Top Design Entrance Exams in India

Q: How do I start a career in Designing after 12th standard ?

To opt for a career in Designing at top universities in India after completing 12th standard from a recognized board of education, you need to qualify for entrance exams conducted by universities like <ul><li>National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT)</li><li>National Institute of Design (NID)</li><li>UCEED</li><li>CEED</li></ul>

Q: Who can apply for design entrance exams?

Those who have completed their class 12 in any stream with 55% aggregate marks can apply for design entrance exams.

Q: After clearing 10th standard, which stream should I opt to pursue a career in fashion designing ?

To pursue a career in fashion designing, Candidates must have completed 10+2 in any stream be it Commerce, Science, or Humanities from a recognized board, So after completing 10th standard students can take any stream.

Q: Is design a good career option?

Design is a wide industry where you get to learn new things on a daily basis with amongst the highest-paying industries. Designing provides opportunities to work in various fields and also start a self-sustained business/startup in the field.

Q: How do I start a career in Designing after 12th standard ?

To opt for a career in Design courses at top universities in India after completing 12th standard from a recognized board of education. Applicants need to qualify for entrance exams conducted by the universities. There are basically four ways to start.<ul><li>National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT)</li><li>National Institute of Design (NID)</li><li>Indian Institute of Technologies (IIT)</li><li>Other Private and Government Institutes</li></ul>

Q: Is Maths compulsory to apply for NIFT 2022 Exam?

You must note that the NIFT admission requirements vary from course to course. Maths is not a compulsory subject if you are willing to apply for a B.des course. However, you should have studied physics, chemistry, and Maths in 12th standard to apply for B.F Tech course.

Q: Can a student from Class 12 Arts stream apply for NID Entrance Exam 2022?

Yes, those who are appearing/passed Higher Secondary (10+2) in any stream are eligible to apply for B.Des in NID DAT 2022.

Q: After clearing 10th standard, which stream should I opt to pursue a career in fashion designing ?

After 10th one can directly go for Diploma in fashion design or can take up any stream in the higher secondary, as design exams accept students from any stream.

Q: Are design entrance exams tough?

No, they are not typically tough but it depends upon the amount of practice you put up on the given topics.

Author : Nashid

June 10, 2024

Overview: Designing is becoming one of the most popular sought-after courses amongst the youth in India. Check out the top design entrance exams in India you should aim for to secure a seat in top design colleges.

In India, various institutes offer Design courses at UG and PG levels. To get admission to these courses in any top colleges, you have to appear for the entrance exams conducted separately by each institute.

These entrance exams are conducted by colleges and universities at the national level for admissions every year. Discover a complete insight into the list of top designing exams in India.

Top Design Entrance Exams in India

While numerous colleges provide a variety of design courses, the limited number of seats means not all aspirants can secure a place in the premier design institutes.

Various design entrance exams are held at both national and university levels for students aspiring to enroll in design programs.

Here are some of the most anticipated design entrance exams in India, with their important dates -

Top Design Entrance Exam	Registration dates (Expected)	Design entrance exam date (Expected)
National Institute of Fashion Technology(NIFT)	December 2024	February – March 2025
NID Design Aptitude Test(NID DAT)	September 2024	Prelims - December 2024
NID Design Aptitude Test(NID DAT)	September 2024	Mains - April 2024
Undergraduate Common Entrance Examination for Design(UCEED)	October 2024	January 2025
Common Entrance Examination for Design(CEED)	October 2024	January 2025
MIT Institute of Design DAT (Design Aptitude Test)	October 2024	April 2025
Symbiosis Entrance Exam for Design (SEED)	August 2024	January 2025

List of National Level Designing Exams in India

If you want to pursue a career in design, you must appear for the entrance exams conducted separately by each institute.

The following are some of the most popular designing entrance exams conducted at the national level.

NIFT (National Institute of Fashion Technology)	SEED (Symbiosis Entrance Exam for Design)
NID (National Institute of Design) Aptitude Test	AIEED ( All India Entrance Exam for Design)
UCEED (Undergraduate Common Entrance Exam for Design)	AIFD CAT (Army Institute of Fashion & Design Creative Aptitude Test)
FDDI AIST (Footwear Design and Development Institute All India Selection Test)	DE-CODE (Design Aptitude Test of Centre for Design Excellence)
IIAD (Indian Institute of Art and Design Entrance Exam)

List of University-Level Design Exams in India

You can also pursue fashion design courses at the university level. The following are the most popular institutes that conduct fashion designing entrance exams at the university level.

