The NID Design Aptitude Test (DAT) is the entrance examination conducted by the National Institute of Design for admission to its design programmes. The admission process uses DAT Prelims followed by DAT Mains. B.Des. admissions are offered at NID Ahmedabad and participating NID campuses, while M.Des. admissions are offered at NID Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar and Bengaluru according to the applicable admission cycle.
| Full Name | National Institute of Design Design Aptitude Test |
|---|---|
| Short Name | NID DAT |
| Conducting Institute | National Institute of Design |
| Exam Level | National Level |
| Exam Category | Design Entrance Examination |
| Admission Stages | DAT Prelims and DAT Mains |
| DAT Prelims Mode | Paper-and-pencil / pen test for B.Des. in the latest official handbook |
| DAT Prelims Language | English only |
| Official Website | https://www.nid.edu/ |
| Official Admission Portal | https://admissions.nid.edu/ |
| B.Des. | NID offers a full-time Bachelor of Design programme. The programme duration is four years according to the current NID framework. |
| B.Des. at Ahmedabad | B.Des. is offered at NID Ahmedabad. |
| B.Des. at Andhra Pradesh | B.Des. admissions are offered at NID Andhra Pradesh according to the applicable admission cycle. |
| B.Des. at Haryana | B.Des. admissions are offered at NID Haryana according to the applicable admission cycle. |
| B.Des. at Madhya Pradesh | B.Des. admissions are offered at NID Madhya Pradesh according to the applicable admission cycle. |
| B.Des. at Assam | B.Des. admissions are offered at NID Assam according to the applicable admission cycle. |
| Animation Film Design | Design discipline focusing on animation, visual storytelling and moving image design. |
| Ceramic & Glass Design | Design discipline involving ceramic, glass, material exploration and product development. |
| Film & Video Communication | Design discipline focused on film, video, visual communication and storytelling. |
| Furniture Design | Design discipline focused on furniture, spatial products, materials and user-centred design. |
| Graphic Design | Design discipline focused on visual communication, typography, graphics and communication systems. |
| Textile Design | Design discipline involving textiles, surface development, materials and textile applications. |
| M.Des. | NID offers full-time Master of Design programmes in multiple disciplines. The current NID framework describes the M.Des. programme as a two-and-a-half-year programme. |
| M.Des. Ahmedabad | M.Des. programmes are offered at NID Ahmedabad according to the applicable discipline and admission cycle. |
| M.Des. Gandhinagar | M.Des. programmes are offered at NID Gandhinagar according to the applicable discipline and admission cycle. |
| M.Des. Bengaluru | M.Des. programmes are offered at NID Bengaluru according to the applicable discipline and admission cycle. |
| B.Des. Qualification | Candidates must have passed or be appearing in the qualifying Senior Secondary examination or an equivalent qualification recognised by NID. |
| B.Des. Stream | Eligibility is based on the qualifying examination and NID rules rather than requiring a specific school stream. |
| B.Des. Appearing Candidates | Candidates appearing for the qualifying examination may apply subject to the conditions of the applicable NID handbook. |
| B.Des. Age Limit | The applicable age limit is prescribed in the B.Des. Admissions Handbook for each admission cycle. |
| M.Des. Qualification | Candidates must hold a recognised bachelor's degree or another qualifying credential accepted for the selected M.Des. discipline. |
| M.Des. Discipline Eligibility | Eligibility requirements can differ between M.Des. disciplines, so candidates must check the relevant discipline-specific criteria. |
| M.Des. Work Experience | Work experience may be considered or required for certain M.Des. eligibility categories or disciplines according to the handbook. |
| M.Des. Age Limit | The applicable age and qualification requirements are specified separately in the M.Des. Admissions Handbook. |
| Photograph | Recent photograph according to the specifications given by NID. |
| Signature | Candidate signature in the prescribed digital format. |
| Category Certificate | SC, ST, OBC-NCL, EWS or other applicable certificates must follow the format prescribed by NID. |
| PwD Certificate | Candidates claiming disability benefits must provide valid supporting documentation. |
| Educational Documents | Educational qualification documents must be provided according to the applicable programme requirements. |
| Passport | International applicants must provide passport and other documents specified by NID. |
| DAT Prelims Merit | Separate merit lists are prepared for applicable categories based on DAT Prelims performance. |
| DAT Mains Shortlist | Only shortlisted candidates are eligible to appear for DAT Mains. |
| Final Merit | The final merit list is prepared according to the programme-specific evaluation and weightage prescribed by NID. |
| Tie Break | NID may apply programme-specific tie-breaking rules as notified for the admission cycle. |
NID will announce the official 2027-28 admission notification and handbook.
The NID DAT 2027 application window will open on the date announced by NID.
The final date for submitting the NID DAT 2027 application will be announced officially.
NID will announce the application editing or correction window, if applicable.
The DAT Prelims admit card will be released through the official NID admission portal.
The NID DAT Prelims 2027 examination date will be announced by NID.
NID will publish the DAT Prelims result and shortlist for DAT Mains.
DAT Mains dates will be announced by NID for shortlisted candidates.
NID will announce the final merit list and admission result after completion of the applicable admission stages.
Seat allotment and institute preference procedures will be announced by NID.
| Subject | MCQs | Numerical | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 | — | — | — |
| Shortlisting | — | — | — |
| Stage 2 | — | — | — |
| Final Merit | — | — | — |
| DAT Prelims | — | — | — |
| Question Type | — | — | — |
| Language | — | — | — |
| Mode | — | — | — |
| Duration | — | — | — |
| DAT Mains | — | — | — |
| Mains Evaluation | — | — | — |
| Shortlisting | — | — | — |
Visit the official NID admissions portal and read the applicable admission handbook.
Create an account using nationality, category, disability, date of birth, email and mobile details.
Enter personal, educational and other required information. Work experience is relevant for M.Des. applicants where applicable.
Upload photograph, signature and applicable category, disability and other documents.
Select the preferred DAT Prelims test centre from the available options.
Pay the applicable application fee online.
Verify the application details and submit the application before the deadline.
Download the DAT Prelims admit card from the official NID admission portal.
Appear for the first-stage design aptitude examination.
Check whether you have been shortlisted for DAT Mains.
Shortlisted candidates appear for the second-stage DAT Mains assessment.
Check the final merit list and admission result through the official NID portal.
Submit institute preferences and complete the subsequent admission formalities as instructed by NID.
| Category | year | status |
|---|---|---|
| NID DAT 2027 Cutoff | 2027 | TBA |
| DAT Prelims Shortlist | — | — |
| Final Cutoff | — | — |
Percentile cutoffs shown are for illustration and vary each year based on difficulty and number of candidates.
Stay updated on dates, admit card and results.
