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CNLU Patna Admission 2025: Eligibility, Dates & Selection Criteria
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Last updated on 25 Aug '25CNLU Patna AdmissionsWhat's new?
All the latest updates regarding CNLU Patna admissions are as follows:
- The CLAT 2026 applications are now closed for admission to the five-year Integrated LLB (UG) and one-year LLM courses. Further, the CLAT 2026 exam date is Dec 7, 2025.
- The XAT registration process 2026 is now open for MBA/PGDM courses. The last date to register is Dec 5, 2025. Furthermore, the XAT 2026 exam will be held on Jan 4, 2026.
- CNLU Patna Admission Overview 2025
- CNLU Patna Eligibility and Selection 2025
- CNLU Patna NIRF Insights 2025
- CNLU Patna Application Process 2025
- + 3 more items
Video stories
- Admission Process
- Courses & Fees
- Eligibility & Cut Offs
- Placements
- Highlights
CNLU Patna Admission Overview 2025
Chanakya National Law University admission process 2025 is entrance-based. Chanakya National Law University, popularly known as CNLU Patna, is a state-level university that is recognised by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and is also a member of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU). Currently, CNLU Patna offers BA LLB (Hons), BBA LLB (Hons), LLM, PhD, DPhil and LLD programmes in several specialisations of Law.
Commonly asked questions
Yes, Chanakya National Law University admissions are open for the academic year 2025. Candidates must appear for the entrance exams accepted by the university for admission in their preferred course. This is mainly CLAT. Candidates must achieve a valid aggregate in the CLAT exam. Additionally, they must ensure fulfilling the eligibility criteria required for admission in Chanakya National Law University.
Chanakya National Law University accepts the CLAT entrance exam for admission to its BA LLB (Hons) and BBA LLB (Hons) courses at the undergraduate level. CNLU Patna CLAT cutoff 2025 for Round 1 is out for different categories of students in the All India quota. The CLAT first round cutoff 2025 for BA LLB (Hons) and BBA LLB (Hons) programmes stood at 1278 and 1424, respectively. Candidates can refer to the table below to view the category-wise CLAT first round closing ranks for BA LLB (Hons) and BBA LLB (Hons) programmes under the AI quota:
| Category | BA LLB (Hons) | BBA LLB (Hons) |
|---|---|---|
| General | 1278 | 1424 |
| PWD | 29361 | 44258 |
CNLU Patna Eligibility and Selection 2025
All the courses offered by the Chanakya National Law University are recognised by the Bar Council of India (BCI). BA LLB is a flagship course that requires a valid score in CLAT for admission. The University was ranked 19 among all NLUs by the CLAT cut-off in 2019. Find below the eligibility and selection criteria for CNLU Patna courses:
| Courses | Eligibility | Selection |
|---|---|---|
|
Minimum 45% in Class 12
|
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|
LLB/ five-year integrated LLB from a recognised university with an aggregate of 50%
|
CLAT/ LLM Entrance Exam
|
|
|
Minimum 45% in Class 12
|
CLAT
|
|
|
PhD
|
Master’s degree in the relevant stream with an aggregate of 55% (50% for reserved category candidates)
|
PhD Entrance Test
|
Note: Candidates, who appeared for UGC NET/ JRF, should appear for PhD Entrance Test.
Commonly asked questions
Candidates are selected for admission in Chanakya National Law University based on their scores in the various entrance exams accepted by the university. The university mainly accepts the CLAT exam scores for admission in the courses offered. Other exams accepted by the university includes UGC NET/JRF.
The LLM course is offered by Chanakya National Law University (CNLU) for one year in duration. The course is all-inclusive, taking into consideration overall conceptions, knowledge, and principles regarding law and practices. The two-semester LLM course includes various subjects that would make the students capable enough to practice in the legal sector. In addition, the university provides the facilities for LLM courses at the postgraduate level. All applicants who apply to CNLU must pass the eligibility criteria and submit their application using the official website.
