CEED (Common Entrance Examination for Design) is India's national entrance test for M.Des and PhD programmes at IITs and IISc Bangalore. Conducted annually by IIT Bombay, CEED is the postgraduate counterpart to UCEED: it opens the door to India's most prestigious postgraduate design education for graduates from any stream, whether design, engineering, arts, or science.
CEED 2027 syllabus
Part A and Part B topics, section-wise breakdown
CEED previous year papers
Practice with official question papers 2019-2025
CEED eligibility and dates
Who can apply and key application timeline
CEED cutoff and admission
Part A qualifying scores and M.Des rank
At a glance
| Conducting body | IIT Bombay |
| Programmes | M.Des (2 years), PhD in Design |
| Eligibility | Bachelor's degree (any stream). Minimum 55% marks (50% for SC/ST/PwD). No age limit. |
| Exam format | Part A: 100 marks, 60 min (MCQ/NAT, computer-based) + Part B: 100 marks, 120 min (design exercises, pen-and-paper) |
| Accepting institutes | IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Guwahati, IIT Hyderabad, IIT Kanpur, IIT Jodhpur, IIT Roorkee, IISc Bangalore |
| Application | ceed.iitb.ac.in |
| Exam date (2026) | January 2026 (exact date at ceed.iitb.ac.in) |
| Result | March 2026 (approximate) |
Source: ceed.iitb.ac.in. Verify at the official portal before applying.
Exam pattern
Part A: Screening (computer-based)
100 marks | 60 min
- MCQ and Numerical Answer Type (NAT)
- Tests visual thinking, observation, spatial reasoning
- Used for shortlisting only; not included in final merit
Part B: Design exercises (pen-and-paper)
100 marks | 120 min
- Drawing and design problem-solving
- Evaluates creative thinking and design reasoning
- This score determines the final merit ranking
Institutes accepting CEED scores
IIT Bombay (IDC School of Design)
Mumbai · Industrial, Visual, Interaction, Animation Design
IIT Delhi
New Delhi · Industrial, Communication, Textile Design
IIT Guwahati
Guwahati · Product, Interaction, Craft Design
IIT Hyderabad
Hyderabad · Visual and Industrial Design
IIT Kanpur
Kanpur · Design programme
IIT Jodhpur
Jodhpur · Design programme
IIT Roorkee
Roorkee · Design programme
IISc Bangalore
Bangalore · Product Design and Engineering
Frequently asked questions about CEED
What is CEED?
Common Entrance Examination for Design (CEED) is India's national entrance exam for M.Des and PhD in Design programmes at IITs and IISc. It is conducted by IIT Bombay. CEED is the postgraduate counterpart to UCEED: if UCEED opens the door to B.Des at IITs, CEED opens the door to M.Des.
Which colleges accept CEED scores?
CEED scores are accepted by IIT Bombay (IDC School of Design), IIT Delhi, IIT Guwahati, IIT Hyderabad, IIT Kanpur, IIT Jodhpur, IIT Roorkee, and IISc Bangalore for their M.Des and PhD programmes.
What is the CEED exam pattern?
CEED has two parts: Part A (100 marks, 60 minutes) is a computer-based screening test with MCQ and Numerical Answer Type questions on visual design, spatial thinking, and observation. Part B (100 marks, 120 minutes) is a pen-and-paper test that evaluates design thinking through drawing and creative problem-solving. Part A is used for shortlisting only; the final merit ranking is based on Part B.
What is the CEED eligibility?
Any candidate with a Bachelor's degree (or in their final year) from any discipline is eligible. A minimum of 55% marks is required (50% for SC/ST/PwD candidates). There is no age limit for CEED.
Can a B.Des graduate apply for CEED?
Yes. A Bachelor of Design from an IIT, NID, or NIFT is excellent preparation for CEED and M.Des programmes. CEED is open to graduates from any stream including engineering, science, arts, design, and humanities.
Top IIT M.Des Colleges
CEED opens doors to postgraduate design programmes at India's premier IITs: