June 17, 2025
Summary: NIFT colleges stands as India's leading institutions for design degrees, boasting world-class faculty and resources. Explore the top NIFT campuses in India, their rankings, the variety of courses they offer, and more.
The National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) is synonymous with design excellence in India. NIFT has a total of 19 campuses spread across the country with a total intake capacity of 4837 seats, each offering design education and industry exposure in a range of fashion fields. Candidates can choose their preferred campus based on their interests and career goals.
For choosing the right campus, you'll need information about each NIFT campus like courses offered, seat availability, fess, placement records, etc. Follow along to uncover detailed info on all this and more that'll help you find the perfect NIFT college to ignite your design journey!
NIFT colleges are widely regarded as the best design schools in the country. The first NIFT was established in New Delhi in 1986, and the country now has 19 operational NIFT colleges. Out of these the top 5 NIFT colleges in India are NIFT Delhi, NIFT Mumbai, NIFT Bengaluru, NIFT Chennai & NIFT Hyderabad. NIFT Daman is the most recent addition to the list of NIFT Campuses in India. NIFT Daman also started accepting the scores of NIFT entrance exam for enrolment beginning in 2022.
Check: How to get scholarship in NIFT
India Today and Outlook both publish rankings for top design colleges in India. According to India Today's ranking, seven NIFTs will be among India's top ten fashion design colleges. Check the following list of NIFT Colleges in India:
Colleges | India Today Rank | Outlook Rank |
NIFT Delhi (Est 1986) | Rank 1 | Rank 1 |
NIFT Mumbai (Est 1995) | Rank 2 | Rank 2 |
NIFT Bengaluru (Est 1997) | Rank 3 | Rank 3 |
NIFT Chennai (Est 1995) | Rank 4 | Rank 4 |
NIFT Patna (Est 2008) | Rank 5 | Rank 5 |
NIFT Gandhinagar (Est 1995) | Rank 6 | Rank 6 |
NIFT Hyderabad (Est 1999) | Rank 7 | Rank 7 |
NIFT Kolkata (Est 1995) | Rank 8 | Rank 8 |
NIFT Raebareli (Est 2007) | Rank 11 | Rank 9 |
NIFT Shillong (Est 2008) | Rank 12 | - |
NIFT Kangra (Est 2009) | Rank 16 | - |
NIFT Kannur, Est 2008 | - | Rank 11 |
NIFT Daman, Est 2022 | - | - |
Resource: Download the Top NIFT Campuses in India Comparison Guide free PDF. The all-at-one-place document which gives you a clear overview of tuition fees, placement opportunities, campus benefits and everything you need to know to decide which campus to choose for depending on your individual interests.
Also Check: Best NIFT Colleges All over India in 2026
How to get a seat in NIFT? For securing admission in your dream NIFT college and study fashion, you need to apply for the NIFTEE (National Institute of fashion Technology Entrance Exam). As per the NIFT exam pattern, the admission process for B.Des and M.Des courses offered at NIFT is three-tiered, comprising two written tests CAT (Creative ability Test), GAT (General Ability Test) and a Situation Test (Practical 3D Model Making & Material Handling) or a Personal Interview.
The difference between CAT & GAT for NIFT 2026 is: CAT tests the candidate's creative abilities, observation and design skills through questions on drawing/sketching objects, design thinking, pattern making/coloring etc. While GAT tests the candidate's proficiency in reasoning, language skills, GK and quant to evaluate the aspirants' overall competency for the fashion/design field.
However, note that the exam format might vary for the UG or PG course you want to enrol in. Here's the breakdown for each:
Course |
Exam Phases + Weightage |
B.Des |
GAT- 30% NIFT CAT- 50% Situation test- 20% |
M.Des |
CAT: 40% GAT: 30% Personal Interview: 30% |
B.FTech |
GAT: 100% |
M.FTech |
GAT: 70% Personal Interview: 30% |
M.F.M |
GAT: 70% Personal Interview: 30% |
The CAT exam duration is 3 hours and the GAT exam duration is 2 hours. Once you successfully crack the CAT & GAT tests, you'll be eligible to appear for the Situation Test/Personal Interview. Once you clear the final NIFT colleges cut-off, you will be invited for the counselling and seat allotment.
