Pearl Academy’s November 17 professional-certificate cohort underway; degree-programme applicants now in the last stage of form completion

The competitive final admission stage for Pearl Academy’s 2026-27 degree programs is now fully underway. With the latest cohort for Professional Certificate Courses already beginning on November 17, 2025, the institutional focus shifts to the final deadline for B. Des, M. Des, BBA, and MBA applications—January 13, 2026. Aspirants are in the critical phase of form completion before the entrance exam (GPT/DAT) scheduled for January 17-19, 2026, and the subsequent Personal Interview and Portfolio Review rounds (January 22-25, 2026). Timely submission is crucial for securing a spot in one of India's premier design and creative business institutions.

The academic environment at Pearl Academy is currently characterized by two distinct, yet equally important, cycles of enrollment for the 2026-27 academic session. On one hand, a new cohort of students for the short-term, industry-focused Professional Certificate Courses (PCCs) officially commenced their learning journey on November 17, 2025. These 11-month programs, spanning diverse fields like Fashion Design, Styling, and Virtual Production, offer quick specialization. On the other hand, the vast majority of aspirants targeting full-time Bachelor's (B. Des, BBA) and Master's (M. Des, MBA) degree programs are currently engaged in the final, urgent stage of application submission, with a firm deadline of January 13, 2026. This urgency sets the tone for the upcoming entrance examination and interview rounds, which will determine entry into this leading institution for design, fashion, and media.

Degree Admissions: The Final January 13, 2026 Deadline

The current admission cycle for Pearl Academy’s degree programs is fast approaching its final application cutoff. Aspirants must ensure their forms are complete and fees are paid well before the January 13, 2026, deadline to be eligible for the entrance exam.

• Final Application Submission: The deadline to submit the online application form for all B. Des, M. Des, BBA, and MBA programs is January 13, 2026.
  • Application Fee: A non-refundable fee of ₹2,000 is required for all degree program applications.
  • Documentation: Candidates must ensure all academic and personal details are accurately submitted, and required documents (photograph, signature, ID proof) are uploaded according to specifications to avoid rejection.
• Written Exam Schedule (PEE): January 17 – 19, 2026
  • Admit Card Release: Written exam admit cards will be published on January 14, 2026.
  • Two Components: The online written exam is mandatory for all applicants and includes the General Proficiency Test (GPT) for all streams and the Design Aptitude Test (DAT) or Media Aptitude Test (MAT) for specialized creative streams like B. Des and M. Des.
• Personal Interview and Portfolio Review:
  • Dates: The crucial final assessment round, the Online Personal Interview (PI), is scheduled from January 22 to 25, 2026.
  • Portfolio Requirement: All design aspirants must prepare a comprehensive Portfolio that will be reviewed during the PI phase, demonstrating their process, design thinking, and creative skills.

Professional Certificate Courses: Batch Underway

In contrast to the rigorous, multi-stage application process for the degree programs, the short-term Professional Certificate Courses (PCCs) offer a faster track to specialization, with a new batch already initiated.

• Course Commencement: The latest cohort for the 11-month Professional Certificate Courses officially started classes on November 17, 2025.
  • Program Focus: These courses are highly industry-aligned, targeting specific skills in high demand, such as Fashion Styling & Image Consulting, Graphics and Motion Design, Game Design and Virtual Production (using Unreal Engine), and Filmmaking.
• Simplified Admission Process:
  • Eligibility: Generally requires Class 12 completion (or equivalent) and demonstrated proficiency in English.
  • Selection: Admission is typically based on an abbreviated screening process, often involving a Personal Interview (PI) rather than the full-scale GPT/DAT entrance exam, leading to quicker enrollment.
• Career Advantage: PCCs are ideal for working professionals seeking upskilling, career changers, or those needing a quick entry into a creative niche, providing essential technical skills and industry networking opportunities without the multi-year commitment of a B. Des or M. Des program.

Strategic Advice for Final-Stage Degree Applicants

With the exam and interview dates clustered closely together in January 2026, aspirants must adopt an extremely efficient and dual-focused preparation strategy.

• Maximize DAT/GPT Revision: Utilize the short window between the January 13th application deadline and the January 17th exam start date for intensive revision. Focus especially on mock tests to master time management for the GPT’s analytical sections and practice creative sketching for the DAT.
• Perfect the Portfolio: The Personal Interview is only days after the written exam. Design aspirants cannot afford to postpone their Portfolio Review preparation. The portfolio must be a curated narrative showcasing not just finished pieces but the entire design process—from ideation and research to prototypes and final execution.
• Interview Readiness: Candidates must prepare to articulate their passion, career goals, and understanding of the chosen design discipline. Researching Pearl Academy’s specific faculty and curriculum can provide relevant talking points for the PI to demonstrate genuine interest and fit.

The final application deadline for Pearl Academy’s B. Des, M. Des, BBA, and MBA degree programs on January 13, 2026, represents the last chance for ambitious aspirants to enter the upcoming academic session. While the new batch of Professional Certificate Courses has already successfully launched, the high-stakes journey for degree candidates is now culminating in a rapid, sequential process of application submission, written examination (GPT/DAT), and the critical Portfolio Review and Personal Interview. All degree program aspirants must immediately finalize their application forms and dedicate the remaining time to intensive, balanced preparation for the January 17-19, 2026, written exam and the subsequent Portfolio-based interview rounds to secure their future in the creative economy.

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