The University of Law

Bar Practice Course (BPC)

The University of LawBirmingham Bristol Leeds Liverpool London Moorgate Manchester Newcastle Nottingham, United Kingdom

Course overview

The Bar Practice Course (BPC) is the qualifying postgraduate course allowing graduates to prepare for practise as barristers in England and Wales. It is the vocational stage of training which you’re required to pass before you can go on to complete the final, practical stage of training: pupillage. Our Bar Practice Course provides an ideal environment for developing confidence and the advocacy, communication and leadership skills you’ll need to thrive at the Bar.

With our experienced academic team and advanced learning technology, you will gain the expertise needed to start your career as a barrister. Importantly, whichever of our campuses you choose to study the BPC at, our students achieve consistently strong results in the Bar Standards Board litigation assessments, with Leeds ranked 1st in the UK for Criminal Litigation, Newcastle 3rd for Criminal Litigation, and Bristol 2nd for Civil Litigation in the April 2025 sittings.* *As highlighted in the Bar Standards Board Chair’s Report, April 2025 (Part 2: Litigation Exams)

Key highlights

  • Vocational stage of barrister training required before starting pupillage
  • Prepares graduates to practise as barristers in England and Wales
  • Develops advocacy, communication and leadership skills for the Bar
  • Taught by an experienced academic team using advanced learning technology
  • Leeds ranked 1st in UK for Criminal Litigation, April 2025
  • Bristol ranked 2nd for Civil Litigation in April 2025 sittings

Entry requirements

  • Degree: 2:1 — or above

Scholarships

  • Bar Practice Course (BPC) Award

    Winners of our advocacy awards and scholarships will be required to become a member of our Advocacy Committee.

  • Baroness Warsi and Sadiq Khan Full Fee Scholarship

  • Business First Scholarships

    Awards of £5,000 each are available to all postgraduate business Master’s courses.

    Up to £5,000

  • Campus Dean’s Award

    Awards of £2,000 each are available to all Legal Practice Course (LPC), LLM Legal Practice (SQE1&2) and Master of Laws (LLMs) courses.

    Up to £2,000

  • Career Changer Scholarship - Postgraduate

    Full Fee Scholarships and partial fee scholarships are available for our PGDL, MA Law (Conversion), MA Law (SQE1), Master of Laws (LLMs), MSc Psychology, MSc Computer Science courses.

  • Law First Scholarships

    Awards of £5,000 each are available to all Legal Practice Course (LPC) and LLM Legal Practice (SQE1&2) courses; Awards of £3,000 each are available to all PGDL, MA Law (Conversion), MA Law (SQE1) and Master of Laws (LLMs).

  • Lord Blunkett Widening Access Scholarship- Postgraduate

    Awards of £2,000 each are available to all postgraduate courses, excluding short courses.

    Up to £2,000

  • Science First Scholarships

    Awards of £5,000 each are available to all MSc Psychology, MSc Computer Science and MSc Criminology courses.

    Up to £5,000

  • The Amal Clooney Scholarship

Careers this course leads to

  • Pupil Barrister
  • Barrister
  • Criminal Barrister
  • Civil Barrister
  • Employed Barrister

Cost of study

UK/Home: London: £18,100; Outside London: £16,450 | International: London: £18,100; Outside London: £16,450

Admission

Applications are made through AHZ at no cost. Share your transcripts, English test scores and personal statement, and your AHZ Counsellor will review your profile, submit your application to The University of Law, and guide you through interview, offer, CAS and visa — right up to enrolment.

Ready to start?

Book a free consultation and we'll map your fastest route to your place.

Apply Now
Download Free Guide