National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Chennai

About

The National Institute of Fashion Technology, Chennai, was founded in 1995 by the government. It is a division of NIFT, which was established in 1986 under the Indian government's Ministry of Textiles, Govt. of India. NIFT currently has 18 campuses around India, including NIFT Delhi, NIFT Bengaluru, NIFT Patna, NIFT Gandhinagar, NIFT Hyderabad, and NIFT Kolkata.  NIFT Chennai is approved by the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India and Recognized by AICTE.

NIFT Chennai, which was established for the Design, Management, and Technology for the International Brand, is a pioneering Institute of Fashion Education in the country and has been in the vanguard of providing professional human resource to the Textile and Apparel industry.  The primary goal of the Institute is to assist the Apparel/Fashion Industry in achieving worldwide industrial competitiveness.

This Institute offers a four-year bachelor's degree including  B.Des, B.F.Tech, and two-year Master's Programs in M.F.M. and M.FTech in Design, Technology and Management. In addition, the institute provides a two-year UG Diploma in Fashion Fit and Style (FFS) and one-year PG Diplomas in Apparel Production and Merchandising (APM), Omni Channel Retailing, and E-commerce Management (OCREM), and Fashion Entrepreneurship (FE).  The admission is based on the entrance exam. The exams accepted are CAT and GITAM GATT.  The application process is conducted online.  The Degrees awarded by the Institute are recognised worldwide. The Institute confers Degrees to the graduates in the Convocation Ceremony marking the occasion.

The NIFT certificate is internationally recognized. Students from ENSAIT in France and Swiss Textile College (STC) in Philadelphia and Nottingham visit the campus on a regular basis. In France, ENSAIT is looking for Bachelor of Fashion Technology students. Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, the University of Northampton in the United Kingdom, Saxion University in the Netherlands, the Queensland University of Technology in New Zealand, and AMFI in Amsterdam, among others, have partnered with it.

NIFT Act 2006 published in the Gazette of India on 14th July, 2006 confers Statutory Status on the Institute allowing it to offer degrees and other honours.. The Act came into effect from 1st April, 2007. The President of India is the 'Visitor' of the Institute under the Act. The Act empowers the Institute to award Degrees and other distinctions. NIFT Chennai is the first institute in India to award its own Degrees in the field of Fashion Education.

Over the years NIFT has also been working as a knowledge service provider to the Union and State governments in the area of Design development and Positioning of handloom and handicraft.  The National Institute of Fashion Technology was named 19th among the best fashion schools in the world in 2017.  According to India Today Survey, NIFT Chennai  ranked 4th for Fashion Design in 2019, 3rd in 2020, 4th in 2021 and 2022.  Some of the top recruiters that visit the campus for placement are Arvind Lifestyle Brands Ltd, India Connection, Go Go International Bangalore, Celebrity Fashion Ltd, etc.

Faculty members have extensive industry expertise, and the curriculum has been tailored to satisfy both present and future business expectations.  

NIFT Chennai has entered into International Collaborations and have Memorandum of Understanding between University of Northampton, UK,  AMFI, Amsterdam,  Fashion Institute of Technology, New York and Queensland University of Technology, New Zealand.

Completing a wonderful journey of more than three decades, the Istitute has set up a remarkable and ideal platform for the aspiring and creative young generation in the field of Fashion with Design, Technology and Management.  Over time, NIFT Chennai has developed a learning environment that promotes innovation, creativity, and excellence.

Some Highlights of National Institute of Fashion Technology, Chennai

Why Choose NIFT Chennai?

The National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Chennai, established in 1995, is one of the premier fashion education institutes in India. It is part of the NIFT network under the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, and has earned a reputation for academic excellence, creative innovation, and strong industry linkages. Here are the key reasons to choose NIFT Chennai:

1. Prestigious Institution

   • Recognized nationally and internationally as a leading institute for fashion education.

   • Degrees and diplomas are highly valued in the fashion and lifestyle industry.