CNLU Patna Admission Process 2025
CNLU Patna offers admission to Indian as well as international students. Chanakya National Law University admissions are conducted through online and offline modes. Admission to DPhil and LLD programmes is merit-based, whereas admission to other programmes is entrance-based. Below mentioned are the course-wise details regarding Chanakya National Law University admissions:
Step 1: CNLU Patna Registration Process 2025
Candidates must register for CLAT and appear for the exam to get admission to UG and PG courses.
Step 2: CNLU Patna Selection Process 2025
- UG and LLM Courses: Admission to BA LLB (Hons), BBA LLB (Hons) and LLM programmes is based on CLAT scores. Final selection of students is based on the scores obtained in CLAT
- PhD Course: Admission to PhD programme is based on a PhD Entrance Test conducted by the University. The final selection of students is based on the entrance exam scores, followed by a Personal Interview (PI) and presentation round
- LLD and DPhil Courses: Admission to LLD and DPhil programmes is merit-based. The final selection of students is based on the scores obtained in the qualifying exam and their performance in the PI and presentation rounds.
Step 3: Admission Confirmation
For LLM admission, candidates must fill out a Google form before the deadline and pay INR 1.61 lakh through the ICICI Payment Gateway
Find below the admission process for the BA LLB programme at CNLU Patna:
CNLU Patna Fee 2025: Affordability & ROI
Chanakya National Law University fee includes different components, such as tuition fees, admission fees, other charges etc.
Coming to affordability, it is one of the causes why many leave a degree or a college. While the availability of financial aid has made education accessible but the terms and conditions required to become eligible for a student loan or a scholarship are often difficult. Find below the CNLU Patna fee along with the average package details for popular courses:
| Courses | Tuition Fees (Investment) | Average Package (Return) |
|---|---|---|
|
B.A. LLB
|
INR 5.7 lakh
|
INR 10.1 lakh
|
|
LLM
|
INR 1.1 lakh
|
INR 9 lakh
|
|
BBA LLB
|
INR 5.7 lakh
|
INR 10.1 lakh
|
Note: Candidates must note that this information is sourced from the official website of the institute/university-sanctioning body and is subject to change.
Refer to the following infographic to decide whether CNLU Patna is worth it:
CNLU Patna Seats 2025
Getting admission into law courses at CNLU Patna can be competitive as the number of seats is limited. Applicants are advised to maintain a good score on the entrance test so they can secure a seat at CNLU Patna law courses. Check out below the course-wise seats at Chanakya National Law University:
| Courses | Seats Intake |
|---|---|
|
B.A. LLB
|
69 |
|
LLM
|
60 |
|
BBA LLB
|
69 |
Note: Candidates must note that this information is sourced from the official website of the institute/university-sanctioning body and is subject to change.
Commonly asked questions On Admissions
Chanakya National Law University (CNLU) in Patna offers 120 seats for the B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) program. There are also 20 supernumerary seats per year. The seat intake is broken down by category as follows:
- Unreserved: 50%, 60 seats
- SCs of Bihar: 16%, 19 seats
- STs of Bihar: 1%, 1 seat
The total intake capacity for both undergraduate programs (B.B.A., LL.B. (Hons) and B.A., LL.B. (Hons) is 104 students, plus 16 for NRIs or NRIs sponsor
ed.
CLAT 2024 dates for admission to CNLU Patna are out. Students seeking admission to UG and PG courses offered at National Law Universities (NLUs) can apply for CLAT 2024 on or before Nov 3, 2023 since the applications are currently ongoing. Only students who fill out the application form as well as, pay the fee are issued admit cards to appear for CLAT exam 2024. Students can log in using their registered mobile number and password to update their preferences in CLAT 2024 application form.
