Overview
Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law (RGNUL), Patiala, also known as NLU Patiala, is Punjab's flagship National Law University and a well-established name among the CLAT NLUs. Established in 2006 under a Punjab Act, it sits on a residential campus at Sidhuwal, Patiala, holds a NAAC A grade and UGC Graded Autonomy, and admits students through CLAT. RGNUL is known for a large undergraduate intake, a well-equipped air-conditioned campus, and a broad research culture spread across more than a dozen specialised centres. This profile covers its ranking, courses, eligibility, admission, seats, cutoff, fees, hostel, scholarships and placements.
Ranking and reputation of RGNUL Patiala
RGNUL was ranked 24th in the NIRF 2024 law category, and 20th in 2023, and it was placed seventh by Outlook in 2024, which puts it firmly among the established NLUs below the premier tier. It carries a NAAC A grade and UGC Graded Autonomy, and is recognised as one of the cleanest government residential universities in the country. Its reputation rests on solid academics, a strong research ecosystem and a large, well-supported student body.
Courses offered at RGNUL Patiala
RGNUL's flagship programme is the five-year integrated BA LLB (Hons), admitted through CLAT. At the postgraduate level it offers a one-year LLM in specialisations such as business law and constitutional law through CLAT PG, along with PG Diploma, LLD and PhD programmes for which the university runs its own admission process. Most CLAT aspirants target the BA LLB, which is the focus of the sections below unless stated otherwise.
RGNUL Patiala 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 55 percent marks, or 50 percent for SC and ST candidates.
RGNUL Patiala admission process and how to apply
RGNUL admits students to the BA LLB and LLM only 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, placing RGNUL high in your preference order. If a seat is allotted, you report to the Patiala campus for document verification and fee payment. Admission is purely on CLAT merit. PhD admissions are handled separately through the university's own entrance test and interview.
RGNUL Patiala seats and reservation
RGNUL has one of the larger undergraduate intakes among the NLUs, with a total of 240 seats in the BA LLB (Hons), and 60 seats in the one-year LLM. A share of seats is reserved for Punjab home-state candidates, and seats are further reserved vertically for the SC, ST, OBC and EWS categories, with horizontal reservation for persons with disabilities. The larger intake means RGNUL absorbs a wider band of CLAT ranks than the smaller premier NLUs.
RGNUL Patiala CLAT cutoff
RGNUL is a mid-tier NLU by cutoff, helped by its large intake. In the general all-India category, its BA LLB (Hons) has closed within roughly the top 1050 to 1300 CLAT ranks across recent counselling rounds, with the round one general rank around 1059 in 2026 and around 1146 in 2025, extending further in later rounds. Reserved categories and Punjab home-state seats close at more relaxed ranks. The exact closing rank moves each year with the applicant pool and counselling movement, so treat any single figure as indicative. 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.
RGNUL Patiala fees
RGNUL is moderately priced for an NLU. The five-year BA LLB (Hons) costs roughly 8 to 10.5 lakh rupees in total, covering tuition, hostel, amenities and other charges, while the one-year LLM costs about 1.63 lakh rupees. Tuition is paid semester-wise, with a one-time admission fee at the start, so the fee is manageable relative to the premier NLUs.
| Programme | Approximate fee |
|---|---|
| BA LLB (Hons), five-year total | About 8 to 10.5 lakh rupees |
| LLM, one-year | About 1.63 lakh rupees |
To compare RGNUL against the other NLUs on total cost, see the NLU fees comparison.
RGNUL Patiala hostel and campus
RGNUL is a fully residential university with a well-regarded campus at Sidhuwal, Patiala. Its hostels run to eight blocks, four each for men and women, and are Wi-Fi enabled and air-conditioned, with indoor games in the common rooms. The campus offers extensive sports facilities, including courts and grounds for badminton, basketball, cricket, football, tennis and volleyball, along with a law library, moot court halls, a legal aid clinic and more than a dozen research centres. It is widely regarded as one of the cleanest government residential campuses in India.
Scholarships at RGNUL Patiala
RGNUL offers merit-based and need-based financial support, 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.
RGNUL Patiala placements: packages and recruiters
RGNUL has a steady placement record coordinated by its Internship and Placement Committee. In the NIRF 2025 data its median undergraduate package was about 9 lakh rupees a year, with 31 BA LLB graduates placed, and its median LLM package was about 5.75 lakh rupees. Recent cycles have reported a highest package of about 15 lakh rupees. As at several established NLUs, corporate placement participation is modest because many students pursue litigation, the judiciary and higher studies, so the number placed understates the range of outcomes. Regular recruiters include Trilegal, Khaitan and Co, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas, Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, J Sagar Associates and Ernst and Young. For how RGNUL compares with the other NLUs, see the NLU placements comparison.
| Placement metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| Median UG package, NIRF 2025 | About 9 LPA |
| Median LLM package, NIRF 2025 | About 5.75 LPA |
| Highest package, recent | About 15 LPA |
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 RGNUL Patiala
Because RGNUL closes within roughly the top 1100 to 1300 general-category ranks for the BA LLB, and has a large intake, it is a realistic target for a solid CLAT score, with the Punjab home-state quota helping local candidates. 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.