The application form for AILET 2027 will open in the first week of August 2026 but before that the AILET 2027 notification will come out. The application form opens with UG and PG courses; no separate exam is held for PhD.
We have given the details of NLU Delhi PhD Admission eligibility, application form schedule, course fee and application fee along with fellowship that a candidate deserves. You must also know that seats are limited so you must prepare accordingly to get the seat.
Age For NLU Delhi PhD Admission
There is no age limit for NLU Delhi PhD Admission
NLU Delhi PhD Admission Eligibility Criteria
Candidates seeking NLU Delhi PhD Admission at National Law University (NLU) Delhi through AILET 2027 must satisfy the prescribed academic requirements. The eligibility conditions differ according to the discipline and category of applicants.
Ph.D. in Law
A candidate is eligible for admission if he or she possesses a Master’s degree in Law (LL.M.) or an equivalent professional degree recognized by the relevant statutory authority, with at least 55% aggregate marks or an equivalent grade under the UGC grading system. Degrees obtained from accredited foreign universities are also accepted.
Applicants holding a degree in Law along with a Master’s degree in Social Sciences or Humanities from a recognized institution are also eligible, provided they have secured at least 55% marks. Such candidates may be admitted if their proposed research intersects with law, particularly in areas relating to Public Policy or Legal Studies.
Candidates belonging to SC, ST, OBC (Non-Creamy Layer), EWS, and PwD categories are entitled to a relaxation of 5%, reducing the minimum requirement from 55% to 50%. The same relaxation is available to candidates who obtained their Master’s degree before September 19, 1991. The qualifying percentage is calculated without including grace marks.
Other Eligible Categories For NLU Delhi PhD Admission
The following candidates are also eligible for Ph.D. in Law if their proposed research has an interface with legal studies:
- Candidates possessing a law degree and Associate Membership of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI).
- Candidates with a law degree who have passed the final examination of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI).
- Judges of any State High Court with at least three years of experience.
- Judges of the Supreme Court of India.
NLU Delhi PhD Admission in Social Sciences
NLU Delhi also offers Ph.D. programmes in disciplines such as Political Science, Sociology, Criminology, Economics, and English. Candidates must hold a Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree in the relevant subject from a recognized Indian or foreign institution with a minimum of 55% marks or an equivalent grade.
Reserved category candidates, including SC, ST, OBC-NCL, EWS, and PwD candidates, are eligible for a 5% relaxation, reducing the minimum requirement to 50%.
Eligibility for NLU Delhi Faculty Members
The Vice-Chancellor may permit faculty members of NLU Delhi to enroll in the Ph.D. programme alongside their teaching responsibilities, provided they fulfill all the requirements prescribed under the Ph.D. Regulations and their academic duties are not adversely affected.
Eligibility Criteria for Foreign Nationals
Admission Through Study in India Programme
Foreign nationals may apply through the Study in India Programme of the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. Applicants must demonstrate adequate proficiency in English. They are exempted from appearing for the Ph.D. entrance examination conducted by NLU Delhi. However, all other eligibility requirements applicable to Indian candidates remain applicable. The number of seats for foreign nationals is decided annually by the University.
Admission Through ICCR
Foreign candidates may also seek admission through the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR). Such applicants are exempted from the entrance examination and must satisfy all other eligibility conditions. Their fee structure will be the same as that applicable to Indian Ph.D. scholars.
For the purpose of admission, a foreign national is defined as a person who holds citizenship of a country other than India and possesses a valid passport. The Vice-Chancellor may grant an extension of up to two years for completion of admission formalities on a case-by-case basis.
Admission Through MoU-Based Foreign Universities
Candidates already enrolled in a NLU Delhi PhD Admission programme at a foreign university or institution having a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NLU Delhi may also register for the Ph.D. programme at NLU Delhi. Such candidates are exempted from the entrance test, provided they meet the minimum eligibility conditions.
In these cases, one supervisor will be appointed from NLU Delhi and another from the parent foreign institution. Registration will be approved by the Vice-Chancellor based on the recommendations of the Doctoral Committee. Candidates must visit NLU Delhi for the viva-voce examination to defend their thesis.
The fee structure will be governed by the terms of the MoU between NLU Delhi and the respective foreign institution. No separate Ph.D. degree from NLU Delhi will be awarded in such cases, although a joint degree may be conferred if provided under the agreement.
