CEED Exam Eligibility Criteria 2026: IIT Bombay released the CEED 2026 eligibility criteria on 1st October 2025 along with the official notification on its website. The CEED Exam Eligibility Criteria 2026 outlines the minimum requirements candidates must meet to appear for the entrance exam, including educational qualification, age limit, and qualifying conditions. The CEED 2026 exam is conducted for admission to M.Des programmes at participating institutes.
Aspirants should note that, in addition to the standard CEED eligibility criteria, individual design institutes may have their own specific requirements. Therefore, candidates are advised to carefully check the eligibility criteria prescribed by each participating university before applying. The CEED 2026 admit card was released on 2nd January 2026, and the exam is scheduled to be conducted on 18th January 2026.
CEED Exam Eligibility Criteria 2026 Overview
CEED exam eligibility criteria 2026 are the basic requirements for candidates seeking admission to MDes courses at various IITs and participating institutes. These criteria include educational qualifications, age limits, and other necessary conditions for admission to design courses. The eligibility criteria are uniform across categories, with no special requirements for reserved groups. Meeting these criteria is mandatory to participate in the CEED entrance exam 2026. The following are the important aspects of the CEED eligibility criteria 2026.
CEED Exam Eligibility Criteria 2026 Minimum Educational Qualification
Candidates must meet the following educational qualifications to participate in the CEED 2026.
- Candidates must have completed a degree, diploma, or postgraduate degree program of at least 3 years’ duration after 10+2 from a recognized institution, or
- Candidates who are appearing for the final examination of such a program by July 2026 can also apply, or
- Candidates who have passed the GD Arts diploma program (10+5 level) by July 2026 are eligible for CEED 2026.
CEED Exam Eligibility Criteria 2026 Age Limit
As per the CEED exam eligibility criteria 2026, there are no age restrictions for applicants to appear for the exam. Candidates of any age can apply for MDes admissions at IITs. However, candidates must go through the MDes eligibility criteria prescribed by individual universities before applying for CEED.
CEED Exam Eligibility Criteria 2026 Number of Attempts
There is no restriction on how many times one can appear for the CEED test. Applicants are free to take the CEED exam multiple times, provided they continue to meet the eligibility criteria for each attempt. Based on the CEED scores, candidates can apply for admission to IITs as well as other participating institutions.
CEED Exam Eligibility Criteria 2026 Scribe Qualifications
Orthopedically or visually impaired candidates are eligible to avail of a scribe facility for Part A of the CEED 2026 examination. To use this facility, candidates must indicate their PwD (Persons with Disability) category in the application form. The authorities will arrange and provide a scribe for eligible candidates, rather than allowing candidates to bring their scribe. Candidates must follow all specified rules and procedures to access the scribe facility during the exam.
CEED Exam Eligibility Criteria 2026 for Foreign Nationals
Foreign nationals can also apply for the CEED entrance exam only if they meet the CEED exam eligibility criteria. IIT Bombay has outlined the following eligibility criteria for foreign students if they want to apply for CEED.
- Candidates must have completed their 10+2+3 years (or 10+2+4 years) in any stream.
- They must have a diploma degree of 3 years after class 12th or 4 years after class 10th.
- Foreign nationals must have a valid passport and must be of the legal age of 18 years as of 1st July 2025.
CEED 2026 Reservation
The Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) and the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) have issued the mandatory reservation policies for CEED 2026. Based on the policy parameters, seats have been reserved for candidates belonging to the reserved categories. The seat reservation is given in the following table.
CEED 2026 Registration
The CEED 2026 registration process began on 1 October 2025 after IIT Bombay released the online application form on its official website ceed.iitb.ac.in. The application process included account creation, submission of personal and academic details, uploading required documents, and payment of the registration fee. Candidates were advised to carefully check the eligibility criteria before applying. The CEED 2026 registration process was successfully completed on 31 October 2025.
CEED Exam Eligibility Criteria 2026 FAQs
What is the minimum educational qualification required for CEED 2026?
Candidates must have completed a degree, diploma, or postgraduate program of at least three years after 10+2, or be in the final year of such a program by July 2026. Those who have passed the GD Arts diploma program (10+5 level) by July 2026 are also eligible.
Is there any age limit to apply for CEED 2026?
No, there is no upper or lower age limit for appearing in the CEED 2026 exam.
How many times can I attempt the CEED exam?
There is no restriction on the number of attempts; candidates can appear for CEED as many times as they wish.
Can final-year students apply for CEED 2026?
Yes, candidates appearing in the final year of their qualifying degree or diploma program by July 2026 are eligible to apply for CEED 2026.
Are foreign nationals eligible for CEED 2026?
Yes, foreign nationals can apply for CEED 2026 if they meet the same educational qualifications as Indian candidates.