Master of Design (M.Des) is a postgraduate programme of about 2 years in the design stream. It is offered by 17 colleges on this record, across 35 individual programmes.
Across those colleges, fees run from ₹1 lakh to ₹12 lakh for the full programme, the median reported salary is ₹9.4 LPA and colleges report about 509 seats between them.
The spread matters more than the midpoint. Half of the reported packages sit below ₹9.4 LPA, while the top tenth reach around ₹13.2 LPA. Plan against the median — the high figure belongs to a small number of colleges, and getting into one of them is the whole game.
M.Des is not a single track. 8 specialisations are recorded under it, led by Master of Design (M.Des.). Most colleges now admit directly into a specialisation, so the choice is made at application time rather than in the second year — worth checking before you fill the form.
What to check before you commit
- The college, not just the course. Teaching, recruiters and fees differ sharply between the colleges that run it.
- The specialisation you will be admitted into. Most colleges now allot it at admission rather than in the second year.
- The entrance route and its calendar. Work backwards from the exam date, not forwards from the application deadline.
- The all-in cost. Tuition plus hostel and living, minus any waiver you qualify for.
- What the batch actually earns. Ask for the median and the placed percentage, not the highest offer.