Upcoming Design Entrance Exams in India 2026 : Registration Process, Opening & Closing Dates & Eligibility

 

 

Success Depends on how much informed you are. So, now Stay Informed  - Stay Ahead!

As the Top Design Colleges commence their new design program sessions for the year 2026, most of them have announced their 2026 session Entrance Exam Details. 

 

Read along to know every Design Entrance exam detail:

Aspiring designers aiming for 2026 admissions can now plan their journey with this comprehensive overview of the major design entrance exams and top design institutes in India.

 

Design Entrance Exams 2026 – Overview

 

Exam	Exam Date (Tentative)	Mode of Exam	Eligibility
UCEED (Undergraduate Common Entrance Exam for Design)	January 18, 2026 (9 AM – 12 Noon)	Online (Part A) + Pen & Paper (Part B)	Class 12 (or equivalent) in 2025 or 2026, any stream
CEED (Common Entrance Exam for Design)	January 2026 (Tentative)	Online + Drawing Test	Bachelor’s degree (minimum 3 years) or equivalent
NID DAT (Design Aptitude Test – Prelims & Mains)	Prelims: December 21, 2025 Mains: March/April 2026	Pen & Paper + Studio Test	B.Des – 10+2 pass; M.Des – Bachelor’s degree in design/arts/engineering
TDV Entrance Exam (The Design Village)	February 2026 (Tentative)	Online / Offline	10+2 (for UG), Graduate (for PG) – any stream
IIAD Entrance Exam (Indian Institute of Art & Design)	January 2026 (Tentative)	Online + Interview / Portfolio	10+2 (any stream) from recognized board
ISDI Challenge (Indian School of Design & Innovation)	Multiple Rounds: Oct 2025 – Jan 2026	Online / In-Person	10+2 (for UG); Graduation (for PG)
WUDAT (World University of Design Aptitude Test)	January 4, 2026	Online (AI-proctored)	10+2 or equivalent, any stream
UID Design Aptitude Test (Unitedworld Institute of Design)	January 2026	Online / Offline	10+2 (any stream) or equivalent
Pearl Academy Entrance Test	Cycle 1: Dec 2025; Cycle 2: April 2026	Online (AI-proctored)	10+2 for UG / Graduate for PG

College-Wise Application Highlights (2026 Admissions)

1. National Institute of Design (NID)

• Application Start: 11 September 2025
• Closing Date: 1 December 2025 (11:59 PM)
• Process: Online registration → NID DAT Prelims → Mains (Studio Test + Interview).
• Note: Admissions open for both B.Des & M.Des programs.

2. IITs – UCEED & CEED Admissions

• Application Start: 10 October 2025
• UCEED Exam Date: 18 January 2026
• CEED Exam Date: January 2026 (Tentative)
• Process: Apply online → Appear for entrance → Participate in IIT & partner institute counselling.

3. The Design Village (TDV), Noida

• Application Start: October 2025
• Closing Date: December 2025
• Process: Apply online → TDV Design Test / Portfolio → Personal Interview.
• Note: Accepts UCEED/NID/NIFT scores for direct admission consideration.

4. Indian Institute of Art & Design (IIAD), New Delhi

• Application Start: September 2025
• Closing Date: December 2025
• Exam Window: January 2026
• Process: Apply online → IIAD Entrance Exam (Aptitude + Studio Test) → Personal Interview.
• Note: IIAD collaborates with Kingston School of Art, London, offering global exposure.

5. Indian School of Design & Innovation (ISDI), Mumbai

• Application Start: October 2025
• Closing Date: January 2026
• Process: Submit online form → ISDI Challenge (aptitude + portfolio + interview).
• Note: Associated with Parsons School of Design, New York for curriculum guidance.

6. World University of Design (WUD), Sonipat

• Application Start: September 2025
• Closing Date: 30 December 2025
• Exam Date: 4 January 2026 (WUDAT 2026)
• Process: Register online → WUDAT / National Exam Score → Portfolio + Interview.

7. Unitedworld Institute of Design (UID), Ahmedabad

• Application Start: November 2025
• Closing Date: January 2026
• Exam Date: January 2026 (UID DAT)
• Process: Online application → UID DAT → Studio Test + Interview.
• Note: Known for cutting-edge transportation & communication design courses.

8. Pearl Academy, Multiple Campuses

• Cycle 1: Applications open October 2025 – Test in December 2025
• Cycle 2: February 2026 – Test in April 2026
• Process: Online registration → Written Test + Personal Interview.
• Note: Accepts NID, NIFT, UCEED scores for lateral entry in some programs.

                                              Click Here to Apply

      

All the Best for Your Design Career!