National Institute of Design (NID) Ahmedabad, is the foremost institute in the field of design education and research in India. Established in 1961 as an autonomous institution, NID Ahmedabad is recognised as an “Institution of National Importance” by the Government of India. The institute is approved by UGC and AICTE and is also a member of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU). NID Ahmedabad has been ranked 1st in India in Design by both IIRF and Collegedunia . It has also been recognised as a Scientific and Industrial Design Research Organisation by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Government of India. NID Ahmedabad offers B.Des, M.Des, and Ph.D in around 20 diverse design domains.
BDes is the flagship program of NID Ahmedabad. Admission to B.Des is based on the score obtained by the candidates in the NID Design Aptitude Test (NID DAT) that involves two stages, namely Prelims and Mains. NID Ahmedabad fees for B.Des is INR 4.22 Lakhs for the entire course of 4 Years. The overall cutoff marks for NID DAT are 50.1 - 66 for the general category in 2024.
NID Ahmedabad Placement 2025 Report has not been released yet. However, as per NID Placement 2023, the highest package stood at INR 30 LPA while the lowest package stood at INR 4 LPA. The top recruiters included Nykaa E-Retail, HCL Technologies, Shell India Markets Pvt. Ltd., etc.
NID Ahmedabad Summary
Institute Name: National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad
Established / Type: 1961 | Public
Location: Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Approval: UGC & AICTE
Ranking (Design): 1st by iIRF, 1st by CollegeDunia
Courses Offered: B.Des, M.Des, Ph.D.
Seat Intake:
- B.Des: 128 seats
- M.Des: 126 seats
Admission Criteria: Entrance-Based
Entrance Exams:
- B.Des & M.Des: NID DAT (Design Aptitude Test)
- Ph.D.: NID DRT (Design Research Test)
Highest Placement Package: INR 30 LPA (2023)
Top Recruiters: Nykaa, HCL Technologies, Adobe, Adidas Group India
Facilities Offered: Hostel, Guest House, Health Care, Sports Facilities
NID Ahmedabad Rankings 2025
NID Ahmedabad has always been ranked in the top design colleges in India. In 2025, it topped the charts and emerged in the first position by various ranking agencies. Some of the NID Ahmedabad Rankings in 025 are given below :
Agency | Category | Ranking |
---|---|---|
CollegeDunia | Animation | #1 |
IIRF | Design | #1 |
NID Ahmedabad Courses & Fees 2025
NID Ahmedabad offers UG, PG, and Doctoral courses in 20 diverse design domains under its five faculty streams. The institute offers B.Des at the undergraduate level in nine specialisations and M.Des at the postgraduate level in seven specializations. Ph.D. at NID Ahmedabad is offered in both full-time and part-time modes.
Here is the detailed information about NID Ahmedabad Courses & Fees:
NID Ahmedabad Admission 2025
NID Ahmedabad Admission to all its courses, i.e. B.Des, M.Des, and PhD, is entrance-based. For admission to NID Ahmedabad, candidates will have to appear for NID Entrance Exams- Design Aptitude Test (DAT) and Design Research Test (DRT). NIT DAT is conducted for admission to B.Des and M.Des at the institute, involving two stages, namely Prelims and Mains, consisting of objective and subjective questions. NID DRT is conducted for admission to Ph.D at the institute, consisting of both objective and subjective questions.
Here is the detail regarding NID Ahmedabad Admission:
Course | Eligibility Criteria | Selection Criteria |
---|---|---|
B.Des | Passed 10+2 in any stream from a recognized board & Must not be older than 20 Years of Age | Merit in NID DAT Prelims + NID DAT Mains |
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 Ahmedabad Admission Process 2025
Candidates seeking admission to NID Ahmedabad 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 B.Des & 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 Ahmedabad will be based on the merit list, category of the candidates, and seats available. The admission will be confirmed only after the payment of fees and verification of documents.
