The NLS BA (Hons) Programme is a three-year undergraduate degree, with the option to extend to a fourth year. Students may choose majors and minors from four disciplines: History; Sociology & Anthropology; Economics; and Politics. Those who are selected for the four-year track will graduate with a BA (Hons. with Research) degree. The NLS BA is uniquely designed to include:
Common Core Foundational Courses, Majors and Minors, Open Electives, Languages, Practice Courses and Internships.

Admission will be on the basis of an all-India National Law School Admission Test (NLSAT-BA).
For queries related to this programme, write to nlsat.query@nls.ac.in.

- About this programme
- View NLSAT 2027 Admission Notification

This postgraduate professional degree programme is open to graduates from all disciplines, and qualifies you to practice law.

Admission will be on the basis of an all-India National Law School Admission Test (NLSAT-LLB). For any queries regarding NLSAT, please write to nlsat.query@nls.ac.in.

- About this programme
- View NLSAT 2027 Admission Notification

This two-year postgraduate programme is open to graduates from all disciplines, with a focus on law as an interface between inclusive sustainable development and public policy.

Admission will be on the basis of an all-India National Law School Admission Test (NLSAT-MPP). For any queries regarding NLSAT, please write to nlsat.query@nls.ac.in.

- About this programme
- View NLSAT 2027 Admission Notification

The Ph.D. (Law) programme offers candidates an opportunity to contribute to the academic field in their chosen areas of study. ​Candidates are also provided an opportunity to teach or participate in ongoing research at NLSIU, in areas related to their dissertation.

Admission will be on the basis of an all-India National Law School Admission Test (NLSAT-PhD). For any queries regarding NLSAT, please write to nlsat.query@nls.ac.in.

- About this programme
- View NLSAT 2027 Admission Notification

This interdisciplinary PhD programme in NLSIU involves research across disciplines to arrive at a more comprehensive perspective and solution for a particular problem. Candidates are also provided the opportunity to teach in areas related to their research.

Admission will be on the basis of an all-India National Law School Admission Test (NLSAT-PhD). For any queries regarding NLSAT, please write to nlsat.query@nls.ac.in

- View NLSAT 2027 Admission Notification

NLSIU announces admission to its 3-year B.A. (Hons.) programme with the option of an additional 4th year in the research track. The academic year for the programme will commence on 1^st July, 2027.

Eligibility
Any person who has secured the higher secondary qualification [10+2 or an equivalent examination or programme] from any recognized board or school of education is eligible to apply to the programme. Applicants in the general category should have graduated with an aggregate of not less than 55% of total marks. Applicants in the SC/ST category should have graduated with an aggregate of not less than 45% of total marks.

Students in the final year of their higher-secondary education are also eligible to apply for the programme. However, their provisional offer of admission shall be contingent upon the successful completion of their higher-secondary education with the minimum aggregate marks specified above. Selected applicants shall receive a provisional admission offer and be required to produce the mark-sheet/transcript showing that they have completed their higher-secondary education, failing which they shall lose their right to be considered for admission. Proof of completion of the qualifying degree has to be submitted no later than December 31, 2027.

Admission Process
The maximum intake for the NLS B.A. (Hons.) Programme for the Academic Year 2027-28 is 60 and ONLY students qualifying as per the criteria set out below will be admitted.

Admission Test (NLSAT-BA)
Syllabus
All candidates seeking admission to the programme shall appear for the National Law School Admission Test for Bachelors of Arts (NLSAT-BA). The NLSAT-BA will have a single question paper comprising two parts – Parts A and B. All candidates shall be required to attempt both parts of the question paper. The examination shall be for a duration of 150 minutes.

Part A
Part A will consist of 75 Multiple-Choice Questions and shall be for a maximum of 75 marks. Each question will be of one mark. 0.25 marks shall be deducted for each wrong answer, and for each unanswered question. Part A of the NLSAT-BA will consist of questions relating to the following:

• Reading and Comprehension.
• General Awareness.
• Critical Reasoning.
• Quantitative Reasoning (skills like calculation of formulae, percentages, inferences, interpretation of basic data sets etc.)

