The National Institute of Design published the B.Des DAT 2025 final result on 16 May 2025 at 4:00 PM. Applicants can download their result on the official portal — admissions.nid.edu — using their registered email and date of birth.
The B.Des DAT Mains studio test was conducted on Saturday, 3 May 2025.
The NID DAT Mains 2025 is held separately for each program and includes a Studio Test followed by a Personal Interview. The DAT Prelims were conducted on 24 December 2024 in an OMR format. B.Des prelims contained both written and visual questions, while M.Des prelims combined objective and subjective items.
Quick links:
Q: For which categories will the NID DAT merit lists be published?
Q: What is the intake capacity across NID campuses?
Q: Do I need to select campuses when applying to the B.Des program?
Seat capacities at NID campuses across India are listed below:
Admissions to NID design programs are based on two stages of the Design Aptitude Test: DAT Prelims and DAT Mains.
NID comprises five faculty streams and offers 20 distinct design domains. The B.Des program includes eight specializations and the institute also offers a Graduate Diploma Programme in Design (GDPD). These undergraduate programs are four years in duration.
The Master of Design (M.Des) program provides 18 specializations and is 2.5 years long.
Ph.D. programs are available in full-time and part-time modes; the full-time track typically runs for three years.
According to NID's official eligibility notice, candidates who have completed 10+2 from a board recognized by the Association of Indian Universities are eligible to apply for B.Des. For M.Des, applicants should hold at least a three-year bachelor’s degree. Check NID DAT Eligibility 2025
Along with understanding the exam pattern, candidates should review the NID DAT Syllabus 2025 before beginning preparation. Syllabi differ for B.Des and M.Des, so consult recommended NID DAT books to cover topics thoroughly and improve readiness. Check NID DAT 2025 Exam Pattern and Syllabus
The undergraduate B.Des program offers the following specializations:
Eligibility criteria for NID DAT are outlined below:
Admission to undergraduate courses is decided through two stages of the Design Aptitude Tests.
Note: Campus and seat allocation for B.Des and GDPD applicants is determined exclusively by merit.
Predicting qualifying marks for NID DAT Prelims 2025 is difficult as NID has not released official cutoffs yet. They typically announce details around mid-February, so monitor the NID website. In the meantime, past trends and historical cutoffs may help form an estimate.
Estimating an exact NID DAT 2025 cutoff is challenging because several factors influence it, including applicant pool, exam difficulty, and available seats:
The GDPD undergraduate program includes the following specializations:
Eligibility details for GDPD are provided below:
Selection is based on entrance-test merit followed by counselling.
The M.Des. is a 2.5-year postgraduate program offering 19 specializations, including the ones listed below:
Eligibility requirements for M.Des. are listed below:
Shortlisting is based on performance in the DAT followed by a personal interview.
Weightage between DAT Prelims and DAT Mains is distributed as follows:
Note: Applicants may apply to a maximum of two disciplines for the Master of Design program.
See previous years' cutoffs for the NID DAT exam.
NID DAT 2023 cutoff scores
Ph.D. admissions at NID are decided through the Design Research Test (DRT), held at the Ahmedabad campus.
Only candidates shortlisted after the DRT are invited for the interview and presentation round.
Ph.D. eligibility criteria are as follows:
The admission process begins with submitting the online application. Eligible candidates appear for DAT Prelims, and those who clear prelims progress to DAT Mains. Candidates who clear both stages are offered admission based on merit and preferences.
Application fees can be paid online or offline. Online payments accept debit and credit cards. The application fees for various categories are shown below:
Candidates are evaluated on design ability, creativity, reasoning, and problem-solving. Key points of the NID DAT 2025 exam pattern for B.Des and M.Des are summarized below:
Check NID preparation tips
Q: How does one get admission to NID Ahmedabad?
A: Prospective applicants must take the NID entrance exam, which consists of two rounds: DAT Prelims and DAT Mains. Only those who clear Prelims are eligible to appear for Mains.
Q: What are the seat counts at NID?
A: The B.Des program admits 425 students, while the M.Des program admits 347 students.
Q: Can I select my category while filling the NID DAT application form?
A: Yes, you can choose your category during the application process.
Q: Is the NID entrance exam difficult?
A: Yes, the NID entrance is regarded as highly competitive.
Q: What is the exam pattern for NID DAT?
A: The exam is conducted in two stages:
Q: What specializations does the M.Des program at NID Ahmedabad offer?
A: The 2.5-year M.Des program offers 19 specializations, as listed earlier.
Q: What specializations are available for the B.Des undergraduate program at NID Ahmedabad?
