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Fee Structure of Leading Design Colleges in India

Dec 18, 2025
3 min read


A Comprehensive Guide to Courses, Campuses & Entrance Process


Choosing a design college in India involves more than creative inclination—it requires clarity on fees, courses offered, campus location, and the entrance process. Below is a consolidated overview of some of India’s most sought-after design institutions, helping aspirants plan their education journey strategically.



1. National Institute of Design (NID)

Location:Campuses across Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Bengaluru, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Assam & Madhya Pradesh.

Courses Offered:

  • BDes (Bachelor of Design)

  • MDes (Master of Design)Specialisations include Industrial Design, Communication Design, Textile & Apparel Design, Animation Film Design, and more.

Fee Structure:Approx. ₹5.5 lakh per year (including hostel)

Entrance Process:

  • NID DAT (Design Aptitude Test)

    • DAT Prelims

    • DAT Mains (Studio Test + Interview)

Profile:India’s premier government design institute, known for academic rigour, research focus, and strong industry recognition.



2. National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT)

Location:Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Gandhinagar, Kolkata, and other major cities.

Courses Offered:

  • BDes (Fashion Design, Accessory Design, Textile Design, Knitwear Design)

  • BFTech

  • MDes, MFTech, MFM

Fee Structure:Approx. ₹3.5 lakh per year(NRI quota approx. ₹10.5 lakh/year)

Entrance Process:

  • NIFT Entrance Examination

    • CAT (Creative Ability Test)

    • GAT (General Ability Test)

    • Situation Test / Interview

Profile:Best suited for fashion, textile, and management-oriented design careers.



3. Indian Institute of Art & Design (IIAD)

Location:New Delhi (Delhi NCR)

Courses Offered:

  • BDes (Fashion Design, Interior Architecture & Design, Communication Design)

  • MDes

Fee Structure:Approx. ₹5.8 lakh per year (Gurgaon campus)

Entrance Process:

  • IIAD Design Aptitude Test (iDAT)

  • Studio Interaction & Interview

Profile:Known for global academic collaborations and studio-based learning.



4. Unitedworld Institute of Design (UID)

Location:Gandhinagar & Ahmedabad, Gujarat

Courses Offered:

  • BDes (Product, Interior, Fashion, Communication, Animation)

  • MDes

  • Global Design Programs

Fee Structure:Approx. ₹6.5 lakh per year(Global programs approx. ₹10.5 lakh/year)

Entrance Process:

  • UID DAT

  • Portfolio Review & Interview

Profile:Offers strong exposure to international design practices and interdisciplinary learning.



5. ISDI – Atlas SkillTech University

Location:Mumbai

Courses Offered:

  • BDes (Fashion Design, Communication Design, Product Design, Interior Design)

Fee Structure:Approx. ₹7.05 lakh per year

Entrance Process:

  • ISDI Challenge

  • Portfolio Review & Personal Interview

Profile:Industry-linked curriculum with strong emphasis on fashion and communication design.



6. Pearl Academy

Location:Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur, Bengaluru, Chennai

Courses Offered:

  • BDes (Fashion, Communication, Interior, Product)

  • MDes

  • Diploma & Professional Programs

Fee Structure:Approx. ₹4.5 – ₹7.5 lakh per year(varies by course and campus)

Entrance Process:

  • Pearl Academy Entrance Test

  • Portfolio Review & Interview

Profile:A popular private design institute with wide course offerings and multiple campuses.



7. UPES – School of Design

Location:Dehradun, Uttarakhand

Courses Offered:

  • BDes (Transportation, Product, UX/UI, Animation, Fashion)

  • MDes

Fee Structure:Approx. ₹5.6 lakh per year(hostel charges separate)

Entrance Process:

  • UPES Design Aptitude Test (UPESDAT)

  • Portfolio & Interview

Profile:Known for niche specialisations like transportation and UX design.



8. FLAME University

Location:Pune, Maharashtra

Courses Offered:

  • BDes under Liberal Arts framework

  • Interdisciplinary design majors

Fee Structure:Approx. ₹8.75 lakh per year(hostel not included)

Entrance Process:

  • FLAME Entrance Aptitude Test

  • Essay, Interview & Portfolio

Profile:Ideal for students seeking a blend of design, humanities, and liberal education.



