NIFT Fashion Designing Course: Admission and Eligibility
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The National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) offers 4-year undergraduate design programs like B.Des in Fashion Design, Accessory Design, Knitwear Design, Leather Design, Textile Design, and Fashion Communication, alongside 2-year PG courses like M.Des, M.F.Tech, and MFM. Regular admissions are conducted through the NTA-administered NIFT entrance exam followed by a situation test or personal interview.
Starting with a first-semester fee of INR 1,54,350 for bridge programs and an average placement package median of 3.45 LPA across 21 evaluated colleges, candidates must carefully plan their academic roadmap. Explore detailed information on eligibility criteria, entrance test structures, seat allotment procedures, campus locations, fee schedules, and professional career paths below.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| UG Course Duration | 4 Years (B.Des / B.F.Tech) |
| PG Course Duration | 2 Years (M.Des / M.F.Tech / MFM) |
| Primary Entrance Exam | NIFT Entrance Exam (conducted by NTA) + Situation Test / Personal Interview |
| 1-Year Online B.Des Fee | INR 2,59,200 |
| Bridge Course Semester 1 Fee | INR 1,54,350 (including tuition fee, registration, exam fee, and security deposit) |
| 3-Month Certificate Course Fee (ECFB Mumbai) | INR 35,400 (incl. GST) |
What is Fashion Designing
Fashion designing is a multidisciplinary domain that integrates artistic vision, structural garment construction, textile science, and commercial market trends. At NIFT, undergraduate studies span 4 years through the Bachelor of Design (B.Des) and Bachelor of Fashion Technology (B.F.Tech) degrees, while postgraduate studies offer 2-year Master of Design (M.Des), Master of Fashion Technology (M.F.Tech), and Master of Fashion Management (MFM) qualifications.
In addition to regular full-time degree programs, candidates can pursue 1-year online B.Des courses in Fashion Design or Accessory Design, or 6-month online M.Des courses focused on specialized fields like Textile Design, Knitwear Design, Fashion Communication, and Leather Design. Short-term certificate courses, such as the 3-month E-Commerce in Fashion Business (ECFB) offered at NIFT Mumbai, provide focused skill development for modern retail environments.
Specialisations Offered in NIFT B.Des Fashion Designing
NIFT offers specialized B.Des streams tailored to key sectors of the apparel and design industry. Each specialisation equips students with theoretical knowledge and practical execution skills.
| Specialisation | Core Curriculum & Focus Areas |
|---|---|
| Fashion Design | Fashion illustration, pattern making, garment construction, draping, market trends, intuitive clothing |
| Fashion Communication | Fashion photography, styling, visual representations, fashion journalism |
| Accessory Design | Design principles and manufacturing techniques for handbags, belts, footwear, and hats |
| Knitwear Design | Yarn selection, knitting techniques, sportswear, children’s wear, sweater/cardigan design |
| Leather Design | Leather types, manufacturing processes, sustainable luxury design, lifestyle accessories, footwear |
| Textile Design | Textile surfaces & structures, fabric manipulation, print patterns, applications for fashion and living |
Fashion Designing Eligibility
- Regular Admissions: Conducted through the NIFT entrance exam administered by the National Testing Agency (NTA), followed by the NIFT situation test.
- Online UG Courses: Requires 60% or higher in Class 12.
- Online PG Courses: Requires 60% or higher in an undergraduate degree.
- Application Fee for Online/Bridge Courses: INR 2,300 for General/OBC candidates and INR 1,300 for SC/ST/PwD candidates.
Regular NIFT admissions require clearing the NTA entrance exam and situation test. Online courses require 60% or higher in Class 12 for UG programs or an undergraduate degree for PG programs.
Fashion Designing Fees
Tuition costs vary based on program duration, level, and format. Full-time 1-year online B.Des courses in Fashion Design and Accessory Design carry a total fee of INR 2,59,200, whereas 6-month online M.Des courses cost INR 1,41,150. Specialized short-term credentials like the 3-month online certificate in E-Commerce in Fashion Business (ECFB) at NIFT Mumbai cost INR 35,400 inclusive of GST.
Semester 2 fees are fixed at INR 1,29,850 for tuition.
Across institutions in India, government colleges feature a median total course fee of ₹6.74 lakh, with the middle half ranging between ₹75,000 and ₹10.38 lakh based on data from 39 government colleges. Private colleges maintain a median total course fee of ₹1.44 lakh, with the middle half between ₹85,000 and ₹2.70 lakh based on data from 111 private colleges.
| College | City | Ownership | Total course fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indira Gandhi National Open University | Delhi | Government | ₹6,000 |
| Banaras Hindu University | Varanasi | Government | ₹7,924 |
| University of Rajasthan | Jaipur | Government | ₹8,560 |
| Government DB Girl’s Post Graduate College | Raipur | Government | ₹13,500 |
| Marwari College Ranchi | Ranchi | Government | ₹25,000 |
| Government Home Science College | Chandigarh | Government | ₹32,640 |
| Calicut University | Calicut | Government | ₹36,655 |
| Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University | Nashik | Government | ₹42,428 |
| Government MH College of Home Science and Science for Women (Autonomous) | Jabalpur | Government | ₹74,456 |
| KB Women’s College | Hazaribagh | Government | ₹75,000 |
Top Fashion Designing Colleges
At least 804 colleges offer Fashion Designing courses in India, including at least 44 government institutions and 190 private colleges. NIFT operates 18 campuses across India: Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Gandhinagar, Patna, Kannur, Jodhpur, Panchkula, Bhubaneswar, Kangra, Bhopal, Raebareli, Shillong, Srinagar, and Daman. State-wise college distribution shows Maharashtra leading with 150 colleges, followed by Punjab with 72, Uttar Pradesh with 68, Rajasthan with 66, Tamil Nadu with 53, and Madhya Pradesh with 51.
