NID DAT 2027: Exam Dates, Eligibility, Pattern, Fees & Application Process  

For the 2027–28 admission cycle, applications opened on 10 September 2026, and DAT Prelims will be held on 20 December 2026.

Unlike conventional entrance tests that focus primarily on memorisation, NID’s selection process is designed to assess candidates’ knowledge, skills and behavioural abilities through design aptitude tests. Students who enjoy observing the world, questioning everyday objects, visualising ideas and developing creative solutions may find the nature of the examination particularly relevant to their interests.

Admissions through DAT take place in two stages:

• DAT Prelims: A written, paper-and-pencil/pen test that uses text and visual questions and is used to shortlist candidates.
• DAT Mains: A two-part assessment comprising a Studio Sensitivity Test and an In-Person Sensitivity Test.

Importantly, the DAT Prelims score is used only for shortlisting and is not carried forward as weightage to DAT Mains. Final merit is based on DAT Mains performance, with the weightages to be announced by NID.

NID DAT 2027-28 Important Dates

Source: NID Admissions Handbook 

Who Can Apply for NID DAT 2027?

For the 2027–28 admission cycle, candidates who have passed or will appear for their higher secondary (10+2) qualifying examination in the academic year 2026–27 can apply. Students from Science, Arts, Commerce, Humanities and other recognised streams are eligible, provided they meet the prescribed criteria.

Candidates appearing for their Class XII examination in the academic year 2027–28 may also be eligible, subject to NID’s conditions. They must have appeared for the qualifying examination before physical verification, pass it in the first attempt and submit their marksheet by 15 July 2027. Candidates with a backlog, compartment or supplementary examination are not eligible for admission.

Age Limit

For candidates:

• General, GEN-EWS, Overseas: Born on or after 1 July 2006
• OBC-NCL, SC and ST: Born on or after 1 July 2003
• PwD: Born on or after 1 July 2001

NID DAT 2027 Exam Pattern

The NID Design Aptitude Test is conducted in two stages (English only).

Stage 1: DAT Prelims

The DAT Prelims is a paper-and-pencil/pen test conducted at the same time and on the same day across all test centres. The question paper may include textual and visual questions, testing candidates’ ability to interpret information and respond to design-oriented problems. 

Stage 2: DAT Mains

Candidates shortlisted on the basis of DAT Prelims will be invited to DAT Mains.

For 2027, DAT Mains will consist of two parts:

1. Studio Sensitivity Test
2. In-Person Sensitivity Test

The exact format, duration, test centre details and other instructions for DAT Mains will be announced by NID at a later stage. 

For the final merit list, NID will use the scores obtained in DAT Mains. 

NID DAT 2027 Test Centres

The DAT Prelims will be conducted in the following cities across India: Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Chennai, Dehradun, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Jorhat, Kochi, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, New Delhi and Patna.

NID B.Des Programmes and Participating Campuses

The four-year Bachelor of Design (B.Des.) programme is offered across NID campuses in Ahmedabad, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh, with the disciplines and intake varying by campus. Students should check the respective NID websites for the latest programme and seat information.

NID has also introduced a 5.5-year Integrated M.Des. Pathway at its Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar and Bengaluru campuses. This pathway allows students to pursue an integrated design education beginning after Class 12.

How to Apply for NID DAT 2027

Candidates must apply online through the official NID admissions website.

The application process involves:

1. Sign up/Register: Create an account using a valid email address and mobile number.
2. Fill the application form: Enter personal, academic and other required information.
3. Upload documents: Upload the required photograph, signature and category/other documents, where applicable.
4. Pay the application fee: Complete the payment through the available online payment modes.
5. Print/save the application form: The application is considered complete only after successful payment and generation of the application form.

NID DAT 2027 Application Fees

For the 2027–28 admission cycle, the application fees are:

What Happens After DAT Mains?

Clearing DAT Mains does not by itself complete the admission process.

After the DAT Mains results are declared, eligible candidates seeking admission to NID must submit a separate online application for admission within the prescribed timeline. This application is mandatory for participating in the seat allotment process.

Candidates who fail to submit this application within the specified deadline will not be eligible for seat allotment and admission across the NIDs. The subsequent process includes admission counselling, payment of fees and physical verification of documents.

Conclusion

The NID Design Aptitude Test is designed to identify students who can observe, interpret, visualise and respond creatively to problems. For students aspiring to study design at NID, preparation should therefore go beyond conventional exam practice.

For the 2027–28 cycle, students should particularly note the 30 November 2026 application deadline, the 20 December 2026 DAT Prelims, and the fact that Prelims is used only for shortlisting. Candidates who progress to DAT Mains will be assessed through the Studio Sensitivity Test and In-Person Sensitivity Test, with final merit based on their Mains performance.

The best preparation is a combination of understanding the examination, practising design-oriented thinking and staying updated with official NID announcements.