All About NLU Courses - Five-Year LLB, LLB, LLM, PhD in Law and Distance Law Courses

All About NLU Courses - Five-Year LLB, LLB, LLM, PhD in Law and Distance Law Courses

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Anupama
Anupama Mehra
Assistant Manager – Content
Updated on Jul 25, 2024 14:54 IST

Seeking admissions to the National Law Universities (NLUs) in India? Know here all about the undergraduate and postgraduate courses offered at NLUs, eligibility criteria and more. 

NLU Courses

The National Law Universities (NLUs) are the most prominent law colleges in India, hence the competition among law aspirants to secure admission into them is also high. But, if you are exploring NLUs for the first time, this is a researched article for all the courses offered at the NLUs in India. There are 25 NLUs in India offering law courses at undergraduate, postgraduate, and PhD level. Moreover, in order to cater to all the law aspirants, NLUs now offer postgraduate diploma and distance mode courses. Candidates can know here all details regarding NLU courses, eligibility criteria, and other details.

The National Law School of India University, Bangalore now offers a three-year LLB course, and admission process is done through NLSAT

List of NLU Courses

The undergraduate law courses are offered as a five-year integrated degree as under:

UG Courses

NLUs offering UG course 

Bachelor of Arts Bachelor of Law (BA LLB)  Hons.

NLU Delhi, NLSIU Bangalore, NLU Hyderabad, NUJS West Bengal, HNLU Raipur, GNLU Gandhinagar, RMNLU Lucknow, RGNUL Panjab, CNLU Patna, NUALS Kochi, NLU Odisha, NUSRL Ranchi, NLUJAA Assam, DSNLU Visakhapatnam, TNNLU Tiruchirapalli, MNLU Mumbai, MNLU Nagpur, MNLU Aurangabad, HPNLU Shimla, DNLU Jabalpur, Dr B R Ambedkar NLU Sonepat, NLIU Bhopal, NLU Tripura, NLU Jodhpur, GNLU Silvassa, NUALS Kochi

Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) LLB Hons. 

NLU Jodhpur, GNLU Gandhinagar, CNLU Patna, NLU Odisha, HPNLU Shimla, NLU Aurangabad, NLU Nagpur, 

Bachelor of Science (BSc) LLB

NUJS West Bengal, GNLU Gandhinagar, NLU Bhopal

Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) LLB

GNLU Gandhinagar, TNNLU Tiruchirapalli 

Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) LLB

GNLU Gandhinagar

Postgraduate Courses at NLUs 

Some of the postgraduate course offered at NLUs are as under:

PG courses

NLUs offering PG courses

Three-year LLB course

NLSIU Bangalore (Introduced in 2022), National Law University Odisha (Introducing in 2023)

Master of Law (LLM)

RMNLU Lucknow, GNLU Gandhinagar, HNLU Raipur, NLU Jodhpur, NUJS West Bengal, NLIU Bhopal, NLSIU Bangalore, RGNUL Panjab, CNLU Patna, NUALS Kochi, NLU Odisha, NUSRL Ranchi, NLUJA Assam, DSNLU Visakhapatnam, TNNLU Tiruchirapalli, MNLU Mumbai, MNLU Nagpur, MNLU Aurangabad, HPNLU Shimla, DBRANLU, Sonepat 

Doctor of Law (LLD)/ PhD in Law

HNLU Raipur, NLIU Bhopal, NLSIU Bangalore, GNLU Gandhinagar, RGNUL Panjab, CNLU Patna, NLUJA Assam, TNNLU Tiruchirapalli, HPNLU Shimla, NUALS Kochi, MNLU Mumbai

Master of Philosophy (MPhil) degree

NLSIU Bangalore, NLU Odisha

Distance/ Online Courses offered at NLSIU Bangalore

In the recent years, NLUs in India have started offering online certificate and diploma in law specialisations, so that aspirants from anywhere can pursue the course. NLSIU Bangalore also offers a Master's Programme in Public Policy (MPP), and, the following online law courses through distance education mode:

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Courses offered at NALSAR Hyderabad 

NALSAR or NLU Hyderabad also offers the following courses: 

Courses offered at MNLU Mumbai 

Some of the courses offered at MNLU Mumbai other than five-year LLB course are:

  • Post Graduate Diploma in Litigation Lawyering and Law Firm Management
  • Certificate Course in Merger and Acquisition
  • PG Diploma in Crime Investigation, Medical Jurisprudence and Forensic Science
  • One Year PG Diploma Course In GST Law
  • Diploma in Fashion Law
  • PG Diploma in Arbitration and Mediation

Courses offered at NLIU Bhopal 

The prominent law institute also offers Master of Cyber Law & Information Security (MCLIS) and following courses in distance mode:

Q:   How many candidates take CLAT exam every year?

