What is Designing?: Courses After 12th, Fees 2026, Top Colleges, Admission 2026, Careers & Salary

Updated on May 22, 2026 02:55 IST
Diya Nihalani

Diya NihalaniContent Author

Design is an exciting new age &  innovative field. Ideal for someone with a creative think tank. Designing courses after 12th offer skills like industry knowledge, proficiency in design software & business acumen to create beautiful visually appealing designs. Design courses are offered at levels like - UG PG Diploma Certification & Doctorate.

In Design Courses, students are taught various software such as Sketch, Blender, CorelDraw & Figma as well as Adobe Creative Suite applications including Photoshop, Illustrator & InDesign. Design Syllabus includes subjects like color theory branding user research,  typography, motion graphics & visual communication

Popular Design Courses are Fashion Design, Product Design, Interior Design, Web Design, Graphic Design etc.

After a Course in design, you can become a fashion designer, fashion consultant, interior designer, web designer, UI/UX Designer, Multimedia Animator, Product Designer, Illustrator etc. with earnings between INR 4  & 12 LPA.

Q:   What is BDes full form?
A:

BDes stands for Bachelor of Design. It is one of the most popular design and designing courses that can be pursued by students after 10+2. It is a four-year programme that provides technical knowledge to the participants in various fields relating to the fashion industry, apparel industry, leather industry, Knitwear Design, Accessory Design, etc.

Students who enrol in a BDes study have experience in the design profession through internships, occasions, and exhibitions held both domestically and abroad. After completing the course, students with a BDes degree can immediately begin their careers. To improve their chances of landing better jobs, they could complete an internship with top designers in their field. Check Popular Colleges for BDes.

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Q:   Why study Design Course?
A:

Design courses are meant for people with a creative edge. To pursue & do good in the said field, you need to look forward to creating, building, and designing new appealing and usable designs of physical/ digital products.

Design courses are not restricted to a singular set of core & elective subjects. Rather, the courses come in specializations like Animation, UX/ UI, Apparel Design, Exhibition Design, Fashion Design, Interior Design, etc. 

So to answer your why -

  • The course has a lot of scope career wise
  • It has flexibility in terms of creative liberty.
  • There are so many specializations to choose from.
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Q:   What is the scope of Design courses in India and Abroad?
A:

To put it simply, it depends. You have to have a strong portfolio, a genuine interest in your niche and some relevant internships and projects. 

The field of design by nature is vast. Since creativity has no bounds, so do the opportunities. Once you get in the industry, even at the entry-level pay and role there's only going forward from that point on.

You have scope in fields like - Graphic Design, Interior Design, Fashion Design, Footwear Design and many more in both India and international set-ups. 

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Q:   What are Design Courses?
A:

Design courses can offer knowledge and skill in the creative field of UI/UX design/ Product Design/ Fashion Design/ Apparel Design/ Exhibition Design/ Graphic Design etc. The curriculum offered to you varies as per the course type and specialisation chosen. You can expect to study various design tools, principles, projects, etc. Designers in every field have a good over all scope in terms of career.

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Q:   There are so many Design course options in India. What do you think is a good choice career-wise?
A:

Students can pursue design courses at UG also at PG level in India. The most popular design course at the UG level is Bachelor of Design (BDes) and the most popular PG level course in this stream is Master of Design (MDes). The BDes degree programme is a full-time, 4-year programme with specialisations in fashion design, interior design, accessory design, textile design, and many other areas.

The BDes degree has changed over time and it is now available with many different design specialisations like graphic design, multimedia design, visual effects design, visual communication, and game design.

The Master of Design (MDes) degree is one of the qualifications that help in specialising and skill development for a career in the design industry. Only those with a bachelor's degree in a related field can pursue a master's degree in design.

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Table of contents
  • Design Highlights
  • Design Specialization
  • How to apply to Design Courses
  • Popular Design Entrance Exams 2026
  • Design Admission Process
  • Popular Design Specializations after 12th
  • Design Course Syllabus
  • Best Design Colleges in India
  • Popular Private Design Colleges in India
  • Design Salary: Career Scope, Job Profiles & Top Recruiters
  • Design Course FAQs
  • Popular Design UG Courses
  • Popular Design PG Courses
  • Top Ranked Colleges by Location
  • Most Popular Courses
View More

Design Highlights

Refer to the table below for more Design Course highlights -

Particulars

Course Details

Design Course Levels

UG PG Diploma Certification & Doctorate

Design Course Duration

UG: 3 to 4 Years

PG: 2 Years

Diploma/Certification: 1 Month to 1 Year

Design Course Admission Process

Both merit-based & entrance exam-based

Design Course Eligibility Criteria

UG: Class 12 from a recognized board.

PG/PGDM: A bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline.

Doctorate: A master's degree in a relevant discipline.

Diploma/Certification: Class 10 or 12 from a recognized board.

Design Course Entrance Exams

CUET UCEED NID Entrance Exam NIFT Entrance Exam CEED CUET-PG GATE etc.

Average Design Course Fees

INR 1 000 - INR 54 Lakh

Top Design Colleges in India

NIFT Amity University Pearl Academy Srishti Manipal Institute of Art Design & Technology World University of Design & MIT Institute of Design.

Design Job Positions

Graphic Designer Interior Designer Fashion Designer Interior Decorator Br & Manager

Average Design Salary

INR 4 LPA - INR 6 LPA

Design Top Recruiters

Raymonds Arvind Garments Levis Madura Garments Omega Designs Pantaloon Shahi Exports Spykar Uni Style India

Note - The information is taken from external sites & may vary. 

