In 1988, NLSIU launched India’s first 5-year integrated BA LLB (Hons) programme. The success of this programme has secured NLS’s legacy as the institution that radically disrupted legal education in India. Three decades after this bold experiment, NLSIU launched a new interdisciplinary 3-year LLB (Hons) Programme in 2022 which reimagines legal education for the 21st century.The 3-year LLB (Hons) is a postgraduate professional degree programme that is open to graduates from all disciplines. It is a qualifying degree for admission to legal practice. The programme meets all requirements of the Bar Council of India, and builds on top of that to deliver a rigorous legal education in keeping with NLSIU’s unique curricular and pedagogic approach. The programme is structured around interdisciplinary study of the law combined with experiential learning. The programme will bridge theory and practice. It is designed to produce lawyers who meet the challenges of the 21st century.The 3-year LLB (Hons) is a full-time programme. Admission to the programme is on the basis of all-India National entrance test (NLSAT-LLB). The Academic Year usually commences on July 1.Please note, 75% attendance is mandated for each course offered under the programme.

Our five-year integrated undergraduate B.A., LL.B. (Hons.) degree programme offers students training in a range of legal and non-legal subjects. NLSIU pioneered this five-year programme in India with the intention to provide a strong foundation upon which students can choose to pursue professional options or further academic opportunities. The first cohort of this programme was admitted in 1988.Admission to the B.A., LL.B. (Hons.) degree programme is purely on the basis of merit as assessed through a Common Law Admission Test conducted for the purpose. Classes usually begin on 1st July every year.

NLSIU pioneered and developed an integrated 5-year BA LLB (Hons.) degree that transformed Indian legal education. Several NLS graduates have pursued further degrees in humanities, social sciences, and business and then embarked on very successful careers in these fields.As NLSIU develops into a multi-disciplinary university, in line with national and State education policies, the BA programme draws on 35 years of experience in offering the integrated 5-year BA LLB (Hons.) programme. The NLS BA (Hons.) programme curriculum has been carefully designed by Faculty Teams and approved by the Governing Bodies in 2024 after extensive stakeholder consultations with eminent academics and practitioners from across the country’s top universities to provide their inputs and advice on the curriculum.Our faculty come from leading universities within India and beyond. We have faculty strength in the following areas:History: Modern South Asia, Urban History, Labour History, Global History, Post-independent India, Development and Planning, Indian National movement (19th and 20th century).Sociology & Anthropology: Social theory, Caste and tribe, Capitalisms, Development, Land politics, Cinema and popular culture, Religion, Urban anthropology, Ecology.Economics: Development economics, Environmental economics, Labour economics, Econometrics, Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, History of Economic Thought, Game Theory.Politics: Western Political thought, Tagore, Gandhi, Periyar and Indian political thought, Political economy, Urban politics, Land, Indigeneity, Political parties, The Indian State and democracy, Comparative Methods in Political Research.Our faculty have training in advanced quantitative and qualitative methods which they draw on for teaching and research. They have rich research agendas and publication records across law and the social sciences which will inform classroom teaching and learning.Institutional Preference: Students who successfully complete the NLS BA (Hons) programme will be eligible for institutional preference for admission into the 3-Year LLB (Hons) and MPP programmes at NLSIU.  Such students must meet the minimum eligibility norms for admission to the 3-Year LLB (Hons.) and the MPP programmes. Read more in our FAQs section of the page.

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 introduced 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 being offered since AY 2024-25 are:Public LawCriminal LawCommercial LawsLaw and TechnologyThe 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; andDissertation (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.

The two-year Master’s Programme in Public Policy (MPP) provides a comprehensive education for aspiring Public Policy professionals to constructively meet the challenges of complex public problems.Ouprogramme comprises relevant and contemporary perspectives from the Social Sciences, Humanities, multi-methods research, experiential and immersive field projects and internships. This enables participants to understand economic-social-political contexts and examine data-based evidence on government actions. Additionally, how governments function cannot be fully understood by looking only at data-based evidence and economic-socio-political contexts. Data helps to evaluate how governments act because data reflects government action. And laws help to assess how governments think. And therefore, Public Policy requires understanding administrative procedures, constitutional norms, and a case-based understanding of how governments think and act. The MPP programme at NLSIU is unique as the curriculum is bolstered by law related courses that aid the participants to assess how governments think.  This programme is distinctive because it is singularly poised to provide an exemplary foundation in the Law relevant to Public Policy.India is one of the fastest growing economies of the world, continuously faced with challenges of justice, inequity, exclusion, and progress. Public Policy practice in India over the past quarter century has dramatically transformed India’s governance. The study of public policy concerns how the State can respond to the new dynamic challenges that emerge in society. As every legislation requires clear policy formulation, there is demand for trained professionals who will be equipped to design, implement, and evaluate policies and programmes. We derive inspiration from our transformative Constitution while addressing the challenges of diverse national needs. The MPP degree will equip students with the knowledge and tools to meet such needs in the national and international fields.

There are two categories of PhD programmes at NLSIU: The PhD (Law) programme enables candidates to pursue advanced research in their chosen areas of law. On the other hand, the PhD (Social Sciences, Humanities and Public Policy) programme is designed for scholars from social sciences, humanities and public policy backgrounds who wish to conduct research that cuts across disciplines.​As a part of the programme, candidates are also provided an opportunity to teach or participate in ongoing research at NLSIU, in areas related to their dissertation, allowing for deeper integration with the NLSIU community and providing diverse feedback opportunities.Key features of the PhD programme at NLS:Doctoral candidates undertake a minimum of three years of research, including mandatory coursework spread over three trimestersEach scholar is supported by a Research Advisory Committee consisting of a supervisor and two other experts, and is expected to make periodic presentations on progress.​Doctoral fellowships available for select candidates.

There are two categories of PhD programmes at NLSIU: The PhD (Law) programme enables candidates to pursue advanced research in their chosen areas of law. On the other hand, the PhD (Social Sciences, Humanities and Public Policy) programme is designed for scholars from social sciences, humanities and public policy backgrounds who wish to conduct research that cuts across disciplines.​As a part of the programme, candidates are also provided an opportunity to teach or participate in ongoing research at NLSIU, in areas related to their dissertation, allowing for deeper integration with the NLSIU community, and providing diverse feedback opportunities.Key features of the PhD programme at NLS:Doctoral candidates undertake a minimum of three years of research, including mandatory coursework spread over three trimestersEach scholar is supported by a Research Advisory Committee consisting of a supervisor and two other experts, and is expected to make periodic presentations on progress.​Doctoral fellowships available for select candidates.