A:

More than one lakh candidates from different cities across India appear for the CLAT exam every year. The exam authority has informed that Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) 2024 registered a total increase of 24.5% in applications compared to last year (CLAT 2023). Specifically, the Consortium of National Law Universities received 34.7% more Undergraduate applications and 25.8% more Postgraduate applications this year as compared to last year (CLAT 2023). For CLAT 2022, 56,472 candidates appeared out of 60,895 registrations. In 2021, 62,106 candidates appeared for the CLAT exam.

Q:   For what courses NLSAT Exam is conducted?

A:

The National Law School Admission Test (NLSAT) 2025 notification is expected to be released by the National Law School of India University (NLSIU) by January 2025. For admission to NLSIU's three-year LLB (Hons), Masters, and PhD programmes, candidates must pass the NLSAT entrance exam. Candidates must go to the official website in order to register. The official website of NLSAT is  admission.nls.ac.in.

Q:   How many times NLSAT 2025 is conducted?

A:

NLSAT exam is to be conducted once in a year only, as confirmed by the exam officials in the latest notification. Earlier, NLSAT exam was conducted in April, but from 2024 onwards the entrance exam will be conducted in March (of preceding year to the admission year) itself for concluding admissions on time. Therefore, NLSAT counselling process will be completed by May of each academic year.

  • Post Graduate Diploma Courses in Cyber Law & Cyber Security, Goods and Services Tax (GST), and Consumer Protection Laws and Practice. 

Courses offered at NLU Delhi

Besides, BA LLB (Hons.) and LLM programme, NLUD also offers the following law courses:

  • Post Graduate Diploma in Urban Environmental Management and Law (PGDUEML)
  • Post Graduate Diploma in Tourism and Environmental Laws (PGDTEL)
  • Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Law and Policy (PGDELP)

In addition, NLU Delhi also offers bridge courses in law as Indian Legal and Judicial systems, Constitution of India, Criminal Procedure of Law, Civil Procedure Code and Limitation Act, Indian Law of Evidence, Property Law, Professional Ethics.

Explore more Law exams with upcoming dates

SLS AIAT 2025 Admit Card (for ...

5 Dec '24

SAT Test December Date

7 Dec '24

AILET 2025 Exam

8 Dec '24

CLAT 2025 Final Answer Key

9 Dec '24 - 10 Dec '24

NMIMS LAT 2025 Application Pro...

6 Dec '24 - 13 Dec '24

SLAT Result 2025

26 Dec '24

LSAT India 2025 January Sessio...

5 Aug '24 - 1 Jan '25

GLAT 2025 application

15 Jan '25 - 20 Feb '25

AIL LET 2025 Application Process

4 Apr '25

PU UGLAW 2025 online registrations

13 Mar '25 - 8 Apr '25

Courses offered at NUALS Kochi 

The law institute also offers PG Diploma courses in law as under: 

  • Post Graduate Diploma in Medical Laws and Ethics (PGDM-LE)
  • Post Graduate Diploma in Cyber Laws (PGDCL) 

NLU Courses Eligibility Criteria

UG Eligibility - Candidates seeking admissions to the five-year integrated LLB courses at NLUs have to fulfil the eligibility criteria as under: 

  • They must have passed Class 12th or equivalent examination with 45% marks if belonging to General/ OBC/ PWD/ NRI/ OCI categories and, 40% marks if belonging to Scheduled Caste (SC)/ Scheduled Tribes (ST).
  • Those appearing for the qualifying examination are also eligible to apply, however, they should submit the proof of qualification at the time of seat allotment and final admission. 

PG Eligibility - Candidates should have completed a three-year or five-year LLB degree with at least 50% marks (45% marks if belonging to SC/ST categories). Those who are appearing for the final semester examination or awaiting results are also eligible to apply. 

Q:   How will I know about the AILET exam centre allotted to me?

