DE-CODE Exam Dates 2026: Registration (OPEN), Check Full Schedule

Design Aptitude Test of Centre for Design Excellence 2026 ( DE-CODE )

Anshul Jindal
Updated on Jan 11, 2026 21:24 IST

By Anshul Jindal, Associate Senior Executive

DE-CODE exam 2026 dates: The application for DE-CODE is open now. The Vivekanand Global University (VGU) will conduct the DE-CODE exam soon.

The detailed exam dates of DE-CODE 2026 will be released at the admission portal of the institute. The exam dates will cover events like the registration start and last dates, exam dates, admit card issue dates, and other post-exam event dates. The application form for DE-CODE 2026 is open. The candidate needs to keep following this article for all the latest updates on the DE-CODE 2026 exam.

Table of contents
  • DECODE Exam Overview
  • DE-CODE Important Dates 2026
  • DE-CODE Exam 2026 Application Process
  • DECODE Preparation Tips 2026
  • DE-CODE 2026 Eligibility Criteria
  • DE-CODE FAQs
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DECODE Exam Overview

Check the table below for important features or highlights of the DECODE 2026 exam.

Particulars

Details

Exam Name

DECODE

Full form

DECODE Entrance Test

Conducting body

Center for Design Excellence (CODE)

Exam level

Undergraduate (UG) and Postgraduate (PG)

Exam frequency

Once a year

Mode of examination

Computer-Based Test

Exam purpose

UG and PG admission

Eligibility

Minimum score in 12th class examination

Application window

Open

Exam fees

INR 2000

Medium of examination

English

Registration Official Website

vgu.ac.in

Also Read:

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   How to crack the DE-CODE exam?
A: 

It takes months of preparation and dedication in order to ace an entrance exam.

Candidate needs to be thorough and should know the syllabus well enough.

When preparing for the DE-CODE exam, make it a point to take notes.

Taking notes will not only help the candidate improve concentration, but these notes can come in very handy for quick revision. Also, solve sample papers and take mock tests.

Q:   What are the various components of the DE-CODE exam?
A: 

The candidate seeking admission to the design courses offered at Vivekananda Global University (VGU), Jaipur, has to first appear in the DE-CODE 2026 written exam. Scores of the exam will be then used to shortlist candidates for the next admission round, which includes a Studio Test and Personal Interview.

It is mandatory for the candidate to appear in all the exam components. If the candidate fails to do so, he or she will be disqualfiied from the admission process.

DE-CODE Important Dates 2026

Take a look at the table below for the complete schedule of DE-CODE 2026 exam

DatesUpcoming Exam Dates
May ' 26

DE-CODE 2026 Exam Date

TENTATIVE
DatesPast Exam Dates
Nov ' 25 - Dec ' 25

DE-CODE 2026 Registration START Date

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DE-CODE Exam 2026 Application Process

Candidates willing to appear for DE-CODE Exam 2026 will have to go through the application process given below:

  1. Application Form: The DE-CODE 2026 application forms are released on the official admission portal. Candidates can avail of the form online. Before filling out the form, applicants are advised to check the eligibility criteria, as ineligible forms will not be entertained. The application fee is INR 2,000.
  2. Admit Card: Candidates who will successfully fill out and submit their application forms along with the application fee will be able to download their respective DE-CODE admit cards from the official website. The admit cards are generally released two weeks prior to the entrance exam. 
  3. Entrance Exam: For the upcoming session, the Centre for Design Excellence will conduct the examination in online mode. Candidates are advised to carefully check and go through the exam pattern, marking scheme and syllabus before appearing for the entrance test. 
  4. Entrance Exam Result: The entrance exam result will be declared on the official website. Successful candidates will be called for a personal interview (PI).
  5. Declaration of final result/counselling: Candidates who will clear the second round (PI) will be called in for the counselling session. The declaration of the final result will be announced soon. Candidates called for counselling will have to carry along the required documents.
Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   How can I get admission to Vivekananda Global University (VGU), Jaipur, through DE-CODE?
A: 

Admission to design courses at the university is conducted based on merit of the candidate in the DE-CODE exam.

