NID DAT 2027
National Institute of Design entrance exam: dates, eligibility, fees & application
NID DAT 2027
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NID DAT 2027 Last Date to Apply — 30th November 2026 (11:59 PM)
DAT Prelims — Sunday, 20th December 2026
DAT Prelims
20th Dec 2026
Campuses
7 NIDs
Quick Notifications
- Last Date to Apply30th November 2026
- Edit Window1st – 3rd December 2026
- Admit Card10th December 2026
- DAT Prelims20th December 2026
NID DAT 2027
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What is NID DAT 2027?
The Design Aptitude Test (DAT) is the entrance exam of the National Institute of Design (NID), an Institute of National Importance and one of India's best-known design schools. It is the route to NID's B.Des, Integrated M.Des and M.Des programmes for the 2027-28 academic year.
The exam has two stages. DAT Prelims is a written test held in cities across India. Candidates shortlisted from it are called for DAT Mains, a studio test at the NID campuses. Admission is offered at seven campuses: Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Bengaluru, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Assam.
Applications are accepted only on NID's official portal, admissions.nid.edu. The last date is 30th November 2026.
NID DAT 2027 Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Online Application Opens | 10th September 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 30th November 2026 (11:59 PM) |
| Application Edit Window | 1st – 3rd December 2026 |
| DAT Prelims Admit Card | 10th December 2026 (4 PM) |
| DAT Prelims | Sunday, 20th December 2026 |
| Prelims Result (M.Des) | 16th February 2027 |
| Prelims Result (B.Des / Integrated M.Des) | 16th March 2027 |
| DAT Mains | To be announced (expected March – May 2027) |
DAT Mains and counselling dates are announced by NID after the Prelims result. Check admissions.nid.edu for changes.
Programmes & Campuses
What you can apply for through NID DAT 2027
B.Des (4 years)
NID Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Assam
After Class 12, any stream.
Integrated M.Des (5.5 years)
NID Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar and Bengaluru; also at Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Assam
After Class 12, any stream.
M.Des
NID Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar and Bengaluru; also at Madhya Pradesh and Haryana
After a bachelor's degree. One fee per discipline.
M.Des is offered in disciplines across Industrial Design, Communication Design, Textile & Apparel Design, IT Integrated Design and Interdisciplinary Design. Disciplines and seats differ by campus; see the Admissions Handbook.
NID DAT 2027 Exam Pattern
A written test, then a studio test
2 Stages
DAT Prelims (written test) followed by DAT Mains (studio test at NID campuses).
100 Marks
DAT Prelims carries 100 marks, with objective and subjective questions.
Pen & Paper
Prelims is held at test centres across 17 cities. Duration is printed on the admit card.
Shortlist
About 2.5× the seats for B.Des and 4.5× per discipline for M.Des are called for Mains.
The Two Stages
| Stage | Who Appears | Format | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAT Prelims | All applicants | Written test: objective and subjective questions on design aptitude | Test centres in 17 cities |
| DAT Mains | Candidates shortlisted from Prelims | Studio test (plus an interview for M.Des) | NID campuses |
Prelims test cities include Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Chennai, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai and New Delhi.
What NID DAT Tests
NID does not publish a fixed syllabus. These are the areas the test is known to cover.
Design Aptitude & Creativity
How you observe, imagine and solve a problem visually.
- â–¶Drawing and sketching
- â–¶Visualisation and composition
- â–¶Creative problem solving
- â–¶Colour, form and proportion
Observation & Reasoning
How closely you notice things and how clearly you think.
- â–¶Visual and spatial reasoning
- â–¶Analytical and logical reasoning
- â–¶Pattern and sequence questions
- â–¶Attention to detail
Awareness & Communication
What you know about the world around you and how you express it.
- â–¶General knowledge and current affairs
- â–¶Design, art and culture awareness
- â–¶English comprehension
- â–¶Written expression
NID DAT 2027 Eligibility
Qualification and age limits for 2027-28
B.Des / Integrated M.Des
- ✓Passed or appearing in Class 12 (10+2) or equivalent, in any stream, from a recognised board.
- ✓General and EWS: born on or after 1st July 2006.
- ✓OBC-NCL, SC and ST: born on or after 1st July 2003.
- ✓PwD: born on or after 1st July 2001.
M.Des
- ✓A bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognised university, or a 4-year full-time diploma in design, fine arts, applied arts or architecture.
- ✓General and EWS: born on or after 1st July 1995.
- ✓OBC-NCL, SC and ST: born on or after 1st July 1992.
- ✓PwD: born on or after 1st July 1990.
Age cut-offs and degree requirements can differ by discipline. Confirm yours in the NID Admissions Handbook 2027-28 before you pay the fee, which is non-refundable.
How to Apply for NID DAT 2027
Online application at admissions.nid.edu
01
Register
Sign up on admissions.nid.edu for B.Des or M.Des with your name, email, mobile number and date of birth.
02
Fill the Form
Enter personal, academic and address details and choose your DAT Prelims test city.
03
Upload Documents
Upload your photograph, signature, mark sheets and category certificate, if applicable.
04
Pay the Fee
Pay online by card or net banking and save the confirmation for your admit card.
NID DAT 2027 Application Fee
₹3,000
General / EWS / OBC-NCL
Per programme (per discipline for M.Des).
₹2,000
Female (Gen / EWS / OBC-NCL)
Concessional fee for women candidates.
₹1,500
SC / ST
Reserved category fee.
₹500
PwD / Third Gender
Lowest fee slab.
Overseas (supernumerary) candidates pay US$125. M.Des applicants pay the fee for each discipline they apply to.
Planning a Career in Design?
NID DAT 2027 applications close on 30th November 2026. Talk to our counsellors about NID and other design colleges that match your profile.
Get Free GuidanceNID DAT 2027 FAQs
Common questions about the NID entrance exam.
For official information and to apply, visit admissions.nid.edu. CollegePucho is not the official NID portal.