FDDI Hyderabad offers admissions for the 2026-27 Academic Year into a range of creative and management programs such as B.Des, M.Des, BBA, and MBA programs. Admission is based on the AIST 2026 entrance exam or national scores like UCEED/CAT, with a centralized counseling process for seat allotment.
Undergraduate Programs
- Courses: B.Des (Footwear Design & Production, Fashion Design, Leather Lifestyle & Product Design), BBA Honours (Retail & Fashion Merchandise).
- Admission: Based on the FDDI AIST (All India Selection Test), which evaluates Analytical Ability, Verbal Ability, General Awareness, and Design/Business Aptitude. Candidates with valid UCEED scores can apply for a written exam waiver for B.Des.
- Total Duration: 4 Years (B.Des & BBA Honours).
- Fee Range (Total Course):
- B.Des: Approx. INR 9.46 Lakhs.
- BBA Honours: Approx. INR 7.32 Lakhs.
Postgraduate Programs
- Courses: M.Des (Fashion Design), MBA (Retail & Fashion Merchandise).
- Admission: Based on the FDDI AIST followed by a centralized counseling process. Candidates with valid CAT/MAT/XAT/CUET-PG scores are eligible for an exam waiver for the MBA program.
- Total Duration: 2 Years.
- Fee Range (Total Course):
- M.Des: Approx. INR 5.86 Lakhs.
- MBA: Approx. INR 5.86 Lakhs.
Table of Contents
FDDI Hyderabad Admission Dates 2026
Footwear Design and Development Institute (FDDI) Hyderabad follows the centralized admission timeline managed by the Noida headquarters.The Hyderabad campus adheres to a single national schedule for all B.Des, M.Des, BBA, and MBA programs for the 2026-27 session.
The schedule for this year is as follows:
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Application Window | 24th Dec 2025 – 20th April 2026 |
| Late Registration Deadline | 30th April 2026 |
| Application Editing Window | 21st – 22nd April 2026 |
| Admit Card Release | 1st May 2026 |
| AIST Entrance Exam | 10th May 2026 |
| Counselling | June 2026 |
| Fees Payment Deadline | 15th July 2026 |
FDDI Hyderabad UG Admissions 2026
FDDI Hyderabad offers industry-integrated undergraduate programs under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. It provides specialized technical education designed to create global professionals in footwear, fashion, leather lifestyle, and retail management. The details of the programs and selection process are provided below:
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Form | Bachelor of Design (B.Des) / Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA Hons.) |
| Course Level | Undergraduate (UG) |
| Total Duration | B.Des: 4 Years (8 Semesters) / BBA Hons: 4 Years (8 Semesters)* |
| Entrance Exam | FDDI AIST (All India Selection Test) is the primary gateway. |
| Eligibility Criteria | 10+2 Pass in any stream (Science, Commerce, or Humanities). Max age: 25 years. |
| Admission Process | Based on AIST score (Aptitude + Design), followed by centralized counseling. |
| Total Fees | B.Des: INR 9.46 Lakhs; BBA: INR 7.32 Lakhs (Total program). |
| Placement | 80% – 84% placement rate with recruiters like Adidas, Nike, Reliance Retail, and Zara. |
Specialization and Focus Area
| Course | Key Specializations | Seat Intake | Core Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| B.Des Footwear | Footwear Design & Production | 60 | 3D Designing, Material R&D, and technical workshop proficiency. |
| B.Des Fashion | Fashion Design | 60 | Creative garment construction, digital illustration, and textile innovation. |
| B.Des Leather | Leather Lifestyle & Product Design | 60 | Luxury accessory design, leather craft, and lifestyle product development. |
| BBA Retail | Retail & Fashion Merchandise | 60 | Store management, consumer psychology, and supply chain logistics. |
Application Process
- Online Registration: Visit the official portal (admissions.fddiindia.com) and create a "New Candidate" profile starting January 1, 2026.
- Form Submission: Select "Hyderabad Campus" and your preferred UG program (B.Des or BBA).
- Application Fee: Pay INR 600 (General/OBC/EWS) or INR 300 (SC/ST/PwD) via the online gateway.
- Entrance Exam: Download your admit card on May 1st and appear for the AIST on May 10, 2026.
- Counseling: Shortlisted candidates participate in centralized online counseling in June for final seat allotment.
FDDI Hyderabad UG Admission FAQs
Ques. Can I apply to the Hyderabad campus if I have a valid UCEED score?
Ans. Yes. Candidates with a valid UCEED 2026 score are eligible for an exemption from the AIST written test. You can participate directly in the counseling process, where your UCEED percentile will be equated with the AIST merit list.
Ques. What is the seat intake for UG programs at the Hyderabad campus?