Conducted in pen-and-paper mode, candidates have to attempt questions from English, Current Affairs and GK, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning and Quantitative Mathematics for UG course, and from Constitutional Law, and other law subjects like Jurisprudence, Torts, IPC, CrPC, CPC, Family Law, and IPR. For admission 2024 at CNLU Patna, the exam is scheduled for Dec 3, 2023.
Candidates who are willing to get into CNLU Patna for the one-year LLM or five-year LLB course must specific the desired course in the application form.
Below are the important dates regarding GNLU CLAT cut off 2024:
| Dates | Upcoming Events |
|---|---|
20 May '24 | CLAT Fourth Allotment List 2024 |
28 May '24 | CLAT Fifth Allotment List 2024 |
CNLU Patna BA LLB (Hons) Admission 2025
At the UG level, the University offers integrated programmes, namely BA LLB (Hons) The entire duration of the programmes is divided into ten semesters with each semester having a duration of six months. Candidates looking forward to practising law in India, are required to clear the All India Bar Exam (AIBE) that is conducted by BCI.
On clearing the AIBE exam, lawyers are awarded a ‘Certificate of Practice’ which is mandatory for practising the profession as an advocate in India. The seat intake of both the programmes is 60 students each. Admission to both courses is entrance-based, and candidates are shortlisted based on the scores obtained in the entrance exam. Eligibility criteria for both courses is given in the table below:
|
Course |
Eligibility Criteria |
|---|---|
|
BA LLB (Hons) |
Qualifying exam: CLAT Class 12 from a recognised board with an aggregate of 45% |
Eligibility Criteria
- 10+2 with 45% aggregate
- Accepting Exams: CLAT
Dates & Events
| Dates | Upcoming Events |
|---|---|
Nov '25 | CLAT 2026 Admit CardTentative |
7 Dec '25 | CLAT 2026 Exam Date |
| Dates | Past Events |
|---|---|
5 Nov '25 - 9 Nov '25 | CLAT 2026 Application Correction Window |
1 Aug '25 - 7 Nov '25 | CLAT 2026 online registrations |
30 Jun '23 | B.A. LL.B. application submission end date |
Commonly asked questions On B.A. LL.B. Admissions
The following is the most recent deadline for applying to Chanakya National Law University (CNLU), Patna's B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) program:
CLAT 2024 Round 3 Cutoff: 1285 is the cutoff for general All India category candidates enrolled in the BA LLB (Hons) programme.
The range of 2906–4173 rank 2 was the overall CLAT threshold.
Cutoff Trends for the Previous Year (2023):
Category: General: 623
Castes Scheduled: 7313
Tribe Scheduled: 20349 2.
Note that each NLU's reservation policy, the amount of available seats, and candidates taking the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) can all affect the cutoffs that apply each year. I suggest going to CNLU's official website for the most accurate and recent information.
Chanakya National Law University accepts CLAT score, followed by CLAT conselling process for admission to the BA LLB (Hons) programme. As per CNLU Patna cutoff 2023, the last round closing rank was 1541 for the BBA LLB (Hons) course for the General All India category students. In 2022 and 2021, the last round closing rank stood at 1407 and 1312 for the BA LLB (Hons) course.
To check out the past three years cutoff trend for CNLU BA LLB (Hons), candidates can refer to the table given below:
| Course | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) | 1312 | 1407 (R4) | 1541 |
To be eligible for admission to the B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) programme at Chanakya National Law University (CNLU) in Patna, you must:
Pass your 10+2 or equivalent exam with at least 45%
Pass the CLAT exam
Getting into CNLU depends on your performance in the CLAT exam and the online counseling that follows.
