The CLAT NLU preference list is the ordered list of National Law Universities that candidates submit during counselling to indicate where they want to seek admission. The CLAT 2027 participating universities information list includes 26 NLUs along with IIULER Goa, and includes GNLU Silvassa Campus as a separate campus.
The Consortium's CLAT 2027 UG instructions refer to 26 NLUs. Candidates should rely on the latest Consortium counselling notification. During counselling, seat allotment is based on factors such as CLAT rank, category, submitted preferences, seat availability, and the applicable counselling rules.
Candidates preparing for counselling should check the NLU preference order, previous-year NLU cutoff trends, counselling schedule, and seat allotment process before submitting their choices. Arranging NLUs according to Dream, Realistic, and Safe options can help candidates create a preference list based on rank, category, course, and actual choices.
The CLAT 2027 participating universities information lists 26 NLUs along with IIULER Goa and includes GNLU Silvassa Campus separately.
The list includes NLSIU Bengaluru, NALSAR Hyderabad, NLIU Bhopal, WBNUJS Kolkata, NLU Jodhpur, HNLU Raipur, GNLU Gandhinagar, GNLU Silvassa, RMLNLU Lucknow, RGNUL Patiala, Punjab, CNLU Patna, NUALS Kochi, NLUO Odisha, NUSRL Ranchi, NLUJA Assam, DSNLU Visakhapatnam, TNNLU Tiruchirappalli, MNLU Mumbai, MNLU Nagpur, MNLU Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, HPNLU Shimla, DNLU Jabalpur, DBRANLU Haryana, NLUT Agartala, RPNLU Prayagraj, IIULER Goa, and NLU Meghalaya.
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The CLAT 2027 counselling process is expected to take place in December 2026 and January 2027, according to the official CLAT 2027 FAQ. The Consortium has not yet published the complete counselling calendar with registration, preference submission, and allotment dates.
|
Counselling Event |
CLAT 2027 Status |
|
Counselling Registration |
Expected in December 2026 |
|
Preference Submission |
To be announced |
|
First Allotment List |
To be announced |
|
Subsequent Allotment Lists |
To be announced |
|
Counselling Period |
December 2026/January 2027 |
|
Final Round |
To be announced |
The CLAT NLU preference list is the ordered list of NLUs submitted by candidates during counselling. Candidates are considered for seat allotment only among institutions included in their submitted preferences, subject to applicable counselling rules and seat availability.
The order matters because the counselling process considers the preferences submitted by the candidate along with rank, category, and seat availability. Therefore, an NLU that you genuinely prefer should be placed above another NLU that you would choose only if the higher option is unavailable.
Candidates should not create the list only by copying a ranking table. Your CLAT rank, category, course preference, domicile eligibility, and location requirements can produce a different NLU preference order from another candidate with the same examination score.
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Candidates looking for how to fill NLU preference list can follow the counselling instructions issued by the Consortium after CLAT 2027 results.
Log in to the official CLAT website using your CLAT credentials after receiving a counselling invitation.
Pay the counselling registration fee specified in the official CLAT 2027 counselling instructions.
The CLAT 2026 process requires ₹30,000 for General category candidates and ₹20,000 for candidates from SC/ST/OBC/BC/EWS/PwD categories, but those amounts should not be treated as confirmed CLAT 2027 fees until the new instructions are released.
Go to the ‘Update NLU Preferences’ section when the option becomes available. Review the participating NLUs, programmes, and seat matrix before making your choices. The Consortium specifically advises candidates to review NLU brochures and seat information before submitting preferences.
Place the NLUs in the order in which you would actually prefer to join them. Do not place an institution higher merely because another website ranks it higher.
Check the complete list before submitting it. Confirm that the order reflects your actual preference and that no NLU has been placed higher or lower by mistake.
The CLAT 2026 counselling instructions required:
Candidates could provide more preferences. The Consortium also stated that candidates would be considered only for the NLUs included in their submitted preferences.
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The tier-wise NLU list CLAT candidates can use for preference filling is a strategy-based classification rather than an official Consortium ranking. NIRF 2025 provides one objective reference point, while previous CLAT cutoffs indicate the level of competition for individual institutions.
