Pearl Academy B.Des Admissions 2025
No. 1 Design & Fashion Institute by ASSOCHAM, India Today, Outlook and The Week rankings
National Institute of Fashion Technology and Footwear Design and Development Institute are two institutes included in the list of best design colleges in India. Though both NIFT and FDDI focus on the design education, they differ in terms of their curriculum and career prospects. Through this article, aspirants can check NIFT vs FDDI in terms of several factors such as courses offered, selection process, entrance exam difficulty level, fees and campuses. Continue reading to know which is better, NIFT or FDDI.
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The National Institute of Fashion Technology was established in 1986 as an educational Institute to provide professional human resources to the industry of fashion and textile. The institution has spread across several campuses since then to import quality education and provide services to the handlooms and handicraft industry of India.
The footwear designer Development Institute on the other hand was established in the same year to provide human resources with appropriate knowledge to the footwear and allied industry. FDDI has also created an impact to provide knowledge and skills across the country through multiple Institutions in different states.
Particulars | NIFT | FDDI |
Exam Name | National Institute Fashion and Technology | Footwear Design and Development Institute |
Entrance Exam | NIFT Entrance Exam | FDDI AIST |
Campuses | New Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata, Gandhinagar, Patna, Kangra, Jodhpur, Bhubaneswar, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Bhopal, Daman, Shillong, Kannur, Panchkula, Raebareli, Srinagar, Varanasi | Noida, Fursatganj (Raebareli), Chandigarh, Ankleshwar, Guna, Chennai, Patna, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Rohtak, Chhindwara and Jodhpur |
Specialisations Offered | Fashion Design, Textile Design, Leather Design, Accessory Design, Knitwear Design, Fashion Communication, Fashion Interior, Bachelor in Fashion Technology | Footwear design and production, Fashion design, Leather, Lifestyle and product design |
Both NIFT and FDDI offer multiple courses in the field of fashion. There are undergraduate programs and post graduate programs that the students can opt for. NIFT also has research opportunities for students who want to do a PhD in fashion.
Also Check: NIFT Courses
Level | NIFT | FDDI |
UG | BDes (Bachelor of Design) with the specialisation of Fashion Design, Textile Design, Leather Design, Accessory Design, Knitwear Design, Fashion Communication. BFTech (Bachelor of Fashion Technology) | BDes footwear design and production. BDes fashion design BDes leather, lifestyle and product design |
PG | MFM (Masters of Fashion Management) MFTech (Master of Fashion Technology) MDes (Master of Fashion Design) | MDes footwear design and production. MDes fashion design |
Candidates seeking admission to NIFT or FDDI have to qualify the entrance exam conducted by the concerned authorities.
NIFT: The National Institute of Fashion Technology has a way of screening thousands of applications that are received every year in hopes of getting admissions. The national testing agency conducts the NIFT entrance exam every year to select the best students at undergraduate and postgraduate level to join the courses. This design entrance examination is one of the top most design exams that thousands of applicants apply for every year.
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FDDI: Footwear Design and Development Institute conducts the All India Selection Test (FDDI AIST) to shortlist the candidates who are applying for the institution. This entrance exam is conducted once every year at a national level in which the candidates need to qualify to join the FDDI colleges across India.
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To appear for the entrance exam, aspirants also have to meet other eligibility criteria as laid down by the authorities.
The National Testing Agency has released the NIFT entrance exam eligibility criteria at the official website.
Age Limit: 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.
Education Qualification (For BDes Courses)
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).
Aspirants planning to appear for AIST exam have to meet the following requirements mentioned in the FDDI eligibility criteria pdf.
Age Limit - The age limit for the Bachelor’s programme shall be 25 years as on July 1, 2025.
Educational Qualification
A candidate who has passed, -
10+2, in any stream, from any recognised Board (or)
Any School or Board or University examination in India or in foreign country recognised by the Association of Indian Universities as equivalent to 10+2 system (or)
School Examination conducted by the National Open School with a minimum of five subjects (or)
All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) approved three –years full time Diploma after Class X offered by the Board of Technical Education of any state or Union territory.
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One of the most important factors in deciding which college is the best for a student is to understand the fee structure. FDDI and NIFT are both Central government institutions which offer affordable education to all students. Total NIFT fees for Bachelor or design for all campuses is Rs. Rs. 14,09,400. However, for FDDI, fees vary from one campus to another. Candidates can check detailed fees for NIFT and FDDI through links mentioned below.
There are several campuses on NIFT across India offering wonderful opportunities to the students in terms of design education. Candidates must be aware that the NIFT campuses are located in New Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata, Gandhinagar, Patna, Kangra, Jodhpur, Bhubaneswar, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Bhopal, Shillong, Kannur, Panchkula, Raebareli, Srinagar. On the other hand FDDI campuses are also widely spread with campuses located in Noida, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata, Chandigarh, Rohtak, Jodhpur, Surat, Fursatganj, Patna, Gunna & Chhindwara.
Both the Institutions have provided immense opportunities in the field of design to the students. Both NIFT and FDDI have strong placement teams who bring the best opportunities for candidates in terms of internships and job opportunities. The salary offered at the placements of both the Institutions are lucrative and the jobs are found at both domestic and international realms. Most of the NIFT graduates find jobs in fashion houses as fashion designers, illustrators, fashion stylists, merchandisers etc. While the FDDI graduates are more seen in the footwear and leather industries as merchandisers, designers, retailers etc.
Check: NIFT Placement | FDDI Placement
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Candidates can appear for the FDDI AIST entrance exam conducted every year to join FDDI.
The Footwear Design and Development Institution is one of the top choices of design aspirants for its high quality education and placements.
The Footwear Design and Development Institute is a central government institution.
NIFT is one of the best design institutions in India which provides high quality education through well trained faculty and infrastructure.
Both NIFT and FDDI are top design institutions in India providing competitive jobs in the dynamic field of design industry. Both the colleges are equally good on what they focus on. NIFT is more meant for the fashion and textile industry while FDDI focuses on footwear and leather industry.
On Question asked by student community
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!!!
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 .
Hello
The syllabus of NIFT 2026 will be released on October 2025 by Nift officials on their official website nift.ac.in . The syllabus comprises of topics General Ability Test (GAT) and Creative Ability Test (CAT). The syllabus is different for UG and PG programmes. The GAT syllabus consists of :
The CAT syllabus consists important topics like
To download the complete syllabus kindly refer this
https://design.careers360.com/articles/nift-syllabus
Good luck !
Hello,
The Chennai NIFT entrance exam results for 2025 are usually declared a few weeks after the exam date. You can check the official NIFT website or trusted education portals like Careers360 for the latest updates and result announcements.
Make sure to keep your application details handy to access your result easily.
Hope this helps!
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No. 1 Design & Fashion Institute by ASSOCHAM, India Today, Outlook and The Week rankings