NIFT 2026 Application & Admission Guidelines – Quick Overview
1. About NIFT
NIFT is India’s premier institute for fashion, design and technology education, under the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India.
It offers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in disciplines like Design, Fashion Technology, Fashion Management & Textiles.
2. Programmes Offered
Undergraduate
- B.Des (Bachelor of Design)
Disciplines include: Fashion Design, Textile Design, Knitwear Design, Accessory Design, Leather Design, Fashion Communication, Fashion Interior Design. - B.FTech (Bachelor of Fashion Technology)
Discipline: Apparel Production.
Postgraduate
- M.Des (Master of Design)
- M.FTech (Master of Fashion Technology)
- M.F.M (Master of Fashion Management)
(These programmes and specialisations are as per the 2025 prospectus.)
3. Eligibility Criteria
For UG (B.Des / B.FTech)
- Must have passed the 10+2 (Class 12) or equivalent examination from a recognised board, or should be appearing for it.
- For B.FTech: Candidates should have studied Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics at the 10+2 level (where required).
- Maximum age: For the general category, candidates should be less than 24 years of age on 1 August of the admission year. Relaxation of 5 years for SC/ST/PwD.
For PG (M.Des / M.FTech / M.F.M)
- A Bachelor’s degree from a recognised university/institute in the relevant field is required. (Refer to the 2025 prospectus for exact details.)
- There is no upper age limit for PG programmes (as per 2025 criteria).
Nationality
- Indian citizens, NRIs, OCI, PIO and Foreign Nationals are eligible under different categories.
4. Application Process
NIFT 2026 Application Process (Quick Steps)
- Register on the official NIFT admissions portal once the form opens. Link: https://www.nift.ac.in/admission (OUT SOON!)
- Fill in your personal, academic and program details.
- Select your exam city.
- Upload your photo, signature and category certificates in the required format.
- Pay the application fee online.
- Download your admit card when released.
- Appear for CAT/GAT.
- If shortlisted, attend the Situation Test or PI.
- Join the counselling process and complete choice filling.
- Pay the seat acceptance fee and report to the allotted campus.
5. Exam Structure (Based on 2025)
| Programme | Test Components | Weightage |
|---|---|---|
| B.Des | CAT + GAT + Situation Test | CAT ~ 50%, GAT ~ 30%, Situation Test ~ 20% |
| B.FTech | GAT only | GAT 100% |
| M.Des | CAT + GAT + PI | CAT ~ 40%, GAT ~ 30%, PI ~ 30% |
| M.FTech / M.F.M | GAT + PI | GAT ~ 70%, PI ~ 30% |
6. Important Dates (Tentative for 2026)
| Event | Date / Information |
|---|---|
| Online application start | 22nd November 2026 (Expected) |
| Last date for application (without late fee) | Around early January 2026 (tentative) |
| Last date with late fee | Early–mid January 2026 (tentative) |
| Admit card release | ~1–2 weeks before exam (tentative) |
| Written exam (Stage 1) | Second week of February 2026 (tentative) |
| Situation Test/PI (Stage 2) | June 2026 (tentative) |
| Final result / counselling commencement | Around late June to July 2026 (tentative) |
Note: These dates are indicative—please refer to the official NIFT website/admission notification when released.
7. Reservation & Seats
SC: 15%
ST: 7.5%
OBC-NCL: 27%
EWS: 10%
PwD: 5% (horizontal across all categories)
NRI / Foreign / OCI / SAARC: Separate supernumerary seats (as per 2025)
(Exact seat numbers vary by campus and discipline – see the prospectus for details.)
8. Test Centres & Documents
Test Centre Selection: Candidates must select their preferred exam city during online registration. NIFT conducts exams in multiple cities across India.
Documents Required (for exam centre and counselling verification):
- Admit Card (print‐out)
- Valid photo ID (Aadhaar, Passport, Driving License, etc.)
- Recent passport-size photographs (as per specifications)
- Class 12 / equivalent certificate or provisional certificate
- Category certificate (if applicable)
- PwD certificate (if applicable)
9. Fee Structure (Indicative)
Refer to the 2025 brochure for actual fees. Fee structures vary by category (General / SC / ST / OBC / PwD), campus, and whether seats are regular or NRI/Foreign. For example, the general category application fee in 2025 was around ₹3,000.
