How to Get Into NIFT 2026: Selection Process and Entrance Exam
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- 16 Oct 2026NIFT Application Form Released
NTA launched the online application form for NIFT entrance examinations on its official portal.
To get into NIFT, candidates must qualify the national entrance examination conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). For UG courses (B.Des and B.F.Tech), candidates must be under 24 years of age as of August 1 of the admission year (with a 5-year relaxation for SC/ST/PwD) and have passed Class 12 or hold a recognized 3–4 year diploma.
Securing admission at top campuses like NIFT Mumbai requires achieving a General All India closing rank as tight as 183 for B.Des Fashion Design. Below is a complete guide to NIFT qualification requirements, entrance exam cutoffs, application procedures, required documents, and broader fashion designing colleges across India.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Conducting Body | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
| UG Upper Age Limit | Less than 24 years as of August 1 of the admission year (5-year relaxation for SC/ST/PwD) |
| Attempt Limit | No limit on the number of attempts |
| B.Des Qualification | 10+2 from recognized board / NOS (min 5 subjects) OR 3-4 year AICTE/State Board diploma |
| B.F.Tech Qualification | 10+2 with Physics and Mathematics OR 3-4 year engineering diploma |
| PG Age Limit | No age limit |
| Official Admission Portals | nift.ac.in/admission and nift.admissions.nic.in |
Fashion Designing Eligibility
NIFT eligibility criteria depend on the program level and stream. For undergraduate design (B.Des), candidates must have passed Class 12 from a recognized board, NOS with at least 5 subjects, or hold a 3–4 year diploma recognized by AICTE or a State Board of Technical Education. For B.F.Tech, candidates must have studied Physics and Mathematics at the Class 12 level or hold a 3–4 year Engineering diploma. For all UG programs, candidates must be under 24 years of age as of August 1 of the admission year, with a 5-year upper age relaxation for SC, ST, and PwD candidates.
M.Des requires an undergraduate degree in any discipline from a recognized university or a 3-year diploma from NIFT or NID. M.F.Tech applicants must hold a B.F.Tech degree from NIFT or a B.E./B.Tech degree from a recognized university.
Special entry provisions apply for specific categories:
- Artisan Category: Applicants must have passed 10+2 or a diploma and possess a valid Artisan Card issued to self, father, or mother by the Ministry of Textiles, Govt. of India.
- NLEA Lateral Entry: B.Des lateral entry applicants require a 3–4 year diploma after Class 10 in fashion, design, or textile streams, or a 2-year diploma combined with 1 year of full-time industry experience.
| Course | Educational Qualification | Mandatory Subjects | Age Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| B.Des | 10+2 from recognized board / NOS (min 5 subjects) OR 3-4 year AICTE/State Board diploma | Any Stream | Less than 24 years on Aug 1 (5 yrs relaxation for SC/ST/PwD) |
| B.F.Tech | 10+2 from recognized board OR 3-4 year Engineering diploma | Physics & Mathematics | Less than 24 years on Aug 1 (5 yrs relaxation for SC/ST/PwD) |
| M.Des | UG Degree in any discipline OR 3-year Diploma from NIFT/NID | Any discipline | No age limit |
| M.F.Tech | B.F.Tech from NIFT OR B.E./B.Tech from recognized university | Engineering / Technology | No age limit |
Fashion Designing Entrance Exams
The NTA conducts the national-level entrance exam for entry into all NIFT undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Reserved category candidates are evaluated under both their reserved category and open category seats during allotment rounds.
Cutoff ranks vary across campuses, rounds, and candidate categories:
- NIFT Mumbai (B.Des Fashion Design): Round 2 General AI closing rank stood at 183. EWS Round 1 closed at 726, OBC Round 2 closed at 836, SC Round 1 closed at 1256, and ST Round 2 closed at 2587.
- NIFT Bangalore (Accessory Design): Open category ranks opened at 35 and closed at 482. EWS closing rank reached 2179, while OBC (NC) closed at 1333.
- NIFT Daman: Round 4 General AI category cutoffs ranged from rank 764 to 3489. Cutoff ranges stood at 831–6176 for OBC, 8307–10045 for SC, and 7757–9670 for EWS.
| Category | Closing Rank | Counselling Round |
|---|---|---|
| General | 183 | Round 2 |
| OBC | 836 | Round 2 |
| EWS | 726 | Round 1 |
| SC | 1256 | Round 1 |
| ST | 2587 | Round 2 |
Fashion Designing Application Process
- Candidates apply for undergraduate and postgraduate design and technology programs across NIFT campuses through the national-level entrance exam conducted by the NTA.
