NID 2026 (ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA)

The NID 2026 eligibility criteria for admission to the Bachelor of Design (B.Des) and Master of Design (M.Des) programs are as follows:

Bachelor of Design (B.Des)

Age Limit

• General & General EWS: Born on or after July 1, 2005.
• OBC-NCL, SC, ST: Born on or after July 1, 2002.
• PwD: Born on or after July 1, 2000.
• Foreign Nationals (Overseas/Supernumerary): Born on or after July 1, 2005.

Educational Qualification

• Must have passed or be appearing for the final examination of the 10+2 system (any discipline: Science, Arts, Commerce, Humanities, etc.) from a recognized board (Central/State/International).

Master of Design (M.Des)

Age Limit

• General & General EWS: Born on or after July 1, 1993.
• OBC-NCL, SC, ST: Born on or after July 1, 1990.
• PwD: Born on or after July 1, 1988.
• Foreign Nationals (Overseas/Supernumerary): Born on or after July 1, 1993.

Educational Qualification

• Bachelor’s degree of at least 4 years duration in any specialization after 12th standard from a recognized university or institute, OR
• Full-time diploma of at least 4 years in Design, Fine Arts, Applied Arts, or Architecture after 12th standard from a recognized university or institute, OR
• Bachelor’s degree of at least 3 years duration in any specialization after 12th standard from a recognized university or institute (candidates must have passed the degree examination by August 2024).
• Candidates appearing in the final year of their qualifying degree/diploma are also eligible, provided they complete all requirements by the specified deadlines.

International/Foreign Nationals Eligibility

• B.Des & M.Des: Foreign nationals can apply under the supernumerary category (15% seats approx.)
• Must submit documents proving equivalent education qualification
• Must have valid passport and visa (as per Indian government norms)

Important Notes for NID Eligibility Criteria

• No restriction on stream/discipline for either B.Des or M.Des
• Age and education cut-offs are strictly followed – no relaxation except for reserved categories
• For M.Des, eligibility must match the discipline you're applying to (e.g. Animation Design, Product Design, etc.)

Click Here For NID Syllabus

NID Eligibility Criteria FAQs

Ques.1 Which educational streams are accepted for B.Des at NID?

Ans. NID accepts all streams (Science, Commerce, Arts, Humanities, etc.) as long as:

• Students have passed Class 12 or equivalent from a recognized board in India or abroad.

Ques.2 Is there any specific graduation requirement for M.Des?

Ans. Yes, You must have:

• A Bachelor’s degree of at least 3 or 4 years duration
• Or a full-time diploma in Design from NID
• Accepted degrees include: B.Des, BFA, B.Tech, B.Sc., B.Com, BA, B.Arch, etc.

Ques.3 I have a diploma (not from NID). Can I apply for M.Des?

Ans. No. Only full-time diploma holders from NID are eligible. Other diploma holders (from polytechnic, private institutes, etc.) are not eligible.

Ques.4 Can foreign nationals apply for NID 2026?

Ans. Yes, Foreign nationals (including NRIs, OCIs) can apply under the supernumerary category (15% seats).

They must:

Fulfill equivalent educational qualifications

Submit valid passport and visa documents

Ques.5 Since I was born before to July 1, 2005, I fall under the open category.  Can I apply for the 2026 NID DAT?

 Ans: In accordance with the established eligibility requirements, applicants from the open category who wish to enroll in the B.Des program must have been born on or after July 1, 2005.  You are therefore ineligible for admittance.

It should be noted that the criteria for both general and open categories are the same for General-EWS categories.

However, there is a 5-year relaxation in the maximum age restriction for SC, ST, and OBC-NCL candidates.  Additionally, PwD applicants qualify for a five-year exemption.