National Law School of India University Bangalore

What courses does National Law School of India University Bangalore offer?

National Law School of India University Bangalore (NLSIU) offers five core degree programmes in 2026, spanning undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral levels, all centred on law and allied liberal-arts disciplines. The undergraduate tier has the flagship 5-year BA LLB (Hons.) (310 seats) and the brand-new 3-year BA (Hons.) liberal-arts degree (60 seats). The postgraduate tier covers the accelerated 3-year LLB (Hons.) for graduates (120 seats) and the 1-year LLM (Hons.) offered across four specialisations. At the research level, NLSIU runs a PhD programme in law. As India's top-ranked law school (NIRF Law Rank 1 in 2024, a seventh consecutive year at the summit), every NLSIU Bangalore programme is built around rigorous legal and interdisciplinary training.

The newest addition is the NLS BA (Hons.) programme, a 3-year liberal-arts degree with an optional 4th-year research track, commencing July 1, 2026 for the 2026-27 academic year. This widens NLSIU's footprint beyond law into the humanities and social sciences while keeping its signature analytical rigour.

Course-Wise Fees, Duration & Eligibility (2026)

The table below maps every NLSIU Bangalore programme for the 2026 intake against its level, duration, total course fee, sanctioned seats, eligibility and the entrance exam you must clear. Read it row by row: the leftmost column names the degree, the fee column shows the full programme cost (not per year), and the final column tells you which test gates admission. This is the single most useful comparison an aspirant needs before choosing a programme at NLSIU.

The clear takeaway for 2026 is the wide fee spread at NLSIU Bangalore: the 5-year BA LLB (Hons.) is the costliest at Rs 22,55,000 total, reflecting its length, while the 1-year LLM at Rs 5,56,600 and the PhD at Rs 1,55,000 are far lighter on the wallet. Note the entrance-exam divide too - the BA LLB runs through CLAT UG and the LLM through CLAT PG, whereas the 3-year LLB, the new BA (Hons.) and the PhD use NLSIU's own NLSAT tests. For SC/ST/OBC/PwD applicants, the relaxed eligibility cut-offs (down to 40-42%) materially widen access across most programmes.

Flagship & Most Popular Programmes at National Law School of India University Bangalore

The 5-year BA LLB (Hons.) is unquestionably NLSIU Bangalore's flagship and most sought-after programme, with 310 seats for 2026 and admission through CLAT UG, where NLSIU is the highest-preferred National Law University in the country. It is the degree that built NLSIU's reputation as India's NIRF Rank 1 law school (2024). Placement strength reinforces its pull: NLSIU's BA LLB cohort has commonly reported an average package of around Rs 16 LPA, with the NIRF Law report citing a median of about Rs 19 LPA for the BA LLB course, and the highest package reaching approximately Rs 45 LPA, with leading recruiters including AZB & Partners, Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, Khaitan & Co, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas and Trilegal (as commonly reported for the 2025 placement cycle).

The 1-year LLM (Hons.), priced at Rs 5,56,600 for 2026 with 120 seats via CLAT PG, is the next most popular route, valued by working professionals and fresh law graduates for its speed and specialisation. NLSIU offers the LLM across four tracks - Public Law, Criminal Law, Commercial Laws, and Law and Technology - which is why our database lists multiple LLM entries at the same Rs 5,56,600 fee and 1.0-year duration. The 3-year LLB (Hons.), with 120 seats and admission through NLSAT-LLB, is the fast-growing choice for graduates from any discipline pivoting into law.

The headline new entrant for 2026-27 is the NLS BA (Hons.) liberal-arts programme. Commencing July 1, 2026, it is a 3-year degree (Rs 9,55,000 total fee, 60 seats) with an optional 4th-year research track, letting students choose majors and minors across four disciplines: History; Sociology and Anthropology; Economics; and Politics. Admission is via the NLSAT-BA test, with General-category applicants needing 55% in 10+2 and SC/ST applicants 45%.

How to Choose the Right Course at National Law School of India University Bangalore

Your choice at NLSIU Bangalore should follow your starting point and career target. If you are a 10+2 student set on a legal career, the 5-year BA LLB (Hons.) (Rs 22,55,000, 310 seats, CLAT UG) is the canonical route into corporate law firms, litigation and judicial services, backed by NLSIU's reported average packages near Rs 16-19 LPA. If you are a 10+2 student drawn to the humanities and social sciences rather than law itself, the new 3-year BA (Hons.) (Rs 9,55,000, 60 seats, NLSAT-BA) lets you major in History, Sociology and Anthropology, Economics or Politics, with the optional 4th research year as a launchpad into academia or policy.