The Tier 1 institutions listed below have historically attracted strong demand. NIRF 2025 ranked NLSIU Bengaluru first, NALSAR Hyderabad third, WBNUJS Kolkata fourth, and GNLU Gandhinagar fifth in the Law category.
|
NLU |
NIRF Rank 2025 |
|
1 |
|
|
3 |
|
|
4 |
|
|
5 |
|
|
27 |
|
|
Not in NIRF 2025 Law top 40 |
Tier 2 can include established NLUs that candidates may consider after their preferred higher-ranked institutions. Previous CLAT cutoff trends can help candidates assess realistic options.
|
NLU |
Use in Preference Planning |
|
RMLNLU Lucknow |
Consider according to rank, category, and domicile |
|
HNLU Raipur |
Consider according to previous cutoff trends |
|
NUALS Kochi |
Consider according to rank and programme |
|
NLUO Odisha |
Consider according to rank, category, and course |
|
RGNUL Patiala, Punjab |
Consider according to previous cutoff trends |
|
CNLU Patna |
Check category and domicile provisions |
|
NUSRL Ranchi |
Consider according to previous cutoff trends |
|
MNLU Mumbai |
Consider according to rank, category, and programme |
Tier 3 can include newer or comparatively less sought-after NLUs and should not be treated as an official classification. Institutions such as MNLU Nagpur, MNLU Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, DSNLU Visakhapatnam, NLUJA Assam, and other participating NLUs can be considered according to your rank, category, course preference, and willingness to join.
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The NLU cutoff 2026 is useful for CLAT 2027 preference planning, but the data is historical. CLAT 2027 cutoffs do not exist yet because the CLAT 2027 examination is scheduled for December 6, 2026.
When comparing previous cutoffs, check:
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There is no single best NLU for CLAT rank because the appropriate choice depends on your rank, category, course preference, domicile eligibility, location, and the institutions you are actually willing to join.
A candidate with a strong rank can place highly preferred institutions first and then add realistic alternatives. A candidate with a higher numerical rank should expand the list to include NLUs where previous closing ranks provide a reasonable possibility of admission.
Build the list around your own admission position rather than another candidate's preference order.
Candidates can divide the CLAT NLU preference list into three layers according to CLAT rank and previous cutoff trends.
Select 2–4 NLUs where previous closing ranks were better than your expected admission position. Keep the institutions high if you would genuinely prefer them because later-round movement can change allotment possibilities.
Add 6–8 institutions where your rank is closer to previous closing-rank ranges. Consider your category, domicile, and programme while arranging the order.
Include suitable options where your rank provides a stronger possibility based on previous cutoff trends. A safe choice does not guarantee admission; the purpose is to provide additional options that you would genuinely accept.
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During the CLAT counselling rounds 2026, candidates could use Float, Freeze, and Exit options subject to the rules of the counselling round. For CLAT 2027, the availability and rules for Float/Freeze/Exit will be as per official 2027 counselling instructions.
|
Option |
Meaning |
|
Float |
Retain the current seat while remaining eligible for a higher-preference NLU in a subsequent round, subject to the counselling rules. |
|
Freeze |
Accept the allotted seat and opt out of further counselling rounds. |
|
Exit |
Withdraw from the counselling process. |
The CLAT 2026 counselling instructions provided for these options, but their availability, round-wise conditions, and deadlines can differ between counselling cycles.
Do not restrict your list to only a few institutions. Include every participating NLU that you would genuinely be willing to join, subject to the number of preferences permitted under the CLAT 2027 counselling instructions.
Check home-state, domicile, and category provisions before finalising the CLAT NLU preference list. Reservation policies and seat break-ups can differ across NLUs.
Another candidate's rank, category, course preference, and career goals may differ from yours. Copying an existing preference list can therefore produce an order that does not match your admission position.
NIRF ranking should not be the only consideration. Check the course, location, fees, seat category, and programme structure before placing an institution on the list.
Candidates preparing for CLAT counselling rounds 2027 can use the CLAT 2026 counselling process as a reference, but the 2027 counselling rules, deadlines, fees, number of rounds, and preference requirements should be taken from the official notification when released.
The CLAT 2027 currently places counselling in December 2026/January 2027.
Prepare your NLU order before counselling registration, review the seat matrix and NLU brochures, and monitor every allotment, confirmation, and payment deadline.
Before submitting the final CLAT NLU preference list, check the following:
The CLAT NLU preference list establishes the order in which your selected NLUs are considered during counselling and seat allotment. CLAT rank, category, seat availability, and preference order work together during the allotment process.
For CLAT 2027, prepare the list according to your own rank, category, course preference, domicile eligibility, and location requirements. Use NLU cutoff 2026 data only as a historical reference, review the tier-wise NLU list CLAT candidates can use for comparison, and include only institutions you would genuinely accept.
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