NLU Delhi PhD Admission Application Fee and Fee Structure
Entrance Examination Fee
| Category | Application Fee |
| General / OBC / EWS / Foreign Nationals / Kashmiri Migrants | ₹3,000 |
| SC / ST / Persons with Disabilities (PwD) | ₹1,000 |
| Below Poverty Line (BPL) Candidates of SC/ST Category | Exempted |
A) Fee Structure for Ph.D. Programme (Indian Nationals)
| Particulars | Full-Time | Part-Time |
| Registration Fee (At the Time of Admission) | ₹10,000 | ₹30,000 |
| Course Work/Tuition Fee (At the Time of Admission) | ₹50,000 | ₹1,50,000 |
| Annual Fee (Payable Every Year from the First Year Onwards) | ₹50,000 | ₹1,50,000 |
| Fee for Final Presentation/Evaluation (At the Time of Thesis Submission) | ₹50,000 | ₹50,000 |
| Library Security Deposit | ₹15,000 | ₹15,000 |
| Re-registration Fee (In Case of Deregistration) | ₹25,000 | ₹25,000 |
B) Fee Structure for Foreign Nationals
| Particulars | Amount |
| Registration Fee (At the Time of Admission) | |
| SAARC Countries Candidates | USD 2,500 |
| Non-SAARC Countries Candidates | USD 5,000 |
| Course Work Fee (At the Time of Admission) | |
| SAARC Countries Candidates | USD 2,500 |
| Non-SAARC Countries Candidates | USD 5,000 |
| Annual Fee (Every Year from the First Year Onwards) | USD 2,000 |
| Fee for Final Presentation/Evaluation (At the Time of Thesis Submission) | ₹50,000 |
| Library Security Deposit | ₹15,000 |
| Re-registration Fee (In Case of Deregistration) | ₹25,000 |
Note: For foreign nationals, the applicable INR conversion rate for USD-denominated fees will be notified by NLU Delhi at the time of fee payment and may vary from time to time.
NLU Delhi PhD Admission Entrance Test Pattern
Admission to the Ph.D. programme at National Law University (NLU) Delhi is conducted through the All India Entrance Test (AIET). The examination is aimed at assessing candidates’ research aptitude and knowledge of legal subjects. The AIET Exam 2027 will be conducted in a Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) format, with all questions carrying equal weightage.
The entrance test will comprise a total of 100 questions, each carrying one mark, making the total marks for the examination 100. The paper will be divided into two equal sections. The first section will contain 50 MCQs from Research Methodology, designed to evaluate candidates’ understanding of research techniques, methods, and academic writing. For candidates applying to the Ph.D. in Law programme, the remaining 50 MCQs will cover various branches of law, testing their conceptual and analytical knowledge of legal subjects.
AILET 2027 Ph.D. Exam Pattern
| Particulars | Details |
| Mode of Examination | Offline/MCQ-Based |
| Type of Questions | Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) |
| Total Questions | 100 |
| Marks per Question | 1 Mark |
| Total Marks | 100 |
| Research Methodology Questions | 50 |
| Law Subject Questions | 50 |
| Negative Marking | Yes |
| Marks Deducted for Incorrect Answer | 0.25 Mark |
| Marks for Unattempted Questions | 0 |
Negative Marking Scheme
The AILET 2027 follows a negative marking policy to discourage random guessing. For every incorrect answer, 0.25 marks will be deducted from the total score. Thus, four wrong answers will result in the deduction of one mark. No marks will be deducted for unanswered questions.
| Response Type | Marks Awarded |
| Correct Answer | +1 Mark |
| Incorrect Answer | –0.25 Mark |
| Unattempted Question | 0 Mark |
Exemption from AIET
Certain categories of candidates are exempted from appearing in the All India Entrance Test. These include:
- Candidates possessing a valid UGC/CSIR Junior Research Fellowship (JRF).
- Foreign Nationals applying for admission to the Ph.D. programme.
Such candidates are not required to appear for the entrance examination and will be considered for admission according to the provisions laid down in the Ph.D. Regulations of NLU Delhi.
Since the examination allocates equal weightage to Research Methodology and Law subjects, candidates should prepare both sections comprehensively. Maintaining accuracy is particularly important due to the presence of negative marking, making strategic question selection and careful answering essential for securing a high score in AILET 2027 Ph.D. admission.