Part B
Part B shall consist of subjective questions, which shall be for a maximum of 75 marks. Part B will have the following questions:

• Short Answers: Candidates will be provided extracts/passages from contemporary texts and asked to respond with a short answer to a question/prompt that follows. Each question will be for a maximum of 12.5 marks. Candidates will be evaluated on the ability to critically analyse, take a position, identify missing or flawed assumptions and provide alternative explanations in their responses.
• Essay: Candidates will be required to write an essay on a prompt or a keyword. They will be tested on how well and convincingly they show relation between the keyword/prompt and their interpretation, their knowledge of the facts and interpretations they are putting forth, the ability to make cogent written arguments and the ability to write a well-structured essay. This will be for 25 marks.

Admission offers will be made on the basis of cumulative performance in Parts A and B of the NLSAT-BA.
The final admission offers will be communicated on the admission portal by the end of May, 2027.
Note: The applicable reservations policy shall be applied at each stage of the admissions process.

Important Dates Intake and Reservation
The total intake for the NLS B.A. (Hons.) Programme for the Academic Year 2025-26 is 60 (including all four disciplines of History, Sociology & Anthropology, Politics and Economics).
Seats shall be reserved as follows:

• Scheduled Castes – 15%
• Scheduled Tribes – 7.5%
• OBCs – 27%
• EWS – 10%

5% of the total intake shall be reserved horizontally for Persons with Disabilities (PWD);
30% of the total intake shall be reserved horizontally for women;
25% of the total intake shall be reserved horizontally (compartmentalised) for Karnataka Students.

Karnataka Students Category

• Candidates who have studied for not less than seven (7) years in a recognized educational institution in Karnataka shall be eligible to be considered as ‘Karnataka Students.’
• Candidates who have not completed seven (7) years of study in Karnataka shall be eligible to apply under the Karnataka Students category if they fall under any of the below categories:
  • Children of defence personnel/ex-servicemen, who at the time of joining service, have declared their hometown to be in the State of Karnataka, and who have served or are serving outside Karnataka, corresponding to the candidate’s years of study outside Karnataka.
  • Children of employees of the Karnataka State Government who have served or are serving outside Karnataka corresponding to the candidate’s years of study outside Karnataka.
  • Children of serving or retired employees belonging to the Karnataka cadre of the All India Services (IAS/IFS/IPS), who have served or are serving outside Karnataka corresponding to the candidate’s years of study outside Karnataka.
  • Children of working or retired employees in the Central Armed Police Force service, who upon joining service declared their hometown to be in the State of Karnataka, and who have served or are serving outside Karnataka, corresponding to the candidate’s years of study outside Karnataka.
  Illustration: If the candidate has studied in Karnataka for three (3) years, they must prove that their parent/s were serving outside Karnataka for at least for at least remaining four (4) years corresponding to their own period of study outside Karnataka.
  
  If the candidate has not studied in Karnataka continuously for at least one (1) year, they must prove that their parent/s were serving outside Karnataka for at least seven (7) years corresponding to their own period of study outside Karnataka.
• Eligible candidates must keep their Study Certificates issued by their School/s and other relevant documents ready to be submitted at the time of counselling/admission.

For further queries, please write to nlsat.query@nls.ac.in.
The official admission notification containing the above details for the upcoming Academic Year has been released. View the official notification here .

NLSIU announces admission to its 3-year LL.B. (Hons.) programme for the academic year 2027-28. The academic year will commence on 1^st July, 2027.

Eligibility
Any person holding a Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognized national or international University is eligible to apply to the programme. Applicants in the General Category should have graduated with an aggregate of not less than 45% of total marks. Applicants in the SC/ST/OBC-NCL/PWD Category should have graduated with an aggregate of not less than 40% of total marks. Students in the final year of their Bachelor’s degree are also eligible to apply. However, their final offer of admission shall be contingent upon successful completion of their Bachelor’s degree with the minimum aggregate marks specified above. Proof of completion of the qualifying degree has to be submitted no later than December 31, 2027.

Admission Process
The maximum intake for the 3-year LL.B (Hons.) programme in the Academic Year 2027-28 is 120 and ONLY students qualifying as per the criteria set out below will be admitted.

