Universal AI University: School of Design

Universal AI University (UAi) is a private university located in Karjat, Maharashtra, approximately 90 km from Mumbai in the Western Ghats foothills. The university positions itself as India's first 100% AI University, embedding artificial intelligence into every academic programme across its schools. The School of Design, one of the founding schools of the university, launched a four-year B.Des programme with AI embedded across all four specialisations: Fashion Design, Communication Design, Product Design, and Strategic Design Management.

The most distinguishing feature of the UAi design programme is the Fab 5 AI module, which runs across all specialisations throughout the degree. Fab 5 AI covers five components: Fundamentals of AI, AI Ethics and Governance, AI Programming with Python, AI Tools and Prompt Engineering, and Entrepreneurship with AI. This module gives design students practical exposure to AI as a professional tool, which is increasingly relevant across fashion forecasting, generative design, brand communication, and product ideation. For students who want design education that explicitly prepares them for AI-augmented design practice, UAi's curriculum offers something that most established design schools have not yet formalised.

The B.Des curriculum follows an eight-semester structure. The first two semesters form a common foundation year covering Design DNA, Liberal Arts, Design Then and Now, Digital Design, Design Research, Design and AI, Environmental and Cultural Mapping, Materiality and Process Thinking, and Professional Practice. From Year 2, students enter their chosen specialisation. The Fashion Design track covers garment construction, textiles, fashion illustration, draping, fashion studio practice, merchandising, fashion business, haute couture, and culminates in a graduation show and thesis in the final year. The Communication Design, Product Design, and Strategic Design Management tracks follow a similarly structured progression from foundations through advanced studio work and professional projects.

Admission to B.Des at UAi is through the UAiAT (Universal AI Aptitude Test), a 90-minute, 100-question paper with no negative marking. The test covers English Language and Comprehension (20%), Quantitative Ability (20%), Global and Indian Current Affairs (20%), Analytical and Logical Reasoning (20%), and Green Thinking and Creativity (20%). Portfolio submission is mandatory for all applicants. A Personal Interview conducted online via Zoom completes the process. The application fee is Rs 2,000.

Importantly for students who have prepared for national design entrance exams, UAi exempts candidates who have taken UCEED, NID DAT, NIFTEE, or NIFT from the UAiAT. This makes UAi a directly accessible option for design aspirants who attempted competitive exams but did not secure seats at NID, IIT, or NIFT. The same group of students is also eligible for a 50% tuition scholarship if they achieve 80% aggregate across Class 10, Class 12, and their design entrance exam. For a student who scored well in UCEED but did not receive an IIT seat, UAi's exemption and scholarship policy represents a meaningful pathway that other private colleges do not offer as explicitly.

Fees for the B.Des programme are Rs 4.98 lakh per year, totalling approximately Rs 19.9 lakh over four years. Hostel and boarding fees are additional, ranging from Rs 1.85 lakh to Rs 1.99 lakh per year for AC shared rooms. Food is managed by SODEXO, the global food services company, offering four meals per day with vegetarian, Jain, and non-vegetarian options cooked in separate kitchens. Additional scholarships are available: merit scholarships up to 50% of first-year tuition for board toppers, a means scholarship up to Rs 1 lakh for families with income below Rs 6 lakh per year, a portfolio-based scholarship up to 50%, and a special scholarship of Rs 50,000 for specific categories including armed forces children, students from northeast states, and sports achievers. Education loans are available through major banks including SBI, Bank of India, Axis Bank, HDFC Credila, and others.

The campus at Karjat is fully residential and described by the university as set in natural surroundings, which distinguishes it from urban design schools in Mumbai or Pune. Students live, study, and socialise on campus throughout their degree. The residential setting is a practical and social advantage for students from outside Maharashtra who want an immersive academic experience without the costs and distractions of a city campus. The campus includes gym facilities, sports infrastructure, and extensive outdoor space. UAi also accepts SAT scores through College Board DI Code 7861, which is relevant for students applying from international schools or through the College Board pathway.

The School of Design Advisory Board includes industry professionals from fashion, architecture, media, and luxury, including a Chief Designer from a fashion house, an architect with Rhode Island School of Design training, an Editor-in-Chief of Femina Magazine, and professionals from international luxury and ethnic fashion brands. This advisory board provides the school with industry perspectives that inform curriculum and guest programming.

For students who prepared for UCEED, NID DAT, or NIFT and are looking for a private design college that explicitly values that preparation through test exemptions and scholarships, Universal AI University's School of Design offers a directly relevant option. The AI-embedded curriculum, residential campus in natural surroundings near Mumbai, and industry advisory board give UAi a distinctive profile among newer private design institutions in Maharashtra.