August 11, 2026
CEED scores are accepted by 11 main participating institutes - IISc Bengaluru, IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Gandhinagar, IIT Guwahati, IIT Hyderabad, IIT Jodhpur, IIT Kanpur, IIT Roorkee, IIITDM Jabalpur and IIITDM Kancheepuram - for M.Des and PhD in Design, offering around 300+ seats in total.
Many private universities (Mahindra, Jain, GLS, VIT School of Design, DTU and others) also accept CEED as result-sharing institutes. There is no common counselling - you apply to each institute directly.
CEED scores are accepted by 11 main participating institutes (IISc, IITs and IIITDMs), together offering around 300+ M.Des seats, plus a wider set of result-sharing institutes. Seat numbers below are indicative - confirm the exact intake in each institute's admission brochure.
| Institute | Department / School | M.Des Program(s) | Seats (indicative) |
|---|---|---|---|
| IISc Bengaluru | Dept. of Design & Manufacturing (CPDM) | Product Design & Engineering (+ PhD) | ~18 |
| IIT Bombay | IDC School of Design | Industrial, Communication, Animation, Interaction, Mobility & Vehicle Design (+ PhD) | ~78 |
| IIT Delhi | Department of Design | Industrial Design (+ PhD) | Refer institute |
| IIT Gandhinagar (new 2026) | Design Discipline | Integrated Design & Technology | Refer institute |
| IIT Guwahati | Department of Design | Design (+ PhD) | ~33 |
| IIT Hyderabad | Department of Design | Visual Design (+ PhD) | ~30 |
| IIT Jodhpur | Department of Design | XR Design (and allied) | Refer institute |
| IIT Kanpur | Design Program | Design (+ PhD) | Refer institute |
| IIT Roorkee | Department of Design | Industrial Design | ~20 |
| IIITDM Jabalpur | Design Discipline | Design | Refer institute |
| IIITDM Kancheepuram | School of Interdisciplinary Design & Innovation | Integrated Product Design (+ PhD) | Refer institute |
NOTE: Total M.Des intake across participating institutes is approximately 300+ seats. M.Des fees at IITs/IISc are typically modest compared to private design schools and are often partly offset by category waivers or fellowships - but exact amounts change yearly and by category, so verify on each official page above before relying on a figure.
MUST Read: Year-wise CEED Exam Analysis
|
Institute |
M.Des tuition - regular/with assistantship |
M.Des tuition - self-financed/sponsored |
SC/ST/PwD |
|
IISc Bengaluru |
₹15,000 per year (Gen/OBC/EWS) |
— |
Waived |
|
IIT Bombay |
₹18,000/sem (Group I, with TA/RA/fellowship) |
₹60,000/sem (Group II) |
Waived |
|
IIT Guwahati |
₹15,000/sem (regular) |
₹30,000/sem (sponsored) |
Waived (NIL) |
|
IIT Jodhpur |
₹13,000/sem (regular) |
₹44,250/sem (self-sponsored) |
Waived |
|
IIT Roorkee |
₹5,000/sem (Gen/EWS/OBC) |
₹25,000/sem (sponsored) |
₹0 |
|
IIT Kanpur |
₹5,000/sem (on Institute Assistantship) |
₹25,000/sem (not on assistantship/sponsored) |
NIL |
Important: these are tuition only. Every institute adds per-semester charges (registration, gymkhana, medical, etc. ≈ ₹8,000–₹14,000/sem), one-time admission fees, refundable deposits, and hostel/mess (often ₹25,000–₹35,000/sem with mess). At IISc/IITs, students with an assistantship/fellowship typically have fees deducted from the stipend.
Beyond the main participating institutes, several universities use the CEED score to shortlist candidates for their own design programmes. Apply to each directly, per its own eligibility and process:
Always verify the current result-sharing list on the official CEED website, as institutes are added or revised each cycle.
Here's a distinction that trips up many aspirants: qualifying CEED does not automatically make you eligible for admission to every institute. There are two separate eligibility layers - one to take the exam, and another to get admission into individual CEED colleges.