MDAT (Manipal University Design Aptitude Test)	CUCET (Chandigarh University Common Entrance Test)
MUST-CFDM (Modi University Science and Technology - College of Fashion Design and Merchandising)	MUSAT(Modi University Scholarship cum Admission Test)

Top 5 Design Exams in India

The following are the most popular and sought Design entrance exams conducted to provide admissions to various colleges.

NIFT (National Institute of Fashion Technology)

The NIFT entrance exam is a national level exam conducted by the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) which comes under the MINISTRY OF TEXTILE as an autonomous institute.

They provide admissions into Bachelor of Design (B.Des), Master of Design (M.Des), Bachelor of Fashion Technology (B.F.Tech), Master of Fashion Technology (M.F.Tech), and Master of Fashion Management (MFM) courses.

NIFT is considered one of the prestigious institutes for fashion and design-related courses in India. The institute has a total seat intake of 3547 for both UG and PG programs.

If you wish to apply for the NIFT Entrance Exam, you must have completed your 10+2 from a recognized university, and your age should not exceed 24 years as of 01 August of the year of the exam.

The final selection will be based on the written exam marks, a situation test, and a personal interview (for Masters only).

NID (National Institute of Design) Aptitude Test

NID's Design Aptitude Test is a national-level entrance exam conducted by the National Institute of Design to provide admission to UG and PG programs in the Design category.

The exam is conducted in two stages, i.e., DAT Prelims and DAT Mains. Both the stages are required to be cleared by the candidate for admission into the college.

To apply for the NID Entrance Exam, you must have completed your 10+2 or equivalent exam from a recognized board (AISSE/ICSE/CBSE).

Also, you must have been born on or after 01 July 2003 to be eligible for the exam.

UCEED (Undergraduate Common Entrance Examination for Design)

Undergraduate Common Entrance Exam for Design, known as UCEED, is a national-level entrance exam conducted by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay for providing admissions to the Bachelor’s of Design (B.Design) program.

The 4 IITs for which the UCEED Entrance Exam is conducted are the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Guwahati, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Jabalpur, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Hyderabad.

The exam comprises two parts: Part A (computer-based screening test) and Part B (Offline exam). The admission will be provided by considering the marks obtained in both part A and part B.

AIEED ( All India Entrance Exam for Design)

Arch College of Design & Business conducts the AIEED entrance exam annually for providing admissions to undergraduate and postgraduate courses in design.

Those who have cleared class 12 from any recognized university are eligible to apply for the exam.

The entrance exam consists of GAT (general aptitude test) and CAT (creative ability test). Both are qualifying in nature.

IIAD (Indian Institute of Art and Design Entrance Exam)

Indian Institute of Art & Design is a very popular institute for providing fashion designing courses like BA in fashion design, MA in fashion design, BA and MA in fashion business management.

The IIAD entrance exam comprises a written exam followed by a studio test and a personal interview.

Those who have completed class 12 or equivalent exam in any stream (science, humanities, commerce, arts) with an aggregate of a minimum of 50% can apply for the exam.

Choosing the Right Design Entrance Exam

The best exam for you depends on your specific design aspirations and the colleges you wish to apply to. Here are some factors to consider:

Level of Study: Are you aiming for undergraduate (B.Des) or postgraduate (M.Des) programs?
Design Discipline: Do you have a specific design field in mind, like fashion, graphic design, or product design? Each exam might cater to different specializations.
Exam Pattern: Research the format and content of each exam to ensure you align with its assessment style.

Preparing for Design Entrance Exams

Develop a Strong Foundation: Sharpen your drawing skills, observation abilities, and design thinking through practice exercises and online resources.
Practice Makes Perfect: Solve past year's question papers and take mock tests to familiarize yourself with the exam format and time management.
Seek Guidance: Consider enrolling in coaching classes or attending design workshops to gain valuable insights and strategies.

Key Takeaways

UCEED, NID DAT, NIFT, AIEED, and CEED are the top design entrance exams in India, each catering to different colleges and program levels.
Consider your design aspirations, desired colleges, and exam format when selecting the right exam for you.
Build your design foundation, practice with past papers and mock tests, and explore coaching options if needed.
Dedication, strategic preparation, and design passion are key to cracking these exams. Enjoy the learning process and approach it with enthusiasm!

Check Out: Best Design Colleges in India.

Download Your NATA Prep Material

Fill your details

Recently Published

NID Fee Structure 2025 (BDes & MDes): Semester & College Fees