NIFT 2027: Apply in Oct for Jan 10 Stage 1 Written Test

The National Testing Agency (NTA), on behalf of the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), has announced 10 January 2027 as the date for the Stage 1 Written Test of the NIFT Entrance Examination (NIFTEE) 2027. This national-level examination supports admissions to undergraduate (UG), postgraduate (PG), NLEA (Lateral Entry), and Artisans programmes offered by NIFT.

The NTA, established by the Ministry of Education, Government of India, is entrusted with inviting online application forms and conducting the entrance examination. The NIFT 2027 application form is tentatively expected to open in October 2026 on the NTA portal, exams.nta.nic.in/niftee. The examination will be conducted across approximately 100 cities in India.

NIFT 2027 Exam Structure and Key Dates

The NIFT Entrance Examination (NIFTEE) is a two-stage selection process. Stage 1 is a written test comprising the Creative Ability Test (CAT) and General Ability Test (GAT). The GAT is computer-based, while the CAT is pen-and-paper, a format introduced in the 2026 cycle. The NTA’s tentative examination calendar for December 2026 to March 2027 confirms the 10 January 2027 exam date.

The application fees for NIFT 2027 are expected to be ₹2,000 for General/OBC-NCL/EWS candidates and ₹500 for SC/ST/PwD candidates. A late fee of ₹5,000 will be applicable for applications submitted after the regular deadline. The official notification for NIFT 2027 will be released later on nta.ac.in and nift.ac.in.

Eligibility Criteria for NIFT Programmes

NIFT, India’s premier fashion institute under the Ministry of Textiles, offers programmes including B.Des, B.FTech, M.Des, M.FTech, and MFM. The eligibility criteria vary by programme. For undergraduate programmes like B.Des and B.FTech, the maximum age limit is 24 years as on 1 August 2027, with a 5-year relaxation for SC/ST/PwD candidates. There is no age limit for postgraduate programmes.

Academic qualifications for B.Des require candidates to have passed or be appearing in 10+2 in any stream. For B.FTech, candidates must have passed or be appearing in 10+2 with Mathematics as a compulsory subject. Postgraduate programmes have specific requirements: M.Des requires a bachelor’s degree in any discipline or a UG diploma in Design from NIFT or NID; MFM requires a bachelor’s degree in any discipline; and M.FTech requires a B.FTech from NIFT or a B.E./B.Tech from a recognized Institute/University.

Details of Stage 1 Written Tests and Final Weightage

The Stage 1 Written Test includes the General Ability Test (GAT) and the Creative Ability Test (CAT). The GAT is computer-based and assesses quantitative ability, communication ability & English comprehension, analytical & logical ability, and general knowledge & current affairs. For postgraduate programmes, GAT also includes a Case Study section.

The CAT is a pen-and-paper test, specifically for B.Des and M.Des programmes, evaluating drawing, observation, innovation, design ability, and visual communication through sketching-based questions. Stage 2 for B.Des candidates involves a Situation Test, while for M.Des, M.FTech, and MFM programmes, it consists of a Personal Interview.

Further reading

• NIFT 2027 registration begins: apply by 16 November for UG, PG courses
• NIFT Entrance Examination 2027 Stage 1 on 10 January; registration expected in December
• National Institute of Fashion Technology Entrance Exam admit card: release date and how to download Next step
• GATE 2027 registration portal reopened by IIT Madras: apply with late fees by October 16
• CUET 2027: Register by November 25
• JAIN University: Apply for Design, Online, PhD, MA Journalism 2027 admissions now Applications open

Written by Nishit Kumar

Nishit Kumar is a senior EdTech industry leader with over a decade of experience in building and scaling education platforms, shaping their product, content, and growth strategy. At FindMyCollege, Nishit oversees content and editorial strategy, guiding topic selection and content frameworks to ensure accuracy, relevance, and student-first value across the website.

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