By DQ Labs | Design Exam Coaching, Bangalore
Update (September 2026): The official NID Admissions Handbook 2027-28 was published on 10 September 2026 and registration is now open at admissions.nid.edu until 11:59 PM, 30 November 2026. DAT Prelims will be held on Sunday, 20 December 2026. Everything on this page has been verified against the official 2027-28 handbooks; items NID has marked “to be announced” (Mains dates, final weightages) are labelled accordingly and will be updated as NID announces them.
What changed in NID DAT for 2027 (per the official Handbook, published 10 Sept 2026)
The 5.5-Year Integrated Pathway M.Des replaces the standalone B.Des at NID Ahmedabad, Bengaluru and Gandhinagar – students join after Class 12 and graduate with a Master’s. It runs 11 semesters, with 15 disciplines across five design streams (9 seats each). The B.Des / Integrated M.Des route continues at NID Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh.
The Mains weightage split is no longer published – NID states the Studio Sensitivity Test / In-Person Sensitivity Test weightages “will be announced later.” Both components remain mandatory. (The 2026 cycle used 60/40 for B.Des and 40/60 for M.Des.)
For each category, the number of candidates shortlisted for DAT Mains will be 2.5 times the available seats.
M.Des is no longer limited to three campuses – the handbook describes separate DAT Mains conducted by NID Madhya Pradesh and NID Haryana for their disciplines.
One combined handbook now governs B.Des and the Integrated Pathway – and NID has already published its first amendment (15 September, on the application edit window), so always check the Amendment section before acting on any date.
What is the NID Entrance Exam?
The NID Design Aptitude Test (NID DAT) is the national-level entrance exam conducted by the National Institute of Design for admission to its undergraduate-entry and postgraduate design programmes – from 2027, that means the new 5.5-Year Integrated Pathway M.Des, the B.Des, and the M.Des.
5.5-Year Integrated Pathway M.Des (join after Class 12; eleven semesters) is offered at: NID Ahmedabad · NID Bengaluru · NID Gandhinagar – this replaces the standalone B.Des at these three campuses from the 2027 cycle.
Bachelor of Design (B.Des – 4 years) / 5.5-Year Integrated M.Des is offered at: NID Andhra Pradesh (Vijayawada) · NID Haryana (Kurukshetra) · NID Madhya Pradesh (Bhopal) · NID Assam (Jorhat) – programme and seat details on each institute’s website.
Master of Design (M.Des – 2.5 years) is offered at: NID Ahmedabad (main campus) · NID Gandhinagar · NID Bengaluru, with M.Des programmes also at NID Madhya Pradesh and NID Haryana – these require a separate application through a separate link, and NID MP permits only one discipline (Experience Design, Design For Care or Textile Design, 12 seats each, per the 24 September amendment).
NID Ahmedabad and its Gandhinagar and Bengaluru extension campuses are an Institute of National Importance under the NID Act 2014, functioning autonomously under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India. NID Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Assam are also autonomous Institutes of National Importance under DPIIT – none of them are state-run institutions.
Admission is decided across two stages – DAT Prelims and DAT Mains – which together assess, in NID’s own words, the knowledge, skills and behavioural abilities of candidates.
Official admissions website: https://admissions.nid.edu NID institutional website: https://nid.edu
NID’s own warning: Applications are invited online only at https://admissions.nid.edu. Any website referring to NID with a “.org” or “.org.in” domain is fake. Verify the URL before submitting anything.
NID 2027 Exam Overview
| Particulars | Details |
| Exam name | NID Design Aptitude Test (NID DAT) |
| Conducting body | National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad |
| Exam level | National |
| Frequency | Once a year |
| Stages | DAT Prelims (qualifying only) + DAT Mains (decides the merit list) |
| Programmes | B.Des (4 yrs), M.Des (2.5 yrs) |
| Mode | Offline, pen-and-paper |
| Medium | English only – application, question papers and instruction |
| Prelims duration | 3 hours in the 2026 cycle (10 AM–1 PM). NID announces the confirmed duration in the Admit Card, not in the handbook |
| Negative marking | None |
| Expected NID 2027 Prelims date | Sunday, 20 December 2026 (confirmed) |
| Official website | https://admissions.nid.edu |
The single most important structural fact: DAT Prelims carries 0% weightage in the final result. Both official 2027-28 handbooks state plainly that the Prelims score is used only to shortlist candidates for Mains and is not carried forward. Your rank is decided entirely by DAT Mains – confirmed for the 2027 cycle.
