NID Ahmedabad Course Admission 2026: Dates, Fees, Eligibility, Application Process, Selection Criteria

Paldi, AhmedabadEstd 1961
Mistu Paul's profile photo

Mistu Paul

Content Writer | Updated 3+ months ago

NID Ahmedabad Latest Updates and News

18 Apr, 2026 NID DAT 2026 Final result will be released by the End of April for M.Des program. Round 1 seat confirmation is open till May 7, 2026.

NID Ahmedabad offers admission to B.Des in eight different specialisations for a duration of 4 years, which would cost INR 18.14 Lakh for Indian National Students, excluding Hostel Fees. At the PG level, the institute offers M.Des in seven different specialisations. Apart from that, NID Ahmedabad also offers the PhD program in both full-time and part-time modes.

  • Admission to the UG & PG courses at NID Ahmedabad is based on NID DAT Scores, which is conducted in two stages, namely Design Aptitude Test (DAT) Prelims and Design Aptitude Test (DAT) Mains.
  • Students interested in pursuing studies at NID Ahmedabad need to apply online on its official website: admissions.nid.edu for all the programs.
  • The B.Des application fee for NID Ahmedabad Admission is INR 3,000 for General/ EWS/ OBC-NCL and INR 1,500 for SC/ ST candidates.

NID Ahmedabad Admission Dates 2026

Tabulated below are the important admission dates for the upcoming session of NID Ahmedabad:

NID Ahmedabad UG Admission Dates 2026

Events Date
NID DAT 2026 UG Registration Date Sep 21 - Dec 01, 2025
NID DAT 2026 UG Prelims Admit Card Release Date Dec 11, 2025
NID DAT 2026 UG Prelims Exam Date Dec 21, 2025
NID DAT 2026 UG Prelims Result Date Apr 02, 2026

NID Ahmedabad PG Admission Dates 2026

Events Date
NID DAT 2026 PG Registration Date Sep 11 - Dec 01, 2025
NID DAT 2026 PG Prelims Exam Date Dec 21, 2025
NID DAT 2026 PG Prelims Result Date Feb 12, 2026
NID DAT 2026 PG Mains Exam Date Mar 08, 2026
NID DAT 2026 PG Interview Date Mar 21 - Apr 01, 2026

NID Ahmedabad B.Des Admission 2026

NID Ahmedabad offers Bachelor of Design (B.Des) at the undergraduate level for a duration of 4 Years in eight specialisations in the field of Design. Here are the important details about NID Ahmedabad B.Des Admission 2026:

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

NID Ahmedabad B.Des Seat Intake

NID Ahmedabad offers a total of 128 Seats for different specialisations of B.Des. Here is the specialisation-wise seat intake for B.Des at NID Ahmedabad:

NID Ahmedabad B.Des Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility criteria for admission to B.Des at NID Ahmedabad are as follows:

  • Candidates must have passed 10+2 in any stream (Science/ Commerce/ Humanities) from a recognized board.
  • The upper age limit for candidates for B.Des at NID is 20 Years (3 Years Relaxation for SC/ ST/ OBC-NCL) on or before July 1 of the Admission Year.

NID Ahmedabad B.Des Selection Criteria

Admission to B.Des at NID Ahmedabad is based on the Design Aptitude Test (DAT), which will be conducted in two stages, namely DAT Prelims and DAT Mains. Based on the merit list of DAT Prelims, eligible candidates will have to appear for DAT Mains. The final admission will be based on the sum total of the weighted scores obtained by the candidates in the DAT Prelims and Mains.

NID Ahmedabad B.Des Cutoff

NID Ahmedabad B.Des Admission is based on the total score in DAT Prelims and Mains. Tabulated below are the NID Ahmedabad B.Des Cutoff Trends for different categories:

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 Master of Design (M.Des) at the postgraduate level in seven specialisations for a duration of 2.5 Years. The key details about NID Ahmedabad M.Des Admission 2026 are as follows:

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

NID Ahmedabad M.Des Seat Intake

NID Ahmedabad offers 126 Seats for a total of seven specialisations of M.Des. The specialisation-wise seat matrix for M.Des at NID Ahmedabad is as follows:

NID Ahmedabad M.Des Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility criteria for NID Ahmedabad M.Des Admission are as follows:

  • Bachelor's Degree with a minimum duration of 3 or 4 Years in any specialisation after 10+2.
  • Full-Time Diploma of 4 Years in Design/Fine Arts/Applied Arts/ Architecture after 10+2.
  • The upper age limit for M.Des at NID is 30 Years (3 Years Relaxation for SC/ ST/ OBC-NCL) on or before July 1 of the Admission Year.

