NIFT Kolkata Admission 2024: Eligibility, Application Process & Dates

Divya Verma Divya Verma | Aug 29, 2022
Divya Verma
Divya Verma

Updated on - Aug 29, 2022

Quick update - The application form has been released and can be downloaded from the university NIFT Kolkata official page. 

College application is centralized for all the educational institutions falling under the banner of the National Institute of Fashion Technology. Applicants are required to appear in several written tests, including the General Ability Test (GAT), Creative Ability Test (CAT), and the Situation Test. For the master’s program, applicants typically sit for the GAT. All the shortlisted applicants have to surpass a group discussion or a face-to-face interview to win a seat in the design school(s).

Table Of Contents

Highlights for NIFT Admissions 

The following table highlights the important admission updates -

Institution 

National Institute of Fashion Technology, Kolkata

Type of institute

Government 

Admission cycle

Commences every October

Application mode

Online 

Entrance Exam

GAT / CAT / Situation Test / Group Discussion

Mode of exam 

Pen and paper (offline)

Selection Criteria

Qualification of GAT / Group Discussion

Admission is granted strictly based on merit. For undergraduate degree admission, the applicants must qualify the General Aptitude Test (GAT). Candidates applying for a postgraduate degree must qualify for the group discussion/ face-to-face interview in addition to the GAT. The aforementioned tests collectively fall under the NIFT Entrance Exam.

Why should you choose NIFT Kolkata?

With diverse majors to choose from and an exemplary workforce, NIFT, Kolkata is cruising at the pinnacle of success. Since its inception in 1995, the curriculum of this elite institution has withstood several amendments. Starting with 1 undergraduate and postgraduate program (each), NIFT, Kolkata is currently offering 7 undergraduate courses, and 1 post-graduate program. The design institution has additionally introduced 12 Continuing Education (CE) programs. 

The fashion technology school boasts a state-of-the-art campus, with cutting-edge teaching/mentoring technologies. Students and staff can enjoy the benefits of the colossal seminar halls, high-end sports facilities (indoor/outdoor), advanced laboratories, several food pit stops, and gazebos, a brilliant security force, smart-classrooms, ‘homely’ in-campus accommodations, and many more.

It is honorary for a student to be part of this top design school. Here is our take on the admission process for the National Institute of Fashion Technology, Kolkata. 

NIFT Kolkata Application Process

The application process for all the design schools (campuses) under the National Institute Fashion Technology (NIFT) is common. The online application for the academic year 2024 is from October 2019 to December 2019. 

Applicants must submit all the necessary documents such as high school transcripts (10+2 mark sheet), birth certificate, caste documents, and many more. It is highly recommended to register for the NIFT Entrance Test well before the deadline. This is to mitigate any unprecedented circumstance(s). 

The online registration of NIFT Kolkata (application form) starts on October 23, 2019. The last day to apply is December 31, 2019. Applicants can also register for NIFT on January 4, 2024, which would account as ‘late registration’ and incurs additional charges. 

How to apply at NIFT Kolkata?

Here is the step-by-step guide to the NIFT Kolkata application -

  • Application is processed by applying on the official website.

  • All the necessary documents about the application process must be submitted

  • The online application form generally has sections for personal information along with educational credentials and more

  • Candidates can pay the application fee through net-banking, credit, or debit cards. A provision for offline payment through a demand draft is also available

NIFT Kolkata Application Form

Applicants must pay a nominal application fee of INR 2000 ( for General / OBC- Non-Creamy Layer) and INR 1000 ( for ST/SC/PWD). Candidates may correct application data from January 1, 2024, to January 4, 2024. A fee of INR 5000 is charged for late registration.

NIFT Kolkata Undergraduate (UG) Admission Process

For an undergraduate degree, students can select from an assortment of programs. The National Institute of Fashion Technology, Kolkata currently offers 2 undergraduate programs. These are specializations in various fields of fashion and related industries. 

Applicants appear for the NIFT Entrance Exam ( GAT, CAT, Situation Test), the results of which determine his/her admission to the college. For an undergraduate degree, the selection is done based on the GAT results. The written entrance test is on January 19, 2024. 

The application for the undergraduate admission process commences with the online registration for NIFT (October 23, 2019). The eligibility criteria for all the programs under UG  depend on the age of the candidate and educational background. 

