Indian Institute of Art & Design Admissions 2025
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Top Design Entrance Exams After 12th in India
Edited By Isha Jain | Updated on Sep 12, 2024 04:41 PM IST | #NIFT Entrance Exam
Although some design colleges in India offer admission based on 10+2, some of the top designing schools such as NIFT, NID and IITs conduct entrance exams. Every year, thousands of students appear for the design entrance exams in India with an aim to get admission to top design schools. As more aspirants are keen to opt for design courses, it becomes significant for the institutes to conduct design aptitude test or design entrance exams to select the pertinent candidates for admission. Here in this article, aspirants can not only check the list of design entrance exams in India but also their eligibility criteria, passing marks and more.
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Design Entrance Exam in India Dates
Top Design Entrance Exam | Design entrance exam date 2025 |
February 2025 | |
NID Design Aptitude Test (NID DAT) | Prelims - December, 2024 Mains - April 2025 |
Undergraduate Common Entrance Examination for Design (UCEED) | January 2025 |
January 2025 | |
January 2025 | |
April 2025 | |
January 2025 | |
May 2025 | |
December 2025 | |
Army Institute of Fashion & Design Written Admission Test (AIFD WAT) | To be notified |
January 2025 | |
To be notified |
Top 5 Design Entrance Exams in India
Level of Design Entrance Exam
In India, design entrance exams are conducted at National, University and State level. Here, aspirants can check top design entrance exams in India list level-wise.
National Level Entrance Exam for Designing after 12th
Aspirants can below check some of the popular national level entrance exams in India:
NIFT Entrance Exam
The NIFT Entrance Exam is one of the most prominent exams for fashion designing in India conducted by the National Institute of Fashion Technology. The NIFT entrance exam is conducted once a year to offer admission to the aspirants in various design programmes. Aspirants wanting to secure admission to NIFT campuses are required to qualify for the NIFT entrance exam.
Know more about the NIFT entrance exam
NID Design Aptitude Test
NID Design Aptitude Test is another significant design exam in India conducted by the National Institute of Design. NID DAT is conducted at the national level for the students seeking admission in BDes and MDes programmes. NID DAT is a two-tier entrance exam consisting of prelims and mains exams. NID admission is wholly based on the candidate's performance in the NID DAT.
Check details of NID DAT
UCEED
Undergraduate Common Entrance Examination for Design commonly known as UCEED is a centre-based exam conducted by IIT Bombay. UCEED is conducted nationally for admissions to the Bachelor of Design admissions. UCEED is one of the entrance exam for designing after 12th available to the students. The qualified candidates can secure admission in UCEED participating institutes and other result-sharing institutes. The UCEED is a notable fashion design exams in India that offers entry to the Bachelor of Design programs at IITs.
More details of UCEED
CEED
Common Entrance Examination for Design commonly known as CEED is a national-level design entrance exam conducted by IIT Bombay for students seeking admission to M.Des (Master of Design). CEED exam-qualified students are eligible to apply for admission in MDes and PhD programmes to the participating institutes and other result-sharing institutes. CEED score is valid for one year from the date of the result declaration.
More details of CEED
University Level Design Entrance Exams in India
Some of the best design colleges in India conduct their own entrance exams for admission to design courses. Below are some of the popular university level design entrance exams in India.
Pearl Academy Entrance Exam
Pearl Academy is considered to be one of the best fashion design schools in India. Pearl academy design entrance exam is conducted approximately 5 times a year for admission to its various campuses. First phase of the Pearl academy entrance exam is conducted tentatively in January.
You may also check
UPES Design Aptitude Test
Another university level design entrance exam in India is UPES DAT. University of Petroleum & Energy Studies conducts the UPES DAT in online mode for admission to UG courses.
Also Check:
SMEAT
Srishti Manipal Entrance and Aptitude Test or SMEAT is another popular university level design entrance exam in India. Students who have passed class 12th are eligible to appear for this university design entrance examination.
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State Level Design Entrance Exams in India
Most colleges in India accept national level design entrance exams for admission to UG or PG design courses. However, some states conduct their own entrance exams such as Kerala and Andhra Pradesh. For Kerala admission, the authorities conduct KS DAT exam, while for admission in Andhra Pradesh, AP AdCET exam is held.
Top Design Entrance Exam in India Eligibility
In order to appear for the entrance exam for designing after 12th, candidates are required to meet certain conditions as laid down by the authorities. Top design entrance exam in India eligibility varies institute and course wise. However, candidates can below check general design entrance exam eligibility criteria below.
BDes entrance exam eligibility criteria
Candidates who wish to pursue a B Design course need to complete 10+2 in any stream or its equivalent exam from any recognised board of education.
Candidates should meet the BDes cut-off set by the institute.
There is some relaxation on the BDes cut-off for the reserved category candidates.
