PGDip Bar Training Course

The BTC provides the foundation to your career as a barrister. Part of the vocational component of training for the Bar of England and Wales, it covers the advocacy skills, and detailed knowledge of the law, required to be able to confidently work with clients and present legal cases in court.

you will undertake the seven compulsory modules required for the vocational component which will take up to nine months. You then have a choice of further options, project or dissertation modules leading to the master's award. These modules are designed to reinforce your development as a reflective practitioner with responsibility for your own self-development. Depending upon your optional choices/dissertation, this could take up to an additional 12 months to complete the master's qualification. Eligible students will be able to apply for postgraduate loan funding to complete the LLM course.

Careers

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.

After completing the PGDip, you have the option of undertaking further taught, dissertation or project modules and graduating with an LLM Bar Training Course.

Entry requirements

As stipulated by the BSB you will 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)
• A pass in the Bar Course Aptitude Test
• Membership of an Inn of Court
• English language ability (see below).

Where students are offered a place on the UWE BTC course, this offer will be conditional on having satisfied these thresholds at the time of registering onto the course.

All students who apply for a place on the UWE BTC course will be considered for the offer of a place by reference to the extent 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 a prospective student's answers on the online application form.