Overview
Maharashtra National Law University, Mumbai (MNLU Mumbai), is one of Maharashtra's three National Law Universities, and the one located in the state capital and financial hub. Established in 2014 under the Maharashtra National Law University Act, it admits students through CLAT, is based in Powai, Mumbai, and is ranked 31st in the NIRF 2025 law list. MNLU Mumbai has carved out specialisations that reflect its city, including maritime law, corporate law and financial regulation, and it offers Maharashtra domicile students a lower fee. This profile covers its ranking, courses, eligibility, admission, seats, cutoff, fees, hostel, scholarships and placements.
Why MNLU Mumbai stands out
MNLU Mumbai holds 31st place in the NIRF 2025 law ranking and 23rd by IIRF in 2025, strong for a university founded only in 2014. Its biggest advantage is its location in Mumbai, India's financial capital, which shapes both its curriculum, with specialisms in investment and securities law, corporate and commercial law and maritime law, and its access to top corporate law firms and companies for internships and placements. International MoUs with universities in France and Germany add exchange opportunities.
Courses offered at MNLU Mumbai
MNLU Mumbai's flagship programme is the five-year integrated BA LLB (Hons), admitted through CLAT. At the postgraduate level it offers a one-year LLM through CLAT PG, along with an executive LLM, an MBA and an M.IPR admitted through the university's own tests, and PG Diploma and PhD programmes. Most CLAT aspirants target the BA LLB, which is the focus of the sections below unless stated otherwise.
MNLU Mumbai eligibility criteria
For the BA LLB (Hons), you must have passed class 12 or an equivalent examination with at least 45 percent marks, or 40 percent for candidates in the SC and ST categories. Candidates awaiting their class 12 results may apply and appear for CLAT, subject to meeting the requirement at admission, and there is no upper age limit. For the LLM, you need an LLB degree with at least 50 percent marks, or 45 percent for SC and ST candidates.
MNLU Mumbai admission process and how to apply
MNLU Mumbai admits students to the BA LLB and the regular LLM through CLAT, run by the Consortium of National Law Universities. Register for CLAT on the Consortium website during the application window, appear for the exam, and after results take part in the centralised CLAT counselling across five rounds, placing MNLU Mumbai high in your preference order. Maharashtra home-state candidates should claim the domicile quota with the required documents. If a seat is allotted, you report to the Mumbai campus for document verification and fee payment. The executive LLM, MBA, M.IPR and PhD are admitted through the university's own tests.
MNLU Mumbai seats and reservation
MNLU Mumbai offers around 120 seats in the BA LLB (Hons). As with Maharashtra's other NLUs, a large share of seats is reserved for Maharashtra home-state candidates, with the remainder open to all-India applicants, and seats are further reserved vertically for the SC, ST, OBC and EWS categories, with horizontal reservation for persons with disabilities. The heavy home-state quota means Maharashtra domicile seats close at more relaxed ranks, and domicile students also pay a lower fee.
MNLU Mumbai CLAT cutoff
MNLU Mumbai is one of the more competitive newer NLUs, thanks to its Mumbai location. In the general all-India category, its BA LLB (Hons) round one closing rank has been around 481 in 2026 and 536 in 2025, and the final round closing rank has extended to about 1473. Reserved categories and Maharashtra home-state seats close at more relaxed ranks. The category-wise all-India closing ranks for the BA LLB in 2025 are below.
| Category | BA LLB all-India closing rank, 2025 |
|---|---|
| General | Around 1473 |
| OBC | Around 8067 |
| ST | Around 13124 |
| SC | Around 15622 |
To check whether your expected rank is in range, use the CLAT college predictor, and see the NLU cut-offs page for round by round closing ranks.
MNLU Mumbai fees
MNLU Mumbai's fee depends on your domicile status. The five-year BA LLB (Hons) total for general candidates is roughly 9.5 to 12 lakh rupees, while Maharashtra domicile candidates pay a lower total of about 6.7 lakh rupees. The one-year LLM ranges from about 1 lakh to 2.6 lakh rupees depending on category and specialisation. The domicile concession makes MNLU Mumbai notably cheaper for Maharashtra students.
| Fee (BA LLB, five-year total) | Approximate amount |
|---|---|
| General category | About 9.5 to 12 lakh rupees |
| Maharashtra domicile | About 6.7 lakh rupees |
To compare MNLU Mumbai against the other NLUs on total cost, see the NLU fees comparison.
MNLU Mumbai hostel and campus
MNLU Mumbai is located in Powai, a central part of Mumbai, with hostel accommodation, a law library, moot court facilities, research centres and the academic infrastructure of a growing NLU. Its greatest asset is its location: proximity to the Bombay High Court, top corporate law firms, companies and financial institutions gives students exceptional access to internships and practical exposure in commercial and corporate law.
Scholarships at MNLU Mumbai
MNLU Mumbai offers scholarships and fee concessions for deserving students, including support under the Maharashtra government's MahaDBT scholarship scheme, and SC and ST students can access government scholarships and fee reimbursements. Read each year's official notification for the current eligibility bands and amounts.
MNLU Mumbai placements: packages and recruiters
MNLU Mumbai has a strong placement record for a newer NLU, helped by its corporate-heavy location. In the NIRF 2025 data its median undergraduate package was about 10 lakh rupees a year, and its recent highest package was about 25 lakh rupees, with a batch of graduates placed through the placement cell. Regular recruiters include Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas and other tier-one and corporate firms drawn by the Mumbai setting. Many graduates also pursue litigation, the judiciary and higher studies. For how MNLU Mumbai compares with the other NLUs, see the NLU placements comparison.
| Placement metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| Median UG package, NIRF 2025 | About 10 LPA |
| Highest package, recent | About 25 LPA |
| Recruiter profile | Tier-one and corporate firms in Mumbai |
Related NLUs
Comparing your options is the smart way to build a CLAT preference list. See the profiles of the premier NLUs: NLSIU Bengaluru, NLU Delhi, NALSAR Hyderabad, WBNUJS Kolkata and GNLU Gandhinagar, or return to the NLU profiles hub for the full list.
How to get into MNLU Mumbai
Because MNLU Mumbai closes within roughly the top 500 general-category ranks in round one, extending to around 1473 in later rounds, a seat here calls for a strong CLAT score, and the Maharashtra domicile quota gives home-state candidates a much better chance. Aim for high accuracy across the comprehension-heavy English, current affairs, legal reasoning, logical reasoning and quantitative sections, with enough mock-test practice to hold a strong rank. Law Prep Tutorial Delhi trains aspirants for these NLU cutoffs. Explore the college predictor to see your realistic NLU options, then return to the NLU profiles hub to build your full preference list.