Difference Between NID and UCEED- Which is Better?
Aspirants seeking admission to design courses often wonder which is better, NID and UCEED. The article lays down the similarities and differences of both exams for a comprehensive evaluation.
Swati Kumar17 Oct, 2024
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Difference Between NID and UCEED- Which is Better: NID and UCEED are both national-level design entrance exams. Aspirants seeking admission to design courses often wonder which is better, NID or UCEED? To answer that, you must closely scrutinize each exam and look at what suits you the best. Reflect on your design interests and career goals, as NID focuses on a broad range of design disciplines, while UCEED leads to various design programs in multiple institutions.
Before choosing which one is better, evaluate the learning environment and culture of each institute, as they may differ in teaching methodologies and peer interactions. It's also important to consider the location, faculty expertise, and industry connections of the institutes, as these can significantly impact your education and career opportunities.NID vs UCEED Highlight
To understand the difference between NID and UCEED, candidates must know the important aspects of these exams. The Undergraduate Common Entrance Examination for Design (UCEED) is conducted by IIT Bombay for admission in B.Des design courses at UCEED participating colleges. The UCEED 2025 exam date is out and is scheduled for 19th January 2025. The NID Design Aptitude Test (DAT) is a national-level entrance exam, conducted by the National Institute of Design for admission to UG and PG design programs. The NID DAT is divided into Prelims and Mains examinations. The NID DAT prelims is scheduled on 5th January 2025, while the NID DAT will be conducted between 26th April 2025 – 4th May 2025 for B.Des admissions. The table below gives an overview of the different aspects of NID and UCEED.| Exam Name | UCEED | NID DAT |
|---|---|---|
| Conducting Body | IIT Bombay | National Institute of Design (NID) |
| Exam structure |
A single-stage exam, which comprises:
|
Two-stage exam
|
| Mode of exam |
|
|
| Duration of the exam | 3 hours | Both DAT Prelims exam for the B.Des program is 3 hours, DAT Mains will be 3 hours each. |
| Exam Level | National Level | National Level |
| Frequency of the exam | Once a year | Once a year |
NID vs UCEED Exam Pattern
NID DAT consists of two stages namely Prelims and Mains. The NID DAT prelims is the first stage of the entrance exam that evaluates candidates based on their design aptitude, logical reasoning, and visual observation. The questions are categorized into multiple-choice questions, subjective-type questions, and sketching. The NID DAT prelims has two parts, i.e., Part 1 and Part 2. Part 1 includes MCQ and Subjective questions, while Part B consists of drawing, sketching, and model making. NID DAT has no negative marking. Candidates who clear the prelims round, proceed to the mains exam, which involves a studio test and personal interview. The UCEED exam consists of two parts i.e., Part A and B. Part A is an online test comprising 57 questions, further categorized into NAT, MSQ, and MCQ-type. The test will be for 2 hours and worth 200 marks. Part B will have two questions - 1) sketching-based, and 2) design aptitude-based questions, each worth 50 marks and will last for 1 hour. Part B answer booklets will be evaluated only if the candidate meets the UCEED cut-off 2025 for Part A. The UCEED exam is worth 300 marks and lasts for 3 hours.NID vs UCEED Eligibility Criteria
For admission to design courses through NID or UCEED, candidates are required to meet the eligibility criteria laid down by the concerned authorities. The eligibility criteria outlines the minimum requirements related to age limit, educational background, minimum aggregate marks, and more.NID Eligibility Criteria
- Candidates must be under the age of 20 years in the year of the application. There is also an age relaxation of 3 years for the OBC-NCL, Sc, and ST categories and a 5-year age relaxation for PwD candidates.
- Candidates must have passed class 12th or equivalent examination from any stream, science, arts, or commerce from a recognized board. Freshers who are appearing for their 12th exam in the year of application are also eligible for the exam.
