National Institute of Fashion Technology

The NIFT entrance exam 2027 is the gateway to undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in fashion, design and fashion technology at the National Institute of Fashion Technology. For the 2027 cycle the entrance test is reported to be conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for NIFT. It has a General Ability Test (GAT), a Creative Ability Test (CAT) for design programmes, and a Situation Test or interview in the later stage.

This page gives you a working overview of the cycle: programmes, dates, eligibility, the exam stages, selection by Common Merit Rank (CMR), and how to prepare. Dates and fees below come from reports of the NTA schedule and are tentative until you confirm them on the official NTA page. Detailed pages on the syllabus, pattern, eligibility and cut-off are linked from the sections below.

Table of Contents

• NIFT entrance exam 2027

• Programmes you can apply for

• Important dates

• Eligibility in brief

• Application fee

• Exam stages and pattern

• Syllabus summary

• Selection and counselling

• Cut-off and rank reference

• How to prepare

NIFT entrance exam 2027 at a glance

Programmes you can apply for

NIFT offers its programmes across its campuses in India. The programme names used in the official seat allocation guidelines for the 2026 cycle are a reliable guide to what is on offer.

• B.Des: Bachelor of Design in Fashion Design, Textile Design, Leather Design, Knitwear Design, Accessory Design, Fashion Communication and Fashion Interiors.

• B.F.Tech: Bachelor of Fashion Technology in Apparel Production.

• Postgraduate: M.Des, M.F.M (Master of Fashion Management) and M.F.Tech.

• Lateral entry: separate lateral entry routes exist for B.Des and B.F.Tech, with their own rank lists.

Important dates

Tentative dates come from reports of the NTA schedule and can change. Some other pages still show a February 2027 exam, so follow the official NTA page for NIFT and your registered email.

Eligibility in brief

For the bachelor's programmes, candidates are reported to need a pass or an appearance in Class 12 from a recognised board and to be under 24 years of age as on 1 August 2027. The upper age limit was relaxed by 5 years for SC, ST and PwD candidates in the 2026 cycle, and the same relaxation is expected. Postgraduate programmes need a bachelor's degree, and no upper age limit is reported for them. Subject rules differ for B.F.Tech, so read the full details on the eligibility page and confirm them in the 2027 information bulletin.

Application fee

A late fee of Rs. 5,000 is reported for applications made after the regular deadline, and a separate fee applies to NRI and foreign applicants. This is not an official confirmation, so check the fee table in the bulletin before paying.

Exam stages and pattern

Stage 1

The GAT is a computer-based test that covers English, quantitative ability, analytical and logical ability, and general knowledge. The CAT is a pen and paper test of design aptitude and drawing, taken by design (B.Des and M.Des) candidates. B.F.Tech candidates are reported to take the GAT only.

Stage 2

Shortlisted B.Des candidates take the Situation Test, a hands-on task in which you build a model from given materials. Postgraduate candidates face a personal interview or group discussion stage.

Older pages may still show a different format, so follow the official bulletin for the 2027 cycle.

Syllabus summary

Selection and counselling

1. Register and apply for the entrance exam through the NTA portal.

2. Appear for the GAT and CAT on the exam day, as applicable to your programme.

3. Clear the qualifying stage and attend the Situation Test or interview if shortlisted.

4. Receive a Common Merit Rank based on the weighted score of all stages.

5. Register for counselling on nift.admissions.nic.in, fill choices and confirm your seat. The 2026 cycle ran three rounds followed by a SPOT round.

Twenty percent of seats at a state campus are earmarked for candidates whose Class 12 school is in that state, as per the 2026 seat allocation guidelines. Check whether the same rule applies in 2027.

Cut-off and rank reference

NIFT publishes opening and closing ranks (OR-CR) after each counselling round. These are Common Merit Ranks, not raw marks, and they vary by campus, programme and category. The NIFT cut-off page explains how to read them. Treat last year's ranks as a benchmark only.

How to prepare

Start with the pattern, then split your week between the GAT and the CAT. The GAT rewards speed and accuracy in English, maths and reasoning. The CAT rewards drawing practice, colour sense and original thinking. Build a daily sketching habit early, because it cannot be crammed.

• GAT: practise timed sectional sets and keep an error log for wrong answers.

• CAT: practise memory drawing and design development with a time limit, and ask a teacher to review your work.

• Situation Test: practise building small models from paper, cardboard and fabric scraps.

The official sources are the NTA NIFT page and the NIFT admissions portal.