NID 2027 Exam Dates
NID 2027 Important Dates – B.Des/Integrated Pathway & M.Des (Official Schedule)
| Event | Official Date (Handbook 2027-28) |
|---|---|
| Notification & handbook release | 10 September 2026 |
| Registration begins | 10 September 2026 (registration is open now) |
| Last date to submit the application | 11:59 PM, 30 November 2026 |
| Window to edit the application form | 4 PM, 1 December – 11:59 PM, 3 December 2026 |
| Prelims Admit Card release | From 4 PM, 10 December 2026 |
| DAT Prelims exam | Sunday, 20 December 2026 |
| One-time window to edit the category certificate | 4 PM, 16 February – 11:59 PM, 28 February 2027 |
| Prelims result | 4 PM, 16 March 2027 |
| Re-totalling window (Prelims) | 4 PM, 16 March – 11:59 PM, 17 March 2027 |
| Mains Admit Card release | To be announced |
| DAT Mains (Studio Sensitivity + In-Person Sensitivity) | To be announced |
| DAT Mains result | To be announced |
| Admission counselling, fee payment & document verification | To be announced |
This schedule is common to both programmes. For M.Des, DAT Mains (Studio Test + Interview) is conducted by the respective NIDs – candidates for disciplines at Ahmedabad, Bengaluru and Gandhinagar sit Mains conducted by NID Ahmedabad, while NID Madhya Pradesh and NID Haryana announce their Mains schedules separately on their own websites. All Mains dates are yet to be announced – check the Amendment section at admissions.nid.edu (two amendments so far: 15 Sept on the application edit window; 24 Sept publishing NID Madhya Pradesh’s M.Des disciplines and seats).
NID conducts the entrance exam once a year. Prelims and Mains are two stages of a single admission cycle, not two separate attempts.
NID 2027 Eligibility Criteria
Your candidature is cancelled if you do not satisfy every criterion. Age limits below are as per the official 2027-28 Admissions Handbooks.
| Category | B.Des / Integrated Pathway (born on or after) | M.Des (born on or after) | M.Des Design Education only (born on or after) |
|---|---|---|---|
| General / GEN-EWS | 1 July 2006 | 1 July 1995 | 1 July 1992 |
| OBC-NCL / SC / ST | 1 July 2003 | 1 July 1992 | 1 July 1989 |
| PwD | 1 July 2001 | 1 July 1990 | 1 July 1987 |
| Overseas (Supernumerary) | 1 July 2006 | 1 July 1995 | 1 July 1992 |
Age Limit
Note: Overseas category candidates cannot avail age relaxation, scribe facility or other reservation benefits.
Educational Qualification – B.Des
Open to candidates who have passed, or will appear for, the higher secondary (10+2) qualifying examination in the current academic year (2026–27 cycle: AY 2026–27), in any stream – Science, Commerce, Arts or Humanities – from any recognised board (CBSE, ICSE, IB, State Boards or equivalent).
Candidates appearing for Class 12 in 2027 must pass in the first attempt and submit the qualifying marksheet on or before 15 July 2027. Any backlog, compartment or supplementary paper, or failure to submit the result by that date, results in the admission being cancelled and the entire fee forfeited.
Repeaters and drop-year candidates are governed by the age limit above – the handbook ties the qualifying examination to the current academic year, so confirm your specific situation against the 2027–28 handbook before applying.
Accepted equivalent qualifications
- Final examination of the 10+2 system under a Central or State Board recognised by the AIU
- Intermediate or two-year Pre-University examination under a Board or University recognised by the AIU
- Final examination of the two-year course of the Joint Services Wing of the National Defence Academy
- Senior Secondary examination under NIOS, with a minimum of five subjects
- Any public school, Board or University examination in India or abroad recognised as equivalent to 10+2 by the AIU
- H.S.C. Vocational examination
- GCE A-Level taken in London, Cambridge or Sri Lanka
- AICTE-approved 3-year full-time Diploma after Class X, from a State/UT Board of Technical Education
Educational Qualification – M.Des
This changed in the 2026–27 cycle and continues in 2027-28 – older guides still carry the outdated version.
