National Law School of India University: Admission 2026, Courses, Fees, Ranking & Bengaluru Campus Life

About National Law School of India University - [NLSIU] Bangalore

National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru, is a premier public state law university established in 1986 under the National Law School of India Act by the Government of Karnataka. Located in Nagarbhavi, Bengaluru, Karnataka, it was conceived by leading jurists and the Bar Council of India as India’s first National Law University and functions as an autonomous institution dedicated exclusively to legal education and research.

NLSIU holds an A++ grade from NAAC and has been ranked 1st in the NIRF 2025 Law category, continuing its eight-year streak at the top. The university offers flagship programmes such as the 5-year B.A., LL.B. (Hons), 1-year LL.M., interdisciplinary B.A. (Hons.) programmes, and doctoral research, and is recognised by the University Grants Commission and the Bar Council of India for its academic excellence, research output and consistently strong placements.

Key Highlights

Admission Dates 2026

NLSIU Bengaluru conducts admissions for its BA LL.B (Hons), 3-Year LL.B (Hons), LL.M, MPP, BA (Hons) and PhD programmes for 2026-27 primarily through CLAT (for BA LL.B and LL.M) and its own entrance test NLSAT 2026 (for BA, 3-Year LL.B, MPP and PhD). The NLSAT 2026 cycle runs from mid-November 2025 to late April 2026, followed by counselling and completion of admission formalities.

Cutoff 2025

For NLSIU Bangalore in CLAT 2025, General All India BA LL.B. (Hons.) seats closed at rank 112, slightly higher than 2024’s closing rank of 102, showing a marginal rise in cutoffs. Reserved-category closing ranks extended much further, reflecting strong demand and limited seats across OBC, SC, ST and EWS categories.

Rankings & Accreditations

National Law School of India University (NLSIU) Bengaluru holds the Rank 1 position in the NIRF Law Rankings 2025, continuing its eight-year streak at the top in India’s official law category rankings. It is widely regarded as the leading NLU in the country based on NIRF scores and consistent national recognition.

NIRF 2025

Other Rankings

Accreditations

• NAAC: A (valid till 2026)
• NBA: Not accredited by NBA for law programmes

Scholarships & Financial Aid

NLSIU Bengaluru runs a structured, need-based Financial Aid programme (internal scholarships) and actively supports students to access National Scholarship Portal and multiple state and private scholarship schemes. Aid typically covers partial or full tuition and residence fees through grants, fee waivers, stipends and loan-interest support, based on verified family income.

Institute Scholarships

Government Scholarships

External Scholarships

• Aditya Birla Scholarship: Up to ₹1,80,000 per year covering tuition and hostel for top‑rank BA LLB students selected by Aditya Birla Group; renewable for full programme subject to their merit and conduct conditions.
• Kotak Kanya Scholarship: ₹1,50,000 per year for academically strong girl students from low‑income families pursuing professional degrees such as law at institutes including NLSIU, subject to renewal criteria.
• ARRA Scholarship: Full coverage of education, living and maintenance expenses for each year’s top 20 NLSIU entrants (based on CLAT rank) with family income below ₹35,00,000 per year, after document verification and interviews.
• PM Vidyalaxmi Education Loan Assistance: Collateral‑free education loans up to ₹30,00,000 with 3% interest subvention for family income up to ₹8,00,000 and full interest subvention for income up to ₹4,50,000 for eligible professional courses; NLSIU is an approved institution under the scheme.
• Other Bank‑linked Education Loan Scheme (via NLSIU page): Loan assistance up to ₹50,00,000 at around 4% interest per year for higher‑education courses through selected public‑sector and regional rural banks, accessible to NLSIU students who satisfy lender norms.
• Vanderbilt–NLSIU LL.M. Scholarship Award: USD 30,000 (roughly ₹25,00,000) tuition support for NLSIU law graduates admitted to Vanderbilt LL.M.; automatically considered based on LL.M. application and academic/professional excellence.
• Rhodes Scholarship (for NLSIU graduates): Fully funded postgraduate study at University of Oxford (tuition, college fees and living stipend) for outstanding NLSIU students selected in the India Rhodes competition.

