Postgraduate UGC Approved by UGC MDES

Master of Design M.Des · 2 years

Last updated · Confirm dates, fees and eligibility on the official website before you apply.

Master of Design course overview, eligibility, duration and progression options.

Am I eligible?
Duration
2 years
Entry after
Graduation
Entrance exam
2 routes
Study mode
OnCampus
Licence
Not required
Overview

About this course

Compare specialisation, studio culture, research, portfolio expectations and industry exposure.

Indicative eligibility: A recognised bachelor degree accepted for the specialisation; portfolio and design entrance assessment may apply.

Always verify the current official admission notification before applying.

01 · Overview

Course overview

Compare specialisation, studio culture, research, portfolio expectations and industry exposure.
02 · Eligibility and admission

Eligibility and admission

A recognised bachelor degree accepted for the specialisation; portfolio and design entrance assessment may apply. Exact marks, subjects, age, entrance and selection rules vary by institution and admission year.
03 · More detail

What students and parents should verify

Check recognition, syllabus, faculty, facilities, practical exposure, total cost, refund rules, entrance process, progression and credible outcome evidence before admission.
04 · Where this leads

Where this can lead

Where people work.

  • Technology product companies
  • Design consultancies
  • Manufacturing and consumer goods firms
  • Automotive design studios
  • Startups
  • Design schools

What you can study next.

  • Ph.D in Design
  • Senior design leadership
  • International design practice
05 · Next steps

Cost, duration and indicative earnings

Indicative total course fee. NID/NIFT: about 8,00,000 - 15,00,000 total; Private: about 4,00,000 - 15,00,000 total.

Indicative starting salary. 50,000 - 120,000 per month.

Typical duration. 2 - 2.5 years.

Fees and salaries here are indicative ranges, not quotes. Confirm the current fee with the institution and treat the salary as a starting range that varies by employer and location.

Entry

Who can apply

1 route into this course.

QualificationStreamMinimumSubjects
Graduation Any — A recognised bachelor degree accepted for the specialisation; portfolio and design entrance assessment may apply.

Percentages are indicative. Individual universities set their own cut-offs, and reserved-category relaxations differ by state and institution.

Admission

Entrance exams for this course

Common Entrance Examination for Design
Accepted or institution-specific
NIFT Entrance Examination
Accepted or institution-specific

An exam mapping does not mean every college accepts that exam. Check the current institution and examination notification before you apply.

Outcomes

Careers this course leads to

6 routes mapped from this qualification.

Design Entrepreneur
Builds a product, studio or label around their own design work, which means owning manufacturing, pricing and sales as well as the design. Design school teaches the first part and rarely the rest.
Alternative route
Textile & accessory design
craft clusters, exports
Alternative route
Design Consultant
Advises clients on design decisions rather than executing them in-house - scope, materials, cost and feasibility. Most work freelance or in small practices, and work arrives through a portfolio rather than a posting.
Alternative route
Industrial Designer
Designs manufactured products - form, use, materials and how they will actually be made. Sits between engineering and aesthetics, and has to satisfy both.
Alternative route
UI/UX Designer
Researches user needs and designs usable, accessible digital interfaces and product experiences.
Alternative route
Assistant Professor
Teaches and researches at a college or university. Requires a postgraduate degree plus UGC NET (or CSIR NET / ICAR NET in the sciences and agriculture), and increasingly a Ph.D for permanent appointment.
Alternative route

A course supports eligibility and preparation. It never guarantees a particular job.

Pathways

Before and after this course

Courses that lead here

Diploma in Fashion Design
Direct · Alternative route
B.Sc Animation and Multimedia
RelatedField · Typical route
Bachelor of Design (B.Des)
Direct · Typical route
Bachelor of Interior Design
Direct · Typical route
Questions

Common questions

Who can apply for Master of Design?

B.Des, B.Arch, B.Tech or relevant degree with portfolio. Admission is through CEED followed by IIT/IISc admission, NID entrance, Institute tests.

How long does Master of Design take?

2 - 2.5 years. Full-time; distance or online mode only where the university holds specific UGC-DEB approval.

What does Master of Design cost?

NID/NIFT: about 8,00,000 - 15,00,000 total; Private: about 4,00,000 - 15,00,000 total. These are indicative ranges, not quotes. Confirm the current fee with the institution.

What can I study after Master of Design?

Ph.D in Design, Senior design leadership, International design practice.