Set up in 1986(under Ministry of Textiles ), NIFT is the 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. It was made a statutory institute in 2006 by an Act of the Indian Parliament with the President of India as ‘Visitor’ and has full fledged campuses all across the country. 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 handlooms and handicrafts. NIFT has pioneered fashion education by establishing Industry chairs in design, Manufacturing, and retail. The purpose of Industry Chair is to develop and execute a high-impact research agenda, developing multi-investigator programs and multi-disciplinary laboratories, developing innovative training program and curricula, fostering collaborations across the industry and academia.
Ranks No1 in Industry :
The National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) is recognized as the premier institute for fashion education that continuously evolves itself to keep abreast of the changing market trends. The emphasis has been to train students to derive from the core strength of art and culture and apply it to the modern and dynamic world of fashion. Graduates of NIFT have been provided cutting-edge understanding through exposure to emerging challenges, developments, techniques, technology, and practice from all over the world.
The Degrees awarded by the Institute are recognized worldwide.
Offered courses :
List of UG Programs
- B.Des. (Fashion Design)
- B.Des. (Leather Design)
- B.Des. (Accessory Design)
- B.Des. (Textile Design)
- B.Des. (Knitwear Design)
- B.Des. (Fashion Communication)
- B.FTech. (Apparel Production)
- It also offers a two-semester Foundation Programme
- The programme is designed to foster the creativity, sensitivity, and skills to form a strong foundation.
- The students are sensitized to the fundamentals of fashion business namely design, technology, and management from a socio-cultural perspective.
- Students can build their areas further through the number of electives offered to them during their foundation period.
- Specialization will be offered after completion of the Foundation program based on the aptitude and performance of the student.
List of PG Programs
- M.Des. (Master of Design)
- M.F.M. (Master of Fashion Management)
- M.FTech. (Master of Fashion Technology)
Doctoral Programmes :
National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) offers doctoral programme through its Head Office in Delhi.
The programme is in recognition of high academic achievements, independent research and application of knowledge in the areas of Design, Management and Technology as applied with reference to textile, fashion, lifestyle, apparel, craft and any other related field. Interdisciplinary and trans-disciplinary research will also be encouraged.
NIFT expects its PhD scholars to demonstrate independent research and thought leadership through publications in academic journals and scholarly presentations of their work and also their passion for knowledge and research, for developing new ideas and paradigms. Creativity and the potential to do outstanding research must be a hallmark of their personality and intellectual skill set.
The programme has two phases: course work and thesis research. The first phase covers the first two years of course work (compulsory and selected). Successful completion of the first phase requires passing the comprehensive exam. The student then begins the second phase, i.e. thesis research work.
Areas of Research-PhD scholars at NIFT have worked in the areas of Anthropometry and Fit, Product Development, Technology Development, Textiles, Sustainability, Marketing, Human Resource Management, Trend Studies and Craft Studies.
PhD Program was launched in 2009 with 7 students and currently 53 students are pursuing PhD from NIFT. 31scholars have been awarded PhD till now.
Scholarships :
A considerable sum from NIFT Development Fund is effectively used to give scholarships every year.
To maximize the potential of its students, the institute's Means-cum-Merit Financial Assistance scheme allows students from humble backgrounds to avail of subsidized tuition fees at every Campus.
Further, many leading organizations from the apparel sector have come forward to encourage NIFT students in their academic and creative quests.
Pioneers in the related field have instituted awards & scholarships namely ITC, HomeShop 18 etc. to recognize and compliment academic brilliance. This provides motivation to the students, from their first year of study.
Eligibility for Bachelor Programmes – Design (B.Des) and Technology (B.F.Tech)
Age:
Maximum age of the candidate should be less than 24 years as on 1st August of the year of Admission.
(The upper age limit may be relaxed by a period of 5 (five) years for candidates of Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribe/ Persons With Disability (PWD) categories)
Academic:
1) For B.Des – 10+2 Any stream
2) For B.Tech- 10+2 Maths and Physics
Note: Reservation is applicable
Curriculum :
The new curriculum of NIFT attempts to give the student a rich repertoire of experience and understanding that will hopefully inculcate a desire and a capability for lifelong learning and will stand him or her in good stead in these disruptive times of change.
