NID Admissions 2027-28: Application Dates, Eligibility, Fees and Entrance Exam Guide

The National Institute of Design is welcoming applications for the academic session of 2027-28, including the programmes of B.Des and 5.5-year Master of Design (Integrated Pathway). The application process started on 10 September 2026, and closes on 30 November 2026. This guide covers the details relating to important dates, eligibility criteria, fees, and application process itself.

Since NID can revise its schedule at short notice, always cross-check the latest updates on the official NID admissions portal before you apply.

NID Admissions 2027-28: Important Dates

The dates for the online application window for the DAT Prelims are from 10 September 2026 to 11:59 pm on 30 November 2026. The form editing window opens from 4 pm on 1 December 2026 to 11:59 pm on 3 December 2026. Admit cards will be available from 4 pm on 10 December 2026 while the exam itself is on 20 December 2026. A one-time window for category certificate corrections is from 4 pm on 16 February 2027 to 28 February 2027. The results of the Prelims are announced at 4 pm on 16 March 2027 while the re-totalling session is from 16 March 2027 to 17 March 2027 for the DAT Prelims. The schedule for the DAT Mains exam and the results of the same are awaited.

Because the Mains schedule is still pending, it’s worth checking the handbook’s amendment section every few weeks rather than assuming these dates are final.

NID Admission 2027-28: Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility for NID depends on your age and your educational qualification, and both conditions must be met together.

Educational Qualification

You are eligible if you have passed, or will appear for, your higher secondary (10+2) qualifying examination in the 2026–27 academic year, in any stream, from a recognised board such as CBSE, IB or ICSE. If your result hasn’t been declared yet at the time of document verification, your admission stays provisional, and you must submit your final marksheet by 15 July 2027. Missing that date cancels the provisional admission entirely, so it’s a deadline worth marking clearly on your calendar.

Age Limit

Here’s how the age cut-off works by category:

General and GEN-EWS: born on or after 1 July 2006
OBC-NCL, SC, ST: born on or after 1 July 2003
PwD: born on or after 1 July 2001
Overseas (foreign nationals): born on or after 1 July 2006

These age and qualification rules apply uniformly across every NID campus taking part in the 2027-28 admission cycle.

NID DAT 2027-28 Application Fee

The application fee for Indian nationals varies by category: General, GEN-EWS and OBC-NCL candidates pay ₹3,000; female candidates outside the SC, ST and PwD categories pay ₹2,000; SC and ST candidates pay ₹1,500; and PwD or Third Gender candidates pay ₹500. Overseas (Supernumerary) candidates pay USD 125. This fee is the same across all participating NIDs, and it is non-refundable – bank or payment-gateway charges are billed separately.

How to Apply for NID Admissions 2027-28

The process starts with registering on the official portal using a valid email address and an active mobile number, since these details cannot be changed later and are used for every future communication from NID. Once you’ve signed up, here’s the typical flow:

1. Register on admissions.nid.edu with your programme, nationality and category
2. Fill in your personal and educational details
3. Upload your photograph, signature and any category or disability certificates
4. Pay the application fee online through card or net banking
5. Download and print your auto-generated application form as proof of submission
6. Use the edit window (1-3 December 2026) to correct any errors, if needed

Keep your registered email and phone number active until at least 31 August 2027, since NID sends every update through these two channels alone.

The NID Admission Process: DAT Prelims and DAT Mains

Admission to a program consists of two separate stages. DAT Prelims, which is a written exam conducted across all test centres on the same day, aims solely at the shortlisting of candidates, with no marks added to any Mains Examination results. Applying candidates who pass the Prelims are allowed into DAT Mains, which includes Studio Sensitivity Test and In-Person Sensitivity Test. Hence, the final result of admission depends solely on candidates’ performance in Mains and does not take into account the Prelims results.
DAT Prelims in 2027-28 will be available in many cities, such as Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Chennai, Dehradun, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Jorhat, Kochi, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, New Delhi, Patna. It is important to note that the option of changing the test centre is available only during the application editing period.

NID Reservation Criteria 2027-28

Seats are reserved as 10% for GEN-EWS, 27% for OBC-NCL, 15% for Scheduled Caste and 7.5% for Scheduled Tribe candidates, with a further 5% PwD reservation applied horizontally across all these categories. Overseas candidates sit outside this reservation structure entirely and compete only within a separate supernumerary quota.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. When do NID Admissions 2027-28 applications close?
The last date to apply is 30 November 2026, 11:59 PM IST.

2. Can I apply if my Class 12 results aren’t out yet?
Yes, but your admission stays provisional until you submit your final marksheet by 15 July 2027.

3. Is there a separate application for DAT Mains?
No. One application covers both Prelims and Mains; you’re automatically considered for Mains if you’re shortlisted.

4. What is the application fee for General category candidates?
₹3,000 for both B.Des and the Integrated M.Des programme.

5. Has NID announced DAT Mains 2027-28 dates?
Not yet. The admit card, exam schedule and results for DAT Mains will be announced later on the official admissions website.