Choose the best Bar School for you!
The Bar course provides the essential vocational component required to become a barrister in England and Wales. Currently, the Bar Standards Board (BSB) has approved 10 educational providers to deliver the Bar course, each offering diverse course structures, study locations, scholarships, and fees.
Formerly recognised as the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC), the Bar course has undergone a name change. Various educational providers now refer to it by different titles, all signifying the same program. Some of the alternative names include Bar Training Course (BTC), Bar Vocational Studies (BVS), Barrister Training Course (BTC), and Bar Practice Course (BPC). Despite the diverse nomenclature, these titles are interchangeable and denote the equivalent program—the Bar course.
See the table below for a detailed comparison of all the educational providers.
For more information on course structure, English requirements and scholarships, kindly see the website of the respective provider.
Bar Course Table
Location
- Birmingham
- Bristol
- Leeds
- London
- Manchester
Start Date
Course Structure
- BTC (PGDip)
- BTC (Master's)
- BTC with Professional Legal Studies
- BTC with Professional Legal Studies (Master's)
Duration
BTC:
- 9 Months (full-time)
- 24 Months (part-time)
BTC (Master's):
- 12 Months (full-time)
- 24 Months (part-time)
BTC with Professional Legal Studies:
- 12 Months (full-time)
Fess (Per Year)
BTC:
- Home students: £16,700 (London); £15,500 (outside London)
- International students: £17,900 (London); £16,700 (outside London)
BTC (Master's):
- Home students: £18,000 (London); £16,300 (outside London)
- International students: £19,100 (London); £17,400 (outside London)
BTC with Professional Legal Studies:
- Home students: £16,400 (London); £15,200 (outside London)
- International students: £19,100 (London); £18,000 (outside London)
BTC with Professional Legal Studies (Master's):
- Home students: £17,600 (London); £16,000 (outside London)
- International students: £20,400 (London); £18,600 (outside London)
Entry Req
BTC/BTC (Master's):
- Minimum 2:1 qualifying law degree; or
- Minimum 2:1 non-law degree + law conversion course.
BTC with Professional Legal Studies/Professional Legal Studies (Master's):
- Minimum 2:2 qualifying law degree; or
- Minimum 2:2 non-law degree + law conversion course.
Additional Req
Contact
Bar Training Course (BTC)
- Birmingham
- Bristol
- Leeds
- London
- Manchester
- January
- September
- BTC (PGDip)
- BTC (Master’s)
- BTC with Professional Legal Studies
- BTC with Professional Legal Studies (Master’s)
BTC:
- 9 Months (full-time)
- 24 Months (part-time)
BTC (Master’s):
- 12 Months (full-time)
- 24 Months (part-time)
BTC with Professional Legal Studies:
- 12 Months (full-time)
BTC:
- Home students: £16,700 (London); £15,500 (outside London)
- International students: £17,900 (London); £16,700 (outside London)
BTC (Master’s):
- Home students: £18,000 (London); £16,300 (outside London)
- International students: £19,100 (London); £17,400 (outside London)
BTC with Professional Legal Studies:
- Home students: £16,400 (London); £15,200 (outside London)
- International students: £19,100 (London); £18,000 (outside London)
BTC with Professional Legal Studies (Master’s):
- Home students: £17,600 (London); £16,000 (outside London)
- International students: £20,400 (London); £18,600 (outside London)
BTC/BTC (Master’s):
- Minimum 2:1 qualifying law degree; or
- Minimum 2:1 non-law degree + law conversion course.
BTC with Professional Legal Studies/Professional Legal Studies (Master’s):
- Minimum 2:2 qualifying law degree; or
- Minimum 2:2 non-law degree + law conversion course.
