NLSIU Bangalore

LL.M.

NLSIU offers a one year LL.M. Degree Programme. Similar to the BA LLB (Hons) programme, the LL.M. programme is organised around three trimesters every academic year. With the help of a cutting-edge curriculum and innovative pedagogical approaches, it is meticulously designed to equip students with skills and knowledge needed to navigate the intricate landscape of law. Our one-year LL.M. programme provides a unique blend of core and elective courses, allowing students to deepen their expertise in their preferred areas of interest and thrive in diverse fields such as academia, research, legal practice, policy making and judicial services.

In Academic Year 2024-25, NLSIU is introducing four concentrations, in addition to the general stream. This distinctive concentration model enables LL.M. students to delve deeper into specific domains of law, enhancing their knowledge and expertise in those specific domains. The four concentrations that are being offered for AY 2024-25 are:

  • Public Law
  • Criminal Law
  • Commercial Laws
  • Law and Technology

The maximum intake in a concentration shall be 30 and the minimum number of students required for offering any concentration shall be 15 students.

To fulfill the requirements of a concentration, students must complete:

  • 3 LL.M. Core Compulsory courses;
  • 1 Concentration Core course;
  • 3 Concentration Electives;
  • 4 General Electives; and
  • Dissertation (in the area of Concentration).

Transcripts will reflect the chosen concentration, and upon graduation, the University will issue a uniform Master’s in Law Degree Certificate. For students opting for the general stream, general electives will replace concentration electives. Additionally, they will have the flexibility to select dissertation topics from any area of interest.

 

 

 

Admission to the LL.M. Degree Programme is purely on the basis of merit as assessed through the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) administered by the Consortium of NLUs.

Admission Notifications for AY 2025-26

Eligibility

  • The candidate must have an LL.B. Degree or an equivalent examination with a minimum of:
    (i) Fifty percent (50%) of marks or its equivalent grade in case of candidates belonging to General/OBC/PWD categories, and
    (ii) Forty five percent (45%) of marks or its equivalent grade in case of candidates belonging to SC/ST categories.
  • The candidate will have to appear for the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) to secure admission into the postgraduate programme.
  • Candidates appearing for the qualifying examination in the year of admission are also permitted to take the Admission Test, but their admission to the course shall be subject to fulfilling the conditions stipulated in the Regulations, and producing supporting documentary evidence at the time of admission.
  • There is no upper age limit for the PG programme in CLAT.

For details on CLAT, please visit: https://consortiumofnlus.ac.in/

International Students

Candidates can apply for the NLSAT – International Examination for “international student” category, if they fulfil the following conditions:

  • They should be a citizen of a country other than India; AND
  • They should have completed a minimum of ten years of their education in a school/college/university outside India.

For more details, click here.

Intake and Reservation for AY 2024-25

The total intake capacity shall be 120 (One Hundred and Twenty) students for AY 2024-25 with the following breakup:

  • Scheduled Castes – 15%
  • Scheduled Tribes – 7.5%
  • Other Backward Classes (Non-creamy layer) – 27%
  • Economically Weaker Sections – 10%
  • Persons with Disabilities (Horizontal reservation) – 5%
  • Women (Horizontal reservation) – 30%
  • Karnataka Students* (Compartmentalised Horizontal reservation) – 25%

* Karnataka Students Category:

(i) Candidates who have studied for not less than 10 years in a recognized educational institution in Karnataka shall be eligible to be considered as ‘Karnataka Students.’

(ii) Candidates who have not completed ten years of study in Karnataka shall be eligible to apply under the Karnataka Students category if they fall under any of the below categories:

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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 seven (7) 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 ten (10) years corresponding to their own period of study outside Karnataka.

(iii) 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.

Procedure to apply for a concentration in the LLM programme

Students will be submitting their LL.M. concentration preferences through an online form.

The maximum intake in a concentration shall be 30. The minimum number of students required for offering any concentration shall be 15 students.
In the event that the number of applicants for any particular concentration exceeds 30, the allocations will be based on CLAT rank, i.e., a higher CLAT rank will be prioritised.

For further queries related to NLSIU’s LL.M programme, write to

Course Curriculum | AY 2024-25

Trimester I

Research Methodology
Concentration Core course
Concentration Elective 1
General Elective 1

Trimester II

Comparative Public Law
Concentration Elective 2
Concentration Elective 3
General Elective 2

Trimester III

Law and Justice in a Globalizing World
General Elective 3
General Elective 4
Dissertation

NOTE:
1. This allocation of courses is tentative and is subject to change. Each course shall be of 4 credits and the total credits required for LL.M. is 48 (including 4 credits for dissertation). Students who are opting for the general stream will be taking general electives in lieu of the concentration electives.
2. The sequence of courses may be changed if required.

