National Institute of Design (NID) Bangalore is an internationally acclaimed institution. Established in 2006. The institute functions as an autonomous body under the DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India. NID Bangalore is approved by UGC and AICTE and is also a member of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU). The Institute has been ranked by multiple ranking agencies, with Collegedunia ranking it 2nd out of 76 colleges in India in Design and 52nd out of 100 in Animation in 2025.
Key Summary:
- Popular Course: M.Des is the most popular course offered at NID Bangalore, with 5 specialisations having 19 seats each.
- Admission at NID is based on the score in the Design Aptitude Test (NID DAT), which consists of two stages: Prelims and Mains.
- Fees: The first-year tuition fees for M.Des are INR 5.25 Lakhs for Indian National students.
- Cutoff: The cutoff range of M.Des in 2025 is 40.2 - 72.95.
- Placement: As per our research, the highest package offered at NID Bangalore in 2023 stood at INR 36 LPA, while the lowest package stood at INR 15 LPA.
NID Bangalore spans 2 acres of land and boasts state-of-the-art facilities. However, the Institute doesn’t offer hostel facilities as it is a non-residential Campus.
NID Bangalore Important Dates 2026
NID Bangalore accepts NID DAT scores for admission to the M.Des program. Tabulated below are the important admission dates for the upcoming session:
FAQs
Ques. Where can I check my NID DAT results?
Ans. Aspirants can check their NID DAT exam results only on the official website of the National Institute of Design (NID). After entering their credentials, candidates can access their results.
Ques. What are the test centres for DAT Prelims?
Ans. The DAT Prelims will be conducted in the following cities across India: Bangalore, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Chennai, Dehradun, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Jorhat, Kochi, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, New Delhi, and Patna.
NID Bangalore Courses & Fees 2026
NID Bangalore offers a full-time Master of Design (M.Des) of two and a half years duration, and a PhD in Design in both full-time and part-time modes in multiple specialisations. NID Bangalore course fees differ for Indian National Students, Rest of the World Students, and SAARC & African Countries, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam Students.
Here is the detailed information about NID Bangalore Courses & Fees:
| Course | Intake | First Year Tuition Fees (Indian National Students) | First Year Tuition Fees (Rest of the World Students) | First Year Tuition Fees (SAARC & African Countries, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam Students) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| M.Des | 19 | INR 5.25 Lakhs | USD 12,820 | USD 5,820 |
| Ph.D. | 5 | INR 70,000 | NA | NA |
FAQs
Ques. What are the M.Des specialisations offered at NID Bangalore?
Ans. At NID Bangalore, M.Des is offered in 5 specialisations, and they are in Design for Retail Experience, Digital Game Design, Information Design, Interaction Design, and Universal Design.
Ques. At NID Bangalore, can I choose two disciplines for the M.Des Program?
Ans. Yes, at NID Bangalore, Candidates can choose up to a maximum of two disciplines within the chosen faculty stream only.
NID Bangalore Admission 2026
NID Bangalore admission to all its courses, i.e. M.Des and PhD, is entrance-based. The entrance examination is conducted by the Institute itself. All candidates applying for the programmes must fulfil the eligibility criteria of both age and educational qualification.
Here is the detail regarding NID Bangalore Admission:
| Course | Eligibility Criteria | Selection Criteria |
|---|---|---|
| M.Des | Bachelor's Degree of 4 Years/ Full-Time Diploma (4 Years) in Design/ Fine Arts/ Applied Arts/ Architecture/ Bachelor’s Degree of 3 Years | Merit in NID DAT Prelims + NID DAT Mains |
| Ph.D. | M.Des/ M.Phil (Design) Degree with 55% Marks in Aggregate OR B.Des from NID with 3 Years of Professional Experience | Eligibility Screening + Research Proposal Assessment + NID DRT (Design Research Test) + Personal Interview |
NID Bangalore Admission Process 2026
Candidates seeking admission to NID Bangalore will have to apply online on its official website @ admissions.nid.edu/. On successful registration for admission, the candidates will have to appear for the entrance exam on the scheduled date. For M.Des, the admission process includes the following stages:
- NID DAT Prelims Exam + Results
- Shortlisting of Candidates for NID DAT Mains
- NID DAT Mains Exam + Results
- Release of Final Merit List (Score in NID DAT Prelims Exam + Results)
- Seat Allotment Process (Preference Filling, Seat Allotment & Confirmation, Fee Payment)
The seat allotment for final admission at NID Bangalore will be based on the merit list, the category of the candidates, and the seats available. The admission will be confirmed only after the payment of fees and verification of documents.
