NLSIU Bangalore Admission 2026 is based on two admission routes. The 5-year BA LLB (Hons.) and 1-year LLM use CLAT and CLAT-PG counselling by the Consortium of NLUs, while the 3-year LLB (Hons.), BA (Hons.), MPP and PhD programmes use NLSIU's own NLSAT.

NLSIU is India's first National Law University and remains ranked first among law schools. The 5-year BA LLB (Hons.) has 310 seats, including 10 Karnataka supernumerary seats. Fees range from INR 4,51,000 to INR 4,88,600 per year for BA LLB and are INR 5,44,000 per year for LLM. The CLAT 2026 General category closing rank was AIR 110, so admission is highly competitive.

NLSIU Bangalore Admission Portal 2026: nls.ac.in/admissions | CLAT Counselling: consortiumofnlus.ac.in

Admission Update:
  • BA LLB (Hons.) - 5 Year: CLAT 2027 online enrolment is open from August 3, 2026 to October 31, 2026. The exam is scheduled for December 6, 2026. Apply at consortiumofnlus.ac.in.
  • LLM - 1 Year: CLAT-PG 2027 online enrolment is open from August 3, 2026 to October 31, 2026, and the exam is scheduled for December 6, 2026.
  • LLB 3-Year, BA (Hons.), MPP, PhD: These programmes are filled through NLSAT. Check nls.ac.in for the next cycle schedule.
  • NLSIU keeps 30% horizontal reservation for women in every vertical category.
  • BA LLB has 10 extra supernumerary seats only for Karnataka domicile candidates.
  • NRI and foreign national candidates use the separate NLSAT-International process for BA LLB admission.
  • NLSIU has no management quota. Seats are allotted only through CLAT counselling or NLSAT merit, with no direct admission route outside these processes.

Direct Admission at NLSIU: NLSIU does not allow admission through management quota or institutional discretion. BA LLB and LLM seats go through CLAT Consortium centralised counselling. LLB 3-year, BA, MPP and PhD seats are filled through NLSIU's own merit process.

NLSIU Bangalore Important Dates 2026

Students applying to BA LLB and LLM through the next CLAT cycle must track the Consortium schedule. NLSAT dates for the next NLSIU cycle should be checked on the official admission portal.

Event Date
CLAT 2027 online enrolment for UG and PG programmes August 3, 2026 to October 31, 2026
Last date to submit CLAT 2027 application and fee October 31, 2026, 11:59 PM
CLAT 2027 examination for UG and PG programmes December 6, 2026, 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM
CLAT 2027 counselling for admission December 2026 to January 2027

Subject to revision. Kindly check with the official sources to confirm

NLSIU Bangalore UG Admission 2026

At the UG level, NLSIU offers the 5-year BA LLB (Hons.) through CLAT counselling and BA (Hons.) through NLSAT. BA LLB is the main programme, with 310 seats and a General category CLAT 2026 Round 5 closing rank of AIR 110.

NLSIU BA LLB Eligibility Criteria 2026

Category Eligibility Selection Basis
General / OBC / EWS 10+2 in any stream with at least 45% aggregate. SC/ST candidates need 40%. There is no age limit as per Supreme Court direction. CLAT rank, Consortium of NLUs centralised counselling and NLSIU in the preference list.
Karnataka Supernumerary Seats (10 seats) 10+2 with Karnataka domicile and at least 45% aggregate. The candidate must qualify CLAT. CLAT rank with Karnataka domicile certificate. Allotment is made separately during CLAT counselling.
NRI / Foreign National 10+2 equivalent qualification. NLSAT-International or institution-level process. Candidates can contact admissions@nls.ac.in for the current process.

NLSIU BA LLB Seat Matrix 2026

Seat Category Seats
General (Unreserved) 121 seats
OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) 81 seats
SC 54 seats
ST 27 seats
EWS 27 seats
Karnataka Supernumerary 10 seats

Women get 30% horizontal reservation across all vertical categories. PwD reservation of 5% also applies across all categories.

NLSIU BA LLB Cutoff 2026

Category CLAT 2026 Closing Rank (Round 5)
General (Unreserved) AIR 110
EWS AIR 692
OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) AIR 1,527
SC AIR 3,148
ST AIR 3,365

NLSIU UG Fees 2026

Programme Annual Fee (General Category)
BA LLB (Hons.) - 5 Years INR 4,51,000 to INR 4,88,600 per year

Subject to revision. Kindly check with the official sources to confirm

NLSIU BA LLB Selection Criteria 2026

BA LLB admission at NLSIU depends only on the CLAT rank. The Consortium of NLUs runs up to 5 centralised counselling rounds, and General seats at NLSIU are usually filled by Round 1 or Round 2.

  • Seat allotment is based on CLAT rank. NLSIU does not conduct GD, PI or essay rounds for BA LLB seats.
  • Women have 30% horizontal reservation in each vertical category. If the women's quota is not filled, a woman candidate can receive allotment before a male candidate with a higher overall rank.
  • PwD candidates with benchmark disability certificates get 5% horizontal reservation across all vertical categories.
  • The CLAT 2026 General closing rank was AIR 110. In the last 3 years, the General cutoff has stayed between AIR 90 and AIR 120.

