NID B.Des Admission 2027-28: Eligibility, Dates, Courses, Fees & Application Process

The National Institute of Design (NID) has released the Admissions 2027-28 Handbook for candidates seeking admission to its B.Des programmes. The application process is conducted online through the official NID admissions website.

For NID B.Des admission 2027-28, candidates have to appear for the Design Aptitude Test (DAT). The admission process has two stages: DAT Prelims and DAT Mains. The Prelims is common for all participating NIDs, while the Mains score is used by the respective NID for admission.

Students from Science, Commerce, Arts, Humanities or any other recognised stream can apply, provided they meet the age and educational qualification requirements.

NID B.Des Admission 2027-28 Important Dates

Candidates should keep track of the following dates for the admission process:

NID may change the schedule in case of unforeseen circumstances. Candidates should check the official admissions website for any updates.

NID B.Des Eligibility 2027

Candidates applying for NID B.Des admission must meet both the age limit and educational qualification requirements.

NID B.Des Age Limit 2027

The age limit depends on the candidate's category:

Candidates should check their date of birth carefully before applying because the age requirement is part of the eligibility criteria.

NID B.Des Eligibility After 12th

Students who have passed Class 12 or are appearing for their Class 12 examination in the 2026-27 academic year can apply for NID B.Des admission 2027-28.

There is no restriction on the stream. Candidates can apply after completing Class 12 in:

• Science

• Commerce

• Arts

• Humanities

• Other equivalent recognised streams

The Class 12 examination must be from a recognised board or an equivalent qualifying examination accepted by NID.

Candidates appearing for Class 12 in the 2026-27 academic year must appear for the qualifying examination before physical verification of documents and pass it in the first attempt. They must submit their Class 12 marksheet by July 15, 2027.

Candidates with a backlog, compartment or supplementary examination, or those who have not cleared Class 12, will not be eligible for admission.

NID B.Des Qualification 2027

The accepted qualifications include Class 12 examinations under recognised Central or State Boards and other equivalent qualifications. These include:

• 10+2 examination from a recognised Central or State Board

• Intermediate or two-year Pre-University examination from a recognised board or university

• Senior Secondary School examination conducted by NIOS with at least five subjects

• H.S.C. vocational examination

• GCE Advanced (A) Level examination from London, Cambridge or Sri Lanka

• AICTE-approved three-year full-time diploma after Class 10

• Equivalent examinations recognised by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU)

Candidates who have completed or are appearing for their qualifying examination outside India, or from a board not covered in the handbook, may need to submit an equivalence certificate from AIU, New Delhi or the Ministry of Education.

NID B.Des Courses 2027

The NID B.Des programme is offered at NID Ahmedabad and other participating NID campuses. The handbook states that details of programmes and disciplines at NID Andhra Pradesh, NID Assam, NID Haryana and NID Madhya Pradesh will be available on the respective institute websites.

NID B.Des Programme List 2027

The participating NIDs include:

• NID Ahmedabad

• NID Andhra Pradesh

• NID Assam

• NID Haryana

• NID Madhya Pradesh

NID Assam offers a four-year B.Des programme with specialisation streams in:

• Industrial Design

• Communication Design

• Textile & Apparel Design

For the other NIDs, candidates should check the respective institute websites for the latest information on available B.Des disciplines and seats.

NID B.Des Specialisations 2027

NID's design education covers different areas of design. The handbook lists several design disciplines under different streams at NID Ahmedabad as part of its integrated pathway. These include areas such as:

Industrial Design

• Ceramic & Glass Design

• Product Design

• Transportation & Automobile Design

Communication Design

• Animation Film Design

• Film & Video Communication

• Graphic Design

Spatial Experience Design

• Exhibition Design

• Furniture & Interior Design

• Design for Retail Experience

Textile and Apparel Design

• Textile Design

• Apparel Design

• Lifestyle Accessory Design

Digital Design Futures

• Digital Game Design

• Interaction Design

• Information Design

Candidates should note that the detailed B.Des programme and discipline availability at individual NIDs can vary. The respective NID websites should be checked for the latest programme and seat information.

NID B.Des Admission Process 2027-28

Admission to NID is based on the candidate's performance in the Design Aptitude Test (DAT).

The process has two stages:

Stage 1: DAT Prelims

The NID DAT Prelims is the first stage of the selection process. It is a paper-and-pencil/pen test conducted at various centres across India.

