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Top Design Colleges Besides NIFT and NID
#B.Des
National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) and National Institute of Design (NID) are dream destinations for many design aspirants. They are among the top design colleges in India. However, with limited seats, it is not possible for every applicant to get into it. Therefore, aspirants should know top design colleges besides NIFT and NID. Some of the best design colleges apart from NID & NIFT include IITs, Pearl Academy, SMIT, CEPT Ahmedabad, and DTU Delhi. Candidates appearing for NIFT 2026 or NID DAT 2026 can also look at colleges that accept scores in the NIFT entrance exam and NID entrance exam, respectively. Through this article, candidates can check the list of top design colleges in India apart from NIFT and NID.
Top Design Colleges Besides NIFT and NID
NIFT and NID are the top destinations for many design aspirants. While they offer good infrastructure, experienced faculty, and attractive placements, getting into them can be quite tough. The candidates who want to opt for other best design colleges besides NID and NIFT can check the list below.
Indian Institute of Technology
Every year, thousands of students apply for admission to IITs design courses. To join IIT the candidates have to appear in the entrance exam named UCEED for design courses at bachelor's level and CEED for design courses at master's level. IIT is renowned as a central government institution, known not only for providing engineering education also design and management education. IIT Bombay conducts the UCEED and CEED exams. IITs that are part of these design entrance exam include IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Guwahati, IIT Hyderabad, IIT Roorkee, and IITD Jabalpur.
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Sristi Manipal Institute of Art Design and Technology, Bangalore
Srishti Manipal Institute of Art Design, and Technology is a privately owned college. Located at the prime location of Bangalore Sristi Manipal Institute of Art, Design, and Technology offers the required exposure to have a successful career in the design industry. It offers undergraduate and postgraduate design courses under different specialisations. To join this institution, the students must qualify the SMEAT entrance exam conducted by the institution.
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BITS Design School
BITS Pilani conducts the BITS design admission for B Des (Hons) programme. BITS design school offers 5 specialisations to prepare a student for tomorrow’s design landscape. Aspirants with a valid score in NID DAT Prelims/ UCEED/ BITSDAT can apply for admission.
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CEPT University Ahmedabad
The Centre for Environment Planning and Technology University has been successfully imparting education in the past five decades. It offers design education across multiple fields at the undergraduate and postgraduate level, making it convenient for all categories of students. It is one of the good design colleges apart from NID & NIFT. This is a privately owned institution which is a dream college for many design aspirants. CEPT design admission is done based on the candidate’s performance in the UCEED entrance exam.
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Pearl Academy
One of the popular fashion design colleges apart from NIFT is Pearl Academy. Aspirants have to qualify Pearl Academy entrance exam to get admission to this institute. The institute conducts the entrance exam in multiple cycles. The courses at Pearl Academy include B.Des and M.Des programmes under different specialisations such as fashion design, product design, interior design, and communication design.
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UID Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad has many design colleges one of the best amongst them is the Unitedworld Institute of Design. This recently established Institute offers design courses at undergraduate and post graduate levels which have time and again proven to be one of the best making it rank among the best design colleges apart from NID & NIFT. Candidates who want to build their design career in this private institution must apply for the UID entrance exam. From fashion designing to visual communication and animation there are courses for all types of students.
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Symbiosis Institute of Design
Located in Pune, the Symbiosis Institute of Design is a well-recognised university in terms of design education. Candidates must know that the Symbiosis institute of Design offers both undergraduate and postgraduate courses across multiple disciplines. Candidates interetes in B.Des admissions must appear for SEED. The institute conducts a separate entrance exam for its PG admissions.
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World Institute of Design, Sonipat
The World University of Design is a private institute located at Sonipat, which offers undergraduate, postgraduate, and PhD courses in full-time and part-time modes. Candidates interested in joining WID Sonipat must have a valid score in design entrance exams such as NID DAT, NIFT, UCEED, etc.
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MIT Institute of Design Pune
Offering various technical educational courses along with creative training, the MIT Institute located at Pune is one of the top choices among design aspirants. The MIT Institute of Design is one of the finest design colleges offering education at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The interested candidates can join the courses after qualifying the MIT Design Entrance Test conducted by the Institution.
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Footwear Design and Development Institute
Another Central government institute is the Footwear Design and Development Institute which offers some of the best courses in designing. The government has established this university to tackle the shortage of skilled workers in the Indian handicraft industry. Candidates have to appear for FDDI AIST entrance exam for admission into this institute. The graduates from FDDI find high-quality training in the professional field of designing through the experienced faculty. FDDI offers undergraduate and postgraduate programs across multiple campuses located across India.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Which one is better, NID or NIFT?
A:
Neither NID nor NIFT is inherently better; the choice depends on candidate's career goals.
Q: Which university is best for fashion designing?
A:
The National Institute of Fashion Technology is usually the top choice for fashion design aspirants.
Q: Is Pearl Academy a good institution?
A:
Pearl Academy is one of the top private design colleges in India.
Q: What are the common design entrance exams one must appear?
A:
The NIFT entrance exam, NID DAT, UCEED, CEED, FDDI AIST, SMEAT, SEED, and MIT DAT are some of the top design entrance exams one can appear in.
Q: Which institution is best for design apart from NIFT and NID?
A:
The top choices of Institutions in the design field besides NIFT and NID include IITs, DTU, Pearl Academy, CEPT University and more.
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Hello Romika, Please check the FDDI AIST BDes sample paper here . You can also check all the FDDI previous year sample papers for a better understanding and better preparation. Please let me know if I can assist you with anything else.
Hello Ishika,
For CUET 2026 exam preparation, you can refer to the CUET study materials such as NCERT books which are foundational textbooks covers all the important subjects, for science focused books you can refer to R.S. Aggarwal books and for current affairs you can refer to McGraw-hill books. These
Hello Dixita, most colleges in Maharashtra that offer design courses accept MAH B.Des CET scores. Some of these colleges include MIT Academy of Engineering,Alandi, Pune, Terna Engineering College (Nerul, Navi Mumbai), Savitribai Phule Pune University (Pune), and Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth (Pimpri, Pune). You can also check the list
Hello. Yes VIT offers a 4-year degree programme in BDes in Industrial Design. You can check more about VIT School of Design BDes by visiting the college link given here.
No specific stream is required in Class 11 for BDes admissions. You can join B.Des (Bachelor of Design) with any stream in Class 11th (Science, Commerce, or Arts/Humanities). Top design institutes like NID ( NID DAT scores) and NIFT ( NIFT Entrance Exam ), as well as IITs (via UCEED),
Applications for Admissions are open.
Dhirubhai Ambani University M.Des Admissions 2026
ApplyNAAC Grade A+ Accredited | Merit- and need-based financial support
Amity University-Noida B.Design Admissions 2026
ApplyAmong top 100 Universities Globally in the Times Higher Education (THE) Interdisciplinary Science Rankings 2026
Pearl Academy B.Des Admissions 2026
ApplyNo. 1 Design & Fashion Institute by ASSOCHAM, India Today, Outlook and The Week rankings
MAHE Manipal BSc Animation 2026
ApplyNAAC A++ Accredited | Accorded institution of Eminence by Govt. of India | NIRF Rank #3
Manav Rachna-MRIIRS B.Design Admissions 2026
ApplyCourses offered in- Fashion Design, Product Design, Communication Design, Interior & Spatial Design & Animation & VFX Design
AAFT Noida B.Des Admissions 2026
ApplyIndustry-Oriented Courses | Highest package up to 16 LPA