National Institute of Fashion Technology: Admission 2026, Courses, Fees, Ranking & Chennai Campus Life

About National Institute of Fashion Technology - [NIFT] Chennai

National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) Chennai is a premier fashion education campus of NIFT, established in 1995 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. It functions as a government autonomous institute under the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, with NIFT New Delhi as the statutory parent body empowered to grant its own degrees. The Chennai campus is part of NIFT’s nationwide network of fashion institutes offering design, technology and management education.

NIFT Chennai offers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in fashion design, textile design, fashion communication, fashion technology and fashion management, along with continuing education and diploma courses. The institute runs under the centrally administered NIFT framework, with curriculum aligned to industry needs and strong linkages with the textile and apparel sector, and is recognised as a leading design institute in Chennai’s education ecosystem.

Key Highlights

Admission Dates 2026

NIFT Chennai admissions for 2026 UG and PG design programmes run through the national-level NIFT Entrance Exam conducted by NTA, using GAT and CAT (for B.Des/M.Des) and GAT only (for B.F.Tech/M.F.Tech/MFM). A single common application form is filled on the NIFT/NTA portal, and all-India counselling and seat allotment are held through the central NIFT counselling website.

Admission Process

NIFT Chennai admissions for all UG and PG programmes run through the centralized NIFT Entrance Exam (NIFTEE) with national-level counselling conducted on the NIFT admissions portal. Candidates first clear the written test (GAT and, where applicable, CAT), then appear for Situation Test/Personal Interview, followed by online counselling and fee payment for final seat allotment.

B.Des / B.F.Tech / MFM / M.F.Tech Admission

Steps to Apply

1. Visit the official NIFT admissions portal (nift.ac.in/admission or nift.admissions.nic.in) and register with a valid email ID and mobile number.
2. Fill the online application form with personal, academic and category details and upload photo, signature and required certificates.
3. Pay the NIFT entrance exam fee online (₹3,000 for General/EWS/OBC, ₹1,500 for SC/ST/PwD) within the notified deadline.
4. Download the admit card and appear for the NIFT Entrance Exam (GAT for all programmes, plus CAT for B.Des) at the allotted centre.
5. For B.Des, attend the Situation Test if shortlisted; for MFM and M.F.Tech, attend the Personal Interview after GAT.
6. Check result and Common Merit Rank on the NIFT admissions portal and participate in online counselling by registering and filling campus–programme choices.
7. Accept the allotted seat for NIFT Chennai during counselling, upload/verify documents, and pay the first-year fee to confirm admission.
8. Report to NIFT Chennai on the notified date with originals for physical verification and hostel formalities, if required.

Eligibility Criteria & Fees

Documents Required

• Class 10 mark sheet and certificate (for date of birth proof)
• Class 12 mark sheet and certificate / Diploma mark sheet (as applicable)
• Graduation degree/provisional certificate and mark sheets for PG programmes
• Category certificate (SC/ST/OBC-NCL/EWS), if applicable, in prescribed format
• PwD certificate, if applicable
• Medical fitness certificate in NIFT format
• Photo identity proof (Aadhaar card/passport/Driving Licence)
• NIFT entrance exam admit card and score card
• Counselling provisional allotment letter
• Recent passport-size colour photographs

cutoff 2025

NIFT Chennai admissions are entrance-based through the NIFT entrance exam, and cutoffs are released as Common Merit Ranks (CMR) for each course and category. The cutoff ranks vary across courses and categories, with lower ranks indicating higher merit.

Placements 2025

NIFT follows a central placement process for all campuses, and the 2025 campus placements for NIFT (including Chennai) are scheduled between 28 April and 16 May 2025 through on-campus and online phases. Campus-wise 2025 salary figures for NIFT Chennai have not been officially published by NIFT yet, so the latest concrete figures for Chennai come from recent past drives.

Placement Statistics

Top Recruiters

IT: Wolkus Technology Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

Consulting: –

Core: Shahi Exports Pvt. Ltd., Laguna Clothing, Aquarelle India Pvt. Ltd., Landmark Group, Trident Group, Classic Fashion Apparel Industry Ltd., Indian Terrain, Lifestyle, Bata India, Puma, Trident, ASA, Godrej, United Colors of Benetton, Tanishq, ITC Ltd., Uniqlo, Ranger Apparel Export Pvt. Ltd., Blackberrys, Decathlon India, Shiv Naresh Sports Pvt. Ltd., Reliance Retail Ltd., Joker and Witch

Branch-wise Placement

Rankings & Accreditations

National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) Chennai consistently features among the top NIFT campuses in India, typically placed within the top 5–7 in internal and popular national listings. It does not figure in NIRF, QS or THE rankings as these agencies do not run a separate category for standalone fashion institutes.

