NSD: Admission 2025, Fees, Courses, Cutoff, Ranking, Placement

Connaught Place, New DelhiEstd 1959
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Swamini Kushwaha

Content Writer | Updated on - Oct 10, 2025

National School of Drama is popularly known as NSD, is a training institute established in 1959. The institute is fully financed by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. It is the only one of its kind in India that offers a professional Diploma course in the field of drama. It is an autonomous organization situated in New Delhi.

  • It is one of the prominent institutions in the field of theater arts.
  • NSD offers only one course, which is the Diploma in Dramatic Arts.
  • The minimum eligibility criteria for the course are a graduation from a recognized university.
  • The first-year fee for the Diploma in Dramatic Arts is INR 1800.
  • NSD offers admission through a written institute entrance exam conducted by the institute, followed by a workshop round.
  • There are a total of 32 seats for the course, out of which 3 are reserved for foreign nationals.

    NSD Highlight

NSD Courses and Fees

NSD offers a full-time 3-year residential diploma program in dramatics. This course trains students to become professionals in the areas of acting, direction, and theater. Here are the details of NSD Courses and fees:

Course Total Fees Eligibility
Diploma INR 5400 Graduation + Institute Entrance Exam, and Workshop

How is the course designed at NSD?

  • The curriculum is designed to develop practical and professional knowledge in the students.
  • It provides holistic education in the field of acting, direction, stage craft, voice, and movement.

According to Shivani Reddy, the course is affordable and gives quality training and exposure, with hostel facilities available at a reasonable price, providing ample opportunities for students to participate in national and International theatre festivals. Read more.

NSD Admission

NSD offers admission to the 3-year Diploma in Dramatic Arts program. For admission to the Diploma in Dramatic Arts, candidates must have completed a graduation in any discipline from a recognised university in India or abroad. The application fee for the course is INR 50. Here is the step-by-step NSD admission process:

Eligibility Criteria

  • The candidate must have a graduation degree in any stream from a recognized university.
  • Must have participated in at least 6 different theater productions.
  • Must have proof of theater experience, such as a certificate of participation, brochure, leaflet, or newspaper clipping.

Selection Process

The selection process for NSD Courses takes place in two phases:

Phase 1 - This is the first round, where a written exam is conducted by the institute.

Phase 2 - This is the final round, where students who qualified in phase 1 will have to attend a 5-day workshop where an expert committee will assess the aptitude and talent of the candidate.

The selected candidate from the final round will have to undergo a medical test for fitness before joining the campus for classes and activities.

Admission Process

The infographic below shows the step-by-step process for admission to NSD:

NSD Admission Process

NSD Regional Resource Centers

NSD has opened regional resource centres across India. These centres offer 1-year certificate programs for different courses. Here is the list of NSD regional centres:

Center Name Course offered Eligibility
Gangtok 1-Year Certificate Course in Dramatic Arts Graduation + Participated in 4 plays
Bengaluru 1-Year Certificate Course in Acting Graduation + Participated in 4 plays
Varanasi 1-Year Certificate Course in Indian Classical Theatre Graduation + Participated in 4 plays
Agartala 1-Year Certificate Course in Theatre in Education Graduation + Participated in 4 plays
Mumbai 1-Year Acting Course 10+2

NSD Scholarship

NSD offers scholarships to all the students selected for the course to aid their academics and other expenses. The scholarship is provided every month. Check the details of the NSD scholarship in the table below:

Course Scholarship Amount Paid to
Diploma INR 9,500 All the candidates selected for the program

NSD Hostel

NSD grants a hostel to every selected candidate, and the candidate must opt for the hostel facility. The hostel provides all the basic utilities, such as electricity and a mess. Below are the details of the NSD hostel.

NSD Hostel Fees

NSD provides hostels to both boys and girls. The hostel is available with options for room sharing and a dormitory style. The hostel fees per month are INR 3,500.

Here are details of the fee:

Hostel Fees INR 250 per month
Electricity and Water Charges INR 150 per month
Medical Charge INR 100 per month
Mess Charge INR 3000 per month

Key Takeaway from the video:

  • The above video game is a virtual tour of the NSD campus showing its architecture, rehearsal spaces, and student life.
  • The above video gives a glimpse of classroom activities, stage setup, and behind-the-scenes moments.
  • The video highlights how classes of NSD are conducted.
  • The atmosphere at the campus is artistic and is deeply rooted in Indian theatre tradition.

NSD Campus Facilities

NSD campus is vibrant and presents an artistic view. The campus is covered with posters of dramas and different arts. It has multiple auditoriums, rehearsal spaces, and a video & audio library.

Auditorium - the campus has an indoor and open Auditorium where students practice and deliver performances.

Library - Apart from books, NSD also has a video and audio library where more than 3000 videos and 700 CDs are available for the students to practice.

