M.Des Entrance Exams Syllabus 2026 - Check Exam Wise Syllabus Here
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M.Des Entrance Exams Syllabus 2026 - Check Exam Wise Syllabus Here

#M.Des
Sumeet SudarshanUpdated on 31 Jul 2025, 05:51 PM IST

The exam conducting authorities prescribe the M.Des entrance exam syllabus on their official website at the time of publication of the exam notification. Several colleges conduct MDes entrance exams to choose the best candidates for the course. For the aspirants, it is of utmost importance to know the M.Des entrance exam syllabus to prepare well. With the help of the MDes exam syllabus, candidates can know the topics that they need to study to qualify in the design entrance exam. The Master of Design (M.Des) course is an advanced study option for many students looking to pursue higher education programmes in design. Get the full details on the syllabus of MDes entrance exams by reading this article.

M.Des Entrance Exams Syllabus 2026 - Check Exam Wise Syllabus Here
mdes entrance exam syllabus

M.Des Entrance Exams Syllabus

There are several popular MDes entrance exams conducted every year to select students into the M.Des programmes of the top design colleges in India. The syllabus for most of these MDes entrance exams in India is similar. The students must check out the M.Des entrance exams syllabus 2026 of the preferred exam on the official website for more clarity on the subjects. The option of M.Des entrance exam syllabus 2026 pdf download is available on most of the official websites of the exams that are discussed below.

MDes Entrance Exam Syllabus: Overview

Some of the top entrance exams are conducted at a national level for MDes admissions. However, there are some popular MDes entrance exams that students must be aware of at the state and university level as well. The M.Des entrance exams syllabus 2026 for most of these exams are discussed below which will provide the students with a generous idea of what to expect in a MDes entrance exam.

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NIFT MDes Entrance Exam Syllabus

The MDes NIFT entrance exam is one of the most competitive entrance exams which thousands of students appear for. Conducted by NTA this is a national level exam. The MDes aspirants must understand the NIFT exam syllabus carefully to score well. The students who apply for NIFT MDes program need to appear NIFT entrance exam consisting of two papers. The first exam is a written exam which consists of GAT and CAT, the former of which consists of MCQ and is a computer-based test. The latter required the candidates to use paper and draw their answers. The GAT exam requires the students to have a knowledge of Communication Ability and English Comprehension, Quantitative Ability, Current Affairs, General Knowledge etc. A table regarding the MDes syllabus for NIFT GAT exam is given below.

SectionTopics asked in NIFT GAT question paper

Quantitative Ability

Students need to practice Addition, Fractions, Percentage, Rate of Interest, Multiplication, Ratio and Proportion, Division, Work and Task, Distance, etc.


Communication Ability and English Comprehension

Proficiency and clarity of meaning in Synonyms, Words with corresponding meanings, Antonyms, Singular, Plural, Idioms and phrases, One-word Substitutes, Correct spellings, Comprehending a situation from the given passage


Analytical Ability and Logical Ability

Students must have creative and lateral thinking are likely to be useful.

Practicing questions related to General Assertion Reasons, Statement Conclusions, Series, Statements Correct/Incorrect, Blood Relation, One Liner Seating Arrangement, Coding-Decoding, Direction Sense



General Knowledge and Current Affairs

Knowledge of Fashion Industry GK, Static GK and current GK


Case Study

Read and understand the case given to answer simple questions


For the CAT exam the students need to prepare themselves with drawing skills and understand concepts like colour theory, perspective, composition, etc. The common requirements of the NIFT CAT questions are listed below.

Design Theory

Colour Terminology

Inspiration & Design Development

Colour Psychology & Optical Illusions

Elements & Principles of Design

Mood, Theme & Colour Inter-relationship

Natural & Geometrical Form

Innovation in Design

Principles of Composition

Creative thinking & writing

Optical Illusion

Understanding Light & Shade

Visual Logic

Form & Function

Colour, Pattern & Texture

Theme Development

Drawing Fundamentals

Picture Analysis

Memory Drawing

Inspiration & Creativity

Ornaments & motifs

Use of Measurements, Scale & proportions

Optical Illusion

Foreshortening & Perspective

Developing Themes & Colour Associations

Usage of Colour in Compositions

Imagination & Doodling

3D Visualisation

Presentation Techniques

Expression & Emotion

Exercises on imagination

Lateral Thinking

Story Pictures

Graphics & Pictograms

Innovation & Creation

Design Awareness

The students who qualify these exams must appear the NIFT group discussion and personal interview round conducted to select the best students. The NFT group discussion and personal interview assesses the communication abilities, leadership qualities, problem solving abilities etc. The students must be well prepared with the history of fashion, current trends in fashion and the latest happenings of the world to perform better. Along with that having an impeccable communication skill is necessary.

