The National Institute of Design has released the NID DAT 2026 Prelims admit card on December 11, 2025. The admit card for B.Des and M.Des is available at admissions.nid.edu. Candidates can download it using their registered email ID, date of birth and password. The admit card includes the allotted exam centre address, reporting time, exam date and timings, roll number and other key details.

NID 2026 Entrance Exam (Prelims) will be conducted on December 21, 2025 for B.Des and M.Des. 

Quick Links:

• NID DAT Exam Pattern
• NID DAT Question Papers
• NID DAT Cut Off Expected

Ques: What are the various categories for which NID DAT merit list will be released?

Ques: What is the intake capacity at NIDs?

Ques: Do I need to select campuses as a part of the B.Des Program?

NID DAT 2026 Seat Capacity

The seat capacity of various NID’s accross India are:

What is NID DAT 2026?

NID grants admission to the design courses based on two stages of Design Aptitude Tests: Design Aptitude Test (DAT) Prelims and Design Aptitude Test (DAT) Mains.

The National Institute of Design (NID) encompasses five faculty streams and offers 20 diverse design domains. The NID DAT Campus provides eight different specializations for the Bachelor of Designing (B. Des) program and also offers a Graduate Diploma Programme in Design (GDPD). These are the undergraduate courses which are for 4 years.

The Master of Designing (M.Des) program offers 18 different specializations and duration for these PG courses is two and a half years.

The Ph.D. programmes are in two modes full-time and part-time formats. The full-time is for 3 years.

According to the official notice from NID, students who've completed their 10+2 are good to go for applying to the B.Des course. Just make sure the qualifying exam is from a board recognized by the Association of Indian Universities. For the M.Des course, students holding a minimum of a 3-year Bachelor’s degree are eligible to apply. Check NID DAT Eligibility 2026

NID DAT 2026 Admission Highlights

Besides knowing the exam pattern, it's crucial for students to dive deep into the NID DAT Syllabus 2026 before kicking off their prep. Remember, the syllabus differs for B.Des and M.Des. To get a comprehensive grip on the syllabus, checking out recommended NID DAT Books can be a smart move. It'll help you cover the syllabus thoroughly and be better prepared for the exam! Check NID DAT 2026 Exam Pattern and Syllabus

NID DAT Important Dates 2026

NID DAT 2026: B.Des Admission

There are following below specializations which are offered under undergraduate course of B.Des. in NID DAT:

• Ceramic and Glass Design
• Product Design
• Exhibition Design
• Graphic Design
• Furniture and Interior Design
• Animation Film Design
• Film and Video Communication
• Textile Design

NID DAT Eligibility 2026: B.Des

The eligibility for NID DAT are mentioned below:

• The candidate must pass class 12th from any stream which is a minimum eligibility.
• In the year 2026-25 the candidate needs to apply for B.Des. at NID should meet the eligibility criteria if they have cleared or are appearing for their higher secondary (10+2) qualifying examination from any stream (Science, Commerce or Humanities).
• The upper age limit for UG course is 20yrs n or before July 1.

Selection Criteria for NID DAT B.Des

At NID DAT there are two stages for the Admission to the UG courses on the basis of Design Aptitude Tests.

1. Design Aptitude Test (DAT) Prelims
2. Design Aptitude Test (DAT) Mains
3. On the basis of merit list the successful candidates can appear for Design Aptitude Test (DAT) Mains

Note: The candidates applying for B.Des. and GDPD, their allotment of campus and seat are totally based on merit list.

NID DAT Prelims Qualifying Marks 2026

Predicting the qualifying marks for NID DAT Prelims 2026 can be a bit tricky at the moment because the National Institute of Design (NID) hasn't released them yet. Typically, they spill the details around mid-February. To keep in the loop, make sure to check the official NID website regularly. While we eagerly await the official word, we can make an educated guess based on past patterns, reliable sources, and an analysis of previous NID DAT cutoffs.

Estimating the precise cutoff score for NID DAT 2026 poses a challenge, considering several factors:

• Total number of applicants: Higher applicant numbers may lead to elevated cutoffs.
• Difficulty level of the exam: A tough exam might result in a lower cutoff to accommodate deserving candidates.
• Seat availability: Limited seats in a sought-after program could increase the cutoff.
• Performance of the test-takers: Exceptional performance has the potential to raise the cutoff. Keep an eye on these factors for a better understanding of the expected cutoff score.

