Design & Architecture Entrance Exams 2027
Design aspirants typically write NIFT, NID DAT and UCEED, while architecture aspirants need NATA or JEE Main Paper 2A. Most design registrations open between September and November, much earlier than other streams, so tracking these dates matters.
Updated
Design & Architecture Exams Compared
| Exam | Exam date | Registration | Questions / Marks | Negative marking | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NID DATNational | 20 Dec 2026 | 10 Sep – 30 Nov 2026 | Objective + subjective sections / 100 (Prelims) | As per NID bulletin | Official |
| NIFTNational | 10 Jan 2027 | 15 Oct – 10 Dec 2026 | GAT ~100 + CAT 2–3 tasks / Varies by programme | No | Official |
| UCEEDNational | 17 Jan 2027 | 1 – 31 Oct 2026 | Part A (NAT, MSQ, MCQ) + Part B (drawing & design aptitude) / 300 | Yes, for some Part A question types | Official |
| NATANational | 3 Apr – 12 Jun 2027 | 1 Mar – 5 Jun 2027 | Drawing tasks + MCQs / 200 | No | Expected |
“Expected” dates are projected from last year's official schedule; “Official” dates come from the conducting body's notice.
How Design & Architecture Admissions Work in 2027
The design calendar for 2027 is front-loaded. UCEED registration closes on 31 October 2026 (6 November with a late fee), NID DAT applications close on 30 November, NID Prelims is on 20 December, NIFT moves up to 10 January 2027 and UCEED is on 17 January. In practice, your whole design application season is October to January — before Class 12 boards begin.
Each exam leads to different institutes and tests different things. NIFT (19 campuses) weights its Creative Ability Test most for B.Des and follows up with a hands-on Situation Test. NID DAT is two-stage, and the studio-based Mains carries most of the weight. UCEED is a single-day test for the IITs' B.Des programmes, where a computer-based Part A decides who gets their drawings marked in Part B.
Architecture is separate. B.Arch admission needs NATA (Council of Architecture, multiple test dates from April to June, best score counts) or JEE Main Paper 2A, which NITs and some central institutes use. Many aspirants take both. Unlike the design exams, NATA expects PCM in Class 12.
Which Design & Architecture Exams Should I Take?
Want B.Des at the top schools
NIFT + NID DAT + UCEED. Seats are few at each, so apply to all three.
Want B.Arch
NATA (book an early date so you have time for a second attempt) + JEE Main Paper 2A.
Commerce or humanities student
NIFT, NID DAT and UCEED are open to every stream. B.Arch needs PCM.
Design & Architecture Exam Calendar & Clashes
Upcoming exam days by month, and the ones that collide with other exams.
Dec 2026
No clashes between these exams on current dates.
Track Design & Architecture Exams
NID DAT 2027
National Institute of Design — Design Aptitude Test
Next up
Registration
10 Sep – 30 Nov 2026
NIFT 2027
National Institute of Fashion Technology Entrance Exam
Next up
Registration
15 Oct – 10 Dec 2026
UCEED 2027
Undergraduate Common Entrance Examination for Design
Next up
Registration (regular fee)
1 – 31 Oct 2026
NATA 2027
National Aptitude Test in Architecture
Next up
Registration
1 Mar – 5 Jun 2027
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which design entrance exams should I apply to?
Most B.Des aspirants apply to NIFT (fashion, textile, communication design), NID DAT (NID campuses) and UCEED (IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Hyderabad, IIT Guwahati and others). Applying to all three maximises your chances since each has limited seats.
Do I need to know drawing for design entrance exams?
Drawing helps, but these exams test observation, visualisation, creativity and problem-solving more than fine-art skill. Regular sketching practice — perspective, proportion, quick ideation — is enough for most aspirants.
Is NATA mandatory for B.Arch?
For B.Arch admission you need a valid NATA score or a JEE Main Paper 2A (B.Arch) score, depending on the college. NITs and some centrally-funded institutes use JEE Main Paper 2A, while most other colleges use NATA.