10. Tips for Applicants
- Read the full brochure carefully before applying—verify eligibility, subject requirements, and age criteria.
- Prepare your documents (scans of photo, signature, ID, category certificate) in advance for online submission.
- Choose your programme and campus preferences wisely—consider your interest, portfolio strength (for design courses), and location.
- For B.Des and M.Des: Practice creative ability (sketching, observation, innovation) as well as general ability tests (quantitative, logical, English).
- Keep checking the official website and your registered email for updates/notifications.
- Plan for exam day logistics—reach the centre early, carry required documents, and adhere to instructions.
11. Seat Matrix 2025:
Total Seats in NIFT (2025)
| Programme | Seats |
|---|---|
| B.Des. | 3218 |
| B.F.Tech | 591 |
| M.Des. | 275 |
| M.F.Tech. | 34 |
| M.F.Management | 719 |
| Total | 4837 |
12. Seat Allotment
- Seat allotment is done based on merit rank, category and availability of seats.
- Candidates can check their allotment status online and proceed with the next steps accordingly.
- The seat reservations are listed below each category.
| Programme | Gen. | OBC-NC | SC | ST | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reservation | 50.5% | 27%* | 15% | 7.5% | 100% |
| B.Des. | 1625 | 869 | 483 | 241 | 3218 |
| B.F.Tech. | 298 | 160 | 89 | 44 | 591 |
| M.Des. | 139 | 74 | 41 | 21 | 275 |
| M.F.Tech. | 17 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 34 |
| M.F.M. | 364 | 194 | 108 | 54 | 719 |
Within the General category reservation:
| GEN-EWS | 10% |
| Person with Disability (PWD) | 5%* |
13. Fee Payment and Seat Acceptance
- Candidates need to pay the prescribed fee to confirm their allotted seat within the stipulated time.
- Failure to pay the fee on time may lead to the cancellation of the allotted seat.
- The fee structure for Indian nationals and NRIs at various NIFT campuses is shown below.
A) At NIFT Bengaluru, Chennai, Gandhinagar, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai & New Delhi (As Per Last Year)
| Indian | NRI | |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition Fee (Non-Refundable) | 3,04,900/- | 8,64,000/- |
| Library Fee (Per Year) (Non-Refundable) | 9,500/- | 50,000/- |
| Mediclaim & Student Development Fee | 4,700/- | 32,000/- |
| Exam Fee (Per Year) | 4,700/- | 4,700/- |
| Security Deposit (Refundable) | 12,000/- | 12,000/- |
| Registration Fee (One Time) | 9,300/- | 9,300/- |
| TOTAL | 3,26,200/- | 9,72,000/- |
P.S.: Fees increase by 10% every year.
B) At NIFT Panchkula, Patna, Kangra, Bhopal, Kannur, Shillong, Jodhpur, Bhubaneswar, Raebareli & Srinagar (As Per Last Year)
| Indian | NRI | |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition Fee (Non-Refundable) | 3,04,900/- | 6,05,000/- |
| Library Fee (Per Year) | 9,500/- | 35,000/- |
| Mediclaim & Student Development Fee | 4,700/- | 22,400/- |
| Exam Fee (Per Year) | 4,700/- | 4,700/- |
| Security Deposit | 12,000/- | 12,000/- |
| Registration Fee | 9,300/- | 9,300/- |
| TOTAL | 3,26,200/- | 6,88,400/- |
P.S.: Fees increase by 10% every year.
14. Reporting to Allotted Campus
- After fee payment and seat acceptance, candidates must report to the allotted campus on the specified date.
- Attend the orientation program and complete the admission formalities as per the instructions provided.
List of Documents and Annexures Required
Documents
- Admit Card
- Score Card / Result
- Class 10 Certificate
- Class 12 Mark Sheet and Certificate
- Caste Certificate (if applicable)
- Domicile Certificate (if applicable)
- Income Certificate (if applicable)
- Transfer Certificate / School Leaving Certificate
- Caste Certificate
- Passport (NRI Sponsored)
- Copy of Valid Visa (NRI Sponsored)
Annexures
- For candidates seeking provisional admission
- Undertaking for Anti-Ragging
- Undertaking to be signed by sponsoring NRI / Foreign National / OCI / PIO
- Undertaking for Refund of Fees
- Medical Fitness Certificate