NIFT Courses, Fee Structure, Exams, and More: Check Complete Details for Fashion, Design Programmes

A Brief History:

The National Institute of Fashion Technology OR NIFT, started its journey in 1986. It was the first institute in India to focus on fashion education and has since played a key role in shaping talented professionals for the textile and apparel industry. In 2006, NIFT became a statutory institute through an Act of Parliament, with the President of India as its ‘Visitor’. Today, NIFT has grown with campuses spread across the country. Apart from teaching, NIFT also works closely with the Union and State governments to support and promote Indian handlooms, handicrafts, and traditional designs, helping to keep India’s rich heritage alive.

In the early days of NIFT, experts from the renowned Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York came on board to guide and shape the institute. As NIFT grew, many talented and well-known names from the world of fashion and design also joined as faculty, bringing their rich knowledge and real-world experience to the classrooms. “Pupul Jaykar Hall at NIFT headquarters in New Delhi is a reminiscence of many educational thinkers and visionaries who have been instrumental to the institute's road map to success”, informs the official website.

Courses, Admission Process, and Eligibility:

The National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) provides various courses for students after Class 12 and graduation. At the undergraduate level, students can apply for BDes (Bachelor of Design) and BFTech (Bachelor of Fashion Technology) programmes. For post graduation, NIFT offers MDes (Master of Design), MFTech (Master of Fashion Technology), and MFM (Master of Fashion Management) courses.

For admission to most of these courses in 2025, candidates need to appear for the NIFT Entrance Exam 2025, followed by a Situation Test, Personal Interview, and Counselling round. Students who wish to apply must visit the official NIFT website and complete the online application form.

Below is the list of NIFT courses:

Parameter	BDes Eligibility Criteria	BFTech Eligibility Criteria
Age Limit	The candidate should be less than 24 years as on August 1, 2025. Relaxation: Upper age limit is relaxed by 5 years for SC, ST, and PwD candidates.	The candidate should be less than 24 years as on August 1, 2025. Relaxation: Upper age limit is relaxed by 5 years for SC, ST, and PwD candidates.
Qualifying Exam	Candidate must meet any of the following: • Passed 10+2 from a recognized institute. • A pass grade in Senior Secondary Examination conducted by the National Open School with minimum 5 subjects. • 3 or 4-year diploma recognized by AICTE or State Board of Technical Education. • Any Public School/Board/University exam (India or foreign) recognized by Association of Indian Universities as equivalent to 10+2 system.	Candidate must have completed any of the following: • Passed 10+2 from a recognized institute with Physics and Mathematics as subjects. • General Certificate Education (GCE) Exam (London/Cambridge/Sri Lanka) at advanced (A) level with Physics & Mathematics / International Baccalaureate (IB). • Any Public School/Board/University exam (India or foreign) recognized by Association of Indian Universities as equivalent to 10+2 system. • 3 or 4-year diploma in any branch of engineering recognized by AICTE or State Board of Technical Education.
Number of Attempts	There is no limit on the number of attempts.	There is no limit on the number of attempts.

NIFT Speciality Areas & the key reasons why students choose NIFT:

There are many well-known design colleges in India, but NIFT stands out because it focuses more on fashion-related courses. At NIFT, students learn everything about fabrics, garment making, fashion illustration, styling, and understanding designs. The institute gives in-depth knowledge of clothes and the fashion world. “At NIFT, you get to learn almost everything about fashion, from the basics to the advanced level,” says Shreya, a former student of NIFT Delhi.