The Footwear Design & Development Institute (FDDI), under the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry, is a premier institution offering specialized training for the thriving footwear industry. Established in 1986, FDDI is recognised as an Institute of National Importance and continues to produce industry-ready professionals.(FDDI, A-10/A, Sector-24, NOIDA-201301, Phone;9205556336; admission @fddiindia.com, www.fddiindia.com)

The institute boasts 12 campuses nationwide, including Noida, Chennai and Hyderabad, though none are located in Kerala. Equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure and a robust placement cell, FDDI ensures excellent job opportunities for its graduates. Its revised curriculum incorporates Information Technology, further enhancing students’ employability.Before enrolling, aspirants are encouraged to gather comprehensive information about the institute to make an informed decision.

India’s footwear products have a significant demand both domestically and internationally, making this a promising career path.

Programmes offered

• Bachelor's Degree (4 years):
• Bachelor of Design: Footwear Design & Production, Fashion Design, Leather, Lifestyle & Product Design
• BBA: Retail and Fashion Merchandise
• Master's Degree (2 years):
• Master of Design: Footwear Design & Production, Fashion Design
• MBA: Retail and Fashion Merchandise
• PhD: Launching in January 2025 (notification on the official website).

A total of 2,390 seats are available across 12 centers: Noida (430), Fursatganj, Uttar Pradesh (120), Chennai (180), Kolkata (180), Rohtak, Haryana (120), Jodhpur (120), Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh (180), Guna, Madhya Pradesh (90), Ankleshwar, Gujarat (120), Patna (240), Hyderabad (370), and Chandigarh (240). Additionally, there is a 10% reservation for NRI, PIO, and industry-sponsored categories. However, not all courses are available at every campus.

Reservations are allocated as follows: 15% for Scheduled Castes, 7.5% for Scheduled Tribes, 27% for Other Backward Classes, 10% for Economically Weaker Sections, and 2% for Differently Abled categories.

Eligibility
Undergraduate Programmes: Plus two (with specific elective subjects) or a three-year engineering diploma.

Postgraduate Programmes: Graduation in any subject for MBA and Master of Design (Fashion Design). For Master of Design (Footwear Design & Production), candidates without a design background must complete additional coursework.

Age Limit: Applicants for UG courses must be under 25 years of age as of July 1, 2025. No age limit for PG programmes.

Application Process
Applications for 2025-26 are open online until April 20, with a late fee window extending to April 30. Registration costs Rs 600 (Rs.300 for differently abled applicants). Late fees for applying till April 30 are Rs.800 and Rs.400, respectively.

Entrance Exam: A 200-mark written test will be conducted on May 11 across 36 centers, including Kochi, Bengaluru, and Mumbai. The syllabus is available on the official website.

Applicants with valid scores from national-level entrance exams may bypass the All India Selection Test but must still apply and submit scores by May 31, 2025. The ranks for such candidates will be prepared by adjusting their percentile scores. However, if they have appeared for the AIST, their AIST score will be considered for ranking.

Selection and Admission
The merit list will be published in mid-June, followed by counselling in June-July. Admissions must be finalised by July 21, with fee payments completed by July 15.

Fee Structure
The semester fee varies across campuses, averaging around Rs1 lakh. Detailed guidelines, fee rates, and conditions for NRI/PIO/industry-sponsored candidates are provided in the prospectus. For more information, Phone: 8015099716 (Chennai)