![Himachal Pradesh National Law University - [HPNLU]](https://img.collegedunia.com/public/college_data/images/logos/1703939318Screenshotfrom20231230175825.png?h=71.7&w=71.7&mode=stretch)
Himachal Pradesh National Law University (HPNLU), Shimla is a statutory National Law University established in 2016 under the Himachal Pradesh National Law University Act, 2016. It is a member of the Consortium of National Law Universities and admits students through the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) for all undergraduate and postgraduate law programmes. HPNLU is recognised by the Bar Council of India (BCI) and the University Grants Commission (UGC).
As per NIRF Law 2025, HPNLU Shimla is ranked 34 among law schools in India.
The campus is located in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, spread across 10 acres, with separate hostel facilities for boys and girls and a dedicated moot court hall.
- BA LLB (Hons.), 5-year integrated programme, 60 seats. Focuses on humanities and law.
- BBA LLB (Hons.), 5-year integrated programme, 60 seats. Focuses on business law and management.
- LLM, 1-year programme in four specialisations: Business Law, Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, and International Law. 80 total seats across specialisations.
- MBA (Corporate Law), 2-year programme.
- PhD (Law), Research programme.
The total fee for BA LLB and BBA LLB under the general quota is approximately INR 14.95 Lakhs over five years. LLM fees are INR 2,32,250 per year. MBA (Corporate Law) total fee is approximately INR 4.47 Lakhs over two years.
HPNLU offers need-based and merit-based fee waivers through government scholarship schemes. No internal merit scholarships are offered by the university.
The 2024 placement season saw a median salary of INR 10 LPA for UG graduates and INR 15 LPA for LLM graduates, with 88 students placed overall. Top recruiters include AZB and Partners, Khaitan and Co, and Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas.
HPNLU Admission Dates 2027
Admissions for the 2026 batch at HPNLU have concluded via CLAT December 2025. The next cycle (2027 batch) opens with CLAT registration expected around August to October 2026.
| Event | 2026 Batch (Concluded) |
|---|---|
| CLAT UG Registration | August 1 to October 31, 2025 |
| CLAT UG Exam | December 7, 2025 |
| CLAT UG Result | December 16, 2025 |
| Consortium Counselling | January to March 2026 (Tentative) |
| HPNLU General Closing Rank (Round 1) | 1824 |
The table below lists the current and upcoming admission timelines for each programme at HPNLU. Aspirants should check consortiumofnlus.ac.in and hpnlu.ac.in for official CLAT 2026 registration dates.
| Programme | Exam | Next Registration (Tentative) | Next Exam (Tentative) |
|---|---|---|---|
| BA LLB / BBA LLB | CLAT UG | August to October 2026 | December 2026 |
| LLM | CLAT PG | August to October 2026 | December 2026 |
| MBA (Corporate Law) | HPNLU Direct | Contact admissions office | As notified |
| PhD (Law) | HPNLU Direct | Contact admissions office | As notified |
HPNLU Courses and Fees
HPNLU Shimla offers five programme categories in law and management. The flagship five-year integrated BA LLB and BBA LLB programmes together account for 120 UG seats. Fees are charged on an annual basis with incremental increases each year.
| Course | Duration | Eligibility | Total Fee (General) | NRI Quota Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BA LLB (Hons.) | 5 years | 10+2 with min. 50% (45% for SC/ST), valid CLAT UG score | INR 14.95 Lakhs | INR 37.5 Lakhs |
| BBA LLB (Hons.) | 5 years | 10+2 with min. 50% (45% for SC/ST), valid CLAT UG score | INR 14.95 Lakhs | INR 37.5 Lakhs |
| LLM (Business / Constitutional / Criminal / International Law) | 1 year | LLB or equivalent with min. 50%, valid CLAT PG score | INR 2.32 Lakhs per year | Not applicable |
| MBA (Corporate Law) | 2 years | Graduation with min. 50%, valid management entrance score | INR 4.47 Lakhs | Not applicable |
| PhD (Law) | 3 to 5 years | LLM or equivalent, research proposal | INR 3.69 Lakhs (approx.) | Not applicable |
The hostel fee at HPNLU is up to INR 1,44,000 per year for both boys and girls hostels. The first-year general quota fee of INR 2,64,750 increases incrementally across all five years of the UG programme.
