BRDS and SILICA are two well-known names students encounter when looking for coaching for design entrance exams in India. Both offer preparation for NID, NIFT, UCEED and CEED, but choosing between them is not as simple as comparing their course names or selection numbers.
The interesting part is what sits behind those names. How different are their study materials? How many centres do they actually have? What does a student get beyond classes and mock tests? And what kind of support is available after clearing the first stage?
If you’re comparing BRDS vs SILICA, this guide breaks down those differences using the latest information published by both institutes.
The 2027 exam calendar
For the 2027 cycle of the NID Entrance Exam, NID has set 30 November 2026 as the application deadline and 20 December 2026 as the date of the DAT Prelims, with DAT Mains following for shortlisted candidates. IIT Bombay will hold UCEED 2027 on the morning of Sunday, 17 January 2027, with full details due by 1 October 2026. CEED 2027 is scheduled for the same date. The NIFT 2027 entrance exam is tentatively scheduled for 10 January 2027.
The written papers for these design entrance exams fall between 20 December 2026 and 17 January 2027, which sets the timeline for design entrance exam preparation this season.
Courses and exams covered
BRDS: courses and programmes
BRDS was founded in 2005 by Dr Bhanwar Rathore, a NIFT alumnus, and is headquartered in Ahmedabad. Its faculty includes graduates and postgraduates of NIFT, NID, IIT, CEPT, SPA, MSU and DCA.
BRDS organises its design entrance coaching into three groups.
- Design entrance exams: Classroom and live online coaching for NID, NIFT, UCEED, CEED and other design colleges.
- Second-stage preparation: Dedicated coaching for the NID DAT Mains (Studio Test) and the NIFT Situation Test. It also runs NIFT Personal Interview classes for MFM, M.FTech and M.Des applicants. These are available in classroom and online formats.
- Architecture and art exams: Separate classroom batches for NATA, JEE Paper 2 (B.Arch) and Fine Arts (BFA), plus separate live online batches for NATA and JEE Paper 2.
BRDS also offers international design portfolio preparation for students applying to design schools abroad. It runs a design aptitude test, and offers scholarships to meritorious NID and NIFT aspirants. Prospective students can attend a demo class at a centre by prior appointment.
SILICA: courses and programmes
SILICA has more than 18 years of experience in design entrance coaching. It runs classroom coaching for NID, NIFT, NATA, CEED and UCEED from its centres, with separate one-year and two-year programmes. It also prepares students for JEE Paper 2, Art CET and foreign universities, and runs online coaching for NID, NIFT, CEED, UCEED and NATA.
SILICA structures its offering in three steps.
- Aptitude test and career guidance. Before coaching begins, students take an aptitude test that assesses their aptitude for different design career streams, followed by career guidance. SILICA also offers a free 10-minute creativity test.
- Entrance exam coaching. Coaching delivered by faculty, supported by an online app, study material and weekly tests.
- Admissions guidance. Personal guidance on admissions and college choices after the course, including help with career planning, applications and interviews for design, fashion and architecture colleges.
SILICA groups its programmes by the student’s stage. There are separate tracks for students in Class 11, students in Class 12, and final-year students and graduates preparing for M.Des and CEED. Its website also offers sample papers for private design colleges such as Srishti, SOFT, Pearl Academy, MIT Institute of Design, UID and Anant National University.
Exam and programme coverage compared
| Area | BRDS | SILICA |
| Design exams | NID, NIFT, UCEED, CEED, other design colleges | NID, NIFT, UCEED, CEED |
| Architecture and art exams | NATA, JEE Paper 2, Fine Arts (BFA) | NATA, JEE Paper 2, Art CET |
| Second-stage preparation | NID Studio Test, NIFT Situation Test, NIFT Personal Interview (MFM, M.FTech, M.Des) | NID DAT Mains home coaching kit, NIFT Situation Test kit |
| Programme structure | Classroom, live online and second-stage batches | One-year and two-year classroom programmes, plus online coaching |
| Before coaching | Design aptitude test | Aptitude test, career guidance, 10-minute creativity test |
| Abroad | International design portfolio preparation | Preparation for foreign universities |
| Admissions support | Scholarships for meritorious NID and NIFT aspirants | Guidance on applications, interviews and college choice |
| Trial before joining | Demo class by prior appointment | Free guidance session and online demo class |
Centres and reach
| Criterion | BRDS | SILICA |
| Network size | 85+ centres in 43 cities | 25 centres in 11 cities |
| Cities with multiple branches | Ahmedabad, Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Pune | Mumbai, Pune |
| Other cities covered | Includes Jaipur, Kolkata, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Guwahati, Patna, Kochi, Siliguri | Delhi, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Indore, Nagpur, Kanpur, Lucknow, Nashik, Aurangabad |
| Regional strength | National spread, anchored in Gujarat and Delhi NCR | Concentrated in Maharashtra |
Learning formats
| Format | BRDS | SILICA |
| Classroom coaching | Yes, across its centre network | Yes, in one-year and two-year programmes |
| Live online classes | Live on Zoom | Online coaching for NID, NIFT, CEED, UCEED, NATA |
| Recorded lessons | Recordings on its LMS; UCEED classes uploaded within 24 hours | Learning module on the web and the Moodle app |
| Self-study kits | Printed and online books, with LMS access | Printed books and online kits |
Study material and mock tests
Both institutes sell self-study kits at listed prices, separately from their coaching programmes.
