LLM/PGDip Bar Training Course
This course is open for applications.
To apply, please visit the Entry section below.
Accreditations and partnerships:
About
Maximise your chances of securing pupillage by building your legal knowledge and skills side by side. You'll embed your understanding through regular application of your knowledge to scenarios you are likely to experience when advising clients or in court.
Why study the Bar Training Course?
By completing the UWE Bristol Bar Training Course, you'll gain the competencies required to be called to the Bar, as set out by the Bar Standards Board (BSB). This vocational course combines legal knowledge and practical skills to maximise your chances of success and pupillage.
- PG Diploma (Full-time, nine months): Seven compulsory modules taught over no more than four days a week, with time for reflection, consolidation and/or work experience.
- PG Diploma (Part-time, two years): The same seven modules taught on Fridays and Saturdays every three to four weeks, blending face-to-face and online learning.
- LLM (Full-time, one year): Seven compulsory modules plus two optional modules and a written project, completed over the summer.
- LLM (Part-time, 26 months): Core modules over two years, with optional modules and a project completed in the second summer.
LLM students may be eligible for postgraduate loan funding. PGDip students can transfer to the LLM, subject to course deadlines.
Why UWE Bristol?
At UWE Bristol, you'll study with a trusted provider, taught by qualified barristers and solicitors who bring practice expertise into the classroom. The Bar Training Course integrates knowledge and skills side by side, reflecting life in chambers and delivered primarily face to face.
You'll benefit from:
- Substantial teaching, feedback and formative assessments.
- Strong personal and academic support, including regular contact with a personal tutor.
- Access to extensive university resources.
- Career-enhancing opportunities through links with local and national chambers, including competitions, guest lectures, and pro bono work.
Where can it take me?
The Bar Training Course equips you with the skills, knowledge and networks to secure pupillage and thrive as a barrister. Many graduates progress to practise at the Bar, while others use the qualification in roles such as legal associates, managers or advisers, or in wider professional sectors.
Entry
Entry requirements
As stipulated by the BSB, you'll need:
- To hold a law degree/conversion course, which meets the requirements for study of the foundations of legal knowledge subjects
- A degree classification (minimum 2:2)
- Membership of an Inn of Court
- English language ability (see below).
All students applying for a place on the UWE Bristol BTC course will be considered for an offer according to the extent that their application form demonstrates:
- The potential to fulfil the BSB Professional Statement Competences
- A commitment to a career at the Bar/in law
- A record of legal work experience or other law related activity during their studies.
These criteria will be assessed by reference to answers on the applicants online application form.
Deferred entry
We do not accept deferred entry applications for this course.
English Language Requirement
All prospective barristers must be able to demonstrate that their English language ability is at least equivalent to:
- 7.5 in the IELTS academic test (all sections)
- 76 in each part of the Pearson test of English (academic).
- 7.5 in the UWE Bristol English Placement Test (all sections)
All applicants should have an effective command of the English language and be able to use it appropriately, accurately and fluently to handle complex and detailed argumentation. International students will be required to produce a certificate evidencing the necessary IELTS or Pearson test scores.
Barristers should:
- use correct and appropriate vocabulary, English grammar, spelling and punctuation in all communications
- speak fluent English.
The method for verifying that a prospective barrister has met this requirement will be determined by UWE Bristol.
Potential Exemptions
International students will be required to produce a certificate evidencing the necessary IELTS or Pearson scores unless they:
- achieve an actual 2.1 LLB from a university in England or Wales, having studied in England or Wales* or,
- are predicted 2.1 overall in their LLB from a university in England or Wales, whilst studying in England or Wales. Applicants would be required to submit interim transcripts from their second year including an academic reference stating the prediction of a 2.1 or,
- an actual LLM with merit or above from UWE* at the point of application for a place on the BTC.
*Qualifications only eligible up to three years from date of completion.
UWE Bristol reserves the right to require any candidates who successfully self-certify to undertake the IELTS academic test or Pearson test if they do not subsequently demonstrate the English language requirement set out above.
How to apply
Apply to study LLM Bar Training Course full-time.
Apply to study PGDip Bar Training Course full-time.
Apply to study LLM Bar Training Course part-time.
Apply to study PGDip Bar Training Course part-time.
For information on how to pay your deposit, see our International student payments pages.