2. Wide Range of Programs

   • Offers undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs in design, fashion technology, and management.

   • Popular courses include B.Des (Fashion Design, Textile Design, Knitwear, Accessory Design), B.F.Tech (Apparel Production), M.Des, M.F.Tech, and M.F.M.

3. State-of-the-Art Infrastructure

   • Well-equipped design studios, computer labs, garment construction labs, CAD facilities, and resource centres.

   • Specialized labs for textiles, weaving, dyeing, printing, and fashion technology.

4. Experienced Faculty

   • Faculty with academic expertise and professional industry experience.

   • Guest lectures, workshops, and seminars by leading designers, entrepreneurs, and industry experts.

5. Industry Exposure

   • Strong industry collaborations provide students with internships, live projects, and placements.

   • Regular interaction with fashion brands, export houses, retail giants, and design houses.

6. Placement Opportunities

   • Consistent track record of successful placements with top fashion and lifestyle companies.

   • Graduates also find opportunities in entrepreneurship, startups, and global fashion markets.

7. Creative and Cultural Hub

   • NIFT Chennai is known for its vibrant campus life, fashion shows, design exhibitions, and cultural events.

   • Students get opportunities to showcase their creativity at national and international platforms.

8. Global Exposure

   • Exchange programs with reputed fashion universities worldwide.

   • Opportunities to participate in international competitions, collaborations, and research.

9. Prime Location

   • Located in Chennai, a metropolitan city and a hub for textiles, handlooms, and apparel industries.

   • Provides students with access to industry networks, artisan clusters, and export houses.

10. Holistic Development

    • Focuses on innovation, entrepreneurship, sustainability, and leadership skills.

    • Encourages students to blend traditional Indian crafts with modern design sensibilities.

Vision

We at NIFT shall offer, at all our campuses, a learning experience of the highest standards in fashion pertaining to design, technology and management and encourage our remarkably creative student body to draw inspiration from India’s textiles and crafts while focusing on emerging global trends relevant to the industries we serve.

Admission Procedure

Admission to PG courses such as M.F.M. and M.FTech is done on the basis of valid score in GAT (General Ability Test), followed by Group Discussion and Personal Interview. For PG Diploma course, candidates must have passed 10+2/Intermediate with any degree to be eligible. Admission for diploma and continuing education certificate courses is based on the merit cum personal interview. 5 percent seats are reserved for Persons with disability (Horizontal reservation for PwD, 40% or more disability across all sections SC, ST, OBC, and General).

Admission Criteria

Admission 2025

NIFT Chennai offers admission to all undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) programs based on the NIFT Entrance Exam, which is conducted by the institute itself. NIFT Entrance Exam comprises a General Ability Test (GAT) for all the UG and PG Programs, along with an additional Creative Ability Test (CAT) for B.Des. Based on the entrance exam, shortlisted candidates will have to then appear for a Situation Test for B.Des and a Personal Interview for all PG programs.

B.Des Eligibility Criteria

Candidates seeking admission to B.Des at NIFT Chennai must meet the eligibility criteria in terms of both age and educational qualification. Here are the details about the same:

(I) Age Limit

Candidate must not be older than 24 Years as of August 1 of Admission Year.
There is a relaxation of 5 Years in Upper Age Limit for SC/ST/PwD candidates.

(II) Educational Qualification

Candidates must have any one of the following educational qualifications:

• Passed 10+2 from any recognized Central/State Board of Secondary Examination, such as Central Board of Secondary Education/ State Board New Delhi/ Council for Indian School of Certificate Examination, New Delhi.
  
• Passed Senior Secondary School Examination conducted by the National Open School with a minimum of five subjects.
  
• Passed any Public School/Board/University Examination in India or in foreign countries recognized by the Association of Indian Universities as equivalent to 10+2.
  
• General Certificate Education (GCE) Examination (London/ Cambridge/Sri-Lanka) at the Advanced (A) Level/ International Baccalaureate (IB).
  