Admission Test (NLSAT-LLB)
Syllabus
All candidates seeking admission to the programme shall appear for the National Law School Admission Test for Bachelors of Laws (NLSAT-LLB). The NLSAT-LLB will have a single question paper comprising two parts – Parts A and B. All candidates shall be required to attempt both parts of the question paper. The examination shall be for a duration of 150 minutes.

Part A
Part A will consist of 75 Multiple-Choice Questions and shall be for a maximum of 75 marks. Each question will be of one mark. 0.25 marks shall be deducted for each wrong answer, and for each unanswered question. Part A of the NLSAT-LLB will consist of questions relating to the following:

• Reading and Comprehension.
• General Awareness.
• Critical Reasoning.

Part B
Part B shall consist of subjective questions, which shall be for a maximum of 75 marks. In Part B, candidates will be tested on the following:

• Legal Aptitude/Reasoning: Legal aptitude will consist of problem-based questions. Students will be expected to write short answers in response. Prior knowledge of the law is not expected.
• Analytical Ability: Candidates will be required to write an essay on a topic/question. They will be tested on their knowledge of the issue, the ability to make cogent written arguments and the ability to write a well-structured essay. Knowledge of the law is not expected.

In case where more than one candidate obtains the same aggregate score of Part A and Part B, the marks obtained in Part B shall be used to break the tie between them and determine their rank.
Note: The applicable reservations policy shall be applied at each stage of the admissions process.

Important Dates The syllabus for the NLSAT-LLB will be available on the website of the University. Fees and other details of the programme are also available on the University’s website. NLSAT-LLB will be held in several centres across the country. The list of centres will be available on the application portal. Intake and Reservation
The total number of seats available are 120 (One hundred and twenty).
Seats shall be reserved as follows:

• Scheduled Castes – 15%
• Scheduled Tribes – 7.5%
• OBCs – 27%
• EWS – 10%

5% of the total intake shall be reserved horizontally for Persons with Disabilities (PWD);
30% of the total intake shall be reserved horizontally for women;
25% of the total intake shall be reserved horizontally (compartmentalised) for Karnataka Students.

Karnataka Students Category

• Candidates who have studied for not less than seven (7) years in a recognized educational institution in Karnataka shall be eligible to be considered as ‘Karnataka Students.’
• Candidates who have not completed seven (7) years of study in Karnataka shall be eligible to apply under the Karnataka Students category if they fall under any of the below categories:
  • Children of defence personnel/ex-servicemen, who at the time of joining service, have declared their hometown to be in the State of Karnataka, and who have served or are serving outside Karnataka, corresponding to the candidate’s years of study outside Karnataka.
  • Children of employees of the Karnataka State Government who have served or are serving outside Karnataka corresponding to the candidate’s years of study outside Karnataka.
  • Children of serving or retired employees belonging to the Karnataka cadre of the All India Services (IAS/IFS/IPS), who have served or are serving outside Karnataka corresponding to the candidate’s years of study outside Karnataka.
  • Children of working or retired employees in the Central Armed Police Force service, who upon joining service declared their hometown to be in the State of Karnataka, and who have served or are serving outside Karnataka, corresponding to the candidate’s years of study outside Karnataka.
  Illustration: If the candidate has studied in Karnataka for three (3) years, they must prove that their parent/s were serving outside Karnataka for at least for at least remaining four (4) years corresponding to their own period of study outside Karnataka.
  
  If the candidate has not studied in Karnataka continuously for at least one (1) year, they must prove that their parent/s were serving outside Karnataka for at least seven (7) years corresponding to their own period of study outside Karnataka.
• Eligible candidates must keep their Study Certificates issued by their educational institutions and other relevant documents ready to be submitted at the time of admission.

For further queries, please write to nlsat.query@nls.ac.in.
The official admission notification containing the above details for the upcoming Academic Year has been released. View the official notification here .

NLSIU announces admission to its 2-year MPP programme (Master’s Programme in Public Policy) for the academic year 2027-28. The academic year will commence on 1^st July, 2027.

Eligibility
Any person holding a Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognized national or international University is eligible to apply to the programme. Applicants in the General Category should have graduated with an aggregate of not less than 45% of total marks. Applicants in the SC or ST or OBC-NCL or PWD category should have graduated with an aggregate of not less than 40% of total marks. Students in the final year of their Bachelor’s degree are also eligible to apply. However, their final offer of admission shall be contingent upon successful completion of their Bachelor’s degree with the minimum aggregate marks specified above. Proof of completion of the qualifying degree has to be submitted no later than December 31, 2027.

