Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL)
If you're interested in a law career and have a degree or management experience, then the GDL is for you. Our programme is designed to help you make the transition from graduate level into the legal profession. No prior knowledge of the law is needed.
The GDL is much more than a law conversion course. It readies you for practice by equipping you with the skills, knowledge and professional maturity that leading firms prize. Our course fully prepares you for the next step in your training – whether you want to become a solicitor or barrister.
We're a highly respected law school and provide legal training exclusively to 28 leading law firms.
Key Information
- More face-to-face tuition hours than any other leading provider – up to 21 hours a week
- Study on weekdays or weekends, in the morning, afternoon, or evening
- Online resource available for consolidation, revision and catch-up
- Gain a head-start in your legal career with our additional employability skills and specialist law subject courses
- All books and study materials included in the cost of your course
- Funding options available through the Law Loan, Scholarships and interest free flexible payment plans
- Study face-to-face or online, or combine online and classroom study
- Access specialist career advice from the moment you accept your place
- Get real-world insight from expert legal professionals and academics
- Start your course in January or September
- Personal tutor support with regular catch-up sessions
- Real-life course content prepares you for practice
- Benefit from additional practical support for international students
Preparing you for practice
Our Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL, formerly the CPE) is designed to help you make a smooth transition from being a non-law graduate to a professional. We don't just give you an excellent qualification, we give you an insight into working in practice – so you can excel in interviews and hit the ground running when you join a firm or chambers.
Once you've passed your GDL, you're guaranteed a place on our LPC – the next step to becoming a solicitor. You're also ready to undertake the BPTC, the next step to becoming a barrister. You can even take two extra modules and graduate with an LLB (GDL Conversion).
How the course is taught
We assume you have no prior knowledge of law when you start your GDL, so you get a full induction programme and a high level of support from day one. This includes outstanding learning materials and online resources all included in the fee.
Assessment
The programme is assessed using:
- one examination per module.
- one piece of coursework.
- statute analysis exam.
- case analysis exam.
- multiple choice test on the English Legal System.
- independent research essay
Independent research essay options
We offer over 12 different modules, and will always consider individual topics suggested by students. Current options include intellectual property (copyright, trademarks or patents), succession, company law family law, housing law, medical law and public international law.
You will receive feedback throughout the programme to help you achieve success and maximise your potential.
If you choose to study through distance learning you can sit your exams overseas.
Personalise your GDL timetable
BPP gives you more control over the way you study than any other provider face-to-face, online distance learning, or a combination of both. Classes are available morning, afternoon, evening and at the weekends. In centres outside of London, Leeds and Manchester, live GDL classes are taught on two set days per week during the core teaching term.
There are two start dates in January and the following September. For full-time study, both options take nine months. Or if you choose part-time and start in January, you'll finish in 18 months – ready to start the LPC or BPTC in September.
Study the GDL 100% online
With our high-quality distance learning materials you can study the entire GDL online. Watch or listen to lectures in MP4 format whenever and wherever you want, and log into online tutorials at scheduled times.
Value-added employability courses
With the BPP GDL, you're given access to an unrivalled range of free courses, designed to get you ahead and give you the edge in interviews. Highlights include:
- Additional specialist law courses – Start specialising early in areas such as Intellectual Property or International Law, so you can demonstrate more expertise than other graduates.
- Company Law programme – Because we're linked to BPP Business School, we can help you gain a commercial awareness of how law firms interact with the wider economy – something prized by employers.
- Professional Skills programme – Featuring areas like client care, ethics and legal research, you will develop the practical and communication skills used in top firms.
- Mandarin – Gain an insight into the language used in one of the world's most important markets with free Mandarin Chinese lessons (London only).
Specialist careers advice
From the moment you accept your place with our one-to-one support, we aim to give you an edge when it comes to getting a training contract or pupillage. You'll have everything from access to our vacancies database to advice on filling out job applications, intensive interview coaching, employer research and networking opportunities with top firms. For our Leeds and Manchester students, we can also organise work experience.