A Bachelor’s degree, or its equivalent, in any discipline, awarded by a University or institution incorporated by an Act of Parliament or a State legislature, or deemed a University under Section 3 of the UGC Act 1956, or an equivalent qualification recognised by the Ministry of Education, Government of India.
There is no minimum-duration rule (3-year vs 4-year) and no separate diploma pathway in the current handbook.
Final-year candidates (appearing in the academic year 2026–27) are eligible, provided they:
- Pass the final qualifying examination in the first attempt and submit the final result/marksheet by 31 July 2027
- Have appeared for all subjects and cleared any backlogs on or before 28 June 2027, supported by a self-undertaking signed by the candidate and parents plus an undertaking from the college/university
- Submit an additional college/university certificate at physical document verification if still appearing after provisional admission
Common to both programmes
| Criterion | Details |
| Foreign board / university | Equivalence certificate from AIU, New Delhi / Ministry of Education, Govt. of India required at document upload |
| Nationality | Open to Indian nationals and foreign nationals (Overseas Supernumerary category) |
| OCI / PIO holders | Must apply only under the Overseas category |
| NRIs on an Indian passport | Apply as Indian nationals, not Overseas |
| Medium of instruction | English |
| Number of attempts | No officially published cap – governed by age limit and qualification window |
NID 2027 Application Fee
As per the official NID Admissions Handbooks 2027-28. M.Des fees are charged per discipline.
Indian Nationals
| Applicant | B.Des / Integrated Pathway | M.Des (1 discipline) | M.Des (2 disciplines) | M.Des (3 disciplines) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General / GEN-EWS / OBC-NCL | ₹3,000 | ₹3,000 | ₹6,000 | ₹9,000 |
| Female candidates (except SC/ST/PwD) | ₹2,000 | ₹2,000 | ₹4,000 | ₹6,000 |
| SC & ST | ₹1,500 | ₹1,500 | ₹3,000 | ₹4,500 |
| PwD | ₹500 | ₹500 | ₹1,000 | ₹1,500 |
| Third Gender | ₹500 | ₹500 | ₹1,000 | ₹1,500 |
Overseas (Supernumerary) Candidates
| Applicant | B.Des / Integrated Pathway | M.Des (1 discipline) | M.Des (2 disciplines) | M.Des (3 disciplines) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overseas (Supernumerary) | US$ 125 | US$ 125 | US$ 250 | US$ 375 |
Converted to the rupee equivalent, rounded up to the nearest ₹100 at the time of the announcement.
Notes:
- The application fee is neither refundable nor transferable
- Bank transaction / convenience charges are not included and are borne by the candidate
- Third Gender candidates must upload a Certificate of Identity issued by the District Magistrate under the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act 2019, and/or an identity card from transgender.dosje.gov.in, to avail the fee relaxation
- If you change your category during the edit window, you pay the difference; no refund is issued if the new category has a lower fee
How to Apply for NID 2027
The entire process is online only. Registration is expected to open in September 2026.
Step 0 – Read the handbook
Download and read the Admissions Handbook 2027–28 for your programme before you start. You will be asked to confirm you have read it.
Step 1 – Sign up
Register at https://admissions.nid.edu – this is the only valid portal. Select your Programme of Study, Nationality and Category, then provide a valid email ID and active mobile number. Both receive an OTP for validation.
Locked forever after signup: Name of Candidate, Programme Applied In, Date of Birth, Registered Email ID, Registered Mobile Number. These cannot be changed at any stage – not even in the correction window.
Keep that email and mobile active until 31 August 2027. All NID communication comes from [email protected] or [email protected] – check spam folders.
Step 2 – Fill the application form
Complete personal and educational details.
