The National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) has revised its admission guidelines for PhD programmes for the 2026 academic session. In a notice the institute announced significant expansion in seats under the NIFT Teaching Fellow (NTF) category along with tuition fee waivers for eligible candidates.
As per the updated guidelines, the number of NTF vacancies has been increased to 20 seats per year, up from the existing five — a fourfold increase. According to the notice, the move is aimed at strengthening academic and research capacity at the institute.
Under the revised framework, NIFT will offer a 100% tuition fee waiver to five candidates belonging to the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), Scheduled Castes (SC), and Scheduled Tribes (ST) categories who successfully clear the full-time PhD admission process under the NTF criteria.
In addition, a 50% tuition fee waiver will be extended to the remaining 15 candidates selected under the same category.
The institute has also specified that the maximum age limit for candidates applying under the NTF category will be 30 years. However, there will be no age limit for applicants seeking admission to other full-time or part-time PhD programmes. The announcement further noted that candidates who have already applied, as well as prospective applicants, have been advised to take note of these revisions while applying for PhD Admissions 2026.
In a separate notification issued as part of the NIFT Admissions 2026 process, the institute has clarified the eligibility criteria for Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) candidates.
According to the clarification, OCI cardholders who were issued their cards prior to March 4, 2021, will continue to be entitled to the rights available under earlier notifications of 2005 and 2009. Such candidates may choose to apply either as Indian Nationals under the Open (General) Category, or as OCI candidates under the NRI / Foreign National category, subject to fulfilling the prescribed eligibility conditions.
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On the other hand, candidates holding OCI cards issued on or after March 4, 2021, will be governed by the Ministry of Home Affairs notification dated April 4, 2021. These applicants will be eligible to apply only under the NRI / Foreign National category and must submit SAT, GMAT, or GRE scores, as applicable.
NIFT has further stated that all admissions will be subject to verification of original documents, including OCI card issuance date, nationality, academic qualifications, age, and other conditions specified in the NIFT Admissions Prospectus 2026. This clarification will be treated as an integral part of the prospectus and will prevail in case of any inconsistency with earlier admission-related instructions.