9. The Design Village (TDV)

Location:Noida, Uttar Pradesh

Courses Offered:

  • BDes

  • MDes

  • Trans-disciplinary design programs

Fee Structure:Approx. ₹6 lakh per year

Entrance Process:

  • TDV Entrance Test

  • Studio Exercise & Interview

Profile:Known for experimental pedagogy and non-traditional design thinking.



10. BITS Design School (BITS DES)

Location:Mumbai

Courses Offered:

  • BDes (Technology-driven design disciplines)

Fee Structure:Approx. ₹11 lakh per year(includes hostel)

Entrance Process:

  • Design Aptitude Assessment

  • Interview

Profile:Backed by BITS Pilani legacy, focusing on design + technology integration.


  • IIAD
  • IIAD
  • IIAD
  • IIAD
  • NIFT
  • NIFT
  • NIFT
  • NIFT
  • NIFT
  • FLAME
  • FLAME
  • FLAME
  • FLAME
  • FLAME
  • FLAME
  • TDV
  • TDV
  • TSDV
  • TDV
  • NIFT
  • NIFT
  • ISDI
  • ISDI
  • ISDI
  • ISDI
  • BITS
  • BITS
  • BITS



Design education is a long-term investment—financially, creatively, and professionally. While fees vary significantly across institutions, students should evaluate colleges based on curriculum quality, faculty, exposure, campus culture, and career outcomes, not just cost.

For personalised guidance, portfolio preparation, and entrance exam planning, structured mentoring makes all the difference.



College

Campus Location

Courses Offered

Approx. Fees (Per Year)

Hostel

Entrance Process

NID

Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Bengaluru, AP, Haryana, Assam

BDes, MDes

₹5.5 Lakh

Included

NID DAT (Prelims + Mains)

NIFT (National Institute of Fashion Technology)

Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata & more

BDes, BFTech, MDes, MFM

₹3.5 Lakh (₹10.5 Lakh NRI)

Separate

CAT + GAT + Situation Test

IIAD

New Delhi (Delhi NCR)

BDes, MDes

₹5.8 Lakh

Separate

iDAT + Interview

UID

Gandhinagar, Ahmedabad

BDes, MDes, Global Programs

₹6.5 Lakh (₹10.5 Lakh Global)

Separate

UID DAT + Interview

ISDI (ATLAS University)

Mumbai

BDes

₹7.05 Lakh

Separate

ISDI Challenge + Interview

Pearl Academy

Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur, Bengaluru

BDes, MDes

₹4.5 – ₹7.5 Lakh

Separate

Pearl Test + Interview

UPES School of Design

Dehradun

BDes, MDes

₹5.6 Lakh

Separate

UPESDAT + Interview

FLAME University

Pune

BDes (Liberal Arts)

₹8.75 Lakh

Separate

Aptitude Test + Essay + Interview

The Design Village (TDV)

Noida

BDes, MDes

₹6 Lakh

Separate

TDV Test + Studio Round

BITS Design School

Mumbai

BDes

₹11 Lakh

Included

Design Assessment + Interview


 
 
 

7 Comments


Ephraim Reeves
Jul 25

Just comparing fees is not enough; the real difference becomes clear when curriculum, portfolio support, and industry exposure are also considered together. I also liked that the article explained the entrance process along with the fee structure, because many students miss their planning starting from there. By the way, for those creating an admission preparation timeline, a simple countdown like 48 days from today can be very useful so that portfolio, aptitude tests, and documents are all ready on time. In the field of design, talent is important, but proper planning takes that talent to the right place.

Like

Brecken Wise
Jul 25

One thing this comparison highlights well is that choosing a design college is about much more than comparing annual fees. The entrance process, industry exposure, faculty, and the learning environment often have a bigger impact on a student's future than the price tag alone. I’ve seen many students focus on the cheapest option first, only to realize later that the right guidance and opportunities matter far more. Even simple planning tools like https://aliciacalcular.com/ can help students organize their preparation timeline and stay consistent while getting ready for entrance exams. A thoughtful decision today usually leads to much better career opportunities tomorrow.

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NID NIFT & International Design Colleges

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New Delhi - 110016

Admissions: (Offline)
+91- 9971707267

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+91- 7777884884

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