A:

AILET exam centre 2025 will be allotted along with the admit card. Candidates are advised to check the admit card to know about the exam centre and other crucial details. Apart from name and address of allotted AILET exam centre, the admit card comprises details such as exam date, timing, exam day guidelines etc. Date for admit card release is published along with the information brochure on the official website. Candidates have to download the admit card for AILET 2025 after logging and providing details such as application ID, password and others. 

Q:   Is AILET conducted in online or offline mode?

A:
AILET (All India Law Entrance Test) is conducted in offline mode, which means that it is a pen-and-paper-based exam. Candidates are required to mark their answers on an OMR (Optical Mark Recognition) sheet provided to them during the exam. The AILET exam consists of multiple-choice questions that are designed to test a candidate's knowledge of English General Knowledge, Legal Aptitude & Reasoning and Mathematics. The duration of the AILET exam is 1 hour and 30 minutes, and candidates are not allowed to carry any electronic devices such as mobile phones, calculators, or smartwatches into the exam hall. It is important to note that the AILET exam is conducted in various cities across India, and candidates are required to choose their preferred exam center at the time of registration. Candidates are advised to reach the exam center well in advance of the exam time to avoid any last-minute rush or confusion.

Q:   Why is NLSAT exam important?

A:

The NLSAT (National Law School Admission Test) is important for several reasons:

Admissions to National Law Schools: The NLSAT serves as a primary entrance examination for prestigious National Law Schools in India, including the National Law School of India University (NLSIU) in Bangalore. Scoring well is crucial for securing admission to these top institutions.

Standardised Assessment: The exam provides a standardized method of assessing candidates' aptitude for law studies, evaluating skills such as reasoning, comprehension, and general awareness.

Quality of Education: Admission through the NLSAT ensures that students have a solid foundation in critical thinking and analytical skills, which are essential for success in legal studies and the profession.

Career Opportunities: Graduating from a top National Law School often opens doors to lucrative career opportunities in law firms, corporate sectors, government, and academia.

Level Playing Field: The NLSAT helps create a level playing field for candidates from diverse educational backgrounds, allowing them to compete fairly for admission.

Overall, the NLSAT is a critical step for aspiring law students seeking to pursue quality legal education in India. 

Q:   How many times CLAT Exam is conducted in a year?

A:

The CLAT (Common Law Admission Test) is conducted once a year. It is typically held in December for admission to undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) law programs at the participating National Law Universities (NLUs) across India. CLAT 2025 is scheduled to be held on December 1, 2024. CLAT Exam is held in pen-and-paper mode.

Q:   What are the Centres of CLAT exam?

A:

CLAT Consortium released the list of CLAT 2025 exam centres along with admission notification. The Consortium also inform about new addition in the list of CLAT 2025 test centre, if any. The exam was held in more than 139 cities listed as CLAT 2025 test centres across the country.

Candidates were given the option to select CLAT exam centres 2025 from the list of test cities while filling up the form only. The details of the allotted CLAT 2025 exam centre, including the name and location was mentioned on the admit card itself. On the day of the CLAT 2025 exam, a candidate had to report to the exam centre as per the scheduled time mentioned on the admit card. Since, the exam centre authority did not allow entry to candidates who are late. 

PhD Eligibility - Candidates should have completed a master's degree in law with a B grade or 55% marks. 

All the NLUs in India except for NLU Delhi offer admission to UG and PG courses on the basis of the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) score. For PhD courses, each NLU conducts it own all India PhD entrance test or through the University Grants Commission's National Eligibility Test (UGC NET)/ Junior Research Fellowship (JRF).

NLU Delhi conducts its own entrance examination known as the All India Law Entrance Test (AILET) through which it also admits candidates in PhD law courses. 

Read More: 

FAQs for courses offered at National Law Universities 

Q. What type of courses are offered at NLUs in India?

A. NLUs in India offer five-year integrated LLB courses, LLM courses, and PhD in law courses besides certificate and diploma courses in law. Moreover, now NLSIU Bangalore offers three-year LLB course for which the admission process is done through NLSAT.

Q. What are the NLU courses after Class 12?

A. Candidates who are appearing or qualified Class 12 examination can apply for five-year integrated law courses at NLUs in India. These integrated law courses are of five-years duration, and merged with streams like Commerce, Business Management, Arts, Science etc. Here are some NLU courses after 12 - BBA LLB, BA LLB, BSW LLB, BCom LLB.   