NLU Delhi PhD Admission Fellowship
AILET 2027 Ph.D. Fellowships Research Scholar Programme
| Programme | No. of Fellowships | Broad Area of Research | Fellowship Details |
| IPR Chair Scholar Ph.D. (Law) | 1 | Intellectual Property Rights | For UGC/CSIR-JRF Qualified Candidates: ₹37,000 per month + annual contingency as per UGC norms for the 1st and 2nd years (JRF); ₹42,000 per month + annual contingency as per UGC norms for the 3rd, 4th, and 5th years (SRF). For UGC/CSIR-NET Qualified Candidates: ₹28,000 per month + HRA + annual contingency of ₹25,000 for the 1st and 2nd years (JRF); ₹32,000 per month + HRA + annual contingency of ₹25,000 for the 3rd, 4th, and 5th years (SRF). The fellowship is sponsored by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the SPRIHA Guidelines. Grants under this scheme are available only if UGC-CSIR-NET fellowship benefits are not being claimed. |
| Fellowship in Insolvency and Restructuring Studies Ph.D. (Law) | 1 | Insolvency and Restructuring Studies | For UGC/CSIR-JRF Qualified Candidates: ₹37,000 per month + annual contingency as per UGC norms for the 1st and 2nd years (JRF); ₹42,000 per month + annual contingency as per UGC norms for the 3rd, 4th, and 5th years (SRF). For UGC/CSIR-NET Qualified Candidates: ₹28,000 per month + HRA + annual contingency of ₹25,000 for the 1st and 2nd years (JRF); ₹32,000 per month + HRA + annual contingency of ₹25,000 for the 3rd, 4th, and 5th years (SRF). The fellowship grant under this scheme is admissible only if UGC-CSIR-NET fellowship benefits are not being availed. |
FAQs
Q1. What is AILET Ph.D. 2027?
AILET Ph.D. 2027 is the entrance process conducted by National Law University (NLU) Delhi for admission to its doctoral programmes in Law and selected Social Science disciplines.
Q2. Who conducts the AILET Ph.D. entrance examination?
The All India Entrance Test (AIET) for Ph.D. admission is conducted by National Law University, Delhi (NLU Delhi).
Q3. What is the minimum educational qualification for a Ph.D. in Law?
Candidates must possess an LL.M. degree or an equivalent qualification with at least 55% aggregate marks. Reserved category candidates are eligible for a 5% relaxation.
Q4. Can candidates with a Master’s degree in Social Sciences apply for Ph.D. in Law?
Yes. Candidates with a law degree and a Master’s degree in Social Sciences or Humanities may apply if their proposed research interfaces with law, especially in Public Policy or legal studies.
Q5. Is there any age limit for NLU Delhi PhD Admission?
No. There is no upper age limit for admission to the Ph.D. programme.
Q6. What is the pattern of the AIET 2027 examination?
The entrance test consists of 100 multiple-choice questions carrying one mark each.
Q7. How are the questions distributed in the exam?
The paper comprises:
- 50 questions from Research Methodology.
- 50 questions from different branches of Law.
Q8. Is there negative marking in AILET Ph.D. 2027?
Yes. For every incorrect answer, 0.25 marks are deducted.
Q9. What are the total marks of the AIET?
The examination carries a total of 100 marks.
Q10. Are descriptive questions asked in the Ph.D. entrance test?
No. The AIET Exam 2027 is entirely MCQ-based.
Q11. Who is exempted from the AIET examination?
Candidates possessing a valid UGC/CSIR Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and foreign nationals are exempted from appearing in the entrance test.
Q12. What is the application fee for General category candidates?
General, OBC, EWS, Foreign Nationals, and Kashmiri Migrants have to pay ₹3,000 as the application fee.
Q13. What is the application fee for SC/ST/PwD candidates?
SC, ST, and PwD candidates are required to pay ₹1,000.
Q14. Are SC/ST candidates belonging to the BPL category exempted from paying the application fee?
Yes. Below Poverty Line (BPL) candidates belonging to SC/ST categories are exempted from paying the application fee.
Q15. Does NLU Delhi offer fellowships for Ph.D. scholars?
Yes. NLU Delhi offers fellowships such as the IPR Chair Fellowship and Fellowship in Insolvency and Restructuring Studies.