NID Ahmedabad Application Fees 2025
The application fee for NID Ahmedabad Admission for B.Des and M.Des through NID DAT is as follows for different categories:
Category | Application Fee | Application Fee + Late Fee |
---|---|---|
General/ EWS/ OBC | INR 3,000 | INR 4,500 |
SC/ ST/ General PwD/ General-EWS PwD/ OBC PwD/ SC PwD/ ST PwD | INR 1,500 | INR 2,250 |
Overseas (Supernumerary) | INR 5,000 | INR 7,500 |
NID Ahmedabad Cutoff 2025
Candidates seeking admission to B.Des and M.Des at NID Ahmedabad will have to meet the set cutoff score for the desired specialization in NID DAT (Prelims + Mains). Only those candidates who will meet the set cutoff score will be eligible for further process of seat allotment for admission. NID Ahmedabad Cutoff for B.Des and M.Des has been released for the year 2024.
NID Ahmedabad B.Des Cutoff 2025
NID Ahmedabad B.Des Cutoff 2024 has been released. Tabulated below is NID Ahmedabad B.Des Cutoff in 2024 for different categories:
Category | Cutoff By Marks (2024) |
---|---|
General | 65.1 |
OBC | 58.8 |
SC | 56.4 |
ST | 52.5 |
EWS | 58.2 |
PwD | 43.5 |
Overseas | 21.2 |
NID Ahmedabad M.Des Cutoff 2025
NID Ahmedabad M.Des Cutoff 2024 has been released. Here is NID Ahmedabad M.Des Cutoff in 2024 for different specializations for the General Category:
Course | Cutoff By Marks (2024) |
---|---|
M.Des Product Design | 64.4 |
M.Des Film & Video Communication | 59 |
M.Des Animation Film Design | 61.4 |
M.Des Interior & Furniture | 51.65 |
M.Des Graphic Design | 60 |
M.Des Ceramic & Glass Design | 57 |
NID Ahmedabad Placements 2025
NID Ahmedabad Placement 2025 report has not been released yet. However, as per NID Ahmedabad Placement 2023, the highest package reached INR 30 LPA. The campus placement process at NID Ahmedabad starts in February for B.Des and M.Des courses. The placement process of NID Ahmedabad consists of corporate presentations, webinars, and PPTs followed by the application of students and finalizing the interview dates. B.Des and M.Des students can apply for full-time job opportunities from the 8th and 5th Semesters respectively. The combined annual placement report for all the NID campuses for 2022-23 has been released.
The key highlights of NID Ahmedabad Placements for 2022-23 are as follows:
Particulars | Placement Statistics (2023) |
---|---|
Highest Package | INR 30 LPA |
Lowest Package | INR 4 LPA |
No. of Students Opting for Placements | 837 |
No. of Offers Made | 620 |
Top Recruiters | Nykaa E-Retail, HCL Technologies, Shell India Markets Pvt. Ltd. |
Some of the top recruiters of NID Ahmedabad are given below:
NID Ahmedabad Top Recruiters | |||
---|---|---|---|
Adidas Group India | Dsyn Media | Godrej Consumers Product Ltd. | JP Morgan |
Bharti Airtel Limited | Ebay | HCL Technologies | Lava International |
Connect Creative | Future Group | Infosys Technologies | Make My Trip |
NID Ahmedabad Campus & Facilities
NID Ahmedabad campus offers necessary facilities to students with a vibrant college life. A guest house is available on the campus for parents of the students. A doctor is available at the campus dispensary for consultation and advice at specific times. NID Ahmedabad also assists students in counselling by arranging a meeting for them with professional counsellors. It has a Student Activity Council which arranges various social and cultural events on campus. The institute has indoor and outdoor sports facilities with a gym. Apart from this, the National Institute of Design has hostels on the Paldi and Gandhinagar campuses which can accommodate around 450 and 200 students respectively.
NID Ahmedabad also has various lab facilities for students which include an Animation Film Design Lab, Exhibition Design Studio and Lab, Film and Video Communication Design Labs, Design Vision Centre, Ceramic Glass Design Labs, Toy and Game Design Studio, Clay Studio, Cintiq Lab & Studio, Skill Development Lab, Physical Computing Lab, AV-Lab, Apparel Design Workshop, Textile Design Weaving Labs, Lifestyle Accessory Design Workshop and Studio, IT Centre, Photography Lab and Dyeing and Printing Studio and Lab, etc.