HPNLU Admission Process
BA LLB and BBA LLB Admission
All 120 UG seats at HPNLU are filled exclusively through CLAT UG merit and Consortium counselling. No direct or management quota admissions are available for these programmes.
- Eligibility: 10+2 from any stream with a minimum 50% aggregate. SC/ST candidates require 45%. Age limit is 20 years (22 for SC/ST/PwD).
- Final year 10+2 students may apply provisionally.
- CLAT UG merit rank is the sole selection criterion. The CLAT 2026 General category opening rank at HPNLU was 930 and closing rank was 1824 in Round 1.
- 25% of seats are reserved for Himachal Pradesh domicile candidates under the Home State quota, which typically carries a different cutoff band.
- NRI quota seats (limited) are processed directly by HPNLU at INR 7,50,000 per year, outside Consortium counselling.
- Selection stages: CLAT registration, admit card, exam, result, Consortium choice filling, allotment, reporting to HPNLU.
LLM Admission
LLM seats at HPNLU are filled through CLAT PG merit and Consortium counselling. Candidates must hold an LLB or equivalent degree with a minimum 50% aggregate. HPNLU offers LLM in Business Law, Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, and International Law. CLAT PG follows the same exam cycle as CLAT UG in December each year.
MBA and PhD Admission
The MBA (Corporate Law) and PhD programmes are admitted directly by HPNLU through a university-level selection process. MBA candidates require graduation with a valid management entrance score. PhD applicants must hold an LLM or equivalent degree and submit a research proposal. Aspirants should check hpnlu.ac.in for the notification dates for these programmes.
HPNLU Placements and Career Outcomes
HPNLU Shimla conducts campus placements for its BA LLB, BBA LLB, and LLM graduates. The 2024 placement season recorded a median package of INR 10 LPA for five-year UG graduates and INR 15 LPA for LLM graduates. A total of 88 students were placed during the 2024 cycle, as per NIRF reported data.
Top law firms recruiting from HPNLU include AZB and Partners, Khaitan and Co, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas, Fox Mandal and Co, and AG Law Chambers. Graduates also pursue careers in the judiciary, government legal services, corporate legal departments, and litigation.
| Metric | 2024 |
|---|---|
| UG (BA LLB / BBA LLB) Median Package | INR 10 LPA |
| LLM Median Package | INR 15 LPA |
| Total Students Placed | 88 |
| 3-Year Average Median Salary | INR 12.3 LPA |
HPNLU Rankings
HPNLU Shimla participates in the NIRF ranking framework. In the NIRF Law 2025 edition, HPNLU is ranked 34 among law schools in India.
| Ranking Body | Category | 2025 Rank |
|---|---|---|
| NIRF | Law | 34 |
HPNLU Scholarships
HPNLU Shimla does not offer institutional merit scholarships. Students may access government-funded scholarship schemes based on category and income criteria.
| Scholarship | Eligibility | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| National Scholarship Portal (NSP) Schemes | SC/ST/OBC/Minority/EWS students, parental income within prescribed limits | Tuition fee and maintenance allowance as per scheme norms |
| Himachal Pradesh State Scholarship | HP domicile students from SC/ST/OBC categories | Partial to full fee reimbursement per HP government norms |
| Consortium NLU Fee Waiver | Determined by CLAT Consortium on financial need basis | Partial fee relief, quantum varies by NLU |
Aspirants should apply through scholarships.gov.in for central schemes and the HP e-district portal for state schemes. Deadlines vary each academic year.
HPNLU Campus and Infrastructure
HPNLU Shimla is located in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, on a 10-acre campus. The campus has separate hostels for boys and girls, with a hostel fee of up to INR 1,44,000 per year. Key academic infrastructure includes a moot court hall, smart classrooms, a legal research library, and a computer centre.
Additional facilities include a cafeteria, sports complex, fitness centre, auditorium, Wi-Fi connectivity across campus, a bank ATM, and a transport facility. The moot court facility is central to practical legal training, hosting intra-university and inter-university moot competitions.
