IIT Hyderabad Admission 2026: Eligibility, Exam Pattern, and Selection Process
Published by Shikha Kumari on Jan 22, 2025
The Department of Design at IIT Hyderabad offers Bachelor of Design (B.Des) in three core areas: Product Design, Visual Communication, and Interaction Design. The department has a strong placement record, with 55.56% of B.Des students placed. This makes IIT Hyderabad one of the most sought-after institutions for a Bachelor of Design. This blog will address all the doubts candidates may have regarding the selection process for design courses at IIT Hyderabad.
IIT Hyderabad BDes Fees
A Bachelor of Design can be one of the best courses in terms of return on investment, requiring a four-year commitment with an investment of INR 10.83 lakh, while offering an average package of INR 14.40 LPA. Refer to the table below for more details:
| Fee components | Total Amount |
| Tuition Fees | INR 8.00 Lakh |
| Hostel Fees | INR 2.66 Lakh |
| One-time Payment | INR 17,000 |
| Total fee | INR 10.83 Lakh |
IIT Hyderabad UCEED Fee Structure
UCEED is the pathway to pursuing a Bachelor of Design at IIT Hyderabad. The UCEED registration started on October 1 and ended on November 8, with a late fee of INR 500. Likewise, different categories of people have different fees criteria ranging from INR 2000 to INR 4000.
| Category | Fee |
| Indian Nationals | – |
| Female Candidates (all categories) | INR 2000 |
| SC, ST, PwD Candidates | INR 2000 |
| All Other Candidates | INR 4000 |
| Foreign Nationals (holders of OCI/PIO cards issued BEFORE 4th March 2021) | – |
| Female Candidates and PwD Candidates | INR 2000 |
| All Other Candidates | INR 4000 |
IIT Hyderabad UCEED Eligibility
To be eligible for UCEED 2026, candidates can attempt the exam a maximum of two times in consecutive years. This means a candidate who appeared for UCEED 2025 is eligible to appear again in 2026, but those who have already used two attempts are not eligible. Candidates must have passed the qualifying examination (Class 12 or equivalent) in 2024 or later, or be appearing for it in 2026. In terms of age, candidates should be under 25 years as of October 1, 2026. A relaxation of 5 years is provided for SC, ST, and PwD candidates, as per the official eligibility norms.
How to prepare for Exam Pattern
The Hyderabad IIT, UCEED exam is divided into two parts: the first part is objective-based, and the second part assesses design skills. Both parts are to be attempted in three hours on a single day. The detailed pattern is provided below:
| Part | Total Marks | Maximum Time | Details |
| Part-A | 200 | 2 hours | Administered through a computer-based test. Consists of three sections: NAT, MSQ, and MCQ. |
| Part-B | 100 | 1 hour | Consists of two drawing skill and design aptitude questions. Requires subjective evaluation. Answers must be written/drawn in the provided answer book. Mandatory to attempt both questions. |
Part A is divided into NAT (Numerical Answer Type), MSQ (Multiple Select Questions), and MCQ (Multiple Choice Questions), two of which have negative marking. The section consists of 57 questions worth a total of 200 marks, and candidates must complete it in two hours. Detailed information is provided below:
| Section | Type of Questions | Number of Questions | Marks for Correct Answer | Marks for Wrong Answer | Marks for Not Attempted | Total Marks for Section |
| 1 | Numerical Answer Type (NAT) | 14 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 56 |
| 2 | Multiple Select Question (MSQ) | 15 | Partial Marking | -1 | 0 | 60 |
| 3 | Multiple Choice Question (MCQ) | 28 | 3 | -0.71 | 0 | 84 |
| Total | 57 | 200 |
Part B is concerned with the candidate’s design skills and visualization, to be attempted in 1 hour. It consists of two specific questions: sketching and design aptitude (added in 2025). The total marks for this section are 100:
| Type of Question | Number of Questions | Total Marks |
| Sketching | 1 | 50 |
| Design Aptitude | 1 | 50 |
| Total | 2 | 100 |
BDes Selection Process
All shortlisted candidates will get a common merit rank (All India Rank). Candidates shortlisted are considered as qualified in UCEED. But merely obtaining a rank in UCEED does NOT guarantee admission to the BDes programme.
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.
| Admit card release | 2 January 2026 |
| Admit card correction window | 2 – 8 January 2026 |
| Exam date | 18 January 2026 (Sunday, 9 AM – 12 Noon) |
| Draft answer key release | 20 January 2026 |
| Final answer key release | 28 January 2026 |
| Results announcement | 6 March 2026 |
| Score card download window | 10 March – 31 July 2026 |
| B.Des application for participating institutes opens | 14 March 2026 |
| B.Des application closes | 10 April 2026 |
IIT Hyderabad Placements
Placements at IITH are one of the best in comparison to all other colleges. The placement percentage is more than 50%. The college has a strong PPO culture and most students are offered PPOs after internship. The detailed information about average package is reflected in the table below.
| Aspect | Details |
| Average Package (Estimated) | INR 10–12 LPA |
| Highest Package | INR 14.4 LPA |
| Top Recruiters | Tech companies (UX/UI roles), product-based firms, design studios |
| Common Roles Offered | UX/UI Designer, Product Designer, Interaction Designer |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Does IIT Hyderabad offer BDes?
A. Yes, IIT Hyderabad offers a Bachelor of Design (B.Des) program through its Department of Design. The course focuses on user-centered design, product innovation, and emerging technologies.
Q2. How to apply for BDes in IIT?
A. To apply for BDes in any IIT, including IIT Hyderabad, candidates must appear for and qualify UCEED. After results are declared, students must register for centralized counselling, fill in IIT preferences, and seats are allotted based on rank, category, and availability.
Q3. What is the fees for BDes in IIT Hyderabad?
A. The BDes fee at IIT Hyderabad is approximately INR 2–2.5 lakh per year, including tuition fees. Additional costs like hostel, mess, and personal expenses are charged separately and may vary annually.
Q4. How many seats are there for BDes in IITH?
A. IIT Hyderabad offers around 20–25 seats for its BDes program across all categories, making the program highly competitive.
Q5. What are the UCEED cut-off ranks for IITH?
A. For the General category, the UCEED closing rank for IIT Hyderabad typically falls between 70–100. Reserved category cut-offs are comparatively lower and may change each year depending on competition and seat intake.
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