What after NID Exam - Here’s What to Do Next!

What after NID Exam - Here’s What to Do Next!

Ongoing Event

NID DAT Application Date:11 Sep' 25 - 01 Dec' 25

Rajyalaxmi VenkatapuramUpdated on 12 Sep 2025, 01:55 PM IST

National Institute of Design (NID), after its exam will declare the NID DAT result 2026 for BDes and MDes in online mode. Candidates can check their NID DAT 2026 results at admissions.nid.edu. To download their NID exam results, candidates must log in using their login details such as email address and date of birth. The shortlisted candidates need to appear for the stage 2 DAT Mains Studio Test. The DAT Mains Studio Test for BDes and MDes will be held on different dates. The NID Studio Test will be conducted at the following NID Campuses: NID Ahmedabad, NID Bengaluru, NID Andhra Pradesh, NID Haryana, NID Madhya Pradesh and NID Jorhat. Read the complete article to know about the information after the NID exam.

This Story also Contains

  1. NID DAT 2026 Dates
  2. Seating Capacity at the Centre
  3. BDes DAT 2026 Mains Studio Test Admit Card
  4. BDes DAT Mains Studio Test 2026
  5. Weightages of BDes DAT Prelims & Mains for Final Result
  6. Weightages of MDes DAT Prelims & Mains for Final Result
  7. NID Exam Results 2026
  8. NID Counselling Process 2026
  9. NID Seat Reservation 2026
  10. Best Career Options after NID Exam
What after NID Exam - Here’s What to Do Next!
what after nid exam

NID DAT 2026 Dates

Candidates must keep a track on the NID DAT 2026 Exam Dates to not miss any events or dates. The aspirants can check the below mentioned NID important dates 2026.

Events

Dates

BDes Studio Test admit card

Second week of April 2026

BDes DAT Mains Studio Test

First week of May 2026

BDes Studio Test result

Second week of May 2026

Rechecking request for BDes DAT Mains

Second week of May 2026

Submission of campus preference date for BDes

Second/Third week of May 2026

MDes DAT Mains result

First week of May 2026

Rechecking request for MDes DAT Mains

First week of May 2026

Seating Capacity at the Centre

The NID authorities will release the update about the seating capacity at each centre along with the BDes DAT Mains Studio Test 2026 notification at admissions.nid.edu. However, for an idea about the seating capacity candidates can check the previous year number provided as below.

Test Centre City

Seating Capacity

NID Ahmedabad

533

NID Bengaluru

300

NID Andhra Pradesh

300

NID Haryana

450

NID Madhya Pradesh

200

NID Jorhat

120

NOTE - NID reserves the right to add or remove any test centre and allot a test centre that may not be candidate’s choice. A city can have more than one test centre.

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BDes DAT 2026 Mains Studio Test Admit Card

The BDes Studio Test admit card 2026 will be released in the second week of April 2026. The aspirants must download their admit card using their login credentials such as email address and date of birth. After successful login, download and take a printout of the admit card for the Studio Test.

The candidates must carry the hard copy of the NID BDes mains admit card along with the original photo ID proofs, as mentioned in the admit card. The exam timings will be provided in the NID DAT 2026 BDes mains admit card.

Also check:

Bennett University B.Design Admissions 2025

Merit Based Scholarships Available

Sanskriti University B.Des Admissions 2025

Best innovation and research-driven university of Uttar Pradesh

BDes DAT Mains Studio Test 2026

The BDes Studio Test will be conducted in May 2026 as per the previous year trend. The test centre selection window for the BDes shortlisted candidates will be opened as per the schedule. The exact timings of the BDes studio test and the address of the test centre will be provided in the NID mains admit card. The BDes DAT Mains allotment of the test centre will be based on the first-cum-first serve basis. The discretion of allotting the test centres will be under the control of Admissions Cell-NID Ahmedabad.