Read more about international applications and key international deadline dates.
For further information
- Email: Admissions@uwe.ac.uk
- Telephone: +44 (0)117 32 83333
Structure
Content
The optional modules listed are those that are most likely to be available, but they may be subject to change.
You'll study these core modules:
- Bar Professional Practice
- Civil Advocacy
- Civil Litigation
- Conferencing
- Criminal Advocacy
- Criminal Litigation
- Drafting, Opinion Writing and Legal Research
- Professional Ethics.
Plus, two optional modules from:
- Clinical Negligence
- Commercial Law
- Criminal Law
- Employment Law (BPTC)
- Family Law
- International Trade
- Refugee and Asylum.
The University continually enhances our offer by responding to feedback from our students and other stakeholders, ensuring the curriculum is kept up to date and our graduates are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need for the real world. This may result in changes to the course. If changes to your course are approved, we'll inform you.
Learning and Teaching
Highly experienced and supportive tutors, drawn from legal practice and the academic side of law, will help you develop your knowledge quickly.
Most of the course is taught face to face through small group sessions, providing substantial contact and opportunities for discussion, with your tutors and peers.
Weekly skills sessions, in small groups (no more than six students in Conference Skills and Advocacy sessions), will support you to develop the skills you'll need to practise law and support clients effectively. You'll take part in workshops, extended practice activities and role-play activities, and receive regular written and oral feedback on your skills. The sessions are also recorded to allow for subsequent reflection and analysis.
Studying the course means that Criminal Litigation and Civil Litigation are taught alongside the other subjects, and feed into them, to embed your learning at the deepest level.
For example, after studying sentencing in Criminal Litigation, you'll be expected to apply that knowledge during a conference with a client awaiting sentence (Conference Skills), and to represent that client during their sentencing hearing (Advocacy).
Developing your skills under the supervision of experienced teachers, you'll be supported to progress during the course to the level expected of a pupil barrister.
Guest lectures and extensive online resources, such as recorded lectures, podcasts, blogs and demos, will further embed your learning and skills.
If you study towards the LLM, you'll undertake further taught modules on specialist subjects (such as working with refugees), and complete a reflective project, to work towards your master's award.
See our glossary of teaching and learning terms.
Different awards
On successful completion of the UWE Bristol BTC, you'll graduate with either a PG Diploma or LLM award.
Students undertaking the LLM course will receive their transcript of results in the seven compulsory modules required for Call while they're still undertaking their taught option and project modules.
If you don't successfully complete the seven compulsory modules, you'll still potentially be eligible for:
- a PG Certificate in Legal Knowledge, if you pass Criminal Litigation and Civil Litigation
- a PG Certificate in Legal Skills, if you pass Conferencing, Advocacy, Opinion Writing (to include Legal Research), Drafting and Ethics.
The certificates would evidence your attainment of particular competencies and would be of value to you in pursuing another legal or non-legal career.
Study time
PG Diploma
Full time course: runs for nine months, from September to May with up to 14 hours of face-to-face tutorial group teaching per week, delivered over three to four days. You'll be required to carry out approximately 30 hours of independent study per week, in addition to your taught contact hours.
Part-time course: runs for two years, from September to September, with approximately 14 to 21 hours of face-to-face tutorial group teaching per month, delivered over Fridays and Saturdays. You'll be required to carry out approximately 30 hours of independent study per month, in addition to your taught contact hours.
LLM
Both the full-time and part-time courses include:
- The seven compulsory core modules required to complete the vocational component of training, forming the interim award (PGDip).
- A choice of two taught optional modules (worth 30 credits total) and a written project module, which together lead to the master's award. These additional modules are designed to support your development as a reflective practitioner with responsibility for your own self-development.
Full-Time Course: runs for one year, with the core modules taught between September and May as part of the interim award (the PGDip). You'll study further modules to complete the master's award. Taught option modules will be undertaken immediately after completing the compulsory modules, and will account for 30 credits, with up to 20 hours of contact time including preparation, per module a week. Alongside this, you'll undertake one project module which is predominantly self-study. These modules are to be completed within the same academic year.
Part-Time Course: runs for 26 months. You'll study the seven compulsory modules, completing the core modules within the first two years. The two taught optional modules are delivered in the summer, and you may choose to spread the load by taking one of them in year one. Assessment for the optional modules takes place in early Autumn.