 

Design Specialization

Refer to the table below for some of the top Design Specializations & relevant career profiles.

Top Design Specialization Popular Design Jobs
Fashion Design Fashion Designer, Fashion Marketer, Fashion Concept Manager, Quality Controller, Fashion Consultant/Personal Stylist, etc. (Check out the list of Fashion Design Colleges)
Textile Design Textile Designer, Fabric Analyzer, Fashion Designer, Textile Engineer, Design Consultant, etc (Check out the list of Textile Design Colleges)
Graphic Design Graphic Designer, UI/UX Designer, Web Designer, Animation Designer, Illustrator, Film/Video Editor, Motion Graphic Designer, Layout Designer, etc. (Check out the list of Graphic Design Colleges)
Apparel Design Apparel Designer, Apparel Merchandiser, Apparel Manager, Retail Manager, Fashion Designer, etc. (Check out the list of Apparel Design Colleges)

Source - Multiple external/ official sites, info. may vary.

How to apply to Design Courses

Besides the eligibility criteria, one also needs to see if the admission requires appearing in the entrance exam.

  • National-Level Exam: CEED, NIFT & NIT DAT are some of the top National Level Exams for admission to some of the top colleges in the country.
  • University-Level Exam: Pearl Entrance and FDDI AIST Exam are some of the popular university-level entrance exams for various design specialization courses in the respective colleges.

Source - Multiple external/ official sites, info.may vary.

The minimum eligibility for a Design course is mentioned below -

Course Levels

Eligibility Criteria

Undergraduate/UG Diploma

  • Class 12 from any stream (Arts, Commerce, or Science), depending on the chosen specialisation.
  • With a minimum of 50% aggregate score from a recognised board.

Postgraduate/PG Diploma/PGDM

  • A bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline.
  • With a minimum of 50% aggregate score from a recognised university.

Doctorate

  • A master's degree in a relevant discipline.
  • With a minimum of 50% aggregate score from a recognised university.

After 10th Diploma/Certification

  • Class 10 score or equivalent with base subjects (many institutes require English as a mandatory subject).
Source - Multiple external/ official sites, info.may vary.
Q:   Which course is better among B.Sc interior design and B.Des interior design?
A:

Hi, The scope depends on your interest in the field of Interior design like There are several choices for pursuing your career in the Interior design field as B. Des Interior Design. B.Sc. Interior, B.A. , or Diploma courses as well but amongst all B. Des Interior Design 4-year programs is considerably more professional and industrial specific in comparison. It carries more weightage in several areas. You can make your specialisation with Master's to choose an industry in an Interior design career, like Project making, Designer, or Project handling and designing, etc. You can also have a look at IILM University, Gurugram. You can appear for IILM University Gurugram's Design Aptitude Test with the Interview Process for applying. They offer B. Des degree programs with various specializations like Fashion, Interior, Interaction, and Product Design of 4 years with an added advantage of Liberal Education in their curriculum with good and advanced pedagogy in teaching. The School of Design & Fashion at IILM University, Gurugram offers a choice of career by combining a major and minor degree within design fields or other mainstream courses like a combination of major in Fashion and minor in Graphic Design or major in Interaction and minor in Business. You can visit their website to apply for the programme or to enquire more. Good Luck. 

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Q:   How can I get admission to a design course?
A:

Most popular design colleges offer admission to aspirants in courses offered by them on the basis of their performance in an entrance exam. Some popular design entrance exams are NIFT Entrance Exam, Common Entrance Examination for Design (CEED), NID Entrance Exam (NID DAT), and Undergraduate Common Entrance Examination for Design (UCEED). Besides this, some instiutes offer direct admission to candidates.

The applicants can directly visit the institute and fill up the admission form and apply for a particular course.Some of the popular institutes include the following:

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Q:   Which documents are required during Design course admission?
A:

Below is the list of some of the important documents that you should carry during a Design course admission -

  • Take your Class 10 and 12 marksheets that too original.
  • A bachelor's or master's degree, if you are aplying for a PG or P.hd Course.
  • A valid ID proof that can be Adhaar, Passport, PAN Card, etc.
  • Passport-sized photos.

Hope this helps!!!

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Q:   Can I pursue a design course after completing my graduation with B.Com (Commerce stream)? Which design courses can I pursue?
A:

Yes you can pursue a Design course after completing B.Com. Since, you are a graduate, you can apply for postgraduate level Desoign courses such as MDes, MFM and MA and MSc with Design specialisations.You can give entrance for NIFT and choose the field you are most interested in. 

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Q:   What do we exactly learn from Design courses?
A:

Design is basically a plan or a specification that is used to construct an object or an activity that leads to making a prototype, product, or even a process flow. In other words, design is anything that is used to ensure that an idea becomes more presentable and understandable to the consumers.

Design courses can be pursued in a number of specialisations. They expand the growth prospects of the candidate and enable them to increase their pay scale. These courses are offered at Undergraduate, Postgraduate and Doctorate levels. In addition to this, there are numerous Diploma courses and online certificates in India to train students in specific skills they need. Moreover, due to the evergrowing demand of this industry, multiple specialisations are offered across various colleges. Candidates can pursue short-term or long-term courses in this field and establish career in Designing. Read Design Specialisations.

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Popular Design Entrance Exams 2026

Admission to most of the top Design colleges in India is offered through an entrance exam. Some colleges also grant admission to students based on merit. Certification courses in Design can be done through direct entry. The colleges that allow admissions based on entrance exams shortlist aspirants for admission in the courses offered by them based on the candidate's performance in the Design Aptitude Test, Studio Test/Group Discussion (GD) Round and Personal Interview (PI)/Portfolio Round.

