Taught course

Barristers Training Course (PGDip)

Institution
Nottingham Trent University · Nottingham Law School
Qualifications
PGDip

Entry requirements

You will need one of the following options:

  • Qualifying Law degree (2.1).
  • Graduate Diploma in Law / CPE with an undergraduate honours degree (2.1)
  • A 2.2 honours degree will be considered with evidence of exceptional achievement elsewhere in the application e.g. awards, scholarships, work experience – paid or unpaid.

All applicants should provide evidence in their personal statement of their commitment to a career in law and will be required to provide a full reference in support of their application.

The Bar Course Aptitude Test

In order to enrol, all students must take and pass the Bar Course Aptitude Test (BCAT) by the deadline set by the Bar Standards Board.

Certificate of Academic Standing (CAS)

Anyone with non-standard qualifications is required to present a Certificate of Academic Standing (CAS) from the Bar Standards Board before they enrol on the Barristers Training Course. Full details of who is required to obtain this Certificate can be found on the Bar Standards Board website.

Inns of Court

It is an enrolment requirement of the Barristers Training Course that you must join an Inn of Court before you can begin studying on the programme.

Months of entry

September

Course content

Why choose this course

For students who wish to study the BSB’s compulsory modules in a cost effective and time efficient manner, our Barristers Training Course (BTC) provides the necessary vocational training for the Bar in just six months. Successful completion of this course will enable you to achieve a Postgraduate Diploma and be called to the Bar. Perhaps you have already secured pupillage, are worried about taking too much time out of paid work or are concerned about accommodation costs? The BTC may be ideal for you.

Why study at Nottingham Law School

  • 100% of NTU's research submitted to the Law Unit of Assessment was assessed to be world-leading or internationally excellent in terms of research impact (REF 2021).
  • 94.4% of our Nottingham Law School postgraduates are in work or further study within 15 months of finishing their degrees (of those available for work or study, latest Graduate Outcomes Survey 2017-18).
  • All our staff are experienced lawyers and you will benefit from their practical knowledge, as well as from our visiting lecturers.
  • Our teaching is consistently commended as excellent.
  • We teach in as small groups as possible to encourage student participation.
  • We get to know our students and support and encourage you in both your studies and in your employment applications at the start of your legal career.
  • We offer a multi-award-winning pro bono programme, including NLS Legal for the local community.
  • Our dedicated and experienced careers consultants provide guidance and support to help you secure qualifying work experience or other legal employment. You'll benefit from working with our successful careers team.
  • Alongside access to an exclusive BTC study area, studying with Nottingham Law School means that you have all the facilities a large Law School can offer plus the advantages of studying within a university environment which offers outstanding library, IT, support, sports, language and Student Union services.
  • We have considerable expertise in advocacy and alternative dispute resolution. We're home to the first Centre for Advocacy in the UK and our Centre for Mediation and Dispute Resolution was opened in 2016 by Sir Peter Coulson, now a judge of the Court of Appeal.

For more information please visit the course page.

Information for international students

It is a requirement of the BTC that students are fluent in English. Applicants need to be able to demonstrate that their English language ability is equivalent to a minimum score of 7.5 in each element of the IELTS test.
International students will be required to produce a certificate evidencing the necessary IELTS scores or equivalents* unless they have:
  • An actual or predicted degree classification of 2.1 or above in a law degree undertaken wholly or predominantly in the UK.
  • An actual or predicted commendation or above in the GDL undertaken in the UK.
  • An actual or predicted commendation or above in a taught LLM undertaken in the UK.
*We currently accept the following as alternatives to IELTS:
  • Pearson Test of English (Academic)
  • TOEFL

Fees and funding

Nottingham Law School offers a number of competitive scholarships, for full details please visit our website.

We are authorised by the Bar Standards Board (BSB) to deliver the vocational component of Bar training.

Qualification, course duration and attendance options

  • PGDip
    full time
    6 months
    • Campus-based learningis available for this qualification

Course contact details

Name
Admissions
Email
enquiries@ntu.ac.uk
Phone
+44 (0)115 848 2999