“Personalized imperfection of the human hand” is Sabyasachi Mukherjee’s design philosophy, one of India’s most renowned fashion designer and also an alumni of National Institute of Fashion Technology or commonly known as NIFT. Fashion industry is one of the most rewarding, appealing, glamorous and exciting industry in today’s world. If you are creative and ready to experiment with clothes then a career in fashion designing is the one tailor made for you. On one hand, the fashion industry satisfies both the creative fancies and the materialistic needs of the people. On the other hand, it promises glamour, fame, success and a high pay package to the talented people who have the spirit to never give up!
NIFT is the one of the most precious fashion institutes in India. Many designers who themselves are a brand now are the alumnus of this respectable institute. NIFT not only has different colleges under it, but also has numerous design courses to offer.
National Institute of Fashion Technology was set up in the year 1986 under the aegis of Ministry of Textiles, Government of India. Over the years, NIFT has emerged as a Centre of Excellence & Innovation. This has been possible through adoption of interactive and evolving instruction systems, aimed at cultivating aesthetic virtuosity together with freedom of inquiry and independence of thought.
Registration of the NIFT Exam which is the Creative Ability Test (CAT) and General Ability Test (GAT), generally begins in the months of October and lasts’ till January. Aspiring students have to undergo two exams for clearance. One basic written examination is held during the month of February for both under graduate and post graduate courses. Once the written exam is cleared, the qualified students have to clear the situational test/Group discussion and the interview, which is generally held in the months of April-May. Where entrance tests are famous for negative marking, CAT and GAT Thereafter, the counselling begins in the month of June. July is the month when the session is commenced. The NIFT Results are declared thereafter and students are admitted into different colleges as per their merit.
Description of components of entrance examination:
- General Ability Test (GAT):
- Quantitative Ability
- Communication Ability
- English Comprehension
- Analytical Ability
- General Knowledge and Current Affairs
This test is administered to judge the intuitive ability, power of observation in concept development and design ability of the candidate. And important aspect of the test is the creative and innovative use of colour and illustration skills.
- General Ability Test (GAT)
- Quantitative Ability
- Communication Ability and English Comprehension
- Analytical and Logical Ability
- General Knowledge and Current Affairs
- Case Study
After clearing CAT and GAT the qualified candidates have to clear the second stage. The second stage includes:
- Situational test for design students, 2. Group Discussion, 3. Personal Interview
Therefore, one has to go through various stages of examination and scrutiny for getting admission in NIFT. There may be a lot of stages, but perseverance will get you in.
Colleges under NIFT, which are as follows: (in no specific order)
(i) New Delhi, (ii) Hyderabad, (iii) Bengaluru, (iv) Kolkata, (v) Patna, (vi) Bhubaneswar, (vii) Bhopal, (viii) Chennai, (ix) Gandhinagar, (x) Jodhpur, (xi) Kangra, (xii) Kannur, (xiii) Mumbai, (xiv) Raebareli, (xv) Shillong
NIFT Ludhiana and NIFT Srinagar are also on the prospects.
Courses Offered at NIFT
- Bachelor Programmes: Duration: 4 years
- Bachelor of Design (B.Des.)
Eligibility: 10+2 from a recognised board
Test: CAT and GAT
Courses under B.Des:
- Accessory Design, b. Fashion Communication, c. Fashion Design, d. Knitwear Design, e. Leather design, f. Textile Design
- Bachelor of Fashion Technology (B.F.Tech)
Eligibility: 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry and Maths from a recognised board
Test: GAT
Course under B.F.Tech:
- Apparel Production
- Master Programmes: Duration: 2 years
- Master of Design (M.Des)
Eligibility: Bachelor Degree from any Institute/ University recognised by law in India or UG diploma of minimum 3 years duration from NIFT or National Institute of Design.
Test: CAT and GAT
- Master of Fashion Management (M.F.M)
Eligibility: Bachelor Degree from any Institute/ University recognised by law in India or UG diploma of minimum 3 years duration from NIFT or National Institute of Design.
Test: GAT
- Master of Fashion Technology (M.F.Tech) Eligibility: Bachelor of Fashion Technology from NIFT or Bachelor of Engineering (B.E)/ Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) from any Institute/ University recognized by law in India
Test: GAT
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