Admission Process
The maximum intake for the MPP programme in the Academic Year 2027-28 is 60 and ONLY students qualifying as per the criteria set out below will be admitted. Admission to the programme will be through an all-India written admissions test, the NLSAT-MPP.

Admission Test (NLSAT-LLB)
Syllabus
All candidates seeking admission to the programme shall appear for the National Law School Admission Test for Masters in Public Policy (NLSAT-MPP). The NLSAT-MPP will have a single question paper comprising two parts – Parts A and B. All candidates shall be required to attempt both parts of the question paper. The examination shall be for a duration of 150 minutes.

Part A
Part A of the NLSAT-MPP paper will consist of Multiple-Choice Questions, and shall be for a maximum of 75 marks. 0.25 marks shall be deducted for each wrong answer, and for each unanswered question. Part A of the NLSAT-MPP will consist of questions relating to the following:

• Reading and Comprehension.
• General Awareness.
• Critical Reasoning.

Part B
Part B shall be for a maximum of 75 marks. In Part B, candidates will be tested on the following:

• Policy:
  • Contemporary issues of policy relevance
  • India’s public institutions, politics, economics, and society
  • Governance challenges and opportunities in India
  • General issues of topical concern for public policy
• Quantitative Skills:
  • Basic Mathematics & Numerical skills
  • Data Interpretation & Graphical Analysis
  • Basic Descriptive Statistics

In cases where more than one candidate obtains the same aggregate score of Part A and Part B, the marks obtained in Part B shall be used to break the tie between them and determine their rank.
Note: The applicable reservations policy shall be applied at each stage of the admissions process.

Important Dates Intake and Reservation
Seats shall be reserved as follows:

• Scheduled Castes – 15%
• Scheduled Tribes – 7.5%
• OBCs – 27%
• EWS – 10%

5% of the total intake shall be reserved horizontally for Persons with Disabilities (PWD);
30% of the total intake shall be reserved horizontally for women;
25% of the total intake shall be reserved horizontally (compartmentalised) for Karnataka Students.

Karnataka Students Category

• Candidates who have studied for not less than seven (7) years in a recognized educational institution in Karnataka shall be eligible to be considered as ‘Karnataka Students.’
• Candidates who have not completed seven (7) years of study in Karnataka shall be eligible to apply under the Karnataka Students category if they fall under any of the below categories:
  • Children of defence personnel/ex-servicemen, who at the time of joining service, have declared their hometown to be in the State of Karnataka, and who have served or are serving outside Karnataka, corresponding to the candidate’s years of study outside Karnataka.
  • Children of employees of the Karnataka State Government who have served or are serving outside Karnataka corresponding to the candidate’s years of study outside Karnataka.
  • Children of serving or retired employees belonging to the Karnataka cadre of the All India Services (IAS/IFS/IPS), who have served or are serving outside Karnataka corresponding to the candidate’s years of study outside Karnataka.
  • Children of working or retired employees in the Central Armed Police Force service, who upon joining service declared their hometown to be in the State of Karnataka, and who have served or are serving outside Karnataka, corresponding to the candidate’s years of study outside Karnataka.
  Illustration: If the candidate has studied in Karnataka for three (3) years, they must prove that their parent/s were serving outside Karnataka for at least for at least remaining four (4) years corresponding to their own period of study outside Karnataka.
  
  If the candidate has not studied in Karnataka continuously for at least one (1) year, they must prove that their parent/s were serving outside Karnataka for at least seven (7) years corresponding to their own period of study outside Karnataka.
• Eligible candidates must keep their Study Certificates issued by their educational institutions and other relevant documents ready to be submitted at the time of admission.

For further queries, please write to nlsat.query@nls.ac.in.
The official admission notification containing the above details for the upcoming Academic Year has been released. View the official notification here .
Corrigendum: Deadline Extended .

NLSIU does not offer rolling admissions for Ph.D. programmes and new cohorts begin only at the start of the academic year in July.
Candidates may apply for either Ph.D. (Law) or Ph.D. (Social Sciences, Humanities and Public Policy), but not both simultaneously.

