NID DAT Vs NIFT: Which is Better?
Thinking whether you to opt for NID DAT vs NIFT or which is better? This guide breaks down the most basic differences that lie between these two entrance exams including focus areas, offered courses, exam duration, and eligibility criteria. Keep reading to know more!
Most students wonder which exam would suit them better between NID DAT vs NIFT. For Indian design aspirants, the NID DAT and NIFT entrance exams hold very high value. The NIFT exam is conducted by the NTA and leads aspirants to take admission in B.Des, M.Des, B.F.Tech, M.F.Tech, and M.F.M courses. The tentative date for the NIFT 2025 exam is the first week of February 2025, and the application process will probably begin in December 2024. The NID will conduct the NID DAT 2025 exam for the B.Des and M.Des admission processes on January 5, 2025.
Choosing between the NID DAT vs NIFT exams depends completely on your career aspirations. In case you have interests beyond just fashion design, such as architecture or even product design, or maybe even media, NID DAT is probably a better-fit exam to study at NID. But if you are passionate about the fashion industry, the NIFT entrance exam is probably the one you should take to get into NIFT. Ultimately, however, it comes down to how each institution and its entrance exams - NID DAT vs NIFT align with your very individual objectives and specialization in design.
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NID Vs NIFT 2025 Exam Highlights
Here’s a comparison of the key aspects between the NID DAT vs NIFT 2025 exams outlined in the table below.
Exam Name | NID DAT | NIFT |
|---|---|---|
Conducting Body | National Institute of Design | National Institute of Fashion Technology |
Exam Structure | Conducted in TWO stages:
| Also, conducted in TWO stages:
|
Exam Level | National level | National level |
Duration of Exam | 3 hours | 2 hours |
No. of Questions | 26 | 100 |
Number of Questions | 100 | 100 |
Mode of Exam | Pen and paper | Pen and paper |
Courses Offered | B.Des, M.Des, PhD | B.Des, B.F.Tech, M.Des, M.F.Tech, M.F.M |
Participating Colleges |
| There are 18 participating NIFTs |
Courses Offered Between NID DAT vs NIFT 2025
The basic difference between NIFT and NID is the courses. Students who are looking for a course to enrol in can find the course from the list below:
Courses Offered by NIFT
NIFT offers various courses across all the campuses in India and some of the famous NIFT 2025 courses are listed below:
Course Name | Duration |
|---|---|
B Des in Fashion Design | 4 Years |
B Des in Leather Design | 4 Years |
B Des in Accessory Design | 4 Years |
B Des in Textile Design | 4 Years |
B Des in Knitwear Design | 4 Years |
B Des in Fashion Communication | 4 Years |
B F Tech in Apparel Production | 4 Years |
M Des | 2 Years |
MFM | 2 Years |
M F Tech | 2 Years |
Courses Offered by NID DAT
NID campus offers various courses and some of the famous courses are listed below:
| Course Name | Duration |
|---|---|
| B Des in Film and Video Communication | 4 Years |
| B Des in Exhibition Design | 4 Years |
| B Des in Graphic Design | 4 Years |
| B Des in Animation Film Design | 4 Years |
| B Des in Textile Design | 4 Years |
| M Des in Product Design | 2.5 Years |
| M Des in Furniture and Interior Design | 2.5 Years |
| M Des in Toy and Game Design | 2.5 Years |
| M Des in Digital Game Design | 2.5 Years |
| M Des in Apparel Design | 2.5 Years |
Eligibility Criteria for NID vs NIFT
To get admission into the NIFT and NID DAT, candidates are required to fulfil the following eligibility criteria. There is not much difference between NIFT and NID eligibility criteria, however, it is important to know for the students.| Parameter | NIFT | NID DAT |
|---|---|---|
| Age |
|
|
| Educational Qualification |
|
|
| Selection Criteria |
|
|
Admission Process for NID vs NIFT 2025
To apply for B.Des and M.Des programs at institutes that accept NID scores, candidates must take the NID DAT 2025 exam. This exam is divided into two stages:
NID DAT Prelims
NID DAT Mains
The outcome of students for NID DAT Prelims would lead to shortlisting to let the students go further in the NID DAT Mains. The final will be done based on aggregate scores achieved in both stages with a certain weightage assigned to each stage.
Weightage of NID DAT Prelims and Mains:
B.Des: 40 % from Prelims, 60% from Mains
M.Des: 30% from Prelims, 70% from Mains
Candidates' performance in the NID DAT 2025 Prelims will determine their eligibility to move forward to the NID DAT 2025 Mains. The final selection for NID DAT 2025 will be based on the combined scores of both stages, with specific weightage assigned to each stage.
Similarly, those applying for design programs through NIFT must sit for the NIFT 2025 entrance exam, which consists of:
A written exam
A Situation Test (for B.Des applicants) or a Personal Interview (for PG course applicants)
Applicants to the B.F.Tech programs are only required to take the GAT written exam.