MDes entrance exam eligibility criteria
Candidates should have a bachelor’s degree/diploma in designing with at least 50 percent aggregate marks.
Candidates who have a bachelor’s degree in Architecture/Engineering can also apply for the course.
Top Fashion Design Colleges by Location
How to Crack the Entrance Exam for Designing after 12th?
Every year the maximum number of candidates appear in the top design entrance exams in India. Cracking the entrance exam for designing after 12th is not easy with many candidates competing for it. Acing design entrance exam requires to have a clear-cut exam strategy and a thorough understanding of the design entrance exam syllabus. Aspiring students thinking of taking a design entrance exam in the future must start preparation in the early months to avoid last-minute hiccups. Consistent preparation and dedication are required to tackle the design entrance exam. Here are some of the preparation tips to complete easily the design entrance exam syllabus.
Enhance your creative skills. Curiosity in learning and exploring new ideas will enhance your creative skills.
Read comic strips or watch cartoons. Reading comic strips will help you to develop the ability to present your creative ideas in a storytelling format.
Time Management. Make a timetable. Prioritize the important things and devote your time to them.
Improve visualization and observation skills. Try to observe things around you and come up with new-flagged ideas.
Work on your sketching skills. They used the right equipment for sketching such as 2 grades of pencil: H-grade for rough work, light drawings, and B for rapid work and shading.
Give a mock test. Participating in the mock test regularly helps to gain confidence and get rid of the exam stress. Analyzing the performance of mock tests is the next step to implementing the exam strategy.
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Download EBookBest Books for Designing Entrance Exam 2025
With the right study material, candidates can prepare for the top design entrance exams 2025 effectively. The best books for the design entrance exam in India will help students get a detailed explanation of all topics.
Top Design Entrance Exams in India: Most Recommended Books
Best Books for Design Entrance Exams | Author name |
NID DAT Books (Aptitude Section) | R.S. Aggarwal |
Design drawing | Francis D.K.Ching |
Basic Rendering | Robert W.Gill |
UCEED (B.Des) Entrance Books and Test Series | AFA India |
Analytical Reasoning, Mental Aptitude, Verbal Aptitude (UCEED Guide) | Institute Of Creative Sciences |
Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning | RS Aggarwal |
Quantitative Aptitude | RS Aggarwal |
Comprehensive English for NID, NIFT, UCEED, CEED, NATA, B.Arch & Other Design Entrance Exams | Designologue |
Perspective Drawing Handbook | Joseph D'Amelio |
Cracking CEED & UCEED (with Previous Years' Papers and Mock Tests) | Ashok Goel and Arjun Kamal |
UCEED (B.Des) Entrance Books and Test Series | AFAINDIA |
Cracking CEED & UCEED (with Previous Years' Papers and Mock Tests) | Ashok Goel and Arjun Kamal |
Art perception | David Cycleback |
CEED + NID | AFAINDIA |
NIFT, NID, and IIFT Entrance Exam Guidelines 01 | Dharmendra Mittal |
NIFT/NID | Mittal D |
Design Drawing | Francis Ching |
Rendering in Pen and Ink | Robert Gill |
Which Entrance Exam is Best for Designing?
There are several design exams in India, which are considered to be best for designing. Each entrance exam has a unique focus and is recognized by top design institutes in India. The choice depends on the student’s design interest. Understanding the format and requirements of each exam is crucial for effective preparation. These exams test not only academic knowledge but also creative and innovative thinking abilities. Some of the best designing exams in India are NIFT, NID DAT, UCEED, CEED, AIEED, and many more.
Which is the toughest exam for design?
The National Institute of Design Design Aptitude Test( NID DAT) is considered the toughest exam in design compared to other design exams in India. The high level of competition, due to the large number of applicants and the limited number of seats available, contributes to its reputation as a tough exam. NID DAT exam assesses the candidates through a rigorous selection process. NID DAT consists of two stages: Prelims and mains. Candidates who qualify for the prelims exam will be eligible for the mains exam. After completion of the Mains exam candidates need to go through the next selection process consisting of a situation test and personal interview. Candidates who qualify for the exams are eligible to participate in the counselling process. This multi staged selection process contributes NID DAT as a challenging designing exam in India.
What is the name of design entrance exam?
There are many national and university-level design entrance exam conducted in India. Some of the names of popular design exams in India are
UCEED (Undergraduate Common Entrance Examination for Design)
CEED (Common Entrance Examination for Design)
NID DAT (National Institute of Design Design Aptitude Test)
NIFT Entrance Exam (National Institute of Fashion Technology Entrance Examination)
Pearl Academy Entrance exam
AIEED (All India Entrance Examination for Design)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How can I choose the right design courses?
Some of the aspects which must be considered while choosing the right design courses are given below.