Location
Cardiff
Start Date
Course Structure
- BTC (PGDip)
- BTC LLM
Duration
BTC/BTC LLM:
- 1 year (full-time)
Fess (Per Year)
BTC/BTC LLM:
- Home students: £18,950
- International: £23,700
Entry Req
BTC/BTC LLM:
- Minimum 2:1 qualifying law degree; or
- Minimum 2:1 non-law degree + law conversion course
Additional Req
Contact
Bar Training Course (BTC)
Cardiff
September
- BTC (PGDip)
- BTC LLM
BTC/BTC LLM:
- 1 year (full-time)
BTC/BTC LLM:
- Home students: £18,950
- International: £23,700
BTC/BTC LLM:
- Minimum 2:1 qualifying law degree; or
- Minimum 2:1 non-law degree + law conversion course
Location
London
Start Date
Course Structure
- BVS (PGDip)
- BVS (LLM)
- BVS with Specialism (PGDip with Specialism)
Duration
BVS:
- 8 months (full-time)
- 20 months (part-time)
BVS LLM:
- 1 year (full-time)
- 2 year (part-time)
BVS with Specialism:
- 10 months (full-time)
- 22 months (part-time)
Fess (Per Year)
BVS:
- £17,090 (full-time)
- £8,540 (part-time)
BVS LLM:
- £20,220 (full-time)
- £10,110 (part-time, per year)
BVS with Specialism:
- £19,180 (full-time)
- £9,580 (part-time, per year)
Entry Req
BVS/BVS LLM/BVS with Specialism:
- Minimum 2:1 qualifying law degree; or
- Minimum 2:1 non-law degree + law conversion course
Additional Req
Contact
Bar Vocational Studies (BVS)
London
September
- BVS (PGDip)
- BVS (LLM)
- BVS with Specialism (PGDip with Specialism)
BVS:
- 8 months (full-time)
- 20 months (part-time)
BVS LLM:
- 1 year (full-time)
- 2 year (part-time)
BVS with Specialism:
- 10 months (full-time)
- 22 months (part-time)
BVS:
- £17,090 (full-time)
- £8,540 (part-time)
BVS LLM:
- £20,220 (full-time)
- £10,110 (part-time, per year)
BVS with Specialism:
- £19,180 (full-time)
- £9,580 (part-time, per year)
BVS/BVS LLM/BVS with Specialism:
- Minimum 2:1 qualifying law degree; or
- Minimum 2:1 non-law degree + law conversion course
Location
Manchester
Start Date
Course Structure
- BTC
- LLM in Legal Practice at the Bar
Duration
BTC/LLM in Legal Practice at the Bar:
- 1 year (full-time)
- 2 year (part-time)
- 2-5 years (part-time flexible)
Fess (Per Year)
BTC:
- Home Students: £14,500 (full-time); £1,209 (part-time, per 10 credits studied)
- International Students: £18,500 (full-time); £1,542 (part-time, per 10 credits studied)
LLM in Legal Practice at the Bar:
- Home Students: £15,000 (full-time); £834 (part-time, per 10 credits studied)
- International Students: £19,000 (full-time); £1,056 (part-time, per 10 credits studied)
Entry Req
BTC/LLM in Legal Practice at the Bar:
- Minimum 2:2 (55%) qualifying law degree; or
- Minimum 2:2 (55%) non-law degree + minimum 55% in law conversion course
Additional Req
Contact
Bar Training Course (BTC)
Manchester
September
- BTC
- LLM in Legal Practice at the Bar
BTC/LLM in Legal Practice at the Bar:
- 1 year (full-time)
- 2 year (part-time)
- 2-5 years (part-time flexible)
BTC:
- Home Students: £14,500 (full-time); £1,209 (part-time, per 10 credits studied)
- International Students: £18,500 (full-time); £1,542 (part-time, per 10 credits studied)
LLM in Legal Practice at the Bar:
- Home Students: £15,000 (full-time); £834 (part-time, per 10 credits studied)
- International Students: £19,000 (full-time); £1,056 (part-time, per 10 credits studied)