The question paper can include both text and visual questions and will be available only in English.

The DAT Prelims score is used to shortlist candidates for the next stage. The Prelims score is not carried forward as weightage to the DAT Mains.

Stage 2: DAT Mains

Candidates are shortlisted for DAT Mains based on their Prelims performance. For each category, NID will shortlist candidates equal to 2.5 times the available seats.

The DAT Mains consists of two parts:

1. Studio Sensitivity Test

2. In-Person Sensitivity Test

The dates and further details of DAT Mains will be announced later.

The final merit list will be prepared using the DAT Mains score. Each NID will use the Mains score for admission to its respective institute.

NID DAT Prelims 2027 Exam Centres

The DAT Prelims will be conducted in the following cities:

• Ahmedabad

• Bengaluru

• Bhopal

• Bhubaneswar

• Chandigarh

• Chennai

• Dehradun

• Hyderabad

• Jaipur

• Jorhat

• Kochi

• Kolkata

• Lucknow

• Mumbai

• Nagpur

• New Delhi

• Patna

Candidates can select a test centre while applying. However, NID reserves the right to allot a different centre if required.

NID does not provide accommodation for candidates appearing for DAT Prelims or DAT Mains. Candidates have to make their own travel and accommodation arrangements.

How to Apply for NID B.Des Admission 2027

Candidates can apply online through the official NID admissions website. The application process can be completed in the following steps:

Step 1: Register

Visit the NID admissions portal and create an account by providing the required details, including:

• Programme of study

• Nationality

• Category

• Valid email ID

• Active mobile number

The registered email ID and mobile number will be used for future communication, so candidates should keep them active throughout the admission process.

Step 2: Fill the Application Form

Log in to the account and enter the required personal and academic details. Candidates should check the information carefully before proceeding.

Certain details, such as the candidate's name, date of birth, registered email ID, registered mobile number and programme applied for, cannot be changed during the application editing window.

Step 3: Upload Documents

Candidates have to upload their photograph, signature and category-related documents, wherever applicable.

For example:

Step 4: Pay the Application Fee

The category-wise application fees for 2027-28 are:

The application fee is applicable for all NIDs and is non-refundable and non-transferable.

After successful payment, candidates should save and print the completed application form for future reference.

NID B.Des Reservation 2027

Seats for Indian nationals are reserved according to the Government of India norms. The categories include:

• GEN-EWS

• OBC-NCL

• SC

• ST

• PwD

The reservation percentages mentioned in the handbook are 10% for GEN-EWS, 27% for OBC-NCL, 15% for SC and 7.5% for ST. PwD candidates are eligible for 5% reservation across the applicable seat categories.

Candidates applying under a reserved category must upload valid certificates in the prescribed format. NID will verify these documents during the admission process.

Documents Required for NID B.Des Admission 2027

Candidates should keep the required documents ready before completing the application. Depending on the category, these may include:

• Recent passport-size photograph

• Signature

• Class 10 marksheet

• Class 12 marksheet

• Birth certificate or school leaving certificate

• GEN-EWS certificate, if applicable

• OBC-NCL certificate, if applicable

• SC/ST certificate, if applicable

• Disability Certificate/UDID Card, if applicable

• Valid passport for Overseas candidates

• Other documents required during admission and physical verification

Candidates appearing for Class 12 in 2026-27 will need to submit their qualifying examination marksheet by July 15, 2027.

NID B.Des Final Selection and Seat Allotment

After DAT Mains, NID will prepare category-wise merit lists based on the applicable admission criteria. A rank in the merit list does not automatically guarantee admission to a particular programme.

Eligible candidates must submit a separate online application for admission after the DAT Mains results are announced. This application is required to participate in the seat allotment process.

Seat allotment will depend on:

• Candidate's merit

• Category

• Availability of seats

• Programme preferences

Candidates who fail to submit the admission application within the prescribed deadline will not be considered for seat allotment.

NID B.Des Admission 2027-28 is open to students from different academic backgrounds who meet the prescribed age and Class 12 eligibility requirements. The first step is to complete the online application before November 30, 2026, followed by the DAT Prelims on December 20, 2026. 

Since the Mains dates and some programme details are yet to be announced, candidates should keep checking the official NID admissions website for the latest updates.

Related Resources:

• NID DAT Notification 2027

• NID DAT Registration 2026-27

• PW Design Online Batches 2027