National Law University Odisha (NLOU) PhD Admission 2025-26

National Law University Odisha (NLUO) invites applications in the prescribed form for admission to the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Programme for the academic year 2025-26 in Law and Interdisciplinary subjects.

Eligibility Criteria

Ph.D. in Law

The following applicants are eligible to seek admission to the Ph.D. programme in Law:

• An applicant seeking admission to Ph.D. programme must have a Master’s Degree in Law from any recognized University securing not less than 55% marks or its equivalent in grade.
• In case of candidates belonging to SC/ST and Specially-Abled-Persons (SAP) a relaxation of 5% or an equivalent relaxation of grade will be granted.
• Applicants having NET /JRF are exempted from the Entrance Examination and others will have to appear for the written test.
• Provided that candidates in their final year of study in the respective degrees be eligible to apply, subject to the candidate securing the minimum marks or equivalent grade prior to the date of admission of the Ph.D. when they have to submit their mark sheet.

Ph.D. (Interdisciplinary) with Law

The following candidates shall be eligible to apply for the Ph.D. (Interdisciplinary) with Law programme:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Law and a Master’s Degree in Social Science or Humanities or Management Studies from any recognized University with not less than 55% marks or its equivalent grade.
• Candidates with a Master’s degree in Social Sciences, Humanities or management Studies, from any recognized Indian University with 55% marks and having had at least two years of work experience or Ph.D. in any discipline.
• In case of candidates belonging to SC/ST and Specially-Abled-Persons (SAP) a relaxation of 5% or an equivalent relaxation of grade will be granted.
• Applicants having NET /JRF are exempted from the Entrance Examination and others will have to appear for the written test.
• Provided that candidates in their final year of study in the respective degrees shall be eligible to apply, subject to the candidate securing the minimum marks or equivalent grade prior to the date of admission of the Ph.D when they have to submit their mark sheet.

However, all applicants, whether applying Ph.D. in Law or interdisciplinary, are required to submit a research proposal at the time for applying for admission to Ph.D. whether with admission test or otherwise.

Selection Process

The admission to NLUO for Ph.D. program shall be a three-pronged process, namely:

1. Step 1: The University shall conduct a Ph.D. Entrance Examination for the candidates who have applied for the admission in Ph.D. program in NLUO and not having NET/JRF certificates
2. Step 2: Submission and Evaluation of a Research Synopsis
3. Step 3: Oral Presentation of the Research Synopsis

Candidates securing 50% marks or above in the entrance examination will qualify for the process of Step 2 and Step 3- as mentioned above- for evaluation of their Research Synopsis and making an oral presentation before the Panel of Experts (Doctoral Committee) on the date specified by the University.

In case of candidates belonging to SC/ST and Specially-Abled-Persons (SAP) a relaxation of 5% will be granted in the qualifying marks and the evaluation components as mentioned above.

Ph.D. Entrance Examination Scheme

The University shall conduct a written test of 100 marks along the following scheme:

• 50 marks Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)-
  • 30-Marks-15 questions of 2 marks each on Research Methodology
  • 20-Marks-10 questions of 2 Marks each from law subjects like jurisprudence and constitution.
  • NO Negative marking in MCQs
• 50 marks for two (2) Long Subjective questions of 25 marks each –
  • For Ph.D. in Law-2 questions on law subjects like jurisprudence and constitution.
  • For Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary with Law – 1 question on above mentioned law subjects and 1 question on management/Social Science/Humanities subject
• Total Marks- 100 Marks
• Time- 2 hours

Test Centres

The admission test will be conducted in the following eight (8) test centres

• Bangalore
• Delhi
• Hyderabad
• Gandhinagar
• Bhopal
• Cuttack
• Lucknow
• Guwahati

Research Synopsis and Presentation

The presentation of the Research Synopsis of the candidate must contain the following elements;

1. Statement of Problem
2. Relevance of Research
3. Literature Survey
4. Research Questions
5. Research Hypothesis
6. Research Methodology
7. Tentative Chapterization

The final selection of the candidates for the Ph.D. degree programme shall be made on the basis of the evaluation of the Research synopsis and the oral presentation.

A candidate who has passed NET/JRF exam conducted by the UGC or has a Ph.D. or M. Phil degree or in any discipline mentioned need not appear for the Ph.D. Admission Test of 100 marks. Such candidate may directly submit a Research Synopsis for presentation.

Persons working at senior level such as a Judge in High Court / Supreme Court, a senior Advocate designated by the Supreme Court of India or any of the High Courts of India and Judicial Officers of the rank of Additional District Judge and above ranks at the District Judiciary level (with LL.M. degree) or industry working professionals other than in the field of law (only in case of interdisciplinary Ph.D.) with more than 15 (fifteen) years of work experience in India or abroad, may also be exempted from appear for the NLUO-Ph.D. admission test of 100 marks. Such candidate may directly submit a Research Synopsis for presentation. And such category of persons may also confirm to all other requirements of admission to the Ph.D. program as would be applicable in case of a candidate who has passed NET/JRF exam conducted by the UGC or has a Ph.D. (Refer to detailed NLU Odisha’s Ph.D. Regulations 2021, available on the website).

Application Process

All candidates seeking admission to Ph.D.at NLUO, are required to fill the Online Application Form on the university website. The online application shall commence from 13th February, 2025.

Applicants are required to submit the following:

• Completed application form
• Three copies of the proposed research synopsis (not more than 2000 words) of any issue with the broad frame work of Law & related subjects.
• Receipt of payment made online through NLUO payment Gateway.
• Attested photocopies of eligibility qualification certificates and mark sheets;
• Certificate from the Institution concerned testifying the grant of leave from the employer (if required);
• A passport size photograph.
• NET/JRF/M.Phil. certificates (if applicable)

A copy of the duly filled Application form downloaded from the admission portal along with the enclosures listed above is to be sent via registered post/courier or delivered by hand at the following address. The envelope must be Superscripted with “Ph.D. (Law)/ Ph.D. (Interdisciplinary) with Law) Application Form” and the Name & Address of the sender must be mentioned legibly on the envelope.

Address –

Registrar, NLUO Kathajodi Campus, Sector 13 CDA, Cuttack-753015 Odisha

• PhD Admission Notification: 13 February, 2025
• Date of commencement for Online Application: 13 February, 2025
• Last Date for Receiving Online Application Forms (Extended): 20 April, 2025
• Entrance Examination (Ph.D. Admission test): 11 May, 2025
• Declaration of Result of Ph.D. Admission test: 24 May, 2025
• Presentation of Research Proposals: 4 June, 2025 & 5 June, 2025
• Declaration of Candidates Selected for NLUO Ph.D. Programme: 10 June, 2025
• Last Date to Take Admission to the Ph.D. programme by paying applicable fees: 5 July, 2025
• Commencement of Coursework Classes: 20 July, 2025 (Tentative)

• Extension
• Notification
• Detailed Advertisement
• Brochure
• Application
• NLUO Website