Campus Chronicles: Life at NUALS Kochi Unfolded

• To begin with could you please briefly introduce yourself and share a bit about your journey so far.

Myself Gowri V S, AIR 399 CLAT 2024. I am currently enrolled in NUALS Kochi. My clat journey was like a roller coaster ride, from getting good marks in mocks to many failures in actual CLAT papers, I have attempted Clat 3 times and was able to succeed only in my 3rd attempt.

🧑‍🎓 Life at Law School

• How would you describe your daily life at law school ? 

Life at a Law school is indeed very stressful, my class starts at 9 am (sometimes 8) to 4 pm (somedays 5pm).There are a number of internal tests, project submissions, presentations, viva and many more. The actual fun between all this stress are competitions like Moot Court and ADR which I really enjoy participating in. Apart from that being a part of college committees and organizing committees of Programs are also there.

🍽️ Food (Mess/Canteen)

• How is the food at your law school in terms of taste, variety, and hygiene?

 I would say, NUALS has one of the best mess out of all NLUs. It is a student-run mess, so the students committee decides the menu which keeps changing every semester. The hygiene is also pretty good. 

• Are there good alternatives to mess food nearby (cafes, delivery options)?

There are hotels nearby, but we prefer ordering food from delivery apps like swiggy or zomato.

• How do students usually manage food when the mess food isn’t good? How is the water availability? 

Mostly the mess food itself is good and if students want to eat out, they will either go out or order it from outside. Outside foods are allowed inside the hostel. Water is clean and no shortage for the same.

🏡 Hostel Life

• How strict are the hostel rules regarding timings and permissions?

Hostel rules are pretty much chill, campus curfew is 9 pm and the hostel curfew is 11 pm (12 am during exam time) for both men and women. You don’t need permission for going out and coming in before 9pm.

• How are the hostel facilities overall (rooms, cleanliness, Wi-Fi, common areas)?

Everything is clean, but we do have connectivity issues because NUALS is situated near a military location where their jammers often interfere with our connections.

• What’s the social life like in hostels — are there events, gatherings, study groups?

The social life in hostels is vibrant and inclusive. There are regular informal gatherings, movie nights, and themed events organized by students themselves, which help foster a strong sense of community. Study groups are quite common, especially before exams or competitions, and they create a collaborative environment where seniors often guide juniors. Overall, it’s a healthy mix of fun, support, and academic bonding that makes hostel life memorable and enriching. Although it also depends on the students and their friends group.

• How is the hostel infrastructure? Are the rooms single, double or triple sharing? Is ac facility available?

there’s only triple sharing rooms with attached bathroom and toilet. The infrastructure is good, Ac facility is unavailable. The Girls hostel has a lift too.

📜 Rules & Regulations

• What are the major academic rules and regulations — especially regarding attendance and exams?

we have internal marks for Attendance ranging from 5 marks for 95% to 2.5 for 75%. The minimum requirement for attending the final exam is 75%.

• How strict is the administration regarding discipline and code of conduct?

The administration is not very strict about the discipline and code of conduct, the campus in general is pretty much liberal.

• Are there specific dress codes for certain activities like moots or presentations?

There is a particular dress code for competitions. We have to be in full uniform even for regular classes on all days.

📝 Academics: Internals, Assignments, Unit Tests

• How frequent are the internals, assignments, and UTs (Unit Tests)?

Internals, assignments, and unit tests (UTs) are quite frequent — almost a daily affair! While it might sound intense, this continuous assessment pattern keeps us on our toes and helps maintain consistent academic engagement.

• Are assessments heavily weighted towards exams, projects, or continuous evaluation?

we have a really good marking scheme where you don’t have to pass in internals and externals seperately. You have to get 50% in both, combined. Each external exam is for 50 marks only. Internals include Internal tests, project, viva, Attendance and class participation.

📚 Classes and Timing

• What is the daily class timing like?

classes start at 9am and go upto 4 pm usually.

• Are Saturdays working days at your law school?

All Saturdays are holidays

• How hectic is the weekly schedule?

The academic schedule can feel pretty hectic at times, with frequent internals, assignments, and unit tests keeping us constantly engaged. There’s always something around the corner — be it a quiz, a submission, or a presentation. However, with a bit of planning and consistency, it becomes manageable.

🎉 Semester Breaks

• When are the semester breaks scheduled? And how long are these semester breaks?

Semester Breaks are for 45 days each (Nov mid to 1st jan and May mid to july 1)

• Are breaks enough to take internships or refresh properly?

yes, We have credits for internships and they are mandatory to pass the course.

🌍 Diversity and National Representation

• How is the national representation at your law school — do students come from all over India?

NUALS is one of the best in both national and international representation

• How inclusive and diverse is the campus culture?

While the campus does strive to be inclusive, in terms of regional and cultural diversity, there’s still room for growth. A majority of students tend to come from certain parts of the country, and representation from other regions, languages, and socio-economic backgrounds can be limited. That said, there is a growing awareness among both the student body and administration about the need for broader inclusivity.

