NIFT 2027: Exam Dates, Registration, Eligibility, Syllabus, Pattern & Exam Centres - Complete Guide
Everything B.Des, B.FTech, M.Des, MFM, and M.FTech aspirants need to know about NIFT 2027 updated with the latest expected timeline.
Unlike NID and UCEED/CEED, NIFT hasn't released its 2027 notification yet but the National Testing Agency (NTA) follows a fairly predictable annual cycle, so here's what to expect and when to start preparing.
NIFT Exam 2027 Details
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | NIFT Entrance Exam (NIFTEE) 2027 |
| Conducting Body | National Testing Agency (NTA), on behalf of NIFT |
| Programmes | B.Des, B.FTech, M.Des, MFM, M.FTech |
| Application Mode | Online only |
| Official Website | nift.ac.in |
| Notification Release | Expected December 2026 |
| Registration Window | Expected December 2026 – January 2027 |
| Exam Date | Expected first/second week of February 2027 |
| Participating NIFT Campuses | 20 |
| Exam Stages | Stage 1: GAT + CAT (written) → Stage 2: Situation Test (B.Des) / GD & PI (PG programmes) |
Note: As of now, none of the 2027 dates are official; NIFT's notification typically lands 8–10 weeks before the exam, so expect firm dates only in December 2026.
NIFT 2027: Expected Important Dates
| Event | Expected Date (Tentative) |
|---|---|
| Notification release | December 2026 |
| Registration opens | December 2026 |
| Last date to apply (regular fee) | January 2027 |
| Late fee window | January 2027 |
| Application correction window | January 2027 |
| City intimation slip | January 2027 |
| Admit card release | First week of February 2027 |
| NIFT Entrance Exam (CAT + GAT) | First/second week of February 2027 |
| Answer key release | Third week of February 2027 |
| Stage 1 result | March 2027 |
| Situation Test (B.Des) | April–May 2027 |
| Final merit list & seat allotment | May–June 2027 |
These dates are projected from the 2026 cycle (exam held February 8, 2026) and will shift once NTA releases the official 2027 information bulletin.
Also Read: How to improve your NIFT Score?
Eligibility Criteria for NIFT 2027
B.Des and B.FTech (Undergraduate)
| Criterion | Details |
|---|---|
| Educational qualification (B.Des) | Passed or appearing in Class 12 (10+2) from a recognised board, any stream |
| Educational qualification (B.FTech) | Class 12 with Physics and Mathematics as compulsory subjects |
| Age limit | Less than 24 years as on August 1, 2027 |
| Age relaxation | 5 years for SC/ST/PwD candidates |
| Number of attempts | No limit but the age cap applies for UG programmes |
M.Des, MFM, and M.FTech (Postgraduate)
| Criterion | Details |
|---|---|
| Educational qualification | Bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognised university, or a 3-year diploma from NIFT/NID |
| Minimum marks | Around 50% aggregate (45% for SC/ST/PwD, based on recent cycles) |
| Age limit | None |
Application Fee (Based on Recent Cycles, Expected for 2027)
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General | ₹3,000 |
| SC / ST / Female candidates | ₹1,500 |
Fee amounts and category breakdowns are typically confirmed in NTA's official information bulletin and treat these as strong estimates rather than final figures until the 2027 notification is out.
How to Apply: NIFT 2027 Registration Steps
- Visit nift.ac.in and register with a valid email ID and mobile number once applications open.
- Fill in personal, academic, and category details, and select your programme (B.Des, B.FTech, M.Des, MFM, or M.FTech).
- Choose your preferred exam city — NIFT typically runs the exam across 80+ cities nationwide (82 cities in the 2026 cycle; NTA has indicated it may expand this further for 2027).
- Upload documents — photograph, signature, and category/PwD certificates as applicable.
- Pay the application fee online.
- Download the confirmation page and watch for the correction window to fix any errors.
MAD SCHOOL NIFT Results
See What Our Students Have To Say About Their Success with MAD School
NIFT 2027 Exam Pattern
NIFT's entrance exam structure varies by programme, but all UG and PG design programmes involve a two-stage process: a written test, followed by a Situation Test (B.Des) or Group Discussion/Personal Interview (PG programmes).
B.Des
| Test | Mode | Duration | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Creative Ability Test (CAT) | Offline, pen & paper | 3 hours | 100 |
| General Ability Test (GAT) | Computer-based | 2 hours | 100 |
| Situation Test (Stage 2, shortlisted only) | Offline, 3D model-making | — | 100 |
GAT sections (B.Des): Quantitative Ability (20), Communication Ability (20), English Comprehension (20), Analytical Ability (15), General Knowledge & Current Affairs (25) — 100 questions total.
