NID DAT 2027: exam date, pattern, syllabus and how to apply
The Design Aptitude Test (DAT) is how the National Institute of Design admits students to its B.Des. and 5.5-year integrated M.Des. programmes, at NID Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar and Bengaluru and at NID Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh. It has two stages: the DAT Prelims, which only shortlists, and the DAT Mains, which decides admission. The DAT Prelims for admissions 2027-28 is on Sunday 20 December 2026, and applications close at 11:59 p.m. on 30 November 2026 (checked 20 October 2026 in the NID Admissions Handbook 2027-28 and on admissions.nid.edu).
NID DAT at a glance
| Conducting body | National Institute of Design (NID Admissions Cell, Ahmedabad) |
| What it is for | B.Des. and 5.5-year integrated M.Des. at the NIDs listed above |
| Mode | Paper-and-pencil test at a centre, same time everywhere |
| Questions | Objective questions plus drawing and design tasks (100 marks in the sample papers) |
| Time | Printed on the admit card |
| Marking | Marks printed per question; no negative marking is mentioned |
| Language | English only |
| How often | Once a year |
| Official website | admissions.nid.edu |
NID DAT 2027 exam date
From the Admissions Handbook 2027-28, as of 20 October 2026:
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Online application with fee | 10 September to 30 November 2026, 11:59 p.m. |
| Window to edit the form | 4 p.m. 1 December to 11:59 p.m. 3 December 2026 |
| DAT Prelims admit card | 4 p.m., 10 December 2026 |
| DAT Prelims | Sunday 20 December 2026 |
| Prelims result | 4 p.m., 16 March 2027 |
| DAT Mains (Studio and In-Person Sensitivity Tests) | To be announced |
The Prelims is held in 17 cities. NID's website says exam schedules may change, so check the amendments on the admissions site.
How to apply for NID DAT 2027
- Go to admissions.nid.edu and sign up for the 5.5-year integrated M.Des./B.Des. programme.
- Fill in your details and choose your preferred NIDs and test centre.
- Upload a recent photograph (taken in a studio; self-portraits are not accepted), your signature and any category or PwD certificate.
- Pay the fee online. The handbook gives ₹3,000 for General, Gen-EWS and OBC-NCL; ₹2,000 for female candidates (except SC, ST and PwD); ₹1,500 for SC and ST; ₹500 for PwD and third gender candidates. One fee covers all NIDs and is not refundable.
- Submit by 30 November 2026 and keep the confirmation.
Eligibility: you must have passed or be sitting Class 12 (any stream) in 2026-27. Age: General and Gen-EWS candidates must be born on or after 1 July 2006; OBC-NCL, SC and ST on or after 1 July 2003; PwD on or after 1 July 2001.
NID DAT exam pattern
NID does not publish a fixed blueprint. Its two B.Des. sample papers (2024 and 2025) look like this:
| Part | What it contains | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| A. Objective questions | About 20 questions of 1 or 2 marks, four options | 25 |
| B. Design tasks | 4 or 5 drawing, design and writing tasks, answered on the paper | 75 |
| Total | 100 |
The Prelims score is used only to shortlist: 2.5 times the seats in each category go to the Mains, and the Prelims marks are not carried forward. The DAT Mains has a Studio Sensitivity Test and an In-Person Sensitivity Test. The M.Des. route has its own separate Prelims.
NID DAT syllabus
There is no official syllabus. The sample papers test:
- Objective part: colour, Indian art, crafts and architecture, design awareness (signs, symbols, products, typography), everyday science and nature, environment and society, and spatial reasoning (cubes, folding, counting).
- Design tasks: generating several ideas for an everyday situation, drawing a scene from an unusual viewpoint, making a poster, studying the users of a product or place, drawing a whole object from partial views, and reading a passage then sketching a concept.
Download the official sample papers and see our NID DAT syllabus page.
A two-month plan to 20 December
Weeks 1–2. Apply. Work through both sample papers under time to see the mix. Start a sketchbook and draw every day: objects, people, rooms, from different angles.
Weeks 3–5. One design task a day, timed: ideas for a situation, a poster, a user study. Keep a list of crafts, colour terms and design examples you meet. Take a full timed NID DAT mock test and mark your drawings against the criteria.
Weeks 6–7. Two full timed mocks a week, at the length printed on your admit card. Practise finishing every task, even roughly; a blank task scores nothing. Work on clear, quick drawings rather than polished ones.
Last days. Download the admit card (10 December), check the duration printed on it and the materials you may bring, and rest.
Useful links
- NID admissions 2027-28 (application and amendments)
- Admissions Handbook 2027-28: integrated M.Des. and B.Des.
- Free NID DAT mock tests
- NID DAT syllabus
- NID DAT exam dates
- NIFT 2027: exam date, pattern and how to apply
- How to use mock tests
Frequently asked questions
When is the NID DAT Prelims 2027?
Sunday 20 December 2026, according to NID's Admissions Handbook 2027-28 (checked 20 October 2026). The admit card is available from 10 December.
What is the last date to apply for NID DAT 2027?
11:59 p.m. on 30 November 2026, for the integrated M.Des./B.Des. programmes. An edit window follows from 1 to 3 December.
Is there negative marking in NID DAT?
Neither the handbook nor NID's sample papers mention negative marking. Each question carries the marks printed beside it.
What is the age limit for NID B.Des.?
General and Gen-EWS candidates must be born on or after 1 July 2006, OBC-NCL, SC and ST candidates on or after 1 July 2003, and PwD candidates on or after 1 July 2001.
Does the NID DAT Prelims score count in the final merit?
No. The Prelims only shortlists candidates for the Mains. Each NID admits on the DAT Mains score.
Can I apply to NID from any stream?
Yes. The handbook opens the programme to candidates from any stream who pass or sit Class 12 in 2026-27.