🛎️ Day 1: Registration and Admission

• What was the Day 1 experience like during hostel registration and college admission?

It was a very good experience, the whole process was seamless. We had 1 week orientation which made the integration process easier.

• Are there any important tips for a smooth admission/hostel registration process?
  While English and Hindi are commonly spoken across campus and in academic settings, knowing the local language — Malayalam — can be a huge advantage, especially for daily interactions outside the classroom

⚖️ Moot Court Activities

• What is the culture around mooting at your college?

It is really active which is evident in international rankings, where NUALS is ranked 3rd in India after NLSIU and NALSAR in Mooting.

• How early can a first-year student start participating in moots?

We have an internal moot court competition for 1st Years after that depending on the ranks, freshers can also participate in the moot in the same year itself.

• Are there internal selections for moots?

Yes according to FMCC ranks students can participate in competitions .

• Is there any special training or mentorship available for moots?

Yes for the team that gets selected for a moot, the college allots a mentor.

🎯 Extracurriculars

• What extracurricular activities are available at your law school?

Music, dance, And sports

• Which activities would you recommend to a 1st year student?

All three — singing, dance, and sports. Getting involved in singing, dance, and sports is a great way for a first-year student to find balance and joy amidst the academic pressures of law school. Each activity brings something valuable to your overall growth:

• How do extracurriculars help in career building or internships?

Rather than focusing only on career and internships, I would suggest a 1st year student to focus on balancing their mental health and getting adapted to the law school atmosphere. These activities will help in the same.

• Are there any limitations of participating in extracurriculars?

No

• How do you personally balance academics and extracurricular activities?

It’s pretty hectic but yes eventually I have learnt to manage both.

👥 Committees

• What are the major committees and societies in your law school?

Moot Court committee, adr cell, internships cell, mess committee, welfare committee and so on.

• Which committees should a first-year student definitely try to join?

I think Moot Court committee is a must-try for everyone.

• What is the process of getting into a committee? How competitive is the selection for these committees?

It is based on elections. It is quite competitive.

🎊 Fests and Campus Life

• What are the major college fests?

We have both sports and art fests every year and cultural Programs for most festivals.

• How vibrant is the cultural and sports scene at your law school?

The cultural and sports scene at NUALS is notably vibrant and enriching, providing a well-rounded experience alongside rigorous academics. NUALS hosts a variety of cultural events throughout the year, including its flagship fest Dhishna. In terms of sports, NUALS has a thriving sports culture with regular inter-collegiate tournaments and intramural competitions in games like cricket, football, basketball, badminton, and athletics. 

🏀 Sports Facilities

• What kind of sports facilities are available on campus?

Football court, basket ball court, volleyball court, table tennis, badminton and many more.

• Are there any sports teams or tournaments students can participate in?

We have an active football team.

🎓 Class Representative (CR) Selection and Responsibilities

• How is the CR (Class Representative) selected?

We don’t have a separate CR. We have Student council (5 students from each batch) for the same.

• What are the main responsibilities of a CR?

Each one has different functions like finance, campus coordination, blood donation etc.

• How much influence or say does a CR have regarding student concerns?

Student council has some influence to an extent.

🏛️ Student Union

• Is there a Student Union at your college?

We do have a student council

• How active is the Student Union in addressing student issues or organizing events?

It is very active and conducts many programs

• Can first-year students get involved with the Student Union?

5 students from every batch will get elected to the student council every year.

🧑‍💼 Key People in the Administration

• Who are the key people in the administration that students should know about? (Dean, Registrar, Warden, etc.)

Class coordinator, Registrar and Vice chancellor

• Whom should students approach for different issues like academic help, hostel problems, or disciplinary matters?

The respective students committee Representatives

 Scholarships

What scholarships are available for the students?

Scholarships that are allotted by the government of Kerala.

🛠️ Internship Guidance

• How does the college support students in finding internships?

College internship assistance starts from 3rd year only.

• What should a first-year law student do to land good internships?

1st years should focus on building their basics, without any law subjects it won’t do any good for a fresher to do a big internship just for namesake.

• What types of internships are recommended during the first year?

District or sessions court, mediation or arbitration center.

❤️ College Likes & Areas of Improvement

• What do you like the most about your college?

The Mooting culture definitely deserves a mention here.

•  Where do you think the college can improve?

While NUALS provides a strong academic foundation and an active student life, one area where the college can further grow is in fostering deeper inclusivity.

🏆 College Strengths

 According to you, what are the three biggest strengths of your college?

1. 1. Batch strength
   2. Mooting
   3. Marking scheme

🎯 Placements and Career Support

• How strong is the placement cell at your college?

It’s pretty decent

• What kind of firms, companies, or organizations usually recruit from your campus?

We have alumini in almost every Tire 1 firm and other leading firms in India and even in international firms. This streamlines the recriutment process.