BTC/LLM in Legal Practice at the Bar:
- Minimum 2:2 (55%) qualifying law degree; or
- Minimum 2:2 (55%) non-law degree + minimum 55% in law conversion course
Location
Newcastle
Start Date
Course Structure
- Bar Course (PGDip)
- Bar Course LLM
- Bar Knowledge Course + Bar Skills Course
Duration
Bar Course/Bar Course LLM:
- 1 year (full-time)
- 2 years (part-time)
Bar Knowledge Course/Bar Skills Course:
- 1 year (part-time)
Fess (Per Year)
- Bar Course/Bar Course LLM: £12,300
- Bar Knowledge Course: £3,075
- Bar Skills Course: £9,225
Entry Req
Bar Course/Bar Course LLM/Bar Knowledge Course/Bar Skills Course:
- Minimum 2:1 qualifying law degree; or
- Minimum Commendation in GDL
Honours degree with 2:2 or GDL with Pass considered on exceptional basis
Additional Req
Contact
Bar Course
Newcastle
September
- Bar Course (PGDip)
- Bar Course LLM
- Bar Knowledge Course + Bar Skills Course
Bar Course/Bar Course LLM:
- 1 year (full-time)
- 2 years (part-time)
Bar Knowledge Course/Bar Skills Course:
- 1 year (part-time)
- Bar Course/Bar Course LLM: £12,300
- Bar Knowledge Course: £3,075
- Bar Skills Course: £9,225
Bar Course/Bar Course LLM/Bar Knowledge Course/Bar Skills Course:
- Minimum 2:1 qualifying law degree; or
- Minimum Commendation in GDL
Honours degree with 2:2 or GDL with Pass considered on exceptional basis
Location
Nottingham
Start Date
Course Structure
- BTC (PGDip)
- BTC LLM
- LLM Law and Legal Practice- BTC LLM (equivalent to GDL + BTC LLM)
Duration
- BTC: 7 months (full-time)
- BTC LLM: 1 year (full-time)
- LLM Law and Legal Practice- BTC LLM: 18 months (full-time)
Fess (Per Year)
- BTC: £12,650
- BTC LLM: £15,200
- LLM Law and Legal Practice- BTC LLM: £19,250
Entry Req
BTC/BTC LLM/LLM Law and Legal Practice- BTC LLM:
- Minimum 2:1 qualifying law degree; or
- Minimum 2:1 non-law degree + law conversion course
Honours degree with 2:2 considered on exceptional basis
Additional Req
Contact
Barrister Training Course (BTC)
Nottingham
September
- BTC (PGDip)
- BTC LLM
- LLM Law and Legal Practice- BTC LLM (equivalent to GDL + BTC LLM)
- BTC: 7 months (full-time)
- BTC LLM: 1 year (full-time)
- LLM Law and Legal Practice- BTC LLM: 18 months (full-time)
- BTC: £12,650
- BTC LLM: £15,200
- LLM Law and Legal Practice- BTC LLM: £19,250
BTC/BTC LLM/LLM Law and Legal Practice- BTC LLM:
- Minimum 2:1 qualifying law degree; or
- Minimum 2:1 non-law degree + law conversion course
Honours degree with 2:2 considered on exceptional basis
Location
London
Start Date
Course Structure
Bar Course (PGDip)
- Divided in to Part One and Part Two
Duration
Bar Course: 1 year
- Part One: anticipated duration 4 months
- Part Two: anticipated duration 5 months
Fess (Per Year)
Bar course: £15,735
- Part one: £3,934
- Part two: £11,801
Entry Req
Part One:
- Minimum 2:1 qualifying law degree; or
- Minimum 2:2 non-law degree + minimum Commendation in law conversion course
Part Two:
- Membership of an Inn of Court; and
- 'Pass' in the BSB centralised assessments
Additional Req
Contact
Bar Course
London
- January
- March
- September
Bar Course (PGDip)
- Divided in to Part One and Part Two
Bar Course: 1 year
- Part One: anticipated duration 4 months
- Part Two: anticipated duration 5 months
Bar course: £15,735
- Part one: £3,934