What you will experience in the classroom
You will study up to 21 hours a week in the classroom environment (a mixture of live and online dependant on your location), including the consolidation classes, with seminars and tutorials in one hour sessions. Class groups are around 18, giving you a good amount of student/tutor contact time and also creating a great atmosphere to learn, develop your thinking and build strong case arguments with your peers.
All our students also have a personal tutor, should you need any guidance or additional support outside of class time.
Modules
You’ll study an introduction to English Law followed by seven foundation modules, through a one-hour tutorial and a one-hour lecture per week – plus a weekly consolidation seminar in each subject (full-time).
As a part-time GDL student your modules will be structured as follows:
- Year one: Contract Law, The Law of Tort, Constitutional Law
- Year two: Land Law, Equity Law, Criminal Law, Law of the European Union, Resarch Project
Whether you're a full-time or part-time student, you can also choose to study our free optional professional skills modules:
- Oral communication skills
- Presentation skills
- Written communication skills
You can also take the following optional specialist legal subject modules:
- Evidence and Forensics
- Intellectual Property Law
- International Law
- Law in the City
- Company Law
You will learn about:
- What is needed for a contract to come into existence and be enforced
- The content of contracts, including the relative importance of different types of terms and defence mechanisms built into contracts
-
Vitiating factors which may undermine the validity of contracts
What happens when things go wrong
Our aim is to equip you with a sound knowledge and skills base, as well as an understanding of the underlying policy issues, to progress onto the professional stage of training and ultimately for practice as a commercial solicitor or barrister.
The syllabus typically includes:
- Introduction
- Offer and acceptance
- Intention to create legal relations
- Capacity
- Consideration
- Promissory estoppel
- Duress
- Terms
- Exemption clauses
- Misrepresentation
- Contracts against public policy
- Mistake
- Discharge
- Remedies
This has recently moved to the forefront of public debate, with the passing of the Human Rights Act of 1998 and the resultant flow of litigation.
During the study of this module you will become acquainted with the following notable areas:
- Nature of the UK Constitution
- Rule of law
- Separation of powers
- Institutions and mechanics of the state
- Human rights
- Judicial review
- Identify which issues require researching when presented with a question topic which is not formally taught on the GDL
- Research different areas of law relevant to a given area of research using a variety of paper and electronic sources
- Identify which primary and secondary legal sources are of relevance to a given area of research and to use them appropriately
- Understand and use the English language proficiently in the context of your analysis of a legal problem
- Read and digest legal materials written in technical and complex language and apply them to the area of independent legal research which you have selected
- Use the skills you develop on the GDL to apply your legal research to a problem or essay question
Secondly, it is arguably the most lucrative field of practice, particularly given the national obsession with the property market. Finally, study areas such as leases, mortgages and freehold cases involving anything from unscrupulous landlords to family in-fighting undoubtedly give rise to some genuinely interesting cases. Land Law is your chance to find out who really owns what.
In particular, your Land Law studies will take in the following areas:
- Difference between a lease and a licence
- Differences between registered and unregistered land
- Mortgages
- Easements
- Freehold covenants
The purpose of this module is to provide you with a framework of knowledge and skills which you will use in all of the other modules throughout the programme. It is designed (especially in relation to skills) to be introductory, with the expectation that through their use in other modules you will grow in competence and confidence.
Overall, this module aims to give you an excellent grounding to progress to the vocational stage of training (LPC if you wish to become a solicitor or BPTC a barrister).
The module consists of two primary elements:
- Skills introduces you to some of the core pervasive skills necessary to a law student, and in turn to a lawyer.
- English Legal System gives you an understanding of the legal system in England and Wales, including the sources of law, the people and organisations which operate in that system, and its future direction.
As well as following a comprehensive and informative taught programme, you will participate in independent learning exercises. This is to reflect the fact that students acquire practical legal skills most effectively through a "learn by doing" approach.