- B.Des candidates additionally submit their Institute Campus preference at this stage
- M.Des candidates choose their disciplines under the new 2027–28 group system (the earlier faculty-stream system of ID, CD, TAAD, ITID and IDDS no longer applies). NID has sorted its M.Des disciplines into five groups of related fields – plus one special group called Group X, which holds four broader specialisations: Design Trends and Futures, Design Education, Strategic Design Management and Universal Design.
You can apply for one, two or three disciplines: - One discipline – any one, from any group
- Two disciplines – both from the same group, or one regular discipline + one from Group X
- Three disciplines – two from the same group + one from Group X
Step 3 – Upload documents
| Item | Format | Size |
| Recent passport-size colour photograph (professional studio; selfies rejected) | JPG/JPEG | 50 KB – 200 KB |
| Scanned signature | JPG/JPEG | 50 KB – 200 KB |
| Category certificate (EWS / OBC-NCL / SC / ST / PwD), if applicable | Max 1 MB | |
| Passport first & last page + OCI/PIO card (Overseas only) | JPG/JPEG | – |
| Third Gender certificate / identity card, if applicable | Max 1 MB |
Certificate validity dates (2026–27 reference): GEN-EWS and OBC-NCL certificates must be issued on or after 01 April 2026, based on gross annual income for FY 2025-26, in the prescribed Central Government format (official 2027-28 handbook).
Step 4 – Pay the application fee
B.Des accepts debit card, credit card and net banking. M.Des accepts debit and credit card. Your application is complete only once you can view, download or print the auto-generated application form.
Step 5 – Submit and save the confirmation
Download and print the confirmation page.
Step 6 – Use the correction window if needed
A ~3-day edit window opens shortly after the application deadline. Everything except Programme Applied In, Name, Date of Birth, Registered Mobile and Registered Email can be edited – including your test centre, which cannot be changed once the window closes. If you edit anything, complete all steps to the end and reprint the form to confirm the change was saved.
NID 2027 Exam Pattern
NID DAT runs in two stages. Both must be cleared in sequence.
Stage 1 – DAT Prelims
| Particulars | Details |
| Mode | Offline, pen-and-paper |
| Duration | 3 hours in the 2026 cycle (10 AM–1 PM). NID announces the confirmed duration in the Admit Card |
| Total marks | Reported as 100 in the 2026 cycle. NID does not publish a mark scheme in the handbook |
| Paper structure | NID publishes no official section split. Questions may involve both text and visuals |
| Negative marking | None |
| Weightage in final result | 0% – qualifying stage only |
What actually happened in the 2026 paper (21 December 2025): for both B.Des and M.Des, candidates and exam-centre reports recorded no General Aptitude / objective section at all. The paper was entirely creative and subjective – drawing, visualisation, scene-building and design thinking.
But note: The 2027-28 handbooks no longer reference an objective/OMR component anywhere – but since NID announces the paper’s format and duration only in the Admit Card, treat the fully-creative format as current reality, not a guarantee.
Other Prelims facts:
- The paper is common across all NID campuses and conducted simultaneously at every centre
- For M.Des, there is a single common test paper for all disciplines across all groups.
- Separate category-wise merit lists are prepared (GENERAL, GEN-EWS, OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD), with a separate list for Overseas candidates
- Prelims marks are not carried forward – the stage exists purely to shortlist
Shortlisting ratios differ sharply by programme:
| Programme | Candidates shortlisted for Mains |
| B.Des / Integrated Pathway | 2.5× the seats available in each category (increased from 1.5× in the 2026 cycle) |
| M.Des | 4.5× the seats available in each category, per discipline |
This is a meaningful difference. B.Des Prelims is a genuinely tight filter; M.Des Prelims is a far wider net.
Stage 2 – DAT Mains
B.Des Mains:
| Component | Format | Weightage |
| Studio Sensitivity Test | Hands-on creative and design tasks – sketching, model-making, material handling, design problem-solving | 60% |
| In-Person Sensitivity Test | Face-to-face evaluation of design sensibility, observation and how you articulate your design decisions | 40% |
M.Des Mains:
| Component | Format | Weightage |
| Studio Test | Faculty-stream-specific – one common Studio Test for all disciplines within your chosen stream | 40% |
| Personal Interview | Discipline-wise – assesses portfolio, design thinking and fit for the specific discipline | 60% |
M.Des candidates choose their disciplines under the new 2027–28 group system (the earlier faculty-stream system of ID, CD, TAAD, ITID and IDDS no longer applies). NID has sorted its M.Des disciplines into five groups of related fields – plus one special group called Group X, which holds four broader specialisations: Design Trends and Futures, Design Education, Strategic Design Management and Universal Design.