Courses and Eligibility Criteria 

The programs offered under the undergraduate degrees are Bachelor of Design (B.Des) and Bachelor of Fashion Technology (B.FTech). Depending on the entrance exam scores, preferences, available seats, and meeting of the eligibility prerequisites, candidates are granted admission. 

The age bar for the UG courses (B.Des and B.Ftech) has an upper limit of 23 years. An additional 5 years is relaxed (on the upper limit) for applicants under ST/SC/persons with disabilities.

The following table demonstrates the categorization of the specializations (under the undergraduate degree) along with their eligibility prerequisites - 

Type of degree

Type of program

Specialization

Eligibility

Undergraduate

Bachelor’s of Design (B.Des)

Leather Design (LD)

  • Qualified 10+2 exam

             Or

  • Qualified Senior Secondary School Examination held by the National Open School 

             Or

  • Diploma degree in technical 

        education

             Or

  • Qualified in school/board/university examination recognized by  Association of Indian Universities

             Or

  • Qualified GEC examination

Fashion Design (FD)

Textile Design (TD)

Accessory Design (AD)

Fashion Communication (FC)

Knitwear Design (KD)

Accessory Design (AD)

Bachelor’s of Fashion Technology (B.Ftech)

Apparel Production

Key points - 

  • Qualification of the 10+2 examination must be from a recognized central or state governing body (CBSE, CISCE, or any other state board). 

  • In the Senior Secondary School Examination by the National Open School, applicants must qualify in a minimum of 5 subjects 

  • The diploma (3-4 years) in technical education must be from an educational institution recognized by AICTE or the State Board of Technical Education

  • The General Certificate Education (GEC) exam must be qualified at the Advanced level or International Baccalaureate (IB)

Seat Availability 

Typically, the Bachelor’s of Design (B.Des) program consists of 120 vacancies (seats). Each specialization is awarded 30 seats (individually). For Bachelor of Fashion Technology (B.FTech), as many as 30 seats are allotted for the sole specialization, Apparel Production. 

Selection Process

For undergraduate programs, students are selected based on merit. Candidates must undergo the NIFT Entrance Test. This exam is categorized into 3 parts - the Creative Ability Test (CAT), the General Ability Test (GAT), and the Situation Test. Candidates must qualify for the aforementioned examinations to receive acceptance into the college. Factors like the availability of seats also play a prime role during the selection.

NIFT Kolkata Post Graduate (PG) Admission Process

For a postgraduate degree, students can select from an array of programs. The National Institute of Fashion Technology, Kolkata currently offers 1 postgraduate program. The program offered under the postgraduate degree is Masters of Fashion Management (MFM). 

Applicants appear for the NIFT Entrance Exam (written exam), the results of which determine his/her admission to the college. For a postgraduate degree, the selection is done based on the GAT results. For the final round of evaluation, short-listed candidates must appear for a group discussion/personal interview.

Depending on the entrance exam scores, preferences, available seats, and meeting of the eligibility prerequisites, candidates are granted admission. 

Courses and Eligibility Criteria

The programs offered under the post-graduate degrees are Masters of Design (M.Des), Masters of Fashion Technology (M.FTech), and Masters of Fashion Management. Depending on the entrance exam scores, preferences, available seats, and meeting of the eligibility prerequisites, candidates are granted admission. 

There is no age bar for the PG courses (M.Des, M.Ftech, and MFM).

The following table demonstrates the categorization of the specializations (under the master's degree) along with their eligibility prerequisites - 

Type of degree

Type of program

Eligibility Criteria

Undergraduate

Masters of Design (M.Des)

  • Undergraduate Degree

  • Undergraduate Diploma from NIFT or NID

Masters of Fashion Management

Masters of Fashion Technology (M.Ftech)

  • B.Ftech from NIFT 

  • B.E/B.Tech 

Key points -

  • Undergraduate degree must be from an affiliated college/university

  • The undergraduate diploma must be of a minimum of 3 years

  • B.E/B.Tech must be from an affiliated college/university

Selection Criteria 

For post-graduate degree programs, students are selected based on merit. Candidates must undergo the NIFT Entrance Test. This exam is categorized into 2 parts - the General Ability Test (GAT) and the Group Discussion/Personal Interview. Candidates must qualify for the aforementioned examinations to receive acceptance into the college. Factors like the availability of seats also play a prime role during the selection.

