DAIICT Entrance Exam 2026: Application, Exam Date, Eligibility, Pattern, Syllabus, Selection Process

The DAIICT DAT eligibility criteria 2026 will be notified on the official website - daiict.ac.in. The eligibility criteria of DAIICT DAT 2026 include the academic qualifications that the candidates have to meet to appear for the entrance exam. DAIICT has not specified any age limit for the candidates who are interested in M.Des programme. According to DAIICT DAT eligibility criteria, the different streams from which the candidates must have passed at the undergraduate level which are able to participate in the DAIICT Design Aptitude Test 2026, are given below: 

• Design
• Science
• Engineering
• Technology
• Humanities
• Social Sciences
• Fine Arts
• Applied Arts and Performing Arts

Only those candidates who did their diploma from the institutes that are given below were allowed to appear in the entrance test: 

• NID
• NIFT
• CEPT 
• Srishti School of Art and Design

The DAIICT 2026 application form will open tentatively in March 2026. Interested applicants will be able to complete their registration online from the official website. After closing the registration, the authorities will also open a DAIICT 2026 application correction window.

Documents required for filling DAIICT entrance exam 2026 application form  

Candidates have to keep the following documents and information ready before they start filling out the DAIICT DAT application form 2026. 

• Scanned image of the candidate of not more than 50 KB 
• Correspondence address 
• Contact number 
• Email address 
• CEED marks 
• Net banking credentials/Debit Card/Credit Card

How to fill out DAIICT DAT Application Form 2026

Step 1 - Registration 

Candidates have to first register on the official website by providing basic details such as name, email id, and mobile number. After initial registration, candidates will get the login credentials.

Step 2 - Fill out the DAIICT DAT Application Form 2026

After registering, candidates have to fill in the requisite details in DAIICT 2026 application form. Aspirants have to submit their personal and academic details along with uploading of documents as per specifications. 

Step 3 - Submission of Statement of Purpose

Candidates have to next submit their statement of purpose along with the application form of DAIICT DAT 2026. For those who fail to submit the statement of purpose, their DAIICT DAT application form 2026 will not be accepted. 

Step 4 -  Payment of Application Fee 

After filling in all the details in the application form of DAIICT, candidates must pay the non-refundable fee of Rs 1200 + GST 18% (Total: Rs. 1416) either through net banking, debit card, or credit card. 

The authorities release the DAIICT entrance test 2026 exam pattern along with the brochure. The exam pattern of DAIICT DAT 2026 comprises the type of questions that are asked in the entrance test, the mode in which the exam is conducted, the marking scheme, etc.

According to the DAIICT DAT exam pattern, there are three parts, each bearing 20 marks.

MDes (CD) Design Aptitude Test (DAT):

• Part 1: This part will assess the candidate's imagination, visual cognitive skills, and ability to explain a problem.
• Part 2: In this section of the DAIICT DAT, it will assess the candidate's recognition and understanding of various challenges related to design and technology.
• Part 3: The students will be asked to write a subjective response to a communication design brief.

MDes (IUxD) Design Aptitude Test (DAT):

• Part 1: This section will test the candidate's ability to think creatively and problem-solving skills in the context of human-centered design.
• Part 2: This will assess the candidate's understanding of challenges related to digital product design and human-computer interaction.
• Part 3: Candidates will be asked to write a subjective response to a user experience design brief, demonstrating their design thinking skills.

The DAIICT DAT 2026 merit list will be published tentatively in July 3, 2026 on the official website - daiict.ac.in The merit list is prepared based on the performance of the candidates in the DAIICT DAT 2026 entrance exam and interview.

DAIICT Selection Process 2026 Weightage

The weightage that is given to each i.e. entrance test and statement of purpose, is given below in the table.

Shortlisted candidates have to take part in DAIICT counselling 2026 that includes payment of the admission fee and completing document verification to secure final admission.

DAIICT DAT 2026 selection process comprises the interview and design aptitude test. Candidates who have a valid score in CEED are exempt from taking the DAIICT DAT. Shortlisted candidates have to appear for a personal interview. To be considered for the interview process, the candidate must secure a minimum of 40% marks in the exam.

In the final selection of the candidate, the DAIICT DAT score is given 60% weightage and the interview is given 40% weightage.