NIFT PG 2026-27: Apply for design, fashion management, tech courses

The National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) has outlined the eligibility criteria, admission process, and fee structure for its postgraduate courses for the 2026 and 2027 admission cycles. NIFT, an autonomous institute under the Ministry of Textiles, offers advanced studies across its 18 campuses in design, fashion management, and fashion technology.

These postgraduate programmes aim to prepare students for careers in various segments of the fashion industry, including fashion design, garment production, marketing, textiles, and fashion communication. The NIFT entrance exam serves as the gateway for securing admission to these courses.

NIFT Postgraduate Programmes and Eligibility

NIFT offers three primary postgraduate programmes: Master of Design (M.Des), Master of Fashion Management (M.F.M), and Master of Fashion Technology (M.F.Tech). The M.Des programme is designed for graduates seeking to develop advanced design skills, focusing on design research, innovation, and creative problem-solving. The M.F.M programme concentrates on fashion business, marketing, retail, and management, while the M.F.Tech programme emphasizes garment technology, production, and technical processes.

For M.Des and M.F.M, applicants must hold an undergraduate degree in any discipline from a recognised university or institute in India. Alternatively, an undergraduate diploma of at least three years from NIFT or the National Institute of Design (NID) is also accepted for M.Des. For the M.F.Tech programme, applicants must possess a Bachelor’s degree in B.FTech from NIFT or a B.E/B.Tech from a recognised institute. There are no upper age limits for any of the NIFT postgraduate programmes under the 2026 admission rules.

Admission Process and Entrance Exam Weightage

The admission process for NIFT postgraduate courses involves a national-level entrance exam. For M.F.M and M.F.Tech, the exam includes the General Ability Test (GAT). For M.Des, candidates must appear for both the Creative Ability Test (CAT) and the GAT. Following the written examination, shortlisted candidates for all postgraduate programmes are required to participate in a Group Discussion (GD) and a Personal Interview (PI).

The final admission weightage varies by programme. For M.Des, CAT carries 40% weightage, GAT 30%, and GD-PI 30%. For M.F.M and M.F.Tech, GAT accounts for 70% of the weightage, with GD-PI contributing the remaining 30%. The NIFT application fee is ₹3000 for General/OBC categories and ₹1500 for SC/ST/PwD categories, which is non-refundable.

Fee Structure and Additional Expenses

The approximate semester-wise tuition fee for Indian students (General/OBC) in the first semester is ₹150,000. Additional first-semester fees include ₹14,900 for Library & mediclaim, ₹4,900 for the Exam fee, a one-time refundable security deposit of ₹12,600, and a one-time registration fee of ₹9,300. This brings the total first-semester fee for General/OBC Indian students to ₹191,700. From the second semester onwards, the total fee for these students is ₹150,000 per semester.

For NRI students, the annual tuition fee ranges from $8,000 to $10,000, varying by campus for both undergraduate and postgraduate studies. Hostel and mess fees range from ₹60,000 to ₹1,20,000 per annum, depending on the campus and room category. Design students should also budget for laptop and software expenses, estimated at ₹50,000 to ₹1,00,000, and annual study materials and project work expenses of ₹20,000 to ₹50,000.

NIFT Bangalore Campus Cut-Offs for Accessory Design

The NIFT Bangalore campus cut-offs for the Accessory Design programme illustrate the competitive nature of admissions. For the EWS category, the opening rank was 1099 and the closing rank was 2179. OBC (NC) candidates saw opening ranks at 438 and closing ranks at 1333. For the Open category, the opening rank was 35 and the closing rank was 482. SC category candidates had an opening rank of 2034 and a closing rank of 4214, while ST category candidates ranged from an opening rank of 2839 to a closing rank of 7286. Reserved category candidates are considered for admission in both their reserved and open categories.

Application Procedure for NIFT Postgraduate Courses

Candidates planning for NIFT masters courses in 2027 should review the available programmes, course duration, eligibility criteria, fee structure, entrance exam requirements, and admission schedule. It is advised to check the official programme list before selecting a preferred campus. The application process involves visiting the official NIFT portal at https://www.nift.ac.in and registering with a valid email ID and contact number.

Applicants must then fill out the NIFT Application Form, providing personal and academic details, and selecting their course preference. Required documents, including scanned copies of a passport-size photo, signature, and category certificate (if applicable), must be uploaded. Finally, the non-refundable NIFT Application Fee must be paid. A correction window is typically provided for applicants to make any necessary changes to their application form.

Further reading

• NIFT 2027 entrance exam: sketching and coloring questions in CAT carry highest weightage
• National Institute of Fashion Technology Entrance Exam admit card: release date and how to download Next step
• M.Pharm 2026: Apply with B.Pharm scores, GPAT, or CUET PG for Delhi NCR admissions
• JAIN University: Apply for Design, Online, PhD, MA Journalism 2027 admissions now Applications open
• JEE Main application form: eligibility, dates and how to apply
• National Institute of Fashion Technology Entrance Exam: 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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