NIFT Chennai Admissions: Eligibility, Exam Pattern, and Important Dates

Published by Shikha Kumari on Jan 24, 2025

Headed by Professor Dr. Anitha Mabel Manohar, Director of NIFT Chennai, NIFT Chennai has ranked 4th among the top fashion colleges for the last 3 years, according to India Today. It offers Bachelor of Design (B.Des) in Fashion Design (FD), Accessory Design (AD), Leather Design (LD), Knitwear Design (KD), Textile Design (TD), and Fashion Communication (FC). The quality of education at NIFT Chennai makes it one of the top institutions sought after for Bachelor of Design in 2025. If you are also confused regarding the admission process, examination, eligibility, fee structure, and seat availability at NIFT Chennai, this blog will be beneficial for you.

NIFT Chennai Admission Process 2025

The NIFT Entrance Exam is conducted in two parts: CAT (Creative Ability Test) and GAT (General Ability Test). These two sections are held on the same day. If the student qualifies for the next round, they will need to appear for a Situation Test to secure admission into NIFT Chennai. You can follow the steps below to complete your registration for the NIFT exam. Make sure you have your documents prepared beforehand in PDF or JPG format. If the candidate is a pass-out, they can use the marksheet. Likewise, If a candidate is still in class twelfth, they can fill up the verified result awaited attestation form.

Step 1: Register using your personal email ID and mobile number. Note down the system-generated application number.

Step 2: Complete the online application form and note the system-generated application number. Upload the following scanned documents:

  • Candidate’s photograph (JPG, size: 10 kb–200 kb)
  • Candidate’s signature (JPG, size: 4 kb–30 kb)
  • Category certificate (SC/ST/OBC/EWS, if applicable) (PDF, size: 50 kb–300 kb)
  • PwD/UDID certificate (if applicable) (PDF, size: 50 kb–300 kb)
  • Verified Result Awaited Attestation Form (PDF, size: 50 kb–500 kb)

Step 3: Pay fee via Net Banking, Debit Card, Credit Card, or UPI, and keep proof of payment for future reference.

NIFT Chennai Admission Eligibility 2025

To be eligible for a Bachelor of Design in NIFT, candidates must fulfill any of the criteria given below. However, for the artisans category, they must also provide additional documents, such as an Artisan Card issued to candidates or their father/mother by the Development Commissioner.

Eligibility Criteria for B.Des
Passed the 10+2 level examination from any recognized Central/State Board of Secondary Examination (e.g., CBSE, State Board, or Council for Indian School Certificate Examination, New Delhi).
A pass grade in the Senior Secondary School Examination conducted by the National Open School with a minimum of five subjects.
3 or 4 years diploma recognized by AICTE or a State Board of Technical Education after the secondary examination/10th standard.
Any Public School/Board/University Examination in India or foreign countries recognized by the Association of Indian Universities as equivalent to the 10+2 system.
GCE Examination (London/Cambridge/Sri Lanka) at the Advanced (A) level or International Baccalaureate (IB).

How to prepare for the NIFT Exam Pattern

The NIFT exam is divided into GAT and CAT. Once the candidate qualifies for both, they proceed with the Situation Test offline. While the weightage of the Situation Test is lower than the other tests, it becomes a crucial factor in the selection of candidates. Likewise, candidates applying under the artisan category must undergo an Artisan Skill Test in addition to the interview. These tests usually assess the candidate’s capabilities in design reasoning and creative fields.

DegreeStagesWeightage
B.Des.General Ability Test (GAT)50%
Creative Ability Test (CAT)30%
Situation Test20%
B.Des. for ArtisanArtisan Skill Test70%
Interview30%

Candidates can prepare for design aptitude prior to two weeks while following the chart and PDF given below. By downloading this toolkit, candidates will be able to assess their potential and identify areas where they can improve.

14 Day Challenge for Design Aptitude PDF
DayFocus AreaDayFocus Area
Day 1Analytical ReasoningDay 83D Visualization
Day 2Logical ReasoningDay 9Creative Problem Solving
Day 3Visual ReasoningDay 10Pattern Making
Day 4Spatial VisualizationDay 11Time Management & Strategy
Day 5Conceptual ThinkingDay 12Data Interpretation
Day 6Color Theory & ApplicationDay 13Mock Test – Design Aptitude
Day 7General Knowledge (Design)Day 14Review & Refinement

NIFT Exam Schedule

The last day for NIFT exam application is February 28th, 2025. Admit cards will be released in March 2025, and all the tests will be held in April 2025. Candidates can start preparing now to understand where the focus of preparation is needed. 

EventsNIFT Exam Dates
Last date for applicationsFebruary 28, 2025
Admit cardMarch 2025 (tentative)
Artisan Skill Test, Personal Interview & Documents Verification at Test CentresApril 2025 (tentative)
Declaration of final resultsMay 2025 (tentative)
Seat AllocationJune 2025 (tentative)

If any discrepancies are found in the answers declared by NIFT, they can be challenged by payment of Rs 200 per question as a non-refundable processing fee.

NIFT Chennai Fee Structure

NIFT changes fees every year. In 2025, the following table can be followed. Likewise, NIFT Chennai Hostel are extra fees added into full time tuition fees. Online registration for hostels usually commences from July. Booking is strictly on a “first come, first serve” basis. Both boys’ and girls’ hostels are properly maintained and looked after, with services like mess facilities, etc.

SemestersNIFT Fees 2024NIFT Fees 2025
Semester 11,83,200Rs. 1,91,700
Semester 21,43,000Rs. 1,50,000
Semester 31,69,800Rs. 1,78,700
Semester 41,50,000Rs. 1,58,000

NIFT Chennai Seat Availability

Candidates can decide their preferences for all of the NIFT campuses based on the seat availability for their desired course. For example, in NIFT Chennai, we have included the current strength of students for your reference in the following table:

UG Bachelor of DesignCurrent Strength (Students)
Fashion Design (FD)165
Accessory Design (AD)109
Leather Design (LD)112
Knitwear Design (KD)113
Textile Design (TD)114
Fashion Communication (FC)114

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