NIFT Lateral Entry Admission 2026, Fees, Seat Matrix, Eligibility Criteria

NIFT Lateral Entry Admission 2026: The National Institute of Fashion Technology provides a “Lateral Entry Admission Scheme (NLEA), allowing candidates to get admission to the second semester of undergraduate design courses. Candidates with a diploma degree in relevant fields of design and technology can apply for NIFT lateral entry admission. NIFT lateral entry admission dates were notified following the official NIFT 2026 notification, which was released on 8th December 2025. The NIFT 2026 lateral exam will be held on 8th February 2026.

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NIFT Lateral Entry Admission 2026 Overview

Candidates with a diploma degree in irrelevant fields from a recognized university are eligible for NIFT Lateral Entry Admission 2026. The NIFT lateral entry admission process includes a computer-based GAT, followed by a studio test or a personal interview. Final admission is based on the cumulative performance of the candidates in all stages. Given below are some aspects regarding the NIFT Lateral Entry Admission 2026. 

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NIFT Lateral Entry Admission Dates (Tentative)

NIFT lateral entry admission dates have been announced after the official NIFT 2026 notification was released on the official website on 8th December 2025. The exam will be conducted on 8th February 2026. Shortlisted candidates are then invited for the counselling process. Here are the tentative NIFT Lateral Entry admission dates for candidates’ reference. 

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NIFT Lateral Entry Admission Eligibility Criteria

NIFT Lateral Entry admission eligibility criteria require candidates to have a diploma degree in relevant fields. Candidates must be 24 years of age as of 1 August of the year of admission. For reserved categories such as SC/ST/PwD, the authorities have given an age relaxation of 5 years. For BDes and BFTech lateral admissions through NIFT, candidates need to meet the following NIFT Lateral Entry Admission eligibility requirements. 

 1. Bachelor of Design Eligibility Criteria

• Option 1: 1–2 year diploma (AICTE/AIU/UGC/NSQF/ITI/State Board) in Fashion, Apparel, Textile, Accessories, Home Science, Handloom, Visual/Graphic/Industrial/Interior/Multimedia Design, Apparel Technology, Leather, or Fine Arts after 10th + 2 years industry experience.

• Option 2: 1-year diploma (same as above) after 12th + 1-year industry experience.

• Option 3: 2-year UG Diploma from NIFT after 12th.

2. Bachelor of Fashion Technology (BFTech)

• Option 1:

  • 1- or 2-year diploma recognized by AICTE/AIU/UGC/NSQF/ITI/State Board of Technical Education.

  • Diploma must be in Fashion/Apparel/Textile/Home Science/Handloom Technology.

  • Completed 10th Standard (Secondary Examination) with Mathematics.

  • 2 years full-time industry experience in the related field after completing the diploma.

  Option 2:

  • 1-year diploma recognized by AICTE/AIU/UGC/NSQF/ITI/State Board of Technical Education.

  • Diploma must be in Fashion/Apparel/Textile/Home Science/Handloom Technology.

  • Completed 12th Standard (Senior Secondary Examination) with Mathematics.

  • 1 year full-time industry experience in the related field after completing the diploma.

  Option 3:

  • Completed 2-year UG Diploma Programme at NIFT.

  • Completed 12th Standard recognized by AIU with Mathematics.

  • No additional industry experience required.

NIFT Lateral Entry Admission Process

NIFT lateral entry admission process starts with the online written examination, followed by a studio test or a technical aptitude test, depending on the course. Shortlisted candidates in these rounds are then invited for the personal interview rounds. Candidates must register on the official website at nift.ac.in and pay the application fee before the deadline. 

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How to Apply for Lateral Entry Admission?

NIFT lateral entry admission offers eligible candidates to get admitted into various UG and PG courses directly in the third semester. It allows diploma holders to seemingly continue their design education without repeating the initial years. Here’s how to apply for lateral entry admission. 

• Go to the official website at nift.ac.in. 
• Click on the “NIFT lateral entry registration” link. 
• Fill in your personal details such as name, email ID, and date of birth.
• Provide the payment details for the registration fee you have paid via DD or cheque.
• Complete the rest of the application form with all the required information. Upload scanned copies of your photo and signature. 
• Submit the application form after reviewing the information added in the form. 

NIFT NLEA Fee Structure 2026

NIFT NLEA Fee Structure 2026 includes tuition fees, library fees, mediclaim and student development fees, exam fees, and other charges. There is also a refundable security deposit and a one-time registration fee. The following table breaks down the NIFT NLEA fee structure 2026 for candidates’ reference. 

Note: NIFT has the right to revise the fee structure for any academic year. 

NIFT Lateral Entry Seat Intake 2026

For NIFT Lateral Entry Admission 2026, the authorities have defined seat intake across various design and fashion technology programs. The seat allocation varies by category, including Open, OBC, SC, ST, and NRI quotas. Check out the following table giving insights into the seat intake for NIFT lateral entry admission 2026 across various categories.