National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Kolkata, is a public fashion education institute established in 1995. The campus offers programmes in fashion, design, technology, management, certification courses, Continuing Education programmes, and Outreach programmes.

In the 2025 rankings, NIFT Kolkata was placed 8 out of 62 by India Today for Fashion Design and 6 out of 43 by The Week for Fashion Technology. The institute is known for its B.Des programme, which is offered in 6 specialisations with 38 seats in each specialisation.

Candidates applying for admission must register for the NIFT Entrance Exam through the official application portal at exams.nta.ac.in/NIFT.

NIFT Kolkata Important Dates 2026

The current and upcoming counselling schedule for NIFT Kolkata admissions is given below:

NIFT Counselling Dates

Event Current Date
Spot Round Seat Allotment 24/07/2026
Spot Round Admission Fee Payment 24/07/2026 to 27/07/2026 (12:00 Midnight)
Physical Reporting at the Allotted NIFT Campus 29th July, 2026

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

NIFT Kolkata Courses & Fees 2026

NIFT Kolkata offers 3 UG and PG courses with multiple specialisations. The institute also conducts certification courses, Continuing Education programmes, and Outreach programmes.

Course Intake First Year Tuition Fees Total Fees
B.Des 38 each specialisation INR 3 Lakhs INR 14.09 Lakhs
B.F.Tech 38 each specialisation INR 3 Lakhs INR 14.09 Lakhs
MFM 38 each specialisation INR 3 Lakhs INR 6.85 Lakhs
Certification 30 - 40 (Depending on the Specialisation) NA INR 1 Lakh - INR 1.12 Lakh (Depending on the Specialisation)
Outreach Programme 20 - 30 (Depending on the Specialisation) NA INR 18,880 - INR 75,150 (Depending on the Specialisation)

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

Check more about NIFT Kolkata Courses & Fees

Ques. Which B.Des specialisations are available at NIFT Kolkata?

Ans. NIFT Kolkata offers B.Des in 6 specialisations: Fashion Design, Accessory Design, Textile Design, Knitwear Design, Leather Design, and Fashion Communication.

Ques. Are online or distance degree programmes available at NIFT Kolkata?

Ans. NIFT Kolkata does not run full-distance education or online degree programmes. It offers some short-term and part-time options through Continuing Education (CE) and Outreach Programs. Candidates who have completed 10+2, with or without industry experience, can apply for these courses. Classes are generally conducted five days a week to suit working professionals.

NIFT Kolkata Admission 2026

NIFT Kolkata admits students to B.Des, B.F.Tech, MFM, and Certificate courses. Admission is through the NIFT Entrance Exam, conducted as a Computer-Based Test (CBT), followed by a Situation Test or Personal Interview as required for the selected course. The entrance test includes the General Ability Test (GAT) for all UG and PG programmes, while B.Des applicants also take the Creative Ability Test (CAT).

  1. Candidates must first apply for the NIFT Entrance Exam through exams.nta.ac.in/NIFT.
  2. All UG and PG applicants appear for the General Ability Test (GAT).
  3. B.Des applicants also appear for the Creative Ability Test (CAT).
  4. Shortlisted B.Des candidates are called for the Situation Test.
  5. Shortlisted PG candidates attend the Personal Interview.
  6. Final admission is based on rank, course choice, counselling, and seat availability at NIFT campuses.
Course Duration Eligibility Criteria
B.Des 4 years Passed 10+2 in any stream & must not be older than 24 Years of Age as of August 1 of the Admission Year
B.F.Tech 4 years
MFM 2 years Bachelor's degree in any discipline
Certification 1 year 10+2 with (or) without 1-2 years of experience
Outreach Programme 42 hours - 6 months (Depending on the Specialisation) Depending on the specialisation 10 or 10+2 pass is required.

Check more about NIFT Kolkata Admission

Ques. How much is the NIFT Kolkata application fee?

Ans. The application fee is INR 3,000 for General/EWS/OBC candidates and INR 1,500 for SC/ST/PwD candidates.

Ques. Which Continuing Education courses does NIFT Kolkata conduct?

