Automotive Design - Courses, Admission 2024, Fees, Eligibility, Colleges, Syllabus, Jobs and Top Colleges

Updated on Jul 15, 2024 03:09 IST

Automotive Design is a course which is the best for candidates who have a knack for creativity, technicality and imagination. The physical characteristics of motor vehicles, such as cars, trucks, motorbikes, etc., are defined through the creative process known as automotive design. It is the process of designing a vehicle's exterior and interior, including cars, trucks, motorbikes, and other automobile kinds. 

In the Automotive design course, the students receive training in the creation, production, and upkeep of automobiles. The students take a 2-4 years course that covers a wide range of issues relating to the future of automobiles. These courses can be pursued at undergraduate and postgraduate levels at a fee ranging between INR 50000 to INR 3 lakh.  Admission to renowned institutes is usually through national-level entrance exams like the NID Entrance ExamNIFT, UCEED, CEED, SEED, etc.

Some of the job profiles at which Automotive design graduates can work are Automobile Engineer/Automobile Design Engineer, Production Engineer at Automobile Plants, Production Planning and Control Engineer, etc. They can earn an average salary ranging between INR 4 LPA to 6 LPA. To know more about the automotive design course, candidates can read the article further.

Latest Updates About Automotive Design Course 

Students interested in pursuing Automotive design course need to appear in entrance exams, including a national-level entrance exam called as NIFT Entrance Exam. However, some colleges offer admission based on marks scored in Class 12. Interested students can see the important and latest information about Design courses in the links below: 

Latest Updates:

  • CUET UG RE-exam for admission to undergraduate-level courses will be conducted on Jul 19 2024 for affected candidates.

Automotive Design Highlights

People who are interested in working in automotive design usually have a variety of backgrounds, but they all share a love of cars, artistic ability, and technical know-how. A successful automotive designer should possess a strong grasp of user needs and market trends in the automotive sector in addition to a creative and technical skill set.

Students can have a look at the table below to learn the key points related to Automative Design course:

Particulars

Details

Course Level

UG and PG

Duration

2-4 years

Eligibility

Undergraduate: 10+2 from recognised board

Postgraduate: Graduate from recognised board

Doctorate: Master's degree in design

Course Fee

Up to INR 4 lakh

Average Salary

Up to INR 6 lakh

Entrance Exams

 NID Entrance exam, NIFT, UCEED, CEED, SEED 

Top Recruiters

Microsoft, Infosys, Ernst & Young, TCS – Tata Consultancy Services, SAP, Sony, FedEx, Reliance, Shell, Mahindra

Job Profiles

Automobile Engineer/Automobile Design Engineer, Production Engineer at Automobile Plants, Production Planning & Control Engineer, etc.

 

Q:   What is Automotive Design?

A:

Automotive design course includes designing the vehicle's external characteristics, such as the headlights, taillights, and other exterior details, as well as the body's size, form and style.  There are many benefits to studying or working in automobile design that go beyond the technical aspects of building cars.Schools of design, art or engineering frequently offer courses in automotive design education. Work experience or internships in the automotive sector can offer insightful knowledge and useful skills.

Q:   Who can study Automotive Design?

A:

Automotive design may be of interest to those who hold a degree in mechanical engineering or automotive engineering. To design vehicles that are both practical and effective, a strong grasp of engineering fundamentals is essential. Automotive design can be an exciting and fulfilling career for graphic designers who have a love for cars and a fascination with three-dimensional design. They frequently assist with elements like interior graphics, branding and logos. Individuals who possess artistic abilities in drawing and illustration, especially when it comes to product design, may consider pursuing a career in automotive design. Read Automobile Engineering.

Why Study Automotive Design?

There are several reasons why many candidates prefer to pursue Automotive Design courses. Some of these are mentioned below:

  • The Automotive Design Course is a unique blend of technicality and creative design. 
  • There are ample career prospects in the field with the growing Automotive Industry. India is home to more than 14,000 Automotive companies. India's Automotive Market Size is around USD 108.10 Billion.
  • The average salary of an Automotive Designer in the US ranges between $64,079 and $80,199. The market size of the global Automotive industry is around USD 3,564.67 Billion.

Automotive Design Eligibility Criteria

To get admission to Automobile Design courses, candidates must make sure they fulfil certain eligibility criteria set by various universities offering the course. The eligibility criteria for automobile design are mentioned in the table below.

  • For UG, the students should have passed 10+2 with the main subjects as Physics and Mathematics and any one subject out of Chemistry/Biology/Biotechnology/Computer. The students should have 45-50 per cent aggregate marks in the general category with 5 per cent relaxation for the SC/ST category.
  • Students must pass entrance tests at the national or state level to be admitted to postgraduate programmes in automotive design. Some colleges even admit students based on their 12th board scores.

Q:   Is there any age limit to pursue Automotive Design PG courses?

A:

No, there is usally no maximum or minimum age limit to pursue Automotive Design PG Courses. You can pursue these ourses at any age. However, these courses would other requirements. Your educational qualification and would be considered.