Academic Calendar for A.Y. 2024-25 | Trimester II (Nov 2024 – Jan 2025)

Date Day Particulars
4-Nov-2024 Monday Commencement of classes – core and elective
5-Nov-2024
to
8-Nov-2024
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Repeat exams for Trimester I
25-Dec-2024 Wednesday Holiday
Christmas
15-Jan-2025* Wednesday* Holiday*
Makara Sankranthi
16-Jan-2025 Thursday Deadline for Elective Term / Seminar paper submission
22-Jan-2025 Wednesday Last day of classes (core and elective)
23-Jan-2025 Thursday Oral Presentations for Elective Courses
24-Jan-2025
to
30-Jan-2025
Friday
Saturday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
End Term Examinations
4-Mar-2025 Tuesday Commencement of Trimester III classes (core and elective)
4-Mar-2025
to
7-Mar-2025
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Repeat exams for Trimester II

*This date is subject to change depending on final holiday list from the University

Fee Structure for AY 2025-26 

Admission fee (one time) – Rs. 13,000/-
Tuition and Facilities fee – Rs. 2,96,000/- p.a.
Housing fee (subject to availability) – 1,23,500/- p.a.
Total fee per annum – Rs. 4,32,500/-

One Time Refundable Deposit
Refundable deposit for SC/ST category students – Rs. 17,500/-
Refundable deposit for other students – Rs. 22,000/-

The total amount payable by SC/ST category students is Rs. 4,50,000/-
The total amount payable by other students is Rs. 4,54,500/-

NOTE:
* Fees mentioned above are provisional and subject to ratification by the University
Governing Bodies.
* Housing Fee includes meal plan for breakfast, lunch, dinner and an evening snack.
* Day scholars may opt for meal plan at Rs. 74,500 (Mess Fee) per annum. The meal plan
includes breakfast, lunch, dinner and an evening snack.
* Refundable deposit will be refunded either upon graduation or admission withdrawal. The
refund will be subject to the deduction of applicable convocation fees, fees for issue of
certificates, and other outstanding dues, if any.

Financial Aid

The University offers means-based scholarships. To know more about NLSIU’s financial aid options for students, click here

Fee Structure for Foreign Students for AY 2024-25

Admission fee – one time – Rs. 36,000/-
Tuition and facilities fee – Rs. 8,07,000/-
Hostel residential charges – Rs. 45,000/-
Mess charges – Rs. 67,500/-
Total fee – per annum – Rs. 9,55,500/-

One Time Refundable Deposit
Refundable deposits – Rs. 60,000/-
The total amount payable at the time of admission, by foreign students is Rs. 10,15,500/-

* Fees mentioned above are provisional and subject to ratification by the University Governing Bodies.
* Mess fee includes meal plan for breakfast, lunch, dinner and an evening snack.

Hon’ble Justice Mr. Hari Prasad Phuyal, Judge, Supreme Court of Nepal | NLS LLM 1995

Hon’ble Justice Dr. Ananda Mohan Bhattarai, Judge, Supreme Court of Nepal | NLS LLM 1996, PhD (2000)

Featured articles:

Alumni Feature | Sriraj Venkatasamy’s journey of perseverance

“It was surprising! What I expected, rather, anticipated was long hours of classes. But what I ended up doing was completely different. This is not a school, where you will be spoon-fed or even fed. It is like an open book… you are not forced into any kind of regime, but given the right kind of opportunities you need for growth. The systematic approach here prepares you for self-learning, which eventually grooms your personality. I find NLSIU to be the right place for one to realise their potential.” Read more

Alumni Feature | Living the Teaching Dream: Dr. Gitanjali Ghosh

“I met some of the best people here, and made friends for life. I cannot count any bad memories from my days at NLS. I happened to join my LLM programme almost 20 days late, as the start date clashed with the final days of my LLB programme.  So, it was a tad intimidating. But my classmates helped me a lot, showed me around the library and eased me into the programme. These are things I will not forget!
Along with the great connections with faculty and peers, the kind of time management required to complete the LLM programme, complete with the dissertation and papers, helped me pick up this key skill during my time at NLS.” Read more

 

How do I apply for the LLM programme?

Admission to the 5-Year B.A., LL.B. (Hons.) and the 1 Year LL.M. degree programmes, is through the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT). Queries related to these programmes at NLSIU should be sent to 
For further details regarding CLAT, please visit https://consortiumofnlus.ac.in/

Is there any age limit to apply for the programme?

No, there is no age limit to apply for the programme.