Eligibility

• B.Des Passed 10+2 in any stream & must not be older than 24 Years of Age as of August 1 of the Admission Year 
• B.F.Tech Passed 10+2 with Physics & Maths as compulsory subjects & must not be older than 24 Years of Age as of August 1 of the Admission Year 
• MFM Bachelor’s degree in any discipline / Diploma of minimum 4 Years from NIFT or NID 
  
• M.F.Tech B.F.Tech degree from NIFT OR B.E/B.Tech from any recognized Institute / University
  

Scholarship 1

Institute provides various scholarships to meritorious, needy and deserving students, belonging to the economically weaker sections of society.
“SARTHAK - Financial Assistance scheme for the following Under Graduate students:

A) Parental Income ceiling per annum up to Rs. 1.5 Lakhs will get 100% of Financial Assistance in Tuition Fee
B) Parental Income ceiling per annum Above Rs. 1.5 lakh up to Rs. 2.5 Lakhs will get 75% of Financial Assistance in Tuition Fee
C) Parental Income ceiling per annum Above Rs. 2.5 lakh up to Rs. 4.0 Lakhs will get 50% of Financial Assistance in Tuition Fee

Scholarship 2

“SARTHAK - Financial Assitance scheme for the following Post Graduate students:

A) Parental Income ceiling per annum up to Rs. 1.5 Lakhs will get 75% of Financial Assistance in Tuition Fee
B) Parental Income ceiling per annum Above Rs. 1.5 lakh up to Rs. 2.5 Lakhs will get 50% of Financial Assistance in Tuition Fee
C) Parental Income ceiling per annum Above Rs. 2.5 lakh up to Rs. 4.0 Lakhs will get 25% of Financial Assistance in Tuition Fee

Placement

NIFT Chennai has not released the placement report for the year 2023. However, as per the annual report 2022, 90% students were placed in various domestic and international industries with good compensation package. A total of 168 industries given opportunities to NIFT students to pursue internship and final year projects.According to the Shiksha review, the highest package offered was INR 6 LPA during the recent placement drive. NIFT Chennai students were offered various roles such as Associate Designer, Assistant Designer, Fashion Stylist and many more.This is to note that, the highest package and roles offered are gathered from Shiksha review page. Hence the stats and roles offered mentioned above may vary further.

National Institute of Fashion Technology, Chennai

NIFT Chennai Campus provides infrastructure and facilities to students for both theoretical and practical learning. Here are the various facilities offered by NIFT Chennai:

Sports: The institute has indoor and outdoor activities for its students at NIFT. It has an inner and outer courtyard with a table tennis court, a basketball court, a badminton court, etc.
Transport: The institute also provides transportation facilities for their shopping, work, industrial visits, and training.
Computer Centre: Computers are available with BroadBand Wi-Fi Internet facilities for the students. It has all updated software related to training and education for students to nourish their skills and knowledge in the Digital field.
Auditorium: The auditorium has a seating capacity of about 800 students, where college fest, cultural, social, and economic sessions, and programs are organized by the College.
Labs: Chennai has well-equipped and highly infrastructure labs like Weaving Lab, Dyeing and Printing Lab, Knitting Lab, Leather Design Lab, Accessory Design Lab, Garment Technology Lab, etc.

Hostel

NIFT Chennai offers hostel accommodation to both boys and girls on a first-come-first serve basis, subject to availability of vacancies. Outstation students are given preference, and the room is allocated for a duration of one year only. Students have to re-register for the allotment of hostel rooms in consecutive academic years. Students can choose between AC and non-AC rooms. Each student will be provided with a single cot, writing table, chair, and almirah.

The various facilities at NIFT Chennai Hostel are as follows:

• Hygenic Mess
  
• Water Dispensers
  
• Laundry Facility
  
• Health Care
  
• Wi-Fi Facility
  
• Security and Housekeeping Services
  
• Student Multi-Activity Centre (SMAC)
  

Transport:

The institute also provides transportation facilities for their shopping, work, industrial visits, and training.