If you’ve been sketching your future in the margins of notebooks, it’s time to make it official. The clock is relentlessly counting down on the application window for the National Institute of Design (NID) Design Aptitude Test (DAT) 2026. This national-level entrance exam is the golden ticket to NID’s elite B.Des. and M.Des. programs,and frankly, if you want to be a design rockstar, this is where you start.

Who should pursue it?

The NID DAT is a calling those who have the vision and the drive:

• ​B.Des. (Undergraduate): You must have passed or be appearing in your 10+2 exams. No excuses.

• ​M.Des. (Postgraduate): You need a Bachelor's degree or an equivalent professional diploma. 

The Challenge: Prelims & Mains

Now this is where things get real: before you can morph your hopes and aspirations into your career, you’ll need to ace the two-round showdown:

• ​DAT Prelims: A rigorous written test to see if your brain is as sharp as your pencil. This is where you prove your aptitude.

• ​DAT Mains: If you pass Prelims, prepare for the Studio Test and the Interview. This is where your actual creative fire is tested. ​

It is Time to Take Action

Stop procrastinating! The final date to register is nearly here, and you do not want to be the one who missed out because of a slow internet connection.

​Final Deadline: Monday, December 1, 2025 (11:59 PM). That's it. No extensions.

​The Big Day: Mark your calendars. The DAT Prelims is scheduled for Sunday, December 21, 2025.

​Where to Submit: Head straight to the official portal: admissions.nid.edu

Stop waiting. Start creating. Your dream campus is waiting for your application. All the Best!