NID Exam Dates 2027 (OUT): Full DAT Prelims, Mains, Result & Counselling Schedule

The NID DAT 2027 dates are now official. The DAT Prelims will be held on Sunday, 20 December 2026 - the same single exam for both B.Des / Integrated and M.Des applicants across all NIDs. Applications are open from 10 September to 30 November 2026, with a correction window from 1-3 December 2026 and Prelims admit cards released on 10 December 2026.

DAT Prelims results follow on 16 February 2027 for M.Des and 16 March 2027 for B.Des. Only shortlisted candidates move to DAT Mains (the studio and interview stage), whose dates - along with counselling and seat allotment - are yet to be announced by NID. Remember: Prelims is a qualifier only (0% weightage in the final result), so your Mains performance is what decides your seat.

If you are also planning to apply, here’s everything you need on NID 2027 exam dates (stage-wise). Get insights on official registration deadlines, DAT (Design Aptitude Test) Prelims schedule, admit-card timelines, correction window, plus quick notes on the exam pattern and syllabus so you can plan preparation effectively.

Download Study Material for NID Exam 2027 by CreativeEdge

What is the Date of the NID 2027 Exam?

The NID Exam Dates 2027 are expected to follow a similar timeline as previous years. Students planning to appear for the NID 2027 exam should track the expected timeline below.

Students preparing for NID 2027 should begin early preparation and track NID exam dates regularly to stay ahead.

NID Event (B.Des/Integrated)	Official Date 2027-28
Registration start	10 September 2026
Last date to apply	30 November 2026 (11:59 pm)
Edit/correction window	1-3 December 2026
Prelims admit card	10 December 2026
DAT Prelims exam	20 December 2026
DAT Prelims result	16 March 2027
DAT Mains (Studio + In-Person Sensitivity Test)	To be announced
Final result / counselling	To be announced

Check: NID DAT Previous Years Exam Analysis

NID M.Des Stage	Official Date 2027-28
Registration start	10 September 2026
Last date to apply (per discipline)	30 November 2026 (11:59 pm)
Edit/correction window	1–3 December 2026
Prelims admit card	10 December 2026
DAT Prelims exam	20 December 2026
DAT Prelims result	16 February 2027
DAT Mains (Studio Test + Interview)	To be announced
Final result / counselling	To be announced

Check: Short tricks to crack the NID exam on the first attempt

Explore the Only NID Booklist You'll Ever Need

What is NID Exam 2027? - Quick Overview

The NID entrance exam, officially the NID Design Aptitude Test (DAT), runs in two stages - DAT Prelims and DAT Mains - as set out in the NID exam pattern and detailed NID syllabus.

Particulars	Details
Exam name	NID Design Aptitude Test (NID DAT)
Conducting body	National Institute of Design (NID)
Exam Purpose	Admission to Design courses offered by top NID colleges in India and some private colleges
Frequency	Once a year
Courses	B.Des (4-yr), Integrated M.Des (5.5-yr), M.Des (2.5-yr)
Prelims mode	Offline (paper-and-pencil/pen)
Official website	admissions.nid.edu

Is NID conducted twice a year?

No, the NID exam is not conducted twice a year. The NID DAT exam is conducted once annually by the National Institute of Design for admission to B.Des and M.Des programs. The exam takes place in two stages, NID DAT Prelims and NID DAT Mains, but both stages are part of the same admission cycle, not separate attempts.

NID 2027 Stage Wise Exam Dates and Step-by-step Admission Process

Wondering what you're applying into? Here's an honest look at life at NID - campus, studios and studio culture.

Download Most Important NID Logical Reasoning Questions PDF

The DAT Prelims admit card releases on 10 December 2026 (4 pm); download it from your login using your email ID and date of birth - see the step-by-step NID admit card guide. Separate admit cards are issued for prelims and Mains.

Events	Dates (Tentative)
NID DAT Prelims Admit Card Release Date (B.Des & M.Des)	10 December 2026
Release of NID Admit Card for Mains Exam (B.Des)	TBA
Release of NID Admit Card for Mains Exam (M.Des)	TBA

The admit card includes details like candidate's name, roll number, exam centre details, timing, and exam guidelines / instructions.

The DAT Prelims is on Sunday, 20 December 2026. In the 2026 cycle the prelims was a 3-hour offline paper with no negative marking; NID does not publish an official section-wise or marks breakdown, and it will confirm the 2027 duration in the admit card.

Events	Dates
NID DAT Prelims Exam Date	20th December 2026
NID DAT Mains Exam Date	M.Des: March - April 2027 (expected) B.Des: May 2027  (expected)

Where is the NID DAT Prelims 2027 held?

The prelims runs in 17 cities: Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Chennai, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, New Delhi, etc. A city can have more than one centre, and NID may allot a centre that isn't your first choice. You can change your city only during the correction window (1-3 December 2026). See the full NID exam centers list.

