NIFT Entrance Exam Eligibility Criteria 2026, Qualification, Age Limit, Required Marks

National Testing Agency will release the NIFT entrance exam eligibility 2026 at nift.ac.in. NIFT exam eligibility 2026 include minimum requirement to appear for the NIFT in terms of age limit and education qualification. As per NIFT eligibility criteria 2026, for admission to NIFT courses after 12th, the maximum age should be less than 24 years as on 1st August of the year of admission (for SC/ST/PwD, upper age limit may be relaxed by a period of 5 (five) years). Candidates who wish to know “how to get into NIFT after 12th” are advised to refer to NIFT entrance exam eligibility 2026 before applying for admission. Continue reading for more details on NIFT eligibility criteria 2026.

This Story also Contains

1. NIFT Exam Eligibility 2026 for Bachelor of Design
2. NIFT Entrance Exam Eligibility 2026 for Bachelor of Fashion Technology
3. NIFT Eligibility Criteria 2026 for Master of Design
4. NIFT 2026 Eligibility Criteria for Master of Fashion Management
5. NIFT Exam Eligibility 2026 for Master of Fashion Technology
6. NIFT Eligibility Criteria 2026 for Artisans
7. NIFT 2026 Eligibility Criteria for NLEA
8. NIFT Entrance Exam Eligibility for PhD
9. General Eligibility Criteria for NIFT Entrance Exam
10. NIFT Eligibility Criteria- Important Points

NIFT UG Eligibility Criteria 2026

Aspirants will be able to access the NIFT eligibility criteria 2026 at exams.nta.ac.in/NIFT. Candidates willing to appear for the NIFT entrance exam are required to meet the NTA NIFT exam eligibility criteria 2026 that will be specified in the official brochure. As per the NIFT eligibility criteria, candidates who have passed their 10+2 or are appearing this year will be eligible for BDes and BFTech NIFT admission. Moreover, the maximum age limit for NIFT entrance exam is 24 years as of August 1 of the year of admission.

NIFT Eligibility Criteria 2025 Video

NIFT Exam Eligibility 2026 for Bachelor of Design

Candidates can below check NIFT entrance exam eligibility criteria for BDes courses. Aspirants have to meet NIFT age eligibility along with NIFT exam qualification required for admission.

Upper Age Limit for NIFT Entrance Exam

In the NIFT eligibility criteria pdf there is a certain age limit for NIFT entrance exam and each course. This is an important aspect to fulfill the eligibility criteria for the NIFT entrance exam. The NIFT entrance exam age limit for the candidates to meet the eligibility criteria for NIFT entrance exam is given below according to the course.

• The maximum age should be less than 24 years as on August 1, of the year of admission. The upper age limit may be relaxed by a period of 5 (five) years for candidates of Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe/ Person with Disability (PwD) categories.

NIFT Qualification for BDes courses

The important aspect of obtaining NIFT admission 2026 is to meet the minimum educational qualification required. The aspirants applying for the NIFT exam have to thoroughly check the NIFT eligibility criteria 2026 pdf and ensure that they meet the NIFT exam qualification of minimum education required. This section will answer questions like 'can I join NIFT after 12th' or 'can I join NIFT after graduation'.

• Passed the plus 2 level examination in the 10+2 pattern of examination from any recognized Central/State Board of Secondary Examination, such as the Central Board of Secondary Education/State Board New Delhi/Council for Indian School Certificate Examination, New Delhi. OR

• A pass grade in the Senior Secondary School Examination conducted by the National Open School with a minimum of five subjects. OR

• 3 or 4 years diploma recognized by AICTE or a State Board of Technical Education after secondary examination/10th standard. OR

• Any Public School/Board/University Examination in India or in foreign countries recognized by the Association of Indian Universities as equivalent to the 10+2 system. OR

• General Certificate Education (GCE) Examination (London/Cambridge/Sri Lanka) at the Advanced (A) level/International Baccalaureate (IB).

NIFT Entrance Exam Eligibility 2026 for Bachelor of Fashion Technology

Aspirants seeking admission to BFTech course have to meet the NIFT eligibility criteria 2026. Before proceeding to the NIFT application process, candidates must know all the details required to meet NIFT exam eligibility criteria. NTA will release the NIFT 2026 eligibility criteria along with the official brochure at the website - exams/nta.ac.in/NIFT. Candidates can download the NIFT prospectus from the official website link - nift.ac.in/admission. Fulfilling the age limit for NIFT entrance exam and NIFT exam qualification is necessary before applying to the college to avoid any blunders later. The NIFT entrance exam will be conducted online for the candidates to provide admission into its design courses at all NIFT campuses.

Upper Age Limit for NIFT Entrance Exam

The maximum age should be less than 24 years as on August 1, of the year of admission. The upper age limit may be relaxed by a period of 5 (five) years for candidates of Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe/ Person with Disability (PwD) categories.

NIFT Exam Qualification

• Passed the plus 2 level examination in the 10+2 pattern of examination from any recognized Central/State Board of Secondary Examination, such as the Central Board of Secondary Education, New Delhi/Council for Indian School Certificate Examination, New Delhi with Mathematics. OR

• A pass grade in the Senior Secondary School Examination conducted by the National Open School with a minimum of five subjects with Mathematics. OR

• 3 or 4 years diploma in any branch of Engineering recognized by AICTE or a State Board of Technical Education after secondary examination/10th standard. OR

• Any Public School/Board/University Examination in India or in foreign countries recognized by the Association of Indian Universities as equivalent to the 10+2 system with Mathematics. OR

• General Certificate Education (GCE) Examination (London/Cambridge/Sri Lanka) at the Advanced (A) level with Mathematics/International Baccalaureate (IB).

