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CEED Colleges: Complete List of Participating Institutes, Programmes, Seats & Admission

Author : Vineeta Agrawal

August 11, 2026

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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.

Key Highlights: CEED Colleges

  • Main participating institutes: 11 (IISc + 8 IITs + 2 IIITDMs)
  • New in 2026: IIT Gandhinagar (M.Des in Integrated Design & Technology)
  • Total M.Des seats: approximately 300+ across participating institutes
  • Programs: M.Des (Industrial, Communication, Interaction, Visual, Mobility & Vehicle, XR Design, etc.) and PhD in Design
  • Result-sharing institutes: Mahindra, Jain, GLS, MIT ID Avantika, VIT School of Design, DTU, RV University & more
  • Admission: no common counselling after CEED exam - apply to each institute separately (portfolio + interview)
  • Score validity: 1 year from result declaration

CEED Participating Institutes (M.Des & PhD) - Colleges List, Seat Intake, Fees

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

CEED Colleges Fees 2026/27

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.

CEED Result-Sharing Institutes

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:

  • Mahindra University, Hyderabad
  • Jain (Deemed-to-be-University), Bengaluru
  • GLS University, Gujarat
  • MIT ID Indore - Avantika University
  • VIT School of Design (V-SIGN), Vellore
  • Delhi Technological University (DTU), Delhi
  • DJ Academy of Design, Coimbatore
  • JS Institute of Design, New Delhi
  • RV University, Bengaluru
  • DPU Dr. D. Y. Patil School of Design, Pune
  • Tezpur University, Assam
  • NIT Jamshedpur
  • University School of Design & Innovation, GGSIPU, New Delhi

Always verify the current result-sharing list on the official CEED website, as institutes are added or revised each cycle.

CEED Exam Eligibility vs CEED Colleges Admission Eligibility: What's the Difference?

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

How to Get Admission in CEED Colleges: Step-by-Step Process

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.

How to Choose a CEED Participating College 2027

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:

1. Fee Structure

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

2. Ranking and Reviews of the College

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.

3. Infrastructure and Basic Facilities 

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. 

4. Placement

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.

5. Campus

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.

6. Alumni and Success Stories

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

Which CEED College Should You Choose Based on Your Design Domain?

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.

CEED 2027 Exam Highlights & Exam Pattern

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.

Use Creative Edge Free Resources 2027 Strategically

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

Conclusion

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

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About the Author

Faculty
Vineeta Agrawal

Communications Executive

Vineeta Agrawal is a seasoned content writer with 3 years of experience and a flair for turning ideas into impactful stories across industries. She blends creativity with strategy to craft content that clicks and converts. Off the clock, she’s a fiction film buff always chasing her next cinematic escape.... more