NID Bangalore Application Fees 2026
The application fee for NID Bangalore Admission for B.Des and M.Des is as follows for different categories:
| Category | Application Fee for M.Des (1 Discipline) | Application Fee for M.Des (2 Disciplines in the same faculty stream only) |
|---|---|---|
| General/ EWS/ OBC-NCL | INR 3,000 | INR 6,000 |
| Female Candidates (except SC, ST & PwD) | INR 2,000 | INR 4,000 |
| SC & ST Candidates | INR 1,500 | INR 3,000 |
| PwD Candidates | INR 500 | INR 1,000 |
| Third Gender | INR 500 | INR 1,000 |
| Overseas (Supernumerary) Candidates | US$ 125 | US$ 250 |
FAQs
Ques. Does NID Bangalore offer category-wise seat reservations?
Ans. Yes, NID Bangalore has category-wise reservation of seats, 10% for Gen-EWS, 27% for OBC-NCL, 15% for SC, and 7.5% for ST. Alongside, 15% supernumerary seats are available for overseas category students.
Ques. How many times can I take the DAT for NID Bangalore?
Ans. There is no specific number of attempts restricted for aspirants for the DAT entrance exam. Therefore, an applicant can take the NID DAT as many times as desired to achieve a score for admission at NID Bangalore.
NID Bangalore Cutoff
Candidates seeking admission to M.Des at NID Bangalore will have to meet the set cutoff score for the desired specialisation in NID DAT (Prelims + Mains). Only those candidates who meet the set cutoff score will be eligible for the further process of seat allotment for admission. NID Bangalore Cutoff for M.Des for the General Category of 2025 are mentioned in the Table below:
| Courses | Round 1 (Cutoff Marks) |
|---|---|
| Digital Game Design | 66.65 |
| Design for Retail Experience | 59.3 |
| Information Design | 63.5 |
| Interaction Design | 57.5 |
| Universal Design | 60.55 |
FAQs
Ques. What rank is required for NID Bangalore?
Ans. The admissions in NID Bangalore and other campuses are based on the marks scored in the NID DAT Pre + Mains exam. NID Bangalore M.Des cutoff was 40.2 for the year 2025. Therefore, students have to score 40.2 marks or above in the NID DAT entrance exam to secure a seat in the design institute.
NID Bangalore Ranking
Various agencies have ranked NID Bangalore in the design & animation categories. Tabulated below are the details of the NID Bangalore rankings of 2025:
| Ranking Agency | Category | Rank in India | Rank in Bangalore |
|---|---|---|---|
| Collegedunia | Design | 2 out of 76 | 1st |
| Animation | 52 out of 100 | 7th | |
| IIRF | Design | 4 out of 109 | 2nd |
NID Bangalore vs NID Ahmedabad vs MITID Pune
NID Bangalore is often compared with similar institutions such as NID Ahmedabad and MIT Institute of Design Pune. Each of these has its own individual advantages over the others. Check out the comparison between NID Bangalore, NID Ahmedabad, and MITID Pune on various parameters:
| Criteria | NID Bangalore | NID Ahmedabad | MITID, Pune |
|---|---|---|---|
| Established | 2006 | 1961 | 2006 |
| Type | Public | Public | Private |
| Location | Yeshwanthpur, Bangalore, Karnataka | Paldi, Bangalore, Gujarat | Loni Kalbhor, Pune, Maharashtra |
| Campus Size | 2 Acres | 37 Acres | 125 Acres |
| Collegedunia Ranking 2025 |
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| Courses Offered | M.Des, Ph.D | B.Des, M.Des, Ph.D | B.Des, M.Des |
| Course Duration (M.Des) | 2.5 Years | 2.5 Years | 2 Years |
| First Year Tuition Fees (M.Des) | INR 5.25 Lakhs | INR 5.25 Lakhs | INR 4.45 Lakhs |
| Admission Process | NID DAT (Prelims + Mains) | NID DAT (Prelims + Mains) | MIT DAT (Design Aptitude Test) |
| Official Website | nid.edu | nid.edu | mitid.edu.in |
NID Bangalore Campus
NID Bangalore Campus is located on a 2-acre site in Bangalore. Being located in Bangalore, the educational and research activities at the campus are in sync with the city ecosystem and focus on bringing digital inclusion in their products and processes across the various disciplines. Some of the facilities offered by NID Bangalore are as follows:
- Lecture Halls: The institute is well versed with proper lecture halls with all the requirements needed for design teaching.
