NSD Entrance Exam 2025: Application, Exam Dates, Eligibility, Syllabus & Preparation

Candidates who wish to study a three-year diploma course in Dramatic Arts need to appear for the National School of Drama NSD Entrance Exam 2025. Students who want to seek jobs under the Central Government and recruitment to superior posts should go for the Diploma in Dramatic Arts awarded by the School because it is recognised by the Government of India.

Students who want to get admission to universities and colleges to study the diploma course; equivalent to a master's degree in dramatics arts will be able to get recruitment in universities and colleges as teachers and they can also register themselves for the doctoral and research programs. With the help of the Diploma course in Dramatic Arts students students can get training in various subjects like Acting, Production, Direction, Dramatic Literature, Workshop sessions, Design and theatre technique, and  Appreciation Courses.

Here are the entrance exam dates of the previous year's NSD Exam, students can go through the exam dates to get an idea about the NSD 2025 Exam Date.

• NSD Entrance Exam 2024 Exam Dates
• NSD Entrance Exam Application Form

NSD Entrance Exam 2024 Highlights

Here are the steps to apply for the NSD Entrance Exam 2025:

Step 1: Students need to apply online by visiting the official website of the NSD-National School of Drama. It is mandatory to apply for NSD within the given time frame online or offline. 

Step 2: Once, the NSD Application form is filled out, students need to visit the official site to download the NSD 2025 Admit Card by filling in their login credentials application number and password. Students who want to appear for the NSD Exam 2025 need to carry their Admit Card as a mandatory document on the day of the audition/test and interview.

Step 3: The candidate's screening is conducted in two stages: The first stage is preliminary screening in which the candidates need to take a practical/audition test. The selected candidates go for the further selection process and are selected by the Preliminary Selection Committee. The second stage is the interview round, in this stage the selected candidates need to attend a five-day workshop and then they need to appear for the interview round. The selected candidates will be provided with allowances like bus fare and sleeper class rail fare from their residence to Delhi. The NSD provide a five to six-day accommodation on a sharing basis for the selected candidates. Under any circumstances, students need to vacate the provided guest house or hostel. 

Step 4: Students need to bring their original documents related to their theatre experience, education, age, application form and a minimum of three recommendation letters. For students who belong bring a verified original certificate related to SC/ST/OBC (non-creamy layer Central Government Format), ID Proof like an Aadhaar Card and bank account details on the day of the final workshop/interview. Candidate must submit the reimbursement form of DA/TA online mode through PFMS for reimbursement purposes. 

Step 5: The selected candidates will get an invitation to confirm their allotted seats for admission to the National School of Drama. Students will also go through a medical test before they get admission to the National School of Drama, to understand their medical condition and once they are found fit, both mentally and physically they will be eligible to join the institute. 

Candidates need to fulfil the eligibility criteria before they appear for the NSD Exam 2025. If a candidate is unable to fulfil the eligibility criteria they will not be allowed to appear for the exam or to participate in the further admission process. Therefore, it is better to first go through the eligibility criteria mentioned below and then apply for the National School of Drama Entrance Exam 2025. 

1. The candidate must have completed his/her graduation from a recognised university from abroad or India. 
2. The student must have completed his/her 10+2 from a recognised board. 
3. Students must have attached a document of proof i.e. certificate of participation, leaflet, brochure, and newspaper clip, of at least one theatre production experience.
4. Students must have a command of Hindi and English language. 
5. Students must have a recommendation letter from a theatre expert. 
6. The age limit of the candidate should be between 18 to 60 years. Students who belong to the reserved category get a relaxation of 5 years. 

The selection process is of two stages: Students need to clear the preliminary examination and if the students get selected in the first round then he/she will be invited for the final examination workshop of 5 days at the National School of Drama, in Delhi. Students will be informed through email regarding the invitation/notice related to the date of the preliminary exam. There can be some changes in the examination schedule, guidelines and study material which will be uploaded on the official website of NSD, but all the changes will be uploaded on the official website. 

Candidates need to visit the official website of NSD and then they need to apply online so that they can download the NSD Admit Card 2025. The students will be able to access their NSD 2025 Admit Card a week before the NSD Exam 2025. No students will be allowed to appear for the team without the NSD 2025 Hall Ticket (original document) to the exam centre. 

The list of NSD Exam Centres 2025 is here.

1. Agartala
2. Delhi
3. Pune
4. Bengaluru
5. Jaipur
6. Gangtok
7. Chandigarh
8. Bhopal
9. Bhubaneshwar
10. Kolkata
11. Shrinagar
12. Varanasi
13. Guwahati
14. Chennai
15. Bhopal
16. Patna

The Candidates who made it to the National School of Drama are the ones who are invited to complete a three-month certificate course (part-time for non-residential) in Dramatics. The list of the areas that are covered for the specialization are mentioned below:

1. Stage craft
2. Direction
3. Acting
4. Lighting

These courses are provided to the selected candidates so that they get professional training in these areas along with the theatre-related disciplines. The starting date of these courses is scheduled for the first week of September month, 2025, tentatively. Each stream contains a total of 25 seats and the language used for instructions are Hindi and English. 

Students must be aware of the theoretical aspects of the entrance exam NSD Syllabus 2025 like the history of theatre as well, along with the impact of Western culture, the history of theatre, how theatre can help people explore the issues related to society and be more socially aware, traditions of theatre and current affairs. Students must understand that the NSD 2025 Exam and getting your dream courses and university are not enough, one needs to figure out ways to enhance their skills along with knowledge and keen observation. 

Students should read the NSD Exam Pattern 2025 as mentioned in the following points.

• The NSD 2024 Exam will be conducted in offline mode at various exam centres. 
• After the completing NSD Test, students need to prepare for the audition.
• Students will given the role on the spot and they need to enact that role in a way that they can impress the invigilator. 
• The medium of language of the NSD Exam 2025 is Hindi and English. 

Candidates should know that the National School of Drama (NSD) Result 2025 will be out on the official website. The NSD Result 2025 will be in the form of a Merit List in online mode. Only the selected candidates can attend a five-day workshop along with completing the admission formalities. 

Students must go through the following FAQs to know more about the NSD Entrance Exam.