Key insight: General category seats at NLSIU have closed before AIR 120 in each of the past 3 CLAT cycles. A General category applicant needs a rank within the top 120 all-India ranks for a realistic chance. Category and PwD reservations are applied according to the stated reservation rules.

How to Apply for UG Admission at NLSIU?

  • For BA LLB, register for CLAT at consortiumofnlus.ac.in. CLAT 2027 enrolment is open from August 3, 2026 to October 31, 2026.
  • After the CLAT result, complete counselling registration on the Consortium portal.
  • Upload proof such as the 10+2 marksheet, category certificate and Karnataka domicile certificate, if needed.
  • Choose NLSIU as the first preference for a General category seat because allotment follows preference order.
  • Accept the allotted seat and pay the seat acceptance fee before the given deadline. If the deadline is missed, the allotment is lost.
  • For BA (Hons.), apply through NLSIU's NLSAT route on the official admission portal.

NLSIU Bangalore PG Admission 2026

NLSIU offers the 1-year LLM through CLAT-PG counselling and the 2-year MPP through NLSAT. The LLM follows a trimester pattern and is offered across 6 specializations. The MPP is open to graduates from law, social sciences, economics and related fields.

NLSIU PG Eligibility Criteria 2026

Programme Eligibility Selection Basis
LLM - 1 Year LLB or equivalent law degree of 3 or 5 years with at least 50% aggregate. CLAT-PG rank and Consortium of NLUs counselling.
MPP - 2 Year Any bachelor's degree with at least 50% aggregate. NLSAT. The programme is open to graduates from law, social sciences, economics or related fields.

NLSIU PG Fees 2026

Programme Annual Fee (General Category)
LLM (All Specializations, 1 Year) INR 5,44,000 per year
MPP - 2 Year INR 5,06,400 to INR 5,44,000 per year

Subject to revision. Kindly check with the official sources to confirm

NLSIU PG Admission Process 2026

  • LLM: Register for CLAT-PG at consortiumofnlus.ac.in. CLAT-PG 2027 enrolment is open from August 3, 2026 to October 31, 2026. After the result, join Consortium counselling and select NLSIU.
  • MPP: Apply through NLSIU's NLSAT portal at nls.ac.in/admissions. NLSAT is conducted independently by NLSIU. For the current schedule, students may contact nlsat.query@nls.ac.in.

NLSIU LLB 3-Year Admission 2026

The 3-year LLB (Hons.) is for graduates from any discipline who want a professional law qualification. Admission is through NLSIU's own NLSAT process.

Programme Eligibility Selection Basis
LLB (Hons.) - 3 Year Any bachelor's degree in any discipline with at least 45% aggregate. NLSAT conducted by NLSIU, followed by NLSIU's own admission process.
Programme Annual Fee (General Category)
LLB (Hons.) - 3 Year INR 5,06,400 to INR 5,44,000 per year

Subject to revision. Kindly check with the official sources to confirm

  • Apply for the 3-year LLB through the NLSIU NLSAT portal at nls.ac.in/admissions.
  • The test is held by NLSIU, and admission is made through the university's own merit process.
  • Students can write to nlsat.query@nls.ac.in for the current schedule.

NLSIU Bangalore PhD Admission 2026

NLSIU admits PhD students in Law and in Social Sciences through NLSAT and an interview. The route is separate from CLAT and CLAT-PG counselling.

NLSIU PhD Eligibility Criteria 2026

Programme Eligibility Selection Basis
PhD (Law / Social Sciences) Postgraduate degree in the relevant field with at least 55% aggregate. NLSAT followed by interview. Students should check nls.ac.in for the current cycle.

How to Apply for PhD at NLSIU?

  • Apply through NLSIU's admission portal at nls.ac.in/admissions.
  • Appear for NLSAT as per the university schedule.
  • Shortlisted candidates must attend the interview round.
  • For the latest schedule, candidates can contact nlsat.query@nls.ac.in.

NLSIU Bangalore vs Top NLUs Admission Comparison

Students comparing leading NLUs usually look at NLSIU Bangalore, NALSAR Hyderabad and NLU Delhi. These institutes differ in exam route, counselling body, intake, cutoff and fee.

Particulars NLSIU Bangalore NALSAR Hyderabad NLU Delhi
Entrance Exam CLAT (Consortium) CLAT (Consortium) AILET (NLU Delhi own exam)
Counselling Body Consortium of NLUs Consortium of NLUs NLU Delhi (own counselling)
BA LLB Total Seats 310 including 10 Karnataka seats 120 110
General CLAT/AILET Closing Rank (2026) AIR 110 AIR 250 AIR 60 (AILET)
Women Horizontal Reservation 30% 30% No horizontal reservation
Annual Fee (General) INR 4,51,000 to 4,88,600 INR 1,82,000 INR 2,18,000

Note: NLU Delhi admits through AILET, so students must prepare for a separate exam. NLSIU and NALSAR both follow the CLAT route. NLSIU has a larger BA LLB intake than NALSAR and NLU Delhi. Women candidates also get 30% horizontal reservation at NLSIU, which is not available at NLU Delhi. NLSIU's fee is higher than the fees listed for NALSAR and NLU Delhi.

