Difference Between 3 & 5-year LLB Courses: Which one to pursue?
Maharashtra Common Entrance Test - Law 2026 ( MHCET Law )
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Law aspirants are confused between 3 Year LLB and 5 Year LLB most times. Read further to know difference between 3 yr and 5 yr LLB courses along with their top colleges on this page. It will help candidates make an informed decision for their career.
Difference Between 3 & 5-year LLB courses, How to select
The 3-year LLB and 5-year LLB courses differ mainly in eligibility. The 3-year LLB is a postgraduate law course. It is meant for candidates who already hold a bachelor's degree in any stream. The 5-year LLB is an integrated law course. It combines an undergraduate degree with law. Students can join it right after Class 12. Popular options include BA LLB, BBA LLB, and BCom LLB. Both courses lead to a valid law degree. Both allow students to practice as advocates after completing the Bar Council exam. Students still get confused about 3 Year LLB vs 5 Year LLB: Which one is better?
The two courses also differ in duration and structure. The 3-year LLB has six semesters. It suits older students or those switching careers into law. The 5-year LLB has ten semesters. It blends core subjects like political science, economics, or commerce with legal studies. This gives students a broader academic base. Admission to both courses in Andhra Pradesh happens through law entrance exams. Career options after either course include litigation, corporate law, judiciary services, and legal consulting.
- 3 Year LLB vs 5 Year LLB: Introduction
- 3-year LLB course and 5-year LLB course: Why does Duration Differ
- List of law Colleges offering 5-year LLB courses with fees
- List of law colleges offering 3-year LLB course with fees
- Which is best: 3-year LLB or 5-year LLB?
- Top BCom LLB Colleges in India
3 Year LLB vs 5 Year LLB: Introduction
Law is a popular course, and many students are interested in learning more. However, choosing a degree is a difficult decision for law students. In our legal system, which forms the cornerstone of our democracy, the law is extremely vital. Bachelor of Legislative Law is known as LLB. An LLB can be completed in three or five years. A three-year LLB programme grants you a degree with a concentration in legal studies. However, a five-year LLB integrates law with commerce, science, engineering, humanities, and arts. You will learn more about the distinctions between 3- and 5-year LLB course curricula by reading this article.
Also Read: Judicial Service Exams: State-wise exam pattern, Syllabus, Eligibility Criteria, Prelims, Mains
Commonly asked questions
No, Maharashtra State CET Cell has not moved the MHCET Law to a two-attempt system. Although it is expected that the MH CET Law might be held twice in a year to match the national-level exam standards.
Following are the test centres for the MHCET Law exam are- Akola, Chandrapur, Amravati, Dhule, Ahmednagar, Gadchiroli, Aurangabad, Gondia, Beed, Hingoli, Bhandara, Jalgaon, Buldhana, Kolhapur, Latur, Kalyan, Dombivali, Mumbai, Nagpur, Mumbai – Suburban Western, Nanded Mumbai – Suburban Central, Nandurbar Nasik, Parbani, New Mumbai, Pune, Palghar, Ratnagiri, Sangli, Rasayani, Satara, Solapur, Shegaon, Thane, Sindudurga, Wardha, Washim Vasai -Virar Yavatmal.
Normalization process is an established practice for comparing candidate scores across multiple shift papers. There are possibilities of different level of difficulties in each shift for the same exam, however to tackle this scenario, the Normalization Method will be used to calculate the MH CET Law 3-year and 5-year LLB results.
Step 1: Candidates would be distributed into four sessions randomly so that each session has approximately equal number of candidates. Suppose: Session-1: Day-1 Batch 1 (D1-B1), Session-2: Day-1 Batch-2 (D1-B2), Session-3: Day-1 Batch 3 (D1-B3).
Step-2: The examination results for each session would be prepared in the form of Raw Scores.
Total Percentile (TP) = 100 X No. of candidates appeared from the session with raw score equal to or less than T1 score
Total No. of Candidates appeared for the session
Step-3: The Percentile scores for the Total Raw Score for all the four sessions (Session- 1: Day-1 Batch 1-1, Session-2: Day-1 batch-2 and Session-3: Day-1 Batch-3 as calculated in Step-2 above would be merged and shall be called the CET Percentile scores which will then be used for compilation of result.
The Percentile of all four sessions will be calculated separately for the total raw score.
Percentile scores are based on the relative performance of all those who appear for the examination. Basically, the marks obtained are transformed into a scale ranging from 100 to 0 for each session of examinees.
Basically, the Percentile Score indicates the percentage of candidates that have scored EQUAL TO OR BELOW (same or lower raw scores) that particular Percentile in that examination.
However, marks are the raw scores obtained in the examination by the candidates. Based on these raw scores/ marks, percentile score in the range of 0-100 is calculated to measure each candidates' performance without any bias due to different difficulty levels.