CEED MDes Entrance Exams Syllabus 2026

CEED entrance stands for the Common Entrance Exam for Design which is conducted by the IIT Bombay at a national level to select the best students for MDes in top IITs. The CEED exam consists of two parts- Part A and Part B. The part A of the CEED syllabus tests the student’s scientific knowledge, design aptitude, observational skills, etc. The details of CEED MDes part A syllabus are given below.

Visualization and spatial reasoning

Ability to visualize and transform 2D shapes and 3D objects and their spatial relationships.

Practical and scientific knowledge

Know-how of scientific principles and everyday objects.

Observation and design sensitivity

Capacity to detect concealed properties in day-to-day life and think critically about them. Attention to detail, classification, analysis, inference, and prediction.

Environment and society

General awareness of environmental, social, and cultural connections with design.

Analytical and logical reasoning

Ability to analyze qualitative and quantitative information.

Language

Proficiency in reading and comprehending Standard English.

Creativity

Grasp verbal and non-verbal analogies, metaphors, signs, and symbols.

Art and Design knowledge

Awareness about art/artifact/product, artists/designers, art/design history, and trends.

Design methods and practices

Knowledge of media, materials, production processes, and ergonomics.

The CEED Part B questions aim to test the artistic and creative skills of the students. The students need to draw the answers as per the instructions given in the question based on which they shall be evaluated. The MDes exam syllabus for CEED Part B is given below for the students to check out.

Drawing

Ability to draw products, people, or scenes in proportion with good line quality, composition, proportion, perspective, and shading.

Design aptitude

Capability to respond to problems/situations practically and appropriately with ingenuity and empathy.

Creativity

Capacity to think out of the box and come up with unique as well as diverse solutions.

Communication

Skills to communicate concepts and ideas clearly with the help of text and visuals.

Problem identification

Capability to understand the user and the context, knowledge of properties of materials, and their appropriate use in design.

After qualifying the entrance exam the students must apply to each IIT they prefer where they will be tested again with an entrance test and a personal interview round. The students who qualify all these will be selected for the entrance exam.

Pearl Academy MDes Entrance Exams Syllabus

The Pearl Academy is one of the finest private design institutes in India which provides world class education to the students. The MDes syllabus for Pearl Academy entrance consists of the GPT and DAT exam. The students must appear for both general proficiency test and design Aptitude Test along with having a personal interview and a Portfolio showcase. The general proficiency test is conducted to check the English language proficiency, logical reasoning abilities, quantitative abilities etc. of the students. The details of GPT for MDes entrance exam of Pearl Academy are given below.

English Language

This section tests the candidates’ grammar, vocabulary, comprehension, and verbal ability. The topics include synonyms, antonyms, idioms, phrases, sentence correction, fill in the blanks, reading comprehension, etc.

Logical Reasoning

This section tests the candidates’ analytical and problem-solving skills. The topics include series, patterns, analogies, classifications, coding-decoding, blood relations, directions, syllogisms, etc.

Quantitative Ability

This section tests the candidates’ numerical and mathematical skills. The topics include arithmetic, algebra, geometry, mensuration, time and work, time and distance, percentages, ratios, averages, etc.

For the design aptitude test the students must use their creativity and imagination to subjectively draw the answers to the questions given. For this the students must practice drawing and sketching as well as be aware of theories related to colour, design principles, visual communication etc. the students can find a detailed section about the Pearl Academy DAT exam syllabus below.

Drawing and Sketching

This section tests the candidates’ ability to draw and sketch objects, scenes, perspectives, proportions, etc. with accuracy and clarity.

Colour Theory

This section tests the candidates’ knowledge of colours, their properties, combinations, contrasts, harmony, etc.

Design Principles

This section tests the candidates’ understanding of design elements such as line, shape, form, texture, space, etc. and design principles such as balance, rhythm, emphasis, unity, etc.

Visual Communication

This section tests the candidates’ ability to communicate ideas and messages through visual means such as symbols, icons, logos, posters, etc.

Creativity and Innovation

This section tests the candidates’ ability to generate original and innovative solutions to design problems or challenges.

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NID MDes Entrance Exams Syllabus 2026

The National Institute of Design is one of the most repeated design colleges in India. Students who want to study in this institution must ensure that they practice well before the entrance exam to score well. Knowing and understanding the MDes exam syllabus of NID DAT can be beneficial for students who want to apply for this exam. The National Institute of Design conducts the NID DAT exam to select the best students in the entire country. The NID DAT exam consists of two parts for MDes - Prelims and Mains. The NID DAT Prelims exam tests the knowledge of design theory, colour terminology, design awareness, etc. The details of the NID DAT MDes exam syllabus are given below.

