IIT design programmes: all 7 IITs compared (seats, fees, cutoffs)

Seven IITs now offer B.Des programmes through UCEED, plus IIITDM Jabalpur. If you are preparing for UCEED, understanding the differences between these programmes matters: total seats are limited, and each IIT has its own character, specialisation mix, and campus culture.

This guide gives you a complete factual comparison: seats, approximate closing ranks, fees, specialisations, how to choose between them, the JoSAA counselling process explained step by step, and a comparison with NID.

UCEED: one exam, multiple institutions

UCEED (Undergraduate Common Entrance Examination for Design) is conducted annually by IIT Bombay. A single UCEED score is used for admissions at all participating institutions. You apply to each institution separately during their respective counselling processes, but you appear for only one exam.

For a full breakdown of the UCEED exam pattern, eligibility, and preparation, see the UCEED exam hub. Past papers are available free at uceed.iitb.ac.in.

Complete comparison: all 7 IITs and IIITDM Jabalpur

Institute	City	B.Des seats (approx.)	Approx. closing rank (General, 2024)	Key specialisations
IIT Bombay IDC School of Design	Mumbai	~30	~16	Industrial Design, Visual Communication, Interaction Design, Animation Design, Mobility Design
IIT Delhi	New Delhi	~20	~40	Industrial Design, Communication Design, Textile Design
IIT Kanpur	Kanpur	~20	~60	Product Design, Interaction Design, Sustainability Design
IIT Guwahati	Guwahati	~56	~80	Product Design, Visual Communication, Interaction Design, Craft and Traditional Design
IIT Roorkee	Roorkee	~25	~90	Product Design, Communication Design, Smart Systems Design
IIT Hyderabad	Hyderabad	~30	~110	Visual Design, Interaction Design, Industrial Design
IIT Jodhpur	Jodhpur	~20	~140	Interaction Design, Visual Design, Design Research
IIITDM Jabalpur	Jabalpur	~20	~160 to 180	Design for Manufacturing, Product Design

Total across all UCEED-accepting institutions: approximately 221 seats. This is a small number relative to the total number of UCEED candidates. The competition is real.

Important disclaimer: Seat counts are approximate and change each year based on JoSAA/CSAB counselling outcomes. Closing ranks fluctuate based on the number of candidates and their score distribution. Always verify current seat matrices at josaa.nic.in and uceed.iitb.ac.in before making decisions.

What makes each institution different

IIT Bombay IDC School of Design

The IDC (Industrial Design Centre) at IIT Bombay is the oldest design programme in the IIT system, established in 1969. It has the strongest alumni network, the most research collaborations, and is consistently ranked first in NIRF’s Design category. With approximately 30 seats and a closing rank around 16 (General, 2024), it is also the most selective.

Located in Mumbai, students benefit from proximity to India’s largest design and advertising industry. The programme offers B.Des, M.Des, and PhD tracks. Studios are well-equipped with digital fabrication facilities, photography studios, and model-making workshops. The Mobility Design and Animation Design specialisations are unique among IITs.

Profile: IIT Bombay IDC

IIT Delhi

IIT Delhi’s design department in New Delhi is one of the more established in the system. Its proximity to Delhi’s government, policy, and media sector gives students a different industry exposure compared to Mumbai or Bengaluru. Textile Design as a specialisation is offered here but not at most other IITs, making it a distinctive option for students interested in that direction.

Profile: IIT Delhi Design

IIT Kanpur

IIT Kanpur consistently ranks among the top five IITs overall (NIRF). Its design programme, though newer, benefits from the institute’s strong research culture. The Design Innovation Centre on campus gives students access to advanced fabrication and prototyping tools. The Sustainability Design specialisation is unusual in the IIT system. Closing ranks suggest it is one of the more competitive UCEED-accepting institutions outside Bombay and Delhi.

