![National University of Advanced Legal Studies - [NUALS]](https://img.collegedunia.com/public/college_data/images/logos/1421232548Capture.jpg?h=71.7&w=71.7&mode=stretch)
NUALS Admission 2026 - National University of Advanced Legal Studies, Ernakulam - follows the CLAT Consortium model for its B.A.LL.B. (Hons.) and LL.M. programmes. B.A.LL.B. admission is based on CLAT-UG scores through CLAT Consortium centralised counselling. LL.M. admission is through CLAT-PG scores. NUALS has the smallest BA LLB intake among National Law Universities, with only 60 seats per batch, making admission highly competitive.
A distinctive feature of NUALS admission is its Kerala state-specific seat allocations. In addition to the 60 BA LLB seats, 6 extra seats are allocated for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) from Kerala’s General Category, 2 seats for Transgender candidates from Kerala, and 2 seats for Jammu and Kashmir migrants. A 5% horizontal reservation for Specially Abled Persons (SAP) applies within the total intake.
- B.A.LL.B. (Hons.) - CLAT-UG 2025: Exam held on December 7, 2025. Result declared on December 16, 2025. CLAT Consortium counselling rounds for 2026-27 intake are concluded. Vacant seat provisional rank lists are published on nuals.ac.in as needed.
- LL.M. - CLAT-PG 2025: Exam held on December 7, 2025. Result declared on December 16, 2025. Vacant seat admission rounds are conducted by NUALS directly on nuals.ac.in.
- Next CLAT Cycle (2027-28): CLAT registration expected around August 2026 at consortiumofnlus.ac.in.
- NUALS total sanctioned intake for B.A.LL.B. (Hons.) is 60 seats per batch. This is among the smallest intakes at any NLU, making the competition for NUALS seats particularly intense.
- Kerala domicile candidates benefit from state-specific additional seats (EWS, Transgender, J&K migrant categories). Reservation for SC/ST/OBC follows Kerala government norms under CLAT Consortium policy.
- No management quota or direct admission route exists at NUALS. All seats including NRI are filled through CLAT Consortium scores.
- PhD and Integrated LL.M.-Ph.D. programmes are also available at NUALS with separate admission processes.
NUALS Admission Portal 2026: nuals.ac.in | CLAT Counselling: consortiumofnlus.ac.in
Direct Admission at NUALS: NUALS Ernakulam does not offer management quota or direct admission. All B.A.LL.B. and LL.M. seats are filled exclusively through CLAT Consortium scores and centralised counselling.
NUALS B.A.LL.B. (Hons.) Admission 2026
NUALS admits students to the 5-year B.A.LL.B. (Hons.) programme through CLAT-UG scores. With only 60 seats per batch, NUALS is one of the most selective NLUs in India. Seat allotment is done centrally by the CLAT Consortium. NUALS does not conduct any separate test or interview.
NUALS B.A.LL.B. Admission Dates 2026
| Event | Date | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| CLAT-UG 2025 Registration Opens | August 1, 2025 | Online - consortiumofnlus.ac.in |
| CLAT-UG 2025 Registration Closes | October 31, 2025 | Online |
| CLAT-UG 2025 Admit Card | November 22, 2025 | Online |
| CLAT-UG 2025 Exam | December 7, 2025 | Offline - pen-and-paper |
| CLAT-UG 2025 Answer Key | December 10, 2025 | Online |
| CLAT-UG 2025 Result | December 16, 2025 | Online |
| CLAT Consortium Counselling Rounds (2026-27) | January to May 2026 (Tentative) | Online - consortiumofnlus.ac.in |
| NUALS Vacant Seat Provisional Rank List | As announced on nuals.ac.in | NUALS website |
| Next CLAT Cycle Registration (2027-28) | August 2026 onwards (Tentative) | Online - consortiumofnlus.ac.in |
NUALS B.A.LL.B. Eligibility Criteria
| Category | Eligibility Criteria | Selection Basis |
|---|---|---|
| General / OBC | 10+2 or equivalent with minimum 45% aggregate. Age limit: not above 20 years as on July 1 of admission year (22 years for SC/ST). | CLAT-UG rank. CLAT Consortium centralised counselling. |
| SC / ST | 10+2 or equivalent with minimum 40% aggregate. | CLAT-UG rank. CLAT Consortium centralised counselling. |
| SEBC (Socially and Educationally Backward Classes) | 10+2 or equivalent with minimum 42% aggregate. | CLAT-UG rank. Kerala state reservation norms apply. |
| NRI Category | 10+2 with minimum 45% aggregate. Candidate or parent must be NRI. Must appear for CLAT under NRI category. | CLAT-UG NRI rank. CLAT Consortium counselling. |
NUALS B.A.LL.B. Selection Process
CLAT-UG rank is the sole basis for B.A.LL.B. admission at NUALS. No separate test, GD, or PI is conducted by NUALS. The CLAT Consortium allots seats based on rank and candidate preferences.
