UPES B.Des Admissions 2026
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The National Institute of Fashion Technology, Mumbai invites candidates to sign up for their courses in the B.Des. and M.Des disciplines after the completion of the entrance exam process. But, candidates need to know how much rank is needed for NIFT Mumbai, so that they can successfully apply and get in for the available seats. The CMR for NIFT Mumbai or the Common Merit Rank range provides the range for the opening and closing rank for each course and the category through which the candidate has applied.
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Candidates can verify the NIFT Mumbai cutoff so that they can prepare well in advance to secure a seat at the University. Based on the rankings of the previous years, candidates can estimate the necessary rank they'd have to achieve for their category when the NIFT PG/UG exam comes in February 2026.
In order to help compare the possible rankings that are to be expected for NIFT Mumbai, here are the rankings for the UG and PG programmes. Candidates can briefly study the trends of the ranking system. For mere reference, we’ll be using the Open category for the lists.
UG Programme | Ranking Based on CMR |
Bachelor of Design (Knitwear Design) |
|
Bachelor of Design (Accessory Design) |
|
Bachelor of Design (Fashion Communication |
|
Bachelor of Design (Fashion Design) |
|
Bachelor of Fashion Technology (Apparel Production) |
|
Bachelor of Design (Textile Design) |
|
PG Programme | Ranking based on CMR |
Master of Design |
|
Master of Fashion Management |
|
Candidates can also benefit from knowing about the scoring system that is adopted by the NIFT entrance exam so that they can focus on areas that may potentially bring in a better score, or for areas of improvement. The scoring system and division for the NIFT Entrance Exam is as follows:
Programmes in UG | Score Weightage |
Bachelors in Design (B.Des) |
|
Bachelor of Fashion Technology (B.F.Tech) |
|
Master of Design (M.Des) |
|
Master of Fashion Management (M.F.M) |
|
For candidates who want to know how much rank is needed for NIFT Mumbai, they can calculate the value of their weighted score based on the score weightage mentioned above to determine the possible ranking required to fit into the NIFT admission process. The three can be considered as follows:
NIFT Marks – The raw numerical marks you earn in each section of the exam, such as CAT, GAT, and the NIFT Situation Test or Interview.
NIFT Score – The overall total after applying the set weightages for each section (for example, 50% CAT + 30% GAT + 20% Situation Test). This is the score used for final evaluation.
NIFT Rank – Your position in the national merit list, determined by your final score. Higher scores result in better ranks.
This implies that candidates shouldn’t priortise any one section of the test and should instead strategize based on the weightage.
Also Read: NIFT Rank vs College
At NIFT Mumbai, your rank and course preference both play a crucial role in securing admission. A lower rank generally increases your chances of getting into your preferred course and the popularity of the course also influences the cut-off. For example, Fashion Communication and Fashion Design are preferred more and the ranks likewise remain under 150 and 100 respectively. This can be observed thus:
High-Demand Courses: Courses like Fashion Design and Fashion Communication are very competitive. Candidates have to get a particularly strong rank to get your preferred choice.
Courses like Textile Design or Knitwear Design might be more accessible with a slightly higher rank. Especially given the number of rounds allotted to Knitwear design.
Category Matters: Reservation categories (OBC, SC, ST, etc.) also influence the cutoff ranks for each course.
Ranked #45 amongst Universities in India by NIRF | Ranked #1 in Academic Reputation in India by QS World University Rankings
EXAMS dates- 13-14 Dec | Leading Design College | Highest CTC: ₹12 LPA | Average CTC: ₹7.5 LPA | Scholarships for Deserving Students
NIFT Mumbai's Cutoffs in the Open category require candidates to secure a rank within the limits as specified above to avail a chance of getting in. This requires that candidates
Prioritize: Decide which course is top priority and research its typical cutoff ranks for the respective category.
Aim High: Try to achieve a rank that is better than the expected cutoff for the preferred course and category.
Consider Alternatives: If the rank is not as high as expected, explore other campuses or consider courses with slightly lower demand.
