NUALS Kochi Admission Through CLAT: What Kerala Students Should Know
Updated 2 November 2026 by the faculty of Mentors Law Entrance Coaching Centre, Ernakulam. Rules can change every year – confirm in the official notification at consortiumofnlus.ac.in.
The National University of Advanced Legal Studies (NUALS) at Kalamassery, Kochi is Kerala's National Law University. Its 5-year BA LLB (Hons) admits students only through CLAT. For a Kerala student, NUALS has one big advantage: almost half its seats are reserved for Kerala domicile candidates.
Seats
| Quota | BA LLB seats |
|---|---|
| All-India merit | 31 |
| Kerala home state (domicile) | 29 |
| Total | 60 |
Reserved-category seats (SC, ST, EWS and Kerala SEBC communities) are filled within these quotas as per the counselling brochure.
Cut-off ranks
| Year / round | All-India general closing rank |
|---|---|
| CLAT 2026 – round 1 | 1,076 |
| CLAT 2026 – rounds 2 and 3 | 1,154 |
| CLAT 2025 – round 1 | 1,175 |
Kerala home-state seats close later than all-India seats. In CLAT 2025 the general home-state seats went up to a rank of about 1,750, compared with about 1,350 for all-India general. Reserved Kerala categories closed much further down the list.
What it means: a Kerala domicile student in the general category should aim for an all-India rank of roughly 1,500 or better to have a realistic chance at NUALS – and a better rank opens the older NLUs too.
Eligibility
- Class 12 with at least 45% (40% for SC/ST) – students writing Class 12 in 2027 can take CLAT 2027.
- No upper age limit for CLAT.
- For the home-state quota you must upload a valid Kerala domicile/nativity certificate during CLAT counselling – arrange it before the results in December.
Fees
NUALS lists an annual tuition fee of Rs 1,65,600 for the BA LLB (Hons), plus other annual fees (campus development, library, hostel and so on). SC/ST and other eligible communities get Government of Kerala concessions. Compare this with about Rs 1,575 annual tuition at a Government Law College through KLEE (fees).
NUALS, KLEE or both?
Write both. CLAT is in December and KLEE in June, so a student who misses NUALS still has a full shot at a Government Law College. The CLAT preparation – reading speed, legal reasoning, current affairs – carries straight over to KLEE.
Frequently asked questions
How many seats are there in NUALS Kochi for BA LLB?
60 seats: 31 all-India merit seats and 29 seats for Kerala domicile (home state) candidates.
What CLAT rank is needed for NUALS Kochi?
In CLAT 2026 the all-India general closing rank was 1,076 in round 1 and 1,154 in rounds 2–3. Kerala home-state general seats close later – about rank 1,750 in CLAT 2025.
Can I join NUALS through KLEE?
No. NUALS admits BA LLB students only through CLAT.
What is the fee at NUALS Kochi?
NUALS lists an annual tuition fee of Rs 1,65,600 for the BA LLB (Hons), plus other annual fees.