- Part two: £11,801
Part One:
- Minimum 2:1 qualifying law degree; or
- Minimum 2:2 non-law degree + minimum Commendation in law conversion course
Part Two:
- Membership of an Inn of Court; and
- ‘Pass’ in the BSB centralised assessments
Location
Hertfordshire
Start Date
Course Structure
- BPC (PGDip)
- BPC LLM
Duration
BPC/BPC LLM:
- 1 year (full-time)
Fess (Per Year)
- BPC: £12,640
- BPC LLM: £14,805
Entry Req
BPC/BPC LLM:
- Minimum 2:1 in a qualifying law degree; or
- Minimum 2:1 in a non-law degree, and law conversion course
2:2 degree considered on exceptional basis
Additional Req
Contact
Bar Practice Course (BPC)
Hertfordshire
September
- BPC (PGDip)
- BPC LLM
BPC/BPC LLM:
- 1 year (full-time)
- BPC: £12,640
- BPC LLM: £14,805
BPC/BPC LLM:
- Minimum 2:1 in a qualifying law degree; or
- Minimum 2:1 in a non-law degree, and law conversion course
2:2 degree considered on exceptional basis
Location
- Birmingham
- Bristol
- Leeds
- Liverpool
- London
- Manchester
- Newcastle
- Nottingham
Start Date
Course Structure
- BPC (PGDip)
- BPC LLM
Duration
BPC/BPC LLM:
- 1 year (full-time)
- 2 years (part-time)
Fess (Per Year)
BPC:
- £16,450 (London)
- £14,900 (outside London)
- £12,300 (Newcastle)
- £13,900 (Nottingham)
BPC LLM:
- £19,250 (London)
- £17,450 (outside London)
- £12,300 (Newcastle)
- £13,900 (Nottingham)
Entry Req
BPC/BPC LLM:
- Minimum 2:1 qualifying law degree; or
- Minimum 2:1 non-law degree + law conversion course; or
- Minimum 2:2 non-law degree + minimum Commendation in law conversion course.
Undergraduate degree with 2:2 considered on exceptional basis
Additional Req
Contact
Bar Practice Course (BPC)
- Birmingham
- Bristol
- Leeds
- Liverpool
- London
- Manchester
- Newcastle
- Nottingham
- January
- July
- September
- BPC (PGDip)
- BPC LLM
BPC/BPC LLM:
- 1 year (full-time)
- 2 years (part-time)
BPC:
- £16,450 (London)
- £14,900 (outside London)
- £12,300 (Newcastle)
- £13,900 (Nottingham)
BPC LLM:
- £19,250 (London)
- £17,450 (outside London)
- £12,300 (Newcastle)
- £13,900 (Nottingham)
BPC/BPC LLM:
- Minimum 2:1 qualifying law degree; or
- Minimum 2:1 non-law degree + law conversion course; or
- Minimum 2:2 non-law degree + minimum Commendation in law conversion course.
Undergraduate degree with 2:2 considered on exceptional basis
Location
Bristol
Start Date
Course Structure
- BTC (PGDip)
- BTC LLM
Duration
BTC/BTC LLM:
- 1 year (full-time)
Fess (Per Year)
- BTC: £13,750
- BTC LLM: £15,750
Entry Req
BTC/BTC LLM:
- Minimum 2:2 qualifying law degree; or
- Minimum 2:2 non-law degree + law conversion course
Additional Req
Contact
Bar Training Course (BTC)
Bristol
September
- BTC (PGDip)
- BTC LLM
BTC/BTC LLM:
- 1 year (full-time)
- BTC: £13,750
- BTC LLM: £15,750
BTC/BTC LLM:
- Minimum 2:2 qualifying law degree; or
- Minimum 2:2 non-law degree + law conversion course
*Although we try our best to keep the data accurate, kindly check the relevant University’s website for up to date information.
**This information was either provided to us or taken directly from the relevant University’s website.
***Other than the parameters listed, a university might have additional requirements as part of course application. Kindly see the relevant university’s website for all the course information.