The minimum rank required for general category students for the 2023 CLAT Fifth Provisional Allotment List was:
BA LLB (Hons): 1314
BBA LLB (Hons): 1218
Some previous year's closing cut off scores for different categories are:
EBC-BR: 6707
SC-BR: 16834
ST-BR: 20349
General (PwD): 22294
CNLU Patna LLM Admission 2025
LLM is a one-year full-time programme offered at the PG level, which is divided into two semesters. The programme will cover subjects like Comparative Public Law, Banking Law, Securities Law, Corporate Laws and Management, among others. LLM admissions are entrance-based. The final selection of students is based on the entrance exam scores. Below are the eligibility criteria for the LLM programme:
Download now: LLM_Course at CNLU
Eligibility Criteria
- Undergraduate Degree with 50% aggregate
- Accepting Exams: CLAT
Dates & Events
| Dates | Upcoming Events |
|---|---|
Nov '25 | CLAT 2026 Admit CardTentative |
7 Dec '25 | CLAT 2026 Exam Date |
| Dates | Past Events |
|---|---|
5 Nov '25 - 9 Nov '25 | CLAT 2026 Application Correction Window |
1 Aug '25 - 7 Nov '25 | CLAT 2026 online registrations |
20 Jun '23 | LL.M. counseling date for admission |
Commonly asked questions On LL.M. Admissions
Yes, LLM programme is available at CNLU Patna. The LLM programme covers the subjects, such as Comparative Public Law, Banking Law, Securities Law, Corporate Laws and many more. LLM admissions are entrance-based. Th selection of students is based on the entrance exam scores.
CNLU Patna BBA LLB (Hons) Admission 2025
At the UG level, the University offers two five-year integrated programmes, namely BA LLB (Hons) and BBA LLB (Hons). The entire duration of both the programmes is divided into ten semesters with each semester having a duration of six months. Candidates looking forward to practising law in India, are required to clear the All India Bar Exam (AIBE) that is conducted by BCI.
On clearing the AIBE exam, lawyers are awarded a ‘Certificate of Practice’ which is mandatory for practising the profession as an advocate in India. The seat intake of both the programmes is 60 students each. Admission to both the courses is entrance-based, and candidates are shortlisted based on the scores obtained in the entrance exam. Eligibility criteria for both courses is given in the table below:
|
Course |
Eligibility Criteria |
|---|---|
|
BA LLB (Hons) |
Qualifying exam: CLAT Class 12 from a recognised board with an aggregate of 45% |
|
BBA LLB (Hons) |
Eligibility Criteria
- 10+2 with 45% aggregate
- Accepting Exams: CLAT
Dates & Events
| Dates | Upcoming Events |
|---|---|
Nov '25 | CLAT 2026 Admit CardTentative |
7 Dec '25 | CLAT 2026 Exam Date |
| Dates | Past Events |
|---|---|
5 Nov '25 - 9 Nov '25 | CLAT 2026 Application Correction Window |
1 Aug '25 - 7 Nov '25 | CLAT 2026 online registrations |
30 Jun '23 | BBA LL.B. application submission end date |
Commonly asked questions On BBA LL.B. Admissions
BA LLB and BBA LLB are flagship programmes ta CNLU Patna. To get admission in these courses, candidates must fulfill th eligibility criteria set by the institute:
Course | Eligibility Criteria |
|---|---|
BA LLB (Hons) | Entrance Exam: CLAT Class 12 from a recognised board with minimum aggregate of 45% |
BBA LLB (Hons) |
Chanakya National Law University (CNLU) in Patna has 120 seats for the B.B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) program.
The programme is full-time and lasts five years.
CNLU also has 104 seats for the B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) program, plus 16 seats for NRIs.
The university's acceptance rate is very low, with only 2–3% of applicants accepted for the CLAT and 0.5% for the AILET. CLAT is considered one of the most difficult entrance exams in India.
CNLU PatnaLL.D. Admissions 2026
CNLU Patna NIRF Insights 2025
The NIRF Student Diversity Report 2025 highlights the composition of students at CNLU Patna across the various UG and PG programmes offered by the university.