The tables given below contains some Popular Designing entrance exams conducted for various levels of Design courses in India.

Top Design Entrance Exams 2026: National Level

For admission to Design courses at the National level, aspirants have to appear for Designing Entrance Exams comprising written tests, drawing tests, and interviews. The registration process for these entrance exams begins several months before the exams are scheduled.  The NIFT entrance exam is one of the most popular national-level entrance exams for admission to UG-level Designing courses.
The table given below presents some of the top entrance exams through which candidates can get admission into the UG Design courses.

Entrance Exams Exam Description Exam Schedule
UCEED Exam (UG Entrance Exam) National-level design aptitude test conducted by IIT Bombay for admission to Bachelor of Design (B.Des) programs. UCEED Exam Date
CUET Exam (UG Entrance Exam) National-level exam conducted by NTA in India for students seeking admission to UG & PG programs across participating central, state, deemed & private universities. CUET Exam Date
NIFT Entrance Exam (UG Entrance Exam) National-level design test administered by NTA for admissions into UG (B.Des, B.F.Tech) and PG (M.Des, M.F.M, M.F.Tech) programs across 18 NIFT campuses. NIFT Entrance Exam Date
NID DAT Exam (UG Entrance Exam) National-level entrance conducted by the National Institute of Design for admission to B.Des & M.Des. NID DAT Exam Date
CEED (UG Entrance Exam) National-level entrance exams administered by IIT Bombay to test for postgraduate design programs M.Des/Ph.D admission. CEED Exam Date
CUET-PG  (UG Entrance Exam) National-Level entrance serves as a gateway for admission to the Master of Design (M.Des) and allied design programs across central, state & private universities in India. CUET-PG Exam Date

Source - Multiple external/ official sites, info.may vary.

Top Design Entrance Exams 2026: University Level

Here are some of the top Design entrance exams conducted at the university level.

Entrance Exam

Exam Description Exam Schedule
Pearl Entrance  (UG Entrance Exam) Premier design, fashion, and business test conducted in multiple cycles (January, April, June). The exam is held online and evaluates candidates through the General Proficiency Test (GPT), Design/Media Aptitude Test (DAT/MAT), and a Personal Interview. Pearl Entrance Exam Date
FDDI AIST Exam (UG Entrance Exam) Entrance exam conducted by the Footwear Design & Development Institute (FDDI) for admission into its B.Des & M.Des programs. FDDI AIST Exam Date

Source - Multiple external/ official sites, info.may vary.

Important Exam Dates

DatesUpcoming Exam Dates
10 Jun ' 26 - 14 Jun ' 26

Seat Allotment Round III

ONGOING
03 Jun ' 26 - 17 Jun ' 26

LPUNEST 2026 Phase 4 Registration

ONGOING
06 Jun ' 26 - 20 Jun ' 26

LPU NEST 2026 Phase 4 Exam

ONGOING
15 Jun ' 26 - 19 Jun ' 26

Round III: Withdrawal of seat / exit from seat allocation process

24 Jun ' 26 - 28 Jun ' 26

Seat Allotment Round IV

To Be Notified

NIFT Registration for e-Counselling / Seat Allotment

To Be Notified

NIFT Registration for e-Counselling / Seat Allotment

DatesPast Exam Dates
26 Apr ' 26

NIFT Situation Test Stage 2: B.Des

26 Apr ' 26

NIFT Situation Test Stage 2: B.Des

17 Feb ' 26 - 19 Feb ' 26

NIFT Answer Key and Objection Window

To Be Notified:

NIFT Registration for e-Counselling / Seat Allotm...

3 Jun ' 26

NIFT Final Result

22 Aug ' 26

SAT India Exam (August) Attempt

12 Sep ' 26

SAT India Exam (September) Attempt

10 Jun ' 26 - 14 Jun ' 26

Seat Allotment Round III

10 Mar ' 26 - 31 Jul ' 26

UCEED 2026 Score Card

16 Jun ' 26 - 18 Jun ' 26

NID B.Des Provisional Offer Letter of Round 01

9 Jun ' 26 - 11 Jun ' 26

NID B.Des Seat Allotment Round 1

Q:   Is the entrance exam for the BDes course easy or difficult to crack?
A:

The BDes entrance exam difficulty level differs depending on the exam that you're planning to appear for. In general, the entrance exams for B.Des courses are considered to be moderately difficult which needs a good level of preparation at your end and a strong hold over design principles, creative aptitude, logical reasoning, and general knowledge.

Every year there is a large number of student applications for Bachelor of Design courses and there is cutthroat competition. So, you need to work very hard and get excellent marks to grab a seat at a top design institute.

Q:   How competitive are the entrance exams for Bachelor of Design courses?
A:

The BDes full form is Bachelor of Design, and the competitiveness of the B.Des entrance exams varies from one design institute to another. In general, the exams are highly competitive, especially for top design institutes like NIFT or NID. You should have a good grasp of the design principles, creative and drawing aptitude, and general awareness to stay ahead in the race, as the student applications for BDes courses are on the rise, and hence, grabbing a seat for the course is no cakewalk.

Q:   Will I learn more about creativity or technical skills in a BDes course?
A:

The BDes course is an interesting combination of both creativity, aestheticism, and a technical skill set. Creativity surely takes the lead where you have to put your innovative aptitude, conceptual thinking, and storytelling skills to use and come up with creative designs, be it fashion, graphics, industrial, or product designs.

Alongside, you also learn about new tools and technologies like AutoCAD, Adobe Creative Suite, etc., to be able to bring those abstract ideas to life.

Hope this helps!!!