NID Ahmedabad Entrance
NID Ahmedabad Campus
NID Ahmedabad Library
NID Ahmedabad Old Campus
NID Ahmedabad Practical Room
NID Ahmedabad Classroom
NID Ahmedabad Playground
NID Ahmedabad Alumni
Some of the notable alumni of NID Ahmedabad are as follows:
Name | Details | Alumni |
---|---|---|
Prateek A. Sethi | Animator, Designer, Director, Aerial Cinematographer | ![]() |
Dayanita Singh | Indian Photographer, Publisher of 14 Books | ![]() |
Lekha Washington | Indian Actress, Artist, Product Designer | ![]() |
Rahul Mishra | Indian Fashion Designer, Winner of the International Woolmark Prize 2014 at Milan Fashion Week | ![]() |
Pan Nalin | Indian Filmmaker, Best Known for award-winning movies like Samsara, Valley of Flowers, Angry Indian Goddess | ![]() |
NID Ahmedabad vs NID Gandhinagar
Here is the comparison between the two different NIDs for MDes:
Parameter | NID Ahmedabad | NID Gandhinagar |
---|---|---|
First Year Fees (MDes) | INR 4.90 Lakh | INR 4.50 Lakh |
Ranking | #1 Ranked by IIRF Design Ranks 2025 | #17 Ranked by IIRF Design Ranks 2025 |
Eligibility | Graduation + DAT | Not mentioned |
Course Type | Full Time | Full Time |
Total Seats | 19 | 2 |
Credential | Degree | Degree |
Total Courses Offered | 28 | 19 |
M.Des Courses | 18 | 18 |
Highest Salary | INR 30,00,000 | NA |
Top Recruiters | Adobe, Amazon, Citrix, Cognizant, IBM, Oracle | Cognizant, IBM, Mahindra & Mahindra, Maruti Suzuki, Oracle |
NID Ahmedabad FAQs
Ques. Is NID Ahmedabad a good place to study?
Ans. NID Ahmedabad is an “Institution of National Importance” by the Act of Parliament. This is because the National Institute of Design Ahmedabad offers great faculty members and placement opportunities. Further, NID offers bachelor's and master's degrees in design in multiple specializations. Therefore, making it a good place to pursue a design degree.
Ques. Is it difficult to get into NID Ahmedabad?
Ans. To secure admission to NID Ahmedabad in B.Des and M.Des programmes, 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. Is NID Ahmedabad UGC approved?
Ans. Yes, NID along with each of its campuses are approved by UGC. It means that the degree from the design institute is valid and accepted all around the world. The National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad is an autonomous institution established in the year 1961.
Ques. Is NID better than IIT?
Ans. NID and IIT offer great facilities to students and are equally reputed in the mainstream. While NID can be an ideal choice for students focused on designing and related degrees. Whereas, IIT has courses that extend to different branches of engineering degrees. Students focused on engineering may opt for IIT. However, applicants interested in India's best design degrees and hands-on experience may choose NID.
Ques. Who conducts NID DAT?
Ans. The National Institute of Design (NID) conducts the Design Aptitude Test (DAT) as an entrance test for design-related courses at the UG and PG levels. It is known to be one of the most difficult entrance exams held in the country. To secure a seat in NID, applicants have to qualify for the DAT Prelims and DAT Mains.
Ques. What is the flagship course of NID Ahmedabad?
Ans. The flagship courses of NID Ahmedabad are B.Des and M.Des. Both of these courses are available in a full-time mode on the campus. There are a total of 8 specializations available in the B.Des programme and the M.Des course is offered in seven specializations. At the UG level, a foundation programme is also offered in NID Ahmedabad with a student intake of 125 students.
Ques. Is NID a private university?
Ans. The NID comes under the DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India. Therefore, making it a renowned government institution. It offers bachelor’s, master’s and research degrees in the field of design under numerous specializations.