NIFT Eligibility Criteria 2026 for Master of Design

Many students ask can I join NIFT after graduation? Yes, one can join the post graduate courses of NIFT after graduation. The NIFT entrance exam educational qualification required is different for the postgraduate courses. There are three postgraduate level courses and the NIFT PG eligibility criteria for each is given below.

Age Limit for NIFT Entrance Exam - There is no age limit.

NIFT Qualifications

• Undergraduate Degree in any discipline from any Institute/University recognized by law in India. OR

• Undergraduate Diploma of minimum three years duration from NIFT/NID.

Note: Master of Design (M.Des) is an advanced course that demands an understanding of fundamentals in design and presupposes that candidates would be familiar with the basic skills and theories for successful completion of the program. The course will not provide any basic knowledge and skill development in design as a part of its curriculum.

NIFT 2026 Eligibility Criteria for Master of Fashion Management

Age Limit for NIFT Entrance Exam - There is no age limit.

Education Qualification

• Undergraduate Degree in any discipline from any Institute/University recognized by law in India. OR

• Undergraduate Diploma of minimum three years duration from NIFT/NID

NIFT Exam Eligibility 2026 for Master of Fashion Technology

Age Limit for NIFT Entrance Exam - There is no age limit.

Education Qualification

• B.F.Tech from the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT). OR

• B.E./B.Tech from any Institute/University recognized by law in India. OR

• B.F.Tech (4 years) from any Institute/University recognized by law in India.

NIFT Eligibility Criteria 2026 for Artisans

• Passed the plus 2 level examination in the 10+2 pattern of examination of any recognized Central/ State Board of Secondary Examination, such as Central Board of Secondary Education / State Board New Delhi / Council for Indian School of Certificate Examination, New Delhi. OR

• A pass grade in the Senior Secondary School Examination conducted by the National Open School with a minimum of five subjects. OR

• 3 or 4-years diploma recognized by AICTE or a State Board of Technical Education after secondary school examination. OR

• Any Public School/Board/University Examination in India or in foreign countries recognized by the Association of Indian Universities as equivalent to 10+2 system.

AND

• Artisan/Ward of Artisan can seek admission under this category on submission of a valid Artisan Card issued to Self/ Father/ Mother by the Development Commissioner (Handicraft), or Development Commissioner (Handlooms), Ministry of Textiles, Government of India or have applied for the Artisan Card before the launch of Prospectus for Admissions – 2026.

NIFT 2026 Eligibility Criteria for NLEA

NIFT Entrance Exam Eligibility for PhD

General Eligibility Criteria for NIFT Entrance Exam

The standards set by the authorities for a candidate to meet the requirements for eligibility criteria for NIFT entrance exam are categorised as below.

Who can join NIFT courses after completion of the 12th?

For NIFT admission 2026 into the undergraduate courses, the candidates who pass their 12th class will be eligible to appear in the NIFT entrance exam.

For the candidates who are currently pursuing their 12th/ final year of college/ final year of diploma and are unable to submit their exam results during admission or counselling, then their admission depends on the following terms and conditions. They are:

• Candidates below 18 years old have to submit an affidavit on Rs. 10 non-judicial stamp paper in the prescribed Proforma duly signed by the parent/guardian. Submission of a false document will not be acceptable and is a punishable offence.

• Submission of the qualifying degree certificate of the candidate to the campus or joint director of that college on the prescribed date.

• Admission will be declared as void or null if the candidate fails to submit the required certificates.

• Proof of examination clearance certificate to be produced for provisional admission by the candidate in case the result is not declared.

• Candidates seeking provisional admission must bring the date sheet/Principal’s certificate/admit card as proof to show the exam completion status.

• The above point applies to the candidates who took the compartment/supplementary exam in the 12th class or final year of graduation/diploma.

• Candidates seeking provisional admission will also be considered, only if their result has not been declared by the institution/university. In any other case, their admission will be liable and cancelled under the provisional admission category.

Also Check

• NIFT Selection Process

• NIFT CAT Syllabus

• NIFT GAT Syllabus

Is Maths required for NIFT admission?

Many a times there are queries like which subjects are compulsory for NIFT? According to the NIFT BFTech eligibility criteria, the candidates should have passed class 12 from any of the recognised Boards of Central/State Secondary Examination, such as Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), New Delhi/Council for Indian School of Certificate Examination (ICSE), New Delhi with Mathematics and Physics as mandatory subjects. Hence, maths subject is required and considered mandatory for the NIFT BFTech eligibility.

NIFT Eligibility Criteria- Important Points

Candidates will be assessed based on some factors to be eligible for appearing in the NIFT entrance exam 2026. Apart from the eligibility criteria for NIFT entrance exam mentioned in the above table, the following are a few of the norms on which students must meet the NIFT 2026 eligibility to apply in a certain condition.

• Students appearing in the final exam of the qualifying exam can also apply for NIFT 2026.

• If the Class 12/ final year / final semester exam result is not yet announced by the date of the NIFT counselling procedure, then students will be strictly provisional subject to the following conditions.

• Students will have to submit the final result of the qualifying exam before September 2026.

• Candidates have to submit duly sign an affidavit of Rs. 10 on a non-judicial stamp paper. The candidate’s parent/ guardian must sign the affidavit if he/she is less than 18 years of age.

• Candidates seeking provisional admission as the final result of their qualifying exam are awaited for declaration, then students have to submit proof that they have passed all the papers of the previous years/ semesters of the qualifying exam to fulfill NIFT eligibility criteria 2026.

• Students who are appearing for compartment examination(s) of 10+2 standard will be considered only for provisional NIFT admission. But, they are required to pass the compartment exam from the same board. If candidates fail to complete, then the candidature will be automatically cancelled from the provisional admission and forfeiture of the entire fee.