Design Admission Process

Candidates can check a general overview of the Design admission process below:

  • Make sure you meet the eligibility requirements
  • Apply online by filling out the form on the official college website.
  • Take the entrance exam. (if applicable)
  • Wait for the merit list/ entrance result.
  • If selected, attend the counselling session.
  • Some colleges conduct PI & portfolio evaluation.
  • Get the documents verified and pay the fee to secure the seat.
  • Start with your classes.

Source - Multiple external/official sites, data may vary 

Popular Design Specializations after 12th

Check out some popular Designing course specializations after 12th, along with the top career paths available:

Popular Design Specializations

Description

Fashion Design

Creating and styling outfits and accessories that match with the contemporary audience’s taste and demand.

Interior Design

Enhancing the interiors of spaces to achieve a functional, healthier and pleasing environment.

Web Design

Look after the designing of visually stunning, highly functional and user focused websites.

Graphic Design

Creating visually appealing digital content in the form of logos, posters and illustrations to captivate user attention.

Product Design

Designing and developing tangible goods or digital experiences for the users.

Communication Design

Creating compelling visual messages that resonate across various media and provide the users with the right information.

 

Popular Specializations

Q:   Can I know more about Web Designing courses?
A:

Web Design courses will help you to master the skills to design beautiful, functional, and user-friendly websites. While pursuing Web Designing courses you will also get to work on projects and have the opportunity to build a professional web design portfolio with websites that look very much professional.

Hope this helps!!!

Q:   What are the top Fashion Design courses after 10th in India?
A:

If you are a fashion and style enthusiast with knowledge and interest about the fashion vogue and wish to opt for Fashion Designing courses after 10th grade, it is very important to choose the right course as per your interests and passions. Since Fashion Design incorporates specialised areas like accessories, jewelry, footwear, etc., there are so many diploma, short-term certificate, and online course options after school.
You can find some top Fashion Designing courses after 10th given here:

Diploma: Diploma in Fashion Design, Diploma in Jewellery Design, Diploma in Fashion Business Management, Diploma in Fashion Communication, and Diploma in Apparel Design.

Certificate: Certificate in Fashion Retail Management, Certificate in Designing and Styling for Indian Fashion, Certificate in Fashion Clothing Technology, Professional Certificate in Fashion Design for Women's Wear, and Certificate in Pattern Making and Garment Manufacturing.

Online: Online Certificate in Bridal Fashion by IMS Design and Innovation Academy (Noida), Certificate in Fashion Design by NIF Pune Kothrud, Certificate in Fashion Illustration and Fashion Styling by JD Institute of Fashion Technology (Mumbai).

Design Course Syllabus

Design is a vast field having a lot of specializations like Fashion Design, Interior Design, Jewellery Design, Automobile Design, and so on. You can refer to the tables below to get an overview of the subjects covered in different Design courses.

Design Specialization Design Subjects Design Syllabus PDFs
Fashion Design Foundation of design, textile science, pattern making, garment construction, digital design, fashion merchandising, etc. Fashion_Design_Syllabus 
Interior Design Design principles, construction, lighting techniques, sustainable design, etc. Interior_Design_Syllabus 

Source - Multiple external/ official sites, info.may vary.

 



Q:   Are there any recommended books for Design students?
A:

Yes, you can check out the list of some books that you can read as a Design student apart from your regular syllabus to boost your knowledge in the field:

  • The Design Thinking Playbook by Michael Lewrick.
  • The Design of Everyday Things by Donald A. Norman.
  • Designing Experiences by James Robert Rossman and Mathew D. Duerden.
  • Emotional Design by Donald Norman.
  • Creative Confidence: Unleashing the Creative Potential Within Us All by David Kelley and Tom Kelley.
  • Change By Design by Tim Brown. 
  • Don't Make Me Think Revisited by Steve Krug.
Q:   What do we learn in the first year of BDes?
A:

When you join a BDes programme, you learn about the fundamental concepts of Design in the first year. You would not be expected to have any previous knowledge or background in the field of Design. In many colleges the first semester is common for all BDes specialisations. You would learn subjects like Introduction to Design,  Elements of Design,  Creative Visualization Techniques,  Design Drawing,  Design Thinking,  Principles of Design,  Physical Ergonomics and Rendering & Illustration.

Q:   Is the BDes syllabus the same for all colleges?
A:

The B Designing course syllabus is not the same for all colleges and differs on the basis of the specialisation and the college where you plan to pursue the course. Each design institute has certain curriculum guidelines to adhere to; while some core subjects might be similar, the rest of the program-specific electives vary, along with industrial workshops, project work, and design studio lessons.

You can check the official websites of the colleges where you're planning to apply to understand their learning approach and syllabus structure for BDes courses.

Q:   How many types of Designing courses a offered in India?
A:

Design courses are offered in the undergraduate, postgraduate or Diploma courses. They are also offered through certificate courses. Candidates can pursue BDes, BFTech (Apparel Production), Diploma in Fashion Designing, Diploma in Apparel Merchandising,  BSc in Fashion Design, BA (Hons) Fashion Design, BA (Hons) Product Design, BA (Hons) Jewellery Design, BA (Hons) Communication Design, BA (Hons) Fashion Styling & Image Design, Bachelors in Textile Design etc. Here are some popular types of Designing courses can be pursued in specialisations listed below:

  • Fashion Design
  • Graphic Design
  • Interior Design
  • Web Design
  • User Experience Design
  • Knitwear Design 
Q:   Which are the most popular UG Design courses?
A:

Bachelor of Design (BDes) is the most popular type of UG Design courses. BDes is offered in many different specializations, that provides foundational knowledge of specific Design fields. It is a 4-year degree that is offered across thousands of Design colleges in India.

