Best Design Schools in India 2025: Courses, Rankings, and Fee Structure

Summary: Searching for the best design schools in India? From renowned establishments to hidden gems, let's explore the diverse programs and opportunities they provide and pave your way to a successful career in the design world.

India has a vibrant design scene nurtured by a rich heritage of craftsmanship and a growing focus on innovation. It has world-renowned Institutes like the National Institute of Design (NID), National Institute of Fashion Design (NIFT), IIT Bombay, and more.

If you're an aspiring designer seeking to hone your skills and launch a fulfilling career, here's a glimpse into some of the top design schools in India

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List of Best Design Schools in India 2025

Here is a top 10 list of Best Design Schools in India. 

National Institute of Fashion Technology

NIFT has several campuses nationwide with excellent infrastructure and quality education. This makes it a dream come true institute to pursue your studies. It was granted statutory status under the Act of Parliament of India in 2006.

The college offers B.Des, B.FTech, Foundation Programme, M.Des, M.F.M, M.FTech, and doctorate programs on qualifying for the NIFT entrance exams. Check out the category-wise seat intake at NIFT campuses.

NIFT Campus	Open, SC, ST, OBC(NCL), PwD (Open, SC, ST, OBC (NCL)	State Domicile	NRI, Foreign Nationals/SAARC
Bengaluru	338	0	43
Bhopal	238	49	21
Chennai	338	0	43
Daman	68	14	6
Gandhinagar	300	0	38
Hyderabad	266	0	35
Kannur	238	49	21
Kolkata	304	0	40
Mumbai	304	0	40
New Delhi	376	0	48
Patna	204	42	18
Panchkula	204	42	18
Raebareli	228	0	30
Shillong	170	35	15
Kangra	238	49	21
Jodhpur	204	42	18
Bhubaneswar	204	42	18
Srinagar	170	60	0
Total	4392	424	473

Download NIFT 2024 Syllabus PDF

For years, NIFT has established itself as a premier fashion designing college in India, consistently regarded as one of the finest institutions in the field.

As you explore your options for pursuing a career in fashion, consider the reputation and legacy of the NIFT Entrance Exam, which leads to admission into some of the Best Design Schools in India and has solidified its position as a top choice for fashion education

Read more: Similarities and Differences Between NID and NIFT

National Institute of Design

NID colleges are distributed on campuses like Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Bangalore, Kurukshetra, Vijayawada, Jorhat, and Bhopal. It is an autonomous institute functioning under the ambit of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India.

To study at NID College, you must qualify with excellent NID Design Aptitude Test scores. The courses offered are BDes, GDPD, and MDes. The seat matrix for NID colleges is as follows: 

Institute	Total No. of Seats	GEN-EWS (10%)	OBC-NCL (27%)	Scheduled Caste (15%)	Scheduled Tribe (7.5%)
NID Ahmedabad	125	13	34	19	9
NID Andhra Pradesh	75	8	20	11	6
NID Haryana	75	8	20	11	6
NID Madhya Pradesh	75	8	20	11	6
NID Assam	75	8	20	11	6

Industrial Design Centre, IIT Bombay

Industrial Design Centre, or IDC School of Design, is one of India's oldest design schools, established in 1969. The college offers B.Des, M.Des, and Ph.D. courses based on UCEED and CEED scores. 

The seat intake for UCEED 2024 are as follows:

Category	IIT-Bombay	IIT-Delhi	IIT-Guwahati	IIT-Hyderabad	IIT-Roorkee	IIITDM-Jabalpur
OPEN	14	7	23	10	7	26
OPEN-PwD	1	1	0	0	1	1
EWS	4	2	5	3	2	6
EWS-PwD	0	0	1	0	0	0
OBC-NCL	9	5	15	6	5	17
OBC-NCL-PwD	1	0	0	1	0	1
SC	5	3	7	4	3	10
SC-PwD	0	0	1	0	0	0
ST	3	2	3	2	2	4
ST-PwD	0	0	1	0	0	1

MIT Institute of Design, Pune

MIT Institute of Design recognized as one of the Best Design Schools in India, MIT Institute of Design has been at the forefront of design education since 2006, established by the Government of Maharashtra under ACT XXXIV 2015.The college has received prestigious 2 Red Dot awards from alumni and more than 20 design registrations.

They work closely with the national and international design community, are members of CUMULUS and WDO (World Design Organization), and collaborate with more than 10 reputed Universities worldwide to enhance the quality of education.

The college offers a Bachelor of design, master of design, and MITID Innovation program based on the entrance exams it conducts.

Read more: MIT Institute of Design Placements 2024

Pearl Academy, New Delhi

The college is a private educational entity established in 1993 under the presidency of Nandita Abraham. It provides a variety of UG and PG programs in several specializations.

The college is well-reputed, and its campuses are in Mumbai, Jaipur, and Banglore, New Delhi. Global University Systems runs the college and has excellent infrastructure and training programs. 

UID Ahmedabad

UID, commonly known as the Unitedworld Institute of Design, is a constituent institute of Karnavati University.

The college is recognized by UGC and collaborated with several organizations, including the World Design Organisation (WDO), Cumulus, IFFTI, and the Association of Commonwealth Universities.

The college offers B.Des, M.Des, and global design certificate programs in several specializations based on the UID DAT entrance exam expected to be conducted in January 2024.

Read more: Design As a Career

Symbiosis Institute of Design

SID Pune, or Symbiosis Institute of Design, offers BDes in Communication Design, Industrial Design, Fashion Design, and Fashion Communication to candidates who have passed class 10+2 or Diploma with valid scores. 

The college provides several scholarships like SIU Scholarships and Central Scholarship Scheme and has tie-ups with many like ADP, Deloitte, Omnie Solutions, Kochartechand more to provide good placements to deserving candidates. 

Read more: Practise UCEED Drawing Questions 

J.D Institute of Fashion Technology 

Several UG, PG, Diploma, and short-term courses are offered on various campuses across the country.

The college conducts its own tests to admit deserving candidates. The courses offered here can vary from 6 months to 5 years.

The college has 30+ years of legacy, contributing more than 20K students with a dynamic industry network for hostile design education. 

Srishti Institute of Art, Design, and Technology, Bangalore

The college is a multi-disciplinary approach design school established in 1996 under the administration of Ujwal Trust in Bangalore. Geetha Narayanan is the founder of Srishti Manipal Institute of Art, Design, and Technology.

The college offers B.Voc., B.Des., and B.Cr.A. at the UG level, MA, M.Des., M.Cr.A, and M.Plan at the PG level, and PhD at the Doctoral level based on the Srishti Entrance and Aptitude Test.

Amity School of Design, Noida

As one of the Best Design Schools in India, it operates under Amity University Uttar Pradesh and offers Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Interior Design.

The college offers ample opportunity to the students to explore unlimited design possibilities and create appealing interiors with scientific input. 

Read more: Which is Better: UCEED vs NID

Conclusion

As you explore the list of best design schools in India, you'll find diverse institutions that excel in fostering creativity and providing exceptional design education.

Whether you choose a renowned establishment or an emerging gem, these schools offer the platform you need to develop your skills and pursue a successful career in the dynamic world of design. All the best, and choose wisely! 

Read more: Design Thinking And Awareness.