Pg Dip Bar Training Course (Two-Part)

Undertaking this training in two separate parts gives you added flexibility. You can manage your financial commitment, as you pay the tuition fee to complete part one first then, if successful, decide whether to continue. You can also test your abilities before committing to it fully.

Accreditations and partnerships:

• Part one of the training is delivered one day a week (on a Friday), from August to December, providing opportunities for you to work or undertake pro bono activities alongside your studies, or to study around your family commitments
• Part two is delivered over two days a week (Thursday and Friday), from February to June. Applicants are welcomed to join part two of our course, if they have studied and passed part one at another institution.

Having successfully completed parts one and two, you will have the option to transfer onto our Bar Training Course (BTC), undertake extra options, project or dissertation modules, and graduate with an LLM. These modules are designed to reinforce your development as a reflective practitioner with responsibility for your own self-development.Why study the Bar Training Course (Two-Part)?The Bar Training Course provides the foundation to your career as a barrister. Part of the vocational stage 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.Why UWE Bristol?Choosing to undertake your BTC (Two-Part) at UWE Bristol offers you the assurance of studying with a well-established education provider.Part one of the two-part course is not delivered online, but in face-to-face workshops. With the exception of occasional online lectures, you will benefit from the same quality of face-to-face tuition as students undertaking our BTC.You will be taught by highly experienced tutors, who are all qualified barristers or solicitors, and we will use substantial face-to-face teaching, feedback and formative assessments, to embed your learning, hone your skills and give you the strongest foundation for your legal career.Choosing this mode of study also means you can test your abilities to study at this level in stages, before committing to the full fees and course. You will first study the part one knowledge subjects; at which point you can decide whether to continue with the course. Both parts are taught face to face, to maximise your potential to succeed.We place a strong emphasis on personal and academic support, giving you regular contact with your personal tutor at all stages, to support you with the rigorous demands of the course, alongside access to extensive university-wide resources.Our well-established links to the local and national Chambers and Bar also open the door to significant career-enhancing opportunities, such as competitions, mock pupillage interviews, career talks, guest lectures and pro bono work, all designed to help you gain maximum value from your training.Where can it take me?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, while others take this sought-after qualification into careers as legal associates, managers or legal advisers, or into other sectors.

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

• 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 and 73 in the Pearson test of English

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 (Two Part).

Career-enhancing opportunities

Through our strong links with Chambers in Bristol and nationally, you will have regular opportunities to connect with practice, and take part in:

• Chambers-sponsored advocacy and mooting competitions, and national and international mediation and arbitration competitions
• 'Ask the experts' events
• Mentoring, careers advice and talks
• Advocacy master classes
• Mock pupillage interviews
• CV writing clinics
• Judicial marshalling
• 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.