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Depending on your chosen institution, PGDL fees range between £5000 and £12,000, with the average for a full-time PGDL course being approximately £8,400.
To see the PGDL fees for specific universities, take a look at our PGDL Course Comparison Table!
It is also important to bear in mind that you will be expected to any living costs (accommodation, travel, food etc) alongside course fees, so it is vital to ensure that you have access to the necessary funds before signing up to a course – and you’re sure you want to go ahead with it!
There are a number of possibilities for funding your PGDL, including:
For daily tips and tricks on how to fund your PGDL, join our Non-Law Students Facebook Help Group now!
Unfortunately, as is the case for both the LPC and the BTC, the PGDL cannot be funded through postgraduate government funding. The good news is that the majority of high-street banks offer graduate loans to those who have left university relatively recently. The loan amount ranges from £1,000 – £15,000. As part of this, you will need to submit an application to the bank explaining how the course will boost your employment prospects.
There is also a company called Future Finance who offer flexible student loans for university between £2,000 – £40,000.
Many law schools offer GDL scholarships and bursaries for students, including:
The University of Law has a scholarship fund of £2 million overall.
Its PGDL scholarships include:
| Scholarship | Per Successful Candidate | Eligibility Criteria | Number of Scholarships Available |
|---|---|---|---|
| Career Changer | Full Fee & Partial Awards available | • Have received an offer for one of our postgraduate courses • Evidence of previous work experience, transferable skills that will assist you to progress to a new career and motivation for a career change. | 3 Full Fee and 140 Partial Awards |
| Choose Law/Set for Success | Full Fee & Partial Awards | • 2:2 undergraduate degree or above • Received an offer for one of our postgraduate law courses. • Meet the Widening Participation Criteria | 2 full-fee awards and 2 awards of £2,000 for runners-up |
| Law First | £3,000 | • 1st class undergraduate degree or a Distinction at master’s level • Have received an offer for one of our postgraduate courses | 15 awards of £3,000 each |
| The Lord Blunkett Widening Access Awards | £1,000 | • Have received an offer for one of our postgraduate courses • Meet the Widening Participation Criteria | 20 awards of £1,000 |
| Nottingham Postgraduate Award | £1,000 | • You will need to have offered, accepted and been sent confirmation of your acceptance of a course place with the University | All students |
BPP University is expanding its scholarship programme fund to £1 million overall.
The institution offers a number of scholarships for PGDL students, including:
| Scholarship | Per Successful Candidate | Eligibility Criteria | Number of Scholarships Available |
|---|---|---|---|
| Career Commitment Scholarship | £2000 | Provide evidence of: • Strong academics, • Resilience, • A solid volunteering and/or pro bono background, • Dedication to progressing your career, Strong leadership, entrepreneurial, innovation or other transferable skills | Not stated |
| Dean of Law School Scholarship | Full Fee | Demonstrate: • An outstanding standard of academic achievement • Commitment to their legal career. | Not stated |
| Future Leader Scholarship | Full Fee | Showcase outstanding leadership skills or innovation ability, with the drive and ambition to become a future leader within the legal profession. | Not stated |
| Chancellor’s Scholarship | Full Fee | Demonstrate: • A unique and inspiring legal career journey • Overcoming obstacles or providing outstanding contribution to charitable causes. | Not stated |
| Macfarlanes BPP Scholarship | Full Fee | Supports a student from lower socio-economic background who is interested in pursuing a career in law, through funding their SQE studies and providing them with a professional mentor. | Offered to one student |
Many universities offer their own scholarships for PGDL students, as part of wider postgraduate courses funding schemes. We recommend you look at your chosen university’s website for more information.
If you know you would like to become a barrister after completing your PGDL, the four Inns of Court offer scholarships to pay for both your PGDL and your Bar Professional Training Course (which you must complete after your PGDL).
It’s worth noting you can only apply to one Inn of Court per application cycle.
| Inns of Court | Per Successful Candidate | Eligibility Critera |
|---|---|---|
| Inner Temple GDL scholarship | £10,000 & £7500 (2 x Princess Royal Scholarship) The rest are dependent on applicant’s financial situation | Demonstrate: • Intellectual ability; • Motivation to succeed at the Bar; • Ability to get on with a range of people; • Financial need is also taken into account. |
| Lincoln’s Inn GDL scholarship | Dependent on applicant’s financial situation, but around £5000 each. | Demonstrate: • Intellectual strength; • Motivation to succeed at the Bar; • Complete integrity; • Confidence and sensitivity towards other people. |
| Middle Temple GDL scholarship | Dependent on applicant’s financial situation, but not full-fee | Demonstrate • Intellectual ability; • Motivation to succeed at the Bar; • Potential as an advocate; |
BPP and the University of Law offer the option to pay your PGDL costs in instalments by direct debit.
University of Law, for example, offers you four different payment plans:
If you secure a training contract before you start the course, for example, your law firm may cover your course fees through what’s known as law firm sponsorship, and even offer a living allowance.
For this to happen, the best timeline for non-law students would be:
| Academic year | Actions |
|---|---|
| First year | Apply for legal work experience and internships for the summer of your first year, to bolster your CV |
| Second year | Apply for vacation schemes for the summer of your second year, to once again put you at an advantage in your applications |
| Third year | Apply for your training contract, which you will commence in two years time (after one year for your GDL, and one year for your LPC) |
The legal work experience you’ve collected over your first and second year should definitely work in your favour when applying for your training contract.
If, however, you’re already in your second/third year, it’s not too late – but there’s no better time to get started than today! Start applying for work shadowing placements and writing for law publications like The Lawyer Portal.
Some law firms even offer to retrospectively pay for your PGDL fees if you’ve already started.
For more detailed information, visit the law firm‘s website to find out more.
Completing the PGDL part-time can be a good option for those who would like to complete their course while working.
Many universities offer their PGDL part-time courses over two years rather than the usual one, allowing you to continue work at the same time.
However, the PGDL is a challenging feat, and the decision to do the law conversion course part time should not be taken lightly – make sure you can effectively balance your workload to ensure you pass the course whilst maintaining a job.
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