Also Read: NIFT Exam Day Instructions 2026: Things to Carry, Things to Avoid and More!
Also read: NIFT Eligibility Criteria
NIFT is a renowned design college in the country that offers both undergraduate and postgraduate programs to aspirants. The most popular design program offered by NIFTs at the UG level is Bachelor of Design (BDes), and at the PG level is Master of Design (MDes). The list of courses offered at NIFT campuses in India is mentioned below.
List of UG courses offered at NIFTs | |
Bachelor of Design (BDes) | Bachelor of Fashion Technology (BFTech) |
List of PG courses offered at NIFTs | |
Master of Design (MDes) | Master of Fashion Technology (MFTech) |
Master of Fashion Management (MFM) |
Also Check: High Salaries After NIFT Exam
Candidates are informed that the UG courses offered at NIFT are four years duration whereas the PG courses are of two years duration. BDes course at NIFT campuses in India is offered in the following specializations:
List of NIFT B.Des Course Specialisations | |
Accessory Design (AD) | Knitwear Design (KD) |
Fashion Design (FD) | Leather Design (LD) |
Textile Design (TD) | Knitwear Design (KD) |
Fashion Communication (FC) | - |
Program | Total seats |
Bachelor Programmes - Bachelor of Design (B.Des) - Design | |
Fashion Design (FD) | 742 |
Leather Design (LD) | 172 |
Accessory Design (AD) | 654 |
Textile Design (TD) | 653 |
Knitwear Design (KD) | 302 |
Fashion Communication (FC) | 742 |
Bachelor Programme - Bachelor of Fashion Technology (B.F.Tech.) - Technology | |
Apparel Production (AP) | 608 |
Master Programmes | |
Master of Design (M.Des) | 260 |
Master of Fashion Management (M.F.M) | 742 |
Master of Fashion Technology (M.F.Tech.) | 148 |
Total | 5023 |
Also read: NIFT Counselling
Aspirants often ask, is studying in NIFT costly? It primarily depends on the course you want to enrol in. However, compared to other government funded colleges like IITs or NITs, NIFT colleges fees may be consideredcon the higher side, particularly because of the challenging requirements in fashion design education that demands skilled faculty and best-in-class infrastructure.
NIFT require the students to pay the NIFT fee every semester for the course they are admitted to. NIFT UG courses have eight semesters, and PG courses have four.
The NIFT fee to be paid by the candidates is given below.
Course | Category | Fee (in Rs) |
UG course fee for all campuses | Non-NRI | 13,10,400 |
PG course fee for all campuses | Non-NRI | 6,01,600 |
UG course fee (for NIFT Bengaluru, Chennai, Gandhinagar, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, New Delhi, Raebareli, and Srinagar) | NRI | 42,25,500 |
PG course fee (for NIFT Bengaluru, Chennai, Gandhinagar, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, New Delhi, Raebareli, and Srinagar) | NRI | 19,20,600 |
UG course fee (for NIFT Panchkula, Patna, Kangra, Bhopal, Kannur, Shillong, Jodhpur, and Bhubaneswar) | NRI | 29,71,700 |
PG course fee (for NIFT Panchkula, Patna, Kangra, Bhopal, Kannur, Shillong, Jodhpur, and Bhubaneswar.) | NRI | 13,53,300 |
Also read: Job Opportunities after NIF
With its exceptional faculty, state-of-the-art facilities, and strong industry partnerships, a NIFT education equips you with the skills and knowledge to thrive in the competitive field of fashion design.
By carefully considering your design interests, preferred campus location, and program offerings, you can select the NIFT campuses in India that aligns with your aspirations. Good luck on your journey towards a career in fashion design!
Frequently Asked Questions
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