Ans. Continuing Education at NIFT Kolkata is offered across several specialisations: Clothing Production Technology, Fashion Knitwear Production Technology, Apparel Design and Fashion Technology, Fashion Clothing Technology, Design in Boutique Apparel Accessories, Fashion Apparel & Accessories Design, and Fashion Fundamentals and E Business.

Ques. What happens after qualifying for the B.Des entrance test at NIFT Kolkata?

Ans. B.Des candidates who clear the entrance exam must appear for the Situation Test. The B.Des selection process includes:

  • Entrance Exam: Candidates take CAT (Creative Ability Test) and GAT (General Ability Test).
  • Situation Test: Qualified candidates are called for this hands-on evaluation.
  • Final Score: Scores from all tests are combined for the final rank.
  • Counselling: Seats are allotted in NIFT campuses based on rank and choice.

For B.F.Tech (Bachelor of Fashion Technology), candidates only have to qualify in the GAT exam. There is no Situation Test for this course.

NIFT Kolkata Cutoff

Admission to NIFT Kolkata requires a valid NIFTEE score. For B.Des admission in 2025, the closing ranks ranged from 503 - 8803. The table below shows the 2025 cutoff for different UG and PG programmes in the General Category:

Courses Round 1(Closing Rank) Round 4(Closing Rank)
MFM 162 365
B.F.Tech (Apparel Production) 382 2885
B.Des Fashion Communication 503 815
B.Des Fashion Design 669 909
B.Des Accessory Design 709 1027
B.Des Textile Design 1309 1642
B.Des Knitwear Design 1527 1575
B.Des Leather Design 1789 3060

Check more about NIFT Kolkata Cutoff

Ques. Which B.Des option had the highest preference at NIFT Kolkata in 2025?

Ans. B.Des Fashion Communication was the most preferred course at NIFT Kolkata in 2025, with closing ranks between 503-7020.

Ques. Can applicants apply before receiving their qualifying exam mark sheets?

Ans. Yes, students can apply in such cases. Their admission will remain provisional and may be withdrawn if they do not submit the required mark sheets to the authorities within the specified period.

NIFT Kolkata Placements

For the B.Des course in 2025, NIFT Kolkata recorded a highest package of INR 9 LPA and an average package of INR 5.2 LPA.

Course Year Highest Package Average Package
B.Des 2025 INR 9 LPA INR 5.2 LPA

NIFT Kolkata Ranking

NIFT Kolkata has been ranked by multiple agencies in design, fashion design, and fashion technology categories for 2025. The latest available ranking details are listed below:

Ranking Agency Year Category Rank in India Rank in Kolkata
IIRF 2025 Design 16 out of 109 1st
India Today 2025 Fashion Design 8 out of 62 1st
The Week 2025 Fashion Technology 6 out of 43 1st

NIFT Kolkata Campus

NIFT Kolkata is located on a 3-acre campus in Salt Lake City. The campus includes advanced facilities, infrastructure for fashion education, equipped laboratories and machine rooms, sports infrastructure, and a monitored canteen facility. Hostel accommodation for girls is available at a distance of 3 km from the academic campus. The institute has a capacity of 950 students and provides classrooms with projectors for theory teaching along with separate spaces for practical work. Other facilities at NIFT Kolkata include:

  • Laboratories: Students use laboratories for pattern making, draping, garment construction, knitting, weaving, textile testing, jewellery design, leather work, and computer-aided design (CAD). The campus also has a MAC lab and a photo studio.
  • Resource centre: The resource centre functions as the institutional library and provides access to e-books, e-journals, books, fashion magazines, and related learning material.
  • Amphitheatre and auditorium: The campus has a seminar hall, a video conferencing room, and an air-conditioned auditorium for meetings and events.

NIFT Kolkata Hostel

NIFT Kolkata provides hostel facilities for girl students with capacity for 180 students. The hostel is located 2 km from the main campus. Rooms are provided with basic furniture and necessary fittings. Facilities include a common room, internet room, 24/7 hot and cold water supply, Wi-Fi, and round-the-clock security with CCTV surveillance. An assistant hostel warden stays on-site, while a doctor and a counsellor are available on call for health or personal support.

