NIFT 2027 lateral entry admission registration open; apply by November 16

The National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) has opened the application window for its NIFT 2027 entrance examination, including the Lateral Entry Admission (NLEA) scheme for undergraduate B.Des and B.F.Tech programmes. Prospective candidates can register online through the official NTA portal, exams.nta.nic.in/niftee. The registration process commenced on October 16, 2026, with the final date to submit applications set for November 16, 2026.

The NIFT Lateral Entry Admission scheme provides a pathway for eligible diploma holders to directly join the third semester (second year) of NIFT’s four-year undergraduate programmes. This initiative aims to fill vacant undergraduate seats that remain after the Student Permanent Transfer (SPT) process across NIFT’s 20 campuses nationwide. The NIFT 2027 entrance exam is scheduled to be held on January 10, 2027.

NIFT Lateral Entry Admission Eligibility and Selection Process

The NIFT Lateral Entry Admission (NLEA) scheme offers a direct entry route into the second year of B.Des and B.F.Tech programmes for specific diploma holders. For B.Des NLEA, candidates must have passed Class 10 and hold a three or four-year diploma in fashion, apparel, textile, design, or related fields. Alternatively, a Class 12 pass combined with a two-year regular UG Diploma Programme from NIFT is also accepted. For B.F.Tech NLEA, the requirements include a Class 10 pass plus a three or four-year diploma in fashion, apparel, textile, home science, or handloom technology. An alternative eligibility criterion is a Class 12 pass with Physics and Mathematics, along with a two-year regular UG Diploma Programme from NIFT.

The selection process for NLEA candidates involves a multi-stage evaluation. For B.Des (NLEA), candidates will undergo a Written Test (General Ability Test – GAT), a Studio Test, and a Personal Interview. For B.F.Tech (NLEA), the process includes a Written Test (GAT), a Technology Aptitude Test (TAT), and a Personal Interview. The GAT for both programmes is scheduled for January 10, 2027, while the Studio Test/TAT and Personal Interview rounds are tentatively set for April 2027. Each wrong answer in the NIFTEE 2027 will incur a 0.25 negative mark. The age limit for B.Des and B.F.Tech is under 24 years as of August 1, 2027, with a five-year relaxation for eligible SC, ST, PwD, and PwBD candidates.

Application Procedure and Fee Structure

Candidates applying for NIFT 2027, including the NLEA scheme, are required to complete an online application process through the official NTA portal. The registration process requires candidates to use the government’s MeriPehchaan single sign-on facility. Applicants must upload a live photograph, a scanned photograph, their signature, and any applicable PwD/PwBD or route-specific certificates. After successfully filling out the form, candidates must pay the prescribed application fee online.

The application fee varies based on the candidate’s category and the number of programmes applied for. For Open, Open-EWS, and OBC-NCL categories, the fee for one programme is ₹2,000, while for two programmes (e.g., B.FTech + B.Des or MFM + M.Des), it is ₹3,000. SC, ST, PwD, and PwBD candidates pay ₹500 for one programme and ₹750 for two programmes. A late fee of ₹5,000 will be charged for applications submitted after the November 16, 2026 deadline, with the final submission date with a late fee being November 21, 2026. NRI, Foreign National, OCI, PIO, and SAARC candidates for UG/PG programmes have an application fee of ₹11,100. After successful payment, candidates are advised to download and print the Confirmation Page for their records.

Key Dates for NIFTEE 2027 Admissions

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has released a tentative schedule for the NIFTEE 2027 admission process, encompassing both regular and Lateral Entry Admission programmes. Online registration began on October 16, 2026, and will conclude on November 16, 2026. A window for corrections in the application form will be available online from November 22 to November 25, 2026. The advance city intimation slip is expected on December 21, 2026, followed by the admit card download from January 4, 2027.

The entrance exam, comprising the General Ability Test (GAT) and Creative Ability Test (CAT), is scheduled for January 10, 2027. GAT is compulsory for all courses, while CAT is required for B.Des and M.Des programmes. GAT is a computer-based test, and CAT is paper-based. The display of recorded responses and answer key dates are yet to be announced. Stage 1 results are tentatively expected in February or March 2027. The Situation Test for regular candidates, and the Studio Test, Interview, and Document Verification for NLEA candidates, are scheduled for March or April 2027. The final results are tentatively slated for the first week of May 2027, with seat allocation by NIFT expected in May or June 2027.

Further reading

• NIFT 2027 UG regular and lateral entry applications open: apply by 16 November
• Design college entrance exams 2026: NIFT, UCEED, CEED registration to open October–December
• NIFT admit card: release date and how to download Next step
• GATE 2027 DigiLocker registration scrutiny ongoing, correction window closes October 31
• IICD Jaipur: Apply for 2027 B.Design & M.Design admissions now Applications open
• NIFT: complete exam guide

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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