UPES B.Des Admissions 2026
Last Date to Apply: 30th May | Ranked #45 amongst Universities in India by NIRF | Ranked #1 in Academic Reputation in India by QS World University Rankings
The National Institute of Design has released the NID 2026 eligibility criteria on its official brochure with the brochure being released on September 11, 2025. The NID DAT eligibility criteria for MDes and BDes programmes was released at its official website- admissions.nid.edu. The eligibility for the NID entrance exam 2026 includes the minimum educational qualification, and age limit. The NID 2026 age limit as on the prescribed date for UG and PG aspirants can be verified through the NID official brochure. Scroll down to read for more details on NID DAT eligibility 2026, age limit, and other relevant information.
This Story also Contains
For the aspirants to fill and submit the application forms for the NID entrance exam, it is a must to meet the prescribed NID DAT 2026 eligibility criteria. The institute will conduct NID DAT 2026 to offer admissions into BDes and MDes programme at NID campuses across India.
It is a mandatory aspect for the aspirants to satisfy the NID 2026 eligibility criteria before filling out the NID application form. Failure to meet the NID DAT eligibility 2026 criteria will result in disqualification from the NID admission process. Before submitting the NID application form for the academic year 2026-27, candidates should verify that they fulfil the NID 2026 age limit for UG and NID age limit for PG courses.
Last Date to Apply: 30th May | Ranked #45 amongst Universities in India by NIRF | Ranked #1 in Academic Reputation in India by QS World University Rankings
Last Date to Apply: 4th June | No. 1 Design & Fashion Institute by ASSOCHAM, India Today, Outlook and The Week rankings
To be eligible for the NID DAT entrance exam 2026, candidates must meet both the academic qualifications and NID age limit for undergraduate programmes. Candidates can find more details about the NID eligibility criteria 2026 for both - UG & PG and also the age limit for NID 2026 from the table which is as follows.
NID has certain age limits to be eligible for NID DAT exam at undergraduate level. Candidates willing to seek NID design admission should meet the NID age limit for UG as laid down by the concerned authorities. NID exam eligibility age limit is as follows:
| Category | Age Limit for NID Entrance Exam BDes |
|---|---|
| General Category and General EWS Category | Candidates born on or after July 1, 2005 |
| Indian Nationals in Reserved Category (Other Backward Class-Non Creamy Layer (OBC-NCL), Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST) | Candidates born on or after July 1, 2002 |
| Indian Nationals in PwD Reserved Category | Candidates born on or after July 1, 2000 |
| Foreign Nationals in Overseas (Supernumerary) | Candidates born on or after July 1, 2005 |
Also Check:
Similar to the NID entrance exam age limit, the candidates are also required to meet the minimum NID qualification requirement as specified in the brochure. Candidates can check the qualifications required for NID DAT 2026 eligibility as below.
Candidates who have passed or will appear for higher secondary (10+2) qualifying examinations in the academic year 2025-26 in any stream (Science, Arts, Commerce, Humanities etc.) from any recognized board of education such as CBSE, IB, ICSE or equivalent are eligible to apply for NID entrance exam.
Candidates can check the NID DAT eligibility - educational qualification as given below:
| S.No. | Equivalent Exam |
|---|---|
Equivalent Exam | |
1 | Candidates need to pass 10+2 final examinations from a recognised state or central board by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU). |
2 | Candidates who hold an intermediate or a two-year pre-university exam from a board or university recognised by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) is equivalent to the above-mentioned qualifying exam. |
3 | A two-year course of National Defence Academy final examinations of Joint Services Wing. |
4 | A minimum of five subjects in SSC examinations from the National Institute of Open Schooling. |
5 | Candidates who completed any public school, board, or University examination in India or any foreign country equivalent to the 10+2 system by the AIU. |
6 | Candidates who cleared the H.S.C. vocational examinations are eligible to apply for the NID entrance exam. |
7 | Candidates qualified for the General Certificate Education (GCE) examination at the Advanced (A) level taken in London, Cambridge, or Sri Lanka or equivalent are eligible. |
8 | Candidates who completed the full-time diploma course of 3 years duration approved by AICTE and offered by the Board of Technical Education of any state in India or union territories are also eligible. |
9 | Students who have completed their 12th class final examinations from foreign countries or boards not mentioned above need to obtain a certificate from AIU. This certificate confirms that their examination is equivalent to 10+2 examination conducted in India. During the document verification process, candidates must submit this certificate. |
Read More:
Interested candidates need to fulfill the eligibility for NID entrance exam 2026 to get MDes admissions in NID campuses. For NID MDes admission, candidates have to satisfy any one of the following educational criteria mentioned below:
Bachelor's degree or its equivalent in any discipline awarded by any University or educational institution as incorporated by an Act of Parliament or State legislature in India or declared to be deemed as an University under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956, or possess an equivalent qualification recognised by the Ministry of Education, Government of India
In case the degree/certificate has been obtained from a University/Board of any count other than India, an equivalence certificate must be submitted to the Admissions Office by the candidate from the AIU, New Delhi/ Ministry of Education, Government of India the time of uploading of documents.
OR
Candidates in the final year of their Bachelor’s degree (academic year 2025–26) are eligible to apply for NID admission, provided they pass the final qualifying exam in the first attempt and submit all results by 31 July 2026. All backlogs or supplementary papers must be cleared by 28 June 2026, with a self-undertaking signed by the candidate, parents, and a confirmation letter from the college/university.