The written project is completed over the summer, with a submission point in the Autumn of the second year.
Assessment
The teaching and assessment for the two taught option modules is undertaken in the summer months immediately following the completion of the core modules. The written project is written over the summer with a submission point of early September.
Civil Litigation and Criminal Litigation assessments are set by the Central Examination Board, on behalf of the Bar Standards Board, and examined using multiple choice questions.
Professional Ethics is set by UWE Bristol as an unseen assessment in controlled conditions.
All other assessments are also set locally and are either completely seen or partially seen, in that you'll receive information in advance to research the relevant areas of law.
In most assessments, you'll be graded as either Outstanding, Very Competent, Competent, or Not Yet Competent.
We use mock assessments with feedback to help you monitor and improve your performance, and prepare effectively. Our tutors have extensive experience of the centralised assessments, so are well placed to support you.
For added flexibility, there is some choice about when you take your assessments, although we structure the teaching to allow you to complete them at the earliest opportunity.
See our full glossary of assessment terms.
Fees
LLM Full-Time
LLM Part-Time
PGDip Full-Time
PGDip Part-Time
Supplementary fee information
Eligible students will be able to apply for postgraduate loan funding to complete the LLM course.
See our funding pages for more information.
Features
Professional accreditation
This course is accredited by the Bar Standards Board.
Study facilities
You'll be based in the Bristol Law School, on our Frenchay Campus, with access to extensive facilities to support your learning, including:
- Well-equipped classrooms, with IT equipment and whiteboards
- Mock courtrooms, with equipment to record advocacy sessions for later analysis
- Comprehensive resources online through our Blackboard system, including exam-style multiple choice tests, podcasts, pre-recorded lectures and demonstrations of oral skills by experienced practitioners.
The Law School sits within our £55m Bristol Business School building, which includes learning spaces for individual and group study plus conference rooms you can book.
You'll also have access to all the other facilities on our Frenchay Campus, including 24-hour access to our library, and a wide range of academic support, wellbeing and careers services.
Your tuition fee includes all the books and resources you need for the course (which will be provided to you) and the Bar Standards Board (BSB) student fee.
Learn more about UWE Bristol's facilities and resources.
Take a personalised virtual tour of the Law facilities and experience what a typical day could look like here for you.
Careers
Careers / Further study
The BTC prepares you for a successful career as a barrister, giving you the necessary skills, knowledge and network to maximise your chances of securing pupillage.
Many of our graduates go on to work as barristers, working either as self employed or inhouse counsel, or for the Government Legal Profession or Crown Prosecution Service.
Other graduates take their BTC into careers as legal associates, managers or legal advisers, or into other sectors.
Alongside support from our award-winning university careers services, you'll receive careers advice and support specific to this course, including access to CV clinics, careers talks, 'ask the experts' events and mock interviews, to enhance your chances of obtaining pupillage and help you plan your career path. We can also help with planning for a career overseas through our international careers service.
"Coming from a non-conventional route, I found the panel talk reassuring with panel members from varied routes becoming barristers. It was insightful hearing about their different career stages and perspectives" Melissa, 2023 Bar Training Course graduate.
Career-enhancing opportunities
Through our strong links with Chambers in Bristol and nationally, you'll have regular opportunities to connect with practice, and take part in events which include:
- Chambers-sponsored advocacy and mooting competitions, and national and international mediation and arbitration competitions
- 'Ask the experts' events
- Mentoring, careers advice and talks
- Mock pupillage interviews
- CV writing clinics
- The UWE Bristol Law Fair
- The Bristol Bar Students Dinner.
As well as working with charities such as Support Through Court, we have our own Business Law Advice Clinic, where you can tap into diverse work experience opportunities, to give back to the community and enhance your employability at the same time.
At an additional, but highly reduced cost, we also offer students the opportunity to become a civil commercial mediator through an internationally respected mediation training provider.
Life
Postgraduate support
Our support includes access to fantastic facilities, study tools and career consultants, plus practical help to access everything from funding to childcare.
Bristol
A stunning city for student living with all the qualities to make you want to stay.
Sports, societies and activities
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Health and Wellbeing
We provide support in the way you need it.
Campus and facilities
Discover our campuses and the wealth of facilities provided for our students.