IIT Roorkee

India’s oldest technical institute (founded 1847 as Thomason College) has a relatively newer design department, established around 2014. IIT Roorkee has strong overall rankings and good industry linkages. The programme covers product design, communication design, and Smart Systems Design, a relatively newer focus area that reflects the growing intersection of IoT, embedded systems, and physical product design.

IIT Guwahati

IIT Guwahati has the largest B.Des intake of any IIT, at approximately 56 seats. This higher seat count, combined with a somewhat higher closing rank compared to Bombay and Delhi, makes it one of the more accessible IIT options for UCEED candidates. The design programme has been running for over a decade and has produced a growing number of alumni now working across India and internationally.

Located in the Northeast, the campus has a distinct culture and lower cost of living compared to metro IITs. The Craft and Traditional Design focus reflects the region’s rich material culture.

Profile: IIT Guwahati Design

IIT Hyderabad

IIT Hyderabad is located in a rapidly growing tech hub. Its design programme has a strong interdisciplinary character, and the city’s proximity to Hyderabad’s IT industry provides internship opportunities for interaction and UX design students. Faculty research spans human-computer interaction, inclusive design, and design for rural contexts.

IIT Jodhpur

Set in Rajasthan’s second-largest city, IIT Jodhpur has a design programme that draws on the region’s craft and traditional design heritage. Its closing rank (approximately 140, General, 2024) is among the most accessible in the UCEED system, making it a strategic option for candidates with UCEED scores in a moderate range. Design Research as a named specialisation is relatively uncommon at this level.

IIITDM Jabalpur: the non-IIT UCEED option

The Indian Institute of Information Technology, Design and Manufacturing, Jabalpur is the only non-IIT institution in the UCEED system. Its focus on design-for-manufacturing gives it a distinct character from the IITs. Industrial designers who want to understand manufacturing processes deeply will find the curriculum relevant. Historical closing ranks suggest it is the most accessible UCEED-accepting institution by rank (approximately 160 to 180 for General category).

Profile: IIITDM Jabalpur

NID vs. IIT: a comparison for decision-making

Students often ask whether they should aim for IIT or NID. Here is an honest comparison across the key dimensions.

Dimension	IITs (via UCEED + JoSAA)	NID (via NID DAT)
Admission route	UCEED written exam + JoSAA counselling	NID DAT Prelims (written) + Mains (Studio Test)
Curriculum approach	Design within an engineering/research ecosystem; strong on analytical rigour and interdisciplinary exposure	Design as a dedicated discipline; broadest range of specialisations in India; craft and material tradition is strong
Specialisation range	Primarily product, interaction, visual communication (plus some unique offerings like animation at IIT Bombay)	Widest range in India: animation, film, furniture, exhibition, craft, fashion, textile, graphic, product, interaction, and more
Industry connections	Strong tech and consulting industry links (Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi networks)	Strong design consulting, craft, and government design links; NID alumni network in brand and product design is substantial
Alumni outcomes	Strong in UX, product design, tech industry; growing in design research	Strong in design consulting, craft, brand design, animation, and film; alumni at major Indian and international design firms
Location	Varies by campus: Mumbai, Delhi, Kanpur, Guwahati, Roorkee, Hyderabad, Jodhpur	NID Ahmedabad (main campus); 22 other NID campuses at state and regional level
Fees	Approximately Rs 2 to 2.5 lakh/year tuition (similar across IITs); hostel additional	Similar range; check nid.edu for current fees
Selection method	Written exam only (Part A score; Part B for verification)	Written Prelims + hands-on Studio Test Mains

The honest guidance: If you want animation, film, furniture, exhibition design, or textile/craft design, NID is the stronger option, and often the only IIT-level option. If you want product design, UX, or interaction design within a technology-immersed environment, IITs and NID are both excellent choices. If your UCEED score is strong and your NID DAT performance is moderate (or vice versa), the question resolves itself practically. Apply to both where possible.

How to choose between IITs: a decision framework

Start with specialisation. Not every specialisation is available at every IIT. If you are specifically interested in Animation Design, IIT Bombay is the primary option. If you want Textile Design, IIT Delhi offers it. If you want Craft and Traditional Design, IIT Guwahati is relevant.