NID Ahmedabad M.Des Selection Criteria

Admission to the M.Des. program is based on the candidate’s performance in DAT(Prelims + Mains). Candidates can apply to a maximum of two disciplines for the Master of Design programme. The seat allotment will be purely based on the preference submitted by the candidate at the time of submitting their application.

NID Ahmedabad M.Des Cutoff

Given below are the NID Ahmedabad M.Des Cutoff trends 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 modes of study. The important details of NID Ahmedabad PhD Admission are as follows:

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

Candidates with the following educational qualifications are eligible for a PhD 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 following a M.Des/B.Des Degree.
  • Bachelor of Design (B.Des) from NID + 3 Years Professional or Teaching Experience.
  • 2-Year Faculty Development Program in Design from NID or any recognised university.

NID Ahmedabad PhD Selection Criteria

The selection of the candidates for a PhD at NID Ahmedabad includes the following stages:

  • Stage 1 (Eligibility Screening): The application forms will be scrutinised for eligibility, such as educational qualifications.
  • Stage 2 (Assessment of Research Proposal): Candidates need to submit a research proposal outlining their motivation and research plan. The content of the research proposal will be examined from the perspective of alignment with NID’s research objectives and other relevant factors. Candidates whose proposals pass this assessment will be shortlisted for Stage 3.
  • Stage 3 (Design Research Test): Shortlisted candidates will have to take the Design Research Test (DRT). Candidates with work experience of 15 Years or more are exempted from taking the DRT. Candidates who pass the DRT will be eligible for the final Personal Interview.
  • Stage 4 (Personal Interview): Candidates will have to interact online with appointed representatives of the institute for the assessment of their aptitude for conducting the proposed research.

NID Ahmedabad Admission Process 2026

Candidates need to apply for NID Ahmedabad Admission online on its official website @ https://admissions.nid.edu/. Once the candidates complete the process for registration, they need to appear for the NID entrance exam on the scheduled date and time. The admission process at NID Ahmedabad for B.Des and M.Des includes the following 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)

The allotment of seats for admission to the institute will be based on the merit list, the category of the candidates, and the seats available. The final admission will be confirmed only after the fee payment and verification of documents.

NID Ahmedabad Application Fees 2026

The application fee for NID Ahmedabad Admission for B.Des and M.Des is as follows for different categories:

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

NID Ahmedabad Admission FAQs

Ques. What is the exam pattern of NID DAT?

Ans. The NID Exam is held in two stages. The first stage is the preliminary exam. The exam will comprise 2 papers. Paper 1 will comprise 70 marks of objective type, and Paper 2 will comprise 30 marks of subjective type. Stage 2 is the main examination that will be conducted for those students who clear the 1st stage. The stage 2 examination will be based on practical tests, including sketching/ drawing, handicraft models, group discussions as well and presentations. The examination will carry 100 marks.

Ques. Can I pay the NID Ahmedabad application fee offline?

Ans. The NID Ahmedabad application fee can not be paid offline. This is because the registration and application process is online. Therefore, the applicants are not supposed to visit the campus to pay any fee offline.

Ques. Is a portfolio required for NID Ahmedabad admission?

Ans. Yes, a student’s portfolio is required and mandatory to present during the NID Ahmedabad interview call for an M.Des. degree. Students need to make sure that their portfolio has the best works attached to secure a seat at NID.

Ques. Does NID Ahmedabad offer exchange programs?

Ans. Yes, NID Ahmedabad offers faculty exchange, international collaborative research projects, student exchange programs and more. It has programmes wherein students have the opportunity to visit other countries and study for a semester internationally.

Ques. What documents do I need to bring to the interview at NID Ahmedabad?

Ans. The selected candidates of NID Ahmedabad will be called for a personal interview after the DAT, prelims and mains are qualified. The candidates should carry the following documents while appearing for an interview at the campus:

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

Ques. Can international students apply to NID Ahmedabad?

Ans. Yes, international students can apply to NID Ahmedabad for Design degrees. To apply online, the applicant has to visit the website, sign up as a new user and apply for the desired degree.

Ques. Can I study abroad with NID international universities?

Ans. Yes, NID has signed MoUs with different international universities. The Design Institute offers various exchange programmes for students wherein Indian students can visit international universities to pursue their degrees. Some of the partnered universities are the Birmingham Institute of Art and Design UK, Tama Art University Japan, Royal College of Art & Design London, etc.

Ques. Do PhD students get a fellowship at NID Ahmedabad?

