CLAT PG 2027: apply by 31 October 2026; the exam is on 6 December 2026.
CLAT PG coachingThe short answer
NLSIU Bengaluru, NLU Delhi, NALSAR Hyderabad, WBNUJS Kolkata and GNLU Gandhinagar lead the official NIRF 2025 Law ranking. Most of them — along with MNLU Mumbai and RGNUL Patiala — admit LL.M. students through CLAT PG. NLU Delhi uses its own AILET, and Jindal Global Law School accepts JSAT LAW or a CLAT PG score. A one-year LL.M. at these NLUs costs from Rs 1,79,800 to Rs 5,06,400 for 2026-27, and what that figure includes varies a lot.
Rs 5,06,400. That is what NLSIU Bengaluru, India’s top-ranked law school, charges for one year of LL.M. in 2026-27, including off-campus housing. WBNUJS charges Rs 1,79,800, and its fee notice has no hostel line. Both sit in NIRF’s top five. If you are a final-year LL.B. student or a graduate shortlisting LL.M. colleges, rank alone will not tell you what you need to know.
The top law institutions in India (NIRF 2025)
The National Institutional Ranking Framework released its 2025 Law ranking on 4 September 2025. There is no 2026 edition yet, so this remains the latest official list.
| Rank | Institution | NIRF score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | NLSIU Bengaluru | 82.97 |
| 2 | National Law University, Delhi | 80.00 |
| 3 | NALSAR Hyderabad | 79.50 |
| 4 | WBNUJS Kolkata | 79.39 |
| 5 | GNLU Gandhinagar | 76.23 |
| 6 | IIT Kharagpur | 74.09 |
| 7 | Symbiosis Law School, Pune | 74.07 |
| 8 | Jamia Millia Islamia | 66.39 |
| 9 | Aligarh Muslim University | 65.82 |
| 10 | Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan | 65.36 |
A point worth repeating: NIRF ranks an institution’s law programmes overall, not the LL.M. specifically. A university can rank highly on undergraduate outcomes, research or faculty strength without that score telling you anything direct about its LL.M. teaching or specialisations. Use it to shortlist, not to decide. Our NLU ranking guide covers the NLUs in more detail.
Four of the top five — NLSIU, NALSAR, WBNUJS and GNLU — use the same entrance test for the LL.M. That shared entry point is why CLAT PG matters so much if you are applying to several NLUs.
LL.M. fees at top NLUs for 2026-27
Fees vary more than ranks suggest. This is what each university’s own notice states for the one-year LL.M., academic year 2026-27:
| College | NIRF 2025 | LL.M. fee | What it includes | Entrance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NLSIU Bengaluru | 1 | Rs 5,06,400 a year | Includes off-campus housing. Plus a one-time admission fee of Rs 13,900 and a refundable deposit of Rs 23,700. | CLAT PG |
| NLU Delhi | 2 | Not in a document we could verify | Check NLU Delhi’s LL.M. prospectus for the current fee. | AILET |
| NALSAR Hyderabad | 3 | Rs 2,15,000 (Rs 2,09,000 SC/ST) | Includes room rent, a Rs 40,000 mess advance and Rs 20,000 refundable deposits. | CLAT PG |
| WBNUJS Kolkata | 4 | Rs 1,79,800 | Includes a Rs 10,000 refundable deposit. The fee notice has no hostel line. | CLAT PG |
| GNLU Gandhinagar | 5 | Rs 2,62,200 | Includes hall of residence and mess. | CLAT PG |
| MNLU Mumbai | — | Rs 2,35,000 (Rs 2,10,500 Maharashtra domicile) | Excludes hostel and transport. | CLAT PG |
| RGNUL Patiala | — | Rs 2,46,000 | Includes a single-occupancy hostel room and a Rs 20,000 refundable deposit; plus a Rs 43,000 advance mess bill. | CLAT PG |
| Jindal Global Law School | — | Rs 5,00,000 tuition | Plus accommodation Rs 2,32,000, allied services Rs 1,53,000 and a Rs 50,000 refundable deposit. | JSAT LAW / CLAT PG |
NLSIU’s fee is the highest among the NLUs here, but it bundles housing, so a straight comparison with NALSAR or WBNUJS is misleading unless you account for what is included. Jindal’s total is well above any NLU on this list once accommodation and allied services are added.
During CLAT 2026 counselling, a counselling fee of Rs 30,000 (Rs 20,000 for reserved categories) and a confirmation fee of Rs 20,000 were paid and then adjusted against the university fee — advance payments, not extra charges. Plan your cash flow for counselling season around them. For undergraduate fees, see NLU fees in India.
An NLU LL.M. year costs Rs 1,79,800 to Rs 5,06,400. The exam that decides which seat you get costs Rs 20,000 to prepare for with Lawgic — live online, the same four faculty who run our CLAT batches, one flat fee.
See the CLAT PG courseHow each college admits LL.M. students
NLSIU, NALSAR, WBNUJS, GNLU, MNLU Mumbai and RGNUL admit LL.M. students through CLAT PG. One test, one application window, several NLUs.