Key points about Mains:
- DAT Mains carries 100% of the final result for both programmes, since Prelims carries 0%
- You must appear for both Mains components to be eligible for the merit list
- Mains is conducted in English only
- A separate Admit Card is issued for Prelims and for Mains
- Mains test centre details are announced in the Mains Admit Card – NID does not publish them in advance
- NID does not provide accommodation for either stage; arrange your own travel and stay
The In-Person Sensitivity Test – what we know
The In-Person Sensitivity Test was introduced in the 2026 cycle as a new B.Des Mains component at 40% weightage. It is understood to involve an in-person, interview-style interaction centred on the tasks you completed in the Studio Sensitivity Test – assessing how you think about and explain your design decisions rather than just what you produced.
Because it is new, detailed evaluation criteria have not been published. Watch admissions.nid.edu for official guidance in the 2027–28 handbook.
Test Centres for DAT Prelims
DAT Prelims 2027 will be conducted across these 17 cities (as per the official 2027-28 handbook):
Ahmedabad · Bengaluru · Bhopal · Bhubaneswar · Chandigarh · Chennai · Dehradun · Hyderabad · Jaipur · Jorhat · Kochi · Kolkata · Lucknow · Mumbai · Nagpur · New Delhi · Patna
A city may have more than one centre. NID reserves the right to add or remove centres and to allot you a centre that is not your first choice. Your chosen centre can only be changed during the application edit window.
NID 2027 Preparation Checklist (Indicative)
NID does not publish an official syllabus. Neither the B.Des nor the M.Des handbook contains one. The terms “CAT” (Creative Ability Test) and “GAT” (General Aptitude Test) are coaching-industry shorthand, not NID’s own terminology. The checklist below is compiled from past papers and observed exam patterns, and should be treated as a preparation guide, not an official document.
Design thinking and visual aptitude
| Topic | What to focus on |
| Visualisation & imagination | Converting concepts into visual form; drawing from memory and imagination |
| Mental visualisation | Perceiving and manipulating 3D forms from 2D representations |
| Design thinking | Problem identification, user empathy, proposing creative solutions |
| Lateral thinking | Unexpected angles; unconventional idea generation |
| Colour theory | Colour relationships, mood, temperature, application in design contexts |
| Scene creation & storytelling | Narrative compositions with multiple figures and objects |
| Memory drawing | Reproducing observed objects and scenes accurately |
| Form & function | How an object’s shape relates to its purpose |
| Pattern & texture | Repeating motifs, surface qualities, visual rhythm |
| Ornaments & motifs | Indian and global decorative vocabulary; craft and cultural design |
| Picture analysis | Reading and interpreting visual information |
| Expression & emotion | Conveying feeling through line, form and composition |
| Lettering & graphics | Hand lettering, pictograms, graphic communication |
| Imagination & doodling | Free-form visual thinking; developing ideas through spontaneous drawing |
General aptitude – how much does it still matter?
The General Aptitude component did not appear in the 2026 paper for either B.Des or M.Des. Both papers were entirely creative and subjective.
Because NID revises its pattern from cycle to cycle and its handbook still leaves room for an objective section, keep light readiness only – do not build your preparation around it:
| Quantitative (foundational) | Reasoning & logic | Verbal & general awareness |
| Ratio & proportion, percentage | Direction sense | Reading comprehension |
| Profit & loss, simple interest | Series completion | Error detection |
| Averages; speed, time & distance | Seating arrangement | Statement & conclusion |
| Mixture & allegation; work & time | Arithmetic reasoning | Para jumbles |
| Number system | Clocks & calendars | Cloze test |
| Area, volume & surface area | Blood relations | Synonyms / antonyms |
| Basic statistics (mean, median, mode) | Venn diagrams | Painters & paintings |
| Data interpretation (tables & graphs) | Paper folding, grouping of images | Indian textiles & crafts |
| Simplification & approximation | Analogy, mirror images, pattern completion, paper cutting | Current affairs |
| Basic geometry & mensuration | Dot situation, cube & dice | World heritage sites; Indian geography |
| – | Figure matrix, character puzzle | Musicians & instruments |
Realistic advice: prioritise creative and visual-thinking practice. Treat general aptitude as low-cost insurance – a few hours a week, not a parallel syllabus. Confirm the confirmed pattern at admissions.nid.edu once the 2027–28 handbook is out.
