June 30, 2025
Summary: NIFT Eligibility Criteria 2026 defines prerequisites for prospective fashion students at the National Institute of Fashion Technology. It's a crucial read to meet NIFT entrance eligibility and embark on a rewarding fashion career through NIFT!
Whether you dream of designing cutting-edge couture or envisioning yourself shaping the future of fashion management, NIFT or National Institute of Fashion Technology can help you transform these dreams into reality.
The prestigious institute has 19 campuses in India and a total of 4837 seats across all UG and PG programs. In order to secure one of these for yourself, you'll need to apply for and crack the NIFT entrance exam. And to be able to appear for this exam, the first step is to comprehend the NIFT Eligibility 2026 and the prerequisites set forth by the authorities.
Please note NIFT has yet to release the brochure for the academic year 2026 with the latest NIFT updates. Watch this space or visit NIFT official website for any latest news, notifications or happenings related to the institute.
This post will help you understand the NIFT exam eligibility matrix for every fashion course offered at the institute.
NIFT offers various UG and PG design courses in fashion and related domains like Fashion Design, Accessory Design, Apparel Production, Fashion Communication etc
The list of Programs at the UG level are -
And the list of programs at the PG level are:
If you wish to secure admissions in NIFT, you must meet the eligibility conditions which are specific to each program. Please note that the application form is designed in such a way that the non-eligible candidates will be eliminated at the time of online submission of application.
Keep reading as we discuss the NIFT eligibility criteria including both age limit and educational qualifications for all the undergraduate and postgraduate NIFT programs.
Know more:How to fill NIFT Application Form
B.Des and B.FTech are the undergraduate degrees available after passing the NIFT entrance exams. The NIFT exam eligibility age restrictions may remain pretty consistent for all programs, however, the educational requirements for taking the entrance may vary.
Know more: NIFT Exam Day Instructions
1. Age Limit for NIFT UG Programs:
The maximum age should be less than 24 years as of August 1 of the admission year as per the NIFT entrance exam eligibility criteria 2026. The upper age limit may be relaxed by five years for candidates of Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe/Person with Disability (PWD) categories.
Know more:How to download NIFT Admit card
2. NIFT Eligibility Criteria 2026: Education Qualification for UG (B.Des & B.FTech)
The eligibility criteria for the NIFT entrance exam for B.Des are as follows:
Know more:NIFT Question Paper
The eligibility criteria for the NIFT entrance exam for BF.Tech is as follows:
Know more: Check Salary After NIFT
Note: Candidates appearing for their Board examinations in the year of Admission can also apply, subject to fulfilling necessary eligibility conditions at the time of seat allotment /admission, as mentioned in the Admission Prospectus.
Resource: NIFT 2026 is just 7 months away. After confirming your eligibility, start preparing smart with the Complete NIFT Syllabus and 7 months Preparation Plan FREE PDF curated by NIFT Alumni and utilized by thousands of past NIFT toppers at CreativEdge.
If you want to apply for PG design courses through NIFT for advanced knowledge and skills in fashion related design, management and technology, you can choose from the following courses.
Check: NIFT Syllabus
Go through the detailed eligibility for the NIFT entrance exam for NIFT Masters program below:
1. Age Limit for NIFT PG Programs
Per the NIFT eligibility criteria, there is no upper age limit for applying to the Master of Design Program.
2. Educational Qualification for Master's Programmes (M.Des., M.F.M and M.F.Tech)
- NIFT Admission Eligibility Criteria 2026 for Master of Design (M.Des): Undergraduate Degree in any discipline from any Institute / University recognized by law in India or Undergraduate Diploma of a minimum of three years duration from NIFT / NID.
- NIFT Exam Eligibility Criteria 2026 for Master of Fashion Management (M.F.M): Undergraduate Degree in any discipline from any Institute / University recognized by law in India or Undergraduate Diploma of a minimum of three years from NIFT / NID.
- NIFT Entrance Exam Eligibility Criteria 2026 for Master of Fashion Technology (M.F.Tech.): B.F.Tech. from the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) or B.E / B.Tech. from any Institute / University recognized by law in India or B.FTech from any institute/university recognized by law in India.
Know more: Life at NIFT
Foreign Nationals and Non-Resident Indians who are citizens of India holding an Indian passport and have temporarily immigrated to another country for six months or more for work, residence, or any other purpose can also apply for NIFT 2026
1. Age Limit
Check: NIFT MFM Eligibility Criteria 2026
2. Educational Qualification
Suppose you have a degree certificate from a university or board of any country other than India, you must obtain an equivalence certificate from the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), New Delhi, before Admission.
Candidates who fulfil the NIFT admission criteria for this category may apply online for the exam with required application fee of around US $125 through the online NIFT payment gateway.
Learn more: How To Prepare For NIFT Entrance Exam 2024
Prepare with: NIFT Mock Test 2026
Check the Eligibility Criteria for NIFT 2026 below.
Know more:How to prepare for NIFT exam at home
NIFT Campus | State |
Patna | Bihar |
Kangra | Himachal Pradesh |
Kannur | Kerala |
Bhopal | Madhya Pradesh |
Shillong | Meghalaya, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Sikkim, Nagaland and Tripura |
Bhubaneswar | Odisha |
Jodhpur | Rajasthan |
Srinagar | Jammu and Kashmir |
Panchkula | Haryana |
Daman | Daman, Diu, Dadra, Nagar Haveli and Lakshadweep |
Refer: NIFT Preparation Books 2026
In each program, a certain percentage of seats are reserved for candidates in the categories given below.
NIFT Exam Eligibility 2026 - Categories | NIFT Eligibility Criteria 2026 - Reservation of seats |
ST | 7.5% |
SC | 15% |
OBC- NCL | 27% |
General-EWS | 10% |
People with Disability (PwD) | 5% |
Read more: Which NIFT campus is better?
The category you select when submitting the application form will be final, and the requirements will differ for each type. Check the requirements for each category from the post below.
You must produce a Caste/Tribe certificate from the Competent Authority of the respective States/Union Territories/ National Commission of Tribes if you belong to the SC/ ST category.
You must substantiate the caste and non-creamy layer requirement under the NIFT eligibility if you belong to the OBC (non-creamy) category. Also, you must produce a caste certificate from the Competent Authority certifying that they belong to the non-creamy layer.
Check: NIFT Counselling process
The benefit of reservation will be given only to those General category candidates who satisfy the conditions issued by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Department of Higher Education, Government of India.
Refer: GK Questions for the NIFT 2026 Exam
You should have a certificate of Disability if you belong to the PwD category, and the certificate should be issued by a medical authority designated under sub-section (1) of section 57 of the act and rules 17 (a) and (b) of GSR 591(E) for you to clear the NIFT eligibility.
Know more: NIFT Career
In conclusion, understanding the NIFT eligibility criteria for the NIFT exam is crucial for aspiring fashion designers and professionals seeking Admission to this prestigious institution. The NIFT eligibility for fashion design serve as the initial benchmark for candidates to meet, ensuring that only those with the necessary qualifications and potential are admitted.
By meeting these criteria and putting in the necessary effort, aspiring fashion enthusiasts can enhance their chances of securing Admission to NIFT and embarking on an exciting and rewarding path in fashion.
If you are looking to appear for the NIFT entrance exam for the coming academic year, you might also want to check out the NIFT Exam Pattern 2026
Key Takeaways:
Targeting NIFT 2026? Learn from NIFT Alumni. Join India's best coaching for NIFT with 100% success rate: NIFT Online Coaching Classes 2026 by Creative Edge.
Frequently Asked Questions
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