Industry engagement is envisaged as a learning process that, by providing exposure to the students in real-life working environment as part of an academic curriculum helps them to develop and enhance academic, personal, and professional competencies coupled with a deeper understanding of the ethics and values that distinguish a good professional.
The following are also included along with the curriculum :
- Interaction with Industry leaders and alumni in the
- classroom
- Sponsored classroom projects
- Industry visits
- Exposure to exhibitions and fairs
- Internships
- Joint research endeavors
- The hands-on practical learning experience in the industry
- environment to be transacted within the curriculum
- structure
Grassroots Connect :
The Craft Cluster Initiative, has provided the students with continuous exposure to Indian culture and traditional handloom and handicraft clusters thus providing an opportunity for creative innovation and experimentation at the grass root level.
Through this craft exposure NIFT students have endeavoured to be ‘Young Change Agents’, utilizing the skills of the handloom and handicraft sectors for developing niche contemporary products.
The experienced NIFT faculty have contributed by monitoring the student activities; through customized training programmes and with design inputs, thereby enhancing the commercial value of products being manufactured by the artisans.
Such exposure and interactions have provided a stronger rural connect and a greater understanding and appreciation of Indian culture and aesthetics to the young design professionals.
Global Connect :
The academic strategy of NIFT embraces internationalism.
To provide an academic gradient, the Institute’s international collaborations enable students to participate in international competitions, seminars, research, and other events.
Furthermore, at the faculty level strategic alliances also provide opportunities for academic advancement or joint research initiatives through faculty exchange.
This ensures constant updation and up-gradation of teaching methods and facilities, putting NIFT faculty at par with the best in the world. Among the successful collaborations, the strategic partnership between NIFT and the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York, USA, offers a unique once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for selected meritorious NIFT students to earn dual degrees from both NIFT and FIT in four years.
The two years of education at NIFT is followed by one year at FIT. The Students return to complete their studies at NIFT thus earning a Dual Degree from both institutes.
In the academic year 2021- 22, around 57 NIFT students have taken admission at FIT in their third year for pursuing the dual degree. In yet another format of exchange, through a partnership between NIFT and Swiss Textile College (STC), Switzerland, NIFT students avail an opportunity to attend a three week Short-Term Summer Programme at STC, Switzerland.
The following are some of the key institutes with which NIFT collaborates: Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), USA; North Carolina State University, USA; Queensland University of Technology, Australia; De Montfort University, UK; Glasgow School of Arts, UK; Nottingham Tent University, UK; Swiss Textile College, Switzerland; ENSAIT University, France; EnaMoma, France; Politechnico di Milano, Italy; NABA, Italy; Saxion University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands; Amsterdam Fashion Institute, Netherlands; Bunka Gauken University, Japan; KEA - Copenhagen School of Design and Technology, Denmark; The Savannah College of Art and Design(SCAD), USA; Buffalo State University, USA; Oklahoma State University (OSU); USA; Massey University, NZ; SCED, Isreal and many more.
NIFT is also a member of the prestigious International Foundation for Fashion Technology Institutes (IFFTI) and Cumulus, an international body serving art and design education and research.
Placements :
- On Campus Placements
Companies are invited for campus placements. It is organised for all the eligible final year students of NIFT campuses. Upon being given a confirmed time and date, the companies participate in the campus placement procedure.
- Pre-Placement Offers (PPO)
Companies can extend a pre-placement offer to students before the on-campus placement which is considered as a job offer. These offers may be made on the basis of internships/ training/ projects undertaken by the students in the said company. In order to provide fair opportunity to all, companies may inform NIFT of such offers made through the moderated Industry Mentor Feedback Form provided by the institute to ensure students offered PPO are not allowed to participate in further Placement process.
- Off-Campus Placements
Upon completion of Campus Placements, the institute continues to facilitate job opportunities to its Graduates through Off campus drive where companies that could not participate in campus placements raise requirements through the Industry & Alumni Affairs (I&AA) unit. Placements and job opportunities in NIFT are on an upward trajectory – with greater overseas opportunities, greater number of pre placement offers, higher pay packages etc.
