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Law, Design & Other UG Entrance · Higher study

NID DAT

National Institute of Design - Design Aptitude Test (B.Des)

Admission to the four-year B.Des programme (and the 5.5-year integrated M.Des) at NID Ahmedabad and the NIDs in Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Assam.

Eligibility

Class 12 or equivalent passed or appearing in 2027 (any stream). For 2027, General/EWS candidates must be born on or after 1 July 2006, with 3 years' relaxation for OBC-NCL/SC/ST and 5 years for PwD.

Age limit: About 20 years for General/EWS (born on or after 1 Jul 2006); relaxation for reserved categories

Exam pattern

Two stages. DAT Prelims is a 3-hour pen-and-paper test of design aptitude, mixing objective questions with subjective drawing, visualisation and creative-thinking questions. Shortlisted candidates take DAT Mains: a studio test (hands-on tasks with materials, model-making and observation) and a personal interview or portfolio review. Final merit is computed according to the stage weightages set in the admissions handbook.

Syllabus at a glance

There is no fixed syllabus. Prelims tests visual perception, drawing and sketching, colour sense, observation, creative problem-solving, design awareness and general knowledge. Mains assesses hands-on making, spatial thinking, material exploration, communication and motivation for design.

Upcoming dates

EventDateStatus
Online registration (B.Des / M.Des)10 Sep - 30 Nov 2026confirmed
Application edit window1 - 3 Dec 2026confirmed
Prelims admit card10 Dec 2026confirmed
DAT Prelims (pen-and-paper)20 Dec 2026 (Sunday)confirmed
B.Des Prelims result16 Mar 2027confirmed
DAT Mains (studio test and interview)Apr - May 2027tba

Expected dates follow the usual calendar; confirm on the official notification before planning.

Free prep material

Official
NID Admissions portal
Admissions handbook, application, admit cards and results. The handbook sets the exact stage weightages and age rules.
 Official
National Institute of Design
Programme and campus details plus student work, useful for understanding what NID looks for.
 Study material
Drawabox
Free drawing fundamentals (perspective, forms, observation) that underpin the Prelims drawing questions.
 Previous papers
UCEED previous papers (IIT Bombay)
Free official design-aptitude papers with answer keys. Good extra practice for the visualisation and observation questions NID asks.
 Video course
NPTEL: design and creativity courses
Free IIT-taught courses on design thinking and product design that help with the Mains studio and interview.

Standard books

  • Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain - Betty Edwards
  • The Design of Everyday Things - Don Norman
  • Universal Principles of Design - William Lidwell, Kritina Holden & Jill Butler
  • Perspective Made Easy - Ernest R. Norling
  • NID/NIFT/UCEED/CEED Design Entrance Guide - Arihant Experts

How toppers play it

  • Prelims rewards original ideas over polished rendering. Practise turning everyday problems (queues, packaging, public spaces) into quick annotated concept sketches.
  • Keep a daily observation sketchbook of people, objects and spaces. Questions on memory drawing and observation are common in the subjective section.
  • For Mains, practise making 3D models from paper, clay, wire and found materials within a time limit, because the studio test is hands-on.
  • Prepare to talk about your own sketches and why you want to study design, since the interview probes motivation and process, not just output.