NID Ahmedabad admits students to design programmes such as B.Des and M.Des. The B.Des course has eight specialisations and runs for 4 years, with a total fee of INR 18.14 Lakh for Indian national students, excluding hostel fees. At the PG level, the institute offers M.Des in seven specialisations, and it also offers a PhD programme in full-time and part-time modes.

  • For UG and PG admission at NID Ahmedabad, students are selected through NID DAT scores. The test has two parts: Design Aptitude Test (DAT) Prelims and Design Aptitude Test (DAT) Mains.
  • Students who want to apply to NID Ahmedabad must fill the online form through the official admission website: admissions.nid.edu for all programmes.
  • The B.Des application fee for NID Ahmedabad admission is INR 3,000 for General/ EWS/ OBC-NCL students and INR 1,500 for SC/ ST students.

Application link: https://admissions.nid.edu/

NID Ahmedabad Admission Dates 2027

The current admission schedule for NID Ahmedabad includes the following upcoming or ongoing events.

NID Ahmedabad UG Admission Dates 2027

Event Date
Online submission of application forms with prescribed application fee for DAT 10 September 2026 to 11:59 pm, 30 November 2026
Window to edit application forms 4 pm, 01 December 2026 to 11:59 pm, 03 December 2026
Download admit cards for DAT Prelims 4 pm, 10 December 2026
DAT Prelims exam Sunday, 20 December 2026
One-time window to edit category certificate 4 pm, 16 February 2027 to 11:59 pm, 28 February 2027
DAT Prelims result 4 pm, 16 March 2027
Re-totalling of marks of DAT Prelims answer booklet 4 pm, 16 March 2027 to 11:59 pm, 17 March 2027

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

NID Ahmedabad PG Admission Dates 2027

Event Date
Online submission of application forms with prescribed application fee for DAT 10 September 2026 to 11:59 pm, 30 November 2026
Window to edit application forms 4 pm, 01 December 2026 to 11:59 pm, 03 December 2026
Download admit cards for DAT Prelims 4 pm, 10 December 2026
DAT Prelims exam Sunday, 20 December 2026
One-time window to edit category certificate 4 pm, 15 January 2027 to 11:59 pm, 31 January 2027
DAT Prelims result 4 pm, 16 February 2027
Re-totalling of marks of DAT Prelims answer booklet 6 pm, 16 February 2027 to 11:59 pm, 18 February 2027

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

NID Ahmedabad PhD Admission Dates 2027

Event Date
Last date to submit the online application form for PhD in Design 2027 11:59 pm, 30 November 2026

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

NID Ahmedabad B.Des Admission 2026

NID Ahmedabad runs the Bachelor of Design (B.Des) programme as a full-time UG course in Design. The course duration is 4 Years, and students can choose from eight specialisations.

Particulars Details
Course Name Bachelor of Design (B.Des)
Duration 4 Years
Type Full-time
Number of Specialisations 8
Specialisations Film and Video Communication, Exhibition Design, Animation Film Design, Graphic Design, Ceramic and Glass Design, Furniture and Interior Design, Product Design, Textile Design
Total Seat Intake 128 Seats
First Year Course Fees INR 4.52 Lakhs
Eligibility Criteria Passed 10+2 in any stream from a recognised board & Must not be older than 20 Years of Age
Selection Criteria Merit in NID DAT Prelims + NID DAT Mains

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

NID Ahmedabad B.Des Seat Intake

The B.Des programme has 128 Seats in total. The seats are divided across eight specialisations as listed below.

B.Des Specialization Number of Seats
Film and Video Communication 13
Exhibition Design 13
Animation Film Design 19
Graphic Design 19
Ceramic and Glass Design 13
Furniture and Interior Design 13
Product Design 19
Textile Design 19
Total Seats 128 Seats

NID Ahmedabad B.Des Eligibility Criteria

Students applying for B.Des at NID Ahmedabad must meet the following conditions.

  • Students must have passed 10+2 in any stream, Science, Commerce, or Humanities, from a recognized board.
  • For B.Des at NID, the upper age limit is 20 Years on or before July 1 of the Admission Year. SC/ ST/ OBC-NCL students get 3 Years of relaxation.

