NU DET 2026 Merit List 2 Cutoff: Category-Wise Qualifying Scores

NU DET 2026 Merit List 2 was released on June 8, 2026, with the General category composite merit score cutoff expected in the range of 63–72 out of 100 based on previous year trends.

Nirma University’s Institute of Design published the second merit list for B.Des admission for the 2026 batch. With only 80 total seats across two specialisations, the program is competitive. Merit List 2 fills seats vacated by students who did not confirm admission after Merit List 1. Unlike exams where rank depends solely on test scores, the NU DET merit score is a composite of the entrance exam, a situation test, and a personal interview — making the cutoff analysis distinct from pure score-based rankings.

• NU DET 2026 Merit List 2 released on June 8, 2026 at the official Nirma University B.Des admissions portal.
• Total B.Des intake: 80 seats — 40 in Product and Interaction Design and 40 in Communication Design.
• Merit score = 50% NU-DET/UCEED + 30% Situation Test + 20% Personal Interview.
• General category composite cutoff for Merit List 2 is expected between 63–72 marks (based on 2025 trends).
• Students shortlisted in Merit List 2 must confirm admission within the deadline or the seat is permanently forfeited.

---

NU DET 2026 Merit List 2 Overview

Nirma University issues merit lists in rounds for B.Des admissions. The Phase II merit list was released on May 20, 2026, and Merit List 2 — released June 8, 2026 — addresses seats left vacant when Phase II shortlisted students declined or missed the confirmation deadline. Both B.Des specialisations carry 40 seats each, making each slot highly contested. The university accepts either NU-DET or UCEED scores as the entrance exam component, widening the applicant pool and influencing where the cutoff falls.

---

How the NU DET 2026 Merit Score Is Calculated

Unlike entrance exams where rank depends on a single test score, NU DET 2026 admission uses a three-component composite merit score. Students who scored moderately in the entrance exam but excelled in the situation test or interview may still clear the cutoff. The table below shows the weightage breakdown.

A high entrance exam score does not guarantee admission if the situation test or interview performance is weak. Students should review their individual component scores on the official portal to understand where they stand relative to the Merit List 2 cutoff.

---

Category-Wise Cutoff for NU DET 2026 Merit List 2

The Merit List 2 cutoff is invariably lower than Merit List 1 as remaining seats are filled from the waitlisted pool. The table below shows expected composite merit score cutoffs for NU DET 2026 Merit List 2 by category, based on 2025 admission trends.

All cutoff ranges are expected figures based on 2025 trends. Actual 2026 cutoffs depend on seat vacancies after Merit List 1 confirmations and overall applicant performance this year.

The specialisation you applied for also matters. Communication Design seats have historically attracted slightly higher composite cutoffs than Product and Interaction Design due to higher applicant preference. Students who applied to both specialisations may receive an offer for the less competitive program even if they narrowly miss the threshold for their first choice.

---

Factors Affecting NU DET 2026 Cutoff

Understanding what drives the Merit List 2 cutoff helps you read your admission chances more accurately. The following factors shape the qualifying threshold each year.

• Seat vacancy after Merit List 1: The fewer students who decline after Merit List 1, the tighter the Merit List 2 cutoff. A high acceptance rate in round one leaves fewer seats for round two.
• Composite score distribution: Because 50% of the merit score comes from the situation test and interview, the overall score distribution is different from a pure pen-and-paper exam, which affects where the cutoff band falls.
• UCEED vs NU-DET applicant mix: Both scores are accepted, creating a larger and more varied applicant pool that can push the General category cutoff upward in high-demand years.
• Specialisation preference: Students listing Communication Design as their first choice concentrate competition there, raising that program’s cutoff relative to Product and Interaction Design.
• Category-wise vacancy: If reserved category seats go unfilled in Merit List 1, more positions open for those categories in Merit List 2, which can ease the category-specific cutoff.
• NRI supernumerary fill rate: Unfilled NRI/NRI-sponsored seats do not convert to General category seats, so they do not directly affect the domestic cutoff.

---

Steps to Take After Merit List 2 Selection

If your name appears in NU DET 2026 Merit List 2, act immediately. The confirmation window for Merit List 2 is typically two to three days, and missing the deadline permanently forfeits the seat.

1. Visit the official Nirma University B.Des admissions portal at design.nirmauni.ac.in.
2. Log in with your application number and date of birth.
3. Download and verify your Merit List 2 offer letter, noting the offered specialisation and category.
4. Pay the seat confirmation or semester fee online within the stated deadline.
5. Upload the required documents: Class 10 and 12 marksheets, NU-DET or UCEED admit card and scorecard, category certificate (if applicable), government-issued photo ID, and recent passport-size photographs.
6. Attend in-person document verification at the Institute of Design, Nirma University, Ahmedabad, if directed.
7. Collect your provisional admission letter after successful verification to complete enrolment.

---