A: The B.Des program offers the specializations listed above.
| Test centre city | NID Ahmedabad | NID Bengaluru | NID Andhra Pradesh | NID Haryana | NID Madhya Pradesh | NID Jorhat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seating capacity | 533 | 300 | 300 | 450 | 200 | 120 |
| Name of the Institute | National Institute of Design (NID) Ahmedabad |
|---|---|
| Type of Institute | Autonomous |
| Admission Criteria | Entrance-based |
| Name of Entrance Exam | DAT |
| Mode of Application | Online |
| Dates | Events |
|---|---|
| 03 Sep 2024 - 06 Dec 2024 | NID DAT 2025 — registration period |
| 06 Dec 2024 - 11 Dec 2024 | NID DAT 2025 — application correction window |
| 24 Dec 2024 - 05 Jan 2025 | NID DAT 2025 (Prelims) — admit card issuance |
| 05 Jan 2025 | NID DAT 2025 (Prelims) — exam date |
| 17 Feb 2025 | NID DAT 2025 (Prelims) — M.Des results |
| 17 Feb 2025 - 18 Feb 2025 | NID DAT 2025 (Prelims) — result recheck window for M.Des |
| 24 Feb 2025 | NID DAT 2025 (Mains) — admit cards issued for M.Des |
| 03 Mar 2025 - 06 Apr 2025 | NID DAT 2025 (Mains) — M.Des exam window |
| 01 Apr 2025 | NID DAT 2025 (Prelims) — B.Des results |
| 01 Apr 2025 - 02 Apr 2025 | NID DAT 2025 (Prelims) — result recheck window for B.Des |
| 12 Apr 2025 | NID DAT 2025 (Mains) — admit cards issued for B.Des |
| 26 Apr 2025 - 04 May 2025 | NID DAT 2025 (Mains) — B.Des exam period |
| 06 May 2025 | NID DAT 2025 (Mains) — M.Des result declaration |
| 16 May 2025 | NID DAT 2025 (Mains) — B.Des result declaration |
| Duration | 4 years |
| Type | Full-time |
| No. of Specializations | 8 |
| Intake | 19 seats |
| Basic Eligibility Criteria | 10+2 qualification |
| Basic Selection Criteria | Entrance-based |
| Duration | 4 years |
| Category | Expected cutoff (%) |
|---|---|
| Open | 97.35 |
| GEN-EWS | 63.59 |
| OBC-NCL | 81.80 |
| SC | 75.63 |
| ST | 42.97 |
| PwD | 40.15 |
| Overseas | 54.67 |
| Type | Full-time |
| Number of specializations | 3 |
| Basic Eligibility Criteria | 10+2 qualification |
| Basic Selection Criteria | Entrance-based |
| Duration | 2.5 years |
| Type | Full-time |
| No. of Specializations | 19 specializations |
| Basic Eligibility Criteria | Bachelor’s degree |
| Basic Selection Criteria | Entrance-based |
| DAT Prelims – 60% | DAT Mains – 40% |
| (Common Design Aptitude Test) | (Discipline-specific test) |
| 15% | 45% |
| Specialization | Expected cutoffs | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | GEN-EWS | OBC-NCL | SC | ST | PwD | Overseas | |
| Animation Film Design | 76.71 | NE | NE | 57.53 | NE | NE | NA |
| Ceramic & Glass Design | 82.93 | NA | 68.29 | 46.34 | 58.54 | NA | NA |
| Film & Video Communication | 80 | 78.57 | 54.29 | 68.57 | 57.14 | NA | NA |
| Furniture & Interior Design | 85.07 | NE | 64.18 | 50.75 | 79.10 | NE | NA |
| Graphic Design | 86.30 | 72.60 | 47.95 | 58.90 | 57.53 | NE | NE |
| Product Design | 77.61 | NE | 50.75 | 43.28 | NE | NE | NA |
| Textile Design | 90.54 | 78.38 | 63.51 | 48.65 | 68.92 | NE | NA |
| Apparel Design | 86.30 | NE | 58.90 | 50.68 | 83.56 | NE | NE |
| Lifestyle Accessory Design | 81.94 | NE | 55.56 | 51.39 | 40.28 | 41.67 | NA |
| New Media Design | 72 | NE | NE | 48 | NE | NA | NA |
| Photography Design | 82.76 | NA | 60.34 | 58.62 | 62.07 | NA | NA |
| Strategic Design Management | 87.50 | 63.89 | 54.17 | 56.94 | NE | 41.67 | NA |
| Toy & Game Design | 50 | NA | NE | NE | NA | NA | NA |
| Transportation & Automobile Design | 85.51 | 63.77 | 68.12 | 40.58 | NE | NA | NA |
| Design for Retail Experience | 81.25 | 54.69 | 45.31 | 56.25 | 76.56 | NE | NA |
| Digital Game Design | 76.27 | 72.88 | 47.46 | 40.68 | NE | NE | NA |
| Information Design | 86.84 | NE | 50 | 64.47 | 40.79 | NE | 69.74 |
| Interaction Design | 89.47 | 86.84 | 56.58 | NE | NE | 71.05 | NE |
| Universal Design | 62.71 | NA | 69.49 | 42.37 | NE | NE | NA |
