The National Institute of Design (NID) is internationally acclaimed as one of the foremost multi-disciplinary institutions in the field of design education , applied research, training, design consultancy services and outreach programmes. The institute functions as an autonomous body under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India. NID has been recognised as a Science and Industrial Research Organisation by the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India.

The institute offers 4 years Graduate Diploma Programme in Design (GDPD) and 2 to 2½ year Post-Graduate Diploma Programme in Design (PGDPD). The admission to these programmes is made through an entrance test conducted by the institute usually in the month of January. The test is conducted separately for both the UG and PG programmes.

Graduate Diploma Programme in Design (GDPD)

Eligibility : Admission is open to students who have passed or who will appear for qualifying examinations under the Higher Secondary (10+2), or equivalents like AISSCE/IB/ICSE etc. 
Age Limit : Upper age limit for candidates is 20 years (relaxable by 3 years for SC/ST candidates) as on 1st June of the year of admission.

GDPD is a 4-year intensive professional UG programme is offered in the following three Faculty streams

• Industrial Design: 
  • Product Design
  • Furniture and Interior Design
  • Ceramic & Glass Design 
• Communication Design:
  • Graphic Design
  • Animation Film Design
  • Film & Video Communication
  • Exhibition Design Textile and
• Apparel Design:
  • Textile Design

Post - Graduate Diploma Programme in Design (PGDPD)

Eligibility : Eligibility criteria are mentioned against each discipline. Diploma holders from premier specialized institutions may be considered on par with Bachelor’s Degree in certain cases. Those applying for more than one programme should send in separate application forms. One cannot apply for more than two Programmes.
Age Limit : Upper age limit for candidates is 27 years (relaxable by 3 years for SC/ST candidates) as on on 1st June of the year of admission. Candidates with work experience after graduation will be preferred. Age relaxation upto 3 years for general candidates with relevant work experience may also be considered.

2 to 2½ years PGDPD programme is offered in the following specific areas of specialisation in 15 design disciplines under the five faculties.

• Industrial Design 
  • Product Design
    Eligibility : B.Tech, B.E.(Mech./Mechatronics),B.Arch. 
  • Furniture & Interior Design
    Eligibility : B.Tech/B.E. (Civil Engg.), B.Arch Interior Design
  • Ceramic & Glass Design
    Eligibility : B.Arch, B.F.A.,Ceramic & Glass Design/Technology, Graduates in other disciplines with experience in Ceramic & Glass related fields.
  • Toy Design & Development
    Eligibility : B.E. /B.Tech./ BCA/ BIT/ B.Arch./Interior Design / BFA/ Applied Arts/ Child development/ Therapy, or graduates with certain experience in allied areas. 
  • Transportation & Automobile Design
    Eligibility : B.Tech/B.E.(Automobile/Mechanical/ Mechatronics)/ B.Arch, Product Design from reputed Institutes/Design School in India and/or Abroad  
• Textile and Apparel Design 
  • Textile Design
    Eligibility : B.F.A., Applied Arts, Textile/Handloom Technology, Textile/Knitwear/ Fashion Design / Home Science with Textile & Clothing.
  • Apparel Design & Merchandising
    Eligibility : B.F.A., Applied Arts, Textile/ Knitwear/ Fashion Design or graduates in Merchandising or any other disciplines with proven proficiency in drawing and garment construction/presentation. 
  • Lifestyle Accessory Design
    Eligibility : B.F.A., Applied Arts, Design, B.Arch, Interior Design, Accessory Design and relevant disciplines in Technology / Engineering.
• Communication Design
  • Graphic Design
    Eligibility : B.F.A., Applied Arts, B.Arch., Interior Design, Graduates with experience in Graphic Design. 
  • Animation Film Design
    Eligibility : B.F.A., Applied Arts, Design, B.Arch., Communication Media Film & TV, Mass Media, Graduates with experience in Animation Industry. 
  • Film & Video Communication
    Eligibility : Humanities, Arts, Visual Communication, Mass Media or graduates in any other discipline with relevant work experience.   
• IT Integrated Design 
  • New Media Design
    Eligibility : B.F.A., Applied Arts, B.Tech, ,BIT, B.Arch, Visual Communication, Mass Media, BSc. Computer Science, BCA, (Knowledge of Scripting, Authoring & Graphic tools essential). 
  • Software & User Interface Design
    Eligibility : B E (computer Science), B.Arch., BFA, B.Tech (Ele.), B.I.T., Applied Psychology, Accessory Design with relevant work experience. 
  • Information & Digital Design
    Eligibility : B.Tech./B.I.T./ B.E. (CS) / B.Arch., BFA (Visual Communication/ Painting), Applied Arts, BIT, BCA, BSc (Computer Science/ Statistics/ Maths), Mass Media, Cognitive Psychology (knowledge of scripting and graphic tools essential) with relevant work experience.
• Design Management   
  • Strategic Design Management
    Eligibility : Any recognised 3-year Bachelors Degree in Fine Arts, Humanities, Science or a 4-year degree in Engineering, Technology, etc. with work experience of minimum 2 years in a design/design related organisation

The entrance test for admission to the UG and PG courses in NID consist of three design aptitude tests carrying a total of 60 points. The objective of the test is to evaluate the perception, attitudes, aptitudes, and motivation essential to a design career. The test for Under Graduate courses will include memory drawing, knowledge of proportions and perspective, thematic color arrangement, abstract symbolism and visual design.