The cut off 2026 (Expected) for NID DAT B.Des

GDPD Admission 2026 for NID DAT

There are following below specializations which are offered under undergraduate course of GDPD in NID DAT:

• Industrial Design
• Textile and Apparel Design
• Communication

Eligibility for NID DAT 2026 GDPD

The eligibility for NID DAT is mentioned below:

• The candidate must pass class 12th from any stream which is a minimum eligibility.

Selection Criteria for NID DAT 2026 GDPD

The candidate would be selected on the basis of merit list of entrance test followed by counselling process.

NID DAT 2026: M.Des. Admission

It offers 2.5 year postgraduate courses in Master of Design (M.Des.) and 19 specializations which are as follows:

• Animation Film Design
• Furniture & Interior Design
• Graphic Design
• Textile Design
• Lifestyle Accessory Design
• New Media Design
• Toy and Game Design
• Design for retail experience
• Information Design
• Universal Design
• Ceramic and glass design
• Film and Video communication
• Product design
• Apparel Design
• Strategic Design Management
• Photography Design
• Transportation and automobile design
• Digital Game Design
• Interaction Design

NID DAT Eligibility 2026: M.Des

The eligibility for NID DAT is mentioned below:

• The candidate must possess bachelor degree of minimum 4-year duration in any specialization after passing 12th standard or equivalent to 12th standard.
• The candidate must possess bachelor degree of minimum 3-year duration in any specialization after passing 12th standard or equivalent to 12th standard.
• The candidate must have a full-time diploma in Design/Fine Arts/Applied Arts/Architecture of minimum 4-year duration, which should be obtained after successfully completing the 12th standard or an equivalent qualification.

Selection Criteria for NID DAT GDPD

The candidate would be selected on the basis of candidate’s performance in DAT followed by a Personal Interview.

The weightage for DAT Prelims and DAT Mains is as follows:

Note: The candidate can apply in ONLY TWO disciplines for the Master of Design programme

• The allotment of seats to the candidates would be based on the preference submitted by the candidate at the time of application submission.
• Applications once received is not transferable at any stage of the admissions process.

The cut off 2026 (Expected) for NID DAT M.Des

NID DAT Previous Years’ Cut Off

Check out the previous years cut off for NID DAT exam.

NID DAT 2023 Cut Off Scores

Ph.D. Admission 2026 for NID DAT

NID grants admission to successful candidates for Ph.D. based on the Design Research Test (DRT), which NID conducts at its Ahmedabad Campus.

The candidate who are shortlisted after DRT will only be invited for the interview and presentation round.

NID DAT 2026: PhD Admission

NID DAT Eligibility 2026: Ph.D

The eligibility for Ph.D. candidate is as follows:

• Candidate needs to have a qualification in Design.
• Candidate needs to have a Bachelor’s level qualification in Design from NID.
• 3 years of professional or teaching experience minimum.
• One can obtain a master's degree in Design, such as an M.Phil. (Master of Philosophy) degree.

How to apply for Ph.D. at NID DAT

As per the NID admission process the candidate needs to first fill their application form. The successful candidate who meets the eligibility criteria for the exam would appear for NID DAT Prelims. After successful clearing of NID DAT prelims the candidate needs to appear for NID DAT Mains. Once the NID DAT Main is also cleared the candidate is offered admission in the course/ college of their choice.

Steps to fill Application Form

• Sign up and enter required details
• Fill the Application form
• Upload the documents
• Pay the Application fees
• Print the Admit card

Things to remember:

• Fill NID DAT Application form
• Download NID DAT Admit card
• Appear for the prelims
• Check NID prelims Result
• Appear for NID Mains
• Check NID Final Merit list

NID DAT Application fee 2026

NID DAT fee can be paid online or offline. Payment can be made online through debit card/credit card. The following are the application fees for various courses:

NID DAT 2026 Exam Pattern

Candidates are assessed on the basis of their design skills, creativity, reasoning ability, and problem-solving skills. NID DAT 2026 Exam Pattern highlights have been tabulated below separately for B.Des and M.Des:

NID DAT Syllabus 2026

NID DAT 2026 Syllabus for B.Des Prelims

NID DAT Syllabus 2026 for Studio Test

NID DAT 2026 Syllabus for B. Mes Prelims

NID DAT 2026 Mains Syllabus for M.Des

NID DAT 2026 Best Books

Check NID Preparation Tips

NID DAT 2026 FAQs