NID vs NIFT 2026: Key Differences, Career Opportunities, Admission Process and Courses

Summary: Confused about which is better NID or NIFT? Discover the key differences between the National Institute of Design (NID) and the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) in terms of focus, courses, exam duration, age limits, and more. Make an informed choice for your design or fashion career with NID v NIFT. Get insights into NID's design excellence and NIFT's fashion innovation to shape your creative future.

What is the difference between NID and NIFT? Many prospective aspirants get confused about whether they should apply to NID, NIFT, or both.

NID and NIFT comparison is often drawn in the context of design education in India. NIFT vs NID debate centers on the distinctions between the National Institute of Design and the National Institute of Fashion Technology offerings in terms of education and opportunities. While NID and NIFT both offer quality education, they specialize in different domains.

NID conducts NID DAT exam in January yearly for admission to its UG & PG courses. Similarly, NIFT conducts NIFT entrance exam usually in February every year.

For in-depth discussion on NID vs NIFT salary, placements, courses offered and fees, keep reading. 

This article will also highlight the diverse career paths available in design, whether at NID or at NIFT.

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NID vs NIFT Overview

The National Institute of Design (NID) is solely focused on the field of design. Only a few fashion-related courses are available.

People work on many aspects of design like-  fashion, autos, lifestyle, architecture, cinema, cartoons, filmmaking, communication, etc. They don't limit themselves to the realm of fashion but it's important to explore NID vs NIFT to understand how each institution caters to different design specializations and career paths

Whereas, NIFT is solely for the fashion world. Both the NID and NIFT pass outs work with the biggest of brands and earn a salary as high as 18-20 LPA right in the beginning of the career, depending on their specialization.

Learn more: Key Differences between UCEED-vs-NID

NID vs NIFT - Quick Comparison

Check out: NID Exam Pattern 2025

Basic Things to Know - NID vs NIFT Exam 2026

What is the difference between NID DAT and NIFT Entrance Exam?

NID DAT is the entrance exam for admission to National Institute of Design for B.Des (UG)  and M.Des (PG) degrees in design. While NIFT entrance exam (NIFTEE) is conducted by National Institute of Fashion Design for admission to it's various undergraduate & post-graduate programs across all it's campuses in the country. 

While NID DAT is more innovation and product design oriented, NIFT focuses on fashion, apparel & lifestyle design. The test formats, course offerings and institute strengths vary significantly based on your specific interests.

Criteria	NID	NIFT (B. Des)
Duration of Prelims Exam	B.Des - 3 hours for both CAT & GAT M.Des - 2 hours 30 minutes for CAT & GAT	B.Des & M.Des - 2 hours for GAT & 3 hours for CAT B.FTech, M.FTech & MFM - 3 hours for GAT
No. of questions	14 to 26 max. for prelims	-
Maximum marks	100	100 for GAT + 100 for CAT (For B.Des) 120 for GAT + 100 for CAT (For M.Des)
Language of paper	English	English/Hindi
Mode of exam	Pen and paper mode	Pen and paper mode
Negative Marking	No negative marking	0.25 marks deducted per wrong answer
Maximum Age (Upper age limit)	B.Des - 20 years in GEN category M.Des - 30 to 31 years in GEN category	UG - Under 24 years for GEN category PG - No age limit

Know more: NID Entrance Exam Syllabus 2025

Ever wondered which is best between NID and NIFT or which is better NID or NIFT? Let's talk about NID vs NIFT 2026 courses, admission, qualifications and exam pattern.

NID vs NIFT PDF: Courses, Careers, Cut-offs (Full Comparison Guide)

The National Institute of Design (NID) 2026

NID, which was founded in 1961, is also recognized for being India's most challenging design school to get into. 

NID is the premier Indian institute for product design for product designing, product concept development, and design innovation, acclaimed globally for design excellence. NID teaches about design and art, aesthetic sense and extracts of design engineering. It is primarily concerned with art, aesthetics, and product design.

NID also include Ceramic and glass design, Furniture design, Textile design, Film and video communication, Animation film design, Product design, NID Graphic design, and Exhibition design. 

The National Institute of Design (NID) is a famous design school with campuses in Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Bangalore (R&D), Kurukshetra (Design Graduate Programs), and Vijaywada (Graduate Diploma Programs in Design).

It has also recently unveiled launched campuses in Andhra Pradesh (Graduate Diploma Programs in Design), Haryana (Graduate Diploma Programs in Design), Madhya Pradesh (Graduate Diploma Programs in Design), and Assam (Graduate Diploma Programs in Design) (Graduate Diploma Programs in Design). When considering design education, it's essential to explore NID vs NIFT to understand the differences in curriculum, campus facilities, and career opportunities offered by these prestigious institutes.

Know more: Points to Remember before Appearing for NID Exam 2025

Career Paths after NID

• Industrial Designer 
• UI/UX Designer
• Graphic Designer
• Interior Designer
• Animation and Multimedia Designer
• Design Consultant

Strengths of NID

• Best for Industrial Design, Communication Design, Animation, Film & Video, UI/UX.
• Strong connections with tech companies, industrial design firms, and startups.
• High international recognition (many students pursue global design careers).

Age Limit for NID Admission

- For Indian Nationals in General Category and General EWS Category:  Only those candidates born on or after 1 July 2002 are eligible to apply for admission.

- For Indian Nationals in Reserved Category (Other Backward Class-Non Creamy Layer (OBC-NCL), Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST): Only those candidates born on or after 1 July 1999 are eligible to apply for admission.

- For Indian Nationals in PwD Reserved Category: Only those candidates born on or after 1 July 1998 are eligible to apply for admission.

- For Foreign Nationals in Overseas (Supernumerary) Category: Only those candidates born on or after 1 July 2003 are eligible to apply for admission.

