The Bar Practice Course (BPC) is the postgraduate course you must take to qualify as a barrister. It is the second stage of the three you must complete to qualify as a barrister. First is the academic stage; you must have an undergraduate law degree, or a non-law degree with a law conversion course. The minimum grade requirement is a 2:2, but it will put you in better standing if you achieve at least a 2:1. Next is the vocational stage, which is the postgraduate Bar course.
The final stage is pupillage, in which you spend a year practicing as a pupil barrister at a chambers or other qualifying organisation. Additionally, prospective barristers must join one of the four Inns of Court and complete 12 qualifying sessions, which take place in between the academic and vocational stage. You must also complete the BCAT (Bar Course Aptitude Test) before beginning the BPC.
Bar courses are sometimes named differently depending on which provider you study with (such as the ‘Bar Practice Course’ or ‘Barrister Training Course’) but all bar courses are assessed in the same way and lead to the same qualification needed to be ‘called to the Bar.’
Name of University  | Course Name | FT/PT/Online | Course Fees | Course Start | Entry Requirements | Location | Special Features |
University of Law | Bar Practice Course | Full-time and part-time | £13,400 – London £12,100 – Outside London | July, September, January | Minimum of 2:1 from LLB OR 2:2 in non-law degree and commendation in PGDL | Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Nottingham, Liverpool, Manchester, London Bloomsbury | 50 hours of advocacy training with real barristers and judges in mock trials |
The University of the West of England | Bar Training Course | Full-time and part-time | £15,500 with LLM | September | Minimum 2:2 in LLB or non-law and PGDL, pass BCAT, membership of Inn of Court | Frenchay Campus, Bristol | Strong emphasis on personal and academic support, well established link to local and national chambers, mock pupillage interviews, pro-bono opportunities |
The Inns of Court College of Advocacy | Bar Course | Full-time, flexible two part programme | £13, 481 | September, January | Minimum 2:1 in LLB or non-law with commendation or distinction in PGDL, pass BCAT, membership in Inn of Court | Kings College London | Course is split into two stages; first is virtual with interactive learning techniques, second part taught within the Inns of Court. Emphasis on advocacy and strong links to the profession. |
Nottingham Trent University | Barrister Training Course | Full-time | £14,800 (launch award – reduction of £1000 for 2021 start as the course is new) | September, March | Minimum of 2:1 from LLB, 2:2 with evidence of exceptional achievement elsewhere, pass BCAT, join an Inn of Court. | Nottingham | Small class sizes, mock courtrooms, multi-award-winning pro-bono programme through Legal Advice Centre. |
Northumbria University | Bar Course | Full and part-time | £12,300 | September | Minimum 2:1 LLB and non-law with commendation in PGDL, 2:2 considered exceptionally on individual basis, pass BCAT and membership in Inn of Court. | Newcastle | Vulnerable witness training, practitioner advocacy masterclass, mentoring scheme, international mooting. |
Manchester Metropolitan | Bar Training Course | Full-time, part-time, part-time flexible | £12,000 | September | Minimum 2:2 in LLB OR non-law with PGDL, pass BCAT | Manchester | Supportive community, professional lecture series, legal hub, flexible study, pro-bono network, specialist Bar facility |
City, University of London | Bar Vocational Studies | Full-time, part-time | £16,500 £19,500 with LLM | September | 2:2 in LLB or non-law with PGDL, pass BCAT, membership in Inn of Court | Northampton Square, London | Small class size, one-to-one feedback sessions, advice on CV’s, mock interviews, practitioner panels and networking events |
Cardiff University | Bar Training Course | Full-time | £17,450 | September | Minimum 2:1 degree, 2:2 considered on individual basis, pass BCAT, membership of Inn of Court. | Cardiff | Only Russell Group University to offer the BTC, all tutors are barristers or solicitors, highly regarded training, significant face to face support. |
BPP Law School | Barrister Training Course | Full and part-time | £14,870 – London £13,870 – Outside London | September, January | Minimum of 2:1 from LLB or 2:2 with extenuating circumstances. Satisfactory video evidence, pass the BCAT, membership of Inn of Court, satisfactory reference. | Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Manchester, London Holbury, | Specialist career advice, well-being support, employability week and pro-bono opportunities |
By Lauren Kelly