- Artisan category applicants must have passed 10+2 or a diploma and possess a valid Artisan Card issued to self, father, or mother by the Ministry of Textiles, Govt. of India.
- NLEA B.Des lateral entry applicants require a 3-4 year diploma after Class 10 in fashion/design/textile streams or a 2-year diploma with 1 year full-time industry experience.
- NIFT seat allotment details and counselling cut-offs are published online at nift.admissions.nic.in.
Reserved category candidates are considered for admission under both their reserved category and open category seats. There is no cap on the number of attempts for appearing in the NIFT entrance exam.
Documents Required
Candidates preparing for NIFT application and counselling must keep the following credentials ready for verification:
- Educational Certificates: Class 12 mark sheet/certificate from a recognized board or NOS (minimum 5 subjects), or an AICTE/State Board recognized 3–4 year diploma.
- Subject Verification for B.F.Tech: Senior secondary marksheet confirming Physics and Mathematics, or an Engineering diploma.
- Category & Age Proof: Relevant SC, ST, OBC (NC), EWS, or PwD certificate to claim category seats or the 5-year upper age relaxation.
- Artisan Card: Valid Artisan Card issued to self, father, or mother by the Ministry of Textiles, Govt. of India (for Artisan quota applicants).
Top Fashion Designing Colleges
In India, at least 804 colleges offer Fashion Designing programs, including at least 44 government colleges and 190 private colleges. State distribution includes Maharashtra with 150 colleges, Punjab with 72, Uttar Pradesh with 68, Rajasthan with 66, Tamil Nadu with 53, and Madhya Pradesh with 51 colleges.
Fee structures vary depending on ownership. Among government colleges with fee data (39 colleges), the median total course fee is ₹6.74 lakh, with the middle half falling between ₹75,000 and ₹10.38 lakh. For private colleges with fee data (111 colleges), the median total course fee is ₹1.44 lakh, with the middle half between ₹85,000 and ₹2.70 lakh. Across 21 reporting colleges, the median average placement package is 3.45 LPA.
| College | City | Ownership | Total course fee | NIRF rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Punjab Agricultural University | Ludhiana | — | ₹3.20 lakh | 3 (Overall, 2025) |
| Banaras Hindu University | Varanasi | Government | ₹7,924 | 6 (Overall, 2025) |
| Aligarh Muslim University | Aligarh | — | ₹1.88 lakh | 10 (Overall, 2025) |
| SRM Institute of Technology | Kanchipuram | Private | ₹3.10 lakh | 11 (Overall, 2025) |
| Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences | Chennai | — | ₹1.60 lakh | 13 (Overall, 2025) |
| Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology | Bhubaneswar | — | ₹6.40 lakh | 17 (Overall, 2025) |
| Chandigarh University | Chandigarh | Private | ₹8.77 lakh | 19 (Overall, 2025) |
| Amity University Noida | Noida | — | ₹1.06 lakh | 22 (Overall, 2025) |
| Symbiosis International University Pune | Pune | University | ₹19.40 lakh | 24 (Overall, 2025) |
| College | City | Ownership | Total course fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indira Gandhi National Open University | Delhi | Government | ₹6,000 |
| Banaras Hindu University | Varanasi | Government | ₹7,924 |
| University of Rajasthan | Jaipur | Government | ₹8,560 |
| Government DB Girl’s Post Graduate College | Raipur | Government | ₹13,500 |
| Marwari College Ranchi | Ranchi | Government | ₹25,000 |
| Government Home Science College | Chandigarh | Government | ₹32,640 |
| Calicut University | Calicut | Government | ₹36,655 |
| Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University | Nashik | Government | ₹42,428 |
| Government MH College of Home Science and Science for Women (Autonomous) | Jabalpur | Government | ₹74,456 |
| KB Women’s College | Hazaribagh | Government | ₹75,000 |
| College | City | Ownership | Total course fee | Average package |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Global Institute | Amritsar | Private | ₹1.82 lakh | 5 LPA |
| Inspiria Knowledge Campus | Siliguri | Private | ₹4.15 lakh | 3.45 LPA |
| Gulzar Group of Institutes | Ludhiana | Private | ₹1.62 lakh | 3.12 LPA |
| Khalsa College Amritsar | Amritsar | Private (aided) | ₹2.98 lakh | 3 LPA |