- Design Room: Proper spaces are provided to students with proper centres for design and innovation purposes.
- Design Equipment is also provided to students adequately, with special care taken to produce the overall development of the students.
FAQs
Ques. How to Reach NID Bangalore?
Ans. NID Bangalore is located in Yeshvanthpur, a sub-locality of the northwestern part of Bengaluru city in the state of Karnataka. One can reach NID Bangalore through various bus routes as mentioned below:
| Bus Route | Time to Reach |
|---|---|
| From Frazer Town, Pulikeshi Nagar | 57 Mins |
| From Blossom Book House, Richmond Town | 58 Mins |
| From Malleswaram, Kodandarama Pura | 28 Mins |
| From Sigma Mall, Vasantha Nagar | 39 Mins |
| From Bangalore Club Gym, Richmond Town | 47 Mins |
| From St. Mark's Road, Richmond Town | 50 Mins |
| From PVR Cinemas Elements Mall, Bengaluru | 42 Mins |
Ques. Does NID Bangalore provide any scholarships to its students?
Ans. NID Bangalore provides a limited number of scholarships to financially deserving candidates. Further information on scholarships can be obtained after successful admission to NID.
Ques. Is NID Bangalore a good place to study?
Ans. NID Bangalore is an “Institution of National Importance” under the Act of Parliament. This is because the NID Bangalore offers great faculty members and placement opportunities. Further, NID offers master's degrees and a PhD in design in multiple specialisations. Therefore, it makes it a good place to pursue a design degree.
Ques. Is it difficult to get into NID Bangalore?
Ans. To secure admission to NID Bangalore in the M.Des program, the applicant must appear for a Design Aptitude Test (DAT) conducted by NID. It is one of the most difficult entrance exams held in India. However, applicants with good preparation find their difficulty level not very hard. If applicants prepare well and solve sample papers and previously asked questions, it can be easy to crack the NID Design Aptitude Test (DAT).
Ques. What is the overall NID Bangalore rating according to students?
Ans. According to the 16 verified Collegedunia reviews, NID Bangalore has received the following ratings:
- Academics: 4.3/5
- Faculty: 4.5/5
- Infrastructure: 4.3/5
- Accommodation: 3.8/5
- Social Life: 4.2/5
- Placement: 4.4/5
The ratings reflect an overall student experience and highlight the strengths of the Institute in terms of education, faculty quality, and campus facilities.

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Comments
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NID Bangalore offers five specializations under its M.Des program at the postgraduate level. Aspiring students require a bachelor's degree in any discipline or a full-time diploma in Design/Fine Arts/Applied Arts/ Architecture to apply for admission to M.Des at NID Bangalore. Admission to M.Des at NID Bangalore is based on the aggregate merit scored by the candidates in NID DAT (Prelims + Mains). Candidates seeking admission to NID Bangalore can apply to a maximum of only two disciplines for the M.Des program. In order to apply for admission, candidates must visit the official admissions website at admissions.nid.edu
You will be able to apply for the courses at NID Bangalore by April 14th 2024.
The National Institute of Design does not offer the BDes course. Check here for the National Institute of Design Courses
The NID DAT exam’s prelims were conducted in Jan 8th 2023 and mains in Apr 28 – May 30 2023. You can check out the courses offered at NID Bangalore Courses & fees.