Final weightage: GAT 30% + CAT 50% + Situation Test 20%.
B.FTech
Only GAT is required — a computer-based objective test, 3 hours, covering Communication Ability & English Comprehension, Quantitative Ability, Analytical & Logical Ability, General Knowledge, and a Case Study section. Admission is based entirely on the GAT score.
M.Des
| Test | Mode | Duration | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| GAT | Computer-based | 2 hours | 100–120 |
| CAT (Studio Test) | Offline | 3 hours | 100 |
| Group Discussion & Personal Interview (Stage 2) | — | — | — |
Final weightage: GAT 30% + CAT 40% + Personal Interview 30%.
MFM and M.FTech
Both rely on GAT (3 hours, covering Communication, Case Study, Quantitative, and Analytical sections) followed by a Group Discussion & Personal Interview. GAT carries 70% weightage, with the interview making up the remaining 30%.
There's no negative marking in CAT, but GAT typically deducts 0.25 marks for each wrong answer — so guess selectively on the objective paper.
NIFT 2027 Syllabus Topics for B.FTech
| NIFT B.FTech 2027 Subject | Important Topics |
|---|---|
| Communication Ability & English Comprehension | Substitute for the Given Word, Plural in Form, Nearest in Meaning, Idioms & Phrases, Wrongly Spelt Word, Prepositions, English Comprehension |
| Quantitative Ability | Profit & Loss, Number System, Simple & Compound Interest, Time-Speed-Distance, Boats & Streams, Time & Work, Pipes & Cisterns, Mixtures, Quadrilateral, Mensuration, Ratio, Discount, Probability, Polynomial, Permutation & Combination, HCF & LCM, Percentage |
| Analytical & Logical Ability | Statement & Conclusion, Assertion & Reason, Statements Correct/Incorrect, Statement & Argument, Odd One Out, Blood Relations, Arrangement, Coding-Decoding, Direction Sense, Age Problems, Data Interpretation, Complete the Series |
| General Knowledge & Current Affairs | Static GK, Fashion Industry GK, Current GK |
| Case Study | Caselets |
Also Read: List of All NIFT Campus locations In India
How to Prepare for NIFT 2027
- Split your prep time between CAT and GAT deliberately. CAT rewards consistent sketching practice and colour sense; GAT rewards general test-taking speed and current affairs awareness — they need very different daily habits.
- Stay current on design, fashion, and general knowledge. NIFT's GK section is a distinguishing feature versus NID and UCEED — daily newspaper reading pays off here specifically.
- Practice full-length CAT papers under time pressure, since 3 hours of sustained creative output is a stamina skill, not just a talent.
- For the Situation Test, familiarise yourself with basic 3D model-making using everyday materials (paper, cardboard, fabric) well before results are out — there's very little prep time between Stage 1 results and the Situation Test.
- For PG aspirants, prepare a strong rationale for your career shift into design/fashion management — the interview panel probes this directly.
Coaching Support for NIFT Aspirants
NIFT's CAT-GAT-Situation Test structure rewards candidates who've drilled each component separately rather than treating the exam as one undifferentiated test. NIFT Coaching programmes in hyderabad, chennai and kerala cover dedicated CAT sketching practice, GAT-style timed mocks with GK modules, and Situation Test simulation — the same structured approach used in our NID coaching preparation batches, adapted to NIFT's specific format.
FAQ's
Not yet. It's expected around December 2026, roughly 8–10 weeks before the exam.
Most projections point to the first or second week of February 2027, based on the pattern of previous cycles.
Yes, for B.Des — any stream is eligible. B.FTech requires Physics and Mathematics in Class 12.
No — M.Des, MFM, and M.FTech have no upper age limit.
Likely 80+ cities, based on 82 cities in the 2026 cycle; NTA has signalled a possible expansion for 2027.
Explore More Design & Architecture Entrance Exam Guides
Preparing for more than one design entrance exam? Check out our other 2027 guides:
- NID DAT 2027: Exam Dates, Registration, Eligibility & Exam Centres — for B.Des and M.Des at the National Institute of Design.
- UCEED 2027: Exam Dates, Registration, Eligibility & Exam Centres — for B.Des at the IITs and IIITDM Jabalpur.
- CEED 2027: Exam Dates, Registration, Eligibility & Exam Centres — for M.Des/PhD design programmes.
- NATA 2027: Exam Dates, Registration, Eligibility & Exam Centres — for B.Arch admissions through the Council of Architecture.
NIFT's exam is expected in February 2027 — after NID DAT Prelims (December 20, 2026) and UCEED/CEED (January 17, 2027). If you're attempting multiple design exams, NIFT typically comes last in the season, giving you a chance to apply lessons from earlier attempts.