| College | City | Ownership | Total course fee | NIRF rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Punjab Agricultural University | Ludhiana | — | ₹3.20 lakh | 3 (Overall, 2025) |
| Banaras Hindu University | Varanasi | Government | ₹7,924 | 6 (Overall, 2025) |
| Aligarh Muslim University | Aligarh | — | ₹1.88 lakh | 10 (Overall, 2025) |
| SRM Institute of Technology | Kanchipuram | Private | ₹3.10 lakh | 11 (Overall, 2025) |
| Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences | Chennai | — | ₹1.60 lakh | 13 (Overall, 2025) |
| Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology | Bhubaneswar | — | ₹6.40 lakh | 17 (Overall, 2025) |
| Chandigarh University | Chandigarh | Private | ₹8.77 lakh | 19 (Overall, 2025) |
| Amity University Noida | Noida | — | ₹1.06 lakh | 22 (Overall, 2025) |
| Symbiosis International University Pune | Pune | University | ₹19.40 lakh | 24 (Overall, 2025) |
| College | City | Ownership | Total course fee | Average package |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Global Institute | Amritsar | Private | ₹1.82 lakh | 5 LPA |
| Inspiria Knowledge Campus | Siliguri | Private | ₹4.15 lakh | 3.45 LPA |
| Gulzar Group of Institutes | Ludhiana | Private | ₹1.62 lakh | 3.12 LPA |
| Khalsa College Amritsar | Amritsar | Private (aided) | ₹2.98 lakh | 3 LPA |
| Pillai College of Arts, Commerce and Science | Navi Mumbai | Private (aided) | ₹2.27 lakh | 2.9 LPA |
| Institute of Leadership, Entrepreneurship, and Development | Kolkata | Private | ₹5.60 lakh | 2.48 LPA |
| Fergusson College | Pune | Private (aided) | ₹70,000 | 2.04 LPA |
| Ramniranjan Jhunjhunwala College | Mumbai | Private (aided) | ₹3.65 lakh | 1.99 LPA |
| City | Colleges | Fee range | Well-known options |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mumbai | 47 | ₹89,000 – ₹34.41 lakh | Mumbai University, Amity University Mumbai |
| Pune | 37 | ₹45,000 – ₹24.45 lakh | Dr. DY Patil Vidyapeeth, Fergusson College |
| Jaipur | 36 | ₹8,560 – ₹14.00 lakh | Manipal University Jaipur, University of Rajasthan |
| Bangalore | 36 | ₹60,000 – ₹24.00 lakh | Alliance University, Jain University |
| Delhi | 32 | ₹6,000 – ₹24.00 lakh | Indira Gandhi National Open University, National Institute of Fashion Technology New Delhi |
| Hyderabad | 31 | ₹40,000 – ₹28.95 lakh | Osmania University, Woxsen University |
| Nagpur | 21 | ₹60,000 – ₹12.60 lakh | Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University, K.R. Pandav Mahavidyalaya |
| Chennai | 21 | ₹50,000 – ₹12.48 lakh | Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, VIT University Chennai |
| College | City | Ownership | Total course fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inter National Institute of Fashion Design Bhilai | Bhilai | — | ₹64,310 |
| Indira Gandhi National Open University | Delhi | Government | ₹6,000 |
| Wisdom School of Management Ghaziabad | Ghaziabad | — | ₹40,000 |
| Indian Institute of Fashion Technology | Bangalore | Private | ₹75,000 |
| Footwear Design & Development Institute Noida | Noida | — | ₹2.55 lakh |
| Wisdom School of Management Lucknow | Lucknow | — | ₹40,000 |
| IIFA Multimedia | Bangalore | — | ₹1.10 lakh |
How to Apply for Fashion Designing Admission in 2026: Step by Step
- Check Academic Eligibility: Ensure completion of Class 12 for undergraduate courses (minimum 60% for online UG courses) or a relevant UG degree for PG courses.
- Register for Entrance Exam: Apply online via NTA for the national NIFT entrance test or submit forms through NIFT CMS for online/bridge programs.
- Pay Application Fee: Pay registration fee of INR 2,300 for General/OBC candidates or INR 1,300 for SC/ST/PwD candidates through online gateways or NEFT/RTGS.
- Appear for Entrance Exam and Situation Test: Take the NTA-conducted written examination (GAT/CAT) followed by the NIFT Situation Test or Personal Interview based on the course level.
- Participate in Counselling and Seat Allocation: Attend counselling sessions based on Common Merit Rank (CMR) to secure preferred course specialisation and campus location.
| What to do | Where | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Compare colleges, fees and cutoffs | Fashion Designing colleges in India | findmycollege.com |
FAQs
What is the duration of undergraduate fashion designing courses at NIFT?
Undergraduate degree courses such as B.Des and B.FTech at NIFT have a course duration of 4 years. Online B.Des diploma/certification courses last 1 year.
What specialisations are available under NIFT B.Des?
NIFT B.Des offers specialisations in Fashion Design, Fashion Communication, Accessory Design, Knitwear Design, Leather Design, and Textile Design.
How are students selected for regular NIFT courses?
Admissions to regular NIFT courses are conducted via a national entrance exam administered by NTA, followed by a situation test or personal interview.
What is the application fee for NIFT online and bridge courses?
The application fee for NIFT online/bridge courses is INR 2,300 for General and OBC candidates, and INR 1,300 for SC, ST, and PwD candidates.
What is the fee for the E-Commerce in Fashion Business online course at NIFT Mumbai?
The 3-month online certificate course in E-Commerce in Fashion Business (ECFB) offered by NIFT Mumbai costs INR 35,400 (inclusive of GST).
