For every budding designer, there comes a defining moment—the decision to turn creativity into a career. If design is your calling, the Undergraduate Common Entrance Exam for Design (UCEED) is your launchpad. And here’s the big news: the UCEED 2026 exam will be held on Sunday, January 18, 2026.
That’s right—your journey to some of the country’s top design schools officially begins now.
What is UCEED?
Conducted by IIT Bombay, UCEED is a national-level entrance exam that tests your design aptitude and opens doors to Bachelor of Design (B.Des) programs at India’s premier institutes like:
- IIT Bombay
- IIT Delhi
- IIT Guwahati
- IIT Hyderabad
- IIT Roorkee
- IIITDM Jabalpur
…and several other result-sharing institutes across India.
Think of it as your golden ticket to the world of professional design. To know more on what are your career opportunities after UCEED check our blog
Quick Snapshot of UCEED 2026
Get a quick snapshot of UCEED 2026 – exam date, pattern, fees, cities, and key details every design aspirant must know
- Exam Date: January 18, 2026 (Sunday)
- Conducting Body: IIT Bombay
- Mode:
- Part A – Computer-based
- Part B – Pen & paper drawing test
- Duration: 3 hours
- Test Cities: 27 across India
- Fee:
- General – ₹3,800
- Reserved & Female candidates – ₹1,900
Popularity: Nearly 15,400 aspirants appeared in 2025, and the numbers are only growing!
Eligibility Criteria
Check UCEED 2026 eligibility: age limit, attempts allowed, and qualifying exam details for all streams.
- Age Limit:
- OPEN/EWS/OBC-NCL – born on or after Oct 1, 2000
- SC/ST/PwD – born on or after Oct 1, 1995
- Attempts Allowed: Maximum of two attempts in consecutive years.
Qualifying Exam: You should appear in Class XII (or equivalent) for the first time in 2025 or 2026. Students from all streams—Science, Commerce, or Humanities—are eligible
Exam Structure & Syllabus
Explore the UCEED 2026 exam pattern and syllabus – Part A (online aptitude) and Part B (offline drawing & design skills).
UCEED is a 300-mark exam, split into two compulsory parts:
Part A (Online)
Tests your:
- Visualization & spatial reasoning
- Analytical & logical thinking
- Design sensitivity
- Observation & creativity
- Language proficiency
- Awareness of society, environment, and science
Part B (Offline)
Focuses on hands-on skills:
- Drawing: Sketching people, products, and scenes with perspective & composition
- Design Aptitude: Problem-solving with creativity and empathy
Important Dates to Remember (Tentative)
Stay updated with UCEED 2026 important dates – registration, admit card, exam, results, and scorecard release.
- Info Brochure Release: October 1, 2025
- Online Registration: First week of October 2025
- Last Date for Registration: Last week of October 2025
- Admit Card Download: First week of January 2026
- Exam Date: January 18, 2026
- Results Declaration: First week of March 2026
Scorecard Download: Second week of March 2026
What Past UCEED Results Tell Us
Success in UCEED has always favored those who balance theory and creativity, this has been evident in analysis of UCEED 2022, UCEED 2023, UCEED 2024 and UCEED 2025. The top ranks consistently go to students who master both:
- The aptitude test (Part A) for logic and reasoning
- The drawing test (Part B) for design and imagination
So if you’re preparing, remember—it’s not just about solving problems, it’s about thinking like a designer.
How Vantage Prepares You for UCEED
At Vantage Design School, we believe in shaping thinkers, not rote learners. Here’s how we help you stand out:
- Interactive live classes with real-time feedback
- Experienced faculty who know both design and UCEED inside out
- Mentorship from industry professionals for real-world perspective
- Community learning with peers and alumni
- Exclusive collaborations where top students work with our professional design studio
In short: you won’t just prepare for UCEED—you’ll start living the life of a designer.
Ready to Begin Your Design Journey?
This is your moment. Whether you dream of sketching futuristic products, creating human-centered designs, or building a career that blends creativity with innovation, UCEED 2026 is your gateway.
🎨 Start your creative journey
🚀 Build a standout portfolio
✨ Get mentored by the best
Important Links
Important dates for UCEED 2026
Application and B.Des Admission for 2025-26