NLSIU Scholarships

NLSIU provides institutional and government scholarship options for eligible students. Both need-based and merit-based support options are available.

  • NLSIU Fee Waiver Scheme: This is for students whose family income is below the limit fixed by NLSIU. It can cover partial to full tuition fee. Students apply through the NLSIU Financial Assistance form at nls.ac.in.
  • Central Government Post-Matric Scholarship (SC/ST): This covers tuition and maintenance support. Applications are submitted through the National Scholarship Portal at scholarships.gov.in.
  • EBC (Economically Backward Class) Scholarship: Students from non-reserved categories with family income below the EBC limit can receive partial fee support.
  • State Government Scholarships (Karnataka): Karnataka domicile students in eligible categories can apply through the Karnataka Rajiv Gandhi Scholarship portal.
  • External Scholarships: NLSIU students can apply for external fellowships such as the Ashoka Fellowship, Dr. Ambedkar Fellowship and different bar association scholarships. The current list is available at nls.ac.in/admissions.

NLSIU Bangalore Admission FAQs

Ques. What rank should a General category student target for NLSIU Bangalore?

Ans. The CLAT 2026 Round 5 closing rank for the General category at NLSIU Bangalore was AIR 110. In the last 3 years, the General cutoff has remained between AIR 90 and AIR 120. The 2026 closing ranks were AIR 692 for EWS, AIR 1,527 for OBC (NCL), AIR 3,148 for SC and AIR 3,365 for ST. Students should aim comfortably within the relevant rank range because cutoffs can change each year.

Ques. What is the BA LLB seat intake at NLSIU Bangalore?

Ans. NLSIU Bangalore has 310 BA LLB (Hons.) seats for AY 2026-27. The breakup includes 121 General, 81 OBC (NCL), 54 SC, 27 ST and 27 EWS seats, along with 10 supernumerary seats for Karnataka domicile candidates. A 30% horizontal reservation for women applies in every vertical category.

Ques. Can a student join NLSIU without taking CLAT?

Ans. Yes, but only for programmes that use NLSAT. The 3-year LLB (Hons.), BA (Hons.), Master of Public Policy and PhD programmes are filled through NLSAT, which is conducted directly by NLSIU. The 5-year BA LLB requires CLAT, and the 1-year LLM requires CLAT-PG.

Ques. Does NLSIU Bangalore keep any management quota seats?

Ans. No. NLSIU Bangalore has no management quota, direct admission or discretionary quota. BA LLB and LLM seats are allotted through CLAT Consortium centralised counselling. LLB 3-year, BA, MPP and PhD seats are filled only through NLSIU's own merit-based NLSAT process.

Ques. How much does BA LLB cost per year at NLSIU Bangalore?

Ans. General category students in the BA LLB (Hons.) programme pay INR 4,51,000 to INR 4,88,600 per year. Fees can change, and SC or ST category students may have a slightly different fee amount. Students should check nls.ac.in or contact admissions@nls.ac.in before joining for the confirmed fee structure.

Ques. What happens during CLAT counselling for NLSIU seats?

Ans. After CLAT results are declared, candidates register on the Consortium of NLUs portal at consortiumofnlus.ac.in and fill their college and programme preferences. The Consortium may conduct up to 5 rounds of centralised allotment. NLSIU usually fills all General seats in Round 1. To secure the seat, the candidate must accept the allotment and pay the required fee within the round deadline.

Ques. Which entrance exam is used for NLSIU LLM admission?

Ans. NLSIU uses CLAT-PG for admission to its 1-year LLM programme. For the next cycle, CLAT-PG 2027 enrolment is open from August 3, 2026 to October 31, 2026, and the exam is scheduled for December 6, 2026. Applicants need an LLB or equivalent law degree with at least 50% aggregate.

Ques. Is there any Karnataka domicile benefit at NLSIU Bangalore?

Ans. Yes. NLSIU has 10 supernumerary BA LLB seats for Karnataka domicile candidates through CLAT Consortium allotment. These seats are in addition to the regular 300 CLAT quota seats. A Karnataka domicile certificate must be submitted during counselling. Other seats are open to all-India candidates without a state-based restriction.

Ques. When is the next CLAT cycle for NLSIU BA LLB admission?

Ans. CLAT 2027 online enrolment is open from August 3, 2026 to October 31, 2026. The CLAT 2027 exam is scheduled for December 6, 2026, and counselling is expected in December 2026 to January 2027. Students should follow consortiumofnlus.ac.in for official updates.