Types of Automotive Design Courses

Automotive Design courses can be pursued at various course levels. 

Types of Automotive Design Courses Description
Undergraduate-level Automotive Design Course These courses can be pursued by candidates who have completed schooling or equivalent qualifications.
Postgraduate-level Automotive Design Course These courses are open to graduates.
Doctoral-level Automotive Design Course These courses are pursued by master's degree holders or those who have a four-year bachelor's degree.

Top Automotive Design Entrance Exams 2024

Candidates need to take and pass entrance examinations to get admission to automobile design courses. Admission to most of the popular 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 a 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 below-mentioned tests/ rounds:

  • Design Aptitude Test
  • Studio Test/Group Discussion (GD) Round
  • Personal Interview (PI)/Portfolio Round

Popular design entrance exams that aspirants should consider taking are:

Name of Exam

Registration Details Exam Details

NIFT

Begins in Nov 2023 In Dec 2023

UCEED

Registration open till 31-Dec-2023 21-Jan-2024

NID Entrance Exam

Registration open till 1-Dec-2023 24-Dec-2024

CEED

Registration open till 31-Oct-2023 21-Jan-2024

Pearl Academy Entrance Exam

Registration till Jan 2024 Jan 2024

Jun '24

CT SET 2024 Counselling Start

TENTATIVE

Jun '24

CT SET 2024 Result

TENTATIVE

22 Nov ' 24 - 6 Jan ' 25

NIFT 2025 application form OPEN (Regular fees)

7 Jan ' 25 - 9 Jan ' 25

NIFT 2025 application form OPEN (Late fees)

21 Feb ' 25

SAT Registration Deadline for March Test

25 Feb ' 25

SAT Deadline for Changes, Regular Cancellation, a...

24 Dec ' 24 - 5 Jan ' 25

NID DAT 2025 (Prelims) - Issue of Admit Cards

5 Jan ' 25

NID DAT 2025 (Prelims) Date

Q:   What is the difference between UCEED and CEED?

A:

CEED is an entrance exam for postgraduate Design courses such as M.Des and UCEED entrance exam is for undergraduate Design courses such as B. Des. UCEED is open to all nationals (Indian/Foreign). Many reputed colleges such as Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB), Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IITG), Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IITH) and Indian Institute of Information Technology Design and Manufacturing Jabalpur (IIITDMJ) aceept UCEED scores. You should have qualified for CEED exam if you wish to seek admission to Master of Design M.Des programmes at IISc Bangalore, IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Guwahati, IIT Hyderabad, IIITDM Jabalpur, and IIT Kanpur, and to Ph.D. programmes in Design at IISc Bangalore, IIT Bombay, IIT Guwahati, IIT Hyderabad, and IIT Kanpur.

Q:   What is the pattern of the NIFT exam?

A:
B. Des Admission NIFT Exam Pattern for GAT: 1- A number of sections: 5 (Quantitative Ability, Communication Ability, English Comprehension, Analytical Ability, General Knowledge, and Current Affairs). 2- Duration of exam: 120 minutes (2 hours) 3- Number of questions: 100 4- Language of paper: English/ Hindi 5- Number of answer choices: 4 6- Mode of examination: Online-Remote Proctored Exam. I hope this will help you.

Automotive Design Syllabus

From institution to college, the topics covered in the Automotive Design course differ. Here are a few of the most typical ones mentioned in the table below.

Semester 1

Introduction to Automotive Design Drawing and Visualization Skills
Design Principles and Theory Introduction to Engineering

Semester 2

Automotive History and Cultural Impact Advanced Drawing and Rendering
Materials and Manufacturing Processes Vehicle Dynamics

Semester 3

Digital Modeling and CAD Automotive Systems Integration
User-Centered Design in Automotive Design Project-1

Semester 4

Advanced Topics in Automotive Design Human-Machine Interface (HMI) Design
Design Project-2 Professional Communication and Portfolio Development

Top Automotive Design Colleges

Students can choose a college from where they wish to pursue the course taking into consideration their seats, fees, and placements. The colleges mentioned in the table are listed alphabetically and not in any order of ranking hierarchy. Click to read Top 30 Design Colleges in India.

Top Private Colleges Offering Automotive Design Courses

Interested students can have a look at the table below to learn some of the best automotive designing colleges running privately. The private colleges have excellent tie-ups with industry and other designers. Some of these colleges are as follows:

Name of College Total Course Fees (in INR)

ImaginXP - Jagran Lakecity University

INR 3.5 lakh
JSS Science and Technology University Mysore INR 1.2 lakh
K R Mangalam University Gurgaon INR 7.1 lakh
MIT ATD University Pune INR 5.16 lakh
MIT Institute of Design Pune INR 5.6 lakh

Rustomjee Academy for Global Careers Mumbai

INR 91000
Symbiosis International University INR 12.2 lakh
UPES Delhi INR 8.4 lakh
Unitedworld Institute of Design INR 24 lakh
World University of Design Sonepat INR 2 lakh to INR 12.1 lakh

Top Government Colleges Offering Automotive Design Courses

The students can also think of pursuing the design courses from government colleges. The fees in government colleges is much affordable and candidates can choose the best institute as per their preference and suitability.

