Design and Fashion Careers: NID, NIFT, UCEED

Overview

Design and Fashion

Careers in creating things

What you need to know

1
Designers plan how things look and work: clothes and textiles, products, graphics and apps, animation and games, furniture and interiors.
2
You can enter from any stream: NID, NIFT (B.Des), the IITs (UCEED) and FDDI all accept Arts, Commerce or Science.
3
Entrance tests check drawing, ideas and observation, not memorised facts. Most have age limits and some limit attempts.
4
Fees are high, but fee help exists for low-income families. Beware of fake institutes and "official" coaching.

Official sources

Inside this branch

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
Found a mistake in this topic? Tell us

01Branch

Every year: the calendar

When things usually happen

What you need to know

1
NID: apply usually from September to November; the first test (Prelims) is usually in late December, Mains later.
2
UCEED (IITs): register usually in October; exam usually in January.
3
NIFT: apply usually in December and January; exam usually in early February, then a Situation Test for B.Des.
4
FDDI: apply usually from January to April; exam usually in May.
5
Exact dates change every year: always check the official website before you apply.

Official sources

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
Found a mistake in this topic? Tell us

02Branch

What designers do

Pick an area

Learn from these 3

Official
NID: programmes15 design disciplines, from product to games.
Free
Official
NIFT admissionsFashion, textile, leather, knitwear and more.
Free
Official
NPTEL: Introduction to Graphic DesignTry design for free before choosing.
Free

Inside this branch

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
Found a mistake in this topic? Tell us

02What designers do

Kinds of design

What you need to know

1
Fashion and textiles: clothes, knitwear, accessories, leather, footwear, jewellery.
2
Product (phones, furniture, cars), communication (graphics, film, animation), interaction and UX (apps and websites), interior and craft design.

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
Found a mistake in this topic? Tell us

02What designers do

The ladder

What you need to know

1
Usually: intern → junior or assistant designer → designer → senior designer → design lead or creative director. Many designers also freelance or start their own label or studio.

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
Found a mistake in this topic? Tell us

03Branch

NID

National Institute of Design

Learn from these 6

Official
NID admissions portalApply here; handbooks, sample papers and the fake-site warning.
Free
Official
NID main siteProgrammes and campuses.
Free
Official
NID Haryana (Kurukshetra)Newer NID campus.
Free
Official
NID Andhra Pradesh4-year B.Des.
Free
Official
NID Madhya PradeshAdmission details.
Free
Official
NID Assam (Jorhat)4-year B.Des.
Free

Inside this branch

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
Found a mistake in this topic? Tell us

03NID

Courses and campuses

What you need to know

1
At Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar and Bengaluru (and the newer NIDs in Madhya Pradesh and Haryana), the course after Class 12 is now a 5.5-year integrated Master of Design. NID Andhra Pradesh and NID Assam offer a 4-year B.Des.
2
There is also a 2.5-year M.Des for graduates of any subject.

Official sources

nid.eduNID: programmes and campuses↗

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
Found a mistake in this topic? Tell us

03NID

Test and rules

What you need to know

1
DAT Prelims (pen and paper) only shortlists you; its score does not count in the final result. DAT Mains has a studio test and an in-person test.
2
Class 12 in any stream, passed in the first attempt. There is an age limit (under about 21 for General, 3 years more for OBC, SC and ST, 5 for PwD): check the handbook.
3
Apply only on admissions.nid.edu: NID says ".org" sites using its name are fake and it has no coaching partners or franchises.

Official sources

admissions.nid.eduNID admissions (the only official site)↗

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
Found a mistake in this topic? Tell us

04Branch

NIFT

National Institute of Fashion Technology

Learn from these 3

Official
NIFT admissionsGuidelines, prospectus and notices.
Free
Official
NTA: NIFT entranceRegistration and admit cards.
Free
Official
NIFT campusesAll 20 campuses.
Free

Inside this branch

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
Found a mistake in this topic? Tell us

04NIFT

Courses and test

20 campuses

What you need to know

1
20 campuses across India. B.Des in fashion, textile, knitwear, leather, accessory, interiors and fashion communication; also B.FTech, M.Des, MFM and MFTech.
2
The entrance is run by NTA. B.Des marks come from a general test, a creative test and a Situation Test (making a model from materials).

Official sources

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
Found a mistake in this topic? Tell us

04NIFT

Who can apply

What you need to know

1
B.Des: Class 12 in any stream. B.FTech: Class 12 with Maths (not full PCM).
2
Undergraduates must be under 24 on 1 August of the admission year (5 years more for SC, ST and PwD). Master's courses have no age limit.
3
Diploma holders with work experience can join from the second year (lateral entry); each campus also has seats for artisans' children.

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
Found a mistake in this topic? Tell us

05Branch

IITs and other institutes

UCEED, CEED, FDDI, IICD

Learn from these 4

Official
UCEEDB.Des entrance for IITs; brochure with age and attempt rules.
Free
Official
CEEDM.Des entrance for IITs and IISc.
Free
Official
FDDIAIST entrance, 12 campuses.
Free
Official
IICD Jaipur admission guidelinesCraft-based B.Des and M.Des.
Free

Inside this branch

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
Found a mistake in this topic? Tell us

05IITs and other institutes

UCEED and CEED

What you need to know

1
UCEED: B.Des at IIT Bombay, Delhi, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Indore, Roorkee and IIITDM Jabalpur; many other colleges also use its score. Any stream; only two attempts, in the year you pass Class 12 and the next; age limit applies.
2
CEED: M.Des at IITs and IISc after a degree. No age limit and no limit on attempts.

