NIFT 2027: Apply now; exam on January 10

The National Testing Agency (NTA), acting on behalf of the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), has announced the eligibility criteria and commenced the application process for the NIFT Entrance Exam 2027. This national-level design entrance test is a crucial step for aspiring students seeking admission to various undergraduate and postgraduate design programs across NIFT campuses in India.

The application window for the NIFT Entrance Exam 2027 has opened on the NTA’s official website, with the examination itself scheduled for January 10, 2027. NIFT offers a range of design courses, including Bachelor of Design (B.Des), Bachelor of Fashion Technology (B.F.Tech), Master of Design (M.Des), Master of Fashion Management (M.F.M), and Master of Fashion Technology (M.F.Tech) programs.

NIFT 2027 Eligibility Criteria for Undergraduate Programs

For undergraduate programs such as B.Des and B.F.Tech, candidates must be under 24 years of age as of August 1, 2027. A five-year relaxation in the upper age limit is applicable for candidates belonging to the Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), and Persons with Disability (PwD) categories, making their maximum age 29 years. There is no restriction on the number of attempts for the NIFT entrance exam.

Educational qualifications for B.Des require candidates to have passed the 10+2 level examination from any recognized Central or State Board or an equivalent qualification. For the B.F.Tech program, candidates must have passed the 10+2 level examination with Mathematics from a recognized Central or State Board or an equivalent. Candidates appearing in their board examinations in the admission year are also eligible to apply, provided they meet all eligibility conditions at the time of counseling or admission. No minimum percentage in Class 12 is required to appear for the NIFT entrance exam.

Eligibility for NIFT Postgraduate Programs

For Master’s programs, including M.Des, M.F.M, and M.F.Tech, there is no upper age limit for applicants. For M.Des and M.F.M programs, candidates must possess a Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a university recognized by law in India, or a 3-year undergraduate diploma from NIFT or NID. For the M.F.Tech program, applicants are required to have a B.F.Tech degree from NIFT or any other recognized institute, or a B.E./B.Tech degree from a recognized university or institute. Similar to undergraduate programs, there is no minimum percentage required in graduation to appear for the NIFT entrance exam.

NIFT Entrance Exam Structure and Reservation Policies

The NIFT entrance exam is a two-stage selection process. Stage 1 involves a written test, which includes the General Ability Test (GAT) and, for design programs, the Creative Ability Test (CAT). The GAT is a computer-based test, while the CAT is pen and paper-based. B.Des applicants are required to appear for both CAT and GAT, whereas B.F.Tech applicants only take the GAT. Postgraduate applicants appear for GAT along with a program-specific component. Stage 2 involves a Situation Test for B.Des candidates and a Group Discussion plus Personal Interview for postgraduate programs.

NIFT provides reservation for various categories as per government norms. This includes 15% for SC, 7.5% for ST, 27% for OBC (Non-Creamy Layer), and 10% for GEN-EWS candidates. Also, a 5% horizontal reservation for PwD candidates is available across all categories. Candidates below 18 years of age at the time of application must submit an affidavit on Rs. 10 non-judicial stamp paper, signed by a parent or legal guardian. Relying on counterfeit documents can lead to disqualification and legal action, with all original documents subject to cross-checking during the NIFT counseling process.

Provisions for Foreign Nationals and NRI Candidates

Foreign nationals and Non-Resident Indian (NRI) candidates are eligible for an alternative admission pathway to NIFT’s various design and fashion technology programs across its 19 campuses in India. These candidates have the option to submit valid GRE, GMAT, or SAT scores instead of appearing for NIFT’s written entrance examination, as stated by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on behalf of NIFT.

For these scores to be considered, they must have been declared on or after January 1, 2024. Also, the scores must reach NIFT by the deadline that will be officially notified. This provision aims to speed up the application process for international applicants seeking admission to NIFT.

Further reading

• NIFT 2027 registration opens: apply by 16 November for fashion design, management, technology courses
• NIFT 2027 registration begins: apply by November 16 with normal fee
• NIFT counselling: rounds, dates and seat allotment 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.

View all posts →