List of Diploma Courses in Design: Duration, Eligibility, Admission Process

Some of the popular Diploma Courses in Design include design, including web designing, photoshop, game designing, graphic designing, interior design, and many more. It not only includes courses related to fashion and clothing but also courses related to architecture, games, art, and creativity. The average cost of studying a diploma course in design lies between INR 30,000 to INR 2 Lakhs. 

The duration of diploma courses in design is 6 months to 2 years, which is shorter as compared to other degrees. Many aspiring students choose diploma courses in design over a degree because of their shorter duration, low fee structure, and the hands-on training and practical skills they provide to students.

Several top colleges in India offer a list of diploma courses in design, such as the Academy of Applied Art, Aditya College of Design Studies, Aesthetic Institute of Design, etc. The average salary of a student with a diploma course in design is INR 2 Lakhs to INR 4 Lakhs per year. Apart from Diploma courses, there are also other Fashion Designing Courses in India that candidates can shortlist as an alternate option.

List of Diploma Courses in Design with Fees

Several diploma courses in design aim at providing practical, theoretical, and technical skills for creating own innovative designs. Students can choose any of the diploma courses in design based on their interests and skills. The fee structure for these different courses of a diploma in design may vary depending on the institution.

The table given below provides the list of diploma courses in design along with the average fee structure and key focus areas of study:

Duration of Diploma Courses in Design 2026

The duration of Diploma courses in design may vary depending on the course selected. Generally, the average duration of diploma courses in design lies between 6 months to 2 years. There are two types of design diploma courses, which are shorter courses and comprehensive courses. While shorter courses include graphic designing, web designing, photography, UX/UI, etc, are of 6 months to 1 year.

Shorter courses focus on skills and the practical application of designing techniques. On the other hand, comprehensive courses of the diploma in design, like fashion designing, interior design, game design, animation, etc, are of 1 year to 2 years duration as these include theoretical and practical understanding of some key concepts.

Students can also select the duration of the courses depending on the college or university's time period to complete diploma courses in design. However, the minimum duration is 6 months, and it is mandatory for students to study for 6 months in any diploma course in design. 

Eligibility Criteria for the List of Diploma Courses in Design 

There are certain eligibility criteria that students need to fulfill to be considered eligible for admission into diploma courses in design. These eligibility criteria are different for institutions and states. The basic eligibility includes age, education, skills, entrance exam, etc.

The following is the eligibility criterion for the list of diploma courses in design:

• Students must have completed 12th higher secondary from a recognised institution with 45% or above passing marks in any stream of Science, Art, or Commerce. 
• Some colleges and universities accept 10th or senior secondary students to be eligible for admission into diploma courses in design. 
• Interest in designing, creativity, innovation, perceptual ability, visuo-spatial aptitude, and a curiosity of creation. 
• A portfolio of personal designs might be required by some institutions for admission into a list of diploma courses in design. 
• There are several private and government colleges that have their own entrance examination as a prerequisite for admission into diploma courses in design. 
• Personal Interview or counselling is conducted by Design colleges and universities to check the abilities and eligibility of students for diploma courses in design. 

Also Read: ITI Fashion Designing Courses 2026

Admission Process for Diploma Courses in Design 

The admission process for the list of diploma courses in design includes fulfilling eligibility criteria, filling in with registration form for admission,  submitting required documents, and more. The admission process for each institution is different, and general admission starts for diploma courses in design in August every year.

Students can note down the following admission process for diploma courses in design:

• Step 1: The first and most important step in the admission process for a list of diploma courses in design is the selection of a college, university, or institution. The selection can be based on fee structure, recognition of the institution, course duration, course availability, etc.  
• Step 2: Once the institution has been selected, students must keep a check on the admission and application dates to avoid late admission. 
• Step 3: Students must check the eligibility criteria for specific institutions and diploma courses in design. 
• Step 4: Apply for the diploma course in design, for which students need to fill in with application form, submit fees, and documents. 
• Step 5: There might be a design aptitude test or institution-specific entrance examination that is required to complete the admission process. 
• Step 6: Some institutions require a portfolio of work of design work from students. So, students must prepare a portfolio to take admission into design diploma courses. 
• Step 7: Admission and counselling for diploma design courses take place once the entrance exam and application form are filled out. Some institutions conduct Personal Interviews for admission. 
• Step 8: Enrollment, fee submission, and commencement of classes is the last step, where students start with a diploma course in design. 

Documents Required for Admission into Diploma Courses in Design

The admission process requires submission of some important documents at the time of filling in the application form for the Diploma course in design. Students must check the list of required documents for admission into diploma courses in design given below:

• 10th or 12th marksheet from a recognised institution. 
• Birth certificate
• Personal Details like name, address, and contact information
• Aadhar Card
• Photograph
• Portfolio (if asked by institution)
• Application fee 
• Entrance exam

Top Colleges for Diploma courses in Design

There are several Top 10 Fashion Designing Colleges in India, universities, and institutions that provide a list of diploma courses in design all over India. Some of the famous colleges for a diploma in design include the Academy of Applied Arts, IIFT, Pearl Academy, etc. The fee structure, eligibility, and admission process for these institutions might change.

The table given below provides a list of the top colleges for diploma courses in design:

Professions and Job Roles after Diploma Course in Design 2026

There is a vast career scope for students with diploma courses in design, such as graphic designer, fashion designer, interior designer, etc. The average starting salary of a student with a diploma in design ranges from INR 4 to 5 lakhs.

The table given below provides an average salary for different job roles after a diploma course in design:

Why Study Diploma Courses in Design?

Diploma courses in Design offer a variety of advantages, benefits, and career scope to students. Students with a genuine interest in the creation of designs and innovation find diploma courses in design to be an excellent course. While there are several other reasons apart from creative interest to study Diploma courses in design, as mentioned below:

• Diploma courses in Design offer practical hands-on training and skills development rather than focusing on theoretical information. The curriculum of course of diploma course in design has been developed to provide practical and technical design knowledge to students.
• There is a list of diploma courses in design with several disciplines, including web design, graphic design, interior design, fashion design, jewellery design, etc. Students can select from a variety of choices of diploma in design. 
• Diploma courses in design offer competitive and high salaries to students with an entry-level salary of INR 4 to 5 lakh per year. 
• The career scope of Diploma courses in design keeps expanding and increasing, and students become open to several international career opportunities within design job roles. 
• The duration of the course is neither too long nor too short, which helps students to complete the course within 6 months to 2 years.