UCEED vs NID 2025: Which Design Exam is Best for You?

Summary: UCEED vs NID: Comparative Study is a comprehensive evaluation of the two graphic design entrance exams, UCEED and NID, in order to assess the suitability of prospective applicants like you planning to pursue a degree in design.

Download Free Study Material for UCEED Exam 2025 by CreativeEdge

UCEED and NID are two national-level entrance exams for aspiring design students.

Both these exams are extensively competitive, and a lot of aspirants spend their time and resources preparing for them.

This article will compare UCEED and NID with regard to their eligibility criteria, entrance syllabus, exam pattern, and so on.

This will allow you to gain an insight into both these exams and make the most informed decision regarding your future.

UCEED vs NID 2025 which is better?

Let's understand the details of this exam and the difference between UCEED and NID. 

What is the UCEED exam?

UCEED full form is Undergraduate Common Entrance Exam conducted by IIT Bombay for admission in a B.Des program at prestigious colleges like,

• IIT Bombay
• IIT Delhi
• IIT Guwahati
• IIT Hyderabad
• IIITDM Jabalpur and other participating colleges

The exam has concluded for this year. 

Check: Private Universities Accepting UCEED Scores

What is the NID exam?

The NID Design Aptitude Test (DAT) is a national-level entrance exam conducted by the National Institute of Design to provide admission to design UG and PG programs.

Bachelor of Design (B.Des - 4 Years) is offered at NID Ahmedabad, NID Andhra Pradesh, NID Haryana, NID Madhya Pradesh and NID Assam. 

Master of Design (M.Des - 2.5 Years) is offered at NID Ahmedabad (and its extension campuses at Gandhinagar and Bengaluru).

Check: NID Colleges in India

Boost Your UCEED Preparation with the Best Online Coaching

UCEED vs NID 2025

Particulars	UCEED vs NID - UCEED	UCEED vs NID - NID
Exam Name	Undergraduate Common Entrance Examination for Design	National Institute of Design
Exam Category	Design	Design
Conducting Authority	Indian Institute of Technology Bombay	National Institute of Design
Exam Level	National Level	National Level
Exam Frequency	Once a year	Once a year
Exam Mode	Online or Computer-based Test mode	Entirely online or entirely offline or in a combination of both modes, at the discretion of the Institut
Application Mode	Online	Online
Exam Duration	3 hours	3 hours
Number of sections	2	2
Exam Language	English	English

UCEED vs NID Exam Pattern 2025

Both the UCEED and NID entrance exams have two stages explained in detail. Know the exam pattern to obtain better UCEED marks.

Check: NID Exam Pattern

UCEED Exam Pattern

UCEED is a computer-based test, and the exam paper is divided into two parts, Part A and Part B. 

The Part A of the UCEED exam comprises three sections-

• NAT (Numerical Answer Type):
• MSQ (Multiple Select Questions)
• MCQ (Multiple Choice Questions)

Check: UCEED Exam Pattern

Refer to the table given below to understand a detailed overview of these three sections of Part A:

UCEED marks distribution is shown below.

Part B:

Part B of the UCEED exam pattern 2025 consists of one question to test drawing skills requiring subjective evaluation.

The question in Part B will be displayed on the computer screen, and the answer has to be written/drawn in the answer book provided by the invigilator. 

You will be given 30 minutes to solve it. The invigilator will collect the booklet at the end of the exam. Also, note that it is mandatory to answer Part B questions.

Learn more about the UCEED rank predictor, and with a good UCEED rank, you can have a good Career in Design. 

NID Exam Pattern

The National Institute of Design Entrance Exam is conducted in two stages:

• NID DAT Prelims
• NID DAT Mains

Section	Type of question
Section 1	MCQ
Section 2	Subjective type

Also check: UCEED Last Minute Preparation Tips 2025

The NID Exam is divided into two stages.

• The very first stage is the prelim exam, which consists of two papers, Paper 1 with 70-point objective questions and Paper 2 with 30-mark subjective questions. There will be no negative markings.
• The second stage is the primary examination for aspirants who pass the first stage. This section will be worth 100 marks and will consist of a few practical tests such as drawing/sketching, group sessions, handmade models, and also some presentations.

Check: NID Exam Pattern

UCEED vs NID Exam Syllabus

The corresponding conducting bodies announce the syllabus for UCEED and NID, and aspirants should always be aware of this and thoroughly review the syllabus for the entrance examination to achieve the highest possible score.

Check: NID Syllabus

Download Sample Papers with Solutions for UCEED Exam 2025

The following table gives you a topic-by-topic detailed syllabus of UCEED and NID:

UCEED Syllabus	NID Syllabus
Visualization and spatial ability Practical and scientific knowledge Observation and design sensitivity Environmental and society Analytical and logical reasoning Language Creativity Drawing	Colour terminology Inspiration & design development Natural & geometrical form Theme & colour inter-relationship Design Theory Elements & Principles of Design Innovation in design Principles of composition Lettering Optical illusion Ornaments & motifs Memory drawing Usage of colour in compositions

Check: UCEED Syllabus

UCEED vs NID Eligibility

The mentioned eligibility criteria for the corresponding exams have been specified by the exam's conducting authority. Before applying for the entrance exam, aspirants must meet the eligibility requirements.

Check: NID Bangalore Admission

UCEED Eligibility

• The candidate should have been born on or after October 1, 1998, if belonging to the OPEN/EWS/OBC-NCL category, and born on or after October 1, 1993, if belonging to the SC, ST, or PwD category.
• A candidate can attempt UCEED a maximum of two times in consecutive years.
• The candidate should have passed all subjects in the qualifying examination (Class XII or equivalent) in 2024 OR should be appearing for the qualifying examination for the first time in 2025 to be eligible for attempting UCEED 2024.
• Students from ALL STREAMS (Science, Commerce, and Arts & Humanities) are eligible.
• Those who appeared for the first time in their qualifying examination (Class XII) in 2023 or earlier are NOT eligible.

Check: UCEED Eligibility

NID Eligibility

• For Indian Nationals in the Gen category and GEN EWS: Only those candidates born or after 1 July 2004 are eligible to apply for admission.
  The candidates who have completed their 10 + 2 (Higher Secondary) from a recognised board of education. 

Check: NID Eligibility

UCEED vs NID salary

When considering salary prospects, UCEED and NID graduates both hold promising potential in the competitive design industry. NID's renowned reputation often translates to competitive remuneration, thanks to its comprehensive curriculum and established network. UCEED graduates, armed with innovative thinking and problem-solving skills, also find lucrative opportunities.

However, actual salaries depend on factors like specialization, individual dedication, and the dynamic nature of the design job market. In essence, both UCEED and NID offer pathways to rewarding careers, with salaries reflecting graduates' skills, expertise, and industry demand.

Check: Salary after NID

UCEED vs NID: Conclusion

UCEED and NID are two popular exams for aspiring design students. Though both of these entrance exams offer students a great opportunity to pursue a degree in design, they differ in their scope, structure and focus. Therefore, before taking these tests, students must take into account all criteria, including the number of seats available, the cost, the calibre of the education, placement, UCEED rank vs marks and so forth.

Check here: Enroll in our UCEED Online Coaching and NID Online Coaching to boost your preparation and achieve your design dreams.