UCEED, CEED exams on January 17, 2027: IITs offer B.Des, M.Des, PhD design courses

The Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) are set to conduct the Undergraduate Common Entrance Examination for Design (UCEED) and the Common Entrance Exam for Design (CEED) on January 17, 2027. These examinations serve as the gateway for admission to various design courses, including Bachelor of Design (B.Des), Master of Design (M.Des), and PhD programmes, offered across several IITs in India.

The initiative aims to provide students with opportunities to integrate creativity with innovation, science, and technology, fostering careers in the evolving design industry. Design education has become an integral part of IIT programmes, preparing professionals for fields such as Product Design, Graphic Design, and Fashion Design, among others.

Undergraduate Design Programmes and Eligibility

IITs offer a 4-year full-time B.Des programme, with a total of 245 seats available through the UCEED exam. The eligibility criteria for these programmes vary by institute. For B.Des at IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Hyderabad, and IIT Indore, candidates must have passed 10+2 in any stream. However, IIT Guwahati and IIT Roorkee require Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics in 10+2, while IIITDM Jabalpur accepts Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics or Biology.

The age limit for the B.Des program is for candidates born on or after October 1, 2000, with a five-year relaxation for SC/ST/PwD categories. Fees for undergraduate programmes range from approximately Rs. 1.2 lakhs to Rs. 1.5 lakhs per semester.

Postgraduate and PhD Design Opportunities

For M.Des programmes, candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree in Design, Engineering, Architecture, or an equivalent qualification. The M.Des is a full-time 2-year course. PhD programmes in Design require qualification through CEED, GATE, or an equivalent entrance exam, along with a master’s degree in Design, Engineering, Architecture, or Technology.

IITs such as IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Guwahati, IIT Hyderabad, IIITDM Jabalpur, IIT Roorkee, IIT Jodhpur, and IIT Kanpur offer a range of M.Des specialisations, including Industrial Design, Electronic Product Design, XR Design, Smart Product Design, Design Entrepreneurship, Design Research, and Design Practice.

Fee Structures and Career Prospects

The total approximate fees for B.Des programmes range from Rs. 6.45 lakhs at IIITDM Jabalpur to Rs. 11.21 lakhs at IIT Roorkee. M.Des programme fees generally range from Rs. 3 lakhs at IIITDM Jabalpur to Rs. 5.20 lakhs at IIT Guwahati. PhD programme fees are lower, typically between Rs. 80,000 and Rs. 1.50 lakhs for the full duration, excluding hostel and mess charges.

Design graduates from IITs can expect average starting salaries ranging between Rs. 8 LPA and Rs. 20 LPA, reflecting the growing demand and diversified career opportunities in India’s evolving design industry, which now encompasses e-commerce, digital media, and sustainable practices.

Further reading

• UCEED 2027 registration opens for B.Des admissions; apply by October 31
• UCEED 2027 exam date announced: register by October 31 for B.Des admissions
• UCEED application form: eligibility, dates and how to apply Next step
• NIFT PG 2026-27: Apply for design, fashion management, tech courses
• JEE Main 2027: Apply this week; exams begin January 22
• UCEED: 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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