INR 13.76 LPA |
| Srishti Manipal Institute of Art, Design And Technology Placements | INR 11.75 LPA |
| Manipal School of Architecture and Planning Placements | INR 11.74 LPA |
| Universal AI University Placements | INR 10.42 LPA |
| Jamia Millia Islamia Placements | INR 9.25 LPA |
| DAIICT Gandhinagar Placement | INR 8.8 LPA |
| Gujarat University Placements | INR 8.75 LPA |
Source - Official/counselling body of the institute/exam.
Read more -
NID Placement 2025: Highest/Average Salary, Participating Companies, & Job Roles
Top 10 Fashion Design Colleges with the Best Placement Record
- Popular M.Des Colleges in India
- Popular Private M.Des Colleges in India
- Popular M.Des Specializations
- Most Popular Courses
Popular M.Des Colleges in India
Popular Private M.Des Colleges in India
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Popular M.Des Specializations
Popular Specializations
- Fashion Design
70 Colleges
- UI / UX
36 Colleges
- Textile Design
29 Colleges
- Graphic Design
26 Colleges
- Jewellery Design
20 Colleges
- Furniture Design
16 Colleges
- Apparel Design
8 Colleges
- Game Design
8 Colleges
- Lifestyle Accesory Design
7 Colleges
- Automotive Design
6 Colleges
Most Popular Courses
Popular Courses
- Master of Design (M.Des.)National Institute of Fashion Technology, Delhi
- Master of Design (M.Des.)National Institute of Fashion Technology, Gandhinagar
- M.Des. in Product DesignMIT Institute of Design, MIT-ADT University
- M.Des. in Fashion DesignPearl Academy
- M.Des. in Industrial DesignIndustrial Design Centre - IIT Bombay
- M.Des. in Fashion Design (Industrial Collaboration Subharti University)JD Institute of Fashion Technology- Corporate Center, Hauz Khas
- M.Des. in User ExperienceChitkara Design School, Chitkara University, Chandigarh
News & Updates
Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered a week ago
The expected cutoff for NIFT M.Des is given below:
| Category | Expected Cutoff M.Des |
|---|---|
| Open | 26-70 |
| EWS | 22 |
| OBC | 22 |
| SC | 16 |
| ST | 16-18 |
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
Admission to the MDes course at ADYPU School of Design is completely entrance-based. Firstly, candidates are required to complete their graduation in relevant stream. Then, the college releases the merit list of shortlisted applicants according to their achieved scores in ACET, followed by a counsel
I
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
No, ADYPU School of Design does not accept CUET PG scores for enrollment into MDes course. The college accepts the scores of ACET for admission to this course. Students should complete their graduation with decent scores. After evaluating applicants' test scores, the college conducts the counselling
V
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
There are no. of components for fees in ADYPU School of Design MDes course. The components are need to be paid at different intervals. The names of some of the fee components can be:
- Tuition Fees
- Development Fees
- Caution Money/Deposit
- Hostel Fees, etc.
I
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
The tuition fee for the MDes at ADYPU School of Design is ₹11.5L - 16.1 L. This fee structure is sourced from the authorised body. But, this fee structure is can shift/ changes that may be made by the university from time to time.
A
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
ADYPU School of Design MDes course is available in TWO specialisations, Transportation Design & UI/ UX Desig. Thus, students can compare the colleges and institutions that gives similar specialisations. Also, there are a lot of diff. factors that can be considered for comparing the institutes/ colle
K
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
The total seat intake for MDes course at ADYPU School of Design is 30. This number of seats can shift & change according to the academic year, offered specialisations, etc. Recently, the school offers 15 seats for each specialisation.
P
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
ADYPU, School of Design does not offer the highest number of seats in MDes course. However, it offers the same number of seats for both of the specialisations. Check out the names of the offered specialisations along with no. of seats:
| Courses | Seats |
|---|---|
| MDes in Transportation Design | 15 |
| MDes in UI/ UX Design | 15 |
T
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
The application fee for enrollment to the courses offered at ADYPU School of Design is INR 2,000. Students should pay this application charge to appear in the institute-specific entrance-test for Masters of Design course.