DAT Mains preparation – B.Des
Mains is 100% of your rank, so this is where the effort belongs.
| Area | What to focus on |
| Drawing & sketching | Freehand drawing, scene composition, product sketching, figure drawing with proportion |
| Model making | Building 3D forms from paper, card, wire, clay or found objects under time pressure |
| Material manipulation | Working creatively with raw materials to express a concept or solve a problem |
| Doodling & ideation | Expressing ideas quickly through loose, exploratory drawing |
| Evolving ideas | Demonstrating a visible design process from initial concept to refined outcome |
| Audio-visual exercises | Responding to sound, music or visual stimuli through drawing |
| Articulation | Explaining why you made each design decision – this is the core of the In-Person Sensitivity Test |
| Observation & body language | How posture, gesture and expression communicate meaning; design empathy |
On portfolios for B.Des: NID’s handbook does not codify a portfolio requirement. However, in the 2026 B.Des Mains cycle, candidates were required to submit a Theme Poster and a Portfolio PDF online as part of the Mains process. Build and maintain one regardless – process work, not just polished finals.
DAT Mains preparation – M.Des
| Area | What to focus on |
| Model making | 3D construction from given materials within time constraints |
| Material manipulation | Expressing a concept or solving a problem through raw materials |
| Doodling & ideation | Rapid visual thinking |
| Evolving ideas | A visible design thinking process, concept through refinement |
| Audio-visual exercises | Creative response to sound, music or visual stimuli |
| Creative thinking | Original, lateral, user-centred solutions to design problems |
| Portfolio | The highest-leverage item |
For the M.Des Personal Interview: the panel evaluates your portfolio, your design thinking process and your fit for the chosen discipline. At 60% of your final score, the interview is the single heaviest component in the entire NID M.Des process. A portfolio that documents your process – not just finished outputs – is essential. Be ready to discuss your work, your influences, and specifically why you chose that discipline.
Final Merit Weightage – Both Programmes
B.Des
| Stage | Component | Weightage |
| DAT Prelims | Written test | 0% |
| DAT Mains | Studio Sensitivity Test | 60% |
| DAT Mains | In-Person Sensitivity Test | 40% |
| Total | 100% |
M.Des
| Stage | Component | Weightage |
| DAT Prelims | Written test | 0% |
| DAT Mains | Studio Test | 40% |
| DAT Mains | Personal Interview | 60% |
| Total | 100% |
Minimum qualifying criteria (M.Des): the 2027-28 handbook does not specify minimum qualifying percentages – in the 2026-27 cycle these were Open/GEN-EWS 45% · OBC-NCL 40% · SC/ST/PwD 35% · Overseas 45%. Expect NID to announce this with the Mains weightages.
Tie-breaks: If two or more candidates score the same total marks, NID applies a tie-break policy for awarding ranks – the 2027-28 handbook states this policy will be announced later (in the 2026 cycle it arrived via an April amendment). One more item to watch in the Amendment section at admissions.nid.edu. B.Des tie-break policy for the 2026 final result on 10 April 2026 via the Amendment Section of the respective handbooks. Check the Amendment Section for the 2027 policy.
