NU DET 2026 General Category Cutoff: Merit List II Qualifying Scores and Seat Availability

NU DET 2026 Merit List II for General Category is expected to carry a qualifying score in the range of 55–65 marks, based on previous year trends — students who missed Merit List I may still secure a B.Des seat at Nirma University through this round.

The Institute of Design, Nirma University releases multiple merit lists for B.Des admission after NU DET results are declared. Merit List II is published after the seat acceptance deadline for Merit List I passes and vacated or unaccepted seats are recounted. If you are a General category student waiting for Merit List II, knowing the expected cutoff and remaining seat count helps you plan your next steps.

• Merit List II Release: Expected in June 2026, following seat confirmation by Merit List I students.
• Expected Qualifying Score: General category cutoff for Merit List II is likely around 55–65 marks based on 2024–25 admission trends.
• Programmes Covered: B.Des in Product Design, Visual Communication, Interaction Design, Fashion and Textile Design, and Animation and Game Design.
• Seat Availability: Seats in Merit List II depend on how many students declined or did not respond to Merit List I offers.
• Next Step: Shortlisted students must confirm their seat through fee payment within the deadline specified in the official notification.

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NU DET 2026 Merit List II: General Category Overview

Nirma University releases the NU DET merit list based on scores obtained in the Design Entrance Test. Students who qualify the exam but are not allocated a seat in Merit List I are considered for subsequent lists. Merit List II is published after the Merit List I acceptance deadline lapses and remaining seats are tallied.

The General category forms the largest applicant pool, making Merit List II particularly competitive. Students must act quickly once the list is released — the seat acceptance window is typically brief, and unclaimed seats roll over to Merit List III or spot admissions.

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Expected General Category Cutoff for Merit List II 2026

The expected cutoff for NU DET 2026 Merit List II in the General category is slightly lower than Merit List I, as it accommodates students from the next score band. Based on 2024 and 2025 admission trends, the General category Merit List II qualifying score is expected to range between 55 and 65 marks.

The table below shows expected programme-wise cutoffs for General category students in Merit List II 2026:

All figures above are expected estimates based on previous year trends and are subject to change when the official Merit List II is released.

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NU DET Previous Year General Category Cutoff Trends

Reviewing historical cutoffs helps you gauge where Merit List II qualifying scores may land in 2026. In 2024, the General category cutoff for Merit List II ranged from approximately 54 to 66 marks across B.Des programmes at Nirma University. Merit List II cutoffs are consistently lower than Merit List I by approximately 5–10 marks, reflecting the smaller pool of remaining applicants and available seats.

The upward trend in cutoffs over the years reflects growing interest in design programmes at Nirma University. Students targeting Merit List II in 2026 should aim for a score of at least 55 marks to stay within a competitive range for most B.Des programmes.

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Seat Availability After Merit List II

The number of seats available in Merit List II depends on how many Merit List I students complete their seat acceptance formalities. Nirma University’s Institute of Design typically has a total intake of around 120–150 seats across all B.Des specialisations, with General category seats forming the largest share under the unreserved quota.

Seats that remain unfilled after Merit List II are typically carried forward to Merit List III or made available in a final spot-admission round. If you receive an offer in Merit List II, confirm your seat before the deadline to avoid losing it to the next round of students.

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Factors Affecting NU DET 2026 General Category Cutoff

Several factors determine where the Merit List II cutoff falls each year. Understanding these helps you read your chances more accurately:

• Total applicants: A higher number of General category applicants in 2026 pushes cutoffs upward compared to previous years.
• Merit List I acceptance rate: If more students decline Merit List I offers, more seats open for Merit List II and the cutoff may ease slightly.
• Programme-specific demand: High-demand programmes like Product Design and Visual Communication consistently carry higher cutoffs than other specialisations.
• Exam difficulty: If NU DET 2026 was tougher than the previous year, the overall score distribution shifts lower and cutoffs may fall accordingly.
• Reservation policy: Seats reserved for SC, ST, OBC and other categories reduce the effective General category pool, which directly influences where the cutoff lands.