Seat Availability 

Typically, the programs under the postgraduate degree consist of 30 vacancies each. 

NIFT Kolkata Continuous Education (CE) Programme Admission 

Admission in the Continuous Education (CE) Programme is based on the set eligibility and selection criteria. Candidates must have completed secondary education (10+2) governed by a recognized educational body. Post application, the applicant is invited for a face-to-face interview in the campus of choice. 

Candidates are tested on their knowledge of the subject matter, general aptitude, interpersonal, intrapersonal, and technical skills. The Continuous Education program is allowed 30 seats for each specialization. 

Courses and Eligibility Criteria

CE is categorized based on the tenure of the courses. Students may opt for 1 year or 6 months or below 6 months of education according to their convenience/availability of seats. 

The following table consolidates the various courses/specializations under the CE program along with the eligibility criteria.

Duration

Specialization

Eligibility

1 year

Fashion Integration for Apparel Industry (FIAI)

Qualified 10+2 examination from a recognized board of education 

Fashion & Clothing Technology (FCT)

Design in Boutique Apparel & Accessory (DBAA)

Fashion Design & Clothing Technology (FDCT)

Clothing Production Technology (CPT)

6 months

Costume Jewellery & Accessory Design on Crafts (CJADC)

Qualified intermediate or 10+2 exam

CAD for Fashion & Textiles (CADF&T)

Qualified 10+2 examination from a recognized board of education 

Below 6 months

Draping for Dresses (DD)

  • Preliminary knowledge of draping
  • Minimum of 2 years experience in the Fashion industry
  • Qualified 10+2 exam

Fashion Digital Marketing (FDM)

Qualified intermediate or 10+2 exam

Craft Contemporary Evening Wear for Women (CCEWW)

Qualified 10+2 examination from a recognized board of education 

Apparel Retailing and Visual Merchandising (AVM)

Qualified intermediate or 10+2 exam

Candidates must research each specialization before seeking admission. It is mandatory to meet the eligibility prerequisites. Applicants are also evaluated on their extra-curricular prowess, making it prime criteria under eligibility requisites.

Selection Criteria

The CE program calls for a personal interview on campus. Applicants can select the venue (by preference) test for their knowledge on the subject matter, general aptitude, interpersonal, intrapersonal, and technical skills.

Seat Availability and Reservation

As many as 30 seats are allocated to each specialization under the CE program. Categories like Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), Other Backward Class (OBC) - Non-Creamy Layer, Differently Abled Candidates, foreign nationals, NRIs, SAARC, state domiciles are allotted certain relaxations based on age and seat reservations. Tangible evidence is required to enjoy the benefits of reservation norms of the institute.

Here is the overview of the seat reservation for different categories -

Category

% of seat reservation

Scheduled Caste

15%

Scheduled Tribe

7.5%

Other Backward Class - NCL

27%

Differently Abled Person

3%

State Domicile

20%

Foreign Nationals/ NRI/ SAARC

15

Key points - 

  • Under the Differently Abled Person (PHP) category, the applicant must have a disability of 40% or more

  • State domiciles receive 6 supernumerary seats (20%) in addition to the 30 seats

  • State domiciles for Jammu & Kashmir are allotted 35% seats within the allocated 30 seats

NIFT Entrance Exam

NIFT Kolkata is predominantly dependent on the NIFT entrance exam. For the current year, the written exam (for all UG and PG courses) is scheduled for January 19, 2024. Situation test/ group discussion/personal interview is scheduled between April 2024 to May 2024. 

For an undergraduate degree, students have to appear for the entrance test, consisting of the General Ability Test (GAT), Creative Ability Test (CAT), and the Situation Test. 

For a postgraduate degree, students appear for the GAT, followed by a group discussion or personal interview.

CE programs generally require a face-to-face interview with the candidates. 

Here are the highlights for the NIFT entrance exam 2024

Exam Date

January 19, 2024

Exam mode

Offline (pen and paper)

Duration

2 hours

Question Pattern

Multiple Choice Questions

Language

English and Hindi

Marking Scheme

No negative marking

Syllabus

The entrance exam primarily evaluates the candidate’s prowess on Analytical and Logical Ability, Quantitative Ability, General Knowledge, English Comprehension, Current Affairs, and Communication Ability 

Both CAT and GAT have a separate syllabus. Learn about the NIFT entrance exam syllabus.