UCEED Eligibility Criteria
- For the UCEED exam, the age limit is 23 years. Candidates appearing for the exam must be under the age of 23 years on or after 1st October of the year of application. For the SC, ST, and PwD candidates, there is an age relaxation of 5 years.
- Candidates must have passed class 12th in all subjects from a recognized university.
NID and UCEED Participating Colleges & Seat Intake
The scores of the NID DAT 2025 will be considered for admission to B.Des courses provided by the participating colleges of NID DAT 2025, while for admission to UCEED participating institutes, candidates have to obtain valid marks in the UCEED 2025 exam.UCEED Participating Colleges & Seat Intake
There are five participating institutes of the UCEED 2025 exam that offer a combined seat intake of 225 seats across all categories.| Institute | Open | Open-PWD | EWS | EWS-PWD | OBC-NCL | OBC-PWD | SC | SC-PwD | ST | ST-PwD | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IIT Bombay | 14 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 37 |
| IIT Delhi | 7 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 20 |
| IIT Guwahati | 23 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 15 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 56 |
| IIT Hyderabad | 10 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 26 |
| IIT Jabalpur | 26 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 17 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 66 |
| lIT Roorkee | 7 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 20 |
| Total | 87 | 4 | 22 | 1 | 57 | 3 | 32 | 1 | 16 | 2 | 225 |
NID Participating Colleges & Seat Intake
The NID participating institutes offer a total of 425 seats for B.Des admissions.| S. No | Participating Institute | Seat Intake for B.Des program |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | NID Ahmedabad | 125 |
| 2 | NID Andhra Pradesh | 75 |
| 3 | NID Haryana | 75 |
| 4 | NID Madhya Pradesh | 75 |
| 5 | NID Assam | 75 |
| Total | 425 |
NID vs UCEED Exam Syllabus
The respective exam conducting authorities announce the syllabus for NID and UCEED on the official website. Candidates can review the syllabus for the entrance exam to achieve the highest possible score. The following table enlists the important topics of the NID and UCEED syllabus.| UCEED Syllabus | NID Syllabus |
|
|
NID vs UCEED Placements
Both NID and UCEED graduates get excellent placement opportunities by renowned companies. Graduates from these institutes often secure lucrative positions in design firms, advertising agencies, and tech companies. Renowned companies actively seek talent from NID and UCEED, recognizing the institutes' rigorous training and emphasis on creativity and innovation, which enhances employability in a competitive job market. The approximate salary package for both institutes is as follows.NID Placement 2023
| NID Package level 2023 | Salary 2023 |
|---|---|
| Highest | INR 18 LPA |
| Average | INR 4.91 LPA |
| Lowest | INR 1.5 LPA |
B.Des placement for UCEED graduates
| NID Graduate | Salary Per Annum |
| Median Salary | INR 18 LPA |
Difference Between NID and UCEED- Which is Better? FAQs
When is the NID DAT 2025 exam?
The NID DAT is divided into Prelims and Mains examinations. The NID DAT prelims is scheduled on 5th January 2025, while the NID DAT will be conducted between 26th April 2025 – 4th May 2025 for B.Des admissions.
How many seats are there in NID participating institutes?
The NID participating institutes offer a total of 425 seats for B.Des admissions. The campuses include Ahmedabad, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, and Assam.
What is the educational qualification for the NID DAT?
Candidates must have passed class 12th or equivalent examination from any stream, science, arts, or commerce from a recognized board. Freshers who are appearing for their 12th exam in the year of application are also eligible for the NID exam.
What are the jobs after NID?
Fashion Designer, Graphic Design, Creative Director, Product Design, Art Director, and UI/UX Designer are some of the top job profiles after NID.
What is the salary of UCEED students?
The average starting salary of the UCEED students ranges between 2 lakhs to 6 lakhs per annum for a bachelor's depending on the industry and skillset. Fashion Design, Interior Design, Textile Design, Ceramic Design, Accessory Design, Game Design, etc are various job profiles after UCEED.
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