Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design: Colleges & Admission 2025

• Updated on  14 Aug, 2025 by Shivam Kumar

Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design is a three-year bachelor's course for students who are interested in studying the dynamic and constantly developing fashion world. The curriculum in this process focuses on theoretical and practical fashion aspects, including design, textile technology, manufacturing samples, insignia, clothing, and fashion marketing.

 

The eligibility criteria for BA Fashion Design require candidates to have completed their 10+2 (higher secondary education) with at least 50% aggregate marks from a recognized board. In addition to it, the students also have to appear for the entrance exams like NIFT, NID DAT, and UCEED.

 

Government institutions like NIFT and NID charge between INR 1,50,000 – 4,00,000 per year, while private institutions like Pearl Academy and Amity University may charge INR 5,00,000 – 10,00,000 per year.

 

The students, after completing this course, can opt for multiple roles and positions such as Fashion Designer, Fashion Illustrator, Textile Designer, Fashion Merchandiser, and Costume Designer. The average salary for these roles ranges from INR 3-12 LPA, depending on experience and specialisation.

 

Table of Contents

  1. Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design Course Highlights
  2. What is a Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design?
  3. Why Study a Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design?
  4. Who should Pursue Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design?
  5. Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design Eligibility Criteria
  6. Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design Entrance Exams
  7. Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design Colleges in India
  8. Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design Application Process
  9. Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design Syllabus
  10. Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design Job Opportunities in India
  11. Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design vs. Bachelor of Design in Fashion Design
  12. Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design FAQs

 

Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design Course Highlights

Here are the key details of the BA Fashion Design course:

Details

Particulars

Course Name

BA in Fashion Design

Course Level

Undergraduate

Duration

3 Years/ 6 Semesters

Course Type

Full Time/Part Time

Admission Process

Merit-Based/Entrance-Based

Eligibility Criteria

10+2 with an aggregate of 50% marks

Course Fees

INR 1,50,000 – 10,00,000

Subjects

Fashion Illustration, Textile Science, Pattern Making, Draping, Garment Construction, Fashion Marketing, CAD in Fashion, Fashion Merchandising, Portfolio Development

Top Colleges

NIFT, NID, Pearl Academy, Symbiosis Institute of Design, Amity School of Fashion Technology, JD Institute of Fashion Technology

Job Profile

Fashion Designer, Fashion Illustrator, Textile Designer, Fashion Merchandiser, Costume Designer, Fashion Stylist, Product Developer

Top Recruiters

Manish Malhotra, Sabyasachi, Raymond, Zara, H&M, Aditya Birla Fashion, Myntra, Reliance Trends

Average Salary in India

NR 3,00,000 – 12,00,000

 

What is a Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design?

The Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design course offers comprehensive knowledge of textiles, skills in the fashion industry, and expertise in apparel design. The course is a perfect blend of artistic expression while providing hands-on training experience in fashion illustration, clothing construction, pattern making, and fashion marketing. In addition to understanding fashion trends and building professional portfolios, students learn how to design clothing collections.

 

This course prepares the candidates for jobs as fashion designers, stylists, merchandisers, or business owners through practical projects, internships, and fashion shows. This program is ideal for creative individuals, offering opportunities in media, fashion houses, design studios, and retail in India and abroad.

 

Why Study a Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design?

The Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design is a specialized program that assists candidates in transforming their love and passion for fashion into a career.

  • Due to technological advancements and development, the fashion industry provides multiple opportunities to candidates to showcase their creativity and individual expression.
  • The candidates, upon enrolling in this course, gain an extensive understanding of global fashion trends, basic design skills, and textile knowledge.
  • This course instills an entrepreneurial mindset. It gives people access to a variety of career options, such as fashion design, styling, merchandising, and branding.

 

Who should Pursue Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design?

Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Fashion Design is highly appropriate to the students that are interested in creativity, fashion and the whole process of designing clothes and accessories. It suits the individuals who want to integrate artistic qualities with technical expertise and who are concerned with making a difference to the fashion world with creative design and trend-setting. The ideal candidates to take this course are:

  • People who have a creative bent of mind and like drawing, sewing, draping, and trying out textiles.
  • Those who aspire to pursue a career in the field of fashion and wish to learn the history of fashion, merchandising, marketing and how to produce.
  • Individuals who are flexible, and capable of managing both the management capabilities in order to cope with project-based learning and rapid fashion trends.
  • Individuals seeking a profession as a fashion designer, textile designer, fashion illustrator, stylist, or trend forecaster.

