🎓 So, here’s the deal with Vadodara Design Academy
It’s private, not government-funded, and sits right in Vadodara, Gujarat. You get affiliations with both Gujarat University and Shri Govind Guru University, plus all those official stamps—AICTE, UGC, NAAC, COA... basically, the alphabet soup of education approvals. The campus? Pretty green, 6.5 acres, so you’ve got space to stretch your legs and maybe avoid sunstroke in May.
📚 What’s on offer (and what’s it gonna cost you all )
The main headliner is B.Arch—a full-on 5-year marathon. First year, you’re out ₹77k, and by the end, you’re looking at roughly ₹3.85 lakhs total. Standard drill: you need 10+2, at least 50% in PCM, and you gotta clear NATA. If you’re eyeing an M.Arch, that’s a 2-year gig, but honestly, the fees are shrouded in mystery—no solid numbers floating around. You need a B.Arch degree and a half-decent portfolio. Also, there’s a B.Design or diploma thing happening, if that’s more your vibe.
📝 Getting in (don’t panic, it’s not rocket science)
Admissions are mostly scoreboard stuff—your 12th-grade marks, plus NATA or JEE-Arch for B.Arch. M.Arch? Show them your old degree and some cool projects. All the action happens on the official VDA website: fill out forms, upload docs, pay the fee, pray to the Wi-Fi gods, etc. Entrance test dates and all that jazz drop around March–April, so keep your notifications on.
💼 Placements—Will you get a job?
Their Training & Placement Cell is your hype squad—mock interviews, guest talks, the works. The numbers aren’t bad: average package sits around ₹3.6 lakh per annum, and someone walked away with a ₹24 lakh offer (no clue if they’re now designing Bollywood mansions or what). Recruiters? Big names like Red Chillies, Microsoft, Adobe, Yash Raj Films, and Flipkart. So, not just “my uncle’s friend’s startup.”
🏅 How’s it ranked?
IIRF ranked them 29th among private architecture schools in India. Not on NIRF, but hey, COA and all those fancy bodies say it’s legit. Word on the street (and Reddit, apparently) is the campus feels creative, teachers know their stuff, and there’s always something happening besides classes.
✅ Quick Recap
If you’re into design or architecture and want a campus with a bit of energy (and a solid job shot), Vadodara Design Academy’s worth a look. Good programs, proper affiliations, and you probably won’t end up broke or jobless. Not too shabby for Gujarat’s design scene, honestly.