Q. What are the law specialisations available at NLU for LLM courses?

A. NLUs have covered core law topics through its LLM courses. Some of the law specialisations offered through NLU LLM courses are: 
  • Business Law,
  • Human Rights Laws
  • Commercial law/ Corporate law
  • Family laws
  • Intellectual Property Right laws
  • Criminal laws
  • Constitutional and Administrative laws

Q. Is there 3-year LLB courses offered at NLUs in India?

A. Yes, NLSIU Bangalore is the first NLU to offer 3-year LLB course starting from academic year 2022-2023 onwards. Among the NLUs in India, only NLSIU Bangalore offers three-year LLB course. No other NLU including NLU Delhi has begun three-year LLB course admissions yet.

Q. How to get admissions in NLUs in India?

A. To get admission in NLUs, a candidates should check the admission process for the course they are interested in for admission. For undergraduate courses, NLUs in India accept common entrance test i.e. CLAT exam except for NLU Delhi, which conducts its own entrance exam known as AILET. For other courses, candidates can apply directly on the official website. Candidates seeking admission to three-year LLB course offered at NLSIU Bangalore, have to appear and qualify NLSAT exam and fulfill the eligibility criteria for selection process. 

Q. Which is the most affordable NLU in India?

A. All the NLUs in India are self-financing therefore, the fee is considered quite higher than Government Law Colleges in India. Candidates can check the fee structure of NLUs to understand the courses and fees for one academic year to understand the most affordable one among NLUs in India. Check here - NLU Fees Structure

Q. Are there online law courses offered at NLUs in India?

A. Yes, after COVID pandemic, NLUs in India now also offer online certificate and diploma courses in law. You can check the list of online law courses offered NLUs in the article above as well as on the official websites of NLUs. 

Q. What is the criteria for admission to PG Diploma in law courses at NLUs?

A. Candidates who have graduate in law, and are pursuing a career in law can apply for admission to PG Diploma courses on the official website after checking the eligibility criteria and admission requirements. The minimum criteria for admission to PG Diploma is a bachelor or master degree in law.  

Q. What kind of courses are offered at NLUs?

A. The NLUs in India offer various courses at undergraduate level and postgraduate level. Some of the courses offered at NLUs in India are: 
  • Five-year LLB course - BA LLB, BSc LLB, BCom LLB, BBA LLB, and BLS LLB
  • Three-year LLB course (available only at NLSIU Bangalore)
  • One-year LLM course
  • Online courses - Postgraduate Certificate/ Diploma courses in various specialisations
 

Q. Can I apply for admission to NLU courses on the basis of LSAT India score?

A. No, candidates can apply for admission to NLU courses only on the basis of following entrance exams: 
  • CLAT - All NLUs (excluding NLU Delhi) accept CLAT scores for Undergraduate and Postgraduate courses 
  • AILET - NLU Delhi admission process for undergraduate and postgraduate courses is done through AILET only 
  • NLSAT - The admission process of NLSIU Bangalore's three-year LLB Course is done through NLSAT only.
Therefore, candidates have to appear and qualify the above mentioned entrance exams for admissions to NLU courses. 

Q. Is there any short-term course offered at NLUs in India?

A. Yes, all the NLUs in India now offer short-term certificate courses in online mode. Some of the short-term courses at NLUs are:
  • Post-Graduate Diploma in Human Rights Law 
  • Post-Graduate Diploma in Medical Law & Ethics
  • Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Law 
  • Post-Graduate Diploma in Intellectual Property Rights Law
  • Post Graduate Diploma in Child Rights Law 
  • Post-Graduate Diploma in Consumer Law & Practice 
  • Post-Graduate Diploma in Cyber Law & Cyber Forensics
About the Author
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Anupama Mehra
Assistant Manager – Content

"The pen is mightier than the sword". Anupama totally believes in this and respects what she conveys through it. She is a vivid writer, who loves to write about education, lifestyle, and governance. She is a hardcor... Read Full Bio

Comments

(1)

P

Punitha S

4 years ago

I have completed M.A., History M.Ed., I would like to join B.L. and now I'm 38 years old it's possible

Reply to Punitha S

10444715
Anjum Khan

4 years ago

However, some of the colleges offer direct admissions through Management Quota. Where would you like to pursue the LLB course from?

10444715
Anjum Khan

4 years ago

Hi Punitha, there is no restriction on age limit or highest education qualification for pursuing Bachelor of Law course. You are eligible to pursue a three-year LLB course which a person can pursue only after graduation. It would be best to appear for an LLB entrance like Delhi University LLB, LSAT