PGDip Solicitors Training Course (SQE Prep) *

Entry year
2025/26
Course code
M99D12
Application
Central Applications Board
Level
Postgraduate
School
Bristol Law School
Campus
Frenchay
Duration
One year Full-time; two years Part-time
Delivery
Full-time; Part 1 starts September, Part 2 starts January. Part-time; Part 1 is delivered from September in Year One and Part 2 is delivered from September in Year Two.
Programme leader
Zainab Bakari

This course is open for applications

* part-time route subject to final UWE Bristol approval

Introduction

Progress your pathway to qualification as a solicitor on our course designed to offer flexibility around your work commitments and finances.

Why study the Solicitors Training Course (SQE Prep)?

Our course will prepare you to sit the Solicitors Qualifying Examinations (SQE) 1 and 2, which you'll need to pass as one of the steps required to qualify as a practising solicitor in England and Wales. The course is open to both law and non-law graduates; you may already be working in legal practice, or starting your training in the legal profession.

The course consists of two separate parts:

SQE 1 Prep focuses on Functional Legal Knowledge and will prepare you for the externally-set SQE 1 exam.

SQE 2 Prep focuses on Legal Skills and will prepare you for the externally-set SQE 2 skills assessments.

You can choose to study either or both SQE 1 Prep and SQE 2 Prep at UWE Bristol. Successful completion of SQE 1 Prep leads to the UWE Bristol award of Postgraduate Certificate Solicitors Training Course (SQE 1 Prep).  You can then choose to take the award at that point and have a break from your studies or to continue your studies at UWE Bristol to complete SQE 2 Prep. If you successfully complete SQE 1 Prep and SQE 2 Prep, you'll then be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma Solicitors Training Course (SQE Prep).

If you're an international student, you'll be required to complete both stages of assessment (SQE 1 Prep and SQE 2 Prep) according to the conditions of your visa. Therefore, you'll be unable to take a break between the SQE 1 and 2. 

If you've completed and passed your SQE 1 Prep at another institution you can come to UWE Bristol to study the SQE 2 Prep. Recognition of your SQE 1 Prep and successful completion of SQE 2 Prep at UWE Bristol leads to the UWE Bristol award of Postgraduate Diploma Solicitors Training Course (SQE Prep).

Why UWE Bristol?

Established for over 40 years, UWE Bristol Law School is one of the UK's largest and most respected full-service law schools and has strong links to the profession. The School has an excellent reputation as a provider of postgraduate vocational education and training for those progressing to qualification as a solicitor or barrister.

Taught by our highly-experienced teaching team of legal professionals, you can be sure to receive high-quality training.

Our course places emphasis on face-to-face group tuition, offering you a more personalised learning experience.

You'll study in our state-of-the-art £55 million business and law school building, where you'll benefit from purpose-built teaching facilities including mock courtrooms.

Get individual support from your academic personal tutor.

Find out whether you may be eligible for a UWE Bristol alumni discount for this course. 

Where can it take me?

The course will prepare you to take the SQE exams as part of your pathway to qualify as a practising solicitor in England and Wales.

Watch: The learning and teaching experience

Structure

Content

SQE 1 Prep

You'll study the following modules:

  • Foundations for Legal Knowledge 1
  • Foundations for Legal Knowledge 2.

The topics covered by those modules are as follows:

Functioning Legal Knowledge 1
  • Business Law and Practice
  • Dispute Resolution
  • Contract
  • Tort
  • Legal System of England and Wales and Public Law
  • Legal Services.
Functioning Legal Knowledge 2
  • Property Law and Practice
  • Wills and the Administration of Estates
  • Solicitors Accounts
  • Land Law
  • Trusts
  • Criminal Law and Practice.

SQE 2 Prep

You'll study the following modules:

  • Client Interviewing and Attendance Note/Legal Analysis
  • Advocacy
  • Case and Matter Analysis
  • Legal Research
  • Legal Writing
  • Legal Drafting.

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

You'll learn from highly-experienced, dedicated tutors with extensive experience as practising solicitors and barristers and strong links to practice. They'll support you to develop your knowledge quickly and confidently throughout the course.

SQE 1 Prep comprises an online self-study interaction with tutors during the first few weeks, followed by face-to-face tuition in groups of up to 25. These interactive workshops will focus on reinforcing your understanding of key legal concepts, while also developing your techniques to tackle multiple-choice questions in preparation for SQE1. For SQE 2 Prep, you'll be taught face-to-face in small tutorial groups of no more than 12 students to develop the core skills assessed in SQE2.

You'll be expected to prepare before you attend each workshop.

You'll receive individual support during your studies. We'll allocate you an academic personal tutor who will work closely with you to support you on the course as well as with careers guidance.

See our glossary of learning and teaching terms.

Study time

SQE 1 Prep – Legal knowledge

The SQE 1 prep course will commence in September with an induction day on campus to introduce you to the course and provide guidance for a four-week online learning period, during which tutors will be available to answer queries.

From October, you will be required to attend classes on two fixed days per week.