NID Ahmedabad B.Des Selection Criteria

B.Des selection at NID Ahmedabad is done through the Design Aptitude Test (DAT). Students first take DAT Prelims. Those shortlisted through the DAT Prelims merit list appear for DAT Mains. Final admission depends on the combined weighted scores of DAT Prelims and DAT Mains.

NID Ahmedabad B.Des Cutoff

The B.Des cutoff at NID Ahmedabad is based on the total score in DAT Prelims and DAT Mains. The category-wise cutoff trends are given below.

Category 2025 2024 2023
General 59.6 65.1 65.8
OBC 53.7 58.8 60.7
Overseas 52.5 51.4 21.2
SC 51.7 56.4 58.8
EWS 50.9 58.2 57.4
ST 47.8 52.5 52.8
PwD 40.6 43.5 49.4

NID Ahmedabad M.Des Admission 2026

NID Ahmedabad offers the Master of Design (M.Des) programme at the PG level. It is a full-time course of 2.5 Years with seven specialisations and 126 Seats.

Particulars Details
Course Master of Design (M.Des)
Duration 2.5 Years
Type Full-Time
Total Seat Intake 126 Seats
First Year Course Fees INR 5.25 Lakhs
Number of Specialisations 7
Specializations Offered Film and Video Communication, Graphic Design, Animation Film Design, Ceramic and Glass Design, Furniture and Interior Design, Product Design, Textile Design
Eligibility Criteria Bachelor's Degree of 4 Years/ Full-Time Diploma (4 Years) in Design/ Fine Arts/ Applied Arts/ Architecture/ Bachelor's Degree of 3 Years
Selection Criteria Merit in NID DAT Prelims + NID DAT Mains

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

NID Ahmedabad M.Des Seat Intake

The M.Des seat matrix at NID Ahmedabad includes seven specialisations. The distribution of seats is shown below.

Specialization Number of Seats
Product Design 19
Film & Video Communication 19
Animation Film Design 19
Furniture & Interior Design 19
Graphic Design 19
Ceramic & Glass Design 12
Textile Design 19
Total Seats 126 Seats

NID Ahmedabad M.Des Eligibility Criteria

For M.Des admission at NID Ahmedabad, students must satisfy any one of the listed academic requirements and the age condition.

  • A Bachelor's Degree of at least 3 or 4 Years in any specialisation after 10+2.
  • A Full-Time Diploma of 4 Years in Design/Fine Arts/Applied Arts/ Architecture after 10+2.
  • For M.Des at NID, the upper age limit is 30 Years on or before July 1 of the Admission Year. SC/ ST/ OBC-NCL students get 3 Years of relaxation.

NID Ahmedabad M.Des Selection Criteria

M.Des admission is decided through the student's DAT performance, including DAT Prelims and DAT Mains. A student may apply for a maximum of two disciplines in the Master of Design programme. Seat allotment depends only on the preference submitted by the student while filling the application form.

NID Ahmedabad M.Des Cutoff

The M.Des cutoff trends for NID Ahmedabad are listed below for different categories.

Category 2025 2024 2023
Overseas 57.8 60.1 50.35
EWS 50.25 50.35 51.35
General 50.15 50.1 50.2
OBC 45.15 45.2 45.7
PwD 42.15 40.35 40.95
ST 41.8 41.6 40.3
SC 40.2 41 40.5

NID Ahmedabad PhD Admission 2026

NID Ahmedabad offers a PhD in Design in both full-time and part-time formats. The programme details, eligibility rules, and selection stages are given below.

Particulars Details
Course Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Type Part-time & Full-time
Duration Part-Time: 5-7 Years
Full-Time: 3-5 Years
Seat Intake 15 Seats
Basic Eligibility Criteria M.Des/ M.Phil (Design) Degree with 55% Marks in Aggregate/ B.Des from NID with 3 Years of Professional Experience
Basic Selection Criteria Eligibility Screening + Research Proposal Assessment + NID DRT (Design Research Test) + Personal Interview

NID Ahmedabad PhD Eligibility Criteria

Students with any of the following qualifications can apply for the PhD programme at NID Ahmedabad.

  • Master of Design (M.Des) Degree from a recognised institution.
  • Master of Philosophy in Design (M.Phil (Design)) Degree from a recognised institution.
  • Master of (Architecture/Fine Art/Applied Art) Degree after an M.Des/B.Des Degree.
  • Bachelor of Design (B.Des) from NID with 3 Years of professional or teaching experience.
  • 2-Year Faculty Development Program in Design from NID or any recognised university.