Top Design Entrance Exams
National Level | Institute Level |
Candidates are advised to review the maximum age requirements necessary for eligibility to appear for the NID entrance examination 2026. NID MDes eligibility criteria will be notified in the brochure. Candidates can refer to the NID age limit for PG 2026 restrictions for MDes programme.
Category | NID Age Limit for PG |
Indian Nationals in General Category and General EWS Category | Aspirants must have a date of birth on or after July 1, 1994, to fulfill the NID age limit for PG courses. |
Indian Nationals in Reserved Category (OBC-NCL, SC & ST) | Only those candidates born on or after July 1, 1991, will be considered for admission. |
Indian Nationals in PwD Reserved Category | Candidates with a birth date on or after July 1, 1989 only can fulfil the PG age limit of NID 2026. |
Foreign Nationals in Overseas (Supernumerary) Category | Applicants holding non-Indian citizenship must be born on or after July 1, 1994, and can apply exclusively under the overseas category. |
Note: Foreign citizens are permitted to apply for NID DAT entrance exam only through the overseas category, subject to meet all NID MDes eligibility criteria. To qualify for NID M.Des programme, applicants must possess a bachelor's degree or diploma in any discipline with fulfilling the NID age limit for PG specified by the authorities.
Read Also:
The following table outlines the eligibility criteria 2026 for overseas category for BDes and MDes programme. To qualify for the admission, candidates must meet the specified requirements as determined by the institute.
NID Eligibility Criteria Overseas Category 2026
NID DAT Eligibility Criteria 2026 B.Des - Overseas Category | NID DAT Eligibility Criteria 2026 M.Des - Overseas Category |
Candidates who have passed or will appear for higher secondary (10+2) qualifying examinations in any stream (Science, Arts, Commerce, Humanities etc.) from a recognised board of education or equivalent in the academic year 2025–26. | Candidates must hold a bachelor's degree of minimum 4-year duration in any specialisation from any university and/or institute recognised by the law in India. |
Candidates born on or after 1 July 2005 | Candidates born on or after 1 July 1994 |
NID DAT exam is a national level entrance examination conducted by NID to offer B.Des and M.Des admissions. NID admission process comprises two stages: prelims and mains. Aspiring candidates must meet the NID admission criteria to secure a seat in the desired course. Candidates should carefully review the NID exam eligibility criteria for DAT 2026. To excel in the NID entrance exam, candidates are advised to thoroughly study the NID 2026 entrance exam syllabus and prepare accordingly.
You may also check:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
As per the NID eligibility criteria, applicants belonging to general and general EWS categories must be born on or before July 1, 2006 for B.Des and July 1, 1995 for M.Des. Age relaxation of 3 years will be available for OBC- Non-Creamy Layer/ST/SC categories.
Yes. There is an age limit under the NID 2027 eligibility criteria.
To apply for the NID DAT BDes, candidates should have passed class 12th or equivalent in any discipline from a recognised board.
NID DAT exam 2027 will be held in two stages- The prelims and the Mains exam. However, candidates who qualify in the NID DAT prelims exam only will be eligible to appear in the NID DAT mains exam.
NID DAT exam 2026 will be held in two stages- The prelims and the Mains exam. However, candidates who qualify in the NID DAT prelims exam only will be eligible to appear in the NID DAT mains exam.
Aspirants who have completed class 12th with any stream will be eligible to apply for the NID 2026 exam.
The eligibility criteria for NID DAT 2026 will be released at the time of release of NID DAT notification
On Question asked by student community
Hello,
Preparing for the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) entrance exam involves focusing on several key areas. Here’s a structured approach to get you started:
Familiarize yourself with the NIFT entrance exam format:
No, diploma or polytechnic students are generally not eligible to apply for the NID DAT exam.
The eligibility criteria for NID DAT typically requires a 10+2 qualification or its equivalent. This means you must have completed your higher secondary education to be eligible for the exam.
I hope this information
Stages of the Exam:
The PG NID entrance exam typically consists of two stages:
As a Class 12 PCM student preparing for UCEED and NID, here’s a brief plan:
1. Focus on Creativity: Practice drawing, design exercises, and enhance your artistic skills regularly.
2. Math and Logical Reasoning: Use your PCM background to tackle quantitative and reasoning sections.
3. Stay Updated: Keep up with
Hello,
If you forgot to write the question paper code and date on your NID DAT prelims OMR sheet, contact the exam authorities immediately. They may have procedures in place to handle such situations. According to me there should be no problem for you even if you have not filled
Among top 100 Universities Globally in the Times Higher Education (THE) Interdisciplinary Science Rankings 2026
AICTE Approved | NAAC A++ | Category 1 University by MHRD | Highest CTC 1.4 Cr LPA from Amazon | Application Deadline: 14th May'26
Last Date to Apply: 4th June | No. 1 Design & Fashion Institute by ASSOCHAM, India Today, Outlook and The Week rankings
Integrative learning through a multidisciplinary process. Ranked Best Young Universities amongst Karnastaka
Outstanding Track Record in Placements.
Last Date to Apply: 30th May | Ranked #45 amongst Universities in India by NIRF | Ranked #1 in Academic Reputation in India by QS World University Rankings