NID Campuses You Can Enter Through NID DAT 2027
The NID DAT score is used only for admission within the NID system. No external college accepts it.
| Campus | Programmes (2027-28) | Seats |
| NID Ahmedabad | 5.5-Year Integrated Pathway M.Des · M.Des (2.5 yr) – flagship, widest discipline range | Integrated: 9 per discipline · M.Des: 19 per discipline |
| NID Gandhinagar | 5.5-Year Integrated Pathway M.Des · M.Des | Same per-discipline intake |
| NID Bengaluru | 5.5-Year Integrated Pathway M.Des · M.Des | Same per-discipline intake |
| NID Andhra Pradesh (Vijayawada) | B.Des / 5.5-Year Integrated M.Des | See nid.ac.in – institute website |
| NID Haryana (Kurukshetra) | B.Des / Integrated M.Des · M.Des | See nidh.ac.in |
| NID Madhya Pradesh (Bhopal) | B.Des / Integrated M.Des · M.Des: Experience Design, Design For Care, Textile Design | M.Des: 12 seats per discipline, one discipline only, separate application – fees & details at nidmp.ac.in (24 Sept amendment) |
| NID Assam (Jorhat) | B.Des / 5.5-Year Integrated M.Des | See nidj.ac.in |
Unlike earlier cycles, NID’s 2027-28 handbooks don’t publish a central seat matrix for the campuses at Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Assam – seat and discipline details live on each institute’s website (linked above). The 15% supernumerary Overseas quota continues across all NIDs. (For reference, the 2027-28 cycle had ~425 B.Des seats across five campuses.)
Foundation programme structure – often missed:
- Integrated Pathway (Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Gandhinagar): eleven semesters over 5.5 years, spanning 15 sector-specific disciplines under five design streams. NID states the detailed programme structure “will be announced in due course” – including how and when disciplines are allotted. Watch admissions.nid.edu.
- B.Des / Integrated M.Des at NID Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh: programme, discipline and semester details are published on each institute’s own website (linked in the table above), not in the central handbook.
- In earlier cycles, NID’s undergraduate programmes began with a common Design Foundation phase before discipline allotment – whether and how this continues under the Integrated Pathway is among the details NID is yet to announce.
Campus preference & the second application – critical for 2027: you indicate your Institute Campus preference in the DAT application form. After the DAT Mains results, NID requires a separate online admission application within a prescribed timeline – submitting it is mandatory to participate in seat allotment, and missing that deadline makes you ineligible for admission across all NIDs, regardless of your rank. Seats are then allotted purely by merit, category-wise seat availability and your submitted preference – and as NID’s handbook puts it, a rank in the merit list does not guarantee admission. Watch the schedule announcements closely after the Mains result.
NID 2027 Preparation Tips
1. Understand the format shift before you start. The exam that existed up to 2025 is not the exam you are sitting. GAT is gone from the 2026 paper, Prelims carries zero weightage, and B.Des Mains now has a 40% in-person component. Work through past papers with that filter on.
2. Build daily sketching discipline. Mains carries 100% of your rank and is heavily hands-on. Prioritise perspective (1-point and 2-point), human figures and proportion, product sketching with shading and texture, and multi-element scene composition.
3. Practise model-making and material handling under time pressure. Mains includes 3D and material-based tasks. Work with paper, card, wire, clay and found materials against a clock – comfort under constraint is what is being tested.
4. Practise articulating your decisions out loud. The B.Des In-Person Sensitivity Test (40%) and the M.Des Interview (60%) both reward candidates who can explain why. Talk through your own work with someone regularly.
5. Strengthen observation daily. Carry a sketchbook. Notice shapes, proportions, materials and how everyday things are designed.
6. Treat Prelims as a gate, not the goal – but respect the gate.For 2027, NID calls 2.5× the seats to B.Des Mains – a wider gate than last cycle’s 1.5×, but that cuts both ways: clearing Prelims is now slightly easier, and Mains is more crowded. With 2.5 candidates competing for every seat and Prelims marks counting for nothing, the earlier you shift your preparation to Mains-style studio work, the bigger your edge.
7. Read widely. NID values awareness of Indian crafts, sustainability, materials and design in everyday life. Follow design publications, read a newspaper, stay current on innovation and technology.
8. Build and maintain a portfolio from day one. Essential for M.Des, where the interview evaluates it directly at 60% weightage – and required in the 2026 B.Des Mains cycle. Document process, not just finished pieces.
9. Take timed full-length mocks. Three-hour sessions build the stamina, pacing and composure that decide outcomes on the day.
