What are NLUs: List of Colleges, Courses Offered, Admission Process
Subham Sahoo24 Oct, 2025
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What are NLUs: National Law Universities (NLUs) are top law schools in India. They are special institutions that focus on legal education. Students from all over the country aim to join these universities. They are often referred to as the "IITs of Law."
NLUs were established to provide legal education in India. They offer integrated undergraduate and postgraduate law programs. Each NLU is established by state legislation and recognised as a state university by the University Grants Commission (UGC).
NLUs Overview
National Law Universities are prestigious institutions in India. They provide quality legal education for students who want to pursue careers in law. The National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bangalore, was established in 1986 under the National Law School of India Act.
All NLUs are recognised by the UGC and affiliated with the Bar Council of India (BCI). They primarily rely on state government grants, leading to variations in fee structures across different NLUs. The programs offered by NLUs are as follows:
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Integrated Courses: 5-year BA LLB (Hons), BBA LLB, BSc LLB, etc.
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Postgraduate Programs: LLM (Master of Laws)
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Doctoral Programs: PhD in Law
List of NLUs and their Inception
The Government of India, along with the State Governments, grants the status of National Law Universities. Each NLU is created through a state-specific law passed in the State Legislative Assembly. The approval by the government ensures that the university meets high standards of education, infrastructure, and faculty. The list of major NLUs in India, along with their year of establishment, is provided in the table below:
| List of NLUs and their Inception | ||
| College Name | Location | Year of Establishment |
| National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru | Bengaluru | 1987 |
| West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (WBNUJS), Kolkata | Kolkata | 1999 |
| National Law University, Jodhpur | Jodhpur | 1999 |
| Gujarat National Law University (GNLU), Gandhinagar | Gandhinagar | 2003 |
| Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law (RGNLU), Patiala | Patiala | 2006 |
| National University of Advanced Legal Studies (NUALS), Kochi | Kochi | 2005 |
| National University of Study and Research in Law (NUSRL), Ranchi | Ranchi | 2010 |
| Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law University (DSNLU), Visakhapatnam | Visakhapatnam | 2008 |
| Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU), Mumbai | Mumbai | 2014 |
| Maharashtra National Law University, Aurangabad | Aurangabad | 2017 |
| Dharmashastra National Law University (DNLU), Jabalpur | Jabalpur | 2018 |
| National Academy of Legal Study and Research (NALSAR) University of Law, Hyderabad | Hyderabad | 1998 |
| National Law Institute University (NLIU), Bhopal | Bhopal | 1997 |
| Hidayatullah National Law University (HNLU), Raipur | Raipur | 2003 |
| Dr Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University (RMLNLU), Lucknow | Lucknow | 2005 |
| Chanakya National Law University (CNLU), Patna | Patna | 2006 |
| National Law University Odisha (NLUO), Cuttack | Cuttack | 2008 |
| National Law University and Judicial Academy (NLUJA), Assam | Assam | 2009 |
| Tamil Nadu National Law University (TNNLU), Tiruchirappalli | Tiruchirapalli | 2012 |
| Maharashtra National Law University, Nagpur | Nagpur | 2016 |
| Himachal Pradesh National Law University (HPNLU), Shimla | Shimla | 2016 |
| Dr B.R. Ambedkar National Law University (DBRANLU), Sonipat | Sonipat | 2012 |
| National Law University, Tripura | Tripura | 2016 |
| Dr Rajendra Prasad National Law University, Prayagraj | Prayagraj | 2009 |
| GNLU Silvassa Campus | Silvasa | 2019 |
NLU Admission Process
Admission to NLUs is primarily done through the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT). CLAT is a national-level exam conducted for both UG and PG law courses. Students usually appear in Class 12 or equivalent exams to be eligible for undergraduate courses, whereas to pursue a postgraduate course, students need an LLB degree. The steps to be followed by candidates to get admission into NLU are as follows:
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Step 1: Candidates must meet the minimum educational requirements. For UG courses, students must complete 12th standard. For LLM, a law degree is required.
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Step 2: Applications for CLAT are submitted online. Students need to fill in personal, academic, and contact information.
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Step 3: CLAT exams test knowledge of English, current affairs, legal reasoning, logical reasoning, and quantitative aptitude.
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Step 4: After the exam, CLAT results are released online. Candidates get their scores and ranks.
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Step 6: Based on the CLAT rank, students participate in counselling. Here, they select NLUs and courses. Admission is granted based on merit, category, and seat availability.
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Step 7: Students must submit their certificates, marksheets, and other documents. Once verified, they can confirm their admission.
Some universities provide supernumerary seats for NRI students. There are certain special reservations that exist for SC, ST, and OBC categories as well. Students must regularly check the official NLU websites for updates on counselling and seat allotment.
NLUs are created and recognised by state governments and approved by the Bar Council of India. NLUs are focused on preparing the students for careers as lawyers, judges, legal researchers, and corporate professionals.
National Law Universities FAQs
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