Design Aspirants Focus on Final Admission Deadlines as National Events Underway

: With no official confirmation of a "National Design Aptitude Week," design aspirants must focus on upcoming deadlines for NIFT's Spot Round, UID lateral entries, and the Anant Fellowship.

While there is no official announcement from the India Design Council regarding a "National Design Aptitude Week" from August 3–9, design aspirants across the country have a critical week ahead with several key admission and counselling deadlines. Instead of a centralized event, students must focus on specific opportunities at top institutions, as final rounds of admissions for the 2025-26 academic year are quickly concluding.

The National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) and several private universities are currently concluding their admission processes. This makes it an essential period for aspirants to ensure they do not miss crucial steps to secure a seat. The focus is not on a single national event, but on individual university deadlines that are both time-sensitive and highly consequential.

Key Opportunities and Deadlines This Week:

Aspirants are urged to act on the following critical deadlines:

• NIFT 2025 Spot Round: The application and fee payment for the final counselling round for vacant seats at NIFT campuses will close tomorrow, August 4. This is the last chance for many to join India’s premier fashion and design institute this year.
• Anant Fellowship: Applicants for the prestigious Anant Fellowship at Anant National University, which focuses on sustainable built environments, have until August 10 to submit their applications.
• UID Lateral Entry: Unitedworld Institute of Design (UID), Ahmedabad, has recently opened its portal for lateral entry into the second year of its B.Des program. This is a vital opportunity for students looking to transfer, and the number of seats is limited.
• ARCH College AIEED: The All India Entrance Examination for Design (AIEED) for admission to the ARCH College of Design & Business is an ongoing event, with tests scheduled until August 5.

What Does This Mean for Aspirants?

The week of August 3-9 is a period of urgent action rather than a preparatory phase. Aspirants should prioritize reviewing their application status for these institutions and completing all required formalities promptly.

While organizations like the India Design Council, NID, and IITs consistently promote design awareness through various initiatives, a week-long national event focused on aptitude is not scheduled at this time. Aspirants are best served by concentrating their efforts on the official deadlines and portals of the universities they have applied to. For all information, students must rely on official university websites and admission portals to avoid misinformation.