Performing Spaces - the campus has a performance space available where students cannot only practice but also organize many events.

NSD Entrance

Entrance

NSD Main Building and reception area

Main Building and Reception area

NSD Book Shop

Book Shop

NSD vs FTII vs Delhi School of Music

National School of Drama (NSD), Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), and Delhi School of Music are institutions for acting, direction, and the creative arts field. Each institution provides varied courses in performing arts and media education. Where NSD is in theatre, FTII is in cinematic art, and Delhi School of Music is in western classical music and instrumental mastery. Here are some of the points for comparison for NSD, FTII, and Delhi School of Music across different parameters:

Parameter NSD FTII Delhi School of Music
Location New Delhi Pune, Maharashtra New Delhi
Established 1959 1960 1966
Type Public Public Public
Government Affiliation Ministry of Culture Ministry of I&B Independent (Trinity-linked)
Focus area Theatre and Performing Arts Film, TV, Acting, Direction, Cinematography Piano, violin, cello, voice, music theory
Course Type Diploma in Dramatic Arts Diploma and Certificates Certificate / Diploma
Duration 3 Years 1 - 3 Years 1 - 3 Years
Eligibility Graduation + Theatre Experience Graduation + JET + Interview Open enrollment, audition for advanced levels
Admission Process Written Test + Audition (Workshop) JET + Orientation + Interview Audition (for advanced levels)
Hostel Facilities Yes, for both boys and girls Yes, for both boys and girls Does not provide a hostel
Alumni Support Strong Alumni Network Industry Exposure Classical Musicians & Teachers
Notable Alumni Irrfan Khan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Neena Gupta, Anupam Kher Rajkumar Rao, Jaya Bachchan, Sanjay Leela Bhansali -
Campus Performance Driven, Cultural Events Cinematic and experimental learning Small urban campus

NSD Notable Alumni

NSD has produced great actors in the past years. Some of the famous and Notable Alumni of NSD are:

Image Name Designation

Anupam Kher

Anupam Kher Actor, Director

Neena Gupta

Neena Gupta Actor

Satish Kaushik

Satish Kaushik Actor, Director, Comedian

Irrfan Khan

Irrfan Khan Actor

Conclusion

NSD is one of the prominent institutions in the field of performing arts. It provides a full-time 3-year diploma course in dramatic art where the students are introduced to various fields of theatre. The admission course is based on graduation, and students are selected based on a written entrance exam, followed by an audition and interview.

To apply at NSD, the interested candidate must have performed in at least 6 theatre plays. The institute has produced various prominent figures in the field of performing arts, such as Anupam Kher, Irrfan Khan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Neena Gupta, and many more.

NSD FAQs

Ques. How to reach NSD through the Metro?

Ans. Metro is a convenient way to reach NSD. NSD is within walking distance of the metro station. There are 3 metro stations through which you can reach NSD:

Mandi House - 33 meters (1 min. walking distance)

Barakhamba Road - 42 meters (1 min. walking distance)

Tilak Road - 669 meters (9 min. walking distance)

Ques. If a candidate has more theatre experience, can they get admission in NSD?

Ans. To apply for NSD, a candidate is required to have a theatre experience, as the selection is based on the entrance test, audition, and interview. Having a theatre certificate or experience can be beneficial for the audition round, as the candidate will be acquainted with dialogue delivery and facial expression.

Ques. What is the stipend system of NSD?

Ans. NSD comes under the Ministry of Culture, so the education and residence are free of cost. As there is a limited number of students who are selected for NSD, this stipend is given to all the admitted students. The scholarship that the institute provides is called a stipend, as it is given every month.

Ques. What is the medium of instruction at NSD?

Ans. At NSD, students from diverse cultures and backgrounds are selected. The medium of instruction for all the centers, including Delhi, is English and Hindi, except for that of the Bengaluru center, where the medium of instruction is English, Hindi, and Kannada.

NSD Fees & Eligibility

Popular Full time Courses
CourseTotal FeesEligibilityAction
22,230Graduation

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Students Who Applied in NSD

  • PURUSHOTAM KUMAR_image
    PURUSHOTAM KUMARAurangabad,BiharInterested in MBBSLast Active On: Aug 18, 2025
  • Sonal kumari_image
    Sonal kumariBokaro,JharkhandInterested in MA 12th Board: 75%Last Active On: Aug 12, 2025

Courses Offered By NSD 2025

Select Degree and Streams to See Course Fees and Admission Details.

