NLSAT 2027 on April 25: NLSIU applications open next month

By TUF News Desk · Published 12 October 2026 · 3 min read

Fact-checked against 2+ independent sources · Editorial policy

The National Law School of India University has put the 2027 admission season on the calendar. In a notification issued on October 9, 2026, NLSIU Bengaluru announced that the National Law School Admission Test (NLSAT) 2027 will be held on Sunday, April 25, 2027.

The test decides admission to the university’s 2027-28 intake. Applications open in November 2026 on the official NLSIU website. The exam will be held offline at centres across India, and classes for the new batch are scheduled to begin on July 1, 2027.

The dates that matter

• Admission notification released: October 9, 2026
• Online applications open: November 2026
• Last date to apply (three-year LLB Honours and MPP): March 23, 2027
• NLSAT 2027 examination: Sunday, April 25, 2027
• Final admission lists (LLB and MPP): expected by end of May 2027
• Academic session begins: July 1, 2027

Programmes and seats

NLSAT 2027 is the entry route for four programme groups. The three-year BA (Honours) is an undergraduate programme with the option of an additional research-focused fourth year. The three-year LLB (Honours) is a postgraduate professional degree open to graduates from any discipline. The two-year Master’s Programme in Public Policy brings together public policy, social sciences and law. Doctoral research is offered in law and in social sciences, humanities and public policy.

The announced intake is up to 60 seats in the BA (Honours), 120 seats in the three-year LLB (Honours) and 60 seats in the MPP. PhD intake is eight seats in all: four in law and four across the other disciplines.

How to apply

Applications are submitted online through the NLSIU admissions portal once the November window opens. Candidates need to pick their programme, fill in the form and upload the required documents. Our admission documents checklist covers the scans most Indian universities ask for, so it is worth getting those ready before the portal goes live.

The March 23, 2027 deadline applies to the LLB (Honours) and MPP programmes. NLSIU has advised applicants to read the programme-specific notifications before applying, since eligibility criteria and document requirements differ by course. Applying early in the window beats filling the form in the last week, when server traffic and small document errors cause the most trouble.

NLSAT is NLSIU’s own entrance test, separate from the other national law exams. It has been the admission route to these programmes for several years, and the April 2027 date gives candidates roughly five months of preparation time from the start of the application window. The notification also means aspirants planning for the 2027-28 cycle can now fix their exam calendar around it.

Frequently asked questions

When is NLSAT 2027?

The exam is scheduled for Sunday, April 25, 2027. It will be conducted offline at test centres across India.

When do applications open?

In November 2026, on the official NLSIU website. The university has not announced an exact opening date yet.

What is the last date to apply?

March 23, 2027, for the three-year LLB (Honours) and MPP programmes. Candidates should check the notifications for their chosen programme for the exact deadlines.

Which programmes does NLSAT 2027 cover?

The BA (Honours), the three-year LLB (Honours), the Master’s Programme in Public Policy and the PhD programmes. Final admission lists for the LLB and MPP programmes are expected by the end of May 2027.

Frequently asked questions

Sources: The Times of India, Deccan Herald, Careers360