Eligibility for Ph.D. (Law)
The following candidates are eligible to apply for the Ph.D. (Law):

• Candidates having a 5-year/10-semester/15-trimester bachelor’s degree in Law through regular mode from a recognised University having secured a minimum of 55% marks in aggregate or its equivalent grade on a point scale wherever the grading system is followed (50% of marks or its equivalent grade in case of SC/ST/OBC-NCL/Persons with Disability)
• Candidates having a 3-year/6-semester/9-trimester bachelor’s degree in Law (LLB.) through regular mode from a recognised University having secured a minimum of 55% marks in aggregate or its equivalent grade on a point scale wherever the grading system is followed (50% of marks or its equivalent grade in case of SC/ST/OBC-NCL/Persons with Disability)
• Candidates having a Masters in Law degree (LL.M.) through regular mode from a recognized University having secured an aggregate of at least 55% marks or its equivalent grade (50% of marks or its equivalent grade in case of SC/ST/OBC-NCL/Persons with Disability)
• Candidates having passed the Solicitors Examination conducted by the Bombay Incorporated Law Society and having completed a bachelor’s in Law (LL.B./LL.B. (Hons.) degree from a recognized University through regular mode; or
• Candidates having a Master of Business Laws (MBL) degree from the National Law School of India University with minimum CGPA (Cumulative Grade Point Average) of 4.00 and having completed a bachelor‟s degree from a recognized University through regular mode;

Provided that candidates in their final year of study in the respective degrees in (a), (b) and (c) shall be eligible to apply, subject to the candidate securing the minimum marks or equivalent grade prior to the date of commencement of the Ph.D.

Provided further that on the recommendation of the DC and the Dean Academics, the Vice Chancellor may admit such a number of international students seeking to join the Ph.D. (Law) programme in the University as may be determined from year to year. Such admissions will be based on an evaluation of the programmes pursued by such candidates, the research proposal submitted by the candidate and an oral presentation.

Candidates having an equivalent qualification from a foreign educational institution accredited by an assessment and accreditation agency which is approved, recognized or authorized by an authority, established or incorporated under a law in its home country or any other statutory authority in that country to assess, accredit or assure quality and standards of the educational institution are also eligible to apply for the Ph.D. (Law).

Admission Process
Application
Candidates shall submit the application form duly filled up along with a research proposal of about 6-8 pages. The application form shall be available on the University website in November 2026.

The research proposal must:

• Contain a Tentative Title,
• Identify a research problem and discrete research questions,
• Demonstrate background research and a thorough awareness and understanding of the relevant literature on the research problem,
• Identify the methodological approach to respond adequately to these research questions.

Candidates who demonstrate a firm grasp of the foundational themes and methodological questions of the relevant discipline will be awarded higher marks. The research proposal must be prepared by the candidate without any external assistance or assistance of AI tools.

Application Fee
An application fee of Rs. 3,500/- (Rupees Three Thousand Only) shall be payable at the time of submission of the application.

Last Date for Submitting Applications
Applications shall be accepted till 11:59 pm, IST on 23 March, 2027.

Admission Test (NLSAT-PhD)
Syllabus
All candidates seeking admission to the programme shall appear for the National Law School Admission Test for Doctor of Philosophy (NLSAT-PhD). The NLSAT-PhD will have a single question paper comprising two parts – Parts A and B. All candidates shall be required to attempt both parts of the question paper. The examination shall be for a duration of 150 minutes.

Part A
Part A of the NLSAT-PhD will focus on research design. Candidates will be given an extract detailing a real-world scenario. They may then be asked to formulate original, feasible research questions, propose suitable methodologies and/or craft concise research proposals. Candidates can bring their subject-matter expertise to bear, enriching their designs with specialised perspectives from their respective fields. Part A of the NLSAT-PhD will be for 50 marks.

Part B
Part B of the NLSAT-PhD will contain questions focused on evaluating and engaging with existing research. This part will require candidates to demonstrate research aptitude through skills in critical analysis, evidence evaluation, and the ability to extend or critique established ideas. Candidates can apply their subject-matter expertise to enhance their evaluations, offering specialised insights and demonstrating proficiency in navigating and contributing to academic discourse. Part B of the NLSAT-PhD will be for 50 marks.

