NID Admission 2026: Eligibility, Selection Process and Documents Required

Summary: Discover the comprehensive guide to NID Admission Criteria 2026: From the DAT entrance exam details, eligibility criteria, and application process to the courses offered across various NID campuses. Dive deep into the admission process, document requirements, seat allotment, and get a glimpse of life at the esteemed NID campus. Dive into your design dream with insights from this guide! 

Download Free Study Material for NID 2026 by CreativeEdge

The NID Design Aptitude Test (DAT) is a national-level entrance exam conducted by the National Institute of Design to provide UG and PG programs in the Design category.

As per the official NID 2026 admission brochure, only those who score above the cut-off in the Design Aptitude Test (DAT) will be given admission to their desired course at the university. 

Read through the post that will give a complete insight into NID 2026 Admission, courses offered by the institute, the counselling process, and more. 

NID Admission Test, Courses and Campuses 2026

The National Institute of Design admission offers various undergraduate, postgraduate, and research programs such as B.Des., M.Des., and Ph. D in design.

NID is an autonomous institute that comes under the perview of the Ministry Of Commerce and Industry. It is also recognised as one of the best institutes all across the country concerning core designing courses. 

Check out the table below to know the different courses offered at the NID institutes all across India.

NID Campus	Courses Offered
NID Ahmedabad	B. Des, M. Des
NID Gandhinagar	M. Des
NID Bengaluru	M. Des
NID Andhra Pradesh	B. Des
NID Haryana	B. Des
NID Madhya Pradesh	B. Des
NID Assam	B. Des

Important Dates for NID Admission Criteria 2026

Students can refer the NID 2026 admission dates below:

Event	Dates (Expected)
National Institute of Design admission form start date	Approximately in Oct – Nov 2024
Admission into NID last date	December 2024
Application correction window	To be notified
Download NID DAT admit card	To be notified
NID DAT (Prelims)	Tentatively January 1st Sunday

Check: NID Exam Dates

NID Admission Process 2026: Courses Offered

The institute, well-known for its excellence in design and education, offers courses both at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

The following are some popular NID 2026 admission courses offered.

Faculty of Industrial Design  

• Ceramic & Glass Design 
• Furniture & interior Design 
• Product Design 

Faculty of communication 

• Animation Design 
• Exhibition Design  
• Film & Video Communication Design 
• Graphic Design 

Faculty of textile, Apparel, Lifestyle & accessory Design 

• Textile design 

Check: NID Syllabus

NID Admission 2026: How to Apply for B.Des & M.Des

Can I get direct admission in NID? To get admission to NID, you need to meet the following NID eligibility criteria:

• You must have a 10+2 or equivalent qualification with a minimum aggregate of 50%. 
• You must have appeared for the NID DAT (Design Aptitude Test) conducted by NID.
• NID DAT Exam has 2 rounds – NID Prelims & NID Mains 

Check: NID Exam Pattern

NID 2026 Admission Criteria and Counselling Process

How to take admission in NID? You will get shortlisted for counselling only if your name is present in the final merit list. The counselling process of the NID exam primarily involves four steps:

• Qualifying NID Mains/ Online Approval 
• Uploading Documents 
• Counselling/ Allotment of Seat 
• Provisional Admission Offer 

Check: Previous year exam analysis for NID entrance exam

Qualifying NID Mains/ Online Approval 

If your name is present on the merit list, you are required to submit your acceptance through online mode to be eligible for the next stage of the NID Admission criteria

Based on the online approval submitted by the aspirants, authorities will regularly update the merit list on the official website.

If you fail to submit the approval online within the stipulated time, you are not considered for further rounds of the admission procedure for NID.

Only those who are eligible according to the rank list and who have submitted the acceptance in the given time will be considered in the merit list.

Check: Important questions with answers for the NID CAT exam

Documents Required for NID Admission Process

If you get shortlisted in the merit list, you will be required to upload all the scanned copies of requisite documents for verification.

You need to upload the following documents for the verification process.

• 10th & 12th Mark sheet
• Graduation Mark sheet
• Graduation Certificate
• Birth Certificate
• Category Certificate (if required)
• PwD Certificate
• Passport (for the overseas category)
• Bonafide Certificate from the Principal of their College (those are waiting for results)

Check: NID Exam Day Instructions

NID 2026 Seat Allotment: Admission Procedure

The National Institute of Design will conduct the allotment of seats at the Ahmedabad campus after declaring the final NID Admission DAT Results.

It is mandatory to attend the counselling process with all the required documents as per the schedule.

If you fail to report to the centre, your candidature will get cancelled, and your seat will be allotted to another person based on merit.

Provisional Offer for NID Admission 2026

After verifying all the documents, authorities will send the provisional admission offer letter that includes details of the admission fee to be paid, hostel rules, etc to your registered mail ID.

You will have to reply to the mail by attaching the following documents:

• Format of physical fitness certificate (signed by RMO)
• Indemnity bond
• Hostel rules and regulations and hostel application form

You must make sure to fill in all the required details with your parent's signature on printed copies of all documents before paying the admission fee.

The seat will be allotted only after the completion of the entire process.