Weightages of BDes DAT Prelims & Mains for Final Result

The final marks of the BDes candidates at NID will be calculated depending on the weightage of the marks obtained in the DAT Prelims and DAT Mains as mentioned in the table below:

DAT Prelims

DAT Mains

40%

60%

Weightages of MDes DAT Prelims & Mains for Final Result

The final marks of the candidate who want to obtain NID MDes admission, will be calculated based on the weightage of the marks obtained in the DAT Prelims and Mains as mentioned below:

DAT Prelims

DAT Mains - 70%

30%

Studio Test - 40%

Interviews - 30%


NOTE - Only the candidates who appeared for the test at both stages are eligible for the merit list.

NID Exam Results 2026

The NID DAT Mains exam result 2026 for MDes will be declared in the first week of May tentatively. The NID DAT BDes Mains result will be declared tentatively in the second week of May 2026. To be eligible for the merit list, candidates must appear for both - DAT Prelims and the DAT Mains exams. The NID DAT final merit list will be generated category-wise and as per merit, depending on the sum total of the weighted scores obtained by the candidates in each stage of the admission process, namely DAT Prelims and DAT Mains.

The NID 2026 results will be declared online at admissions.nid.edu. The scores obtained by the candidate during the application process will be valid only for one academic year. The scores obtained by the candidates in NID DAT examination cannot be used by any institution or person without prior permission of the NID Ahmedabad. If two or more candidates' scores are the same, then the tie-breaking policy will be applied for awarding the rank in the final merit list.

NID Counselling Process 2026

Candidates who will qualify for both DAT Prelims and Mains must participate in the NID 2026 counselling process. At the time of DAT counselling registration, applicants must submit their preferred course and institute. The NID seat allotment 2026 for NID admission process depends on the merit and category of the candidates and also the seat availability.

The shortlisted candidates must confirm their seat by making payment of a token fee and upload the necessary documents. The token fee is non-refundable. Candidates can refer to the below table to know the tentative dates of seat allotment for both BDes and MDes programmes.

Events

Dates

Seat allotment, payment of token fees and uploading of documents - BDes

May 2026

Seat allotment, payment of token fees and uploading of documents - MDes

May 2026

NID Seat Reservation 2026

Candidates can check the prescribed percentage reserved for each category as per the previous year. Check the below table for category-wise reservation percentages for both the BDes and MDes programmes.

Category

Reservation % for BDes and MDes

GEN-EWS

10%

OBC-NCL

27%

Scheduled Caste

15%

Scheduled Tribe

7.5%

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NID DAT 2026 Full Study Material
Students preparing for NID 2026 can access this study material for both prelims and mains. Download now to strengthen your preparation and boost your chances of success.
Download EBook

Best Career Options after NID Exam

For aspirants who want to pursue a career in design, National Institute of Design (NID) is the great option, as it is the leading design institution of India. The candidates who will successfully pass the NID DAT 2026 and obtain admissions into NID campuses have several career options. Check a few of the career options below.

Interior Designer - They focus on the latest trends, designs, colours, and textures. They should be excellent at communication in order to collaborate with the clients and vendors. To create unique and interesting designs, they use their imagination skills.

Fashion Designer - Create accessories and clothes. They initially sketch on the final design on paper, later the materials, colours, and textures of the final product are done.

Graphic Designer - Create design for various products, brands, and websites. Technical skills with creativity are used to craft an effective design.

Textile Designer - They will be responsible for textile manufacturing for a wide range of materials, products, and more.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: When will the BDes studio test be conducted?
A:

The BDes DAT Mains Studio Test will be tentatively conducted in May 2026.

Q: When will the NID Mains admit card be released?
A:

The NID DAT 2026 Mains admit card release date is yet to be announced.

Q: What are the best career options after NID?
A:

The career options after NID 2026 are Fashion Designer, Interior Designer, Graphic Designer etc.

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Questions related to NID DAT

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to NID DAT ?

Hi daksh

As 563 rank in nid dat exam cannot guarantee admission in designing college but it could be a good chance to explore some campus as if you are not from general category as category role plays an important role . But now you can do one thing focus on your strengthening your protofile or preparing for the studio test (bdes) or interview (mdes).

Thanks.

No, IPU (Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University) does not accept NID DAT Prelims score for admission to the B.Des (Bachelor of Design) program.