- CLAT-UG is a 2-hour pen-and-paper test with 120 questions across English, GK/Current Affairs, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Techniques.
- Candidates must fill NUALS Ernakulam as a preference during CLAT Consortium online counselling to be considered for seat allotment.
- Kerala-specific seats (EWS Kerala - 6 seats, Transgender Kerala - 2 seats, J&K migrants - 2 seats) are allotted separately from the main 60 general seats. Eligible candidates must submit the relevant certificates.
- A 5% horizontal reservation for Specially Abled Persons applies within the total intake across categories.
- After Consortium rounds, NUALS publishes vacant seat provisional rank lists on nuals.ac.in. Candidates who missed earlier rounds may apply through these college-level lists.
As per Collegedunia Reviews, students at NUALS Ernakulam appreciate the close-knit campus community that comes from the small batch size of 60. Reviewers note that the limited intake creates a highly personalised learning environment and better faculty access than at larger NLUs.
How to Apply for B.A.LL.B. at NUALS?
- Step 1: Register for CLAT-UG on consortiumofnlus.ac.in. Registration typically opens in August for the December exam.
- Step 2: Prepare for and appear in the CLAT-UG exam in December.
- Step 3: After result, log in to the CLAT Consortium portal and fill NUALS Ernakulam as a preference during counselling.
- Step 4: If allotted NUALS, pay the seat acceptance fee and submit required documents within the specified deadline.
- Step 5: Report to NUALS with original documents for verification. Contact: admission@nuals.ac.in or 0484-2555990.
B.A.LL.B. fee at NUALS is INR 2,65,670 in Year 1 and INR 2,46,100 per year from Years 2 to 5 (general quota). NRI fee is INR 5,83,225 per year for all 5 years. Hostel fee is up to INR 74,500 per year for both boys and girls hostels.
The fees mentioned above are subject to revision and have been included for reference. Contact the college or visit nuals.ac.in for exact fee details.
Key Insight: With only 60 BA LLB seats, NUALS typically admits candidates in the top 400 to 600 CLAT rank range for general category All India seats, though the exact cutoff shifts each year based on candidate preferences. Kerala candidates who qualify under the state-specific EWS or SEBC quota face lower competition than the All India pool. Candidates who qualify for the Kerala EWS supplementary seats (6 additional seats) should submit the EWS certificate from Kerala at the time of CLAT Consortium counselling to claim priority.
NUALS LL.M. Admission 2026
NUALS offers a 1-year LL.M. programme with a total intake of 60 seats across three specialisations: Constitutional and Administrative Law, International Trade Law, and Public Policy and Governance. An Executive LL.M. programme is also available. Admission to the regular LL.M. is through CLAT-PG scores.
NUALS LL.M. Admission Dates 2026
| Event | Date | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| CLAT-PG 2025 Registration Opens | August 1, 2025 | Online - consortiumofnlus.ac.in |
| CLAT-PG 2025 Registration Closes | October 31, 2025 | Online |
| CLAT-PG 2025 Exam | December 7, 2025 | Offline - pen-and-paper |
| CLAT-PG 2025 Result | December 16, 2025 | Online |
| NUALS LL.M. Provisional Rank List (Vacant Seats) | As announced on nuals.ac.in | NUALS official website |
NUALS LL.M. Eligibility Criteria
| Programme | Eligibility Criteria | Selection Basis |
|---|---|---|
| LL.M. (Constitutional and Administrative Law, International Trade Law, Public Policy and Governance) | LL.B. (3-year or 5-year integrated) with minimum 50% aggregate. SC/ST candidates require minimum 45%. | CLAT-PG rank. CLAT Consortium counselling, then NUALS vacant seat list. |
How to Apply for LL.M. at NUALS?
- Step 1: Register and appear for CLAT-PG on consortiumofnlus.ac.in.
- Step 2: After CLAT-PG result, fill NUALS and preferred specialisation during Consortium LL.M. counselling.
- Step 3: If not allotted through Consortium rounds, monitor nuals.ac.in for college-level provisional rank lists for vacant seats.