Ans. FDDI Hyderabad has a total of 240 seats for undergraduate programs. The breakdown for 2026 is:
- B.Des Footwear Design & Production: 60 Seats
- B.Des Fashion Design: 60 Seats
- B.Des Leather Lifestyle & Product Design: 60 Seats
- BBA (Hons.) Retail & Fashion Merchandise: 60 Seats
FDDI Hyderabad PG Admissions 2026
FDDI Hyderabad offers industry-integrated postgraduate programs under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Its PG curriculum emphasizes industrial research, strategic leadership, and advanced technical mastery in fashion and retail management. The details of the programs and selection process for the 2026-27 session are provided below:
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Courses Offered | Master of Design (M.Des) / Master of Business Administration (MBA) |
| Total Duration | 2 Years (4 Semesters) |
| Eligibility Criteria | Bachelor's Degree in any discipline. No upper age limit for PG programs. |
| Admission Process | Based on AIST score or National exam merit, followed by centralized online counseling. |
| National Exam Accepted | Valid scores in CAT, MAT, XAT, CEED, or CUET-PG allow for an AIST written test waiver. |
| Total Fees (Approx.) | M.Des: INR 5.86 Lakhs; MBA:INR 5.86 Lakhs. |
Specialization and Seat Intake (2026-27)
The Hyderabad campus is a specialized hub for postgraduate studies, particularly renowned for its advanced fashion design and retail management schools.
| Course | Key Specializations | Seats | Core Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| M.Des Fashion | Fashion Design | 30 | Trend forecasting, sustainable apparel tech, and advanced garment construction. |
| MBA Retail | Retail & Fashion Merchandise | 60 | Strategic marketing, retail operations, consumer behavior, and e-commerce. |
Application Process
- Online Registration: Create an applicant profile on the official FDDI portal starting January 1, 2026.
- Form Submission: Select "Postgraduate" as the program level and "Hyderabad" as your primary campus preference.
- Application Fee: Pay INR 600 (General/OBC/EWS) or INR 300 (SC/ST/PwD) via the online gateway.
- Entrance Exam (May 10):
- M.Des Applicants: Attempt sections covering Analytical Ability, English, GK, and Visualization.
- MBA Applicants: Attempt sections covering Quantitative, Verbal, GA, and Management Aptitude.
- Counseling: Shortlisted candidates (including those with exam waivers) participate in online counseling to freeze their seats based on merit ranks.
FDDI Hyderabad PG Admission FAQs
Ques. Are there any exemptions for the PG entrance exam if candidate have a valid CAT or MAT score?
Ans. Yes,For the MBA (Retail & Fashion Merchandise) program, candidates with valid scores in national-level exams like CAT, MAT, XAT, or CUET-PG are exempted from the AIST written test. Your national percentile will be equated with the FDDI merit list for counseling.
Ques. Is there a personal interview or Group Discussion (GD) stage for PG admissions at Hyderabad?
Ans. Yes. For both MBA and M.Des programs, the selection process typically involves a Group Discussion and Personal Interview (GD/PI). While UG admissions are merit-based through the AIST, PG candidates are evaluated on their leadership potential, industry awareness, and communication skills through these additional rounds.
Ques. What is the seat intake for Master's programs at the Hyderabad campus for 2026?
Ans. The seat matrix for 2026 at the Hyderabad campus is 30 seats for M.Des (Fashion Design) and 60 seats for MBA (Retail & Fashion Merchandise).
FDDI AIST Entrance Exam Details 2026
The FDDI All India Selection Test (AIST) is a centralized national-level assessment conducted by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Unlike private institutes, FDDI evaluates candidates through a comprehensive single-stage written examination (Paper-Based Test) that tests both technical aptitude and creative skills.
| Component | Focus Areas | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Analytical Ability | Basic mathematics (Class 10-12), Logical Reasoning, and Data Interpretation. | 45 Minutes |
| Verbal Ability | English Grammar, Reading Comprehension, and Vocabulary Usage. | 45 Minutes |
| General Awareness | Current Affairs, History, Sports, and Fashion/Design-related GK. | 30 Minutes |
| Design / Business Aptitude | B.Des: Sketching, Visualisation, and Colour. BBA/MBA: Branding, Logos, and Management Basics. | 60 Minutes |
Selection Workflow
- Written Phase (The AIST): Candidates appear for the offline pen-and-paper test. The exam for B.Des/BBA typically consists of 126–150 questions with a total of 200 marks.
- Merit Listing: Scores from the AIST are used to generate a Common Merit Rank (CMR). There is usually no negative marking in the FDDI AIST.
- Exemption Route: Applicants with valid national scores (like UCEED for UG or CAT/MAT for PG) can skip the written test and are positioned in the merit list based on their equated percentile.
- Centralized Counseling: Unlike a personal interview stage, admission is finalized through Online Counseling. Seats are allotted based on your Rank, Category, and Campus preference.
FDDI Hyderabad Admission FAQs
Ques. Can I skip the AIST if I have a score from another national exam?
Ans. Yes. Candidates with valid scores from UCEED or CUET-UG (for B.Des) and CAT, MAT, XAT, CEED, or CUET-PG (for MBA/M.Des) are eligible for an exemption from the written AIST. Your national percentile will be equated with the FDDI merit list during counseling
Ques. Is there an age limit for applying to FDDI programs?
Ans. For Undergraduate (UG) programs like B.Des and BBA, the maximum age limit is 25 years as of July 1, 2026. There is no upper age limit for Postgraduate (PG) programs like M.Des and MBA
Ques. Is there a fee concession for FDDI alumni?
Ans. Yes. FDDI Bachelor's graduates with a minimum 7.0 CGPA are eligible for a 10% fee concession on the first-year tuition fee when pursuing a Master’s degree at any FDDI campus.
Ques. Is there a "Bridge Program" approved for non-design students joining PG courses?
Ans. Yes. For the M.Des (Footwear Design & Production) program, the institute offers a specialized Bridge Program for students who do not have a prior design background. This ensures they meet the technical competency standards required by the industry before starting advanced modules.

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