Candidates who secure not less than 50 marks in the written test will qualify for evaluation of their Research Proposal. They will be invited to make an oral presentation before a Panel of Experts on the date specified by the University.

Intake
The maximum number of Ph.D. seats for the Academic Year 2027-28 are 8 (Eight). This includes 4 in Ph.D. (Law) and 4 in Ph.D. (Social Sciences, Humanities and Public Policy). The University reserves the right not to fill all the seats where sufficient candidates do not satisfy the admission requirements.

Selection Process
Candidates for the Ph.D. programme shall be selected through a two-stage selection process, as described below:

Stage I – NLSAT-Ph.D. Exam
The first stage of the selection process shall be the NLSAT-Ph.D. Exam, designed to assess the research aptitude of candidates and their subject-matter expertise in law or other relevant disciplines (Social Sciences, Humanities and Public Policy). NLSAT-Ph.D. Exam shall be qualifying in nature. Only candidates securing not less than 50% (fifty percent) of the total marks in the NLSAT-Ph.D. Exam shall qualify for the second stage of the selection process.

Stage II – Evaluation of Research Proposal and Oral Presentation
The second stage of the selection process shall comprise two components of equal weightage:

• Evaluation of Research Proposal: The written Research Proposal submitted by the candidate as part of the application shall be evaluated by the Selection Committee.
• Oral Presentation of Research Proposal: The candidate shall make an oral presentation of their Research Proposal before the Selection Committee, which shall assess the depth, originality, and feasibility of the proposed research.

Each of the two components under Stage II shall carry equal weightage (50% each) in the evaluation.

Final Selection
The final selection of candidates to the Ph.D. programme shall be based on the aggregate of marks secured by the candidate in the evaluation of the Research Proposal and the Oral Presentation of the Research Proposal, as described under Stage II above.

The dates for the oral presentation shall be announced after the completion of the NLSAT-PhD. They are likely to be held in May 2027. Classes for the coursework component of the PhD programme shall commence at the University in July 2027.

Ph.D. Regulations
Regulations governing the PhD programme are available here .

Candidates should familiarise themselves with the requirements of the programme, before applying.

Read the official Admission Notification here .

For any queries regarding NLSAT, please write to nlsat.query@nls.ac.in.

NLSIU does not offer rolling admissions for Ph.D. programmes and new cohorts begin only at the start of the academic year in July.

Candidates may apply for either Ph.D. (Law) or Ph.D. (Social Sciences, Humanities and Public Policy), but not both simultaneously.

The Ph.D. (Social Sciences, Humanities and Public Policy) encourages students with any degree in the social sciences, humanities, and public policy field to apply. Candidates are encouraged to review the ongoing research projects and faculty research interests on the University website while preparing their proposals.

Eligibility for Ph.D. (Social Sciences, Humanities and Public Policy)

• Candidates having a 4-year/8-semester/12-trimester bachelor’s degree through regular mode from a recognised University having secured a minimum of 55% marks in aggregate or its equivalent grade on a point scale wherever the grading system is followed (50% of marks or its equivalent grade in case of SC/ST/OBC-NCL/Persons with Disability).
• Candidates having a Master’s degree in any discipline through regular mode with a minimum of 55% or equivalent grade (50% of marks or its equivalent grade in case of SC/ST/OBC-NCL/Persons with Disability) and a Bachelor’s degree from a recognized University through regular mode.
• Candidates having passed the Company Secretaryship examination conducted by the Institute of Company Secretaries of India and been awarded Associate Membership of the Institute (ACS) and having completed a Bachelor‟s degree programme from a recognized University through regular mode.
• Candidates having passed the Chartered Accountants examination conducted by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India and been awarded Membership of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India , and having completed a Bachelor‟s degree programme from a recognized University through regular mode.

Provided that candidates in their final year of study in the respective degrees in (a), (b) and (c) shall be eligible to apply, subject to the candidate securing the minimum marks or equivalent grade prior to the date of commencement of the Ph.D.