Other Rankings

Scholarships & Financial Aid

NIFT Chennai students can access the institute’s own Means-cum-Merit financial assistance (SARTHAK) and study-abroad support (UDAAN), along with selected central government schemes on the National Scholarship Portal, including Top Class Education scholarships for Scheduled Tribe students. These together can cover a substantial part or even the full tuition fee for eligible students, especially from economically weaker backgrounds.

Institute Scholarships

Government Scholarships

External Scholarships

• Bank Education Loans (Union Bank tie-up): Up to about ₹10,00,000 loan for NIFT students to cover tuition, hostel and related expenses, repayable after the moratorium period bank norms.

Comparison

NIFT Chennai is compared with NIFT Mumbai and NIFT Hyderabad as they are top NIFT campuses with similar design programs, strong industry reputation, and comparable entrance-based admissions through NIFT CAT.

Key Strengths

• National Institute of Fashion Technology - [NIFT] Chennai: Strong textile and fashion design heritage, excellent industry linkages in South India, and high placement consistency in core design roles.
• National Institute of Fashion Technology - [NIFT] Mumbai: Prime location in India’s fashion and entertainment capital, strong alumni network, and highest average and peak packages among NIFTs.
• National Institute of Fashion Technology - [NIFT] Hyderabad: Modern infrastructure, strong focus on innovation in fashion technology, and good placement record with national and international brands.

Campus & Infrastructure

NIFT Chennai has a compact urban campus of about 7 acres in the Vikram Sarabhai Instronics Estate on Rajiv Gandhi Salai, Taramani, Chennai, with a built-up area of 3,11,940 sq ft. The campus houses specialised fashion and textile labs, studios, two auditoriums and Wi‑Fi-enabled academic blocks.

Campus Details

Academic Facilities

• Library: 17,918 print books, 2,035 e-books, 53 print journals, 13 online journals, 9 digital databases (2024)
• Labs: Dedicated Material workshop, Machine room, Computer lab, Pattern Making & Garment Construction Lab, specialised Knit labs (Flat knitting, Circular knitting, Shima Seiki), Leather products and lifestyle accessories workshops, Photography studio, Mac lab (graphic design studio)
• Classrooms: 51 classrooms, including 40 with audio-visual facilities (2024)

Hostel

Other Facilities

• 2 auditoriums
• 9 recreation rooms
• Campus-wide Wi‑Fi
• Canteen
• Bank ATM

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the eligibility criteria for B.Des at NIFT Chennai?

Candidates must have passed 10+2 in any stream from a recognised board and be less than 24 years old as on 1 August of the admission year, with 5-year relaxation for SC/ST/PwD. Admission is through the NIFT Entrance Exam (GAT + CAT), Situation Test and counselling, NIFT guidelines.

How does admission to B.F.Tech at NIFT Chennai work?

For B.F.Tech, candidates need 10+2 with Physics and Mathematics and age below 24 years (5-year relaxation for SC/ST/PwD). Selection is based on the NIFT GAT score followed by centralised NIFT counselling where campus and course are allotted by rank and preferences.

What is the typical NIFT exam rank needed for B.Des at NIFT Chennai?

For 2024 Round 1, B.Des Fashion Communication closed around all-India rank 238, Fashion Design around 460, Accessory Design 620, Textile Design 998, Knitwear Design 1158 and Leather Design 1666 for the general category. Cut-offs fluctuate each year depending on applicants and seat intake.

What is the first-year tuition fee for UG programmes at NIFT Chennai?

The first-year academic fee for national students is around ₹3.42 lakh for UG programmes like B.Des and B.F.Tech. This covers tuition and institute charges; hostel, mess and other personal expenses are paid separately.

How much do girls’ hostels at NIFT Chennai cost annually?

Recent hostel data for girls shows AC rooms charged roughly ₹39,400 hostel fee plus about ₹29,400 electricity, with mess around ₹63,000 and security charges extra, totalling close to ₹1.44 lakh per year. Non-AC rooms are slightly cheaper, at around ₹1.21 lakh including mess.