Perhaps few subjects are as dogged by the discrepancy between myth and reality than the law of the European Union. Your study of this subject will examine the origins and nature of laws created by the institutions of the European Union. It will also explore practical concepts which run through European law and affect the way every one of us lives our lives.
In particular, you will study:
- Free movement of people, enabling citizens of the Union to move around Europe unimpeded – to study, work or just reside in any member state
- Free movement of goods
- EU competition law
- Sex discrimination
Many people's first introduction to the legal system is criminal law, whether through reading the true crime stories which frequently dominate the newspaper headlines, or the fictionalised courtroom dramas ever present on our television screens.
Studying Criminal Law, you will now have the opportunity to uncover the reality behind the headlines and dramas. In particular, your criminal studies will include:
- Elements of some of the most prolific offences in our Criminal Justice System e.g. theft
- What happens when criminals fail and the principles behind attempted offences
- What defences may be available to those accused of committing criminal offences
The study of Tort Law will fairly and impartially examine this growing and controversial area of litigation.
In particular, you will study the following:
- Elements of the tort of negligence
- Clinical negligence
- Employers' liability
- Defamation
The module is designed to provide you with a thorough understanding of the fundamental principles of equity, the concept of the trust and their practical relevance. You will study both traditional deed-created trusts and the evolving role of equity and trusts in the commercial context.
The focus of the module is the practical application of this topic to real life scenarios. You will learn how to analyse problems and offer advice on complex legal principles, taking into account commercial factors as well as the relevant legal principles.
This is intended to aid the transition to the professional programmes by giving you greater commercial awareness and ultimately to enhance your prospects in professional legal practice.
The module is split into five parts, comprising the following topics:
Part 1
- Fundamental Principles
- Introduction to Equity
- Introduction to Trusts
Part 2
- Express Trusts
- The Three Certainties
- Formalities
- Constitution
- Secret trusts
- Purpose trusts
- Charitable trusts
Part 3
- Implied Trusts
- Resulting and Constructive Trusts
- Implied Trusts of the Home
Part 4
- Administration of Trusts
- Fiduciary Duties
- Investment and Delegation
- Maintenance and Advancement
Part 5
- Breach and Remedies
- Breach of Trust
- Tracing
- Liability of Strangers
- Equitable Remedies
Entry requirements
UK/EU Students
Our Graduate Diploma in Law (or CPE) is right for you if you:
- are a non-law graduate
- are an overseas law graduate
- have a non-qualifying law degree
- are a non-graduate with significant managerial experience.
If you're a UK graduate, you'll need a minimum 2:2 honours degree or above (or equivalent) in any subject from a recognised UK institution. You are guaranteed a place if your honours degree is a 2:1 or above. Students without a degree from the UK or ROI will also need the Certificate of Academic Standing (COAS).
Non-EU international students
We welcome students from all over the world. For our GDL course you'll need:
- a Certificate of Academic Standing (COAS) from the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) or Bar Standards Board (BSB).
- if English is not your first language, an IELTS level 6.5 score or equivalent, with a minimum level 6.0 in each area.
Once you're accepted on the course, we're able to offer specialist support for arranging visas and other matters. If you need help or advice, please call our support team on +44 (0)20 7430 7065.
If you do not hold a university degree
To apply for a place on the GDL course you'll need a Certificate of Academic Standing (COAS) from the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) or Bar Standards Board (BSB).
To find out more about whether you may be eligible on the basis of your professional experience you can:
- visit the SRA website
- call the SRA on +44 (0) 870 606 2555 or email contactcentre@sra.org.uk
- contact the the BSB.
How to apply
Due to high demand we recommend you apply as soon as you're ready – priority is given to applicants who have placed BPP as their first choice.
- Applications for the full-time GDL must be made online through the Central Applications Board (CAB).
- For our part-time GDL you apply direct to BPP using the form at the top of this page.
