Postgraduate Diploma in Law (PGDL) - (conversion)
The University of LawBirmingham Bristol Egham (Royal Holloway) Exeter Hull Leeds Liverpool London Bloomsbury London Moorgate Manchester Newcastle Nottingham Reading Sheffield Southampton Online, United Kingdom
Course overview
The domestic application deadline for our May 2026 intake is Friday 1 May 2026 at 23:59pm (UK time). Join the largest community of postgraduate law conversion students.* Our Postgraduate Diploma in Law (PGDL) is a law conversion course that teaches you to think like a lawyer and prepare for the realities of life in legal practice. This course replaces our Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) and provides the foundation for the pathway into practice for non-law graduates who want to progress onto the SQE1 Preparation Course, and our LLM Legal Practice (SQE1&2) to qualify as a solicitor or the Bar Practice Course (BPC) to qualify as a barrister.
Our PGDL conversion course offers you a great chance to make the transition into legal study with excellent levels of support and guidance from our experienced, professional lecturers. Not only will you learn the academic law necessary for converting to law, but you will also focus on key skills and competencies crucial for your development as a lawyer. *Central Applications Board (LawCAB) 2024
Key highlights
- Law conversion course designed for non-law graduates
- Prepares you for SQE1 preparation and LLM Legal Practice routes
- Provides foundation for the Bar Practice Course to become a barrister
- Taught by experienced, professional lecturers with strong support
- Combines academic law with key practical legal skills and competencies
- Largest community of postgraduate law conversion students, per LawCAB 2024
Entry requirements
- Degree: 2:2 — to include any discipline; 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 £5,000Campus 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 £2,000Career 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 £2,000Science First Scholarships
Awards of £5,000 each are available to all MSc Psychology, MSc Computer Science and MSc Criminology courses.
Up to £5,000The Amal Clooney Scholarship
Careers this course leads to
- Solicitor
- Barrister
- Trainee solicitor
- Paralegal
- Legal adviser
Cost of study
UK/Home: London: £15,450; Outside London: £12,450 | International: London: £15,450; Outside London: £12,450
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.
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