NLSIU Bangalore Admission Dates 2027

The 2026-27 admission process at NLSIU Bangalore has ended. For the next intake, the BA LLB (Hons.) and LLM seats will be filled through CLAT counselling by the Consortium of NLUs. Other courses will follow NLSIU’s own NLSAT route.

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

NLSIU accepts different entrance tests for different programme groups, as shown below.

NLSIU Bangalore Courses and Fees

NLSIU Bangalore offers more than 20 courses at UG, PG, PhD, PG Diploma, and Certificate levels. The study areas include law, social sciences, and public policy. Course fees start at INR 12,500 for the Certificate in Legal Journalism and go up to INR 22.93 Lakhs for the 5-year BA LLB (Hons.).

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

All 6 LLM specialisations have the same fee. NRI students pay up to INR 27 Lakhs for BA LLB and INR 6.33 Lakhs for LLM. BA LLB students who stay in the campus hostel pay an extra INR 1.30 Lakhs per year.

NLSIU Bangalore Admission Process

NLSIU Bangalore has two admission routes. BA LLB and LLM admissions happen through CLAT counselling conducted by the Consortium of NLUs. For LLB (Hons.), BA (Hons.), MPP, and PhD, the university conducts NLSAT, which means National Law School Admission Test. NLSIU does not offer management quota seats in any course.

BA LLB (Hons.), 5 Year

BA LLB (Hons.) at NLSIU is among the hardest law courses to enter through CLAT. Students need 10+2 in any stream with at least 45% aggregate. SC/ST candidates need 40%. There is no age limit as per the Supreme Court direction.

• Take CLAT and get a qualifying rank
• Register for counselling on consortiumofnlus.ac.in
• Select NLSIU as the first preference while filling choices
• Accept the allotted seat before the round deadline and pay the seat acceptance fee
• Complete document verification and enrolment

For CLAT 2026, the General category closing rank at NLSIU was AIR 110 in Round 5. In the last 3 cycles, the General closing rank stayed 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. Women candidates get 30% horizontal reservation across all vertical categories.

LLM, LLB 3-Year, MPP, and PhD

All 6 LLM specialisations use CLAT-PG scores. NLSAT is used for the 3-year LLB (Hons.), BA (Hons.), MPP, and PhD programmes.

• LLM: Applicants need an LLB or equivalent degree with 55%. SC/ST candidates need 50%. Admission is through CLAT-PG counselling.
• LLB 3-Year: Applicants need any bachelor’s degree with 45%. Seats are filled by NLSAT merit.
• MPP: Applicants need any bachelor’s degree with 50%. Graduates from law, social sciences, and economics can apply. Admission is through NLSAT.
• PhD: Applicants need a PG degree with 55% in a relevant field. Selection is based on NLSAT and a personal interview.

NLSIU Bangalore Placements

Campus placements at NLSIU Bangalore mainly bring in leading law firms and corporate legal teams. In 2023-24, 70 of the 85 UG graduates were placed, giving a placement rate of 82.4%. The UG median package was INR 16 LPA. Some graduates choose LLM programmes abroad, judicial services, or civil services instead of campus placements.

Recent recruiters include Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, AZB and Partners, Khaitan and Co., Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas, Trilegal, L and L Partners, and J Sagar Associates. NLSIU alumni also move to LLM programmes at Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, and Yale on merit scholarships, or join the higher judiciary and civil services.

NLSIU Bangalore Rankings

NLSIU Bangalore has held the top position in the NIRF Law category for eight years in a row up to 2025.

NLSIU Bangalore Scholarships

NLSIU students can apply for university-level and government-backed scholarships. The university fee waiver is based on financial need. Reserved category students may also use Central and State Government scholarship portals.

For institutional aid, students must submit the NLSIU Financial Assistance form available at nls.ac.in. Government scholarship forms are submitted through the National Scholarship Portal or the Karnataka state portal.

NLSIU Bangalore Campus and Infrastructure

NLSIU Bangalore is based in Nagarbhavi, Bengaluru. Its campus has academic blocks, BA LLB residential facilities, and legal research infrastructure. The library has more than 1 lakh volumes, access to major legal databases, and is counted among India’s best law libraries. The university also has an active Legal Aid Clinic.

The moot court complex conducts major moot court competitions with teams from India and other countries. BA LLB students stay in campus hostels at INR 1.30 Lakhs per year, including mess charges. LLM, 3-year LLB, and MPP students must use off-campus residential arrangements costing INR 1.75 Lakhs to INR 1.77 Lakhs per year. From the third year onward, mandatory internships at partner law firms and organisations carry stipends of INR 4,000 to INR 15,000 per month.

NLSIU Bangalore vs NALSAR Hyderabad vs NLU Delhi

Students comparing top National Law Universities often shortlist NLSIU Bangalore, NALSAR Hyderabad, and NLU Delhi. The main differences are in entrance test, seats, fees, ranking, and reservation rules.

NLSIU has the highest NIRF rank and the largest intake among these 3 universities. NLU Delhi requires AILET, so students must prepare for a separate exam. NALSAR and NLU Delhi cost much less than NLSIU. NLSIU and NALSAR both provide 30% horizontal reservation for women, while NLU Delhi does not. General category students aiming for NLSIU usually need to remain within the top 120 all-India CLAT ranks.