NLU Delhi is the exception among the top-ranked NLUs: it runs its own AILET. AILET 2027 is on 13 December 2026, and applications close on 10 November 2026. If NLU Delhi is on your list, apply and prepare for it separately.
Jindal Global Law School asks for one entrance score — its own JSAT LAW or CLAT PG — which carries 70% weightage, plus a statement of purpose, academic documents and a CV.
CLAT 2027 PG is on 6 December 2026, 2:00–4:00 p.m., and applications close on 31 October 2026. What the paper tests is in our CLAT PG syllabus guide.
Find your route
Is the one-year LL.M. still valid?
This comes up often, and it needs context rather than a one-word answer.
In 2021, the Bar Council of India’s Legal Education (Post Graduate) Rules proposed discontinuing the one-year LL.M. In February 2021 the BCI told the Supreme Court the rules would not apply before the 2022-23 academic year, and we found no later notice bringing them into force.
Meanwhile, NLUs including NALSAR and MNLU Mumbai are admitting students to one-year LL.M. programmes for 2026-27. In practice the one-year LL.M. is still the operating format; keep an eye on official BCI notices if you enrol.
How to choose an LL.M. college
Rank is a starting point, not the answer
NIRF 2025 gives you a credible, official starting list, but it measures law programmes broadly. NALSAR (79.50) and WBNUJS (79.39) are almost level on score yet differ on fee, what the fee covers and campus life. Shortlist by rank; decide on the rest.
Compare the real cost, not the headline fee
NLSIU’s Rs 5,06,400 includes housing; MNLU Mumbai’s Rs 2,35,000 excludes hostel and transport; WBNUJS’s Rs 1,79,800 has no hostel line. Before comparing two colleges, line up what is bundled — tuition only, tuition plus mess, or tuition plus residence. Only then does a comparison mean anything.
Match the specialisation to your career
If you are aiming for academia, research or a particular area of practice, check each university’s LL.M. prospectus for its specialisations and faculty. We have not listed specialisations here because they change and need checking against each college’s current prospectus.
What to do before 31 October
- Shortlist and split by test: which colleges you will reach through CLAT PG, and which need AILET or JSAT LAW.
- Apply for CLAT PG by 31 October 2026 — and for AILET by 10 November if NLU Delhi is on your list.
- For Jindal, start your SOP and CV alongside test preparation.
- Budget for the counselling and confirmation fees, which are paid before the university fee.
- Prepare for 6 December — dates are in CLAT PG important dates, and one source per subject is in best CLAT PG books.
Your LL.M. seat is decided on 6 December
Lawgic’s CLAT PG course: live online classes, mocks reviewed with you and one-to-one mentorship, taught by the same four faculty who run our CLAT batches, led by co-founder Priyanka Dhillon. Rs 20,000 flat. Sit a free demo class first — or message us on WhatsApp.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the best LL.M. college in India?
By the official NIRF 2025 Law ranking, NLSIU Bengaluru is first (score 82.97), followed by NLU Delhi, NALSAR, WBNUJS and GNLU. NIRF ranks an institution’s law programmes overall, not the LL.M. alone, so also compare fees, what the fee includes and the entrance test.
Which entrance exam do most NLUs use for LL.M. admission?
CLAT PG. NLSIU, NALSAR, WBNUJS, GNLU, MNLU Mumbai and RGNUL all admit LL.M. students through it. NLU Delhi uses its own AILET, and Jindal Global Law School accepts JSAT LAW or a CLAT PG score.
What is the LL.M. fee at NLUs for 2026-27?
From each university’s own notice: NLSIU Rs 5,06,400 a year including housing, GNLU Rs 2,62,200, RGNUL Rs 2,46,000, MNLU Mumbai Rs 2,35,000, NALSAR Rs 2,15,000 and WBNUJS Rs 1,79,800. What each figure includes differs, so compare line by line.
When is CLAT PG 2027?
Sunday, 6 December 2026, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Applications close on 31 October 2026.
Is the one-year LL.M. still valid?
It is still being offered. The Bar Council of India’s 2021 rules proposed ending it, but the BCI told the Supreme Court they would not apply before 2022-23, and we found no later notice bringing them into force. NALSAR and MNLU Mumbai are admitting to one-year LL.M. programmes for 2026-27.
Does NLU Delhi accept CLAT PG?
No. NLU Delhi admits LL.M. students through its own AILET. AILET 2027 is on 13 December 2026, and applications close on 10 November 2026.
How much does CLAT PG coaching cost at Lawgic?
Rs 20,000 flat for the full course, taught live online by the same four faculty who run our CLAT batches, led by co-founder Priyanka Dhillon. You can sit a free demo class first.
Sources
- Ministry of Education, NIRF India Rankings 2025 — Law (checked 24 October 2026).
- LL.M. fee notices for 2026-27 from each university’s own website, linked in the route finder above (checked 24 October 2026).
- Consortium of NLUs, CLAT 2027 press release; NLU Delhi AILET 2027 notification.
- One-year LL.M.: Bar Council of India Legal Education (Post Graduate) Rules, 2021; LiveLaw report of the BCI’s statement to the Supreme Court, 11 February 2021.
