National Institute of Design - Design Aptitude Test

NID-DAT (B. Des)

Overview

  • The NID DAT (Design Aptitude Test) is the national-level entrance examination conducted by the National Institute of Design (NID) for admission to its B.Des (Bachelor of Design), M.Des (Master of Design), and the 5.5-year Integrated M.Des programmes across NID campuses in Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Gandhinagar, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, and Andhra Pradesh. Unlike conventional academic exams, NID DAT evaluates creativity, observation, sketching, design thinking, and problem-solving ability rather than textbook knowledge.

Important Dates (Tentative)

  • Notification: 10 September 2026

  • Registration Start Date: 10 September 2026

  • Application Last Date: 30 November 2026 (11:59 PM)

  • Application Edit Window: 1–3 December 2026

  • Admit Card Release (Prelims): 10 December 2026

  • DAT Prelims Exam Date: 20 December 2026

  • DAT Mains Exam Date: To be announced


Note: These dates are tentative and subject to change. Always check the official website for updates.

Official Website: https://admissions.nid.edu/NIDA2027/

Eligibility Criteria (For B.Des Programme):

  • Educational Qualification: Passed or appearing in Class 12 (10+2) in any discipline — Science, Arts, Commerce, Humanities — from a recognised board (CBSE, ICSE, IB, or equivalent)

  • Stream Restriction: None — open to students from any stream

  • Age Limit:

    • (General/Gen-EWS): Born on or after 1 July 2006

    • (OBC-NCL/SC/ST): Born on or after 1 July 2003

    • (PwD): Born on or after 1 July 2001

    • (Overseas/Supernumerary): Born on or after 1 July 2006

Application Process

Candidates can apply for NID DAT through the official NID admissions portal. The process is completed as follows:

Step 1: Read the Admissions Handbook

  • Review eligibility criteria, seat matrix, test centres, and reservation rules published on admissions.nid.edu.

Step 2: Sign Up / Registration

  • Click on Sign Up/New Registration and select the programme (B.Des/M.Des), nationality, and category.

  • Enter name, email ID, mobile number, and date of birth; complete OTP verification.

  • Login credentials are sent to the registered email ID.

Step 3: Final Application Form

  • Log in using the registered email ID, date of birth, and password.

  • Fill in personal details, academic qualifications, and communication address.

  • Select preferred test cities for DAT Prelims.

  • Upload scanned documents — photograph, signature, Class 10/12 mark sheets, and category certificate (if applicable).

  • Pay the application fee online (debit/credit card or net banking).

  • Download and save the final confirmation PDF for future reference.

  • Application Fee

  • General / Gen-EWS / OBC-NCL: ₹3,000

  • Female Candidates (Gen/EWS/OBC, except SC/ST/PwD): ₹2,000

  • SC / ST: ₹1,500

  • PwD / Third Gender: ₹500

Exam Pattern:

  • Mode of Prelims : Offline (Paper-and-Pencil/Pen Test)

  • Mode of Mains: Studio Test + Personal/In-Person Sensitivity Test

  • Question Format: May include both text and visual elements

  • Duration : Mentioned on the admit card

  • Language : English Only

  • NOTE: Only DAT Mains performance is considered for final selection and merit list preparation.

 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

  • It's the national-level Design Aptitude Test conducted by the National Institute of Design for admission to B.Des and M.Des programmes across its campuses.

  • Two — DAT Prelims (a shortlisting-only paper-based test) and DAT Mains (studio test + interview/sensitivity test), which determines final admission.

  • No. Prelims is used only to shortlist candidates for Mains; only Mains performance decides the final merit list.

  • Yes. There's no stream restriction — Science, Commerce, Arts, and Humanities students are all eligible, provided they meet the age criteria.

  • No, NID has not officially specified the number of questions or marks for Prelims — the format includes text and visual-based questions in a paper-and-pencil mode.

  • 20 December 2026, with the result expected on 16 March 2027. DAT Mains dates are yet to be announced.