Top Design Entrance Exams in India: Registration, Exam Dates, Pattern & Latest Updates

Top Design Entrance Exam Dates 2026

Check out the list of top entrance exams conducted in India for admission to design courses. Find important dates, pattern, and list of colleges that accept scores from the top design entrance exams conducted in the country.

Top National Level Design Entrance Exam

* The design entrance exam listed above are not mentioned in any particular order.

Top State Level Design Entrance Exam

* The design entrance exam listed above are not mentioned in any particular order.

Top 5 Design Entrance Exams in India

Level of Design Entrance Exam in India

In India, top design exams for B.Des and M.Des are conducted at National, University and State level. Here, aspirants can check top design entrance exams in India list level-wise and also design entrance exams for fashion, graphic, and interior design.

National Level Entrance Exam for Designing After 12th

Aspirants can below check some of the popular national level entrance exams in India:

1. NIFT Entrance Exam

The NIFT Entrance Exam is one of the most popular design exams in India 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 willing to secure admission into any of the NIFT campuses are required to qualify for the NIFT entrance exam.

Know more about the NIFT entrance exam

2. NID Design Aptitude Test

NID Design Aptitude Test is another significant design exam in India conducted by the National Institute of Design. Top design exams for B.Des and M.Des is the NID DAT which is conducted at the national level for the students seeking NID design admission. NID DAT is the two-tier design entrance exams for undergraduate courses and design entrance exams for postgraduate courses consisting of prelims and mains exams. The shortlisted candidates from Prelims will be eligible to appear for mains exam. NID admission is wholly based on the candidate's performance in the NID DAT.

Check details of NID DAT

3. UCEED

Undergraduate Common Entrance Examination for Design commonly known as UCEED is a centre-based exam conducted by IIT Bombay. UCEED is the design entrance exams for undergraduate courses conducted nationally for admissions design admissions. UCEED is one of the design entrance exams for undergraduate courses after 12th available to the students for admission. 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

4. 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 is the design entrance exams for postgraduate courses conducted for admission in to the 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 design entrance exams for fashion, graphic, and interior design for admission into the design courses. Below are some of the popular university level design entrance exams in India provided for the purpose of the students to have idea about the design entrance exams.

1. 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. The Pearl academy design entrance exams are conducted in multiple cycles.

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2. 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. The other top design entrance exam 2026 for UPES are also held in multiple cycles.

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3. SMEAT

Srishti Manipal Entrance and Aptitude Test or SMEAT is another most popular design exams in India conducted at university level. 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.

Best Books for Designing Entrance Exam 2026

With the right study material, candidates can prepare for the top design entrance exams 2026 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

Which Entrance Exam is Best for Designing?

There are several most popular 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 to be 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 only 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 Exams?

There are many national and university-level design entrance exam conducted in India. Some of the names of most 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)