NLSIU Admission 2026 is offered for BA LL.B. (Hons.), 3-Year LL.B. (Hons.), LL.M., Master of Public Policy (MPP), BA (Hons.), and Ph.D. programmes. Admission to BA LL.B. and LL.M. is based on CLAT, while 3-Year LL.B., MPP, BA (Hons.), and Ph.D. admissions are based on NLSAT.
For BA LL.B., candidates must have passed 10+2 with 45% marks (40% for SC/ST/OBC-NCL/PwD) and a valid CLAT UG score. For 3-Year LL.B., candidates need a graduation degree with 45% marks, a valid NLSAT LLB score, and an interview. LL.M. admission requires an LL.B. degree with 45% marks (40% for SC/ST) and a valid CLAT PG score. MPP requires graduation with 45% marks and a valid NLSAT MPP score. Ph.D. admission requires an LL.M. degree with 55% marks, a research proposal, and performance in NLSAT PhD and the interview.
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NLSIU Bangalore Admission 2026 Important Dates
NLSIU Bangalore admission 2026 dates for BA LLB and LLM follow the CLAT 2026 schedule. Dates for 3 Year LLB, MPP, PhD, BA Hons, and vacant-seat admissions are announced on nls.ac.in.
NLSIU Bangalore Admission 2026 (UG)
NLSIU UG Bangalore admission 2026 for the 5-Year BA LL.B. (Hons.) is based on CLAT UG, while the 3-Year LL.B. (Hons.) admission is based on NLSAT LLB followed by an interview. Both programmes are offered in full-time residential mode at the NLSIU Bengaluru campus.
BA LL.B. seats are reserved for SC, ST, OBC-NCL, EWS, PwD, and Karnataka domicile candidates. Karnataka students receive a 25% horizontal reservation for candidates who have studied at least 7 years in a recognised school in the state. The 3-Year LL.B. has no domicile quota and admissions are based on NLSAT rank.
NLSIU Bangalore Admission 2026 (PG)
NLSIU PG admission 2026 covers the 1-Year LL.M. fee is approximately INR 5,56,000 and 2-Year Master of Public Policy (MPP). LL.M. admission is based on CLAT PG scores and offers specialisations in Commercial Law, Criminal Law, and Law & Technology across 120 seats. NLSIU also releases notifications for vacant LL.M. seats after CLAT counselling.
MPP admission is based on NLSAT MPP followed by an interview. The programme covers law, economics, governance, technology, and policy analysis. NLSIU also offers admission to the 3 to 4-Year BA (Hons.) programme through NLSAT BA.
NLSIU Bangalore Admission 2026 (Ph.D.)
NLSIU Ph.D. admission 2026 is offered only in full-time mode. Candidates must hold an LLM or relevant postgraduate degree with at least 55% marks and submit a research proposal. Admission is based on the NLSAT PhD and an interview. Selected candidates receive a fellowship of INR 50,000 per month for up to three years.
NLSIU Bangalore Admission Process 2026
The NLSIU admission process 2026 operates through two channels: the Consortium of NLUs for CLAT based BA LLB and LLM admissions, and NLSIU directly for NLSAT based 3 Year LLB, MPP, BA Hons, and PhD admissions. The step by step process for each route is as follows.
Step 1: Appear for the Entrance Exam: Candidates must appear for CLAT UG for admission to BA LL.B. (Hons.) and CLAT PG for LLM admission. For 3 Year LLB, MPP, BA Hons, and PhD, candidates must register and appear for NLSAT conducted by NLSIU.
Step 2: Register for Counselling or NLSIU Portal: After declaration of CLAT results, candidates must register for counselling on the Consortium portal and select NLSIU Bengaluru among their preferred NLUs. For NLSAT based programmes, candidates register directly on nlsatadmissions.nls.ac.in.