Ans. Yes, students pursuing Ph.D. get a fellowship at the National Institute of Design (NID) called the SAGE PhD Fellowship. The Fellowship is available only to full-time candidates for a duration of 3 years, and the topic of research should be on the topic of Biopackaging. Additionally, only one position is available for the fellowship.

Important Updates

NID Ahmedabad Upcoming Important Dates 2026


Expired Events

EventsDates
Rechecking Request for DAT Prelims Exam for Admission 2026 [B.Des]
Apr 07, 2026 - Apr 08, 2026
Rechecking Request for DAT Prelims Exam for Admission 2026 [M.Des]
Apr 07, 2026 - Apr 08, 2026
Date for DAT Prelims Result for Admission 2026 [B.Des]
Apr 07, 2026

Do you think the Dates are wrong ?  Report Here

Why To Join NID Ahmedabad - Reviews & Rating

4.2
& Win Monthly Prizes Up to ₹1 Lakh/-*
5(33%)
4(17%)
3(0%)
2(44%)
1(6%)

Academic
4.4
Faculty
4.2
Infrastructure
4.5
Accommodation
3.9
Social Life
4.0
Placement
4.2

Most Popular Tags

Reset All Filter

Anonymous
3.8Helpful
Reviewed on Sep 29, 2024(Enrolled 2023)

Admission:

Nid is no 1 designing college in India. For you to get into this college you have to qualify a exam that has two rounds. Prelims and mains. So in prelims you have 60% creative aptitude test and 40% general aptitude. And if you happen to clear the prelims you will be qualified for the studio test which is the final round. Which includes more of receptory activities like implementing sound understanding images making models.
...Read More
0
0
Reply
Report
Divyansh roat
Divyansh roat
4.1Helpful
Reviewed on Aug 31, 2024(Enrolled 2022)

Admission:

I applied for nift and fddi. I got accepted in both of the colleges but i choose nid over them because it was more suitable for my career and nid have different decipline like product design, ceramic and clay design, film and video communication, graphic design, exhibition design, furniture design, animation and film design so i can learn from others also and can build my own portfolio according to my interests
...Read More
0
0
Reply
Report
Priyanshi
3.5
Reviewed on Oct 31, 2020

Remarks:

National Institution of Design is one of the best institution in Asia for textile and design courses. NID is internationally acclaimed as one of the finest educational institution for textile. It is an autonomous institution. Here students are taught through self exploratory approach.
...Read More
0
0
Reply
Report
Shelly
3.0
Reviewed on Oct 30, 2020

Remarks:

National Institute of Design is an autonomous institution. It has been declared as institution of national importance. It is one of the finest institution for product design, textile and communication. NID provide B Des and M Des course.
...Read More
4
2
Reply
Report
Arindam K Dutta
3.2Helpful
Reviewed on Jul 11, 2020(Enrolled 2019)

Admission:

I first knew about it from one of my senior. So I applied right after my XII exams. There are two levels- DAT and MAINS. I chose this institution because I always wanted to do animation. And this seemed to be one of the best design colleges in India which provides this course. The admission happens around April-May.
...Read More
0
0
Reply
Report
Sruti
3.8
Reviewed on Jul 9, 2020(Enrolled 2019)

Admission:

It was my best shot. I was unsure, and they had a year-long foundation course, so I could still make up my mind if this is what I truly wanted. It was a lucky shot, but worth it. Right now, I am doing animation and film design, and the wealth of insight and info I get here is probably most human-centric and community-based.
...Read More
6
2
Reply
Report
Shri Salunkhe
3.9Helpful
Reviewed on May 27, 2020

Admission:

I wanted to pursue Transportation Design since childhood. I also applied for Product design but ended up choosing Transportation because sketching cars was something that I have been doing since childhood. For the admission process you have to appear for an Aptitude Test and if you get shortlisted then you will be called for an interview and a discipline specific aptitude test. In the interview you have to show your portfolio. The interview may or may not be around the discipline that you select because they want to check your knowledge about the subject but also want to know about your thinking process.
...Read More
0
0
Reply
Report
Anushka Gupta
3.6Helpful
Reviewed on Apr 2, 2020(Enrolled 2017)

Admission:

First of all there is an entrance exam to be given, the qualifiers that go to the second round of selection that is a model making and sketching round. Once you clear both the exams you get a mail regarding the dates of joining and other details.
...Read More
15
4
Reply
Report
Pragati Sahu
4.1Helpful
Reviewed on Mar 16, 2020

Admission:

First entrance exam in which the would be about the reason and general knowledge then the situation test where you have make something 3D then interview combining all marks you got the merit list will appear then you get into the college.
...Read More
10
3
Reply
Report
Ankit
4.4Helpful
Reviewed on Jan 4, 2020

