Symbiosis Opens Doors: SEED 2026 Registrations Begin for Aspiring Designers

The new admission cycle has officially begun for thousands of design aspirants as the Symbiosis Institute of Design (SID) has opened its doors for the Symbiosis Entrance Exam for Design (SEED) 2026. This announcement, made on August 1, 2025, marks a pivotal moment for students who have completed their Class 12 and are preparing for a career in the creative industry.

The SEED is the mandatory online aptitude test for admission to the Bachelor of Design (B.Des.) program offered by SID in Pune and the Symbiosis School of Planning, Architecture and Design (SSPAD) in Nagpur. With the admission process for the 2025-26 academic year now reaching its final stages at many colleges, the opening of SEED registrations is a clear signal for the next batch of aspirants to begin their journey.

Key Dates for SEED 2026

It is crucial for students to mark these important dates to ensure a smooth application process:

• Online Registration Start: August 1, 2025
• Registration Deadline: November 30, 2025
• Admit Card Release: January 5, 2026
• SEED 2026 Exam Date: January 11, 2026
• Result Declaration: January 19, 2026

The exam will be a proctored online test, and it is mandatory for all candidates to appear for it to be considered for admission.

The Two-Phase Admission Process

The SEED exam is the first of a two-part admission process. Aspirants should remember that success is not solely dependent on the written test.

1. SEED Aptitude Test: The online exam will be one hour long and will assess a candidate’s aptitude in areas such as visualization, observation, perception, creative problem-solving, and general awareness of art, craft, and design.
2. Portfolio Review and Personal Interaction (PRPI): Shortlisted candidates will proceed to the next phase, which is the Portfolio Review and Personal Interaction. In this round, candidates will be required to upload a portfolio of their creative work and then participate in an interview with the faculty. This is a critical stage where a candidate's passion, originality, and creative thinking are evaluated.

The final merit list will be prepared based on a composite score that takes into account performance in both the SEED exam and the PRPI round.

Beyond SEED: What’s Next for Aspirants

While SEED 2026 registrations are open, other major design entrance exams are also expected to open their application windows soon for the next cycle. This includes:

• NID-DAT 2026: The application process for the National Institute of Design's Design Aptitude Test (NID-DAT) is expected to begin in September 2025.
• UCEED 2026: The Undergraduate Common Entrance Examination for Design (UCEED), conducted by IIT Bombay, is likely to start its application process in October 2025.

For a comprehensive overview of all these exams, their schedules, and other crucial updates, visit the Only Education portal at https://www.onlyeducation.in/exams-list/design. By starting early, design aspirants can give themselves the best chance to succeed in the highly competitive world of design education.