Know your interest
Research before choosing your specialization
Analyse career scope
Know eligibility criteria
2. What are the top design entrance exams?
The top design entrance exams are as given in the table below.
Design Entrance Exam
- NIFT
- NID DAT
- UCEED
- CEED
- Pearl Academy Entrance Exam
3. How can I crack the top design entrance exam?
Preparation tips for top design entrance exam are as follows.
Practice sample papers
Work on your sketching skill
Give mock test
Practice puzzle question
Polish your general knowledge
4. What are the top design specializations in India?
The top design specializations are given below.
Fashion design
Graphic design
Product design
User experience design
Industrial design
Graphic design
Animation design
Interior design
Web design
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List of colleges accepting NIFT Entrance Exam
Browse Design Colleges by State
Questions related to NIFT Entrance Exam
Have a question related to NIFT Entrance Exam ?
Hello aspirant,
The nationwide Institute of Fashion Technology offers a nationwide entrance exam called NIFT for admission to its fashion design programmes.
Every course has specific requirements that must be met in order to apply. For NIFT, there is no minimum age requirement, however it is evident that passing the 10+2 exam is a requirement in order to be admitted to any undergraduate programme in fashion design.
You cannot be admitted because you are in class eleven. However, you can apply to NIFT for experience and practice, and if your application is accepted, you can take the entrance exam. If you pass, however, be aware that you will not be able to retain your results for admission.
Thank you
Hope this information helps you.
Sajal Trivedi 03 January,2024
Dear Aspirant,
Yes! If you want to pursue your under graduation from nift after 12th or even if you are appearing for12th exam then you are eligible to apply for the exam. There are several courses offered by nift which includes undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes.
Age (Undergraduate degree programmes) -
- General - the maximum age should be less than 24 years as on 1st august in the year of examination
- Reserved category - 5 years relaxation
Hope this information helps :)
mkahampa 21 August,2022
Dear aspirant
NIFT 2023 ELIGIBILITY - B.DES admission
1. Aspiring students must have completed a 10+2 board exam from any recognized Central/State Board of Secondary Examination, such as Central Board of Secondary Education/State Board New Delhi, and Council for Indian School of Certificate Examination, New Delhi or,
2. Any Board/Public School/University Examination conducted in India or abroad which is equivalent to the 10+2 system and is accorded by the Association of Indian Universities or,
3. If candidates complete the General Certificate Education (GCE) Examination (London/Sri Lanka/ Cambridge/) at the Advanced (A) level/International Baccalaureate (IB) then, they are eligible to apply or,
4. Students will also be eligible if they have passed the 10+2 examination conducted by the National Open School with at least five subjects or,
5. Diploma of 3 or 4 years which is recognized by AICTE or State Board of Technical Education.
Age limit - Candidates must be of 23 years of age as of August 1, 2022. However, candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes (SC)/Scheduled Tribe (ST)/Person With Disability (PHP) get a relaxation of 5 years
Eligibility for B.F.Tech admission
1. Students must pass the Class 12 exam in the 10+2 pattern of examination with Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics as compulsory subjects from any recognized Central/ State Board of Secondary Examination, such as Central Board of Secondary Education, New Delhi, and Council for Indian School of Certificate Examination, New Delhi or,
2. Any Public School/Board/University Exam in India or in foreign countries which is equivalent to a 10+2 system with Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics as a mandatory subjects. It must be recognized by the Association of Indian Universities or,
3. General Certificate Education (GCE) Examination(London/ Cambridge/ Sri Lanka) at the advanced (A) level with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics/International Baccalaureate (IB) or,
4. Diploma of 3 or 4 years in any programme of engineering which is recognized by AICTE or a State Board of Technical Education or,
5. A passing grade in the Higher Secondary Education Examination held by the National Open School with at least five subjects - Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics
Age limit is same as B.des
You can check other details about eligibility criteria for NIFT from link below
https://www.google.com/amp/s/design.careers360.com/articles/nift-eligibility-criteria/amp
Hope this was informative for you
Best regards!!
rajeevanand843 13 August,2022
Hello,
For BVoc courses in interior design, separate entrance exams are conducted by the concerned colleges. By giving NIFT you can only get admission in BDes and MDes courses in NIFTs and some other participating institutes.
Muskan Dhalwal 29 August,2022
Hello,
In 2022 NIFT Entrance Examination was conducted in 32 cities. The candidates have to select the preference of the examination cities while filling the application form. Based on the availability, preferences of the examination cities you will be allotted an examination center. You have to appear for NIFT Entrance Examination in the allotted examination center as per the given schedule. You can select any city where examination is conducted while filling your preferences, make sure that you select the cities such that you can commute on the day of examination easily. Next year the list of examination cities may increase or decrease, the cities may vary.
Sharon Rose 01 June,2022
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