Design
Apr 9, 2026
NID DAT 2026: Studio Test Results Announced for B.Des; Counseling to Begin in May
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Priya Sharma
Apr 9, 2026
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The National Institute of Design (NID) has officially released the results for the B.Des DAT Mains 2026, also known as the Studio Test. Candidates who appeared for the second stage of the entrance process in March can now check their qualifying status on the admissions portal, admissions.nid.edu. This marks the penultimate step in the journey to secure a seat at one of the premier design institutes in the country, including NID Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Bengaluru, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, and Assam.
The Studio Test results are calculated based on a weighted score that combines the performance in the DAT Prelims (conducted in January) and the DAT Mains. For the B.Des program, the Prelims usually carry a 40% weightage, while the Mains carry 60%. The Mains exam involved hands-on tasks such as 3D modeling, sketching, and a thematic observation test, designed to evaluate the creative aptitude and material handling skills of the aspirants. The feedback from the jury this year suggested a very high standard of work, particularly in the social design and sustainability categories.
Qualified candidates are now required to participate in the online seat allotment process. The window for submitting campus and discipline preferences will be open from April 12 to April 20, 2026. It is crucial for students to research the specific strengths of each NID campus before locking their choices. For instance, NID Ahmedabad is renowned for Product Design and Graphic Design, while NID Bengaluru is a hub for Digital Game Design and Interaction Design. Once the choices are locked, they cannot be modified in subsequent rounds.
The first round of seat allotment is expected to be announced on May 4, 2026. Students who are allotted a seat will have to pay a non-refundable token fees to confirm their acceptance and upload their educational documents for verification. If a candidate fails to pay the fee within the stipulated time, their seat will be forfeited and offered to the next person on the merit list in the second round, which is scheduled for the third week of May.
NID has also released the cut-off scores for various categories. As expected, the competition for the Open category remains fierce, with the closing ranks for the Ahmedabad campus being very low. For students who did not make the cut this year, the institute provides a detailed scorecard that breaks down their performance in different sections, offering valuable insights for a potential second attempt. The new academic session for the 2026 batch is slated to begin in the first week of July with an orientation program at the respective campuses.
The Studio Test results are calculated based on a weighted score that combines the performance in the DAT Prelims (conducted in January) and the DAT Mains. For the B.Des program, the Prelims usually carry a 40% weightage, while the Mains carry 60%. The Mains exam involved hands-on tasks such as 3D modeling, sketching, and a thematic observation test, designed to evaluate the creative aptitude and material handling skills of the aspirants. The feedback from the jury this year suggested a very high standard of work, particularly in the social design and sustainability categories.
Qualified candidates are now required to participate in the online seat allotment process. The window for submitting campus and discipline preferences will be open from April 12 to April 20, 2026. It is crucial for students to research the specific strengths of each NID campus before locking their choices. For instance, NID Ahmedabad is renowned for Product Design and Graphic Design, while NID Bengaluru is a hub for Digital Game Design and Interaction Design. Once the choices are locked, they cannot be modified in subsequent rounds.
The first round of seat allotment is expected to be announced on May 4, 2026. Students who are allotted a seat will have to pay a non-refundable token fees to confirm their acceptance and upload their educational documents for verification. If a candidate fails to pay the fee within the stipulated time, their seat will be forfeited and offered to the next person on the merit list in the second round, which is scheduled for the third week of May.
NID has also released the cut-off scores for various categories. As expected, the competition for the Open category remains fierce, with the closing ranks for the Ahmedabad campus being very low. For students who did not make the cut this year, the institute provides a detailed scorecard that breaks down their performance in different sections, offering valuable insights for a potential second attempt. The new academic session for the 2026 batch is slated to begin in the first week of July with an orientation program at the respective campuses.