Ques. What rank is required for NID Ahmedabad?
Ans. The admissions in NID Ahmedabad and other campuses are based on the marks scored in the NID DAT Pre + Mains exam. NID Ahmedabad B.Des cutoff was 65.8 (By Marks) for the year 2023. Therefore, students have to score 65.8 marks or above in the NID DAT entrance exam to secure a seat in the design institute.
Ques. How many specialisations are offered in B.Des at NID Ahmedabad?
Ans. There are in total eight specialisations under B.Des at NID Ahmedabad. The specialisations are as follows:
- Film and Video Communication
- Exhibition Design
- Animation Film Design
- Graphic Design
- Ceramic and Glass Design
- Furniture and Interior Design
- Product Design
- Textile Design
Ques. Can I crack NID DAT in 3 months?
Ans. Even though the NID DAT entrance exam is a difficult exam for a design degree, good preparation can help students crack the NID DAT in 3 months. Additionally, to crack the entrance exam in 3 months, an aspirant has to prepare sample tests, and previously asked questions and enhance creativity before appearing for the exam.
Ques. Is there any reservation for SC/ST students at NID Ahmedabad?
Ans. Yes, NID Ahmedabad has a reservation for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe students. At the time of application and counselling, SC/ST applicants have to produce valid and updated caste certificates to support the caste claim. 15% of the seats are reserved for SC students and 7.5% of seats have been reserved for ST students.
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), as per the announced schedule. The applicants can view the scores as no scorecard will be released by NID.
Ques. Is the NID DAT exam compulsory for Ph.D. at NID Ahmedabad?
Ans. In order to get admission to Ph.D. degree at NID Ahmedabad aspirants have to appear for the NID Design Research Test (DRT). The Ph.D. aspirants will have to qualify for the DRT to be eligible to apply for the desired Ph.D. program.
Ques. What are the reservation categories at NID Ahmedabad?
Ans. Applicants can apply for admission at NID under the following categories
- General
- General, economically weaker section (Gen-EWS)
- Scheduled caste (SC)
- Scheduled Tribe (ST)
- Other backward class- non-creamy layer (OBC-NCL)
- Person with disability (PwD)
Ques. Is NID DAT mandatory for NID Ahmedabad?
Ans. Yes, NID DAT is an entrance exam that is mandatory for all campuses of NID. The DAT exam is an exam that sets the eligibility for every design course and degree at NID. Therefore, without the NID scores an applicant will not get a seat at any campus of the National Institute of Design.
Ques. Is there a personal interview in NID DAT?
Ans. Applicants appearing for the DAT entrance exam for NID have to appear for a personal interview as well, as a part of the eligibility. The interview round is conducted after the written entrance exam. The applicant must appear for the personal interview otherwise they will be disqualified from the selection procedure.
Ques. How many times can we take DAT for NID Ahmedabad?
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.
Ques. What specialisations are offered in M.Des at NID Ahmedabad?
Ans. NID Ahmedabad offers M.Des in the following seven specializations:
- Film and Video Communication
- Graphic Design
- Animation Film Design
- Ceramic and Glass Design
- Furniture and Interior Design
- Product Design
- Textile Design
Ques. How many total courses are offered by NID Ahmedabad?
Ans. NID Ahmedabad offers 3 degrees with multiple specialisations. It offers a bachelor's degree in design with 8 different industry specialisations. Furthermore, the master’s degree offers seven specialisations. Additionally, NID Ahmedabad has launched a Ph.D. course with a duration of 3 to 5 years.
Ques. What is the exam pattern of the NID Ahmedabad entrance exam?
Ans. The Design Institute conducts the DAT entrance exam to process the admissions. The Design Aptitude Test is conducted in two stages – Prelims and Mains. Candidates who qualify for DAT Prelims will be eligible to appear for the DAT Mains exam. The DAT exam will include tests of multiple formats, then followed by a personal interview.
Ques. Who are the top recruiters at NID Ahmedabad?
Ans. The top recruiters at NID Ahmedabad are as follows:
- Adobe
- Microsoft
- Wipro
- Myntra
- Delight
- Ashok Leyland
- Axis bank
- Philips
- Trident group and more.