For the five-year integrated UG law course in the academic year 2023-24, CNLU had a total enrolment of 670 students. From this, there were 42% female students, reflecting a fair gender diversity, though male students continued to have a higher proportion in the same. The geographical diversity report represented 24% UG students coming from states outside Bihar, indicating that nearly one-fourth of the intake comes from beyond the home state, showcasing the university's ability to attract students nationally.
While at the PG level, for the one-year Law programme in the year 2023-24, the total student strength was 66. The gender representation was lower compared to the IG programme, with 35% female students in the batch. Additionally, geographic diversity was significantly limited at this level, with only 6% students from outside Bihar. This suggests that the PG courses mainly draw local candidates.
Overall, the report reflects moderate gender balance and geographic diversity.
| UG 5 years | 2024-25 |
|---|---|
| Total students | 666 |
% Female students | 48% |
| % Outside State Students | 35% |
Source : NIRF Report 2025| PG 1 years | 2024-25 |
|---|---|
| Total students | 66 |
| % Female students | 50% |
| % Outside State Students | 35% |
Source : NIRF Report 2025Explore popular similar colleges
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CNLU Patna Application Process 2025
The application process of CNLU Patna for DPhil, LLD and PhD programmes is conducted offline, whereas candidates applying to UG integrated and LLM programmes, can register online through the official website of CLAT. The application fee of LLD, DPhil and PhD programmes is INR 5,000. Below mentioned is the course-wise Chanakya National Law University application process:
Application process for BA LLB (Hons), BBA LLB (Hons) and LLM programmes:
Candidates applying for UG integrated and LLM programmes need to register online through the official website of CLAT. The application fee for CLAT for General category candidates is INR 4,000, and the fee for reserved category candidates is INR 3,500. Below is the application process for CLAT:
Step 1: Visit the official website of CLAT, www.consortiumofnlus.ac.in.
Step 2: Click on “Click Here” to fill out the registration form.
Step 3: Register by clicking on the register button.
Step 4: Fill out the application form by entering the required details.
Step 5: Submit the application form along with a passport-size photograph.
Step 6: Pay the CLAT application fee online via debit/ credit cards or net banking.
Application process for PhD, DPhil and LLD programmes:
Step 1: Visit the official website of the University, www.cnlu.ac.in.
Step 2: Download the respective application form under the “Courses” tab.
Step 3: Fill the application form and submit it to the University office along with a demand draft of Rs 5,000.
Documents required at the time of admission:
- Marksheet and certificate of Class 10 and Class 12
- Graduation degree and mark sheet (for LLM/ PhD/ DPhil/ LLD courses)
- Postgraduation degree and mark sheet (for PhD/ DPhil/ LLD courses)
- Character certificate
- Transfer certificate
- Migration certificate
- Caste certificate (if applicable)
- Entrance exam scorecard
Quick Links
|
Check out details regarding Chanakya National Law University placements |
Commonly asked questions On Application Process
CNLU Patna application process for DPhil, LLD and PhD programmes is conducted offline, whereas candidates applying to undergraduate integrated and LLM programmes, can register online on the official website of CLAT. The application fee of LLD, DPhil and PhD programmes is INR 5,000. For the latest information on application dates and forms, candidates are advised to visit the official website of CNLU Patna.
Chanakya National Law University (CNLU) in Patna has 120 seats for the B.B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) program.
The programme is full-time and lasts five years.
CNLU also has 104 seats for the B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) program, plus 16 seats for NRIs.
The university's acceptance rate is very low, with only 2–3% of applicants accepted for the CLAT and 0.5% for the AILET. CLAT is considered one of the most difficult entrance exams in India.
CNLU provides admission to the one-year LLM programme. All those who wish to seek LLM admission at CNLU for the academic session 2024-25 are expected to go through the following key dates of the admission process. The CLAT 2025 application, which is a must for LLM admissions, was made available on July 15, 2024. In the meantime, the last date to apply is October 15, 2024. CLAT 2025 is scheduled for December 1, 2024. The students who wish to join in this course must stay updated with the latest dates.