 

Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design Eligibility Criteria

The students who want to enrol in the BA Fashion Design course need to fulfil a set of structured eligibility requirements of the institution they want to apply to. The eligibility criteria for the course are as follows:

  • Candidates must have completed higher secondary education (10+2) or an equivalent qualification from a recognized board of education.
  • The minimum required aggregate score is generally 50% in any stream - arts, commerce, or science. Some institutions offer a relaxation of about 5% for reserved categories (SC/ST/OBC/EWS).
  • Admission is primarily merit-based through Class 12 results, though some reputed colleges require scores from entrance exams such as NIFT EE, NID DAT, and UCEED.
  • Candidates must fulfill specific eligibility criteria detailed by the respective colleges or universities, as requirements might slightly vary.
  • For certain reputed institutions, a portfolio review or an interview may be part of the admission process to assess creativity and aptitude.

 

Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design Entrance Exams

Some top universities and institutes conduct entrance exams for admission to the Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design. Below are the important entrance exams for 2025:

Exams

Application Date (Tentative)

Exam Date (Tentative)

Application Fee

NIFT Entrance Exam 2026

Nov 2025

Feb 2026

INR 2000

NID DAT 2026

Oct 2025

Jan 2026

INR 3000

UCEED 2026

Oct 2025

Jan 2026

INR 3,500

Pearl Academy Entrance Exam

May 2026

May-June 2026

INR 1,500

 

Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design Colleges in India

Here are some of the best BA Fashion Design colleges in India, along with their average fees:

Colleges

Course Fees (Average)

National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Delhi

INR 2,50,000/ Year

Pearl Academy, Mumbai

INR 5,00,000/ Year

Symbiosis Institute of Design, Pune

INR 5,00,000/ Year

Amity School of Fashion and Design, Noida

INR 4,50,000/ Year

JD Institute of Fashion Technology, Bangalore

INR 2,00,000/ Year

AKS University, Satna

INR 26,000/ Year

ARKA Jain University, Jharkhand

INR 70,000/ Year

RDKF University, Ranchi

INR 60,000/- Year

Also read about Bachelor of Fashion Design

 

Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design Application Process

To enroll in the BA in Fashion Design course at Pearl Academy, the candidates need to appear for the entrance exams conducted by the institute. Here is the detailed admission process:

 

Step 1: Visit the official website of the Pearl Academy and apply for the Pearl Academy entrance exam.

 

Step 2: The candidates need to appear for the entrance exam and wait for the results.

 

Step 3: The colleges will release the results and merit list of the selected candidates.

 

Step 4: Candidates, if selected, will be called for the counselling process and document verification.

 

Step 5: The candidates need to visit the campus for document verification.

 

Step 6: Once done with the document verification, the candidates need to confirm their admission by completing the payment of the course fee.

 

Documents Required:

  • Recent passport-sized photographs
  • Marksheet and certificate of Class 10 and 12
  • Government-issued photo ID proof
  • Transfer Certificate (if applicable)
  • Migration Certificate (if applicable)
  • Category certificate (if applicable)
  • Application form duly filled and submitted with required fees

 

Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design Syllabus

The syllabus of the Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design may vary depending on the institution. Below is a semester-wise breakdown of courses at ARKA Jain University:

Semester 1

Semester 2

Fabric Study and Garment Manufacturing

Fashion Illustration I

Elements of Design

Surface Ornamentation

Apparel construction I

Apparel construction II

Hindi

Environmental Studies

Semester 3

Semester 4

Fashion Illustration II

Fashion Illustration III

Apparel Construction III

Apparel Construction IV

Design Software Training I

Design Software Training II

Business Communication

IT Skills

Social Entrepreneurship

Gender and Human Rights

Semester 5

Semester 6

Apparel Construction V

Portfolio and Design Collection

Craft Appreciation

Fashion Accessories

Brand and Fashion Management

Styling

Internship

Sustainable Design

 

Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design Job Opportunities in India

Completing a Bachelor of Arts Fashion Design opens doors to various creative career opportunities. The students can also opt for higher education, be it an MA in Fashion Design or MBA Fashion Design Management. Here are some top job profiles along with their estimated salaries:

Job Profiles

Experience

Recruiters

Average Salary

Fashion Designer

0-2 Years

I Love Sarees

INR 1,50,000 – 2,50,000

Textile Designer

0-3 Years

IBA Designers

INR 2,50,000 – 4,00,000

Fashion Illustrator

0-2 Years

Niifd

-

Fashion Stylist

5-10 Years

Ziolite Solutions

INR 3,50,000 – 8,50,000

Fashion Merchandiser

2-4 Years

Alkaz Studio

INR 2,00,000 – 4,00,000

 

Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design vs. Bachelor of Design in Fashion Design

The difference between BA Fashion Design and B.Des Fashion Design is tabulated below:

Aspect

BA Fashion Design

B.Des Fashion Design

Focus

Emphasizes creative aspects of fashion such as apparel design, textile experimentation, and fashion history with integration of marketing and basic technical skills. Generally more theory and broad arts-based education.

A comprehensive and intensive 4-year program focusing deeply on design aesthetics, advanced garment construction, pattern making, textile science, computer-aided design (CAD), and industry exposure. Includes business and marketing.

Eligibility

Completion of 10+2 from any stream with minimum 50% marks; some institutions may require entrance exams or portfolio reviews.

Completion of 10+2 from any stream with typically 50% or more; often requires entrance exam or interview assessing creativity and technical aptitude.

Admission Process

Merit-based or entrance test/interview depending on college; application through college website or office.

Entrance exams, portfolio evaluations, and interviews common along with merit-based criteria; admission via college portals or formal application processes.

Course Fee

approx INR 1 lakh to INR 3 lakh for full course, depending on institution.

approx INR 2 lakh to INR 6 lakh or more for the entire 4 years.

Job Roles

Fashion designer, textile designer, fashion illustrator, stylist, merchandiser, buyer, fashion marketing executive, and communication roles.

Fashion designer, technical designer, pattern maker, CAD specialist, fashion merchandiser, stylist, fashion coordinator, product developer. Typically more specialized roles with technical emphasis.

Average Salary

INR 2 LPA to INR 6 LPA

INR 3 LPA to INR 8 LPA

 

Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design FAQs

Is choosing the Bachelor of Arts Fashion Design course a good option for future opportunities?

Yes, it is a great career option for individuals who are passionate about fashion, creativity, and trends. If the student loves to incorporate creativity in clothing and apparel design, this course is a suitable option. The fashion industry offers diverse job roles with high earning potential.

What is the average entrance exam cut-off for Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design?

These cut-offs differ according to institutions but usually the course in fashion design relating to these highly reputed fashion design entrance exams such as NIFT requires competitive ranks with lead campuses expecting ranks between the top 100. Not all universities offer entrance examinations to BA Fashion Design and prefer to grant admissions based on merit by using Class 12 marks.

Can I gain admission into BA Fashion Design without writing an entrance examination?

Yes, a number of colleges provide direct entry to BA Fashion Design courses on Class 12 academic ranks without an entrance test. These are merit-based institutions, and prospective students should look at the admission requirements of respective colleges.

Will a diploma in fashion design aid in lateral entry into a BA Fashion Design course?

Most of the renowned design schools, such as NIFT, admit diploma-holders via lateral entry in the second or third year of the undergraduate course in fashion design. Nonetheless, this typically entails passing a different entrance or aptitude examination, accompanied by a portfolio assessment and an interview.

Are portfolios required in all fashion design colleges?

Not in all colleges, but, reputed fashion programs do require a creative portfolio to prove design skills and originality. This portfolio can be critical in interviews or entrance exams to determine the potential of applicants.

Does BA Fashion Design include interviews as a typical component of admission?

In most institutes, interviewing plays an important role, where creativity, motivation, communication skills, academic performance, and portfolio are vetted. The size and weight differ among colleges.

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