NIFT Kolkata Girls Hostel
Type of Accommodation Rooms Capacity
4 bedded sharing rooms( AC) 18 72
2 bedded sharing rooms(AC) 28 56
2 bedded sharing rooms (Non-AC) 26 52

NIFT Kolkata Hostel Fee

The hostel fee structure for NIFT Kolkata is given below:

Particular Non-AC (INR) AC (INR)
Hostel Fees (Annual) 29,700 40,700
Security Deposit (Refundable) 5,000 5,000
Security Deposit (Non-Refundable) 2,750 2,750
Electricity Charges (Annual) 9,900 20,900
Electricity Charges (Annual) 5,225 5,225
Bus Fees (Annual) 4,950 4,950
Mess Charges (Annual) 48,000 48,000
Total 1,05,525 1,27,525

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

FAQs

Ques. How competitive is admission to NIFT Kolkata?

Ans. Admission to NIFT Kolkata is competitive because it is among India's leading fashion colleges. Each year, more than 30,000 candidates apply for about 5,000 seats across all NIFTs. NIFT Kolkata remains popular, especially for courses such as Fashion Design. For such programmes, candidates generally need ranks within the top 100-300. The NIFT entrance exam includes the Creative Ability Test (CAT), General Ability Test (GAT), and the Situation Test for design courses.

Ques. Is entrance exam participation mandatory for NIFT Kolkata admission?

Ans. Candidates cannot secure admission to NIFT Kolkata without appearing for the NIFT entrance exam. The selection process includes GAT (General Ability Test), CAT (Creative Ability Test), and either a Situation Test for B.Des or GD/PI for M.Des and MFM.

NIFT Kolkata Scholarships

NIFT Kolkata offers merit-based and need-based scholarships. Students must apply for scholarships only at the beginning of the academic year. Scholarship support is provided in the following circumstances:

  • Merit-Based Scholarship
  • Students from Economically Weaker Sections receive fee concessions through the college administration.

NIFT offers the “SARTHAK” NIFT Financial Assistance Scheme for students from economically weaker sections of society. Candidates must fall within the specified income categories to receive support.

NIFT Kolkata Scholarship for UG Students

Annual Household income Financial Assistance (% of Tuition Fee)
Up to INR 2 Lakhs 100%
INR 2 Lakhs - INR 4 Lakhs 75%
INR 4 Lakhs - INR 6 Lakhs 50%
INR 6 Lakhs - INR 8 Lakhs 25%

NIFT Kolkata Scholarship for PG Students

Annual Household income Financial Assistance (% of Tuition Fee)
Up to INR 2 Lakhs 75%
INR 2 Lakhs - INR 4 Lakhs 50%
INR 4 Lakhs - INR 8 Lakhs 25%

NIFT Kolkata vs NIFT Mumbai vs NIFT Delhi

NIFT Kolkata, NIFT Mumbai, and NIFT Delhi are part of the National Institute of Fashion Technology network. The table below compares these 3 prominent campuses on the basis of their B.Des programme:

Particulars NIFT Kolkata NIFT Mumbai NIFT Delhi
Established Year 1995 1995 1986
Ranking (2025)

India Today: 8 (Fashion Design)

The Week: 6 (Fashion Technology)

India Today: 3 (Fashion Design)

The Week: 5 (Fashion Technology)

India Today: 1 (Fashion Design)

The Week: 1 (Fashion Technology)
B.Des 1st Year Fees INR 3 Lakhs INR 3 Lakhs INR 3 Lakhs
B.Des Seat Intake 38 each specialisation 38 each specialisation 38 each specialisation
B.Des Admission Criteria NIFTEE + NIFT Counselling NIFTEE + NIFT Counselling NIFTEE + NIFT Counselling
B.Des NIFTEE Cutoff 2025 503 - 8803 79 - 8795 54 - 8658
Average Package INR 5.2 LPA INR 6-7 LPA INR 7 LPA