Comparison

NLSIU Bengaluru is benchmarked here with National Law University Delhi and NALSAR University of Law Hyderabad because these three NLUs consistently occupy the top positions in NIRF Law Rankings 2025 and attract the highest CLAT/AILET preference, strong recruiters, and similar high-achieving student cohorts.

Key Strengths

• National Law School of India University - [NLSIU] Bangalore: Long-standing NIRF #1 position with exceptionally strong corporate law placements, rigorous academics, and national-level research and policy engagement.
• National Law University (NLU) Delhi: Strong Supreme Court and policy ecosystem exposure in the national capital, exclusive AILET-based admissions, and robust public law and litigation opportunities.
• NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad: Consistently top-three NIRF law institute with a balanced focus on corporate, public, and technology law, strong mooting culture, and growing interdisciplinary programmes.

Campus & Infrastructure

NLSIU Bengaluru has a compact, fully residential 23-acre green campus in Nagarbhavi with two academic blocks, multiple student hostels, faculty housing and a prominent 30,000 sq ft law library, supported by sports grounds, gym, canteens, health centre and other student-centric amenities.Located in Nagarbhavi, Bengaluru, NLSIU operates on a 23-acre residential campus with academic blocks, hostels, a state-of-the-art library and sports facilities. The campus is set in a quiet suburban area with good road connectivity to the rest of Bengaluru.

Campus Details

Academic Facilities

• Library: 50,000+ books, 20,000+ journals, e-books, e-journals and e-databases in a 30,000 sq ft, three-storey building
• Classrooms: 7 new smart classrooms (AY 2021-22) plus additional smart classrooms with projectors, smart boards and Wi‑Fi

Hostel

Other Facilities

• Basketball court
• Football ground with new turf field
• Tennis court
• Table tennis facility
• Fully equipped gym
• Cafeteria near academic block
• Auditorium for academic and cultural events
• Health centre / medical facilities
• Moot court hall
• Guest house for visiting faculty
• Bank and ATM

Frequently Asked Questions

What entrance exam do I need for BA LLB (Hons) at NLSIU Bangalore?

NLSIU admits students to the 5-year BA LLB (Hons) only through the national CLAT UG exam conducted by the Consortium of NLUs. Seats are allotted via CLAT counselling and there is no separate NLSIU entrance test for this programme.

What is the eligibility criteria for BA LLB (Hons) at NLSIU?

For BA LLB (Hons), students must have completed 10+2 or equivalent with the minimum percentage prescribed in the CLAT brochure and must meet age and category conditions specified there. Admission depends purely on CLAT All India Rank and eligibility verification at counselling.

How do admissions work for NLSIU’s 3-year LLB (Hons) programme?

NLSIU runs a separate 3-year LLB (Hons) with its own entrance test, the NLSAT-LLB. Applications are submitted online on the NLSIU website, and shortlisted candidates are admitted based on performance in NLSAT and subsequent selection stages notified by the university.

What is the approximate fee for the BA LLB (Hons) programme at NLSIU?

For recent batches, the annual BA LLB (Hons) fee (tuition plus other university charges excluding hostel and mess) is in the range of ₹3–4 lakh. Detailed break-ups for each academic year are published in the official fee notification on the NLSIU website.

Does NLSIU offer scholarships or financial aid for students?

NLSIU has need-based financial aid, fee waivers and scholarships for economically weaker students, and also lists external scholarships from government bodies. Students apply through the university’s financial aid process each year, with decisions based on income documents and academic status.

Can I pay NLSIU fees in instalments or only as a lump sum?