Admission:

You have to give an entrance exam to get pass your 1st phase, which takes place around 1st or 2nd week of january. You get forms for it during october and november. After that they select some students for the studio test which will be your phase 2 and after studio test there is an interview session. If you pass them all you got the admission.
...Read More
16
5
Reply
Report

Do you think the data is wrong ?  Report Here

Course Finder

Search from 20K+ Courses and 35+ Streams

Clear

NID Ahmedabad Latest News

Discover More Colleges

Unitedworld Institute Of Design (UID) Ahmedabad cover image
M.Des
Unitedworld Institute Of Design (UID) Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad
4.1(39)
₹550000First year Fees
Indus University, Institute of Design Environment and Architecture Ahmedabad cover image
B.Des
Institute of Design, Nirma University Ahmedabad cover image
B.Des
Institute of Design, Nirma University Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad
₹439500First year Fees
Anant National University Ahmedabad cover image
B.Des
Anant National University Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad
4.2(37)
₹645000First year Fees
GLS University, GLS Institute of Design Ahmedabad cover image
B.Des
GLS University, GLS Institute of Design Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad
4.2(5)
₹355000First year Fees
Khyati Foundation Ahmedabad cover image
B.Des
Khyati Foundation Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad
3.8(15)
₹175000First year Fees

Comments


No Comments To Show
Top Courses
B.Des Animation Film Design
Course Duration:  4 Years
₹1814600  Total Fees
Full Time
B.Des Graphic Design
Course Duration:  4 Years
₹1709600  Total Fees
Full Time
B.Des Textile Design
Course Duration:  4 Years
₹1709600  Total Fees
Full Time
Other Colleges in the Same Group
NID Bangalore
Bangalore, Karnataka
NID Bangalore
NID Gandhinagar
Gandhinagar, Gujarat
NID Gandhinagar
NID Vijayawada
Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh
NID Vijayawada
Faculties
Aarti Srivastava
Professor, Department of Textile Design
Ajay Kumar Tiwari
Professor, Department of Media and Technology and Animation Production
Amit Sinha
Professor, Apparel Design and Merchandising and Lifestyle Accessory Design
Student Also Visited
L J School of Design Ahmedabad
B.Des - Bachelor of Design
150000 First year Fees
L J School of Design Ahmedabad
Auro University Surat
4.3(28 Reviews)
B.Des - Bachelor of Design
364000 First year Fees
Auro University Surat
MITID
3.9(24 Reviews)
B.Des - Bachelor of Design
475000 First year Fees
MITID
Industrial Design Centre, IIT Mumbai
4.4(3 Reviews)
B.Des - Bachelor of Design
214700 First year Fees
Industrial Design Centre, IIT Mumbai
NID Kurukshetra
3.4(2 Reviews)
B.Des - Bachelor of Design
283100 First year Fees
NID Kurukshetra
NID Jorhat
3.3(2 Reviews)
B.Des - Bachelor of Design
239400 First year Fees
NID Jorhat
SID Pune
4(37 Reviews)
B.Des - Bachelor of Design
817600 First year Fees
SID Pune
NID Bangalore
4.2(16 Reviews)
M.Des - Master of Design
535400 First year Fees
NID Bangalore
IIAD Delhi
4.3(29 Reviews)
B.Des - Bachelor of Design
660000 First year Fees
IIAD Delhi
Saveetha College of Architecture and Design Chennai
5(2 Reviews)
B.Des - Bachelor of Design
125000 First year Fees
Saveetha College of Architecture and Design Chennai
Arvindbhai Patel Institute of Environmental Design Vallabh Vidyanagar
3.5(6 Reviews)
M.Des - Master of Design
122000 First year Fees
Arvindbhai Patel Institute of Environmental Design Vallabh Vidyanagar
Karnavati University Gandhinagar
4.3(123 Reviews)
M.Des - Master of Design
550000 First year Fees
Karnavati University Gandhinagar
NID Gandhinagar
4.6(23 Reviews)
M.Des - Master of Design
746300 First year Fees
NID Gandhinagar
Pearl Academy West Campus New Delhi
3.8(74 Reviews)
B.Des - Bachelor of Design
779200 First year Fees
Pearl Academy West Campus New Delhi
NIFT Delhi
4(423 Reviews)
M.Des - Master of Design
341700 First year Fees
NIFT Delhi
NID Vijayawada
4.1(3 Reviews)
B.Des - Bachelor of Design
239700 First year Fees
NID Vijayawada