UCEED 2026 Admission Guide: Seats, Fees & Participating Institutes

As of December 2025, the UCEED 2026 admission process for Bachelor of Design (BDes) programmes is underway for the 2026–27 academic year, with results and counselling scheduled after the January 18, 2026 exam. This article covers the detailed seat matrix, fee structure expectations, and institute options available to qualified candidates. The Undergraduate Common Entrance Examination for Design (UCEED) 2026 is the national entrance test that determines eligibility and ranking for design admissions primarily at institutes of national importance in India. Understanding seat distribution and costs is critical for aspirants planning their admission strategy.

UCEED 2026 Joint Seat Allotment and Counselling Process

After the UCEED 2026 Results, qualified candidates must participate in a structured seat allotment process conducted by IIT Bombay as part of the joint seat allocation for BDes programmes at participating institutes. The key steps in the UCEED 2026 counselling process are:

1. Registration for Counselling: Eligible candidates register online on the official counselling portal using UCEED credentials.
2. Choice Filling: Candidates fill institute preferences in order of priority. Choice filling can be modified until the closing of the window.
3. Seat Allotment Rounds: Seats are allocated based on All India Rank (AIR), reservation category, and institute preferences. Five rounds are scheduled, with supplementary spot rounds if vacancies remain.
4. Seat Acceptance & Fee: Upon allotment, candidates must pay the seat acceptance fee to confirm the seat.
5. Document Verification & Reporting: Candidates must complete document verification and reporting formalities at the allotted institute.

During counselling, aspirants can choose from options like Freeze (accept the seat and exit future rounds), Float (accept and remain eligible for upgrades), or Withdraw (reject and exit).

Category-wise Seat Matrix for UCEED 2026 BDes Programmes

The seat matrix indicates how many seats are available in each category and at each participating institute. This helps aspirants estimate their chances based on past trends. Below is the expected seat matrix for the UCEED 2026 admission cycle for institutes participating in the joint IIT counselling:

This matrix represents the approximate totals for BDes seats at core institutes participating in the main seat allocation. Actual numbers for 2026-27 may be updated closer to counselling dates.

UCEED 2026 Participating Institutes Through IIT Joint Admission

The following institutes participate in the joint seat allocation process for BDes programmes based on UCEED 2026 merit ranks:

• IIT Bombay — Industrial Design Centre
• IIT Delhi — Department of Design
• IIT Guwahati — Department of Design
• IIT Hyderabad — School of Design
• IIT Indore — School of Design
• IIT Roorkee — Department of Design
• IIITDM Jabalpur — School of Design

These institutions offer BDes degrees with a strong focus on design fundamentals, research exposure, and industry linkage.

Additional Institutes Accepting UCEED 2026 Scores (Non-Joint Admission)

Beyond the core institutes, several universities have begun to accept UCEED 2026 marks for admission to design programmes, though they conduct separate applications and may not be part of the IIT Joint Admission Process. These options expand the landscape for candidates seeking design education:

• Institute of Design, Nirma University, Ahmedabad (independent admissions via UCEED score)
• Bennett University – School of Design, Greater Noida (separate admissions)
• Unitedworld Institute of Design, Gandhinagar, Gujarat (accepts UCEED scores)
• Sister Nivedita University, Kolkata (design admissions through UCEED)
• Parul University, Vadodara, Gujarat (design admissions based on UCEED)
• Footwear Design & Development Institute (FDDI), Noida (offers UCEED-based seats, outside IIT counselling)
• CEPT University, Ahmedabad (accepts UCEED marks for design admissions)
• Department of Design, Shiv Nadar IoE, Delhi NCR and Ratan Tata Maharashtra State Skills University are also on board with UCEED 2026 admissions outside the joint process.

Expected Fees for UCEED 2026 BDes Programmes

Official fee structures for UCEED 2026 programmes have not yet been fully published, but based on recent trends and verified institute data:

• IITs/IIITDM Jabalpur: Typical annual fees for BDes range broadly depending on institute norms, hostel, and other charges (details to be announced officially).
• Non-Joint Admission Institutes: Private and university-run design programmes may have higher fees; for example, some private institutes charge several lakhs per year for their full design curriculum. (specific figures are not officially published for 2026 yet).

Prospective candidates are advised to check individual institute websites for exact fee structures for 2026-27 once released.

Seat Acceptance Fee During UCEED Counselling

In the UCEED 2026 Seat Allotment process, candidates must pay a seat acceptance fee to confirm the allocated seat:

• INR 60,000 for General / EWS / OBC-NCL categories
• INR 15,000 for SC / ST / PwD categories

Failure to pay within the stipulated period results in forfeiture of the allotted seat.

UCEED 2026 Reservation and Category Considerations

Seats in the joint counselling process are distributed as per reservation policies, with horizontal reservation for PwD candidates and vertical reservations for categories like EWS, OBC-NCL, SC, and ST. Candidates must ensure correct category documentation during counselling to avoid disqualification or seat cancellation.

Also Check: UCEED 2026 Syllabus: Detailed Section-Wise Overview & Focus Areas

Wrapping Up

In summary, the UCEED 2026 admission process involves merit-based seat allocation across IITs and IIITDM Jabalpur, with additional design institutes offering seats independently. Understanding the seat matrix, fee commitments, counselling steps, and institute options helps aspirants make informed decisions as the admissions progress after the competitive UCEED exam.