If you have any questions about your application you can contact Admissions on +44 (0) 845 077 5566 or at admissions@bpp.com
Key dates
January 2012 start
- Applications are now open
- The programme starts on 6 January 2012 and late registration is available until 4 February 2011
September 2012 start
- Applications are now open
- The programme starts during the week commencing 24 September 2012
If you'd like to know more about a career in law, our week-long Summer school will give you a good insight into the profession.
Study locations
You can study your GDL face-to-face at our Law Centres across the UK. Here you'll find state-of-the-art facilities and comfortable, high-quality classroom environments.
If you prefer to study from home or overseas, you can also choose our Graduate Diploma in Law distance learning option with our high quality online media and materials. In addition, we offer bi-weekly face to face support classes for distance learning students based in Ireland at our Dublin office. Lectures are delivered online in Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge and Liverpool.
Study centres in:
- BPP London Waterloo
- BPP Birmingham
- BPP Bristol
- BPP Cambridge*
- BPP Leeds
- BPP Liverpool*
- BPP Manchester
- BPP Dublin
*Subject to validation
Paying for your course
UK and EU students can study part or full-time, and we offer several interest free instalment plans to spread the cost of your GDL programme.
GDL January 2012 start
Full- and part-time courses
| Location | Fee (inc £250 deposit) | Total |
| Birmingham | £7,250 | £7,250 |
| Bristol | £7,250 | £7,250 |
| Leeds | £7,150 | £7,150 |
| London (Waterloo) | £8,950 | £8,950 |
| Manchester | £7,150 | £7,150 |
GDL September 2012 start
Full-time course
| Location | Fee (inc £250 deposit) | Total |
| Birmingham | £7,620 | £7,620 |
| Bristol | £7,620 | £7,620 |
| Cambridge* | £7,620 | £7,620 |
| Leeds | £7,510 | £7,510 |
| Liverpool* | £7,510 | £7,510 |
| London (Waterloo) | £9,400 | £9,400 |
| Manchester | £7,510 | £7,510 |
Part-time course
GDL part-time fees for the full two-year course:
| Location | Fee (inc £250 deposit) | Total |
| Birmingham | £7,620 | £7,620 |
| Bristol | £7,620 | £7,620 |
| Cambridge* | £7,620 | £7,620 |
| Leeds | £7,510 | £7,510 |
| Liverpool* | £7,510 | £7,510 |
| London (Waterloo) | £9,400 | £9,400 |
| Manchester | £7,510 | £7,510 |
Distance learning
| Location | Fee (inc £250 deposit) | Total |
| London Waterloo | £9,400 | £9,400 |
| Dublin | £7,510 | £7,510 |
GDL exemptions – part-time
| Location | Fee (inc £250 deposit) | Total |
| Leeds | £1,030 | £1,030 |
| London (Holborn and Waterloo) | £1,300 | £1,300 |
Payment plans
You can choose to pay in via multiple interest-free instalments throughout your full-time or part-time GDL course.
- Download a full list of fees and payment plans (PDF, 12KB).
International students
Our GDL is the same price for international students as for UK and EU students. For full-time study, you can pay in two interest free instalments.
| Mode | Location | Deposit | 1st instalment CAS | 2nd instalment 16 Apr 2012 |
| FT | London | £250 | £4,672.50 | £4,027.50 |
| FT | Leeds | £250 | £3,682.50 | £3,217.50 |
| FT | Manchester | £250 | £3,682.50 | £3,217.50 |
| FT | Bristol | £250 | £3,737.50 | £3,262.50 |
| FT | Birmingham | £250 | £3,737.50 | £3,262.50 |
Further information
If you’re progressing from the Summer School to your GDL, you’ll receive a 20% refund on your Summer School fees. To find out more information please visit our Summer School page are also available for the GDL.
For more information, please call 0845 075 3501, or email admissions@bpp.com
Scholarships
*Subject to validation
International students
For more information:
Tel: +44 (0)207 430 7065
Email: internationaladmissions@bpp.com