NID Ahmedabad PhD Selection Criteria

The PhD selection process at NID Ahmedabad has four stages.

  • Stage 1 (Eligibility Screening): The institute checks the application forms for eligibility, including educational qualifications.
  • Stage 2 (Assessment of Research Proposal): Students must submit a research proposal that explains their motivation and research plan. The proposal is checked for its link with NID's research objectives and other related factors. Students who clear this stage are shortlisted for Stage 3.
  • Stage 3 (Design Research Test): Shortlisted students have to appear for the Design Research Test (DRT). Students with work experience of 15 Years or more do not have to take the DRT. Students who qualify in the DRT can appear for the final Personal Interview.
  • Stage 4 (Personal Interview): Students interact online with appointed institute representatives, who assess whether they are suitable for the proposed research.

NID Ahmedabad Admission Process 2026

Students must apply online for NID Ahmedabad admission through the official website at https://admissions.nid.edu/. After registration is complete, students have to appear for the NID entrance exam on the scheduled date and time. For B.Des and M.Des, the admission process includes these steps.

  • NID DAT Prelims Exam + Results
  • Shortlisting of Candidates for NID DAT Mains
  • NID DAT Mains Exam + Results
  • Release of Final Merit List (Score in NID DAT Prelims Exam + Results)
  • Seat Allotment Process (Preference Filling, Seat Allotment & Confirmation, Fee Payment)

Seats are allotted according to the merit list, the student's category, and seat availability. Admission becomes final only after document verification and fee payment.

NID Ahmedabad Application Fees 2026

The application fee for B.Des and M.Des admission at NID Ahmedabad varies by category.

Category Application Fee for B.Des & 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 & PwD) INR 2,000 INR 4,000
SC & 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 Ahmedabad Admission FAQs

Ques. How is NID DAT conducted for admission?

Ans. NID DAT has two stages. Stage 1 is the preliminary exam with 2 papers: Paper 1 carries 70 marks for objective-type questions, and Paper 2 carries 30 marks for subjective-type questions. Students who clear Stage 1 move to Stage 2, the main examination. Stage 2 includes practical tests such as sketching/ drawing, handicraft models, group discussions, and presentations. This stage carries 100 marks.

Ques. Is offline fee payment allowed for NID Ahmedabad applications?

Ans. No, students cannot pay the NID Ahmedabad application fee offline. Registration and application submission are done online, so students do not need to visit the campus to pay the fee.

Ques. Do M.Des applicants need a portfolio for NID Ahmedabad?

Ans. Yes, M.Des applicants must present their portfolio during the NID Ahmedabad interview call. Students should include their best work in the portfolio to support their chance of getting a seat.

Ques. Are exchange opportunities available at NID Ahmedabad?

Ans. Yes, NID Ahmedabad has faculty exchange, international collaborative research projects, student exchange programmes, and similar opportunities. Through these programmes, students may visit other countries and study internationally for a semester.

Ques. Which documents should shortlisted students carry for the NID Ahmedabad interview?

Ans. After qualifying DAT Prelims and DAT Mains, shortlisted students are called for a personal interview at NID Ahmedabad. They should carry the following documents for the interview.

  • All academic documents: mark sheets and certificates
  • A valid caste certificate (if required)
  • Income certificate (if required)
  • Portfolio
  • Experience certificate (if required)

Ques. Are international applicants allowed to apply to NID Ahmedabad?

Ans. Yes, international students can apply to NID Ahmedabad for Design degrees. They need to visit the website, sign up as a new user, and apply online for the degree they want.

Ques. Can NID students study at international partner universities?

Ans. Yes, NID has signed MoUs with different international universities. Through exchange programmes, Indian students can visit international universities for their studies. Some partner universities include Birmingham Institute of Art and Design UK, Tama Art University Japan, and Royal College of Art & Design London.

Ques. Is there any fellowship for PhD students at NID Ahmedabad?

Ans. Yes, Ph.D. students can get the SAGE PhD Fellowship at the National Institute of Design (NID). It is offered only to full-time students for 3 years. The research topic must be Biopackaging, and only one fellowship position is available.