Ques. Is there a hostel facility in NID Ahmedabad?
Ans. Yes, there is a provision of hostels for both girls and boys on the NID campus. However, the availability of the hostel is offered in the Paldi and Gandhinagar campuses. The hostel accommodation is designated every academic year as shared or single occupancy. NID students can arrange for their accommodation as well.
Ques. Do blind students get reservations at NID Ahemadabad?
Ans. Yes, blind students can get reservations in NID admissions under the PwD category. Moreover, any disability claimed at the time of application should be proved with valid certificates at the time of counselling.
Ques. Does NID Ahmedabad give scholarships to meritorious students?
Ans. There is a limited availability of scholarships to financially weak and meritorious students. Detailed information can be obtained upon successful admission to NID. Moreover, students can approach the desired bank for an education loan too.
Ques. What facilities does NID Ahmedabad offer?
Ans. NID Ahmedabad campus offers necessary facilities to students with a vibrant college life. A guest house is available on the campus for parents of the students. A doctor is available at the campus dispensary for consultation and advice at specific times. NID Ahmedabad also assists students in counselling by arranging a meeting for them with professional counsellors. It has a Student Activity Council which arranges various social and cultural events on campus. The institute has indoor and outdoor sports facilities with a gym.
Comments
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Admission to the National Institute of Design (NID) Ahmedabad is based on the NID Design Aptitude Test (DAT), which comprises two stages:
DAT Prelims: An objective-type computer-based test assessing design aptitude, general knowledge, and observation skills.
DAT Mains: For candidates shortlisted from the Prelims, this stage includes a studio test and a personal interview to evaluate design thinking, creativity, and problem-solving abilities.
NID Ahmedabad cutoff 2024 (qualifying) for admission to B.Des for Open category and Gen-EWS category candidates is 50%. Furthermore, OBC-NCL category candidates have to secure 45% marks in the NID DAT exam. However, the NID Ahmedabad cut-off 2024 for SC and ST category stands at 40% marks, and that of the overseas candidates the cutoff of NID Ahmedabad is 50%. In terms of the exam, NID Ahmedabad DAT Prelims cutoff 2024 is 40%, while the weightage given to NID DAT Mains 2024 is 60% for admission to B.Des courses. This means that for preparing the final result, 40% weightage will be given to Prelims and 60% to marks scored in IIM Ahmedabad DAT Mains exam. In addition to it, for admission to M.Des program at NID Ahmedabad, 30% weightage will be given to the Prelims exam, while 70% weightage will be given to the Mains exams. The DAT Mains exam for the M.Des exam has two components – the Studio Test (40%) and Interviews (30%). The expected cutoff rank is 47 at NID Ahmedabad fr the open category.
In order to check NID DAT prelims result 2024, go to the official website: https://admissions.nid.edu/NIDA2024/Default.aspx . Click the NID DAT prelims result 2024 link for the course that you have opted. Then, enter the registered email id and date of birth to get the results.
The first, second and third-year fees of the course are the same INR 3.68 lacs. The fourth year fee is INR 3.73 lacs.
No, the admissions are based entirely on the basis of the entrance exam taken by NID. You can either give DAT or DRT as per your course preference. Read more about NID Ahmedabad Admissions
NID, Ahmedabad offers a Freeship cum scholarship which covers the tuition fee for one year. Sri Ratan Tata Trust also awards scholarships to five exceptional students. Get to know more about NID Ahmedabad Scholarships
Entrance test viz. NID DAT will be held for admission to NID Ahmedabad in April 2023.
You can check the official site to know about the courses you are looking for
Yes, there is an entrance examination conducted for admission to courses offered by NID Ahemdabad at UG and PG levels.
No fee structure doesn’t include hostel fee but does include tuition fees. You can check the fee structure for more information.
Yes, Graphic Designing is available at UG and PG levels. The eligibility is to complete a 10+2 class for the UG course and graduate for the PG course. Admission is done on a NID entrance examination basis. NID offers hostel facilities to the students.