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The City Law School, London. This is one of the 10 providers of the Bar Course.

The Bar Course is a postgraduate vocational course which allows graduates of law to study and train to be barristers in England and Wales. A total of ten institutions[1][2] are authorised by the Bar Standards Board to run the Bar Course, and all students of the Bar Course are required to register with one of the four Inns of Court prior to enrolment.[3] The Inns of Court are the only institutions authorised to call students to the Bar of England and Wales, whereby those who successfully complete the Bar Course are eligible to be named as barristers[4][5]. The Bar Course was known until 2020 as the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC),[1] and before September 2010 was known as the Bar Vocational Course (BVC).[6] Individual providers offer the Bar Course under different names, but their curricula remain substantively the same.[7]

The Bar Course is the vocational component of Bar training, the second of the three-stage route to qualifying as a barrister in England and Wales.[8] The first stage is the academic component, requiring the completion of either: a qualifying undergraduate law degree with at least lower second-class (2:2) honours; or a non-law degree with at least 2:2 honours and a Postgraduate Diploma in Law. The third stage, following successful completion of the Bar Course, is the work-based component completed by way of pupillage.

This vocational component of Bar training can be completed in four different ways, including:

  • the three-step pathway (vocational component completed in one part in addition to the academic and pupillage components);
  • four-step pathway (vocational component completed in two parts, in addition to the academic and pupillage components);
  • integrated pathway (vocational and academic component combined, followed by pupillage); or
  • a combination of the academic, vocational and pupillage components.[9]

Curriculum and previous entry requirements

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Curriculum

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The Bar Course consists of two examinations set centrally by the Bar Standards Board (BSB), in addition to vocational modules designed, set and marked by providers, with the passing mark set by the BSB. The centrally-set examinations are in Civil Litigation and Criminal Litigation, Evidence & Sentencing. The Civil Litigation examination consists of two multiple-choice question papers, which are closed-book and open-book respectively. The Criminal Litigation examination consists of a single, closed-book multiple-choice question paper. The pass mark for the BSB centrally-set exams is determined by way of standard-setting.[10]

The vocational modules are listed as follows:

  • Advocacy
  • Drafting
  • Opinion Writing
  • Legal Research
  • Conference Skills
  • Professional Ethics

Save for Legal Research and Professional Ethics, which are both marked on a pass/fail basis, the vocational modules have a pass mark set at 60%.[11][12]

Previous entry requirements

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In addition to passing the Bar Course Aptitude Test (BCAT), the minimum entry requirements for the BPTC was a qualifying undergraduate degree in law with no less than lower second-class (2:2) honours or a non-law academic degree with lower second-class (2:2) honours alongside the Graduate Diploma in Law.[13] Additionally students from outside English speaking countries were required to demonstrate their oral and written English language ability was at least equivalent to a minimum score of 7.5 in each section of the IELTS academic test or a minimum score of 73 in each part of the Pearson Test of English (academic).[14] On 31 July 2022, the BCAT was abolished.[15]

Qualification

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Upon successful completion of the Bar Course and completing at least 10 Qualifying Sessions with their Inn of Court, students are eligible to be Called to the Bar.[16] Each Inn of Court offers its own programme of Qualifying Sessions, which include but are not limited to lectures, advocacy training events and formal dinners[17]. After being Called to the Bar, successful graduates of the Bar Course who have not yet completed pupillage are known as unregistered barristers.[18]

Following Call, unregistered barristers have five years to gain pupillage.[19] Those undergoing pupillage are known as pupil barristers; after successful completion of pupillage, they are able to practice as barristers.[20]

Criticisms

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BPTC (2010-2020)

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In April 2015, Chair of the Bar Council Alastair Macdonald raised concerns about the financial risk involved in taking the BPTC, claiming that "There are too many people spending too much money in order to train [...] with no realistic prospect of being able to make a start in the profession". In the same month, a report commissioned by the Bar Council heavily criticised BPTC providers. The report suggested that course providers were "using the system to make money from people with no realistic prospect of pupillage", and claimed that the course was "not highly regarded by practitioners." The report suggested increasing standards for the course, and introducing a new test to replace the BCAT, which then had a 98% pass rate, though there were plans to increase the pass mark.[21][22] Jeremy Robson, a senior lecturer at Nottingham Law School, denied these claims. He noted that all prospective students receive a health warning noting the low number of pupillages compared to course places, and that the practitioners consulted in the working group were "drawn from a small section of the profession."[23]

Bar Course (2020 onwards)

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Since the abolition of the BPTC, the Bar Course has continued to face criticism for its affordability. Although course fees saw an average drop by around £4,700 in 2023, 78% of 483 Bar students on the three-step pathway found the Bar Course either "fairly" or "very" unaffordable after reforms made to the Bar Course. However, those studying on the four-step pathway or studying part-time were less likely to find the Bar Course unaffordable.[24] Furthermore, a 2024 report by the Law Society Gazette, noted that "Bar course uptake continues to grow despite an increase in the cost of vocational training courses and a fall in the overall pass rate". The cost of course fees for UK students for 2023/24 entry was between £11,970 to £18,950, rising to £22,700 for overseas students. For 2024/25 entrants, the range for UK students was between £12,300 and £18,950, rising to £22,700 for overseas students.[25]