Design Outline for Beginners

Colour Terminology

Inspiration & Design Development

Mood, Theme & Colour Inter-relationship

Design Theory

Elements & Principles Of Design

Natural & Geometrical Form

Innovation in Design

Principles of Composition

Lettering

Optical Illusion

Understanding Light & Shade

Colour Psychology & Optical Illusions

Form & Function

Colour, Pattern & Texture

Theme Development

Creative Thinking & Writing

Picture Analysis

Visual Logic

Good Design vs Bad Design

Drawing Fundamentals

Use of Measurements, Scale & proportions

Optical Illusion

Foreshortening & Perspective

Developing Themes & Colour Associations

Inspiration & Creativity

Ornaments & Motifs

Memory Drawing

Usage of Colour in Compositions

Expression & Emotion

Exercises on Imagination

Lateral Thinking

Story Pictures

Presentation Techniques

Imagination & Doodling

3D Visualisation

Graphics & Pictograms

Innovation & Creation

Design Awareness

Developing Observation

Only those students to qualify the NID DAT Prelims exam are selected for the mains exam. The NID DAT Mains exam consists of questions which test the student's model making skills, doodling skills, material manipulation etc. The NID DAT Mains syllabus is given below.

Model Making

Doodling

How to evolve ideas

Audio – Visual Exercises

Material Manipulation

Creative Thinking

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What is the NIFT MDes exam syllabus?
A:

NIFT entrance exam includes GAT exam which consists of Communication Ability and English Comprehension, Quantitative Ability, Current Affairs and General Knowledge etc. The CAT exam consists of drawing questions.

Q: Is MDes a good career option?
A:

MDes is a good career option for higher studies. It has a good placement opportunity and steady salary. 

Q: Is it mandatory to appear for MDes entrance exams?
A:

Some of the top design colleges in India accept entrance exam for admission to MDes courses. 

Q: What is the entrance exam for MDes?
A:

Entrance exams for MDes include NIFT, NID, CEED etc. 

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Questions related to M.Des

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to M.Des ?

Hello,

With a CMR of 661 and OBC category rank of 193, you do have a fair chance of getting a seat in M.Des at NIFT .

You may not get top campuses like Delhi or Mumbai in the first round, but you can get other NIFT campuses depending on the course preference and seat availability. You should take part in all rounds of counselling for better chances.

Hope it helps !

Hello there,

The National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) conducts two different exams for their postgraduate programs: M.F.Tech (Master of Fashion Technology) GAT (General Aptitude Test) and M.Des (Master of Design) GAT. Although both exams assess general aptitude, they cater to different courses and have variations in their specific focus areas. Here are the differences between M.F.Tech GAT and M.Des GAT:

M.F.Tech GAT: Focuses more on technical and engineering aspects related to fashion technology. Includes sections on quantitative ability, communication ability, English comprehension, analytical ability, and general knowledge.

M.Des GAT: Focuses on design-related aptitude and creative ability. Includes sections on quantitative ability, communication ability, English comprehension, analytical ability, and general knowledge, with additional emphasis on creativity and design thinking.

Hey Viraj,

It's a must that you solve the previous year papers and sample papers if you preparing for the exam. This will make you familiar with the pattern, marking scheme, etc.

You can visit https://design.careers360.com/articles/nift-sample-papers for PYQs and sample papers.

Hope this helps you. All the best!

Hello,

Maybe, because When it comes to eligibility for the CEED (Common Entrance Examination for Design), having backlogs in your undergraduate program may not necessarily disqualify you from appearing for the exam. However, it is important to note that each institute has its own specific eligibility criteria for admission to their MDes programs. Some institutes may consider backlogs as a factor during the admission process, while others may not.

Hope this helps you,

Thank you

https://www.google.com/amp/s/design.careers360.com/exams/ceed/amp

Hello aspirant,

Hope you are doing well...!!!!


If you have any desire to take B des course in movement After twelfth class and after B des, M des configuration course in activity then you need to show up for entrance test like NIFT entrance, UCEED,CEED,NID entrance, NATA,. Plan in activity with a decent stamps and need to get ready for an intrigued like NID entrance with regards to NIFT entrance, CEED,UCEED. Can you ought to be graduate in planning course or designing course after that he needs to show up for assistants test for M plan in movement. The choice for confirmation is done on the legitimacy premise and stamps got in entrance tests.


Hope this information helps you!!!!

All the best!!!