| Institutes | OPEN | GEN-EWS | OBC-NCL | SC | ST | PWD | Overseas |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NID Ahmedabad | 65.8 | 57.4 | 60.7 | 58.8 | 52.8 | 49.4 | 51.2 |
| NID Andhra Pradesh | 62.2 | 50.4 | 55.9 | 54.1 | 45.9 | 41.7 | NA |
| NID Assam | 60.3 | 50 | 55.1 | 50.9 | 45.2 | NA | NA |
| NID Madhya Pradesh | 61.3 | 51.2 | 56.1 | 52.8 | 46 | 40.6 | 50 |
| NID Haryana | 61.6 | 52.2 | 56.7 | 54.7 | 45.8 | 43.3 | NE |
| Duration | Part-time: 5 years |
| Full-time: 3 years | |
| Type | Part/Full-time |
| Basic Eligibility Criteria | Master’s degree |
| Basic Selection Criteria | Entrance-based |
| Category | B.Des | M.Des (1 Discipline) | M.Des (2 Disciplines) |
|---|---|---|---|
| General | INR 3000 | INR 3000 | INR 6000 |
| SC | INR 1500 | INR 1500 | INR 3000 |
| ST | INR 1500 | INR 1500 | INR 3000 |
| OBC-NCL | INR 3000 | INR 3000 | INR 6000 |
| Gen-PwD | INR 1500 | INR 1500 | INR 3000 |
| ST-PwD | INR 1500 | INR 1500 | INR 3000 |
| SC-PwD | INR 1500 | INR 1500 | INR 3000 |
| OBC-NCL-PwD | INR 1500 | INR 1500 | INR 3000 |
| Overseas | INR 5000 | INR 5000 | INR 10000 |
| Particulars | B.Des | M.Des |
|---|---|---|
| Mode of exam | Pen-and-paper (offline) | Offline |
| Duration of exam | 3 hours | 2 hours 30 minutes (one discipline); 4 hours 30 minutes (two disciplines) |
| Medium of exam | English | English |
| Type of question | Subjective and objective | Subjective and objective |
| Total marks | 100 | 100 |
| Design outline | Graphics & pictograms | Picture analysis |
| Mood, theme & colour inter-relationship | Presentation techniques | Foreshortening & perspective |
| Natural & geometrical form | Colour terminology | Story pictures |
| Lettering | Design theory | 3D visualizing |
| Colour psychology, optical illusion | Innovation in designs | Lateral thinking |
| Theme development | Form and function, creative thinking and writing | Design awareness |
| Visual logic | Good design vs bad design | Ornaments and motifs |
| Memory drawing | Colour, pattern & texture | Inspiration & design development |
| Model making | Audio-visual exercises | Meeting with qualified candidates |
| How to evolve ideas | Doodling | Material manipulations |
| NID M.Des syllabus for prelims exam | ||
|---|---|---|
| Design outline for beginners | Colour terminology | Inspiration & design development |
| Mood, theme & colour inter-relationship | Design theory | Elements & principles of design |
| Natural & geometrical form | Innovation in design | Principles of composition |
| Lettering | Optical illusion | Understanding light & shade |
| Colour psychology & optical illusions | Form & function | Colour, pattern & texture |
| Theme development | Creative thinking & writing | Picture analysis |
| Visual logic | Good design vs bad design | Drawing fundamentals |
| Use of measurements, scale & proportions | Optical illusion | Foreshortening & perspective |
| Developing themes & colour associations | Inspiration & creativity | Ornaments & motifs |
| Memory drawing | Usage of colour in compositions | Expression & emotion |
| Exercises on imagination | Lateral thinking | Story pictures |
| Presentation techniques | Imagination & doodling | 3D visualisation |
| Graphics & pictograms | Innovation & creation | Design awareness |
| Developing observation | ||
| M.Des NID studio test | ||
|---|---|---|
| Model making | Doodling | How to evolve ideas |
| Audio–visual exercises | Material manipulation | Creative thinking |
| Book name | Author name |
|---|---|
| Basic Rendering | Robert W. Gill |
| NID (B. Des) Entrance Book and test series | AFAINDIA |
| NIFT/NID/IIFT Entrance Exam Guide | RPH Editorial Board |
| NID DAT Books (Aptitude) | R.S. Aggarwal |
| NIFT/NID/IIFT Entrance Exam Guide | Surendra Dharmendra Mittal |
| Design Drawings | Francis D.K. Ching |