Instead, IPU conducts its own entrance test or may consider CUET (UG) scores for B.Des admissions, depending on the latest admission guidelines. Always refer to the university's official prospectus for the year you're applying to for the final admission criteria.

NIT DAT (https://www.shiksha.com/design/articles/nid-admissions-2025-colleges-accepting-nid-entrance-exam-scores-for-bdes-mdes-courses-blogId-13097)

Hello,

Yes, it's possible to prepare for the NID DAT 2025 exam on your own, even with limited time, by following these steps:

  1. Understand the Syllabus : Focus on key areas like design principles, creativity, visualization, and observation skills.
  2. Solve Previous Papers : Practice with past NID DAT papers to understand question types and patterns.
  3. Time Management : Dedicate daily hours to sketching, problem-solving, and revision.
  4. Strengthen Drawing Skills : Practice daily to improve speed and accuracy.
  5. Use Online Resources : Utilize free tutorials, sample papers, and design blogs.
  6. Mock Tests : Take regular mock exams to assess progress and manage time efficiently.

Hope it helps !

Hello,

There are numerous websites which give free study material and classes to prepare for entrance exams NID DAT, UCEED, or NIFT. Here are a few popular ones:

YouTube: YouTube has many educators as well as institutes, which have been uploading free video lectures on important topics, on aptitude for design, and how to give these exams. Useful content can be found in the channels "Design Coach" and "NID Preparation".

You can download free courses offered on websites like Coursera, edX, and Khan Academy on the topics of design principles, creativity, and problem-solving skills.

Official Websites: Both NID and UCEED and also NIFT would usually release sample papers and previous question papers for self-preparation.

Study Groups: One can join online forums or social media groups which are dedicated to NID, UCEED, and NIFT preparation for peer-to-peer learning assistance.

The resource utilization would bring in good preparation for the exams and, therefore, increase in confidence.

Hello,

Preparing for the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) entrance exam involves focusing on several key areas. Here’s a structured approach to get you started:

1. Understand the Exam Structure

Familiarize yourself with the NIFT entrance exam format:

  • General Ability Test (GAT): Tests general knowledge, current affairs, and quantitative ability.
  • Creative Ability Test (CAT): Assesses your creative and visual ability through sketching and design-based questions.
  • Situation Test (for B.Des): Evaluates your ability to create a design from given materials.
  • Group Discussion and Personal Interview (for M.Des/MFM): Tests your communication skills, understanding of the fashion industry, and design knowledge.

2. Gather Study Materials

  • For GAT: Use general knowledge books, current affairs magazines, and quantitative aptitude guides.
  • For CAT: Practice sketching and drawing regularly. Books on design and creativity can be useful.
  • For Situation Test: Practice creating models from various materials and understanding design principles.
  • For GD/PI: Prepare by staying updated on fashion trends, industry news, and developing a strong portfolio.

3. Create a Study Plan

  • Daily Study: Allocate time for each section based on your strengths and weaknesses.
  • Weekly Goals: Set goals for completing practice papers and revising key concepts.
  • Mock Tests: Regularly take mock tests to simulate the exam environment and improve time management.

4. Enroll in Coaching Classes (if needed)

Consider joining a coaching institute that specializes in NIFT preparation. They can provide structured guidance, practice tests, and expert feedback.

5. Work on Your Portfolio

If you’re applying for design courses, develop a strong portfolio showcasing your creative work. Include sketches, designs, and any relevant projects.

6. Refer to Previous Years’ Papers

Solving past years' question papers helps you understand the exam pattern and types of questions. It also aids in identifying important topics.

7. Stay Updated

  • Follow fashion industry news to stay informed about trends and innovations.
  • Read relevant books and articles about design and fashion.

8. Practice Creativity

Engage in activities that boost your creativity, such as drawing, painting, or crafting. Keep experimenting with new ideas and techniques.

By focusing on these areas, you'll build a solid foundation for the NIFT entrance exam. Good luck with your preparation!

You can also refer to the following articles to better understand the NIFT examination and its preperation strategy :-

1. https://design.careers360.com/articles/how-prepare-for-nift-entrance-exam

2. https://design.careers360.com/exams/nift-entrance-exam


Hope it helps !