NLSIU fee notifications specify semester-wise payment schedules, with amounts typically payable before the start of each semester. The university accepts online payments through its portal and indicates late fee rules and due dates in the official circulars.

What kind of placements do BA LLB (Hons) students at NLSIU get?

NLSIU’s BA LLB (Hons) batch routinely secures placements with leading law firms, corporates and chambers, including top-tier firms based in Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore. The university’s Recruitment Coordination Committee coordinates these campus placements each year.

Which major recruiters visit NLSIU for campus placements?

Prominent recruiters include large Indian law firms such as Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas and similar tier-1 firms, multinational companies and litigation chambers. Recent student reflections specifically mention joining Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas’ Mumbai office through campus recruitment.

What kinds of career paths do NLSIU graduates typically pursue?

Alumni work in corporate law firms, litigation, judicial clerkships, policy organizations, academia, in-house legal teams, start-ups and the civil services. Student reflections highlight that NLSIU’s diverse opportunities and pedagogy support varied career trajectories beyond just corporate law.

How intense is the academic workload at NLSIU?

The academic workload is rigorous, with continuous evaluation through projects, mid-sems, end-sems and presentations. Students attend classes 5 days a week and often describe weeks with frequent deadlines, which demands disciplined reading and time management.

What is the teaching style and classroom environment like?

NLSIU follows a discussion-oriented, socratic teaching style where students are expected to read cases and articles beforehand and participate actively. New smart classrooms seat 80–120 students and are equipped with projectors, acoustic systems and enhanced Wi‑Fi to support interactive teaching.

Are there good opportunities for moots and research at NLSIU?

NLSIU has an active moot court culture and multiple student-led committees that facilitate participation in national and international moots. Students also engage in research projects, journals and policy work, with faculty guidance and institutional support for serious academic inquiry.

Is hostel accommodation compulsory and what are the room types?

NLSIU is primarily a residential campus, and most BA LLB and LLB students live in on-campus or designated off-campus hostels. Hostels are generally double or triple sharing, with separate blocks for men (Ganga, Cauvery, Himalaya, Hoogly, Brahmaputra) and women (Nilgiris, Narmada, Yamuna, Gangotri, Vindhyas, Annapurna).

What facilities do the hostels and campus provide?

Hostels provide a cot, mattress, cupboard, chair, desk, hot water, laundry, 24×7 electricity and internet. The 23-acre campus includes a state-of-the-art library, gym, football turf, basketball, badminton, volleyball and tennis courts, indoor table tennis, health centre, canteens and an amphitheatre.

How is the food and mess system at NLSIU?

Men’s and women’s hostels have mess facilities that serve scheduled meals, and the university sources pesticide-free, organic fruits and vegetables through Spudnik Farms, an alumni-led network. Students also have access to multiple food options in the surrounding Nagarbhavi area.

How safe is the NLSIU campus and surrounding area?

The campus has controlled entry gates, security at hostels and 24-hour security for off-campus housing at RR Nagar. Students describe the residential setup, wardens staying on campus and the generally quiet Nagarbhavi locality as contributing to a safe living and study environment.

Can students easily access the city and basic amenities from campus?

Nagarbhavi has multiple eateries, grocery outlets and services within a short distance from the main gate. Students usually walk or use autos and cabs to reach nearby areas and major Bangalore spots, balancing a contained campus life with access to the city.

How does NLSIU Bangalore compare to other NLUs in terms of campus life?

NLSIU offers a compact, fully residential campus with dense student activity, multiple clubs and frequent cultural and academic events. Vlogs and student accounts highlight a close-knit community, intense weeks of work followed by active fests, sports and informal gatherings around the amphitheatre and sports fields.

Is joining NLSIU later (age 21–22) a disadvantage for my career?

Students starting BA LLB at 21–22 typically graduate around 26 and still begin competitive legal careers without disadvantage. Forum discussions emphasise that multiple peers join after drops or prior degrees, and law firms and other recruiters focus on skills and performance rather than age.