Q:   What makes BDes a popular course?
A:

The Bachelor of Design (BDes) programme is popular for various reasons. For starters, it gives a solid foundation in a variety of design disciplines, such as graphic design, industrial design, fashion design and others It allows you to explore and specialise in the areas of your interest. The practical and hands-on character of BDes programmes allows students like you to build demonstrable skills and a strong portfolio, both of which are required for entry into the competitive design business. Furthermore, the interdisciplinary approach encourages creativity and problem-solving, preparing graduates for a variety of employment choices. The growing demand for design experts in areas ranging from technology to marketing contributes to the appeal of BDes as a versatile and dynamic education that allows students to shape the visual and functional aspects of the environment around them. Check Popular Colleges for BDes.

Q:   Can I pursue an Online BDes course in India?
A:

Of course, here are some top online college options for BDes in India:

Online BDes CollegesTuition Fee
YCMOU Nashik BDesINR 2.24 Lakh
VOU BDesINR 84,000
Wisdom School of Management for Distance Education BDesINR 3 Lakh

Note: The information is taken from the official/counselling body of the institute/exam.

Best Design Colleges in India

There are 2,400+ Design colleges in India, of which, more than 1,200 are private and around 331 are government entities. Top private and government Design colleges in India are mentioned in the article below:

NIFTs in India

Listed below are some of the top NIFT colleges and their course and their cost.

NIFTs in India Design Course Fees
NIFT Kolkata INR 18,880 - INR 12.96 Lakh
NIFT Mumbai INR 47,200 - INR 12.96 Lakh
NIFT Patna INR 90,200 - INR 12.96 Lakh
NIFT Delhi  INR 94,400 - INR 12.96 Lakh
NIFT Shillong INR 5.58 Lakh - 11.74 Lakh
NIFT Raebareli INR 5.58 Lakh - 12.34 Lakh
NIFT Kangra INR 5.58 Lakh - 11.74 Lakh
NIFT Bangalore INR 5.63 Lakh - 12.96 Lakh
NIFT Chennai INR 5.86 Lakh - 12.34 Lakh
NIFT Gandhinagar INR 5.86 Lakh - 12.96 Lakh
NIFT Hyderabad INR 6.07 Lakh - 12.96 Lakh
NIFT Kannur INR 6.16 Lakh - 12.96 Lakh
NIFT Jodhpur INR 12.34 Lakh

Source - Multiple external/ official sites, info.may vary.

Best Government Design Colleges in India

There are many government Design colleges in India inluding NIFTs, PSG College of Arts and Science, National Institute of Design, Delhi Technological University, etc. The table shows the top government Design colleges in India with their cost.

Best Government Colleges Design Course Fees
Banaras Hindu University INR 5,000 - INR 2.49 Lakh
IIT Delhi - Indian Institute of Technology INR 70,000 - INR 8 Lakh
PSG College of Arts and Science - PSGCAS INR 1.4 Lakh - 2.7 Lakh
Jamia Millia Islamia INR 2.07 Lakh - 4.18 Lakh
Delhi Technological University INR 3.18 Lakh - 7.4 Lakh
National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad INR 12.22 Lakh - 18.04 Lakh

Source - Multiple external/ official sites, info.may vary.

Check out the list of top private design colleges in India.

Best Private Design Colleges in India

Top private Design colleges in India include Amity University, Pearl Academy, Srishti Manipal Institute of Art, Design And Technology, etc. The table contains the top private UG Design colleges in India with their cost.

Best Private Colleges Design Course Fees
HAMSTECH College of Creative Education INR 65,000 - INR 4.95 Lakh
CT University (CTU) INR 1 Lakh - 3 Lakh
Indian Institute of Fashion Technology INR 1.25 Lakh - 6.9 Lakh
J.D Birla Institute (JDBI) INR 1.57 Lakh - 4.13 Lakh
Dr. D.Y. Patil Arts, Commerce and Science College INR 1.61 Lakh
Amity University, Noida INR 2.88 Lakh - 16.72 Lakh

Source - Multiple external/ official sites, info.may vary.

Check out the list of top private design colleges in India.

94.4 K - 12.96 L
4.5
2.88 L - 16.72 L
3.9

Design Applications open. Apply Now

16 Courses
5.86 L - 12.34 L
3.8
6.07 L - 12.96 L
3.5
Q:   Is NIFT a private or a government college?
A:

NIFT is a government college that was established in 1986 under the aegis of the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India. Further, the official website informs, “NIFT Act 2006 published in the Gazette of India on 14th July 2006 confers Statutory Status on the Institute. The Act came into effect on 1st April 2007. The President of India is the 'Visitor' of the Institute under the Act”.

NIFT is one of the most popular group of colleges offering various designing courses in undergraduate and postgraduate level. They conduct their own entrance examination called as NIFT Entrance Exam to admit the brightest minds for pursuing Fashion Technology and Designing courses. Check NIFT Participating Institutes.

Q:   Is NIFT better than Pearl Academy?
A:

National Institute of Fashion Technology or NIFT is a government college whereas Pearl Academy is a private design college. Both the design schools offer in-depth course curriculum and industry exposure to candidates who want to make a career in the field of design. Both colleges offer design courses in various specialisations.

