Design course in NIFT.

NIFT is a great institute that provides a great education system while training students to their inner selves. All the students coming from vast backgrounds are treated equally well. I always felt that I am different in school but in NIFT I found so many people like me and I could actually found my place that comforted me for life.

NIFT Entrance test fashion Design course is something that I always wanted to pursue, My rank was within 100 that helped me choose my favorite course in favorite center.

Course is 4 years long. 1st year is the common foundation program that is offered to students across departments to handle various material and to improve the basic aesthetic of students. Second year onwards specialisation starts and there is a structured program that students go through semester wise to develop their skills in evolving manner.

College helped us getting internship mostly but if you have good contacts with seniors and alumnus then you can get internship at your favorite places with better stipend but during time stipend was too low. as low as 1200 Rs a month, back in 2005.

NIFT provides a structured placement program that are organised at various centres in a span of month where students take their portfolio and get interviewed by companies of their choices. Companies that come for placement are of various scale, While biggest garment companies such a Madura and Arvind come in, some small companies from places like tirupur also come in and offer great job profiles to students. Our placement in 2007 all my classmates were placed and an average package was 3.5L was offered that was a good package at that time.

There were many cultural programs organised including festivals. Many were inter college and many were at international level. Inter college festivals included students from other college and other centers and it was a great time. There were many competitions used to pop up on and off.

Fee during my time(2003-2007) was 25K per semester, that for a lower middle class was a bit on the higher side but I think the facility and exposure that we get in return was a lot higher than what was expected. Apart from fee other constant requirements of stationary and fabric was too much.

A very good and helpful scholarship was given to students whose parents and family earning was less than 1.5L annually, this scholarship refunded half of our tuition fee and that made life so much easier.

NIFT Hyderabd campus during my time was too good. I enjoyed every bit. Faculties were almost like friends and had a great connection with students. Design courses had 75% of girls population and the atmosphere was too open and friendly. Everyone was welcomed and treated equally irrespective of their gender, ethnicity, race, religion, sexual orientation, politics and economic status. It was the best time of my life.

Mess was OK, During my time meal was for 15Rs that I think was good enough but there were other items that you could buy when you have some extra money. We had hostel facility in just first year but later in 2004 they closed boys hostel and asked all of us to move out. After that all the boys stayed outside while most girls stayed in campus hostel.

After passing out students usually lose their connection with college but many of us kept going back and helped many students to get internship and job. Faculties are always sweet to welcome us with full heart whenever we visit campus.

NIFT is not dependent on final exams, you get rated on your daily performance and assignment submitted. Exams are usually chilled out, even theory exams are very casual and simple, Understanding of a topic is more important than the process. Most of the subjects are practical and involve handwork in labs that is great.

NIFT entrance test during my time in 2003 had 3 levels of selection process. First phase has two papers that includes General aptitude Test & Creative ability test. Once you clear this one has to go though Situation test that tests your ability to create a 3D model in a theme given. Personal interview is the last stage of selection process. Counselling program takes place for final selected candidates that helps students to allocate centre and courses.

Most of the faculties were very passionate and had great knowledge about their subjects but design or aesthetic is something that can not be tought in classrooms, one can shape it or direct it in certain direction but can not teach it. Faculties provided us basic tools to create but in the end it was on student that what they create.