NIFT: Bachelor of Design (B.Des)
NIFT is not just a college. It is where India's fashion industry finds its next generation of talent. The B.Des programme is 4 years of rigorous, hands-on training in disciplines like Fashion Design, Textile Design, Leather Design, Accessory Design, and Knitwear Design. Every semester pushes students to think visually, work with materials, and solve real design problems. Graduates walk into careers at labels, studios, and brands that most people only dream of working for. The entrance is competitive, but with NIFT B.Des coaching in Viman Nagar, Pune at My Design Academia, your preparation is in the right hands.
Most students underestimate the NIFT entrance until they sit for it. GAT tests your aptitude. CAT tests your creative thinking and illustration ability, carrying 50% of your total score. The Situation Test then asks you to build something from scratch, with your hands, under time pressure. NIFT B.Des preparation after 12th done right means training for all three, not just the written paper. At My Design Academia, we build each student's creative confidence from the ground up, with structured mock tests, personal feedback, and studio-based practice that makes the real exam feel familiar.
| Criterion | Description |
|---|---|
| Age Limit | Maximum age should be less than 24 years as on 1st August of the year of admission. Upper age limit relaxed by 5 years for SC/ST/PwD candidates. |
| Educational Qualification (B.Des) | Passed final exam of 10+2 system from a recognized Central/State board OR Passed Senior Secondary School exam from National Open School with 5 subjects. |
| Educational Qualification (B.F.Tech) | Passed 10+2 with Mathematics as a subject from recognized board OR Passed Senior Secondary School exam from National Open School with 5 subjects including Mathematics. |
The admission process consists of three stages for B.Des, and two stages for B.F.Tech:
| Test Name | Mode | Language | Duration | Weightage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GAT (Section A) | Computer-Based Test (CBT) | English/Hindi | 120 min | 30% |
| CAT | Paper-Based | English/Hindi | 180 min | 50% |
| Situation Test | Hands-on Model Making | — | — | 20% |
| Total | — | — | — | 100% |
| Test Name | Mode | Language | Duration | Weightage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GAT (Section A) | Computer-Based Test (CBT) | English/Hindi | 120 min | 30% |
| GAT (Section B) | Computer-Based Test (CBT) | English/Hindi | 60 min | 70% |
| Total | — | — | — | 100% |
Combined (B.Des + B.F.Tech): Candidates opting for both: GAT Section A (2 hrs) + GAT Section B (1 hr) + CAT (3 hrs)
| Section | B.Des | B.F.Tech (A) | B.F.Tech (B) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Communication Ability & English | 40 | 40 | — |
| Quantitative Ability | 20 | 20 | 15 |
| Analytical & Logical Ability | 15 | 15 | 15 |
| General Knowledge & Current Affairs | 25 | 25 | — |
| Case Study | — | — | 20 |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 50 |
| Administered for | UG Design programmes (B.Des) |
| Tests | Intuitive ability, observation, concept development, and design thinking |
| Assesses | Creative and innovative use of colour and illustration skills |
| Format | Hands-on test evaluating material handling & creativity |
| Task | Build a model using provided materials |
| Criteria | Space visualisation, innovative use of materials, composition & colour scheme, construction skills & finishing, overall presentation |
NIFT has campuses across India offering the B.Des programme. For the complete seat matrix, Download.
NIFT's entrance includes a Creative Ability Test (CAT) and a General Ability Test (GAT). Practising with official sample papers will help you understand the drawing, composition, and aptitude sections — and build the speed and accuracy needed to score well.
Download NIFT B.Des Sample Paper Download NIFT B.Des CAT Sample Paper| Semester | Tuition Fee | Library Fee | Mediclaim & Student Dev. | Exam Fee | Total per Semester |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sem 1 (Jul–Dec '25) | ₹1,50,000 | ₹10,000 | ₹4,900 | ₹4,900 | ₹1,69,800 |
| Sem 2 (Jan–Jun '26) | ₹1,50,000 | — | — | — | ₹1,50,000 |
| Sem 3 (Jul–Dec '26) | ₹1,50,000 | ₹10,000 | ₹4,900 | ₹4,900 | ₹1,69,800 |
| Sem 4 (Jan–Jun '27) | ₹1,50,000 | — | — | — | ₹1,50,000 |
| Sem 5 (Jul–Dec '27) | ₹1,58,000 | ₹10,500 | ₹5,100 | ₹5,100 | ₹1,78,700 |
| Sem 6 (Jan–Jun '28) | ₹1,58,000 | — | — | — | ₹1,58,000 |
| Sem 7 (Jul–Dec '28) | ₹1,66,000 | ₹11,000 | ₹5,400 | ₹5,400 | ₹1,87,800 |
| Sem 8 (Jan–Jun '29) | ₹1,66,000 | — | — | — | ₹1,66,000 |
Your undergraduate degree got you here. The NIFT M.Des takes you further. It is a 2-year postgraduate programme by the National Institute of Fashion Technology, one of India's most respected institutions, that turns design graduates into specialists. Open to graduates from any discipline, M.Des trains students in advanced design thinking, research, and creative leadership across fashion, textile, accessory, and related fields. The entrance evaluates GAT aptitude, CAT creative ability, and a Personal Interview, each demanding a different kind of readiness. At My Design Academia, our NIFT M.Des preparation classes in Viman Nagar, Pune are built to cover all three, with the depth this level of entrance actually demands.