Does NIFT Chennai offer reservations and fee relaxation for SC/ST students?

NIFT Chennai follows the national NIFT policy with 15% seats reserved for SC and 7.5% for ST candidates. A 5-year relaxation is given in upper age limit for SC/ST/PwD, though tuition fee itself is common; students generally use central or state scholarships for financial support.

How strong are placements at NIFT Chennai for design students?

NIFT follows a national placement process where leading fashion, retail, e-commerce and lifestyle companies recruit across campuses. NIFT Chennai students in B.Des and MFM usually get roles in design, merchandising, buying, visual communication and product development, with most eligible students placed through campus or off-campus drives.

What kind of companies visit NIFT Chennai for campus recruitment?

Recruiters typically include fashion and lifestyle brands, export houses, retail chains and e-commerce firms, along with design studios and consulting setups that participate in the NIFT central placements. Students are shortlisted based on portfolios, tests and interviews, varying with the recruiting company and profile.

Does NIFT Chennai help students get internships during the course?

All NIFT UG programmes include mandatory industry internships, usually of 6–8 weeks, as part of the curriculum. The campus placement cell and faculty guide students in securing internships with export houses, designers, brands and buying agencies, and these internships are evaluated for credits.

What specialisations are offered at NIFT Chennai?

NIFT Chennai offers B.Des in Fashion Design, Fashion Communication, Accessory Design, Textile Design, Knitwear Design and Leather Design, along with B.F.Tech in Apparel Production. At the PG level, it offers MFM and M.F.Tech, combining fashion, management and technology focus areas.

How is the faculty quality and teaching style at NIFT Chennai?

Faculty include specialists from apparel production, fashion design, textiles, accessory design, communication and management, many with industry or consultancy experience. Teaching is studio- and project-based, with frequent juries, labs and industry interactions rather than only theory exams.

How rigorous is the workload and attendance policy at NIFT Chennai?

Design programmes involve long studio hours, submissions and juries with continuous evaluation. NIFT maintains a strict attendance requirement (generally 75% or more) for eligibility to appear in semester assessments, so students need consistent participation in classes and labs.

What are the hostel facilities like at NIFT Chennai?

The official data lists 210 girls’ rooms and 62 boys’ rooms, with overall girls’ capacity about 420. Student reviews mention double-sharing rooms with cot and study table, AC and non-AC options, and separate hostels for boys (inside campus) and girls (within a few kilometres, with transport).

How is the mess food quality and nearby food options?

Students report mixed feedback on hostel mess, with both South and North Indian items but average taste. Many seniors prefer tiffin services or nearby restaurants in Taramani/Velachery, which offer a range of budget food options within a short commute from campus and hostels.

Are hostel rooms guaranteed, or do students need to find PGs near NIFT Chennai?

Hostel seats are limited and allotted on priority and availability, and official notices have indicated full occupancy after counselling spot rounds. Many students, especially seniors, opt for rented flats or PGs within a 2–3 km radius when they do not get hostel accommodation.

What is campus life like at NIFT Chennai in terms of clubs and fests?

Campus life revolves around design clubs, cultural and literary societies, fashion shows and annual festivals hosted across NIFT. Students engage in styling events, exhibitions, sports activities and inter-college competitions, with Chennai’s cultural and coastal environment giving additional city-life exposure.

Is there any specific dress code at NIFT Chennai?

There is no formal uniform; students wear casuals but need to follow basic decency norms. For labs, workshops and industry visits, certain courses require aprons, covered shoes or specific protective gear, which faculty communicate at the start of the semester.

Is NIFT Chennai worth choosing over other NIFT campuses?

NIFT Chennai is among the older campuses, generally attracting mid to high NIFT ranks, and offers a wide mix of design and technology programmes. Students weighing options compare it with Delhi, Bengaluru and Mumbai for competition and exposure, but Chennai offers strong academics with relatively lower living costs.

How does NIFT Chennai compare with private fashion colleges in terms of ROI?

NIFT Chennai’s tuition is public-institution level, and graduates benefit from the national NIFT brand, centralised placements and alumni network across fashion and retail sectors. Many private design colleges in metros have higher fees, so long-term ROI for NIFT graduates is typically stronger for similar roles.