National Institute of Design (NID) Gandhinagar is an autonomous institution established in 2004, functioning under the administrative control of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India. NID Gandhinagar holds the status of an "Institution of National Importance" as recognised by the Government of India. The institute is ranked 75th out of 109 in the Design category by IIRF in 2025.

NID Gandhinagar is a postgraduate-only institution offering the Master of Design (M.Des) program across 7 specialisations, with seat intake ranging from 12 to 19 seats per specialisation. Admission is based on the Design Aptitude Test (NID DAT), conducted in two stages: Prelims and Mains. The first-year tuition fee for Indian National students is INR 5.24 Lakhs, and the total program fee is INR 13.17 Lakhs. The campus spans 2.8 acres and is equipped with modern design infrastructure and separate hostel facilities for postgraduate students.

In terms of placements, the highest package recorded at NID Gandhinagar in 2023 was INR 36 LPA, while the lowest package stood at INR 15 LPA. The M.Des cutoff range for 2025 was 40.2 to 72.95 across all specialisations for the General Category.

NID Gandhinagar Courses and Fees 2026

NID Gandhinagar offers a full-time Master of Design (M.Des) program with a duration of 2.5 years, available across 7 specialisations. The fee structure at NID Gandhinagar varies based on the student category: Indian National Students, SAARC and African Countries (including Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam) students, and Rest of the World students. The course and fee details for Indian National students are listed in the table below.

Course Intake First Year Tuition Fees (Indian National Students) Total Fees (Indian National Students)
M.Des 12 to 19 (varies by specialisation) INR 5.24 Lakhs INR 13.17 Lakhs

Subject to revision. Kindly check with the official sources to confirm.

NID Gandhinagar Admission 2026

Admission to the M.Des program at NID Gandhinagar is entirely entrance-based. The institute conducts its own entrance examination, the NID DAT, and all applicants must satisfy both the age and educational qualification criteria to be eligible. The eligibility and selection criteria are outlined in the table below.

Course Eligibility Criteria Selection Criteria
M.Des Bachelor's Degree of 4 Years / Full-Time Diploma (4 Years) in Design / Fine Arts / Applied Arts / Architecture / Bachelor's Degree of 3 Years Merit in NID DAT Prelims + NID DAT Mains

NID Gandhinagar Admission Process 2026

Candidates who wish to apply for admission to NID Gandhinagar must register online through the official admissions portal at admissions.nid.edu. After successful registration, candidates must appear for the entrance exam on the scheduled date. The complete M.Des admission process involves the following stages:

  • Appear for NID DAT Prelims Exam and await results.
  • Shortlisted candidates are called for NID DAT Mains.
  • Appear for NID DAT Mains Exam and await results.
  • Final Merit List is released based on combined scores of NID DAT Prelims and Mains.
  • Seat Allotment Process begins: Preference Filling, Seat Allotment and Confirmation, followed by Fee Payment.

The final seat allotment at NID Gandhinagar is determined by the merit list, the candidate's category, and the number of seats available in each specialisation. Admission is confirmed only after successful fee payment and document verification.

NID Gandhinagar Application Fees 2026

The application fee for the M.Des program at NID Gandhinagar differs by category. Candidates applying for two disciplines within the same faculty stream are required to pay a higher fee. The category-wise application fee details are listed below.

Category Application Fee for M.Des (1 Discipline) Application Fee for M.Des (2 Disciplines in the same faculty stream only)
General / EWS / OBC-NCL INR 3,000 INR 6,000
Female Candidates (except SC, ST and PwD) INR 2,000 INR 4,000
SC and ST Candidates INR 1,500 INR 3,000
PwD Candidates INR 500 INR 1,000
Third Gender INR 500 INR 1,000
Overseas (Supernumerary) Candidates US$ 125 US$ 250

Subject to revision. Kindly check with the official sources to confirm.

NID Gandhinagar Cutoff

To secure a seat in the M.Des program at NID Gandhinagar, candidates must meet the minimum cutoff score set for their desired specialisation in the NID DAT (Prelims and Mains combined). Only candidates who meet or exceed the cutoff score will proceed to the seat allotment stage. The specialisation-wise NID DAT cutoff scores for the General Category from the 2025 admission cycle are listed in the table below.

Specialisation Round 1 (Cutoff Marks)
M.Des Photography Design 50.15
M.Des Toy and Game Design 72.95
M.Des Transportation and Automobile Design 56.35
M.Des New Media Design 57.7
M.Des Strategic Design Management 61.4
M.Des Apparel Design 54.15
M.Des Lifestyle Accessory Design 59.3

NID Gandhinagar Ranking

NID Gandhinagar has been ranked by multiple agencies in the Design and Animation categories. The institute holds a strong position in Gujarat and is recognised at the national level as well. The ranking details for 2025 are provided in the table below. Note that rankings by IIRF are included here as an independent national ranking agency.

