NID DAT 2023: Registration (Open), Exam Date (Jan 8), Exam Centre, Syllabus, Latest Updates

  • By Christy J. Varghese
  • 21 November 2022
NID DAT 2023

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The NID entrance exam date  for Prelims is set to be held on January 8, 2023, as announced by the National Institute of Design (NID). On October 21, the online application for the NID entrance exam became available. Applications to NID DAT 2023 must be received by no later than December 16, 2022. 

The B.Des course is now offered at the five NID campuses in Ahmedabad, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, and Assam, with a total of 425 seats available. The M.Des programme, meanwhile, has 347 places available across its THREE campuses, NID Ahmedabad, NID Gandhinagar, and NID Bengaluru.

What is the NID Entrance Exam?

The National Institute of Design (NID) conducts the NID Design Aptitude Test (DAT), a national entrance exam, to select applicants for NID admission to the Bachelor of Design (BDes) and Master of Design (MDes) programmes provided by the participating institutes like NID, Ahmedabad; NID, Andhra Pradesh; NID, Haryana; NID, Madhya Pradesh; and NID, Assam.

NID DAT: How to apply for NID Entrance Exam 2023

The institution has mentioned four steps to apply to the NID DAT 2023

  • Step 1: Register and log in at the official website of NID Admission

Include information such as nationality, category, disability, birthdate, email, and mobile number.

  • Step 2: Fill out the application form

Complete the application by providing your personal and educational information and work history (Only M.Des.)

  • Step 3: Uploading documents

A photograph of you, a signature, a caste or disability certificate, and a passport are essential documents.

  • Step 4: Pay and print

Pay the fees online and print the application form once you have completed the aforementioned steps.

Eligibility for NID Entrance Exam

All applicants for the B.Des. must meet the following qualifying requirements in terms of both age and educational background:

  1. Education requirements: Applicants may apply for NID DAT 2023 if they passed or will pass the upper secondary (10+2) qualifying examinations in any stream (Science, Arts, Commerce, Humanities, etc.) from any recognised educational board, such as the CBSE, IB, ICSE, or equivalent in the academic year 2022–23.
  2. Age criteria: All applicants in the General and EWS categories must have been born on July 1, 2003, or later. Relaxation of the maximum age:
  • 3 years for OBC-NCL, SC, and ST candidates [born on or after 1 July 2000].
  • 5 years for Persons with Disabilities (PwD) [born on or after 1 July 1998].

All applicants for the M.Des. programme (in any discipline) must meet the following  eligibility for the NID entrance exam  with regards to both age and educational background:

  1. Educational requirements: A bachelor's degree with a minimum 3-year or 4-year duration in any specialisation earned after completing the 12th grade or a grade equivalent OR 

A full-time diploma with a minimum 4-year duration in design, fine arts, applied arts, or architecture obtained after completing a 12th-grade equivalent or a higher education institution recognised in India.

  1. Age criteria: All applicants in the General and EWS categories must have been born on July 1, 1993, or later. Relaxation of the maximum age:
  • 3 years for OBC-NCL, SC, and ST candidates [born on or after 1 July 2000].
  • 5 years for Persons with Disabilities (PwD) [born on or after 1 July 1998].

NID Entrance Exam 2023 Pattern 

The candidates' performance in the two levels of the Design Aptitude Tests, or DAT Prelims & DAT Mains, determines their admission to all of NID's programmes. These exams evaluate candidates' knowledge, skills, and behavioural capabilities.

  1. Design Aptitude Test (DAT) preliminary stage - Prelims for the Design Aptitude Test (DAT) will be held at numerous testing facilities across India. 
  2. Design Aptitude Test (DAT) Mains - After the DAT Prelims, candidates who made the cut will be asked to take the DAT Mains.

Note: Taking the DAT Prelims and DAT Mains is required for admission to the B.Des or M.Des course.

Overview of NID Entrance Exam Pattern - Prelims

Specifics

B.Des

M.Des

Duration of test

3 hours

2 and a half hour

Test mode

Pen and paper-based

Online

Total no. of questions

26

-

Type of question 

Combination of subjective & objective

Combination of subjective & objective

Total marks

100

100

Note: For the B.Des DAT Mains, a Studio Test will be conducted. For the M.Des, a Personal Interview will be conducted. 

NID Entrance Exam Syllabus 2023

The table below lists the subjects included in the NID DAT syllabus for NID admission to BDes/MDes by performing well in the prelims. 

Design Outline for Beginners

Color Terminology

Inspiration & Design Development

Mood, Theme & Colour Inter-relationship

Design Theory

Elements & Principles Of Design

Natural & Geometrical Form

Innovation in Design

Principles of Composition

Lettering

Optical Illusion

Understanding Light & Shade

Colour Psychology & Optical Illusions

Form & Function

Colour, Pattern & Texture

Theme Development

Creative thinking & writing

Picture Analysis

Visual Logic

Good Design vs Bad Design

Drawing Fundamentals

Use of Measurements, Scale & proportions

Optical Illusion

Foreshortening & Perspective

Developing Themes & Colour Associations

Inspiration & Creativity

Ornaments & motifs

Memory Drawing

Usage of Colour in Compositions

Expression & Emotion

Exercises on imagination

Lateral Thinking

Story Pictures

Presentation Techniques

Imagination & Doodling

3D Visualization

Graphics & Pictograms

Innovation & Creation

Design Awareness

Developing Observation

Also read: UX Designer Salary in India

Overview of NID Entrance Exam: Application for NID Admission

Here is a quick explanation of the NID admission procedure, from the submission of applications through the distribution of seats:

Step 1: Fill the Application Form

Step 2: Download Admit Card

Step 3: Appear for DAT Prelim Examination

Step 4: Check NID DAT Prelims Result online 

Step 5: Download DAT Mains Admit Card - Admit cards for the DAT Mains will be given to those who pass the NID DAT Prelims exam.

Step 6: Appear for NID DAT 2023 Main Examination - Candidates for the M.Des degree must appear in an online interview round in addition to the Studio Test portion of the DAT Mains.

Step 7: Check the Final Result for the NID entrance exam - Based on a candidate's performance in NID DAT 2023 (Prelims) and NID DAT 2023 (Mains), the final merit list for NID admission will be prepared.

NID DAT Sample Question Papers

You can also find here the NID DAT sample paper for the B.Des DAT Prelims and M.Des DAT Prelims

Conclusion

Any entrance exam may require you to manage exam stress efficiently. These exams offer the chance to create a solid academic base in the current cutthroat marketplace. 

Sign up at Sunstone for detailed information for students interested in UG/PG courses in the most popular academic fields, including B.Des. 

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