Consider your realistic UCEED rank. If your mock test performance consistently places you in the range of rank 30 to 80, IIT Delhi, IIT Kanpur, and IIT Guwahati are realistic targets alongside IIT Bombay. If your rank range is 80 to 150, IIT Roorkee, IIT Hyderabad, and IIT Jodhpur become the primary realistic options. Always include IIITDM Jabalpur as a backup.

Consider location. Mumbai, Delhi, and Hyderabad offer the densest design industry ecosystems. Guwahati, Jodhpur, and Roorkee have lower costs of living and a different campus character. If you already know you want internships or post-graduation employment in a specific city, proximity matters for building that network during your four years.

Do not treat closing rank as the only signal of quality. A lower closing rank (meaning more accessible) does not mean a weaker programme. IIT Jodhpur and IIT Hyderabad run rigorous, well-resourced programmes. The deciding factor should be the fit between your design interests and what the programme offers.

JoSAA counselling: step-by-step process

Getting a good UCEED rank is not the final step. Admission happens through JoSAA (Joint Seat Allocation Authority), conducted online at josaa.nic.in. Here is how the process works.

Step 1: UCEED result and registration. After UCEED results are announced, eligible candidates register on the JoSAA portal using their UCEED roll number, rank, and personal details. Registration typically opens in June.

Step 2: Filling preferences. This is the most important step and the one where mistakes are most costly. You list all programmes you are interested in, ordered from most preferred to least preferred. For UCEED candidates, this means listing IIT Bombay B.Des (Industrial Design), IIT Bombay B.Des (Interaction Design), IIT Delhi B.Des, IIT Guwahati B.Des, and so on, in the order you would genuinely want them.

Fill ALL realistic options. If you leave a programme out of your preference list, you cannot be allotted to it later. It costs nothing to include a lower-preference option; it may cost you a seat if you omit it.

Step 3: Mock allotment. JoSAA typically releases one or more mock allotments before the real rounds. This is not binding, but it tells you which seat you would receive given current preferences and ranks. Use it to check your list and make adjustments.

Step 4: Round-by-round allotment. JoSAA conducts multiple rounds (typically 5 to 6). In each round, you are allotted the highest-preference seat your rank qualifies for. You have three options after each allotment: accept and freeze (you are done, you take this seat), accept and float (you accept this seat but want to try for higher preferences in later rounds), or reject (you withdraw from counselling entirely, which is irreversible).

Step 5: Fee payment and document verification. Once you accept a seat, you pay a seat acceptance fee and submit documents (Class 12 marksheet, category certificate if applicable, UCEED scorecard). Document verification is often done online or at a reporting centre.

Step 6: Reporting to the institution. After final allotment, you report to the allotted IIT at the specified time with original documents. The IIT design department then handles orientation and programme registration.

When to expect allotments: JoSAA typically runs from June through July. The specific dates change each year. Monitor josaa.nic.in from the date of your UCEED result onwards for the official counselling schedule.

Fee and scholarship comparison

All IITs charge a broadly similar fee structure set by the Ministry of Education.

Fee component	Approximate amount
Tuition fee (per year)	Rs 2 to 2.5 lakh
Hostel (per year, varies by room type)	Rs 50,000 to 1 lakh
Other institute charges (per year)	Rs 10,000 to 30,000
Approximate total (per year)	Rs 2.6 to 4 lakh

Scholarship and fee waiver provisions at IITs:

Family income below Rs 1 lakh/year: full tuition fee waiver + full hostel waiver + Rs 1,000/month support allowance
Family income between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 5 lakh/year: full tuition fee waiver
SC/ST students: full tuition fee waiver regardless of family income, plus merit scholarship under the Post-Matric Scholarship scheme
OBC-NCL and EWS students: reservation provisions apply; income-based fee waivers may also apply

These fee waivers apply automatically based on documents submitted during admissions. You do not need to apply separately. Confirm details at josaa.nic.in during counselling.