You must satisfy both, and the second one varies from institute to institute.
| Basis | CEED Exam Eligibility | CEED Colleges Admission Eligibility |
|---|---|---|
| Set by | IIT Bombay (common for all candidates) | Each participating institute (varies by college & programme) |
| Purpose | Decides who can appear for CEED | Decides who can be admitted to the M.Des / PhD programme |
| Qualification | A degree / diploma / postgraduate program of at least 3 years (after 10+2), or GD Arts diploma (10+5), completed or in the final year | Institute may require a specific bachelor's background (e.g., design, architecture, engineering) for certain M.Des streams |
| Minimum marks | No minimum percentage to appear for CEED | Many institutes set a minimum aggregate (often ~55% or an equivalent CGPA), sometimes relaxed for reserved categories |
| Age limit | No upper age limit | No age limit (institute rules apply if any) |
| Attempts | Unlimited - you can take CEED any number of times | Uses your valid CEED score (valid for 1 year from the result) |
| Beyond the score | Clearing the Part-A CEED cut-off + earning a merit rank | Additional filters- portfolio review, studio/design test and/or personal interview |
The takeaway:
Meeting CEED's exam eligibility only gets you to the starting line. Before you apply, always check the specific admission eligibility of each CEED college on your shortlist - the required academic background, minimum marks and selection rounds can differ from one institute to the next. Confirm the exact criteria in each institute's official M.Des admission brochure.
Check: CEED 2027 Eligibility Criteria
CEED has no common counselling or joint seat allotment - IIT Bombay only conducts the exam and shares your score. You must apply to each target institute separately, and each runs its own shortlisting and selection. Here's the full journey from exam to enrolment:
| Step | Stage | What you need to do |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Appear & qualify CEED | Clear the Part-A cut-off so your Part-B is evaluated, and secure a CEED merit rank. Only ranked (shortlisted) candidates can apply for admission. |
| 2 | Download your scorecard | Once CEED results are declared, download your CEED scorecard from the official portal. It is valid for one year from the date of result. |
| 3 | Shortlist target institutes | Pick institutes by program fit (interaction, product, visual, mobility, XR, etc.), fees, location and placements from the list of participating & result-sharing institutes. |
| 4 | Apply to each institute separately | Track each institute's own M.Des admission notification and deadline. Register on its portal, upload your CEED scorecard and required documents, and pay the application fee. There is no single common form. |
| 5 | Institute shortlisting | Each institute shortlists candidates based on CEED score, eligibility, and often a portfolio submission at this stage. Category-wise lists may be released on institute websites. |
| 6 | Further selection rounds | Attend the institute's next rounds - typically a portfolio review, a written/studio design test, and/or a personal interview. The exact mix varies by institute. |
| 7 | Final merit list & offer | Institutes prepare a final merit list (weighting CEED score, portfolio and interview), apply category reservation rules, and release admission offers to selected candidates. |
| 8 | Accept, verify & enroll | Confirm your seat by paying the admission fee within the deadline, complete document verification, and enroll in the M.Des program. Missing the deadline can pass your seat to the waitlist. |
Note: The weightage given to the CEED score in the final selection varies across institutes (commonly 25%-40%, with the rest from portfolio and interview). Always follow each institute's own admission brochure for exact criteria and dates.
Before you apply, know what you're up against: understand the two-part test format in detail with our CEED exam pattern guide, and map out exactly what to study using the complete CEED syllabus.
Choosing the right college is not an easy task. Considering this, let's take a look at some of the points that candidates should take into consideration before choosing the right college:
The fee structure is the most important aspect for candidates when choosing a college. It is a good idea not to settle immediately for one college. Candidates must make an informed decision after comparing the fee structure of a few CEED colleges in india
Ranking and reviews are something the candidate should consider while making their decision. Ranks and reviews help assess an institution's quality, and it is undoubtedly an important parameter when a candidate has to fill out college applications.
