Master of Design or M.Des is a two years post graduate course which deals with numerous areas like fashion design, product design, graphic design, interior design and UI/UX design. It also provides creative, technical and management skills that are required in innovative design and industry preparation. The Master of Design program usually requires that applicants have an undergraduate degree in design and other related fields with a minimum aggregate of 50-60% from a reputed university.
The candidates usually have to pass an entrance exam like CEED or university specific exams, and then there is a review of the portfolio and an interview. The application involves online registration, submission of documents and counselling. The eligibility criteria and selection procedure is mostly detailed depending on the institution, but it emphasizes more on the creative ability as well as academic qualifications. The formal entry will guarantee that students are professionally prepared in the field of specialized design careers.
Master of Design Eligibility Criteria
An applicant needs to fulfill the following criteria to be able to get admission in Master of Design program:
- A qualification equivalent to a recognized Bachelor degree of any discipline from a recognized university or university granted by UGC is mandatory.
- Generally, an aggregate of 50% marks is required and relaxation is given to the reserved categories. ( 45% in the case of SC/ST/OBC/PwD applicants)
- A creative portfolio comprising design and creative work needs to be prepared and presented by prospective applicants of M.Des.
- One is expected to be good at English (no official examination is required), and a working experience is advantageous.
Master of Design Entrance Exams
Master of Design Entrance Exams are highly competitive, check the table below for details:
Master of Design Admission Process 2025
The admission process for Master of Design at National Institute of Design (NID)
Ahmedabad, Bengaluru is listed below:
Step 1: Register online on the official NID admissions portal (admissions.nid.edu) and submit personal and educational details, choose up to two specialization preferences, and pay the application fee.
Step 2: Attend the DAT Prelims (paper-based) and wait for the results and shortlists when declared.
Step 3: If shortlisted attend Mains at designated NID campuses which consists of studio-based design tasks and portfolio review and interview (especially for M.Des candidates) .
Step 4: Combined marks from Prelims and Mains determine final merit rank. After the provisional offer letters are released candidates can confirm participation in counselling rounds .
Step 5: The shortlisted applicants choose campus and subjects preferences online. The allocation process is based on rank, preferences, and seat availability, followed by payment of a non-refundable token fee.
Step 6: Successful candidates pay the first semester tuition fee and upload required documents for verification to confirm admission.
FAQs
Can non-design candidates get admission in the Master of Design?
Yes, the majority of institutes do not have any preference regarding the course earlier taken by the graduate, provided he/she meets minimum marks requirements and clears the necessary design entrance exams or interviews.
Does Master of Design admission have a completely online application process?
Absolutely yes, the majority of leading institutes and universities carry out the application process, document verification, and fee payment through the internet for Master of Design admission.
How marks are added for the interview round during Master of Design admission?
In several leading design schools, portfolio and interview can add 20-40% to the overall mark. Others use entrance test cut off scores to shortlist prior to the portfolio or interview stage.
Is there an opportunity to apply to Master of Design admission when one is in the final year of a bachelor degree?
Yes, as long as the graduates provide the required documentation of passing qualifying examinations, and clearing backlogs on time as prescribed by institutes they can apply.
Do Master of Design accept International students or NRI for admission?
Yes, in the top institutes, there are supernumerary seats available to NRIs / foreigners. The international degrees follow with a demand of AIU equivalency certificates and might lead to higher fees.
Is there scholarship and financial aid for Master of Design admission?
Most institutions provide scholarships based on merit, financial need, reserved category and national fellowships on M.Des students. The information is generally provided in the admission brochure.
Does Master of Design have a reservation policy on seats for admission?
Yes, universities are guided by the instructions of a central government with regard to the reserved seats of SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PwD categories usually also given to women candidates.
