UCEED Exam 2026

The Undergraduate Common Entrance Examination for Design (UCEED) is a national-level entrance exam conducted by IIT Bombay for admission to Bachelor of Design (B.Des) programs. Below are the key highlights for UCEED 2026:

• Exam Name: UCEED 2026
• Conducting Institute: Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay
• Exam Level: National
• Frequency: Annual
• Course Offered: Bachelor of Design (B.Des)
• Mode of Exam: Part A (Computer Based Test) and Part B (Offline/Drawing)
• Official Website: uceed.iitb.ac.in

Prospective candidates should keep track of the following tentative schedule for the UCEED 2026 session:

• Online Registration Starts: First week of October 2025
• Last Date for Registration (Regular Fee): Second week of November 2025
• Admit Card Release: First week of January 2026
• UCEED 2026 Exam Date: Third Sunday of January 2026
• Release of Draft Answer Key: Fourth week of January 2026
• Declaration of Result: Second week of March 2026
• Scorecard Download: March to June 2026

UCEED is a test center-based examination that evaluates candidates on their visualization skills, observation, design thinking, and analytical reasoning. It is the primary gateway for students seeking admission to B.Des programs at premier Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and other prestigious design schools across India.

The full form of UCEED is Undergraduate Common Entrance Examination for Design. It is conducted under the guidance of the UCI (UCEED-CEED Implementation) Committee of IIT Bombay.

Since its inception, UCEED has evolved from being a niche exam for a few IITs to a widely recognized standard for design education in India. The number of participating institutes has grown significantly, reflecting the rising demand for professional designers in the Indian industry. The exam pattern has also transitioned to include both objective questions and subjective drawing components to provide a holistic assessment of a candidate's creative potential.

To be eligible for UCEED 2026, candidates must meet the following criteria:

• Age Limit: Candidates from OPEN/EWS/OBC-NCL categories must be born on or after October 1, 2001. SC/ST/PwD candidates get a 5-year relaxation.
• Number of Attempts: A candidate can attempt UCEED a maximum of two times in consecutive years.
• Educational Qualification: Candidates must have passed Class 12 (or equivalent) in 2025 or be appearing for it in 2026 from any stream (Science, Commerce, or Arts & Humanities).

The application process is entirely online. Candidates must follow these steps:

1. Register on the official UCEED portal using a valid email ID.
2. Fill in personal and educational details.
3. Upload required documents: Photograph, Signature, Class 12 Marksheet, and Category Certificate (if applicable).
4. Pay the application fee via net banking, credit card, or debit card.
5. Submit the form and download the confirmation page.

The UCEED exam tests candidates on a variety of subjects related to design and general intelligence, including:

• Visualization and Spatial Ability
• Observation and Design Sensitivity
• Environmental and Social Awareness
• Analytical and Logical Reasoning
• Language and Creativity
• Design Thinking and Problem Solving
• Drawing and Sketching

The syllabus is divided into two parts:

• Part A: Covers Visualization, Spatial Ability, Observation, Design Sensitivity, Logical Reasoning, and Language skills.
• Part B: Focuses on Drawing skills, evaluating the ability to draw objects, people, or scenes with correct proportions, perspective, and shading, as well as Design Aptitude.

The UCEED 2026 exam follows a specific structure:

• Total Duration: 3 Hours
• Part A (2 Hours): Computer-based test consisting of Numerical Answer Type (NAT), Multiple Select Questions (MSQ), and Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ).
• Part B (1 Hour): Pen-and-paper based drawing and design aptitude test.
• Total Marks: 300 Marks

The admission process involves three main stages:

1. Appearing for Exam: Candidates must clear the UCEED 2026 cutoff to be eligible for the rank list.
2. B.Des Application: Qualified candidates must apply separately for B.Des admissions through the common application portal managed by IIT Bombay.
3. Seat Allocation: Seats are allotted based on UCEED rank, category, and institute preferences.

The primary participating institutes for UCEED 2026 include:

• IIT Bombay
• IIT Delhi
• IIT Guwahati
• IIT Hyderabad
• IIT Roorkee
• IIITDM Jabalpur

Additionally, several "Result Sharing Institutes" accept UCEED scores for their B.Des admissions, including VIT University, UPES Dehradun, and Srishti Manipal Institute.

UCEED results are usually declared in March. The result includes the candidate's score in Part A and, for those who qualify Part A, the total marks and All India Rank (AIR). The scorecard is valid for one year only for admission to the academic year 2026-2027.

Once the results are out, successful candidates must participate in the Joint Seat Allocation process. Candidates should prepare their portfolio (though not required for IITs, some private institutes may ask for it) and research the specializations offered at different IITs, such as Product Design, Interaction Design, or Communication Design.

The counselling is conducted online. Candidates fill in their choices of institutes in order of preference. There are typically three rounds of seat allotment. If a seat is allotted, the candidate must pay the seat acceptance fee to freeze or float their option.

The cutoff for UCEED is twofold:

• Part A Cutoff: Candidates must score a minimum mark in Part A to have their Part B evaluated.
• Admission Cutoff: This is the final rank at which admissions close for a particular institute and category.

Note: UCEED is conducted by IIT Bombay, not NTA. For official queries, contact:

Address: Chairman, UCEED-CEED Office, IIT Bombay, Powai, Mumbai - 400076

Email: uceed@iitb.ac.in

Phone: +91-22-2576 4063 / 9093