The National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru, will conduct the National Law School Admissions Test (NLSAT) 2027 on 25 April 2027 for admission to its B.A. (Hons.), three-year LL.B. (Hons.), Master’s Programme in Public Policy (MPP) and PhD programmes for the 2027–28 academic year. NLSIU has announced that application forms will be made available on its website in November 2026; the exact opening date has not yet been specified in the admission announcement.
For the B.A. (Hons.), three-year LL.B. (Hons.) and MPP programmes, the university’s programme pages list 23 March 2027, 11:59 PM, as the application deadline. PhD applicants should follow the separate research-programme notification for programme-specific requirements and dates.
NLSAT 2027: Key Highlights
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam name | National Law School Admissions Test (NLSAT) 2027 |
| Conducting institution | National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru |
| Academic year | 2027–28 |
| Application forms | Expected in November 2026; exact opening date not announced |
| Last date for BA, 3-year LLB and MPP applications | 23 March 2027, 11:59 PM |
| NLSAT 2027 exam date | 25 April 2027, Sunday |
| Exam mode | Offline, at designated test centres across India |
| Academic session begins | 1 July 2027 |
Programmes Offered Through NLSAT 2027
- B.A. (Hons.): Three years, with an optional fourth-year research track; 60 seats.
- Three-year LL.B. (Hons.): Postgraduate law degree for graduates; 120 seats.
- MPP: Two-year public-policy programme; 60 seats.
- PhD: Research admissions in Law and Social Sciences, Humanities and Public Policy; see the separate notice.
NLSAT 2027 Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| NLSAT 2027 admission announcement | 9 October 2026 |
| Application forms expected | November 2026 |
| Last date for BA (Hons.) application | 23 March 2027, 11:59 PM |
| Last date for three-year LL.B. (Hons.) application | 23 March 2027, 11:59 PM |
| Last date for MPP application | 23 March 2027, 11:59 PM |
| NLSAT 2027 | 25 April 2027 |
| Academic session begins | 1 July 2027 |
NLSAT 2027 Eligibility Criteria
B.A. (Hons.)
Applicants should have passed Class 12 or an equivalent higher-secondary qualification from a recognised board. The programme page specifies a minimum of 55% for General-category applicants and 45% for SC/ST applicants. Students appearing for their Class 12 examination in 2027 may apply provisionally, subject to meeting the qualifying requirements and submitting proof within the university’s stated timeline.
Three-year LL.B. (Hons.)
Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognised national or international university. The minimum aggregate is 45% for General-category applicants and 40% for SC/ST/OBC-NCL/PwD applicants. Final-year undergraduate students may apply provisionally, subject to completing the degree with the required marks and submitting proof by the university’s deadline.
Master’s Programme in Public Policy
Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognised university. The minimum aggregate is 45% for General-category applicants and 40% for SC/ST/OBC-NCL/PwD applicants. Final-year students may apply provisionally, subject to completing the qualifying degree within the prescribed timeline.
Eligibility conditions for PhD programmes are separate. Candidates applying for doctoral admission should use the relevant PhD notification rather than relying on the undergraduate or postgraduate criteria above.
NLSAT 2027 Exam Pattern
The programme-specific entrance papers use a two-part structure. The examination duration for the BA, three-year LLB and MPP tests is 150 minutes. The broad structure is summarised below; candidates should refer to the relevant programme page for the exact paper instructions.
| Programme | Part A | Part B |
|---|---|---|
| NLSAT-BA | 75 objective questions covering reading and comprehension, general awareness, critical reasoning and quantitative reasoning; 75 marks | Subjective short-answer and essay questions; 75 marks |
| NLSAT-LLB | 75 objective questions covering comprehension, current affairs/general awareness and critical reasoning; 75 marks | Subjective legal aptitude/reasoning responses and an analytical essay; 75 marks |
| NLSAT-MPP | 75 objective questions covering reading and comprehension, general awareness and critical reasoning; 75 marks | Subjective questions on policy and quantitative skills; 75 marks |
The programme pages specify a deduction of 0.25 marks for each wrong answer and each unanswered question in Part A. The test assesses comprehension, reasoning, analytical writing and programme-specific knowledge rather than only factual recall. The three-year LL.B. programme page states that prior knowledge of law is not expected for its legal aptitude/reasoning questions.
How to Apply for NLSAT 2027
- Visit the official NLSAT 2027 admission announcement.
- Open the programme page for B.A. (Hons.), three-year LL.B. (Hons.), MPP or PhD, depending on the course you want to pursue.
- Use the application link when NLSIU makes the November 2026 forms available.
- Read the programme-specific eligibility, document, fee and examination instructions.
- Complete the online application and payment through the official portal.
- Save the submitted application and payment confirmation for future reference.
Check NLSIU’s website for the exact opening date and live form. Use only the university’s application link.
Official NLSAT 2027 Links
- NLSIU NLSAT 2027 admission announcement
- B.A. (Hons.) programme and NLSAT-BA details
- Three-year LL.B. (Hons.) programme and NLSAT-LLB details
- MPP programme and NLSAT-MPP details
- NLSIU official website
FAQs
When will NLSAT 2027 be conducted?
NLSAT 2027 is scheduled for Sunday, 25 April 2027, at designated centres across India.
When will NLSAT 2027 applications open?
NLSIU has announced that the application forms will be available in November 2026. The exact opening date has not yet been specified in the admission announcement.
What is the last date to apply for NLSAT 2027?
The programme pages list 23 March 2027 at 11:59 PM as the deadline for the B.A. (Hons.), three-year LL.B. (Hons.) and MPP programmes. PhD applicants should check the separate research admission notification.
Can a final-year student apply for NLSAT 2027?
Final-year Class 12 students may apply for the B.A. (Hons.) programme, and final-year bachelor’s degree students may apply for the three-year LL.B. (Hons.) and MPP programmes, subject to completing the qualifying qualification with the required marks within the university’s deadline.
Last updated: 4 November 2026. Check the relevant NLSIU programme page for any revised eligibility, application or examination instructions.