Ranking Agency Category Rank in India Rank in Gujarat
IIRF Design 75 out of 109 6th

NID Gandhinagar vs NID Ahmedabad

Both NID Gandhinagar and NID Ahmedabad are part of the National Institute of Design network, with NID Gandhinagar functioning as an extension campus of NID Ahmedabad. While both campuses share the same admission process through NID DAT, they differ in terms of establishment year, course offerings, and available specialisations. A detailed comparison between the two campuses is provided in the table below.

Particulars NID Gandhinagar NID Ahmedabad
Established Year 2004 1961
IIRF Ranking 2025 (Design) 75 out of 109 -
B.Des Specialisations B.Des not offered Animation Film Design, Exhibition Design, Film and Video Communication, Graphic Design, Ceramic and Glass Design, Furniture and Interior Design, Product Design, and Textile Design
M.Des Specialisations Photography Design, Toy and Game Design, Transportation and Automobile Design, New Media Design, Strategic Design Management, Apparel Design, and Lifestyle Accessory Design Animation Film Design, Film and Video Communication, Graphic Design, Ceramic and Glass Design, Furniture and Interior Design, Product Design, and Textile Design
M.Des Admission Criteria Merit in NID DAT Prelims + NID DAT Mains Merit in NID DAT Prelims + NID DAT Mains
M.Des NID Cutoff 2025 40.2 to 72.95 40.2 to 72.95
Hostel Facilities Available for postgraduate students Available for undergraduate students

NID Gandhinagar Campus

NID Gandhinagar is an extension campus of NID Ahmedabad, built on a 2.8-acre plot. The campus is equipped with a wide range of facilities designed to support creative learning, including a Knowledge Management Centre, Central Workshop (wood and metal), Laser Cutting facility, CNC Machine, 3D Printing lab, Digital Lab, and discipline-specific labs and studios. These resources give students hands-on exposure and help them develop their design skills in a practical environment.

The campus also features a newly built auditorium and amphitheatre that serves as a venue for conferences, seminars, and cultural events. A dedicated Design Gallery on campus hosts regular exhibitions, giving students a platform to showcase their work. NID Gandhinagar is also home to the ICNF (Innovation Centre for Natural Fibre), which focuses on exploring design applications for natural fibres.

Hostel accommodation is available for postgraduate students and can house 200 students. Rooms are allotted on a single or shared occupancy basis every academic year. The hostel charges per semester are INR 17,500, and mess charges are communicated to students at the start of each academic year.

NID Gandhinagar FAQs 2026

Ques. How many attempts are allowed for the NID DAT entrance exam?

Ans. There is no restriction on the number of attempts for the NID DAT. Candidates can appear for the exam as many times as they wish until they achieve a score that meets the admission requirements at NID Gandhinagar.

Ques. What is the total fee for the M.Des program at NID Gandhinagar?

Ans. The total fee for the M.Des program at NID Gandhinagar for Indian National students is INR 13.17 Lakhs for the full duration of the course. The first-year tuition fee is INR 5.24 Lakhs. Fee structures differ for SAARC, African Countries, and Rest of the World students. Candidates are advised to verify the latest fee details on the official NID website.

Ques. What is the category-wise seat reservation at NID Gandhinagar?

Ans. NID Gandhinagar follows a structured seat reservation policy. The reservation breakdown is as follows: 10% for Gen-EWS, 27% for OBC-NCL, 15% for SC, and 7.5% for ST. In addition, 15% supernumerary seats are reserved for overseas category students.

Ques. Is there an age limit for applying to NID Gandhinagar?

Ans. Yes, NID Gandhinagar has an age limit for M.Des admissions. The maximum age for General Category candidates is 30 years. Age relaxation is provided to candidates belonging to OBC, SC, and ST categories as per the institute's norms.

Ques. What are the test centres where the NID DAT Prelims exam is conducted?

Ans. The NID DAT Prelims exam is conducted across multiple cities in India. The designated test centres include Gandhinagar, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Chennai, Dehradun, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Jorhat, Kochi, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, New Delhi, and Patna.

Ques. What facilities does the NID Gandhinagar campus offer to students?

Ans. NID Gandhinagar offers a well-rounded campus experience with facilities such as a Knowledge Management Centre, Central Workshop (wood and metal), Laser Cutting, CNC Machine, 3D Printing, Digital Lab, and discipline-specific studios. The campus also has an auditorium, amphitheatre, Design Gallery, and the ICNF (Innovation Centre for Natural Fibre). Hostel accommodation for up to 200 postgraduate students is available at INR 17,500 per semester.

Ques. What is the student code of conduct and college timing at NID Gandhinagar?

Ans. NID Gandhinagar follows a professional and respectful campus environment. Regular college hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, though timings may vary based on courses and ongoing projects. Key points of the student code of conduct include:

  • Plagiarism is strictly prohibited, and a minimum attendance of 75% in lectures and workshops is mandatory.
  • Discrimination or disrespectful behaviour of any kind is not tolerated.
  • Students are expected to maintain formal attire on campus.
  • Students are responsible for the careful use of campus facilities. Any damage caused must be compensated through a penalty or fine as decided by the college.