Students can visit the websites of both colleges and select the college as per their suitability and specialisation. Admission to both the colleges depends on the marks score in their entrance tests. Check the rankings of these colleges below:

Name of the Institute

India Today 2023 Ranking

India Today 2024 Ranking

NIFT Delhi

1

1

NIFT Mumbai

2

2

Symbiosis Bangalore

3

3

NIFT Chennai

4

5

NIFT Gandhinagar

6

6

NIFT Patna

7

8

NIFT Hyderabad

5

4

NIFT Kolkota

8

7

Pearl Academy New Delhi

9

9

Symbiosis Institute of Design (SID), Pune

11

12

Popular Private Design Colleges in India

38 Courses
1.65 L - 40 L
2.8
2.88 L - 16.72 L
3.9

Design Applications open. Apply Now

62.5 K - 14.16 L
4.2

Design Applications open. Apply Now

4 Courses
20 L - 46.17 L
5.5 LPA

Design Applications open. Apply Now

3.55 L - 35.31 L
3.6

#1 The Week

Design Applications open. Apply Now

Design Salary: Career Scope, Job Profiles & Top Recruiters

After studying Design you have many career paths. Like interior designers, fashion designers, graphic designers, product designers, game designers, etc. Students can easily find jobs in different fields like advertising, marketing, architecture, fashion houses, and the entertainment industry.

Candidates can see the job profiles that they can go for below -

Job Profiles
Starting Salary
Highest Level
Graphic Designer
INR 2 LPA
INR 8 LPA 
Interior Designer
INR 3 LPA
INR 25 LPA
Fashion Designer
INR 4 LPA
INR 24 LPA 
Architect Interior Decorator
INR 3 LPA
INR 10 LPA
Brand Manager
INR 4 LPA
INR 19.7 LPA
Product Designer
INR 5 LPA
INR 15.9 LPA
UI/UX Designer
INR 3.5 LPA
INR 11 LPA
Apparel Designer
INR 5 LPA 
INR 8.9 LPA
Textile Designer
INR 3 LPA
INR 12.2 LPA 

Source - Ambitionbox.com.

Design Courses Top Recruiter List

Design graduates have a plethora of opportunities in front of them. After completing their course, aspirants can work with various famous designers as well as in corporates. Candidates can see the list below -

Design Top Recruiters
Raymonds
Benetton
Arvind Garments
ITC Ltd.
Levis
Lifestyle
Madura Garments
Modelama Exports
Omega Designs
Orient Craft
Source - Multiple external/ official sites, info. may vary.

 

Q:   What are the jobs available after studying design?
A:

Fashion Designer, Textile Designer, Accessory Designer, Interior Designer, Graphic Designer, Web Designer, Game Designer, and Furniture Designer are some of the job profiles available after studying design courses. Designer pay may vary depending on a number of factors, including cities or demand. Your degree's worth may differ between cities. There are more offices and enterprises in big cities, which increases your chances of finding work.

Graduates in design have a wide range of employment possibilities.

Job ProfilesAverage Salary (INR)

Fashion Designer

INR 3.5 LPA

Textile Designer

INR 4.2 LPA

Graphic Designer

INR 3.0 LPA

Interior Designer

INR 3.1 LPA

UI/UX Designer

INR 5.5 LPA
Q:   Which companies are the top recruiters for B.Des graduates?
A:

There are a variety of BDes specialisations under which graduates are hired by their respective industries. For instance, a BDes in Fashion Design graduate can seek employment in Fashion industry. Some of the top Fashion Design recrutiers include Myntra, Nykaa, Meesho, Sabyasachi Couture, etc. 

Similarly every BDes specialisation has their own companies hiring graduates for specific job roles.

Q:   Which Design stream offers the best career options?
A:

To be honest, every Design specialization is unique on its own and offers different career options. It'll be unfair to compare them. Design is a technical and creative field and has a lot of interesting specialities. 

If you're interested in playing with colors, patterns, and aesthetics, you can go for Fashion, Interior, Jewellery, or Apparel Design.

If you're more into the technical part of Design, choose Industrial, Automotive, or maybe Web Design. There are a lot of options going towards different career paths and earning prospects.

Know more about -

Design Courses

 

Q:   Is internship important for Fashion Design students?
A:

Of course, internships are extremely important for Fashion Design students. You'll get your hands on the real work that you read about in the books. It will give you a broader and in-depth knowledge about how the industry works, how to create and grow a network in the field, how to develop and enhance skills, and especially, you'll get clarity about your future goals. 

Hope this helps!!!

Design Course FAQs

Candidates can refer to this section for Design Course FAQs.

 

 

Q:   Which are the best Design colleges in Bangalore?
A:

Here are some top Design college options in Bangalore, India:

Design colleges in BangaloreTuition Fee
NIFT BangaloreINR 60,000 - INR 12.34 Lakh
Srishti Manipal Institute of Art, Design and TechnologyINR 1.35 - 5.61 Lakh
Pearl Academy BengaluruINR 1.4 - 27 Lakh
Vogue Institute of Art and DesignINR 15,000 - INR 9.1 Lakh
RV UniversityINR 6 - 16 Lakh

Note: The information is taken from the official/counselling body and may vary.

Q:   What is the difference between BFTech and BDes?
A:

BFTech stands for Bachelor of Fashion Technology  and on the other hand BDes stands for Bachelor of Design. Although both Fashion Design as well as Fashion Technology are a part of the same stream. But there is a fundamental difference between the two. Fashion Design basically deals with creating new design pieces which can be anything like apparel, accessories or even a fabric.

On the other hand, Fashion Technology basically deals with applying Science and tech to make fabrics from the raw materials that are available in the market. 

So, Fashion Technology has the use of multiple techniques and equipment for the production as well as management of fashion goods that are produced.

Hope this helps!!!