Graduates already holding a degree should weigh the 3-year LLB (Hons.) (Rs 15,57,000, 120 seats, NLSAT-LLB), which compresses a full law qualification for those switching into law from any discipline. Practising lawyers and recent LL.B. holders chasing specialisation and faster career mobility should target the 1-year LLM (Hons.) (Rs 5,56,600, CLAT PG) in Public Law, Criminal Law, Commercial Laws or Law and Technology. Finally, if research and academia are your goal, the PhD (Law) (Rs 1,55,000, NLSAT-PhD, requiring a Master degree in Law with min 55%) is the terminal credential. Across every option, NLSIU's Rank 1 NIRF Law standing (2024) and elite recruiter base make the degree's brand value a constant.

Frequently Asked Questions: National Law School of India University Bangalore Courses 2026

What courses are offered at National Law School of India University Bangalore in 2026?

NLSIU Bangalore offers five core programmes in 2026: the 5-year BA LLB (Hons.), the new 3-year BA (Hons.) liberal-arts degree, the 3-year LLB (Hons.) for graduates, the 1-year LLM (Hons.) across four specialisations, and a PhD in Law. These span undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral levels. The flagship remains the BA LLB (Hons.) with 310 seats, while the BA (Hons.) programme launches on July 1, 2026 with majors in History, Sociology and Anthropology, Economics and Politics.

What is the fee for the BA LLB course at NLSIU Bangalore?

The total fee for the 5-year BA LLB (Hons.) at NLSIU Bangalore is Rs 22,55,000 for the 2026 intake, covering the full programme. It is the institution's most expensive course, reflecting its five-year span and 310 sanctioned seats. Admission is exclusively through CLAT UG, where NLSIU is the most-preferred National Law University in India. Eligibility is 10+2 with a minimum 45% aggregate (relaxed to 42% for OBC and 40% for SC/ST/PwD applicants).

How long is the LLM course at NLSIU Bangalore?

The LLM (Hons.) at NLSIU Bangalore is a 1-year programme for the 2026 intake, priced at Rs 5,56,600 with 120 seats. Admission is entirely through CLAT PG. It is offered across four specialisation tracks - Public Law, Criminal Law, Commercial Laws, and Law and Technology - which is why multiple LLM entries appear at the same fee and duration. Eligibility requires an LL.B. or equivalent degree with a minimum 45% aggregate.

What is the eligibility for the new BA (Hons.) programme at NLSIU Bangalore?

For the NLS BA (Hons.) programme starting July 1, 2026, General-category applicants need 55% marks in 10+2, while SC/ST applicants need 45%, with admission through the NLSAT-BA entrance test. This is a 3-year liberal-arts degree (Rs 9,55,000 total fee, 60 seats) offering an optional 4th-year research track. Students choose majors and minors across four disciplines: History, Sociology and Anthropology, Economics, and Politics.

Which is the best course to pursue at NLSIU Bangalore?

The 5-year BA LLB (Hons.) is widely regarded as the best and most prestigious course at NLSIU Bangalore, given the institution's NIRF Law Rank 1 standing in 2024 (a seventh consecutive year at the top). It reports an average package near Rs 16 LPA, a NIRF-cited median of around Rs 19 LPA, and a highest package of approximately Rs 45 LPA. Graduates pivoting into law, however, may find the 3-year LLB (Hons.) the smarter fit.

How many seats are available in NLSIU Bangalore courses for 2026?

For 2026, NLSIU Bangalore offers 310 seats in the BA LLB (Hons.), 120 in the 3-year LLB (Hons.), 120 in the 1-year LLM (Hons.), and 60 in the new BA (Hons.) programme. The BA LLB is by far the largest intake, while the BA (Hons.) launching on July 1, 2026 has the most selective 60-seat cohort. PhD intake varies by cycle, so applicants should refer to the official NLSIU source for current doctoral seat numbers.

What is the eligibility for the 3-year LLB at NLSIU Bangalore?

The 3-year LLB (Hons.) at NLSIU Bangalore requires a bachelor degree in any discipline with a minimum 45% aggregate (relaxed to 40% for SC/ST/OBC-NCL/PWD applicants), with admission through the NLSAT-LLB test. The programme has 120 seats and a total fee of Rs 15,57,000 for 2026. It is designed for graduates from any field who want to pivot into law and prepare for litigation, corporate practice, policy or judicial services within a mature postgraduate cohort.

Recent Updates (2026)

A new 3-year BA (Hons.) programme with an optional 4th-year research track will commence July 1, 2026. Students can choose majors and minors from four disciplines: History; Sociology and Anthropology; Economics; and Politics. Admission is through the NLSAT-BA entrance test. General category applicants need 55% marks in 10+2; SC/ST need 45%.