For millions of students in India, getting into an IIT usually means clearing one of the toughest entrance exams in the country — JEE Main and JEE Advanced. But not many students know that admission to some IIT courses is possible even without a JEE score. Several IITs offer a four-year Bachelor of Design (B.Des) programme where admission happens through a separate entrance exam called UCEED. (Image: Pexels)

The Bachelor of Design (B.Des) programme focuses on creativity, innovation, visual thinking, and problem-solving. The course combines art, design, and technology, making it ideal for students interested in fields like product design, animation, UI/UX, communication design, and creative technology. (Image: Pexels)

Currently, six IITs offer the B.Des programme: IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Guwahati, IIT Hyderabad, IIT Indore, and IIT Roorkee. These institutes are among the top design education centres in India. Seat availability differs across IITs and categories. IIT Guwahati currently offers one of the highest numbers of seats among the participating institutes. (File Photo)

Unlike engineering courses, students do not need JEE Main or JEE Advanced scores for B.Des admissions. Instead, admission is based on the Undergraduate Common Entrance Examination for Design (UCEED). (File Photo)

UCEED is a national-level entrance exam conducted for undergraduate design admissions. The exam tests design aptitude, creativity, logical reasoning, observation skills, and visual and spatial ability. The exam is generally held every year in January. (Image: Pexels)

Students who passed Class 12 in 2025 or 2026 are eligible to apply for UCEED 2027. Science stream students can apply to all six IITs. Students from Commerce, Arts, or other streams can apply to IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Hyderabad, and IIT Indore. (File Photo)

The age limit for UCEED is: General, EWS, and OBC-NCL candidates must be born on or after October 1, 2001 while SC, ST, and PwD candidates must be born on or after October 1, 1996. (Image: Pexels)

According to available information, UCEED 2027 is expected to be held on January 17, 2027, in the morning session. Official notifications and detailed schedules are expected to be released later this year. (Image: Pexels)