Exam Pattern of NID DAT vs NIFT Exams
Check out the difference between the exam patterns of the NID DAT vs NIFT 2025 exams:
NIFT 2025 Exam Pattern
According to the official website, the National Institute of Fashion Technology organises an entrance exam for various courses once a year. The NIFT 2025 exam pattern only has one exam and the following details are mentioned below:
Exam Name | NIFT |
|---|---|
Exam Mode | Online mode |
Language | English & Hindi language |
Sections |
|
Number of Questions |
|
Duration of Exam | 2 hours |
NID DAT 2025 Exam Pattern
According to the official website, the National Institute of Design organise an entrance exam for the students to get admission into various courses. The NID DAT 2025 exam pattern has two parts known as the ‘Prelims’ and the ‘Mains’ exams. The exam pattern and other details are mentioned below in the table:
Exam Name | NID DAT |
|---|---|
Exam Mode | Offline mode (Pen and Pencil) |
Language | English language |
Sections |
|
Number of Questions | 100 Questions |
Duration of Exam | 3 hours |
NID DAT Exam Pattern - Prelims
Find the details of the NID DAT prelims exam below:
Exam Name | Type of Questions | No. of Questions |
|---|---|---|
NID DAT Prelims Part 1 | Objective type questions | 22 |
NID DAT Prelims Part 2 | Subjective type questions | 4 |
NID DAT Exam Pattern - Mains
Find the details of the NID DAT mains exam below:
Exam Name | NID DAT Mains |
|---|---|
Duration of Exam | 3 hours |
Mode of Exam | Offline |
Language | English language |
Type of Questions | Multiple formats (Drawing/ Sketching/ Model Making, etc.) |
Marks of Questions | 100 marks |
Difficulty Level of NID DAT vs NIFT Exams
Many feel that the NID DAT is more stringent compared to the NIFT exam, especially for students in pursuit of securing admission into the B.Des program. This may well be the case since the intake at the NID DAT participating institutes is extremely low. Indeed, the total intake of B.Des seats at NID is only 425 and that of M.Des is 347. The total intake at NIFT campuses has been inducted at a whopping total intake of 5,289.
NID's curriculum is very strongly set to centre around design education and research. Compared with NIFT, NID offers wider programs under the umbrella of design with a greater focus on design thinking, innovation, and problem-solving. In addition to this, it also offers core courses mainly in design fields.
Career Opportunities for NID vs NIFT 2025
NID and NIFT offer different career options in different companies and this is the main difference between NIFT and NID. Students can make a career in the various career options after NIFT or NID.
Career Options and Scope after NIFT
After completing graduation or post-graduation from NIFT, students can opt for various career options in the fashion and design field. The starting salary after NIFT can vary between 5 lakhs and 50 lakhs. However, the salary and career growth depend on the candidate, skills, and company. Here is the list of top recruiting companies and career options available after NIFT.
Top Companies for NIFT Placements
The list of top recruiting companies is mentioned below:
Amore Magazine | Bata India Ltd. |
Decathlon | Blackberrys |
H&M | Go Colors |
P&G Enterprises (P) Ltd. | Incredible Leather |
Chitrakosh | Tailorman |
Job Profiles after NIFT
The job profile after NIFT that a candidate can apply for is mentioned in the list below.
Fashion Consultant | |
Fashion Merchandiser |
Top Companies for NID Placements
The list of top recruiting companies at NID are mentioned below:
Wipro Technologies | Whirlpool of India Ltd. |
VIP Industries Ltd | Adobe |
MindTree | Trident Group |
Bombay Design House | Titan Industries |
Cognizant | Philips |
Job Profiles after NID
The job profile after passing from NID that a candidate can apply for is mentioned in the list below.
Graphic Designer | |
Fashion Designer | |
Multimedia Artist & Animator | - |
Between the NID DAT vs NIFT exams, your choice has to be based on your interest and the objectives in your career. If you are interested in design beyond just a fashion interest, then NID DAT will be the better bet because it has a wide variety of design courses. In case the concentration is strictly on fashion and textiles, then NIFT will be best for you due to its primary attention to those fields.
Both institutes and exams have a good repute and provide a good opportunity in the field of design. For a student, at present, it becomes necessary to understand which one fits better for his career. It is also very important to consider the difference in salary between the graduates from both institutions. In general, NID graduates receive packages ranging from INR 17 lakhs to INR 50 lakhs per annum, and the range in the case of NIFT graduates is between INR 5 lakhs to INR 50 lakhs per annum. Before you make any final decisions, think which of these would better serve your long-term goals within this field of design.
To explore the world of design and find out more options, dial the toll-free number 1800-572-9877 or fill out the Common Application Form. You can also drop your queries in the QnA zone. Stay tuned to CollegeDekho for more updates!
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FAQs
Which is better NID Vs NIFT?
Whether NID Vs NIFT is better depends on a student’s career objectives. Both tests are administered nationally, are often regarded as being of a higher calibre, and receive a large volume of applications for each. There is a significant rush for admissions, nevertheless, because there are regulations on the campuses and only a limited number of aspirants are admitted by both NID and NIFT due to seat limitations.
NID Vs NIFT, do both colleges offer the same degree courses?
Although there are some common degree courses that NID Vs NIFT offers, the colleges are entirely different from each other. A prestigious design school, NID offers BDes and MDes degree programmes. An elite institution for fashion design and management, NIFT offers diploma and degree programmes in BFTech, BDes, MFTech, MDes, and MFM. All of their courses are unique, except for a few, such as textile design. While NIFT courses offer a broader study of any area, NID courses are more detail-oriented.
What is the difference between NID Vs NIFT?
The primary difference between NID Vs NIFT of design and fashion, respectively. India has two renowned design schools: NID and NIFT. The National Institute of Fashion Technology is referred to as NIFT, and the National Institute of Design is known as NID. Whereas NIFT concentrates on fashion technology and management, NID specialises in textile design, communication design, industrial design, and other related fields.
NID Vs NIFT, what should I go for?
Whether a student should go for NID Vs NIFT depends on their professional career prospects. This is because NID and NIFT are both renowned schools that focus on design and fashion, respectively. While NIFT pays special attention to the fashion industry, NID concentrates on a variety of design disciplines. To make the best decision, candidates should take their passions and career objectives into account.
Which is best between NID Vs NIFT?
The best between NID Vs NIFT can be described as — NID instructs students in design and art, aesthetics, and design engineering concepts. It is centred on product development, art, and aesthetics. On the other hand, the fashion industry, including leather, textiles, lifestyle, knitwear, and fashion communication, is the focus of NIFT.