Updated By Tiyasa Khanra on 04 Aug, 2025 15:58
IIT Bombay administers the CEED (Common Entrance Exam for Design), a famous national-level exam that selects candidates for M.Des and Ph.D design programs at IITs and other partner schools. Below we will look at the CEED 2026 participating institutes and provide information on how you can advance your design education.
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At present, eight institutes are part of the CEED 2026 participating institutes and use the CEED 2026 scores to let in students into the MDes and PhD programmes. These institutes together offer more than 302 seats in the M.Des programme. However, it should be noted that, unlike UCEED, IIT Bombay will not administer a Joint Admission Process or counselling for the CEED 2026 participating institutes. The scores will be released and the candidates need to apply individually to different institutes. Each participating college will then put up on its portal a counseling-cum-application form wherein the applicants can register, upload the CEED 2026 scorecards, and submit all required documents.
Some institutes may conduct additional admissions processes, such as personal interviews and portfolio evaluations. Only candidates with a rank on the CEED 2026 merit list can apply, and each institute will create its merit list to choose candidates for admission. IIT Bombay will also release a list of institutions that recognise exam scores. The CEED 2026 exam will be conducted in the third week of January 2026 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
The 8 CEED participating colleges provide a total of 302 places for the M.Des programme. The following is the seat intake:
Participating Institute | Department | M.Des Seat Intake |
|---|---|---|
IIT Bombay | IDC School of Design (Industrial Design Centre) | 78 |
Design Programme | 78 | |
Department of Design | 33 | |
Department of Design | 30 | |
School of Liberal Arts | 25 | |
Department of Design | 20 | |
Department of Design | 20 | |
Centre for Product Design and Manufacturing | 18 | |
Total | 302 | |
The table below lists some of the CEED participating colleges 2026 where candidates can apply for admission based on their CEED ranks and the cut-offs announced by the colleges.
Name of the CEED Participating Colleges 2026 | Name of the Department | Course Offered by the Institute | Contact Details |
|---|---|---|---|
Indian Institute of Science Bangalore (IISc Bangalore) | Centre for Product Design and Manufacturing |
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Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) | IDC School of Design (Industrial Design Centre) |
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Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi) | Department of Design |
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Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IIT Hyderabad) | Department of Design |
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Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IIT Guwahati) | Department of Design |
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Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT Kanpur) | Design Programme |
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Indian Institute of Technology, Design and Manufacturing Jabalpur (IITDM Jabalpur) | Design Discipline |
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Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur (IIT Jodhpur) | School of Liberal Arts |
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Each institute conducts its own admission process using CEED scores. Here are the individual category-wise seat intake breakdown of CEED participating institutes 2026:
Academic Program | Seat Intake |
|---|---|
M.Des in Product Design and Manufacturing (PD) | 18 |
Course | General | EWS | OBC (NC) | SC | ST | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Industrial Design | 7 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 17 |
Communication Design | 7 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 17 |
Interaction Design | 6 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 16 |
Animation Design | 5 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 14 |
Mobility and Vehicle Design | 6 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 14 |
Total | 31 | 8 | 21 | 12 | 6 | 78 |
Course | OPEN | Gen-EWS | OBC (NC) | SC | ST | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Master of Design | 13 | 3 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 33 |
Academic Program | Seat Intake |
|---|---|
Master of Design | 30 (including 10 MHRD fellowship seats and 20 self-financed seats) |
Course | Total Seats |
|---|---|
Master of Design (Industrial Design) | 20 |
Course | Total Seats |
|---|---|
Master of Design | 30 (including 10 seats for the candidates with GATE qualification and 20 seats for candidates with CEED qualification) |
To be eligible, the candidate must fulfil TWO criteria:
Qualifying degrees (As per information released by IIT Jodhpur):
The CEED 2026 results are to be declared on March 2026. The results and cutoff percentile can be seen on the official website of CEED after declaration. As far as those who qualify for the test are concerned, this is followed by an application round and then counselling in the colleges chosen as its partners.
The counselling process for CEED 2026 participating colleges will begin in April 2026 and will take place entirely online. During counselling, applicants will be rated according to their CEED scores and college preferences. If your rank matches the cutoff for an institution on your list, you will be admitted based on the highest eligible ranking.
Selecting the right college can be challenging, and candidates should consider various factors before making a decision. Here are some essential points to keep in mind:
Making a decision based on these considerations can help candidates choose a college that aligns with their academic and personal preferences.
When it comes to short-listing candidates for admission to CEED 2026, the evaluation process differs between result-sharing and participating institutes. Since a result-sharing institute analyses scores from numerous entrance tests, participating institutes rely only on CEED 2026 scores for admitting students to M.Des programs.