Admit Card

Applicants can avail of the admit card post-application. The NIFT admit card contains all the important information regarding your application. For NIFT admissions 2024, the admit card is released on January 10, 2024. The candidates may avail themselves the same online by logging into their student/exam login. 

Results

The overall results for the NIFT entrance exam 2024 have been released online on March March 13, 2024. Candidates may avail the same logging into their exam login. 

The NIFT Entrance Exam cut-offs are announced shortly after the NIFT entrance results are declared.

Preparation tips

The NIFT entrance exam requires the candidates to be fluent in an array of subjects. It is essential to be prepared before-hand to successfully appear for the test. Here are a few tips to help you crack the upcoming NIFT entrance exam.

  • Crack the internet and research on every aspect of the exam - duration, question pattern, marking scheme, previous years’ papers (if any)

  • Make a time-table that allows you to learn but still incorporate leisure in your schedule. All work no play makes Jack a dull boy

  • Several online/offline study materials can augment your learning and preparation for the exam

  • Practice sample papers and attempt mock tests to get an experience of the exam

  • Refrain from procrastinating on your preparation. Time and tide wait for none

You may read - Preparation tips for NIFT entrance exam

NIFT Counselling 

Candidates qualifying the cut-offs undergo a session of counseling administered by NIFT. This is the final round of the admission process before the freshmen entree gets ready to step into the glamourous yet magnanimous world of fashion technology.

The CE program calls for a personal interview on campus. Applicants can select the venue of the interview. 

Tips For A Successful Admission 

Here are 5 champion hacks for a successful admission process -

  • It is highly recommended to complete the online registration as early as possible to mitigate unsolicited happenstance. 

  • Make a checklist of all the pre-requisite documents (for the application process) beforehand to avoid any last-minute rush 

  • Break the internet, research on the institution to be fluent with the institutional norms

  • Prepare well for the entrance test 

  • Expect for the unexpected 

Admission Helpline 

For course related details, contact - +91-33-2335 5734 

NIFT Kolkata Reviews

Overall Rating

3.8

Verified

Distribution of Rating

>4-5 star

2

>3-4 star

3

>2-3 star

0

1-2 star

0

Academics & Faculty

4.3

Fees & Scholarships

2.8

Placements & Internships

3.9

College Infrastructure & Hostel Facilities

3.4

Clubs & Associations

4.7

Verified
Shresthadey07 Batch 2013 MFM [Master of Fashion Management]
3.9
Reviewed on Feb 11, 2020
3 Placements
4 Fees
5 Academics
3.5 Infrastructure
4 Campus

Entrance Exams & Admissions :   The admission process for MFM has changed, please refer to the NIFT website for the latest updates.    

Placements & Internships : Two internships are a mus

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Verified
Bittu Vish Batch 2019 Others
3.3
Reviewed on Jan 15, 2016
4.5 Academics
2.5 Fees
4 Placements
2.5 Infrastructure

Academics & Faculty : Class timings at National Institute of Fashion Technology, [NIFT] Kolkata is from 09:00 am to 4:00 pm. My personal experience in college is good.

Fees & Scholarships : Th

Read More

Verified
Amrita Mitra Batch 2019 Others
4.3
Reviewed on Jan 15, 2016
4 Academics
3.5 Fees
4 Placements
5 Infrastructure
5 Campus

Academics & Faculty : The classes at National Institute of Fashion Technology, [NIFT] Kolkata start usually at 9:15 A.M. Each day in NIFT is different in respect of the timetable. Usually, the students have 2-3 classes each day, each classes

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Verified
Mamik Gupta Batch 2016 Others
2.6
Reviewed on Oct 11, 2015
4 Academics
1 Fees
3 Infrastructure

Academics & Faculty : The quality of teaching is good with some knowledgeable teachers at NIFT. The professors are very helpful and always there to support.

Fees & Scholarships : There is no such schol

Read More

Verified
Saptarshi Roy Batch 2016 Others
3.9
Reviewed on Aug 18, 2015
4 Academics
3 Fees
4.5 Placements
3 Infrastructure
5 Campus

Academics & Faculty : National Institute of Fashion Technology, Kolkata is one of the best of its kind in the country. And, as far as the course goes, in the current scenario it is one of the best courses to join or try to join because the apparel industry is growing

Read More

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