| Pillai College of Arts, Commerce and Science | Navi Mumbai | Private (aided) | ₹2.27 lakh | 2.9 LPA |
| Institute of Leadership, Entrepreneurship, and Development | Kolkata | Private | ₹5.60 lakh | 2.48 LPA |
| Fergusson College | Pune | Private (aided) | ₹70,000 | 2.04 LPA |
| Ramniranjan Jhunjhunwala College | Mumbai | Private (aided) | ₹3.65 lakh | 1.99 LPA |
| City | Colleges | Fee range | Well-known options |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mumbai | 47 | ₹89,000 – ₹34.41 lakh | Mumbai University, Amity University Mumbai |
| Pune | 37 | ₹45,000 – ₹24.45 lakh | Dr. DY Patil Vidyapeeth, Fergusson College |
| Jaipur | 36 | ₹8,560 – ₹14.00 lakh | Manipal University Jaipur, University of Rajasthan |
| Bangalore | 36 | ₹60,000 – ₹24.00 lakh | Alliance University, Jain University |
| Delhi | 32 | ₹6,000 – ₹24.00 lakh | Indira Gandhi National Open University, National Institute of Fashion Technology New Delhi |
| Hyderabad | 31 | ₹40,000 – ₹28.95 lakh | Osmania University, Woxsen University |
| Nagpur | 21 | ₹60,000 – ₹12.60 lakh | Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University, K.R. Pandav Mahavidyalaya |
| Chennai | 21 | ₹50,000 – ₹12.48 lakh | Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, VIT University Chennai |
| College | City | Ownership | Total course fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inter National Institute of Fashion Design Bhilai | Bhilai | — | ₹64,310 |
| Indira Gandhi National Open University | Delhi | Government | ₹6,000 |
| Wisdom School of Management Ghaziabad | Ghaziabad | — | ₹40,000 |
| Indian Institute of Fashion Technology | Bangalore | Private | ₹75,000 |
| Footwear Design & Development Institute Noida | Noida | — | ₹2.55 lakh |
| Wisdom School of Management Lucknow | Lucknow | — | ₹40,000 |
| IIFA Multimedia | Bangalore | — | ₹1.10 lakh |
How to Apply for Fashion Designing Admission in 2026: Step by Step
- Check Eligibility Criteria: Confirm academic requirements, such as 10+2 or diploma for B.Des and mandatory Physics and Mathematics for B.F.Tech, along with age limits (under 24 years on August 1 for UG; no age limit for PG).
- Access Exam Prospectus: Download the official prospectus from the NIFT admission portal at nift.ac.in/admission and complete the application process on the official website.
- Appear for NTA Entrance Exam: Sit for the national-level entrance exam conducted by NTA for admission into UG and PG design and technology programs across NIFT campuses.
- Check Cut-Offs and Seat Allotment: Review the institute- and category-wise cut-off ranks and seat allotment published online at nift.admissions.nic.in.
| What to do | Where | Link |
|---|---|---|
| application | NIFT Official Admission Portal | nift.ac.in |
| counselling | NIFT Seat Allotment & Counselling Portal | nift.admissions.nic.in |
| Compare colleges, fees and cutoffs | Fashion Designing colleges in India | findmycollege.com |
There is no cap on the number of attempts for appearing in the NIFT entrance exam. Qualified candidates gain admission to undergraduate and postgraduate programs across participating NIFT campuses nationwide.
FAQs
What is NIFT exam eligibility?
For UG (B.Des/B.F.Tech), candidates must be under 24 years on August 1 of the admission year (5-year relaxation for SC/ST/PwD) and have passed 10+2 or a 3-4 year diploma. Mathematics and Physics are required for B.F.Tech.
How much rank do I need to get into NIFT Mumbai?
For B.Des Fashion Design at NIFT Mumbai, closing ranks under All India Quota were 183 for General (Round 2), 836 for OBC (Round 2), 726 for EWS (Round 1), 1256 for SC (Round 1), and 2587 for ST (Round 2).
Is NIFT an easy exam?
Admission is competitive with tight closing ranks at premier campuses. For example, NIFT Bangalore Accessory Design closes at rank 482 for Open category, while NIFT Mumbai B.Des Fashion Design closes at rank 183 for General category.
Is Maths required for NIFT admission?
Mathematics and Physics are mandatory subjects at Class 12 level for admission to B.F.Tech. However, Mathematics is not required for B.Des candidates.
Is there any upper age limit for NIFT PG courses?
No, there is no upper or lower age limit for admission into NIFT postgraduate programs like M.Des, M.F.M, and M.F.Tech.