For example, IIT Delhi exclusively takes CEED scores and will not consider scores obtained through other exams such as NIFT or NID. If you apply to a result-sharing institute, they may consider scores from other admission tests in the selection process. The scores accepted by each institute may be known while searching at the institute's admission portal.
The list of participating institutes will be updated on the CEED 2026 portal once finalised, but we have included some that have already been confirmed:
Design colleges or universities that accept CEED 2026 scores evaluate applicants primarily based on their achievement on the CEED admission exam. In addition to the exam results, certain universities may conduct additional rounds, such as interviews or counselling sessions, for candidates seeking admission. Admission criteria may also differ depending on the candidate's category, as many institutions have distinct reservation rules.
Candidates seeking these colleges should be aware of each institution's unique selection process and prepare accordingly. Certain colleges may additionally set certain cutoffs for CEED scores in order to choose candidates for admission. Overall, the CEED 2026 exam provides an excellent chance for aspiring designers to pursue M.Des and Ph.D. programs at India's top design schools. Each CEED 2026 participating college has its own eligibility requirements, seat capacity, fee structure, and course offerings.
Want to know more about CEED
The Indian Institute of Information Technology, Design and Manufacturing IIITDM Jabalpur offers the M.Des. degree through the scores available for CEED. The CEED is a national-level entrance exam, conducted each year for admission to postgraduate design programs available in different institutes, some of which are the IIITDM Jabalpur.
Admission to the M.Des. programme at IIT Hyderabad is available through the result of CEED. The Master of Design programme focuses on creativity, innovation, and problem-solving, catering to students with interests in the areas of interaction design, product design, visual communication, and UX design, among others. Candidates need to qualify for the CEED exam and meet specific eligibility criteria. Additionally, further selection processes such as portfolio reviews or interviews conducted by the institute also need to be cleared.
IIT Guwahati offers the M.Des program through the CEED result. This course is designed for students with a strong interest in design, creativity, and innovation. The program focuses on equipping students with advanced knowledge in various design disciplines, blending technology and aesthetics to solve real-world problems. Admission is based on CEED scores, followed by institute-specific selection criteria like portfolio reviews or interviews.
M.Des specializations are offered through CEED scores by UPES School of Design in the following courses: Product Design, Communication Design, Mobility and Vehicle Design, and Interaction Design.
Aside from IITs, the following universities consider CEED results for shortlisting candidates: National Institute of Design (NID) Ahmedabad, National Institute of Design (NID) Bangalore, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Symbiosis Institute of Design (SID), VIT University, Manipal University Jaipur, and Birla Institute of Technology and Science Pilani (BITS Pilani).
No, scores of CEED are accepted by many institutions apart from IITs. This includes IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Guwahati, IIT Hyderabad, IIT Kanpur, IIT Roorkee, and IITDM Jabalpur, etc.
IIT Bombay grants admissions to the M.Des programmes in Industrial Design, Visual Communication, Animation, Interaction Design, and Mobility & Vehicle Design, using the CEED 2026 scores. PhD programs in Design also accept the CEED scores. The course aims to inspire creativity and innovation and equip the students with a good level of advanced design profession in the design industry and in academia. Admission to such programs involves review of the portfolios and interviews, in addition to the CEED scores.
M.Des in Industrial Design, M.Des in Visual Communication Design, M.Des in Textile Design, M.Des in Product Design, and M.Des in Communication Design are all available for admission through CEED at IIT Delhi. M.Des in Industrial Design (IIT Delhi) with M.Tech in Manufacturing Systems (IIT Roorkee) and M.Des in Visual Communication Design (IIT Delhi) with M.A. in Visual Communication (NID Ahmedabad) are two dual degree programmes offered by IIT Delhi in collaboration with other institutes.
Lovely Professional University primarily uses their own entrance test LPUNEST, for admissions to different programs; however, LPU accepts scores of various national-level exams like CAT, MAT, XAT, CMAT, or NMAT for the admissions of an MBA. Thus, it could not be said that LPU accepts CEED score for admission to its design programmes.
When shortlisting a CEED participating college, consider factors like the institution's reputation, faculty expertise, infrastructure, and placement record. Evaluate the curriculum's alignment with your career goals, course fees, and available specializations. Review alumni feedback and industry collaborations for practical exposure. Check location, campus facilities, and extracurricular opportunities. Ensure the college supports your professional aspirations through a strong design ecosystem and networking opportunities. Research thoroughly to make an informed decision.
The top participating institutes of CEED are IISc Bangalore, IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Hyderabad, IIT Guwahati, IIT Kanpur and many more.
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