NIFT 2027 applications close November 16; entrance exam on January 10

Applications for the NIFT 2027 entrance exam, the test for admission to the National Institute of Fashion Technology, will close at the regular fee on Monday, 16 November 2026, according to the schedule published for this cycle by the National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducts the exam. Candidates who miss that date can still apply with a late fee of Rs 5,000 until 21 November, and a window to correct submitted forms will run from 22 to 25 November. The entrance exam will be held on Sunday, 10 January 2027.

India's fashion industry needs trained designers, merchandisers and technologists, and NIFT is one of the main public institutions that prepares them. For many young women and men who want to build careers in design, textiles and fashion business, the NIFT entrance is the first step. The test decides who gets a seat, so missing the application window means waiting another year.

The deadline structure matters for families planning costs. Applying by 16 November keeps the fee at the regular rate. After that, the extra Rs 5,000 late fee raises the cost sharply, which can be a burden for students from lower-income families. The correction window from 22 to 25 November is the only planned chance to fix errors in a submitted form, so candidates should check their details, photograph and category carefully before paying.

The exam itself is in two parts, according to exam portals: a General Ability Test (GAT), taken on computer in the morning, and a Creative Ability Test (CAT), a pen-and-paper test in the afternoon that assesses creative and design skills. Because the two papers test very different abilities, design applicants need to prepare for both. With the exam on 10 January, candidates have about two months from the regular deadline to prepare.

For students drawn to fashion as an enterprise as much as a form of self-expression, the choice between the design degree (B.Des) and the fashion technology degree (B.F.Tech) is the first career decision, and it should be made before filling the form.

What should a NIFT aspirant do next? Register on exams.nta.nic.in/niftee and pay the fee before 16 November, save the confirmation page, use the 22-25 November window only if you find a genuine error, and begin preparing for both the General Ability and Creative Ability tests now.

Short-term: Students have two weeks to apply at the regular fee. Coaching centres and schools with design streams are likely to push students to finish forms before 16 November.

Long-term: The 2027 entrance will decide the next batch of NIFT students, who will join India's fashion, textile and retail industries as designers and technologists over the coming years.

Who is affected: Class 12 students and graduates aiming for design and fashion technology careers, their families, design coaching institutes, and NIFT campuses.

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