To some extent the questions for the PG course are similar to the UG entrance, but the PG candidates are expected to come up with better-evolved ideas, better drawing skills, neatness of presentation and innovative concepts. PG tests would also involve, a good knowledge of perspective, proportion, composition, animation, caricature, colour associations and ability to create designs from inspiration.

Admission :

Admission announcements are issued in the leading national dailies in the last week of September every year. Application forms along with the prospectus for the ensuing academic year will be made available on request from the second week of October on payment of a requisite amount by Demand Draft of any scheduled bank drawn in favour of the National Institute of Design payable at Ahmedabad. Forms will also be available at selected branches of Bank of India across the country.

Forms can also be downloaded from NID’s website along with required amount of DD drawn in favour of National Institute of Design payable at Ahmedabad will also be accepted.

All candidates fulfilling the requirements of minimum qualification and within the prescribed age limit will be called for the Admission Tests to be conducted at 12 centres viz Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Bhopal, Chennai, Delhi, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Kanpur, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Dubai (UAE) (NID reserves its right to cancel any of these centres)

Selection :

Selection is based on the scores obtained in the entrance test, which extends beyond the students previous academic qualifications. Based on the scores, candidates are short listed and are called for second phase admission procedure. All those called for the second phase are required to attend the studio tests and interview, which completes the process of selection. The procedures grades and weightage for each year will be decided by the Admission Committee for the year.

Issuing of forms start from:
OCTOBER 6, 2008, MONDAY

Last date for receiving completed forms by NID:
NOVEMBER 28, 2008, FRIDAY

All candidates fulfilling the requirements of minimum qualification and within the prescribed age limit will be called for the Entrance Test (DAT or NEED) to be conducted at 12 centres — Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Chennai, Delhi,Guwahati, Hyderabad, Kanpur, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Oman.
(NID reserves its right to cancel any of these centres).

Dates for the entrance tests

DAT for PGDPD (at all centres)
January 3, 2009, Saturday

NEED for GDPD (at all centres)
January 4, 2009, Sunday

Hall Ticket/ Call Letter will be posted by December 20, 2008. Those who do not receive the call letters by the end of December 2008 may get in touch with NID’s Admissions Unit. Admission is on the basis of NID’s method of selection, which extends beyond the students previous academic qualifications.The NID Admission Committee systematically seeks evidence of the perception, attitude, aptitude, achievement and motivation essential for a challenging and satisfying design career. The objective of the tests and the interviews is toascertain the above qualities. The tests at the various centres will consist of design aptitude tests. Based on scores obtained from these tests, shortlisting of candidates to be called for second phase will be done.

The second phase of the admission procedure will consist of studio tests followed by personal interviews at Ahmedabad, Bengaluru and Gandhinagar.

Dates of the studio tests/ interviews

GDPD is scheduled from April 23 – 25, 2009 
PGDPD is scheduled from April 27 – May 1, 2009

Call letters for this phase of the interview will be posted by March 26, Friday, 2009. This information will also be available on NID’s websitewww.nid.edu. All those candidates called for the second phase are required to attend the studio tests and interview, which completes the process of selection.

The Admission Committee decides the procedures, grades and weightage every year. The norms for the selection are the sole prerogative of theAdmission Committee and the decision of the Admission Committee and the Management in any of the matters concerning the admission process and selection will be final. Any direct or indirect attempt to influence the admissioncommittee or its members, academic office bearers or management will lead to the automatic disqualification of the candidate(s).

Prescribed percentage of seats are reserved for candidates belonging to various reserved categories scheduled as per the norms of the Government of India. The OBC reservation is in effect in stages and the new academic year 2009-2010 envisages the second stage of reservation.

For both GDPD and PGDPD, the Institute will draw separate waiting lists with approximately ten percent of the total number of seats available.

Monthly mess charges                                         2400                     2400 
(As per Mess Committee recommendation)

Total expenditure for studies at NID, including Hostel and Mess charges, is estimated at Rs 1,50,000 per year at the present level of costs. There will be a 10%-15% increase in costs per year.

*Registration, jury, student amenities, modernisation, transcripts

Fee Waivers and Freeships

A number of full and partial tuition fee waivers offered by NID, Ford Foundation and Govt. of India Scholarships are available to the deserving and disadvantaged candidates. There is some additional support offered by the Ford Foundation to meet the Hostel/ Mess expenses of candidates from disadvantaged sections of the society.