After the entrance exam process is complete candidates who have chosen NIFT Mumbai as their preferred campus can move into the seat allotment round. In each round the seat allotment result will be published on the website and the candidates who have been offered a seat will need to submit their willingness. This is done by either freezing, sliding or floating the option as per their choice.
To freeze in an option is to lock in with the allotted campus. To float offer candidates a choice to be considered for the higher preference of all campuses and programmes in the next round of allotment. If they go with the sliding option, it allows them to be preferred for the higher options in the same campus.
The NIFT Mumbai Cutoff is based on the opening and closing CMR. The NIFT Mumbai Cut Off depends on factors such as: Number of applicants, Difficulty level of the NIFT Entrance exam, seat availability and the category of the candidates.
The number of seats for the NIFT Mumbai courses are as follows:
Programme/Course | Seats Available in NIFT Mumbai |
B.Des. Programmes
| 38 seats each |
Bachelor Programme - Bachelor of Fashion Technology (B.F.Tech) | 38 seats |
Master Programmes
| 38 seats each |
Total seats available to Candidates | 304 seats in total |
The factors that affect the NIFT Mumbai cutoff include cutoff trends from previous years, seat availability in the institute's courses, the number of applicants, and the overall application pool.
Total number of candidates who appeared
Difficulty level of the exam
Collective performance of the candidates
Trends observed in NIFT marks vs NIFT rank data from previous year.
For candidates who manage to get in for the NIFT Mumbai course selection rounds the following NIFT course fees will have to be paid:
Program (B.Des, B.F.Tech) | Estimated Tuition Fee |
UG (e.g., B.Des / B.F.Tech) | Rs. 13.4 L – Rs. 14.09 L (4-year total) |
PG (M.Des) | Rs. 6.46 L – Rs. 6.80 L (2-year total) |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Based on the count of seats allotted to both UG and PG courses, there are 304 seats in total. Individually, each course has 38 seats each.
NIFT Mumbai is consistently ranked among the top fashion design institutes in India. According to India Today rankings, NIFT Mumbai is ranked second among the top fashion design colleges in India for both 2024 and 2022.
The opening and closing rank for each course shows the range between which candidates with a rank within the range can apply for a seat allocation. Based on the number of rounds for seat allocation the range goes further down the ranking.
To get into NIFT Mumbai, a rank below 200 is generally recommended for the most popular courses like Fashion Design, especially for the General category. For other courses and categories, the required rank can vary. Fashion Design is highly competitive, requiring a lower rank (below 100).
For programmes in the UG category the expected fees are between Rs. 13.4 L – Rs. 14.09 L (4-year total) and for PG Rs. 6.46 L – Rs. 6.80 L (2-year total).
On Question asked by student community
Hello aspirant,
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has determined the official date for NIFT 2026 applicant registrations, which is expected to open in November 2025. Online applications will be accepted through January 2026.
For complete information, you can visit our site through following link:
https://design.careers360.com/exams/nift-entrance-exam
Thank you
Hello Neharika
These are the topics which are most important in the Current affairs section in respect to NIFT Entrance Exam:
1. National and International Awards and Honors
2. Government Schemes and Initiatives
3. Sports
4. Appointments and Newsmakers
5. Science and Technology
6. Indian and World Economy
7. International Relations
8. Fashion Industry Updates
9. Books and Authors
10. Art and Culture
11. Environmental and Social Issues
To know more about NIFT Entrance Exam: NIFT Entrance Exam by CAREERS360
Hope this answer helps! Thank You!!!
Hello,
According to the sources, the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) entrance exam for 2026 will be held in February 2026. Also, the registration period may open from November 2025.
I hope it will clear your query!!
Dear Candidate ,
Yes , you are eligible for NIFT - UG 2026 . Based on your birthdate , you will be 19 years old as of August 1 , 2026 , which is well within the age limit .
NIFT requires applicants to be under 24 years of age on August 1 of the admission year , with a 5 year relaxation for SC/ST/PwD candidates .
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