BRDS
Its NID study material for B.Des contains 13 books, of which 10 are printed and 3 are available online through the LMS. The kit includes original NID papers from the past 15 years and 10 mock tests, and costs ₹4,000. For students who also need NIFT study material, BRDS sells combined kits: a 16-book NID and NIFT kit costs ₹6,000, and a 20-book kit covering NID, NIFT and UCEED costs ₹8,000. A pack of 10 NID mock tests on their own costs ₹999.
SILICA
Its NID B.Des kit contains 13 books and is listed at ₹4,999, reduced from ₹5,999. Online test kits for NID, NIFT and UCEED/CEED cost ₹999 each. The NIFT test kit includes CAT papers from the past 10 years with solutions. SILICA’s CEED kit includes 10 mock tests. The objective section is taken online, and the drawing section comes as a printed book.
At a glance
| Criterion | BRDS | SILICA |
| Exams covered | NID, NIFT, UCEED, CEED, NATA, JEE Paper 2, BFA | NID, NIFT, UCEED, CEED, NATA, JEE Paper 2, Art CET |
| Centres | 85+ centres in 43 cities | 25 centres in 11 cities |
| Programme options | Classroom, live online and Stage 2 batches | One-year and two-year classroom programmes, plus online coaching |
| Online format | Live Zoom classes, with recordings on an LMS | Online coaching, with an LMS and Moodle app |
| NID B.Des self-study kit | 13 books, ₹4,000 | 13 books, ₹4,999 |
| Mock-test-only pack | 10 NID mocks, ₹999 | Online test kits, ₹999 |
| Stage 2 support | Free Studio Test and Situation Test kits for qualifiers | Free Studio Test online kit for qualifiers |
How to choose
The better fit depends on your situation more than on either institute’s brochure. Use this table to decide what to check first.
| Your situation | What to check |
| You want classroom coaching | Which institute has a centre in your city, and whether that branch runs your batch |
| You live outside a major city | Online class timings, recording access and batch size |
| You are preparing mainly on your own | Recency of solved papers, drawing solutions and sketch feedback |
| You are taking NID, NIFT and UCEED together | Price of a combined kit against separate kits |
| You are applying for NID M.Des or CEED | Material for your specific discipline, since M.Des tests vary widely |
| You are comparing total cost | Coaching fee plus study material, mock tests and Stage 2 preparation |
| You are unsure about either | A demo class first: BRDS offers them by appointment, SILICA offers free guidance sessions and online demos |
Conclusion
For design entrance exams, BRDS and SILICA have more in common than their advertising suggests. Both cover the major exams, price their self-study kits within a similar range, and support students who reach the second stage. BRDS has the larger national network including Maharashtra. SILICA is concentrated in Maharashtra and offers clearly structured one-year and two-year programmes. The right choice depends on your city, your exams and the kind of feedback you need.
Frequently asked questions
This depends on the institute and programme. Confirm the transfer policy before enrolling.
BRDS offers demo classes by appointment, while SILICA advertises free guidance and online demo sessions.
BRDS offers demo classes by appointment, while SILICA advertises free guidance and online demo sessions.
Yes. Both BRDS and SILICA publish separate self-study and study-material options.
Not necessarily. Check whether these are included in the specific programme or need to be purchased separately.
Online programmes provide an option for students who do not have access to a suitable classroom batch nearby.
Compare the total cost, including coaching, study material, mock tests, and any additional Stage 2 preparation.
No. Centre availability can vary by programme and batch, so confirm this before enrolling.