Q:   What is the difference between B.Des and BFA?
A:

Both these professional undergraduate degrees are in the creative field, but BFA (Bachelor of Fine Arts) is different from BDes because of the following points:

ParametersBDesBFA
Course TypeTechnical and ArtsArts
DisciplineCommunication Design, Industrial design, Fashion Design, Fashion CommunicationPainting, Sculpture, Applied Art, Printmaking, Visual Communication
Course Duration4 years3-4 years
Course ObjectiveIt is more focused towards design knowledge practice and development. It is more leaned towards fashion design, accessory design, interior design, and product design.It is focused towards the art discipline, and the technicality and application of any form of applied art.

Note: The information is taken from external sites and may vary.

Read More:
What is B.Des?
BFA Course full details.

Q:   Are there any tips for Fashion Design course asprirants?
A:

Here are some tips that may help you throughout your Fashion Design journey:

  • First, it is a lot of work and not just drawing pretty pictures. You will be pushed to your limit to expand your creativity and also your technical skills. It is so not glamorous at all. 
  • You will know pretty quickly if it's for you or not. You will be surprised at what you can create. You will get what you put into it. You must do internships at reputable companies while in school so you can have work experience to get a job when you graduate. You will spend more money than you thought buying materials for your projects.
  • It's good to have your own sewing machine (a home machine is ok) so you can continue working on sewing projects while not at school.

Hope this helps!!!

Q:   Which career is better- Fashion Designing or Fashion Modelling?
A:

Fashion Designing and Fashion Modelling can be said that without each other they are not complete, both of the careers need skills that are different because to be a fashion designer you should be creative, more familiar with the skills in seeing or drawing, feed with clothes, pattern, a colour so you can miss match them and create masterpieces.

But to be a fashion model you have the skills to carry what are you wearing with sophistication, look good in any design, skills on walking on ramps, makeup, and confidence.

You can be both but what you want to do is on you because juggling between two can be tiresome, you can choose to do one after one if you like but if you want to just choose one then choose based on skills you have.

Popular Design UG Courses

Following are the most popular Design UG Courses . You can explore the top Colleges offering these UG Courses by clicking the links below.

UG Courses

Popular Design PG Courses

Following are the most popular Design PG Courses . You can explore the top Colleges offering these PG Courses by clicking the links below.

PG Courses

Top Ranked Colleges by Location

Following are the top ranked colleges for Design based on rankings published by The Week, Business Today and National Institutional Ranking Framework (MHRD).
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Student Forum

chatAnything you would want to ask experts?
Write here...

Answered 22 hours ago

For Art & Design subject, Fashion Institute of Technology NYC ranks at #101-150 in 2026 QS subject rankings. In 2025, it ranked at #151-200 position.

YearRankings
2024#151-200
2023#101-150
2022#151-200

78590064
Akanksha Malhotra

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 22 hours ago

SAGE University Bhopal offers BDes in two specialsiations: 

  • Apparel Design
  • Interior Design

The college offers BDes as a four-year course. It is offered in full-time mode and the entire course is divided into eight semesters.

R

Raj Priya

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 22 hours ago

The total tuition fee of BDes at SAGE University Bhopal is INR 2.6 Lacs to INR 14 lakh. This number is taken from the official website of college. It can change. Candidates need to pay the course fee as the last step of admission process to confirm their seat.

R

Raj Priya

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 23 hours ago

The best design colleges in India offering the best recruitments are: National Institute of Design, Industrial Design Centre, and National Institute of Fashion Technology. The top recruiters are Aditya Birla, Pantaloons, Arvind, and Myntra.

S

Swati Pandey

Beginner-Level 5

Answered 23 hours ago

FIT NYC MFA in Fashion Design course is 2 year long. The tuition fee for this course is around INR 23 lakh. Those who want to take admission to this course, the students must have a Bachelor's degree with a GPA of 3.0. TOEFL / IELTS score is required. 

N

Nishtha Shukla

Contributor-Level 10

Answered Yesterday

Some of the eminent recruiters who were part of the recent NID Kurukshetra placements are mentioned in the table below:

NID Kurukshetra Top Recruiters
TCSDeloitte
MicrosoftAccenture
OneplusAdobe

39519231
Shoaib Mehdi

Contributor-Level 10

Answered Yesterday

NID Kurukshetra offers decent placements annually for its BDes course. As per the students' reviews on the Shiksha page, NID Kurukshetra recorded 99% placements recently. The highest and average package secured by recent batch was INR 75 LPA and INR 12 LPA, respectively.

39519231
Shoaib Mehdi

Contributor-Level 10

Answered Yesterday

To get a seat at this institution, students have to first attempt the UCEED entrance exam and then appear for the counselling process to be considered eligible for admission to the UG-level course.

The IIITDM Jabalpur BDes cutoff 2026 was published till round 3 for various All India categories, like

...Read more

N

Neerja Rohatgi

Contributor-Level 10

Answered Yesterday

To get a seat at IIT Hyderabad for the BDes course, students have to first attempt the UCEED entrance exam and then appear for the counselling process. Only those who have appeared in the counselling process are considered eligible for the UG-level course.

The IIT Hyderabad cutoff 2026 has been publi

...Read more

N

Neerja Rohatgi

Contributor-Level 10

Answered Yesterday

Yes, you can get into IIT Delhi with a rank of 30 if you belong to the OBC AI quota. As per the IIT Delhi BDes cutoff 2026 for the third round, the cutoff for this category was 32

Hence, getting admission with a rank of 30 is possible for the OBC AI category. Other categories, rounds, etc., will ha

...Read more

N

Neerja Rohatgi

Contributor-Level 10

Answered Yesterday

No, you cannot get into IIT Bombay with a rank of 20 for the BDes course. The IIT Bombay BDes cutoff 2026 for round 3 ranged from 1 to 15 for several All India quota categories. 