On occasion, you'll need to attend classes on more than two days a week, or your classes will be on different days. For example, your attendance may change at the beginning of the year and at assessment points.

Each day will include six-hours of face-to-face group tuition, except for the four-week online learning element at the start of the course. You'll also need to spend around 30 hours per week on independent study, on top of your taught contact hours.

SQE 2 Prep – Legal skills

This course runs from January to July, and you'll be required to attend between 10-15 hours per week for face-to-face group tuition in small classes of around 12 students. You'll also need to spend around 30 hours a week on independent study, on top of your taught contact hours.

Assessment

The course prepares you for the SQE assessments you must pass to qualify as a solicitor. The SQE assessments don't form part of the course itself. Please note that the cost of taking the SQE assessments isn't included in the course fees.

Our module assessments will mirror the SQE assessments, so we can fully prepare you for the external SQE assessment. For SQE 1 Prep you will undertake four 2 hour and 33 minute online closed book multiple choice tests, just as you will in the SQE assessment. For SQE 2 Prep, the module assessments will mirror the role-play/computer-based skills assessments of SQE2, scheduled in five consecutive half days of assessment, just like the real thing.

To prepare you for both of the SQE Prep module assessments, you'll undertake practice assessments, where you'll receive full tutor feedback following both your practice and module assessments. Both your practice and module assessments will be conducted on campus, not remotely, which will mirror the centrally set SQE assessments to ensure you're prepared.

Learn more about assessments at UWE Bristol.

Features

Study facilities

You'll be based in the Bristol Law School on Frenchay Campus, where you'll have access to extensive facilities to support your learning, including:

  • Well-equipped classrooms with IT equipment and whiteboards.
  • Mock courtrooms with recording equipment.
  • Comprehensive resources available through our virtual learning environment, Blackboard, including exam-style multiple choice tests, podcasts, pre-recorded lectures and interactive tutor-led workshops to develop your legal skills, all delivered by experienced practitioner tutors.

You'll also have access to all our other fantastic facilities on our Frenchay Campus, from our 24-hour library including digital library, a wide range of academic support, wellbeing and careers services, and more.

Plus, your tuition fee includes all the books and resources you need for the course, and these will be provided to you.

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.

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

There is more to your experience here than study. Choose to make the most of it and try new things.

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.

Careers

Careers / Further study

Bristol Law School has over 40 years' experience of training students heading into the solicitors' profession, who are now working in a range of legal careers. This includes working as partners in City law firms, in small high-street practices undertaking criminal defence work, and in-house counsel, for example. Our graduates secure roles in many different law firms practising many different types of law.

Our new SQE Prep course prepares you to undertake the SQE exams you must pass to qualify as a practising solicitor, equipping you with skills and knowledge you'll need to secure a role in the legal profession.

Some of our Law School students have secured a training contract/legal work before undertaking our courses, some combining legal work. Others benefit from our award-winning Careers Service, where you can access advice including CV clinics, careers talks, 'ask the experts' events and mock interviews, all to help you stand out from the competition.

You can also take advantage of our mentoring scheme where you'll be paired with an external solicitor or barrister (many are former students) providing you with a valuable opportunity to learn more about your career from a practising professional.

Plus, benefit from our Business and Law Clinic, which will provide opportunities for a range of legal work experience. This will allow you to give back to the community while enhancing your employability at the same time. 

Fees

Supplementary fee information

Your course fees include the costs of tuition, books and electronic resources. You should allow around £250 each year for additional costs, such as printing. 

Please note that the course fee doesn't include the cost of the SQE examinations. You can find out about the cost of the SQE examinations on the Solicitors Regulation Authority website.

See our funding pages for more information.

Find out whether you may be eligible for a UWE Bristol alumni discount for this course. 

Entry

Entry requirements

You'll need to have:

  • An honours degree (minimum 2:2)

We recommend that you visit the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) website before you apply, to check the latest guidance for students.

English Language Requirement

If English is not your first language you will also need to demonstrate your English Language proficiency. For example, you should have IELTS 7.5 overall with a minimum of 6.5 in all components. See further details of our English Language requirements.

How to apply

Applications must be made online via the Central Applications Board.

If you're studying SQE 1 Prep and SQE 2 Prep or taking the SQE 1 Prep only the deadline for applications is: 8 July 2025.

If you're studying the SQE 2 Prep only the deadline for applications is: 16 December 2025.

We recommend you apply well before the application deadline. Submitting your application early will allow time for our Admissions team to process your application and for you to pay your deposit.

If you only undertake the SQE 2 Prep option with us and wish to gain a Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) you'll need to provide accreditation of prior learning (Accredited Learning, AL) for the equivalent of SQE 1 Prep or evidence that you've passed the formal SQE1 Assessment.

If you're unable to gain the Accredited Learning needed to achieve the PGDip, you'll receive an award of Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) on successful completion of the SQE 2 Prep at UWE Bristol.

If you're an international student, you'll be required to complete both stages of assessment (SQE 1 Prep and SQE 2 Prep) under the conditions of your visa, which means you won't be able to take a break between the two parts.

Read more about international applications and key international deadline dates.

For further information

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