IIITDM Jabalpur, as a government-funded institution, has a similar fee structure and similar scholarship provisions.

Alumni outcomes: which programmes lead where

Alumni networks and placement data at IIT design programmes are not published uniformly, but patterns are observable from LinkedIn data and programme reports.

IIT Bombay IDC: Strongest alumni concentration in UX/product design at tech companies (including major Indian and some international firms), design consulting, and academic positions. Animation Design alumni at animation studios and OTT content teams.

IIT Delhi: Alumni spread across government and policy design roles (proximity to Delhi), brand design agencies, and industrial design positions. The Textile Design alumni work in fashion and textile industries.

IIT Guwahati: Growing alumni presence in UX, product design, and design research. The craft-focused specialisation produces some alumni who work in development sector design roles and social design.

IIT Kanpur: Strong engineering-design crossover in alumni profiles. Several alumni in product innovation roles at manufacturing companies and in design-engineering hybrid roles.

IIT Roorkee, IIT Hyderabad, IIT Jodhpur: Newer programmes with smaller alumni cohorts; placement data less definitive. Alumni visible in UX, product design, and communication design roles across India’s major cities.

IIITDM Jabalpur: Design-for-manufacturing focus places alumni in product companies, packaging design, and manufacturing-adjacent design roles.

Category-wise seats and reservation provisions

All IITs follow Central Government reservation norms for undergraduate admissions. Understanding category-wise seat allocation is important for realistic planning.

The reservation structure at IITs is:

15% of seats for SC (Scheduled Caste) candidates
7.5% of seats for ST (Scheduled Tribe) candidates
27% of seats for OBC-NCL (Other Backward Classes, Non-Creamy Layer) candidates
10% of seats for EWS (Economically Weaker Section) candidates
The remaining approximately 40.5% are allocated in the General category

For a programme with approximately 30 seats (such as IIT Bombay IDC), this means roughly 12 seats are available in the General category, with the remainder distributed across SC, ST, OBC-NCL, and EWS. Closing ranks for reserved categories are published separately in JoSAA data and are typically significantly higher in number than General category closing ranks (meaning more accessible).

For candidates from reserved categories, the effective competition for IIT B.Des seats is considerably lower than General category data suggests. Always check category-wise closing ranks at josaa.nic.in for the most recent admissions cycle.

Horizontal reservations: Additionally, 5% of seats in each category are reserved for PwD (Persons with Disabilities) candidates. Female candidates have supernumerary seats (additional seats above the declared intake, specifically for gender diversity) at all IITs. These supernumerary seats mean that female UCEED candidates have a structural advantage in terms of seat availability.

Preparing for UCEED while choosing your target

One practical implication of the seat and rank data above: your target institution should influence your preparation intensity and timeline.

If IIT Bombay IDC is your primary goal, you need to perform in the top 15 to 20 ranks nationally. This requires not just design aptitude but consistent, high-quality performance across all five sections of the UCEED Part A. Past papers at uceed.iitb.ac.in are your most reliable calibration tool.

If IIT Guwahati or IIT Roorkee is a realistic target, a strong rank in the 70 to 100 range is generally sufficient, depending on the year. The UCEED exam does not change in difficulty based on which institution you are targeting; the same exam produces your rank, and the rank is then used across all institutions.

The pragmatic approach: prepare as well as you possibly can, fill a complete and realistic preference list at JoSAA, and let your rank determine the best available outcome from your list. Students who artificially narrow their preference list (listing only top institutions and omitting accessible ones) risk losing a seat that would have been a good match.

For UCEED preparation resources, the ShapeVerse mock test section and the UCEED papers archive are available to help you calibrate.

Closing ranks are approximate figures based on historical data and change year to year. Seat matrices and exact cutoffs are published at josaa.nic.in during counselling. Always verify current data at official portals. UCEED information is at uceed.iitb.ac.in. NID information is at nid.edu.