Practice with: Free NID Mock Test Series 2026

Educational Qualification for NID 2026

Applications for the academic year 2026 will be open to candidates who have passed or will appear for higher secondary (10+2) qualifying examinations in the academic year 2024–25 in any stream (Science, Arts, Commerce, Humanities, etc.) from any recognized board of education such as CBSE, IB, ICSE or equivalent.

NID Entrance Exam Pattern for 2026

NID Design Aptitude Test (NID DAT) comprises three phases which include a written exam (Prelims and Mains), a studio test, and a personal interview.

National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) 2026

NIFT is India's foremost fashion design institute, and it consistently produces the greatest stylists and fashion designers. It Focuses on fabrics, illustration, aesthetic sensibility, garment manufacturing, style, and the technology that surrounds it.

At present, NIFT has 16 professionally managed campuses across the length and breadth of India. There are campuses in Bhopal, Bengaluru, Bhuvneshwar, Chennai, Gandhinagar, Hyderabad, Jodhpur, Kolkata, Kannur, Kangra, Mumbai, New Delhi, Patna, Raebareli, Srinagar, and Shillong.

As for how many NIFT courses are there, here's a complete list:

• Foundation Programme(FP)
• B.Des.(Fashion Design)
• B.Des.(Leather Design)
• B.Des.(Accessory Design)
• B.Des.(Textile Design)
• B.Des.(Knitwear Design)
• B.Des.(Fashion Communication)
• B.FTech.(Apparel Production)
• M.Des.(Master of Design)
• M.F.M.(Master of Fashion Management)
• M.FTech.(Master of Fashion Technology)

Enroll to get free resources: Best NID Exam Online Coaching 2026

Strengths of NIFT

• Best for Fashion Design, Textile, Apparel, Luxury Management.
• Strong ties with fashion brands, export houses, and retail giants.
• 18 campuses across India = wider accessibility.

Career Paths after NIFT

• Fashion Designer
• Fashion Stylist
• Textile Designer
• Fashion Merchandiser
• Fashion Marketing
• Visual Designer
• Design Thinker
• Trend analyst
• Product Designer

Age Limit for NIFT Admission 2026

Maximum age should be less than 24 years as on 1st August of the year of admission. The upper age limit may be relaxed by a period of 5 (five) years for candidates of Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe/ Person with Disability (PWD) categories

Educational Qualification for NIFT 2026

Passed the Plus 2 level examination in the 10+2 pattern of examination from any recognized Central/State Board of Secondary Examination. Or, any Public School/Board/University Examination in India or in foreign countries recognized by the Association of Indian Universities as equivalent to 10+2 system.

NIFT Entrance Exam Pattern for 2026

The design entrance test for admission to NIFT campuses consists of two rounds- Prelims = Creative Ability Test (CAT) + General Ability Test (GAT) and Mains- Situation Test.

However, students seeking admission to Bachelor of Fashion Technology (B.FTECH) will have to appear for the GAT exam only.

No. of sections- Quantitative Ability, Communication Ability, English Comprehension, Analytical Ability, General Knowledge, and Current Affairs.

NIFT Exam Structure for UG courses in Fashion:

NIFT UG Course	Components
B.Des	GAT + CAT + Situation Test
B.F.Tech	GAT
B.F.Tech candidates opting for B.Des	GAT + CAT + Situation Test

NIFT Exam Structure for PG courses in Fashion:

NIFT PG Course	Components
M.Des	GAT + CAT + Personal Interview
M.F.M	GAT + Personal Interview
M.F.M candidates opting for M.Des	GAT + CAT + Personal Interview
M.F.Tech	GAT + Personal Interview

Know more: NIFT Exam Pattern

Explore Real Past Year NID GK Questions with Answers

NID vs NIFT Courses

If you are passionate about industrial design, UI/UX, product design, animation, or design research → Choose NID.

If you dream of fashion, textile, retail, apparel technology, or fashion management → Choose NIFT.

NID vs NIFT Placements

NID Placements

Roles: UI/UX Designer, Product Designer, Animator, Industrial Designer, Communication Designer.

Companies: Microsoft, Samsung, TCS, Infosys, Titan, Whirlpool, Philips, Tata Motors.

Salary Range: ₹8-15 LPA for top students.

NIFT Placements

Roles: Fashion Designer, Textile Designer, Retail Buyer, Fashion Manager, Merchandiser.

Companies: H&M, Zara, Reliance Retail, Arvind Mills, Aditya Birla, Marks & Spencer.

Salary Range: ₹6-12 LPA for top students.

Read more: NIFT Eligibility Criteria

How to Prepare for NID & NIFT Admission 2026?

1. The very first step is to understand the pattern and syllabus to cover for both NID & NIFT.

2. Since both the design exams give high regard to creative ability of the candidates, it's imperative to develop strong foundation in drawing/sketching skills, design thinking, plus visualization and observation skills. 

3. Practice sketching real-world products, scenes, and compositions on a daily basis.

4. Understand the basics of color theory, light and shade, design elements etc.

5. Keep a track of news and trends in the world of fashion and design.

6. Create a structured schedule that balances syllabus, practice, revisions and mock tests.

7. Start compiling the best of your creative works for the portfolio.

8. Consider taking help from experts of the industry at Toprankers where NID passed alumni mentors guide you with exact and personalized roadmap to crack NID or NIFT. Choose for online coaching or offline classes and increase your chances to reach your dream design college multifold.

Conclusion

NID vs NIFT are renowned institutes catering to design and fashion respectively. NID focuses on diverse design courses, while NIFT is dedicated to the world of fashion. Students should consider their passions and career goals to make the right choice.

Download here: NIFT Syllabus 2026 PDF