Name of College Fees (in INR)
NID Gandhi Nagar INR 11.4 lakh
TISS Mumbai ------
Kashmir University Srinagar ------
2.25 L - 15.04 L
5.25 L

Top 20 in India

1.5 L - 25.1 L
2.0

Top 20 in India

Automotive Design Applications open. Apply Now

1 Course
2.69 L
17.92 LPA

Top 10 in Maharashtra

8.4 L - 17.62 L
3.6 - 7 LPA

Automotive Design Applications open till Jan 21, 2025. Apply Now

Popular Private Automotive Design Colleges in India

1.5 L - 25.1 L
2.0

Top 20 in India

Automotive Design Applications open. Apply Now

8.4 L - 17.62 L
3.6 - 7 LPA

Automotive Design Applications open till Jan 21, 2025. Apply Now

5.25 L

Top 20 in India

2.25 L - 15.04 L
1 Course
2.69 L
17.92 LPA

Top 10 in Maharashtra

Popular Automotive Design UG Courses

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

UG Courses

Popular Automotive Design PG Courses

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

PG Courses

Automotive Design Career Scope: Job Profiles, Salary and Top Recruiters

The automotive design offers a wide range of professional options that are always changing and offer chances for specialisation and advancement. Experts in this domain may be employed by automakers, design firms, academic organisations, and even in developing fields like the design of electric and driverless vehicles. To succeed in this cutthroat business, networking, keeping up with industry developments, and developing a solid portfolio are essential. Check Career in Design Industry.

Due to the expansion of the automotive industry, there is an urgent need for qualified people in the field of automotive design. Some of the well-known and popular jobs along with their average salary are mentioned in the below table.

Job Profile Average Annual Salary
Automotive Designer INR 5.4 LPA
CAD Modeler INR 6.8 LPA
Automotive Engineer INR 7.1 LPA
Color and Materials Designer INR 6.5 LPA
Interior/Exterior Trim Designer INR 5.2 LPA
User Experience (UX) Designer INR 6.1 LPA
Ergonomics Specialist INR 5.9 LPA
Sustainability Consultant INR 4.9 LPA
Automotive Stylist INR 5.8 LPA

Top Recruiters in Automobile Design

Automotive designers are sought after by a wide range of businesses and sectors, who value their inventiveness, technical proficiency, and in-depth knowledge of vehicle design principles. Some of the top recruiters which employ automotive design engineers are listed as follows:

Top Recruiters in Automotive Design
Microsoft

TCS – Tata Consultancy Services

Sony

Infosys Reliance FedEx
Ernst & Young Shell Mahindra

Automotive Design FAQs 2024

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Student Forum

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

Answered 2 months ago

The table below shows the top private Automotive Design colleges in India along with their tuition fees:

Private CollegesTuition Fee
World University of Design AdmissionINR 2 lakh - INR 13 lakh
MIT Institute of Design, MIT-ADT University AdmissionINR 5 lakh
Unitedworld Institute of Design, Karnavati University AdmissionINR 2 lakh - INR 25 lakh
UPES (Admission Office) AdmissionINR 8 lakh - INR 18 lakh
JSS Science and Technology University AdmissionINR 1 lakh

T

Tasbiya Khan

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 months ago

The basic eligibility criteria to get admission to the best Automotive Design colleges in India are mentioned below:

  • Candidates can pursue Car Designing courses after 12th examination or its equivalent from a recognised board with an aggregate of 50% or higher. The qualifying examination should be in

...more

T

Tasbiya Khan

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 months ago

Joining the top Automotive Design colleges in India can be worthwhile for you. For that, you need to check its ROI. Listed below are some colleges along with their tuition fees and average placement package:

College NamesTuition FeeAverage Placement Package
Industrial Design Centre - IIT BombayINR 3 lakhINR 15 LPA
UPES (Admission Office)INR 8 lakh - INR 18 lakhINR 4 LPA - INR 7 LPA
JSS Science and Technology UniversityINR 1 lakhINR 7 LPA
KIIT School of Design, Kalinga Institute of Industrial TechnologyINR 14 lakhINR 10 LPA

T

Tasbiya Khan

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 months ago

Listed below are some of the affordable Automotive Design colleges in India along with their tuition fees:

Low-cost CollegesTuition Fee
Rustomjee Academy for Global Careers, DahisarINR 91,000
CADCAMGURU, PuneINR 8,000 - INR 92,000
CADD Centre, HazratganjINR 90,000

T

Tasbiya Khan

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 months ago

There are about 20+ best Automotive Design colleges in India. Of these, 16 colleges are privately owned and 3 colleges are owned by public/government organisations. Students can secure admission after passing Class 12 boards or through entrance exams like NIFT Entrance Exam, CEED, NID Entrance Exam,

...more

T

Tasbiya Khan

Contributor-Level 10

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