IIT Guwahati Admission Process 2026: Eligibility, Exam Pattern, and Selection Process

Published by Shikha Kumari on Jan 22, 2025

The dream of IIT is not exclusive for engineers, but for thousands of aspiring designers as well and institutes like IIT Guwahati have made it possible. Although engineering is the cornerstone of most IITs, including IIT Guwahati, the institute has expanded its horizons beyond the technical domain. Since its establishment, IIT Guwahati’s Department of Design (DoD) has made significant strides, establishing itself as a leader in the design field. Offering B.Des, M.Des, and PhD programs, IIT Guwahati is steadily building a strong reputation for innovation and excellence in design education. Having the IIRF design rank of 5. The gateway of this institution is through multiple channels for their respective streams such as UCEED for B.Des, CEED for M.Des and GATE or CEED for PhD. This article will dive more into the depths of the Department of Design, IITG.

IIT Guwahati Design Eligibility Criteria 

Candidates who want to follow through with their dreams must know about the minimum requirements to get an admission in the DoD,IIT Guwahati. Given below is the IIT Guwahati eligibility criteria for the same :

Exams for IIT Guwahati

UCEED and CEED are the two gateways to get an admission in to the DoD, IIT Guwahati and given below is the details of these exams: 

UCEED (Undergraduate Common Entrance Examination for Design):

• For admission to B.Des programs.
• Open to students from Science, Commerce, and Arts streams.
• Focuses on testing numerical ability, design aptitude, multiple-choice questions, and drawing skills.

CEED (Common Entrance Examination for Design):

• For admission to M.Des and PhD programs.
• Tests candidates’ design and analytical skills through two parts:
  • Part A: Numerical aptitude, multiple-choice, and multiple-select questions.
  • Part B: Drawing-based question to assess creativity and sketching.

UCEED vs CEED Exam Pattern

Given below is the tabular view of the exam pattern to help students better understand the structure, key features, and differences between these two important exams. Here’s a clear and concise comparison of the UCEED and CEED exam patterns:

UCEED VS CEED Exam Pattern

IIT Guwahati Design Selection Process

IIT Guwahati’s, Department of Design(DoD) selection process for various courses are listed below in detail:

B.Des Selection Process:

• Seat Allotment: Based on UCEED rank, preferences, and availability of seats.
• Acceptance: Pay INR 60,000 to accept the seat; candidates can freeze or float for seat upgradation.
• Withdrawal:
  • Before 3rd round: INR 30,000 refund.
  • After 2nd round: No refund.
• Extra Rounds: If vacancies arise, extra rounds for seat upgradation.
• Final Admission: After the third round, report to the allotted institute and pay the remaining fees. No branch change allowed.

M.Des Selection Process:

• Eligibility: Must have qualified CEED.
• Selection Process: Three-tier process:
  • CEED score
  • Design Aptitude Test
  • Interview & Portfolio
• Details: Further instructions available on IIT Guwahati’s official website.

Ph.D. Selection Process:

• Application: Apply through biannual announcements; informal discussions with faculty encouraged.
• Selection Process:
  • Seminar on a design topic
  • Portfolio evaluation
  • Formal interview/test
• Course Structure: 4-6 courses in the first year, followed by a comprehensive exam.
• Duration: 3-5 years.

Through rigorous entrance exams like UCEED and CEED, IIT Guwahati identifies individuals with exceptional design aptitude and creativity. By excelling in these exams and navigating the comprehensive selection processes, aspiring designers can secure a place at one of India’s top institutes, gaining the foundation for a successful and fulfilling career in design.

UCEED Schedule 2026

UCEED notification for 2026 exam was released on 1 October 2025, the exam is scheduled to be conducted on 18 January 2026.

CEED Schedule 2026

CEED 2026 registration started on August 25, 2025, and the last date to register was October 6, 2025, with a correction window from October 7 to 10, 2025. The admit card releases on January 2, 2026, and the exam takes place on January 18, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon. Results announce on March 6, 2026, with scorecards available from March 10 to July 31, 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. Who is eligible for BDes in IIT Guwahati?
A. Candidates who have passed or are appearing for Class 12 (10+2) from any stream and have qualified UCEED are eligible for the B.Des program at IIT Guwahati. Applicants must also meet the age criteria prescribed for the exam, with category-wise relaxations.

Q2. What rank is required for IIT Guwahati in UCEED?
A. For the General category, a UCEED rank within approximately 50–70 is usually required for IIT Guwahati. Reserved category closing ranks are comparatively lower and vary each year based on seats and competition.

Q3. What is the cut-off for IIT Guwahati 2026?
A. The IIT Guwahati B.Des cut-off for 2026 is expected to be in a similar range to previous years. For General category candidates, this typically corresponds to a top 60–70 UCEED rank, though the exact cut-off depends on exam difficulty, number of applicants, and seat availability.

Q4. How to apply for IIT design?
A. To apply for IIT design programs, candidates must appear for UCEED, qualify it, and then register for the centralized counselling process. During counselling, candidates fill in IIT preferences, and seats are allotted based on rank and category.

Q5. Who is eligible for UCEED 2026?
A. For UCEED 2026, candidates must have passed Class 12 in 2024 or later or be appearing in 2026. Applicants should be under 25 years of age as of October 1, 2026, with a 5-year relaxation for SC, ST, and PwD candidates. UCEED can be attempted only once in a lifetime.