I have completed my undergraduate degree. Can I apply for a PG programme at NLSIU?

Students will have to complete their BA LLB programme to be eligible for the LLM programme on campus.
Students who have completed any undergraduate degree may apply for the on-campus MPP programme or off-campus online and hybrid programmes offered by NLSIU’s Professional and Continuing Education Department.

Are lateral entry options available?

There is no provision for lateral admission.

What kind of reservations are applicable for NLSIU's programmes?

NLSIU prescribes reservations for candidates belonging to SC, ST, OBC (Non-creamy layer) and EWS students in its full-time on campus programmes. Additionally, seats are reserved horizontally for Persons with Disabilities, Women, and Karnataka Students.

For a detailed breakdown of the intake and reservations, refer to the admission tab of the programme page.

What documents have to be furnished by candidates if the reservation is applicable?
  • If you belong to SC/ST/OBC (non-creamy layer) category, you are required to provide your valid caste category certificate issued by the Competent Authority at the time of counselling/admission.
  • If you belong to the EWS category, you are required to provide valid EWS Certificate issued by the Competent Authority at the time of counselling/admission.
  • If you belong to the PWD category, you are required to provide your Disability Certificate indicating benchmark disability issued by the competent authority at the time of counselling/admission.
  • If you belong to the Karnataka Student category, you are required to provide study certificates issued by recognized educational institutions in Karnataka at the time of counselling/admission.
  • If you are the child of a government servant or defence personnel from Karnataka, relevant proof of service needs to be produced at the time of counselling/admission.

Please note, candidates unable to provide valid proof of belonging to SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PWD/Karnataka Student categories at the time of admission shall not be eligible for admission to the University under the respective quota.

Which authority can issue Caste/OBC (Non-Creamy Layer)/EWS Certificates?

Please note that only the following authorities are competent to issue Caste Certificates, OBC-Non-Creamy Layer Certificates, and Economically Weaker Section (EWS) Certificates:

  • District Magistrate/ Additional Magistrate/ Collector/ Deputy Commissioner/ Additional Deputy Commissioner/ Deputy Collector/ Ist Class Stipendiary Magistrate/ Sub-Divisional magistrate/ Taluka Magistrate/ Executive Magistrate/ Extra Assistant Commissioner (not below the rank of Ist Class Stipendiary Magistrate).
  • Chief Presidency Magistrate / Additional Chief Presidency Magistrate/Presidency Magistrate.
  • Revenue Officer not below the rank of Tehsildar and Sub-Divisional Officer of the area where the candidate and/or his family resides
  • For Karnataka Students Category seats, only study certificates issued by duly recognised and affiliated educational institutions, which attest that the candidate has completed at least 10 years of education in Karnataka, shall be accepted.
Can an Income and Caste certificate be used instead of an Income and Asset certificate for EWS?

No, a valid EWS certificate is required. Income and Caste certificates are not sufficient to meet the EWS category eligibility.

What documents are needed for Karnataka category seats?

For candidates to the LLM Programme, study certificates indicating a minimum of 10 years of education in Karnataka from recognised and affiliated educational institutions are required for applicants seeking Karnataka category seats.

Domicile certificates are not accepted.

Is a study certificate in Kannada acceptable?

Yes, study certificates issued in Kannada by recognized schools/educational institutions will be accepted.

I've lived and studied in Karnataka for more than 15 years, but I am an OCI card holder. Is the Karnataka student reservation still applicable to me?

If a OCI Card Holder student shows (through Study Certificates issued by their School/s) that they were students in a registered educational institution in Karnataka for at least 10 years, they are eligible under the Karnataka student quota.

Is the admission procedure different for foreign nationals/international students? Do applicants outside India have to appear for CLAT?

From Academic Year 2024-25, we have recommenced admitting international students to academic programmes of the University using a new admission process. Admissions will be through a separate admissions test administered by NLSIU. Details about the test will be notified on our website when the Admission Notification is issued. Seats under the “international student” category will be open to students from all countries.

Foreign Nationals who possess a PIO (Person of Indian Origin) or OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) card may be eligible to appear for the CLAT examination as per the rules and eligibility notified by the consortium website.

Who qualifies as an international student?

To be eligible for admission under the “international student” category, the candidate should be a citizen of a country other than India, and should have completed at least 10 years of their education in a school/college/University outside India.

Are NRI seats available?

NLSIU does not offer any NRI seats in any of its programmes. Indian nationals who have studied abroad can apply through CLAT as any other Indian national. However, we do offer a separate admission process through the NLSAT-International exam, which is open only to foreign nationals who have studied outside India for at least 10 years.