- Step 4: Contact NUALS at admission@nuals.ac.in or 0484-2555990 for direct application to vacant seats.
LL.M. fee at NUALS is INR 1,93,070 per year (general quota) for Constitutional and Administrative Law, International Trade Law, and Public Policy and Governance specialisations.
The fees mentioned above are subject to revision and have been included for reference. Contact the college or visit nuals.ac.in for exact fee details.
NUALS Scholarships
NUALS students are eligible for central and Kerala state government scholarship schemes based on category and family income.
- Post-Matric Scholarship (SC/ST - Central): Available for SC/ST students. Apply via the National Scholarship Portal at scholarships.gov.in.
- Kerala Government Scholarships: State-specific scholarships for OBC/SEBC, SC, and ST students domiciled in Kerala. Apply through the Kerala Scholarship Portal after admission.
- EWS Scholarship (Central and State): Candidates admitted under the EWS category may be eligible for income-based fee concessions. Verify eligibility at the time of admission with NUALS finance office.
- Bar Council of India Scholarships: BCI merit-based and need-based scholarships are available for law students. Check the BCI official portal for current-year details.
NUALS Admission FAQs
Ques. How many seats does NUALS offer for B.A.LL.B.?
Ans. NUALS offers 60 seats per batch for the B.A.LL.B. (Hons.) 5-year programme. This is one of the smallest intakes among all National Law Universities, making NUALS admission very competitive. An additional 10 seats exist for EWS (6), Transgender (2), and J&K migrant (2) Kerala-specific categories.
Ques. What CLAT rank is required for NUALS Ernakulam?
Ans. With only 60 general seats, NUALS typically admits candidates in the top few hundred CLAT ranks for All India category seats. The exact cutoff shifts each year based on candidate preferences. For confirmed round-wise allotment data from CLAT 2026, refer to consortiumofnlus.ac.in or the NUALS website.
Ques. Is there a management quota or direct admission at NUALS?
Ans. No. NUALS Ernakulam does not have a management quota or any direct admission route. All 60 B.A.LL.B. seats and all LL.M. seats are filled through CLAT Consortium scores. No separate institutional entrance exam or interview is conducted.
Ques. What is the minimum percentage for NUALS B.A.LL.B. admission?
Ans. General and OBC candidates need a minimum of 45% in 10+2. SC and ST candidates need minimum 40%. SEBC candidates need minimum 42%. A valid CLAT-UG rank is required for all categories in addition to the percentage criterion.
Ques. What are the LL.M. specialisations at NUALS?
Ans. NUALS offers the 1-year LL.M. in three specialisations: Constitutional and Administrative Law, International Trade Law, and Public Policy and Governance. The total LL.M. intake is 60 seats across all three specialisations. Admission is through CLAT-PG scores.
Ques. What is the total fee for B.A.LL.B. at NUALS Ernakulam?
Ans. B.A.LL.B. fee at NUALS is INR 2,65,670 in Year 1 and INR 2,46,100 per year from Years 2 to 5 for general category candidates. NRI fee is INR 5,83,225 per year across all 5 years. Hostel fee is up to INR 74,500 per year. Fees are subject to revision.
Ques. Are there reserved seats for Kerala residents at NUALS?
Ans. Yes. NUALS has Kerala-specific reserved seats. These include 6 additional EWS seats for General Category Kerala candidates, 2 seats for Transgender candidates from Kerala, and 2 seats for J&K migrants. SC/ST/OBC reservation also follows Kerala government norms within the main 60-seat pool.
Ques. Does NUALS offer a PhD in Law?
Ans. Yes. NUALS offers a Doctor of Philosophy in Law (Ph.D.) programme. An Integrated LL.M.-Ph.D. programme is also available. Admission to these programmes is conducted separately from CLAT. Check nuals.ac.in for the PhD admission notification and schedule for the current year.
Ques. How do I apply for NUALS LL.M. through CLAT-PG?
Ans. Register for CLAT-PG on consortiumofnlus.ac.in during the registration window (typically August to October). Appear for the exam in December. After the result, fill NUALS as a preference in CLAT-PG counselling. If seats remain after Consortium rounds, apply directly through NUALS for the vacant seat provisional rank list published on nuals.ac.in.
Ques. Can final-year law students apply for NUALS LL.M. admission?
Ans. Yes. Final-year LL.B. students are eligible to register for CLAT-PG and apply for LL.M. admission at NUALS. They must submit proof of passing the LL.B. with the required minimum percentage at the time of document verification after allotment.
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