Chandigarh University: School of Design, Mohali

Chandigarh University in Mohali, Punjab was established in 2012 and has grown rapidly to become one of the most prominent private deemed universities in North India. NAAC A+ accreditation, a large and diverse student body, and a track record of strong placements have established Chandigarh University as a significant institution in the competitive private higher education landscape of Punjab and the surrounding region. The School of Design is a growing unit within the university, offering B.Des programmes in fashion design, interior design, graphic design, product design, and animation alongside shorter-duration diploma and certificate design programmes.

The B.Des programme at Chandigarh University is a four-year course structured around studio practice, design fundamentals, specialised design skills, and professional preparation. Admission is through the CUCET (Chandigarh University Common Entrance Test) and a design aptitude test that evaluates visual thinking, drawing, and creative reasoning. The selection process does not require students to have any specific Class XII subjects, making the programme accessible to students from science, commerce, and arts backgrounds who have developed creative skills through self-directed practice or coaching.

The university's location in Mohali gives design students convenient access to Chandigarh, one of India's most architecturally significant cities. Chandigarh was planned by the Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier in the 1950s and is a living example of modernist urban design on a large scale. Architecture and interior design students at Chandigarh University engage with this urban heritage through studio visits and contextual studies. The city's government offices, professional services firms, creative agencies, and growing IT sector also provide internship opportunities for communication design, graphic design, and product design students.

Chandigarh University's design facilities include studios for fashion, interior, graphic and product design, a fashion lab with industrial sewing equipment, an animation studio with professional software licences, computer labs, workshops for model-making and prototyping, and a library with design resources. The broader university campus is well-developed with sports facilities, student accommodation, dining, health services, and cultural spaces that support a full residential university experience. The active student community at Chandigarh University generates a vibrant campus culture with regular design events, competitions, and guest lecture programmes.

Placement is a central priority at Chandigarh University, and the placement cell runs extensive recruitment drives throughout the year. The cell has established relationships with companies across fashion, retail, interior design, communication, animation, and product sectors, and facilitates placement of students into internships and full-time roles from the final year onwards. For design graduates, placements connect to fashion brands, design studios, advertising agencies, animation companies, and product development firms in Punjab, Delhi NCR, and other major cities.

For students from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Uttarakhand, Chandigarh University School of Design offers a combination of geographic proximity, quality infrastructure, competitive fees, and active placement support that makes it a practical choice for private design education in North India. The NAAC A+ credential and the university's rapid growth trajectory suggest a strengthening institutional trajectory that benefits current students as graduates of a recognised and developing private university.