Step 3: Seat Allotment: Seats are allotted based on CLAT rank, category, and counselling preferences for the CLAT route, or NLSAT rank and interview performance for the NLSAT route. Candidates allotted a seat at NLSIU must confirm their admission within the prescribed timeline.
Step 4: Complete NLSIU Admission Formalities: Candidates allotted a seat must complete the NLSIU admission form and submit the required documents for verification on the official NLSIU portal at nls.ac.in.
Step 5: Participate in Further Counselling Rounds: Candidates not allotted a seat or wishing to upgrade their allotted seat can participate in subsequent CLAT counselling rounds covering Round 2 and Round 3.
Step 6: Admission Against Vacant Seats: If seats remain vacant after all counselling rounds, NLSIU releases separate notifications for admission based on CLAT or NLSAT merit on nls.ac.in.
Step 7: Document Verification and Fee Payment: Candidates must complete document verification and pay the prescribed admission fee to confirm their seat at NLSIU Bangalore. Classes commence on July 1 every year.
NLSIU Admission 2026 Documents Required
- Class 10 Marksheet and Certificate
- Class 12 Marksheet and Certificate
- Qualifying Degree Certificate and Marksheets (for PG and Ph.D. applicants)
- Valid CLAT UG or CLAT PG Scorecard (for BA LLB and LLM applicants)
- NLSAT Scorecard (for 3 Year LLB, MPP, BA Hons, and PhD applicants)
- Category Certificate (SC/ST/OBC NCL/EWS/PwD, if applicable)
- Karnataka Domicile or School Study Certificate (for Karnataka horizontal reservation, if applicable with minimum 7 years of schooling in Karnataka)
- Passport size Photographs (recent)
- Valid ID Proof (Aadhaar card or PAN card)
- Migration Certificate (for candidates from boards or universities outside Karnataka)
- Research Proposal (for Ph.D. applicants only)
NLSIU Bangalore Admission 2026 FAQs
What is the NLSIU Bangalore admission 2026 process?
The NLSIU Bangalore admission 2026 process for BA LLB and LLM is based on CLAT/CLAT PG scores followed by counselling, document verification, and fee payment. For 3 Year LLB, MPP, BA Hons, and PhD, admission is through NLSAT followed by an interview and merit-based allotment.
What is the NLSIU Bangalore admission 2026 application date?
The NLSIU Bangalore admission 2026 schedule for CLAT-based programmes is expected after CLAT results. For NLSAT-based programmes, applications were open from November 15, 2025 to March 23, 2026, and the exam was held on April 26, 2026.
What are the NLSIU Bangalore admission 2026 fees?
The NLSIU Bangalore admission 2026 fees are approximately INR 4.54 lakh for BA LLB, INR 5.56 lakh for LLM, and INR 5.06 lakh per year for 3 Year LLB. Fees include tuition, hostel, and mess charges.
What is the NLSIU Bangalore admission 2026 eligibility?
For NLSIU Bangalore admission 2026, BA LLB requires Class 12 with 45% marks and CLAT UG. 3 Year LLB requires graduation with 45% marks and NLSAT. LLM requires an LLB degree with 45% marks and CLAT PG. PhD requires a postgraduate degree with 55% marks.
Is there a separate NLSIU Bangalore admission 2026 application form?
For BA LLB and LLM, NLSIU Bangalore admission 2026 is conducted through CLAT counselling with no separate application. For NLSAT-based programmes, candidates must apply through the NLSAT portal and pay the prescribed application fee.
How many seats are available through NLSIU Bangalore admission 2026?
NLSIU Bangalore admission 2026 offers 310 seats for BA LLB, 120 seats for 3 Year LLB, and 120 seats for LLM. PhD programmes offer 4 seats each.
Where can candidates check their NLSIU Bangalore admission 2026 status?
Candidates can check their NLSIU Bangalore admission 2026 status on the CLAT counselling portal for CLAT-based programmes and on nls.ac.in for NLSAT-based programmes.