Most candidates preparing for NIFT M.Des underestimate the Personal Interview. It carries 30% of your total score, the same as the CAT, and it is where examiners decide whether you think like a designer or just trained like one. Add to that a GAT that expects sharper analytical and case-study skills than the UG entrance, and it becomes clear why NIFT postgraduate design entrance coaching needs to be fundamentally different from standard exam prep.
| Criterion | Description |
|---|---|
| Age Limit | No age limit to apply for postgraduate programmes. |
| Educational Qualification: M.Des | Undergraduate degree in any discipline OR 3-year diploma from NIFT/NID. |
| Educational Qualification: M.F.M | Undergraduate degree in any discipline OR 3-year diploma from NIFT/NID. |
| Educational Qualification: M.F.Tech | B.F.Tech from NIFT OR B.E./B.Tech OR equivalent 4-year degree from a recognized institute. |
| Section | Questions |
|---|---|
| Communication Ability & English | 50 |
| Quantitative Ability | 20 |
| Analytical & Logical Ability | 20 |
| General Knowledge & Current Affairs | 25 |
| Total | 120 |
| Section | Questions |
|---|---|
| Communication Ability & English | 50 |
| Quantitative Ability | 20 |
| Analytical & Logical Ability | 25 |
| General Knowledge & Current Affairs | 25 |
| Case Study | 30 |
| Total | 150 |
| Section | Questions |
|---|---|
| Communication Ability & English | 45 |
| Case Study | 25 |
| Quantitative Ability | 30 |
| Analytical & Logical Ability | 25 |
| General Knowledge & Current Affairs | 25 |
| Total | 150 |
Note: M.F.Tech will also include questions from engineering fields.
| Programme | GAT | CAT | PI |
|---|---|---|---|
| M.Des | 30% | 40% | 30% |
| M.F.M | 70% | — | 30% |
| M.F.M (with M.Des) | 30% | 40% | 30% |
| M.F.Tech | 70% | — | 30% |
CAT: Creative Ability Test (M.Des)
Tests intuitive ability, observation, concept development, and design thinking. Assesses creative and innovative use of colour and illustration skills.
| Campus | Seats | Campus | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Delhi | 38 | Panchkula | 34 |
| Mumbai | 38 | Jodhpur | 34 |
| Bengaluru | 60 | Bhopal | 34 |
| Kolkata | 60 | Bhubaneswar | 34 |
| Gandhinagar | 38 | Patna | 34 |
| Kannur | 34 | Raebareli | 34 |
| Shillong | 34 | Kangra | 34 |
| Srinagar | 34 | Daman | 34 |
| Hyderabad | Not Available | Chennai | Not Available |
The NIFT M.Des entrance includes a Creative Ability Test (CAT) focusing on design thinking and visual problem-solving. Reviewing the official sample paper will familiarise you with the format, difficulty level, and the depth of response expected on the day.
Download NIFT M.Des CAT Sample Paper| Semester | Tuition Fee | Library Fee | Mediclaim & Dev. Fee | Exam Fee | One-time Fees | Total per Semester |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sem 1 (Jun–Dec 2025) | ₹1,50,000 | ₹10,000 | ₹4,900 | ₹4,900 | ₹12,600 (Security) + ₹9,300 (Registration) | ₹1,91,700 |
| Sem 2 (Jan–Jun 2026) | ₹1,50,000 | — | — | — | — | ₹1,50,000 |
| Sem 3 (Jul–Dec 2026) | ₹1,58,000 | ₹10,500 | ₹5,100 | ₹5,100 | ₹5,600 (Alumni) | ₹1,78,700 |
| Sem 4 (Jan–Jun 2027) | ₹1,58,000 | — | — | — | — | ₹1,58,000 |