A
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 2 weeks ago
ADYPU School of Design MDes admission depnds on institute-specific-entrance-exam. Students are required to complete the eligibility criteria and apply online on the authorised website. The final seat allotment is based on the ACET. Thus, no direct admissions are not allowed. You need to match with a
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
C
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
MDes at ADYPU School of Design is given in multiple specialisations for the duration of two-years. The course is only offered in two specialisations. The names of them are:
- MDes in UI/ UX Design
- MDes in Transportation Design
I
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
The eligibility requirements for enrollment into MDes course at ADYPU School of Design is compact, in which students are requried to complete their bachelor's degree with an aggregate of 50%. Then, students need to appear for ACET (institute-specific aptitute-test), followed by a counselling process
K
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
Admission to the MDes course at GLS Institute of Design is completely entrance-based. Firstly, candidates are required to complete their graduation in any stream. Then, the college releases the merit list of shortlisted applicants according to their achieved scores in GLS DAT, followed by a PI.
K
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
No, GLS Institute of Design does not accept CUET PG scores for enrollment into MDes course. The college accepts the scores of GLS DAT for admission to this course. Students should complete their graduation with decent scores. After evaluating applicants' test scores, the college conducts the PI.
T
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
GLS Institite of Design MDes course is available in multiple specialisations, i.e., Visual Communication, Design Management, BDes + MDes in Digital Film Making, etc. Thus, students can compare the colleges and institutions that gives similar specialisations. Also, there are a lot of diff. factors th
A
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 2 weeks ago
The programme is for 2 years (four sem). In the first three semesters, students engage in coursework at the Institute, and the last semester is all about the MDes final project at GLS Institute of Design.
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
- Design Theory & Process
- Narrative & Story
C
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
The application fee for enrollment to the courses offered at GLS Institute of Design is INR 2,000. Students should pay this applocation charge to appear in the Design Aptitude Test.
I
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
GLS Institute of Design MDes admission depnds on aptitude test scores. Students are required to complete the eligibility criteria and apply online on the authorised website. The final seat allotment is based on the GLS DAT. Thus, no direct admissions are not allowed. You need to match with all of th
K
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
The GLS DAT dates for admissions into MDes course at GLS Institute of Design release for the different phase. The first phase examinations held on January 24 and 25. The last date to fill the application form was January 22.
V
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
I
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
MDes at GLS Institute of Design is given in multiple specialisations for the duration of two-years. Also, the institute offers BDes + MDes course for five-years in multiple specialisations. The names of some of them are:
- MDes in Design Management
- MDes in Future & Retail Space Design
- MDes in Visual C
A
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
The eligibility requirements for enrollment into MDes course at GLS Institute of Design is compact, in which students are requried to complete their bachelor's degree with an aggregate of 50%. Then, students need to appear for GLS DAT (institute-specific aptitute-test), followed by a PI.
P
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
Yes, GLS Institute of Design does offer MDes courses for a duration of two years. The min. eligibility requirement for admission to the MDes course is that applicants must complete their BDes or any degree with an aggregate of 50% (45% for reserved categories).
K
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
After completing a M.Des abroad - graduate students can expect to earn a higher starting salary than what they could earn after graduating from India. This is because of two reasons - a degree from abroad makes you recognised by various companies abroad, especially in the country from where you grad
J
Contributor-Level 8
Answered 2 weeks ago
Candidates must complete graduation from a recognised institute or university to apply for MDes programme at Sasi Creative Colleges. Aspirants must have documents proving their eligibility for verification at the time of admission. Admission to MDes programme is entrance-based.
N
Guide-Level 15
Answered 3 weeks ago
There are 175 questions in the FDDI AIST 2026 M.Des entrance test. Question paper will be of 200 marks. The exam will be in English and Hindi.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 4 weeks ago
A total of 22 students were placed out of 54 students during IIT Guwahati MDes placements 2025. MDes placement rate in 2025 was 40.74%. In 2024, the placement percentage was 33.33%.
M
Contributor-Level 9
Answered a month ago
Aspirants must complete graduation from any discipline or field of study with a minimum of 50% aggregate to apply for MDes programme at GLS Institute of Design. Candidates also need to appear for Design Aptitude Test and Personal Interaction round for admission to MDes programme.
N
Guide-Level 15
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What is the expected cutoff for NIFT 2026 M.Des?