FAQs

Frequently asked questions about the BPTC

Please read this page before contacting the Bar Standards Board with BPTC queries.

How do I apply for a place on the BPTC?

Go to www.barprofessionaltraining.org.uk where you will find an online application form. Admission for the BPTC is only through this method. The 2010/11 application system (for a place on a 2011/12 course) opened in October 2010. The full timetable can be found on www.barprofessionaltraining.org.uk in addition to the BPTC page of this section.

May I apply directly to the Bar Professional Training Course institutions?

No.

Can I study for the BPTC by Distance Learning or P/T?

There is currently one provision for partial Distance Learning of the BPTC at UWE Bristol. There are five other BPTC Providers offering the course on a Part-Time basis (the part time course takes two years to complete):

  • BPP Law School
  • College of Law
  • City Law School
  • Manchester Metropolitan University
  • University of Northumbria
  • University of the West of England

May I make an application if I am an overseas student?

Yes. Applications are judged on merit.

A place on the Bar Professional Training Course does not mean that overseas students may practise in England and Wales. The BPTC confers the qualification of Barrister but without rights of audience. Students without rights of employment and residency in the UK may not practise in the UK. Please note that some institutions do have different fees for home and overseas students, so check the prospectus of the institution where you wish to study.

We also suggest that overseas students wishing to apply for a place on the BPTC should check with the jurisdiction where they wish to practise that the BPTC is recognised in that jurisdiction.

Can I make an application on behalf of someone else?

No. A person's application must be their own.

What are the selection criteria?

To be considered for a place on the BPTC, applicants need to satisfy the Academic Stage requirements. Usually this would entail gaining (or being predicted to gain) a minimum of a 2ii in their Qualifying Law Degree or a 2ii in a non-law degree and a Pass in the Common Professional Examination, or Graduate Diploma in Law.

All students must comply with the English language requirement, which can be downloaded from here

Individual Providers may impose additional selection criteria above these minimum requirements, so you should check the prospectus of the places you wish to apply to.

Do I have to be a member of an Inn of Court?

You must have joined a Inn by the 31st May of the year in which your BPTC is due to commence, as there are often delays in processing applications during August/September. If you are not a member of an Inn when BPTC registration starts, you will not be able to register on the course.

Students are also stongly warned that if there is likely to be a problem with your application to an Inn, please ensure that you apply as early as possible as this may mean that you cannot start a course if your membership is not confirmed in time for enrolment.

What sources of financial support are available to BPTC students?

The Inns offer a wide range of scholarships. The closing date for such awards is usually November in the year before the BPTC starts. Some chambers give awards towards the BPTC or allow students to draw on pupillage awards during the BPTC. Please consult the Bar Council Website for further information on funding. The majority of students have to depend on bank loans and/or other forms of support. Many banks offer loans for vocational courses but their terms and repayment rates vary, so you should study all options before making any commitment.

How much are the fees for the BPTC? 

2010/11 fees vary between £9,500 and £15,750 for the year. The BPTC Institutions require a non-refundable deposit upon acceptance of a BPTC place, which will be deducted from your course fees upon enrolment. Applying for the BPTC through BPTC Online costs £40.

What is deferral of Call and how does it affect BPTC graduates?

The Bar Standards Board has completed the consultation stage with regard to the issue of whether or not it is in the public interest to defer the stage at which a person is called to the Bar (and thereby acquires the title of Barrister), from the end of the vocational stage of training until the person is qualified to practise. Click on the following link to see the final report: Closed Consultations

Where can I study the BPTC?

Please follow Course Contact Information to see where you can study the BPTC.  

What if I am unable to attend part of the course?

You will be expected to attend and prepare thoroughly for all classes and there is a strict minimum 90% attendance requirement. Failure to adhere to this may result in the need to withdraw from the course. You should be sure that you are able to make such a commitment.

Applicants with disabilities that may prevent them fulfilling this requirement are able to discuss possible alternate arrangements with their provider.

 

If you have been unable to find the answer to your query please email:

Rosie Faulkner  - BPTC queries

Steve Behr - Academic Stage Queries