Official sources

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
Found a mistake in this topic? Tell us

05IITs and other institutes

FDDI and IICD

What you need to know

1
FDDI (12 campuses) teaches footwear, leather goods and fashion design through its AIST exam. B.Des: any stream, age up to 25 on 1 July.
2
IICD Jaipur teaches craft-based design (textiles, jewellery, ceramics, interiors) through its own admission process.

Official sources

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
Found a mistake in this topic? Tell us

06Branch

After Class 10 and skills

ITI, diplomas, free courses

Learn from these 4

Official
ITI Fashion Design and Technology (PDF)1-year trade after Class 10.
Free
Official
ITI Interior Design and Decoration (PDF)1-year trade after Class 10.
Free
Official
NPTEL design coursesFree; certificate exam is paid.
Free
Official
Samarth (Ministry of Textiles)Garment and textile skilling with placement.
Free

Inside this branch

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
Found a mistake in this topic? Tell us

06After Class 10 and skills

ITI and diplomas

What you need to know

1
ITI trades (1 year after Class 10): Fashion Design and Technology, Surface Ornamentation (embroidery), and Interior Design and Decoration (needs Science and Maths in Class 10).
2
Several state polytechnics run 3-year fashion design diplomas after Class 10 (reported): check your state board.

Official sources

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
Found a mistake in this topic? Tell us

06After Class 10 and skills

Free learning and portfolio

What you need to know

1
NPTEL has free design courses, and Samarth (Ministry of Textiles) trains people for garment jobs with placement.
2
Draw every day, keep a sketchbook, and collect your best work in a portfolio. Design tests and jobs care about how you think and draw.

Official sources

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
Found a mistake in this topic? Tell us

07Branch

Fees and fee help

What it costs

Learn from these 3

Official
NIFT scholarships and financial aidSARTHAK income slabs and laptop loan.
Free
Official
IIT tuition remission rules (PDF)Fee waiver by income and category.
Free
Official
National Scholarship PortalCentral and state scholarships.
Free

Inside this branch

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
Found a mistake in this topic? Tell us

07Fees and fee help

Costs

₹3–3.5 lakh a yearNIFT tuition

₹4.8 lakh a yearcourse at Ahmedabad

What you need to know

1
Design is expensive: NIFT tuition is about ₹3–3.5 lakh a year, and NID's integrated course at Ahmedabad about ₹4.8 lakh a year, plus hostel, materials and a laptop (NIFT makes laptops compulsory).

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
Found a mistake in this topic? Tell us

07Fees and fee help

Help for families

What you need to know

1
NIFT SARTHAK: family income up to ₹2 lakh gets 100% tuition help, then 75%, 50% and 25% up to ₹8 lakh; also an interest-free laptop loan.
2
IITs: SC, ST and PwD students pay no tuition; low-income families get full or two-thirds fee remission. FDDI gives a 10% concession to reserved categories.
3
Central and state scholarships are on the National Scholarship Portal.

Official sources

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
Found a mistake in this topic? Tell us

08Branch

Honest pay

What to expect

Inside this branch

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
Found a mistake in this topic? Tell us

08Honest pay

The money

₹3–6 lakh a yearstart

What you need to know

1
Graduates of top institutes often start at about ₹3–6 lakh a year (reported); pay from small studios and boutiques is much lower.
2
Your portfolio and skills (including software) decide your pay more than the college name. Freelancing grows with a good portfolio and clients.

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
Found a mistake in this topic? Tell us

09Branch

For girls

Support and safety

Inside this branch

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
Found a mistake in this topic? Tell us

09For girls

What to know

What you need to know

1
NID and UCEED charge women a lower application fee; NIFT does not.
2
Every college must have a committee for sexual harassment complaints (UGC rules and the POSH Act).

Official sources

Vaidaani roadmapFor girls: every scheme→

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
Found a mistake in this topic? Tell us

10Branch

Avoid scams

Fake institutes and coaching

Learn from these 3

Official
NID admissions (official site only)Warns that '.org' NID sites are fake; no coaching partners.
Free
Official
UGC fake universities listCheck before paying any institute.
Free
Official
Cyber crime portal (helpline 1930)Report fraud.
Free

Inside this branch

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
Found a mistake in this topic? Tell us

10Avoid scams

Red flags

1930Lost money? Call

What you need to know

1
Look-alike names and websites: NID warns that ".org" NID sites are fake. Apply only on official sites.
2
"Official NID or NIFT coaching" or "guaranteed seat" offers: both institutes say they do not endorse any coaching. Paying to influence admission gets it cancelled.
3
Private "fashion institutes" with franchise diplomas: check that the degree comes from a UGC-recognised university and that it is not on the fake list. Lost money? Call 1930.

Official sources

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.
Found a mistake in this topic? Tell us

Design and Fashion

Usual months

₹Rough cost