Infrastructure is also an important factor that plays a role in selecting a college. Candidates should consider all parameters such as the classrooms and labs, whether the college has any sports facilities, how's the canteen, etc.
Placement is another significant aspect that cannot be overlooked. It is one of the major criteria students should look at while shortlisting a college. Reputed CEED colleges in india have their placement process in place. So, looking at a particular college's rate of successful placements is an important factor.
This is where a candidate will be spending a lot of time. Candidates can get a glimpse of a particular college's campus area through pictures, or they can also choose to visit that college. They can opt for that college if the campus interests them or consider other options.
The academic reputation of a college plays an important role. Therefore, it is important to consider what the alumni of a particular college have to say about it and what role the college plays in the alumni's success.
Check: CEED Sample Papers
Every CEED institute has its own design strengths, so the smartest way to shortlist is by domain fit, not brand alone. Find the design direction closest to your portfolio below, then target the institutes offering that specialization.
| Design Domain | Best-Fit Institutes (Program) | Ideal If You Want to Work In |
|---|---|---|
| Interaction / UX Design | IIT Bombay - IDC (Interaction Design); IIT Hyderabad (Visual Design); IIT Guwahati (Design) | UX/UI, product & service design, digital interfaces, HCI |
| Visual & Communication Design | IIT Hyderabad (Visual Design); IIT Bombay - IDC (Communication Design) | Graphic design, branding, visual storytelling, information design |
| Industrial / Product Design | IIT Delhi (Industrial Design); IIT Roorkee (Industrial Design); IISc (Product Design & Engineering); IIITDM Kancheepuram (Integrated Product Design) | Consumer products, hardware, manufacturing, design engineering |
| Animation | IIT Bombay - IDC (Animation) | Motion graphics, 2D/3D animation, film & media, game art |
| Mobility & Vehicle Design | IIT Bombay - IDC (Mobility & Vehicle Design) | Automotive & transportation design, mobility solutions |
| Emerging: XR & Integrated Design | IIT Jodhpur (XR Design); IIT Gandhinagar (Integrated Design & Technology) | AR/VR/XR, tech-led & interdisciplinary design, future interfaces |
| Research / Academia | PhD in Design at IISc, IIT Bombay, Delhi, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Kanpur & others | Design research, teaching, R&D, design leadership |
Bottom line: Match the institute's specialization to your portfolio direction first, then weigh fees, location and placements. A programme that fits your design goals will serve you far better than picking on brand name alone.
Check out the highlights of the CEED 2027 exam.
| Particulars | Part A | Part B |
|---|---|---|
| Mode | Computer-based (objective) | Pen-and-paper (drawing booklet) |
| Question types | NAT, MSQ, MCQ | Subjective (drawing/design) |
| No. of questions | 44 | 5 |
| Total marks | 150 | 100 |
| Duration | 1 hour | 2 hours |
| Marking | NAT +4 (no negative); MCQ +3 (−0.5); MSQ partial (−1) | Holistic, per question criteria |
Part-B is evaluated only if you clear the Part-A cut-off. Confirm the exact question count against the official CEED brochure.
| CEED Study Material | Download Link |
| CEED Mechanical Aptitude Prep Video 2026 | |
| CEED Visualization and spatial reasoning Prep Video 2026 | |
| CEED Perspective Drawing Prep Videos 2026 | |
| CEED Design Thinking Prep Videos 2026 | |
| CEED Previous Year Question Papers PDFs | |
| CEED Aptitude Questions with Solution 2026 | |
| CEED Part B Questions with Solution 2026 | |
| CEED Mock Tests 2026 |
Check: CEED Prep Books 2027
CEED accepting colleges transcend the traditional notion of educational institutions; they serve as vibrant hubs of creativity, innovation, and artistic expression. Whether your ambitions lie in reshaping user experiences, redefining product design paradigms, or weaving captivating visual narratives, CEED colleges in India provide the fertile ground for your aspirations to thrive.
Embrace the journey, unleash your potential, and allow the transformative influence of CEED colleges in India to showcase your ingenuity to the world.
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