Hence, students need to attain a rank below 15 to be eligible for admission. But different categories will have different

...Read more

N

Neerja Rohatgi

Contributor-Level 10

Answered Yesterday

No, students cannot appear for National Institute of Fashion Technology, Shillong MFM without NIFTEE. Admissions are through the candidate's performance in the General Ability Test followed by PI round. Both are important to get selected in the programme.

U

Upasana Harsha

Contributor-Level 10

Answered Yesterday

National Institute of Fashion Technology, Shillong MFM fee is INR 5.6 lakh. This is tuition fee only. The institute may charge other components. Students can complete the fee payment online.

N

Nishtha Hazarika

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 days ago

Tuition fee for BDes in Symbiosis Institite of Design, Pune is around INR 4.5 Lacs per year whereas it is more than INR 7.5 Lacs in Pearl Academy, Delhi (New Friends Colony). Thus, SID Pune has lower fee in comparison.

S

Saumya Gairola

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 days ago

Yes, Pearl Academy, New Friends Colony provides scholarship for BDes on basis of rank obtained in NIFT in the form of fee waiver on the semester component fees for the first year only. Details are mentioned below:

NIFT Rank

Scholarship

1-100

50%

101-500

30%

501-1000

20%

S

Saumya Gairola

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 days ago

Yes, Pearl Academy provides scholarship for BDes on basis of merit in Class 12 in the form of fee waiver on the semester component fees for the first year only. The amount of scholarship is mentioned in the following table:

Class 12 Overall Marks

Scholarship

>=95%

50%

90.01-94.99%

25%

S

Saumya Gairola

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 days ago

No, you cannot get direct admission in BDes in Pearl Academy, New Friends Colony. You have to either appear for Written Test conducted by Pearl Academy or attain a valid score in NID/NIFT/UCEED to get admission. Personal Interview is a mandatory part of the admission process.

S

Saumya Gairola

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 days ago

Pearl Academy conducts an online written exam that consists of the following:

  1. General Proficiency Test (GPT)
  2. Design Aptitude Test (DAT)

This exam can be attended online on the personal computer by the candidates. This test is followed by an online Personal Interview with an expert panel.

S

Saumya Gairola

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 days ago

Pearl Academy, New Friends Colony accepts valid score in NID, NIFT, and UCEED for admission in BDes. Students who qualify these exams are exempted from taking the written test conducted by the institute. They can directly appear for Personal Interview.

S

Saumya Gairola

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 days ago

Fee for BDes in Pearl Academy varies according to the campus and specialisation. Students have to pay admission fee of INR 85,000. Semester fee is INR 3,93,900 for the first year. The semester fee may increase in the following years.

S

Saumya Gairola

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 days ago

Pearl Academy, New Friends Colony BDes eligibility criteria is pass in Class 12 in any stream. Selection is based on performance in GPT and DAT conducted by the institute or valid score in NIFT/NID/UCEED. The institute also considers performance in Personal Interview for admission.

S

Saumya Gairola

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 days ago

After completing the BArch course from Aditya College of Art, Architecture, and Design, students can choose so many career options. The career options available for Aditya College of Art, Architecture, and Design BArch graduates are listed below:

  • Architect
  • Urban Planner
  • Interior Designer
  • Landscape Archi

...Read more

A

Anjali Sharma

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 days ago

While completing the application form of the Aditya College of Art, Architecture, and Design for the BArch course, students are required to submit some documents. Applicants should keep these documents handy while form filling. The documents are listed below:

  • Class 12 marksheet
  • Migration certificate
  • ID

...Read more

A

Anjali Sharma

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 days ago

The admission to the BArch course at Aditya College of Art, Architecture, and Design is based on entrance. The college accepts JEE Main or NATA exam score to take admission. Students who want to get admission to the course must appear in any of these exams and earn marks as per the cutoff.

A

Anjali Sharma

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 days ago

Students who fulfil the eligibility criteria of the Bach course can apply. The eligibility criteria of the Aditya College of Art, Architecture, and Design BArch programme is mentioned below:

  • Passed Class 12 with 50% marks with mathematics as compulsory subject from any recognised board or
  • Completed a

...Read more

A

Anjali Sharma

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 days ago

To know which college is good to pursue BArch course between Aditya College of Art, Architecture and Design and Thakur School of Architecture and Planning, students need to compare some components of the same. Candidates can check out the table given below for the comparison:

Particulars

Aditya College of Art, Architecture and Design

Thakur School of Architecture and Planning

Ranking

3.8

4.5

Fees

INR 6.57 lakh

INR 7.32 lakh

Seats

80

120

A

Anjali Sharma

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 days ago

The total seat intake for 2026 at Aditya College of Art, Architecture, and Design BArch course is 80. Students who are willing to get a seat at the college must apply through the official page. The last date is in September. The seats are allocated depending on marks obtained in accepted entrance ex

...Read more

A

Anjali Sharma

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 days ago

Students who fulfil the eligibility criteria of the BArch course at Aditya College of Art, Architecture, and Design can apply. The basic eligibility criteria of the course are passing Class 12 from any recognised board of education with 50% marks. Also, student who have done a three-year Diploma in

...Read more

A

Anjali Sharma

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 days ago

The exact last date for admission to Aditya College of Art, Architecture, and Design BArch course is not revealed by the college. Generally, the admission window closes in September. Students wanting to get admission are suggested to apply for the course prior the last date.

A

Anjali Sharma

Contributor-Level 10

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