Master of Laws [L.L.M]

NUALS Kochi offers a one-year full-time LLM in three specializations: International Trade Law, Constitutional Law and Administrative Law, and Public Policy and Governance, each with 60 seats. An Executive LLM is also available. Regular LLM fees are INR 1,93,000. Admission is through CLAT PG 2026 via the Consortium of NLUs. NUALS is the only NLU in Kerala and was ranked 38th in NIRF Law 2024.

📋 Admission Status: Applications closed. The 2026-27 academic session commenced July 2026.

Key Points

• The International Trade Law specialization benefits from NUALS being located in Kochi, a major port city and home to the Cochin Special Economic Zone, giving students direct exposure to trade law practice.
• NUALS offers an Executive LLM at INR 4,72,000 for working legal professionals, separate from the regular CLAT PG-based intake.
• The 2025 batch achieved a median placement salary of INR 10.48 LPA, with Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas and S and R Associates among the recruiters.

NUALS LLM Fees 2026

NUALS Kochi LLM fees for 2026-27 are uniform across all three regular specializations. The Executive LLM carries a higher fee reflecting its professional cohort format.

• Hostel fee is INR 59,500 per year including mess, billed separately.
• Fees are subject to change. Verify with official sources before admission.

NUALS LLM Admission 2026

Important Dates

• Dates are per the Consortium of NLUs 2026-27 schedule.

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

• Candidates must hold an LLB, BA LLB, or equivalent law degree from a recognised university with a minimum of 55% aggregate marks (SC and ST: 50%).
• A valid CLAT PG 2026 score is mandatory for the regular specializations.
• The Executive LLM has separate eligibility conditions including legal work experience, as notified by NUALS each year.

Admission Process

• Register and appear for CLAT PG 2026 through the Consortium of NLUs portal.
• Participate in centralised counselling after CLAT PG results and fill preferences for NUALS Kochi.
• Select the preferred LLM specialization during the preference-filling round.
• Seat allotment is strictly merit-based on CLAT PG rank. The 2025 general category cutoff ranged between rank 1131 and 2114.
• Report with original documents and pay fees within the stipulated deadline to confirm the seat.
• Executive LLM admissions follow a separate notification issued directly by NUALS.

NUALS LLM vs Other Colleges

Here is how NUALS LLM compares with similar NLU LLM programmes on fees, entrance exams, cutoff, and placements.

✓ Opt for this if

• You want to specialise in International Trade Law in a port-city legal environment
• You are targeting Kerala High Court practice or South India law firms
• Your CLAT PG rank is around 1000 to 2500 in the general category

✗ Skip if

• You are targeting Delhi or Mumbai law firms where brand rank matters more
• You want a large campus placement batch with many firms visiting for LLM
• Your CLAT PG rank qualifies you for a top-5 NLU LLM

NUALS LLM Placement 2026

NUALS Kochi LLM placement for the 2025 batch shows 20 students placed with a median salary of INR 10,48,941 per annum and a highest offer of INR 18 LPA.

• Data is for the 2025 graduating batch as reported publicly.
• Not all eligible students participated in campus placements.

NUALS LLM Scholarships 2026

NUALS Kochi LLM students can access central and state government scholarship schemes based on category and financial need.

• Apply through the National Scholarship Portal at scholarships.gov.in.
• Fees are subject to change. Verify with official sources before admission.

NUALS LLM FAQs

Ques. What is the difference between the NUALS regular LLM and the Executive LLM?

Ans. The regular LLM is a full-time one-year programme for fresh law graduates admitted through CLAT PG, with three specializations: International Trade Law, Constitutional Law and Administrative Law, and Public Policy and Governance. The Executive LLM is for working legal professionals, has a different schedule and structure, and costs INR 4,72,000. Admission to the Executive LLM follows a separate notification from NUALS and is not routed through the CLAT Consortium.

Ques. Why is the NUALS LLM International Trade Law specialization considered distinctive?

Ans. NUALS is located in Ernakulam, Kochi, which houses one of India’s busiest international seaports and the Cochin Special Economic Zone. Students in the International Trade Law specialization get direct proximity to shipping law, customs disputes, trade finance, and cross-border arbitration. Very few Indian law schools combine this specialization with a campus in an active trade hub, making the practical exposure here stronger than at inland NLUs.

Ques. Can a three-year LLB graduate apply to NUALS LLM?

Ans. Yes. Both three-year LLB and five-year BA LLB graduates are eligible, as long as the qualifying degree is from a Bar Council of India-recognised university and the candidate has a minimum of 55% aggregate (50% for SC and ST). The CLAT PG is the common entrance route for both categories of candidates.

Ques. What firms recruit from NUALS Kochi LLM campus placements?

Ans. The 2025 batch saw recruiters that included Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas, S and R Associates, CMS IndusLaw, Argus Partners, Bharucha and Partners, Wadia Ghandy and Co., Lakshmikumaran and Sridharan Attorneys, and Tatva Legal. KPMG also hired from campus. The LLM placement count is smaller than for the BA LLB batch, so students should treat campus placement as one of several pathways alongside independent job applications.

Ques. Is the CLAT PG 2025 cutoff a reliable indicator for NUALS LLM 2026 admission?

Ans. The 2025 general category CLAT PG opening rank for NUALS LLM was 1131 and closing rank was 2114. For 2026, the cutoff may shift depending on the number of aspirants. Students with ranks between 1000 and 2500 in the general category should consider NUALS a realistic target, while noting that reserved-category cutoffs are at significantly higher rank numbers.

Ques. Does NUALS Kochi have a dedicated research and moot court culture for LLM students?

Ans. NUALS has a well-established moot court programme through its BA LLB stream, and LLM students can participate in national and international competitions as well. The university library holds over 13,900 volumes with access to legal databases, supporting research-intensive LLM coursework. NUALS also hosts seminars and workshops particularly relevant to the International Trade Law and Constitutional Law specializations.