3-year LLB course and 5-year LLB course: Why does Duration Differ
The candidates need to understand the main difference between 5 Yr & 3 Yr LLB courses and the duration below. To help candidates to know which one to pursue, candidates must check all the points mentioned below.
3-year LLB Degree
For those who want to pursue careers in law, the Bachelor of Legislative Law (LLB) is a common option. The Bar Council of India regulates the 3-year LLB degree, which is a conventional legal programme provided by reputable Indian colleges and pursued after graduation. This is a summary of the three-year LLB programme
- Entrance Exams: Candidates can appear for various law entrance exams to pursue 3-year LLB courses. The most important law entrance exams are CLAT, PU LLB, MH CET Law, AILET and others. Candidates must note that the exam format for each exam is different.
- Qualifications: Candidates need to have graduated from a recognised university.
- Career Opportunities: Graduates can work in law firms, government agencies, corporations, non-governmental organisations, or as consultants, analysts, assistants, attorneys, or researchers.
3 Year LLB course fee is lower in most cases compared to 5 Year LLB course fees.
Also Read: How to clear CLAT 2027 in first attempt?
5-year LLB Course
When considering their options for a legal career, many students choose to pursue a Bachelor of Legislative Law (LLB). The five-year LLB degree is an integrated programme that combines legal education with undergraduate coursework. It is provided by prestigious colleges throughout India and is governed by the Bar Council of India (BCI). What you should know about the five-year LLB programme is as follows:
- Eligibility: Candidates must have earned a recognised board certification for their 10+2 coursework. The minimum scores needed can change.
- Curriculum: The five-year LLB programme consists of ten semesters of core law courses as well as undergraduate coursework.
- Career Opportunities: Graduates can work for governmental organisations, PSUs, law firms, corporations, or non-governmental organisations as attorneys, legal advisors, consultants, analysts, or assistants.
- Fees: Depending on the college, expenses can vary from INR 1 lakh to INR 8 lakh. Like Delhi University (DU) charges about INR 1.9 Lakh each year for a five-year LLB, which is approximately the same as many private colleges or NLU fees that are not financed by the central government.
- Top Colleges: Prestigious universities such as National Law School of India University, Bangalore; Faculty of Law, University of Delhi; Symbiosis Law School, Pune; and Indian Law Society's Law College, Pune are among those that provide the five-year LLB degree.
- Entrance Exam: The CLAT, AILET, and SET are typical entrance exams. Exam schedules and curricula vary.
- Benefits: A thorough legal education, a wide range of employment choices, and a greater comprehension of basic subjects are all offered by the five-year LLB programme.
Most exams do not have a 5-year LLB age limit.
Complete Guide - MHCET LAW CAP Round 2026
From registration, document verification to college preference filling and seat acceptance- understand every step.
List of law Colleges offering 5-year LLB courses with fees
Many colleges/ universities offer 5 Year integrated law programs. It includes NLUs as well as other government colleges. Private Law colleges also offer 5 Year integrated programs in law. Candidates can check list of colleges or universities offering 5 year LLB courses in India below:
The fee structure shared above may change over time. Candidates should confirm latest fee details by contacting respective universities/ colleges.
Commonly asked questions
To apply for MHCET Law exam, you must be an Indian citizen. For 5-year LLB, you need to pass 12th class from a recognised board. For 3-year LLB, you must have a graduation degree in any stream. There's no upper age limit. Candidates waiting for results can also apply for MHCET Law exam.
Yes, MHT CET Law exam is compulsory if you want admission to government or private law colleges in Maharashtra. Without MHT CET Law score, you can't get a seat through the state counseling process. It's required for both 3-year and 5-year LLB courses under Maharashtra's Common Entrance Test system.
There's no fixed qualifying mark, but scoring above 40% is generally safe. Admission depends on cutoff and category. Higher marks increase chances of getting better colleges.
The MHCET Law cutoff means the least marks you need to get admission in a law college. It keeps changing every year depending on exam level, total students, and seat numbers. If you score higher marks, your chance of getting top law colleges becomes much better.
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List of law colleges offering 3-year LLB course with fees
The top colleges that provide a 3-year LLB program in India consist of both public and private universities such as Government Law College, Mumbai, Delhi University, and NLSIU Bangalore. In order to pursue a 3-year LLB, one should have a graduate degree. Candidates can check the complete list of colleges that are offering 3-year LLB courses:
| College/ University Name | Course Fees |
|---|---|
| Delhi University | INR 6,80,000 |
| Banaras Hindu University | INR 11,400 |
| Jindal Global Law School | INR 31,03,000 |
| NLSIU Bengaluru | INR 2,07,000 |
| ILS Pune | INR 1,01,000 |
| GLC Mumbai | INR 20,600 |
| NLU Odisha | INR 70,000 |
| Allahabad University | INR 30,000 |
| SLS Pune | INR 8,03,000 |
| Panjab University | INR 6,02,000 |
| Osmania University | INR 1,01,000 |
| Tamil Nadu Ambedkar Law University | INR 1,03,000 |
The fee structure shared above may vary due to additional fees charged by universities/ colleges.
Which is best: 3-year LLB or 5-year LLB?
Even if duration, eligibility, and fees of the two courses have been compared, it is now critical to address the primary query: which course is better between 3 Year and 5 Year LLB? Although all courses are excellent and equally suitable, candidates suitability for them may differ depending on the situation.
5-year LLB course after Class 12?
A five-year LLB is a preferable choice if students want to practise law as a career from the beginning of their education. They will be introduced to the field of legal education right away. Additionally, because this is a dual degree programme, students can take two classes concurrently. Two degrees would only require five years of coursework, which typically takes six years to complete. Hence, a five-year LLB also saves one year of your education.
Also Read:
Commonly asked questions
Getting admission in Government Law College (GLC) Mumbai with 96 percentile in MHCET Law is possible but depends on the year's cut off. Usually, GLC cut off stays very high, often above 98 percentile for open category. Still, 96 percentile has fair chance in reserved or outside Maharashtra categories.
Yes, you can apply for the MH CET Law exam even if you don't have a CLAT score. MH CET Law is its own state-level test for getting admission into law colleges in Maharashtra for both 3-year and 5-year LLB courses. It doesn't depend on CLAT at all. You just need to pass 10+2 with 45% marks, and for SC/ST, it's 40%.
For MNLU Mumbai (CLAT), you usually need to be in the top 500–600 ranks, which is around 90–95+ marks out of 120 for General All India candidates. The closing rank often goes near 1473 by the third round. In MH CET Law, getting around 115–120+ marks is mostly safe if you're aiming for top law colleges in Maharashtra. The cutoff marks can change depending on your category and which MNLU campus you choose — Mumbai, Nagpur, or Aurangabad.
Modern Education Society's New Law College (NLC), Mumbai takes admission for the 3-year LLB course through the Maharashtra Law Common Entrance Test (MH CET Law). If you're from the general category, getting around 115+ marks gives you a strong chance of getting in. Even with 100+ marks, you still have a fair shot at admission depending on the cutoff that year.
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Top BCom LLB Colleges in India
Once you have decided which course you want to pursue, it is important to know the best BCom LLB colleges in the country. Candidates can check the top BCom LLB Colleges in India here
| Colleges/University | Approx Fees |
|---|---|
| National Law School of India University (NLSIU) | INR 18-20 Lakh |
| National Law University Delhi (NLU) | INR 12-15 Lakh |
| NALSAR University of Law | INR 16-18 Lakh |
| The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (WBNUJS) | INR 15-17 Lakh |
| Symbiosis Law School | INR 20-22 Lakh |
| UPES School of Law | INR 16-18 Lakh |
| ICFAI Law School Hyderabad | INR 10-12 Lakh |
| Bharati Vidyapeeth New Law College | INR 7-9 Lakh |
| NMIMS School of Law | INR 15-18 Lakh |
| Lloyd Law College | INR 7-9 Lakh |
Candidates should choose a 5-year integrated LLB program if they want to pursue law right after Class 12. 3-year LLB program is a better choice if you decide that you want to pursue law at a later stage after completing an undergraduate degree.
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered a week ago
The State CET Cell Maharashtra released the MH CET 3 Year LLB Round 3 alphabetical List on September 9, 2026. The authority published the 5 Year alphabetical list for CAP Round 3 2026 on September 8, 2026.
A
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 2 weeks ago
Yes, the Maharashtra State CET Cell also conducts this law entrance exam outside Maharashtra. Candidates can choose outside exam centres during application form filling.
A
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 2 weeks ago
Candidates can choose three exam centres in their MH CET Law exam application form.
A
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 2 weeks ago
The exam centre authorities do not allow candidates to carry water bottle inside the exam hall.
A
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 2 weeks ago
Candidates cannot enter MH CET Law exam cetre if they do not have their admit card with them. Admit card is a must for entry into exam hall.
A
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 2 weeks ago
Exam Centre authorities do not allow late-reporting candidates to enter exam hall. It is a strict rule that is followed at every test venue of MH CET Law exam.
A
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 2 weeks ago
The MHCET Law exam is held for 120 minutes. This exam duration is similar for both 3 Year and 5 Year LLB courses.
A
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 2 weeks ago
Candidates ideally need 4 to 6 months for the preparation of this exam.
A
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 2 weeks ago
It is important to check the MH CET 3-year LLB marks versus percentile. This is because college admissions are based strictly on your final percentile rank rather than your raw score.
A
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 3 weeks ago
MIT-WPU, Pune offers scholarships to BA LLB (Hons) students based on their MHCET Law scores. The scholarship is offered as follows:
Scholarships | MHCET Law Scores |
|---|---|
Dr. Vishwanath Karad Scholarship (100%) | 90 & Above |
MIT-WPU Scholarship I (50%) | 88 & Above |
MIT-WPU Scholarship II (25%) | 85 & Above |
N
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