University students and graduates

The first stage of training for the Bar is the academic component, which will remain a law degree or a non-law degree combined with the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL).

The second stage of training is the vocational component, which trains you in the specific skills you need to become a barrister. This has traditionally taken the form of the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC), but there will be several changes taking place next year. From September 2020, the Bar Standards Board will permit training providers to offer four new routes to become a barrister, details of which are outlined below.  Please note that it is unlikely that all of these will be available from 2021, though there is a list below under 'Current Training Providers' of those who have been authorised so far.

Please see below for providers of the vocational component and which course(s) they offer. You should check their websites for more details about the cost of each course and the application cycle. Please note that some of the fees shown below do not include the Bar Standards Board fee.

Authorised providers

BPP University

Courses offered:

• Vocational component (in one part) of the three-step pathway
• Vocational component (in two parts) of the four-step pathway

Application deadline: Rolling (second round closes in September)
Cost: Approximately £13,000-£16,000 (depending on location and type of course)
Locations: Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, London, Manchester

Cardiff University 

Courses offered:

• Vocational component (in one part) of the three-step pathway

Application deadline: Rolling on a first-come, first-serve basis until 31 July 2022
Cost: £18,700
Location: Cardiff

City Law School, City, University of London

Courses offered:

• Vocational component (in one part) of the three-step pathway

Application deadline: Rolling
Cost: £16,500 (depending on course)
Location: London

Inns of Court College of Advocacy

Course offered:

• Vocational component (in two parts) of the four-step pathway

Application deadline: Friday 7 January 2022 (for start dates in Sept-22 and Jan-23)
Cost: £14,155
Location: London

Manchester Metropolitan University

Course offered:

• Vocational component (in one part) of the three-step pathway.

Application deadline: 13 August 2022
Cost: Check with university
Location: Manchester

Northumbria University

Courses offered:

• Vocational component (in one part) of the three-step pathway
• Integrated academic and vocational components of the integrated pathway

Application deadline: 30 June 2022 (applications will be considered after this time, but they are more likely to be successful before this deadline)
Cost: £12,300
Location: Newcastle

Nottingham Trent University

Course offered:

• Vocational component (in one part) of the three-step pathway

Application deadline: Rolling
Cost: £12,200
Location: Nottingham

The University of Hertfordshire

• Vocational component (in one part) of the three-step pathway
• Vocational component (in two parts) of the four-step pathway

Application deadline: Rolling
Cost: £14,500
Location: Hatfield

The University of Law

Course offered:

• Vocational component (in one part) of the three-step pathway

Application deadline: Rolling (second round closes in September)
Cost: Approximately £12,000-£17,000 (depending on location and course type)
Locations: Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, London, Manchester, Nottingham

The University of the West of England

Courses offered:

• Vocational component (in one part) of the three-step pathway
• Vocational component (in two parts) of the four-step pathway

Application deadline: Rolling until full
Cost: £13,500
Locations: Bristol

Please check each institution's website for further information about the course in which you are interested.

You should browse our pages to find out more information about opportunities to learn more about life at the Bar, including work experience.

The Bar Council is supporting the 10,000 Black Interns programme, coordinating internships for summer 2022. You should apply by 23:59  Sunday 7 November 2021.

Mini-pupillages

Mini-pupillages are short periods of work experience, some of which are paid, which can give you an insight into life in a particular chambers or practice area. You should apply for mini-pupillages from your second year of university onwards.

Chambers Student advertises mini-pupillages centrally. Successful applicants for pupillage will normally have completed at least 3 mini-pupillages before applying, though please note that it is normally not necessary to do more than 5 in total. You should be strategic when choosing which mini-pupillages to do and focus on certain areas in which you may be interested (for example, there is no need to do a mini-pupillage in every practice area, and it may make you look unfocused if you do).