Check: NID Fee Structure 

NID Admission Criteria and Selection Process for 2026

The admission is provided based on your performance in the two-stage exam i.e. DAT Prelims and DAT Mains.  

The admission process of the NID entrance exam involves four stages:

• Online Registration
• NID DAT Prelims Exam
• NID DAT Mains Exam
• NID DAT Final Merit List
• NID Counselling

Boost your NID Exam Preparation: NID Online Coaching 2026 by Creative Edge

NID 2026 Admission: Online Registration

Only those who have completed the final examination of 10+2 or equivalent from a recognized board (AISSE/ICSE/CBSE) and who have been born on or after 01 July 2003 are eligible to fill out the NID Online Application Form. 

• Make sure to fill out the registration form in the stipulated time to avoid discrepancies at the last moment.
• Ensure all the required documents are ready in hand before proceeding with the process.
• The NID registration fee/National Institute of Design admission form fees for the general category is Rs. 3000 while it is Rs. 1500 for SC/ST category.

Check: How to get into NID Ahmedabad

NID DAT Prelims Exam 2026

• The first stage of the Design Aptitude Test is a written test that comprises objective and subjective questions.
• The prelims exam is conducted for a total of 100 marks.
• The time duration of the exam is 3 hours, and the exam is conducted in offline mode.

NID DAT Mains Exam 2026

Only those who will score more than NID DAT Cut Off in the prelims exam will be shortlisted for the mains examination.

• The mains exam includes a studio test followed by a personal interview.
• In the studio test, you are given practical assignments that need to be completed in a given time. 
• If you are shortlisted in the Studio Test round, you can appear for the personal interview round. 

Check: How to Prepare for NID Studio Test?

NID DAT Final Merit List 2026

To be considered for the merit list, you must appear for prelims and mains exams.

Based on the performance of all aspirants in prelims and mains, the authorities will generate the final merit list.

The exam conducting body will release a merit list category-wise, i.e., General, OBC, SC, ST, and PwD.

Check: How to prepare for NID Exam in 6 months?

Life at NID Campus: What to Expect in 2026

Most of you appearing for National Institute of Design Admission may have queries like how the faculty is, whether are there any internship opportunities at the university, are placements provided by the university, and more.

Well, you can go through the points given below to get a fair idea of how is life at NID. 

• Being a national institution, NID provides you with the opportunity to meet individuals from all states of the country.
• The place is loaded with fascinating and inspiring individuals who keep you aroused with their creative energy. 
• The fundamental goal of the institute is to educate students like you on how you can meet the advanced design needs by modernizing the overall quality of life by making you knowledgeable about various products, frameworks, materials, design, and creative processes.
• The faculty resemble a parent figure, and they know how to fuel the fire of innovativeness among even the shyest students. 
• There are numerous studio spaces on the campus where you will work with wood, metal, styrofoam, texture, glass, pottery, and that is just the tip of the iceberg!
• The campus is one of the most delightful, quiet, and serene spots in the city. There are lush trees, beautiful birds such as peacocks, and other animals freely wandering around the campus.
• The campus offers a lot of cultural festivals and events throughout the year. It depends on the type of person you are, and you can participate in them to have immense fun and learn new skills along the way.

Also Check: Top NID Colleges in India

NID Admission Criteria Requirements 2026

he admission requirements for the National Institute of Design (NID) are stringent and designed to identify highly creative and innovative individuals. Applicants must have completed their higher secondary education (10+2) from a recognized board for undergraduate programs or hold a bachelor's degree for postgraduate courses. Candidates must clear the Design Aptitude Test (DAT), which includes a prelims and mains stage, assessing their design skills, creativity, and problem-solving abilities.

Additionally, a well-prepared portfolio showcasing the candidate’s best work can significantly enhance the application. International students must meet equivalent educational standards and may have additional language proficiency requirements.

Check: How to Solve Simple Interest Problems for NID 2026

NID 2026 Admission Procedure 

The National Institute of Design admission procedure is a rigorous process designed to select candidates with exceptional creativity and design aptitude. It begins with the submission of an online application form, where applicants provide personal details, educational qualifications, and a portfolio showcasing their creative work. Alongside this, candidates must pay the required application fee to complete the initial stage of the process.

Following the application submission, candidates undergo the Design Aptitude Test (DAT), which is divided into two parts: DAT Prelims and DAT Mains. The DAT Prelims assesses candidates through a written exam that tests their knowledge of design principles, creativity, and problem-solving abilities.

Successful candidates from the DAT Prelims proceed to the DAT Mains, which includes studio tests, practical assignments, and personal interviews conducted to evaluate their practical skills and conceptual thinking. Final selection for admission to NID's esteemed design programs is based on the cumulative performance in these stages, ensuring that only the most talented and promising individuals join the institute's creative community

Check: How to get into NID Bangalore

The NID Admission procedure, detailed in this guide, offers aspiring designers a clear pathway to enter one of India's most prestigious design institutions. With rigorous selection criteria, varied courses, and an enriching campus life, NID promises a comprehensive design education experience.

Aspiring candidates should ensure they're well-prepared and informed to navigate this extensive admission journey, ultimately culminating in a transformative educational experience.

Practice with: NID 2026 Free Mock Test.