CNLU Patna Scholarships 2025
Chanakya National Law University offers scholarships under the Central Sector Scheme of Top Class Education to help students belonging to the OBC, EBC and DNT categories. For this scholarship. preference would be given to the OBC students while considering under the scheme.
|
Scholarships (For OBC,EBC, DNT) in case of: |
Eligibility |
|---|---|
| Economic Condition | OBC/EBC/DNT students have a total annual family income from all sources up to INR 2.50 lakh |
| Academic Performance | Top students in the inter-merit list based on the admission criteria |
| Female Students | 30% of slots allotted to the college shall be reserved for eligible female students as per the inter-merit |
| In the absence of Female Students | In the absence of female students, the slots may be transferred to eligible male students as per the inter-merit |
For information on scholarship amount, mode of payment, and eligibility, Download now: CNLU_Scholarships
Commonly asked questions On Admission
At CNLU Patna, scholarships available for the OBC/EBC/DNT students. Preference would be given to OBC students. The eligibility criteria is having total annual family income from all sources up to INR 2.50 lakh. This scholarhip is given under the scheme of Central Sector Scheme of Top Class Education for OBC, EBC and DNT Students.
To be eligible for the B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) degree programme at Chanakya National Law University (CNLU) in Patna, you must meet the following criteria:
Pass 10+2 or equivalent
Score at least 45% in the aggregate
Score at least 40% for SC/ST category
Pass CLAT
The programme is five years long. The selection criteria are entrance based. There is no upper age limit for the programme so. Don't worry about it
Recently, CNLU Patna cutoff 2024 is out for CLAT Round 3 Seat Allotment. NLU Patna admissions to BA LLB (Hons) and BBA LLB (Hons) at the UG level. Tabulated below is the closing rank of CNLU Patna for CLAT R3 for General category candidates belonging to All india Quota:
| Course | 2024 |
|---|---|
| B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) | 1285 |
CNLU PatnaStudents Ratings & Reviews
Placements2.8
Infrastructure3.4
Faculty & Course3.5
Campus Life3.7
Value for Money3.5
CNLU Patna Admission FAQs 2025
No, Chanakya National Law University, Patna is not under CUET. The university accepts scores of other national level law entrance exams for admission to the courses, such as CLAT. The university also accepts the UGC NET exam for admission in the PhD course.
CNLU Patna
Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 2 years ago
A
Beginner-Level 5
Answered 5 months ago
CNLU Patna which is one of the best institutes for law admissions has released its Round 1 seat allotment results recently. It accepts CLAT scores to offer courses such LLB for various specialisations. Considering the CNLU Patna cut off 2025 for the Round 1 seat allotment results, the cutoff for BA
N
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 9 months ago
With an EWS rank of 1,700 and an All India Rank (AIR) of 19,202 in the CLAT, it could be difficult to get accepted to Chanakya National Law University (CNLU), Patna. In prior years, the general category closing ranks for CNLU's BA LLB programme were about 1,285.
State reservation policies, however,
S
Contributor-Level 8
Answered 11 months ago
Yes, LPU offers scholarships every year based on academic performance, LPUNEST scores, and other criteria such as sports, cultural activities, and financial need. LPUNEST Scholarship has 2 chances, if you want to get better scholarship you can take the test again , the best scholarship anybody achie
A
Contributor-Level 7
Answered a year ago
The placement rate for LLM students has been consistently on the rise. However, this figure increased every year for LLM graduates from CNLU. The candidates may refer to the following table for more information:
Course | Placement Statistics (2021) | Placement Statistics (2022) | Placement Statistics (2023) |
|---|---|---|---|
LLM | - Total students: 56 - Students placed: 1 | - Total students: 57 - Students placed: 5 | - Total students: 61 - Students placed: 43 |
B
Contributor-Level 10
Content authored by:
Updated on Aug 25, 2025
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What is the criteria to get admission in CNLU Patna for BA LLB?