Admission Process
Application
Candidates shall submit the application form duly filled up along with a research proposal of about 6-8 pages. Application forms for the programme will be available on the NLSIU website in November, 2026.

The research proposal must:

• Contain a Tentative Title,
• Identify a research problem and discrete research questions,
• Demonstrate background research and a thorough awareness and understanding of the relevant literature on the research problem,
• Identify the methodological approach to respond adequately to these research questions.

Candidates who demonstrate a firm grasp of the foundational themes and methodological questions of the relevant discipline will be awarded higher marks. The research proposal must be prepared by the candidate without any external assistance or assistance of AI tools.

Application Fee
An application fee of Rs. 3,500/- (Rupees Three Thousand Only) shall be payable at the time of submission of the application.

Last Date for Submitting Applications
Applications shall be accepted till 11:59 P.M., IST on 23 March, 2027.

Admission Test (NLSAT-PhD)
Syllabus
All candidates seeking admission to the programme shall appear for the National Law School Admission Test for Doctor of Philosophy (NLSAT-PhD). The NLSAT-PhD will have a single question paper comprising two parts – Parts A and B. All candidates shall be required to attempt both parts of the question paper. The examination shall be for a duration of 150 minutes.

Part A
Part A of the NLSAT-PhD will focus on research design. Candidates will be given an extract detailing a real-world scenario. They may then be asked to formulate original, feasible research questions, propose suitable methodologies and/or craft concise research proposals. Candidates can bring their subject-matter expertise to bear, enriching their designs with specialised perspectives from their respective fields. Part A of the NLSAT-PhD will be for 50 marks.

Part B
Part B of the NLSAT-PhD will contain questions focused on evaluating and engaging with existing research. This part will require candidates to demonstrate research aptitude through skills in critical analysis, evidence evaluation, and the ability to extend or critique established ideas. Candidates can apply their subject-matter expertise to enhance their evaluations, offering specialised insights and demonstrating proficiency in navigating and contributing to academic discourse. Part B of the NLSAT-PhD will be for 50 marks.

Candidates who secure not less than 50 marks in the written test will qualify for evaluation of their Research Proposal. They will be invited to make an oral presentation before a Panel of Experts on the date specified by the University.

Intake
The maximum number of Ph.D. seats for the Academic Year 2027-28 are 8 (Eight). This includes 4 in Ph.D. (Law) and 4 in Ph.D. (Social Sciences, Humanities and Public Policy). The University reserves the right not to fill all the seats where sufficient candidates do not satisfy the admission requirements.

Selection Process
Candidates for the Ph.D. programme shall be selected through a two-stage selection process, as described below:

Stage I – NLSAT-Ph.D. Exam
The first stage of the selection process shall be the NLSAT-Ph.D. Exam, designed to assess the research aptitude of candidates and their subject-matter expertise in law or other relevant disciplines (Social Sciences, Humanities and Public Policy). NLSAT-Ph.D. Exam shall be qualifying in nature. Only candidates securing not less than 50% (fifty percent) of the total marks in the NLSAT-Ph.D. Exam shall qualify for the second stage of the selection process.

Stage II – Evaluation of Research Proposal and Oral Presentation
The second stage of the selection process shall comprise two components of equal weightage:

• Evaluation of Research Proposal: The written Research Proposal submitted by the candidate as part of the application shall be evaluated by the Selection Committee.
• Oral Presentation of Research Proposal: The candidate shall make an oral presentation of their Research Proposal before the Selection Committee, which shall assess the depth, originality, and feasibility of the proposed research.

Each of the two components under Stage II shall carry equal weightage (50% each) in the evaluation.

Final Selection
The final selection of candidates to the Ph.D. programme shall be based on the aggregate of marks secured by the candidate in the evaluation of the Research Proposal and the Oral Presentation of the Research Proposal, as described under Stage II above.

The dates for the oral presentation shall be announced after the completion of the NLSAT-PhD. They are likely to be held in May 2026. Classes for the coursework component of the PhD programme shall commence at the University in July 2026.

Ph.D. Regulations
Regulations governing the PhD programme are available here .

Candidates should familiarise themselves with the requirements of the programme, before applying.

Read the official Admission Notification here .

For any queries regarding NLSAT, please write to nlsat.query@nls.ac.in.