NID DAT Results are published in the form of a scorecard on the official website. You can check the results by using your registration number and password. Check last year's NID DAT cut-off to gauge the shortlist band.

Events	Dates
NID DAT Prelims Result Date	B.Des: 16th March 2027 (announced) M.Des: 16th February 2027 (announced)
NID DAT Mains Result Date	B.Des: TBA (expected May 2027) M.Des: TBA (expected Feb-March 2027)

Counselling and seat allotment follow the Mains result - walk through the complete NID admission process so you're ready when your call letter arrives. Dates will be announced by NID after the Mains stage. See also NID DAT counselling.

Particulars	NID Exam Date (Tentative)
Window for submission of Campus Preference	May, 2027
Seat Allotment, Payment of Token Fees and Uploading of documents	M.Des: May, 2027 B.Des: May, 2027
Provisional offer letter	M.Des: May, 2027 B.Des: June, 2027
Payment of remaining fees	June, 2027
Subsequent rounds of seat allotment, along with the payment of full fees	June 2027
Physical verification of documents at the respective NIDs	To be announced later by the respective NIDs

How to Check the NID DAT Result 2027?

The NID DAT results 2027 for the B.Des and M.Des programs will be released after the exam gets over, tentatively around May 2027 for B.Des and around March 2027 for M.Des.

Results can be viewed online by simply clicking on the official portal and logging in with one's login information. The procedure is outlined in detail below.

Follow the steps below to check the final results:

• Visit the official website and locate the NID DAT result link.
• Enter your email address and birth date.
• Click the Submit button.
• Download the NID Entrance Exam Score Report.

It should be noted that the final results for both the B.Des and M.Des courses will be prepared by weighing the DAT Prelims and DAT Mains, and candidates should keep an eye on the NID exam date to ensure they are well-prepared for both stages of the examination.

Weightage for the NID DAT results 2027 - B.Des & Integrated M.Des

The weightage performed by the two test parts is shown in the following tables.

Exam Component	DAT Prelims	DAT Mains (Studio Sensitivity + In-Person Sensitivity)
Weightage	0%	100%

Check: Important GAT Questions with solutions for the NID exam

Weightage for the NID DAT results 2027 - M. Des Program

Exam Component	DAT Prelims	DAT Mains
		Studio Test	Personal Interview
Weightage	0%	40%	60%

NID Exam Syllabus 2027 - What to Expect

The NID DAT syllabus emphasizes design aptitude, observational skills, creativity and basic visual communication. Main themes include:

• Visualization and spatial ability
• Creativity and problem solving (ideation)
• Observation and design sensitivity (identify design problems & solutions)
• Drawing, composition, perspective and rendering skills
• Basic general knowledge of design, materials and processes

For the detailed, subject-wise syllabus and any changes specific to the 2027 cycle, check NID syllabus 2027 or visit official NID website https://admissions.nid.edu/

Get Your Hands On Real Past Year NID GK Questions with Answers

How to Prepare for NID 2027?

With roughly ten weeks to prelims, a focused routine matters - here's how to prepare for NID in 6 months even without a design background. Time your practice against real papers and the most-repeated NID GK and reasoning questions so nothing on exam day is a surprise.

You should focus on building creativity, sketching skills, observation, and problem-solving ability early for DAT Prelims and material handling, prototyping, creative thinking, audio-visual interpretation & presentation skills for DAT Mains.

Starting preparation well before the NID exam dates 2027 gives aspirants enough time to practice drawing, improve design thinking, and attempt mock tests.

To prepare effectively for NID 2027, candidates should:

• Practice sketching, visualization, and creative thinking daily.
• Focus on NID CAT and GAT preparation simultaneously.
• Solve previous year NID question papers and sample papers
• Attempt mock tests regularly
• Improve observation and design thinking skills

Mentor tip: because prelims now carries zero weight in the final merit, treat it as a cut-off to clear rather than a paper to perfect. The real differentiator is the Mains studio test, where material handling, ideation under time pressure and presentation decide your rank. Build a weekly studio-practice habit from day one.

Conclusion

NID has now released the official 2027 schedule. The one date every aspirant should lock in is Sunday, 20 December 2026 - the DAT Prelims.

Applications close on 30 November 2026, and prelims results follow on 16 February 2027 (M.Des) and 16 March 2027 (B.Des and Integrated M.Des). DAT Mains, final results and counselling dates will be announced after prelims; we update this page within 24 hours of every official notification.

Starting now? Begin with a diagnostic - take a free NID mock test to see where you stand, then build your plan around the gaps.

Preparing for NID 2027? We can help you with exact strategic roadmap, study material and crucial feedback required to ace this exam.

Join Creative Edge, India’s leading NID online coaching and get expert guidance on all NID subjects. Or you can enroll in our offline NID batches at your nearest centres also!