<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0206</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2016-10-28</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001512228</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NIOCORP DEVELOPMENTS LTD</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NIOBF</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001183513</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CECIL JOE D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O NIOCORP DEVELOPMENTS LTD.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>7000 YOSEMITE STREET, SUITE 115</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CENTENNIAL</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>80112</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.6871</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2014-12-22</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2017-12-21</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Shares</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>500000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.4353</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2016-01-21</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2021-01-20</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Shares</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>300000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The exercise price reported above was converted from the Canadian exercise price of $0.80 using an exchange rate of Cdn$1.1643=US$1.00.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The options vest as follows:  50% on 7/21/16; 25% on 1/21/17; and the remaining balance on 7/21/17.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The exercise price reported above was converted from the Canadian exercise price of $0.62 using an exchange rate of Cdn$1.4243=US$1.00.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Joseph D. Cecil</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-11-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