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Streams :
Fine ArtsPerforming Arts
Degree :
DiplomaPh.D
Program Type :
Full Time
Diploma in Dramatic Arts 
Total Fees:₹22,230
2.7(23 Reviews)1 Courses3 Years Full Time
(Based on 522 views last year)
18 Students have shown interest in the last 30 days

Eligibility:

Graduation
1 Courses3 Years Full Time

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Why To Join NSD - Reviews & Rating

4.5
& Win Monthly Prizes Up to ₹1 Lakh/-*
5(45%)
4(0%)
3(0%)
2(36%)
1(18%)

Academic
4.6
Faculty
4.6
Infrastructure
4.4
Accommodation
4.4
Social Life
4.5
Placement
4.3

Most Popular Tags

Reset All Filter

Shivani Reddy
4.5Helpful
Reviewed on Nov 11, 2021(Enrolled 2019)

Admission:

National School of Drama is one of the best drama schools in the state and is the first option for all drama students. The college not only offers students with best of everything but also makes college life super fun. NDS was first option for me after my gradution mainly because of its facilities and faculty support.
...Read More
Prem Luthra
4.7
Reviewed on Aug 21, 2020

Admission:

I feel blessed that I got an opportunity to be the part of such big institution. It is not easy to get admission in NSD but due to my eligibility, I got the admission. I'm in the second year of my diploma course and I'm constantly learning something which will be beneficial for my career in acting.
...Read More
PS Rawat
4.4
Reviewed on Aug 21, 2020

Course Curriculum Overview:

There is a lot to learn because the course structure is curated with care. Though we have to pay attention on the theoretical part of the course, most of the teaching is practical in nature. we have to appear for written test also.
...Read More
Saumya
4.3
Reviewed on Jun 24, 2020

Course Curriculum Overview:

A three year long, full time, on-campus diploma course of dramatic arts indeed has a wholesome curriculum. It revolves around every form of theatre and street art that is available and therefore, provides a platform to every student to learn and grow.
...Read More
Mausam
4.5
Reviewed on Jun 24, 2020

Course Curriculum Overview:

The curriculum of the diploma course in dramatic arts is easy-going and also covers every aspect of theatre and street art. A student is also given a certain level of autonomy to learn and grow on themselves.
...Read More
Rahul
3.7
Reviewed on Jun 24, 2020

Course Curriculum Overview:

The course curriculum of the college is high user end. The students can learn a lot of different art forms and their origin. They can use them to creatively improvise the current system and there is a separate class to think out of the box. To mix and match.
...Read More
Chirag
4.2
Reviewed on Jun 24, 2020

Course Curriculum Overview:

The course curriculum is awesome. You all will love the practical sessions, how they teach different art forms. The curriculum involves the theoretical assessment also, which are are mostly contributed by the history of drama and different forms.
...Read More
Sayak
4.8
Dramatic Arts
Reviewed on Jun 17, 2020

Course Curriculum Overview:

The central aim of the course is to prepare students for the practice of theatre. The most important intention of the course is the development of the intangible concept of creative imagination and its expression within the collective framework of a group.
...Read More
Kaustubh
4.0
Reviewed on Jun 10, 2020

Course Curriculum Overview:

The course structure is delicately curated and the standard of teaching is pretty high. Most of the teaching is practical, there are very few theory classes. We learned from the history of drama and various forms of arts within the theatrical world.
...Read More
ABHISHEK
4.8
Reviewed on Jun 8, 2020

Course Curriculum Overview:

The PG Diploma Course offered by NSD is in the field of Dramatic Arts. This course provides training to candidates to become professional in the area of acting. The duration of the diploma course is 3 years. The applications will have to be obtained either from the official website of NSD or from the offline mode.
...Read More

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NSD: 1 Answered Question

Are there any good acting schools or courses in Delhi other than NSD?

Shivangi GhoseNational School of Drama, India

Yes, there are many good acting schools in Delhi other than NSD. Some of which are - 

  • R.K Films and Media Academy
  • Balajee Academy of Talents
  • Krisshnaa Acting Academy
  • Barry John Acting Studio
  • Padarpan Films and Theater Institute

These are few of the many reputed acting schools in Delhi. 

...Read More
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0
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NSD Facilities

You can check here to see what types of facilities NSD provides.

Library
Hostel
Auditorium
Sports
Gym
Comp Labs
Cafeteria
Medical
Laboratory
Classrooms
Security

NSD Faculty

Basic Information about the Faculty of NSD

Chairman
Padma Shri Paresh Rawal
Associate Professor, World Drama
Santanu Bose
World Drama
Assistant Professor, Extension Programme
Amitesh Grover
Extension Programme
Assistant Professor (Stage Craft)
Aruna Kumar Malik
Assistant Professor (Stage Craft)
Assistant Professor, Lighting Design
Dipankar Paul
Lighting Design
Assistant Professor, Classical Indian Drama
Vivek Emmaneni
Classical Indian Drama
Associate Professor, Acting
Yashraj Jadhav
Acting
Associate Professor, Modern Indian Drama
Ramji Bali
Modern Indian Drama
Assistant Professor, Music
Dr. Jay Prakash
Music
Professor, Acting & Direction
Abhilash Pillai
Acting & Direction