Note that the DE-CODE exam is made up of the following two sub-exams.

  • Performance of the candidate in the Design Aptitude Test (DAT)
  • Personal interview (Portfolio / Studio Test)
Q:   When will the DE-CODE exam cut-off be released?
A: 

Vivekananda Global University (VGU), Jaipur, will not release any cut-off for the entrance exam; instead, it will make available the list of selected candidates. The selected list will be released soon after the declaration of exam resuts. 

Candidates may note that DE-CODE don't rank as one of the top entrance exams in the country unlike exams like NID DAT, UCEED, and NIFT. So, if you make a little bit of effort, you should easily get a good enough rank to get admission to VGU.

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DECODE Preparation Tips 2026

Follow easy steps below to start with DECODE preparations for admissions:

  • Go through DECODE syllabus 2026 completely.
  • Understand DECODE exam pattern and marking scheme and prepare accordingly.
  • Get all study material for DECODE such as prep books and previous year's question papers.
  • Create a monthly plan on how much syllabus to cover daily.
  • Solve question papers, sample papers and mock tests.

Also Read:

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   What details will be included in draft answer key of DE-CODE 2026 exam?
A: 

The exam officials will not release any draft DE-CODE 2026 answer key.

However, if it decides to release the answer key, the same will be updated here.

In case the draft key is released, it will contain details like the answer key code for each question.

The candidate will also be allowed to challenge the draft key in some cases.

Q:   What is the validity of DE-CODE 2026 scorecard?
A: 

DE-CODE 2026 scorecard will be valid for the current academic session only. So you will be able to get admission in the 2026-27 academic session.

You can’t use the scorecard for admission in the next session.

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DE-CODE 2026 Eligibility Criteria

DE-CODE 2026 Eligibility Criteria is given below.

  • Aspirants applying for admission in the Bachelor of Design (BDes) course meet DE-CODE 2026 eligibility criteria if they have cleared their HSC examination (10+2) or have completed their 10+2 level from any recognized Central/State Board of Secondary Examination or any other recognized examination with minimum 45% aggregate marks.
  • Apart from this, candidates can also apply for admission if they have studied at any Public School/Board/University Examination in India or in Foreign countries which is recognised by the Association of Indian Universities to be equivalent to the 10+2 system with a minimum 45% aggregate marks.
  • Another eligibility criterion of DE-CODE is that they should possess a three or four-year diploma that is recognised by AICTE or a State Board of Technical Education with a minimum 50% aggregate marks.

Also Read:

 

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   What is the application fee for DECODE 2026?
A: 

The application fee for DECODE is INR 2000. Registration forms are available online. Candidate must check their eligibiity before filling the form.

Q:   How can I get admission to Vivekananda Global University (VGU), Jaipur, through DE-CODE?
A: 

Admission to design courses at the university is conducted based on merit of the candidate in the DE-CODE exam.

Note that the DE-CODE exam is made up of the following two sub-exams.

  • Performance of the candidate in the Design Aptitude Test (DAT)
  • Personal interview (Portfolio / Studio Test)

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DE-CODE FAQs

Find the important FAQs of DE-CODE:

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   How to crack the DE-CODE exam?
A: 

It takes months of preparation and dedication in order to ace an entrance exam.

Candidate needs to be thorough and should know the syllabus well enough.

When preparing for the DE-CODE exam, make it a point to take notes.

Taking notes will not only help the candidate improve concentration, but these notes can come in very handy for quick revision. Also, solve sample papers and take mock tests.

Q:   What is Design aptitude test?
A: 

Design Aptitude is a test that is a part of most of the Design entrance exams in India. Through this test, the Design institutes examines the designing and creative ability of candidates. It includes questions related to sketching, drawing and reasoning. This test usually is the first step of any design exam. Candidates must focus on its preparations.

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