Understand the exam
Exam overview
National design examination used for specified postgraduate design admissions at participating institutes.
CEED
Admission
Postgraduate
National
Common Entrance Examination for Design
Last updated · Confirm dates, fees and eligibility on the official website before you apply.
National design examination used for specified postgraduate design admissions at participating institutes.
Who can appear
Eligibility to appear
Graduation
An eligible degree, diploma or postgraduate qualification of the duration/type stated in the current CEED rules. Qualifying CEED does not guarantee admission; each participating design program applies its own degree, portfolio and selection requirements.
Eligibility to appear is not the same as eligibility to be admitted. Individual institutions add their own criteria on top of the exam's rules.
Overview
What this exam is
The common entrance examination for design, conducted by IIT Bombay, used for admission to master's programmes in design at the IITs, IISc and other participating institutes. Qualifying does not itself secure admission - each programme runs its own further selection.
Subjects
What the paper tests
Part A is objective, covering visualisation, spatial reasoning, observation, environmental and social awareness, analytical reasoning and language. Part B is on paper and tests drawing, creativity and problem identification, and is only evaluated if you clear Part A.
PreparationPlan
How to prepare
Part B is where design ability actually shows and it cannot be prepared for quickly - daily sketching over months is the only approach that works. Drawing skill matters less than the thinking visible in the drawing, so practise explaining an idea rather than rendering it beautifully. After qualifying, your portfolio and interview carry substantial weight, so build the portfolio in parallel rather than afterwards.
AdmissionProcess
Who can take it, and how it runs
Who can appear. Bachelor's degree in any discipline with portfolio.
How often. Once a year.
Format. Computer-based and design section.
Conducted by. IIT Bombay.
Dates, eligibility and the paper pattern change from year to year. Check the current official notification before you plan around any of this.
Where the score is used
Courses connected to this exam
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to be able to draw well?
You need to be able to communicate an idea visually, which is not the same thing. Part B assesses the thinking visible in the drawing more than the rendering, so practise explaining concepts rather than producing finished art.
How should I prepare for Part B?
Daily sketching over months - it cannot be prepared for quickly. Part B is only evaluated if you clear Part A, so both matter, but Part B is the one that needs the long runway.
Does qualifying secure admission?
No. Each participating programme runs its own further selection with portfolio and interview stages carrying substantial weight. Build the portfolio alongside your preparation rather than afterwards.
Do I need a design background to apply?
No. Candidates come from engineering, architecture, fine arts and other backgrounds. What matters is demonstrated design thinking, which you can build regardless of your degree.
What is Common Entrance Examination for Design used for?
M.Des admission at IITs and IISc.
Who is eligible to appear for Common Entrance Examination for Design?
Bachelor's degree in any discipline with portfolio. Confirm this against the current official notification, because eligibility rules are revised between sessions.
How often is Common Entrance Examination for Design held, and in what format?
Once a year. Computer-based and design section.
Who conducts Common Entrance Examination for Design?
IIT Bombay.