NSD College Details

Basic Information About the Colleges

Bahawalpur House1, Bhagwandas Road
New Delhi - 110001
Delhi NCR, India
Get SMS Contact:  011-23389402
Get Call Details:  011-23389402
Website Link:  http://www.nsd.gov.in
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Comments


Found 15 Comments

T
tania pandey
Oct 21, 2025 09:12
What is the total fees of this course
S
Sweta Kumari
Oct 23, 2025 21:01

NSD Diploma in Dramatic Arts is offered as 3 Years full-time program, with a total intake of 30 seats. The minimum eligibility criteria for a Diploma are Graduation. The total fees for the NSD Diploma in Dramatic Arts are INR 5,400 for the complete course duration.

C
chandni
Feb 9, 2024 17:50
I want to learn acting...
S
Shikhar Srivas
Feb 10, 2024 23:22

To pursue diploma in acting course to learn acting, you need to apply for the application form at www.onlineadmission.nsd.gov.in.

A
abhijeet kumar
Feb 5, 2024 18:48
Kya 12th class ki pass certificate se admission ho skti h
S
Sweta Kumari
Feb 6, 2024 18:42

The basic eligibility criteria for admission to the Diploma program is a Graduation in any subject from a recognized University in India or Abroad. The candidate seeking admission should have participated in at least 6 different theatre productions.

S
sakshi
Feb 3, 2024 10:43
I want to apply in national school of drama in 2024. Please let me know the courses in filmmaking / direction and timings.
S
Sweta Kumari
Feb 4, 2024 19:33

There are no details available for the filmmaking courses. You can visit the campus for the queries about the different courses. 

B
bablu kumar
Dec 5, 2023 17:35
How am I know my admition is done
A
Arshin Khan
Dec 10, 2023 00:21

You will be notified on you registered mail ID provided by your at the time of registration and application.

M
mohit verma
Nov 17, 2023 03:04
I AM 44 YEAR OLD . I WANT TO TAKE PART IN ACTING COURSES ?
S
sandeep pathak
Nov 15, 2023 19:18
How to join the nsd course
S
Sweta Kumari
Nov 16, 2023 20:19

To apply to NSD, candidates can submit their application online, or offline by post. The basic eligibility criteria for admission to the Diploma program is a Graduation in any subject from a recognized University in India or Abroad. 

M
mohammad rehan
Oct 14, 2023 08:10

Kitne duration ka course hoga?

A
Ashish Ramtari
Oct 27, 2023 11:39

The duration varies from course to course of NSD New Delhi. Click on the below link to duration course wise.

Link: NSD New Delhi Courses 

M
mohit khatri
Sep 26, 2023 00:07
When will I get my addmission information?
A
Ashish Ramtari
Oct 1, 2023 06:48

You can check the official website of the National School of Drama to get the admission notification. 

B
bhawana ghatraz
Sep 18, 2023 09:32
Tell me more regarding fees
A
Arshin Khan
Sep 20, 2023 00:22

You can check here to see the courses offered along with their fees at NSD. NSD Courses and Fees You can also check the official webite for more information.

N
nkululeko memela
May 15, 2023 14:35
Where are you located
A
Arshin Khan
May 18, 2023 12:24

This is the address of NSD- Bahawalpur House, 1, Bhagwandas Road, New Delhi – 110 001. Email: nationalschoolofdrama@gmail.com

K
khalid ansari
Feb 13, 2023 02:09
What is the age eligibility criteria to take admission ?
K
Krishan Kumar
Feb 14, 2023 17:26

There is no age criteria prescribed by NSD Delhi for admissions to the courses.

R
rahul raj
Jan 14, 2023 20:52
How much fee of NSD pls tell
K
Krishan Kumar
Jan 15, 2023 14:09

 The total fee of NSD, Diploma [Dramatic Arts] is INR 50280 for 3 years. For more details, visit NSD- admissions, eligibility, courses

S
shruti nitesh kesarkar
Oct 4, 2022 18:04
My daughter want to be an Actor and want to take admission in NSD. she is now studying in 7th standard can u please help in this how can i apply for my daughter. how much percentage required after 10th or 12th.
K
Kirti S
Oct 5, 2022 12:32

Eligibility to pursue NSD is graduation. Meanwhile, At least 6 different theatre production experience and a Letter of Recommendation from the expert are the criteria of selection. This is all that is needed to do NSD.

P
prince raj
Jul 12, 2022 20:30

what's the fee structure of btech in nsd delhi ??

C
Chitransha
Jul 13, 2022 12:50

The National School of Drama (NSD) does not offer B.tech courses. This institute provides admission to the Diploma Course in Dramatic Arts. To be eligible for the course you must have passed your graduation in any stream with participation in at least 6 theatre different productions. Also, the total number of seats is 26 for this course.


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