Design
Design degrees (B.Des and M.Des) cover product, communication, fashion, interaction and other specialisations. NID uses its Design Aptitude Test, the IITs use UCEED, and NIFT runs its own entrance — most of them accept Class 12 students from any stream.
The usual admission route
- Class 12 (any stream)
- UCEED, NID DAT or NIFT exam
- Studio test or interview
- Admission
Courses and how long they take
| Course | Level | Duration | Who can apply |
|---|---|---|---|
| B.Des | Undergraduate | 4 years | Class 12 in any stream |
| B.FTech (fashion technology) | Undergraduate | 4 years | Class 12 with PCM; at NIFT |
| M.Des | Postgraduate | 2 years | A bachelor's degree; CEED for the IITs |
| Master of Fashion Management | Postgraduate | 2 years | A bachelor's degree; at NIFT |
Entrance exams
Also used: NIFT entrance exam; CEED (M.Des at IITs); University design tests.
Eligibility
- Class 12 in any stream for most B.Des programmes.
- Expect a drawing, studio or interview round as well as a written test.
Where it can lead
- Product and industrial design
- UX and interaction design
- Communication and graphic design
- Fashion and textiles
- Animation and game design
Design colleges in our directory
11 institutions offer design programmes.
IIT Bombay
Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
- Location
- Mumbai, Maharashtra
- Type
- Government, est. 1958
- Main entrance
- JEE Advanced
- Engineering
- Science
- Design
- Management
IIT Delhi
Indian Institute of Technology Delhi
- Location
- New Delhi, Delhi
- Type
- Government, est. 1961
- Main entrance
- JEE Advanced
- Engineering
- Science
- Design
- Management
Amity Noida
Amity University, Noida
- Location
- Noida, Uttar Pradesh
- Type
- Private, est. 2005
- Main entrance
- University's own process
- Engineering
- Management
- Law
- Commerce
- +7 more
Manav Rachna (MRIIRS)
Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies
- Location
- Faridabad, Haryana
- Type
- Private, est. 2008
- Main entrance
- University's own process
- Engineering
- Management
- Allied health
- Computer applications
- +1 more
NID Ahmedabad
National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad
- Location
- Ahmedabad, Gujarat
- Type
- Government, est. 1961
- Main entrance
- NID DAT
- Design
IIT Guwahati
Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
- Location
- Guwahati, Assam
- Type
- Government, est. 1994
- Main entrance
- JEE Advanced
- Engineering
- Science
- Design
MAHE Manipal
Manipal Academy of Higher Education
- Location
- Manipal, Karnataka
- Type
- Private, est. 1953
- Main entrance
- MET (NEET-UG for MBBS and BDS)
- Engineering
- Medical
- Pharmacy
- Allied health
- +3 more
- Location
- Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh
- Type
- Private, est. 2016
- Main entrance
- University's own process
- Engineering
- Management
- Law
- Arts
- +2 more
LPU
Lovely Professional University
- Location
- Phagwara, Punjab
- Type
- Private, est. 2005
- Main entrance
- LPUNEST or merit
- Engineering
- Management
- Law
- Computer applications
- +6 more
- Location
- Gharuan, Mohali, Punjab
- Type
- Private, est. 2012
- Main entrance
- CUCET or merit
- Engineering
- Management
- Law
- Computer applications
- +6 more
NIFT Delhi
National Institute of Fashion Technology, New Delhi
- Location
- New Delhi, Delhi
- Type
- Government, est. 1986
- Main entrance
- NIFT entrance exam
- Design
Design: common questions
Do I need to be good at drawing for design?
Drawing helps, especially in studio rounds, but design exams test observation, problem-solving and visual thinking more than art skill. Practise sketching regularly before the exam.
Last reviewed October 2026. Admission rules, dates and eligibility change every year, so confirm them on the official website before you apply. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.