Frequently Asked Questions – NID 2027
Q: What is the NID 2027 exam date?
A:DAT Prelims is on Sunday, 20 December 2026 (confirmed). The Prelims result comes at 4 PM on 16 March 2027, and DAT Mains and counselling dates will be announced by NID. Registration is open at admissions.nid.edu until 11:59 PM, 30 November 2026.
Q: When does NID 2027 registration start?
A: Expected September 2026 at admissions.nid.edu.
Q: Where do I apply?
A: Only at https://admissions.nid.edu. NID warns explicitly that any NID site using a “.org” or “.org.in” domain is fake.
Q: Does the Prelims score count towards the final result?
A: No. Since the 2026 cycle, DAT Prelims carries 0% weightage and is used only to shortlist for Mains. The Mains score alone decides the merit list for both programmes.
Q: How many candidates get shortlisted for Mains?
A: 2.5× the available seats per category for B.Des (increased from 1.5× in the 2026 cycle, as per the official 2027-28 handbook), and 4.5× the available seats per category per discipline for M.Des.
Q: Is NID DAT conducted twice a year?
A: No. Once a year, in two stages that are part of a single admission cycle – not two separate attempts.
Q: Can a Commerce or Arts student apply for B.Des?
A: Yes. B.Des eligibility is stream-agnostic – Science, Commerce, Arts and Humanities candidates are all eligible.
Q: What qualification do I need for M.Des?
A: A Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in any discipline from a recognised University. The older 3-year/4-year duration distinction and the separate design-diploma route no longer appear in the current handbook.
Q: Is there negative marking?
A: No.
Q: How many disciplines can I apply to?
A: For M.Des 2027, up to three disciplines, subject to the group rules: any one discipline; two within the same group (except Group X) or one plus a Group X discipline; or two same-group plus one Group X discipline. The earlier faculty-stream restriction no longer applies. B.Des/Integrated Pathway candidates submit campus preferences instead.
Q: What is the exam pattern for DAT Prelims?
A: An offline pen-and-paper test, 3 hours in the 2026 cycle, reported at 100 marks, with no negative marking. NID does not publish an official section breakdown. The 2026 paper contained no general aptitude section for either programme.
Q: What does DAT Mains involve?
A: For B.Des, a Studio Sensitivity Test (60%) plus an In-Person Sensitivity Test (40%). For M.Des, a faculty-stream Studio Test (40%) plus a discipline-wise Personal Interview (60%).
Q: Can I get my paper rechecked?
A: Yes, online only, within the announced window. Rechecking is limited to verifying that all answers were marked and that marks were totalled and transferred correctly – it is not a re-evaluation. The fee is ₹2,000 per paper (official 2027-28 handbook).. A copy of your answer sheet can be requested after the admission process concludes, for ₹1,000 per exam.
Q: Are accommodations available for PwD candidates?
A: PwD candidates are admitted against 5% reserved seats with a valid Disability Certificate signed by the District CMO and/or UDID card; for exam-day accommodations (extra time, scribe), refer to the 2027-28 handbook and Admit Card instructions.
Q: Where can I find the official NID 2027 brochure?
A: The Admissions Handbooks 2027-28 were published on 10 September 2026 and are available at admissions.nid.edu – the B.Des/Integrated Pathway handbook and the M.Des handbook can be downloaded directly from the portal, where registration is also open until 30 November 2026.
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Sources: NID 5.5-Year Integrated Pathway M.Des & B.Des Admissions Handbook 2027-28 and NID M.Des Admissions Handbook 2027-28, published 10 September 2026; amendments at admissions.nid.edu.
All dates, fees, eligibility criteria and exam details on this page are taken from the official NID Admissions Handbooks 2027-28, published on 10 September 2026 by the NID Admissions Cell, Ahmedabad. Details NID has not yet announced (DAT Mains dates, final weightages, counselling schedule) are marked “to be announced” and will be updated here as NID publishes them. Always cross-check the Amendment section at admissions.nid.edu before applying – NID has already published two amendments (15 September: application edit window; 24 September: NID Madhya Pradesh M.Des disciplines and seats), and further changes appear there first.
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Last updated: September 2026