HPNLU vs HNLU Raipur vs MNLU Nagpur
Aspirants in the CLAT rank band around 1500 to 3000 often compare HPNLU Shimla with HNLU Raipur and MNLU Nagpur, as all three are mid-tier NLUs with similar CLAT cutoff ranges.
| Parameter | HPNLU Shimla | HNLU Raipur | MNLU Nagpur |
|---|---|---|---|
| Established | 2016 | 2003 | 2016 |
| NIRF Law Rank (2025) | 34 | 12 | Not ranked |
| BA LLB General Closing Rank (2026) | 1824 (Round 1) | Approx. 1200 | Approx. 2200 |
| Total UG Fee (5 years) | INR 14.95 Lakhs | INR 14 to 16 Lakhs approx. | INR 12 to 15 Lakhs approx. |
| UG Seats | 120 | 120 | 120 |
| UG Median Salary (2024) | INR 10 LPA | INR 12 LPA approx. | Data not publicly verified |
| Hostel | Yes (Boys and Girls) | Yes | Yes |
HNLU Raipur has a longer track record and a higher NIRF rank, making it the stronger pick for aspirants with a better CLAT rank. HPNLU Shimla offers the advantage of a scenic hill-station campus and a strong moot court culture. MNLU Nagpur is suitable for aspirants targeting Maharashtra-based legal careers. None of the three should be compared directly with higher-ranked NLUs such as NALSAR or NLU Delhi, which serve a different applicant tier.
HPNLU FAQs
Ques. What was the CLAT 2026 closing rank at HPNLU Shimla?
Ans. The CLAT UG 2026 General category closing rank at HPNLU Shimla was 1824 in Round 1, with an opening rank of 930. HP Home State quota seats carry a separate cutoff band.
Ques. Is HPNLU Shimla a National Law University?
Ans. Yes. HPNLU is a member of the Consortium of National Law Universities, established under the Himachal Pradesh National Law University Act, 2016. Admission to all UG and LLM programmes is through CLAT, the national law entrance test.
Ques. What is the total fee for BA LLB at HPNLU Shimla?
Ans. The total general quota fee for the five-year BA LLB (Hons.) at HPNLU is approximately INR 14.95 Lakhs, charged incrementally year by year. The first-year fee is INR 2,64,750. NRI quota fee is INR 7,50,000 per year.
Ques. What is the NIRF rank of HPNLU Shimla?
Ans. As per NIRF Law 2025, HPNLU Shimla is ranked 34 among law schools in India.
Ques. What is the placement record at HPNLU Shimla?
Ans. The 2024 placement season at HPNLU recorded a median salary of INR 10 LPA for BA LLB and BBA LLB graduates and INR 15 LPA for LLM graduates. A total of 88 students were placed. Top recruiters include AZB and Partners, Khaitan and Co, and Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas.
Ques. Does HPNLU have a hostel?
Ans. Yes. HPNLU Shimla has separate hostel facilities for boys and girls on campus. The hostel fee is up to INR 1,44,000 per year.
Ques. Is there a Home State quota at HPNLU?
Ans. Yes. 25% of all UG seats are reserved for candidates with Himachal Pradesh domicile under the Home State quota. These seats have a separate CLAT cutoff band and are filled through the same Consortium counselling process.
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HPNLU Shimla Courses are offered at UG, PG, Doctorate level. There are 10 courses offered at HPNLU Shimla. The courses are offered disciplines like Law, Management. HPNLU Shimla courses includes BALLB {Hons.}, L.L.M, BBALLB {Hons.}, MBA, Ph.D. Popular courses at HPNLU Shimla are BALLB {Hons.}, L.L.M, BBALLB {Hons.}. HPNLU Shimla Fees 2026-2027 is ? 2.32 Lakhs - 43.26 Lakhs across all offered courses. The UG Fees for HPNLU Shimla is INR 14.95 Lakhs. HPNLU Shimla PG Fees is INR 2.32 Lakhs - 4.47 Lakhs
The fee for the BALLB course is mentioned below:
The selection process in HPNLU is online. You can check here for the HPNLU Admission 2024
The overall cutoff for CLAT is 1856 - 1930 ranking for general category. Check here for the HPNLU CLAT cutoff 2023
You need to be a Graduate from a recognised university with a valid score in CLAT to pursue LLB at NLU, Shimala. For LLM, a LLB degree with a valid score in CLAT PG will be required.
The new batch for session 2023 will start from January last week 2023.