In light of criticisms by "key stakeholders" about lowering standards of Bar training, the Bar Standards Board responded by stating, "it is not the BSB's role to limit ambition and demand, provided that prospective students are well-informed about their prospects", adding that “The Legal Services Board’s statutory guidance on education and training requires that regulators place no inappropriate direct or indirect restrictions on the numbers entering the profession."[26]

Current providers

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The following table is a list of current providers of the Bar Course, accepting applications for the 2026/27 academic year. Unless otherwise stated, the course fees indicated are for the Bar Course only, and not those courses with additional components such as LLMs or additional modules.

Current providers of the Bar Course
Institution Location Course title Course fees (2026/27 academic year) Website
BPP Law School London Bar Training Course (BTC) £18,750 (Domestic)

£20,150 (International)[27]

 BPP
BPP Law School Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff BTC £17,450 (Domestic)

£18,750 (International)[27]

 BPP
Cardiff University Cardiff Bar Training Course (BTC) £19,950 (Domestic)

£24,700 (International)[28]

 Cardiff
The City Law School London Bar Vocational Studies (BVS) £18,260 (Domestic and International)[29] City St George's
Manchester Metropolitan University Manchester Bar Training Course (BTC) £16,000 (Domestic and International)[30] MMU
The Inns of Court College of Advocacy London ICCA Bar Course £16,600 (Domestic and International)[31] ICCA
Northumbria University Newcastle upon Tyne Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) £15,500 (Domestic and International)[32] Northumbria
Nottingham Trent University Nottingham Barristers Training Course (BTC) £13,550 (Domestic and International)[33] Nottingham
The University of Law London Bar Practice Course (BPC) £18,100[34] ULaw
The University of Law Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham Bar Practice Course (BPC) £16,450[34] ULaw
University of the West of England Bristol Bar Training Course (BTC) £13,750 (Domestic)

£14,500 (International)[35]

 UWE
University of Hertfordshire Hatfield LLM Bar Practice £17,950 (Domestic)

£19,950 (International)[36]

 Herts

See also

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References

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  1. 1 2 "Authorised Education and Training Organisations". www.barstandardsboard.org.uk. Retrieved 10 July 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. ↑ "BSB Authorised Education and Training Organisations (AETOs)" (PDF). www.barstandardsboard.org.uk. 15 October 2024. Retrieved 10 July 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. ↑ "Barristers". www.careers.ox.ac.uk. Retrieved 10 July 2026.
  4. ↑ "Inns of Court". www.barcouncil.org.uk. Retrieved 10 July 2026.
  5. ↑ "Legal Services Act 2007". www.legislation.gov.uk. Expert Participation. Archived from the original on 15 February 2026. Retrieved 10 July 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  6. ↑ "Amendments to the Bar Training Regulations - Matters relating to Pupillage" (PDF). Legal Services Board. Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 April 2023. Retrieved 10 July 2026.
  7. ↑ "The Bar Course". Legal Cheek. Retrieved 10 July 2026.
  8. ↑ "Becoming a barrister: an overview". www.barstandardsboard.org.uk. Retrieved 10 July 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  9. ↑ "Vocational Component of Bar Training (BTC)". The Lawyer Portal. Retrieved 10 July 2026.
  10. ↑ "Standard setting" (PDF). Retrieved 10 July 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  11. ↑ BSB. "Curriculum and Assessment Strategy". www.barstandardsboard.org.uk. Retrieved 10 July 2026.
  12. ↑ "Curriculum and Assessment Strategy" (PDF). BSB. Retrieved 10 July 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  13. ↑ Entry Requirement Archived 4 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine, BPTC
  14. ↑ "English Language Requirement - Bar Standards Board". www.barstandardsboard.org.uk. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
  15. ↑ BSB. "BSB to abolish the Bar Course Aptitude Test from 31 July". www.barstandardsboard.org.uk. Retrieved 10 July 2026.
  16. ↑ "Barrister | Central Applications Board". www.lawcabs.ac.uk. Retrieved 10 July 2026.
  17. ↑ Wolfe, Georgina; Robson, Alexander (2010). The Path to Pupillage - A Guide for the Aspiring Barrister (2nd ed.). London: Thomson Reuters (Legal) Limited t/a Sweet & Maxwell. pp. 19–29. ISBN 9780414042360.
  18. ↑ lauraduckett; Narbheram, Anjali (3 June 2020). "What is an Unregistered Barrister?". The Lawyer Portal. Retrieved 10 July 2026.
  19. ↑ "Becoming a Barrister | Step by Step Guide". University of Lancashire. Retrieved 10 July 2026.
  20. ↑ Board, The Bar Standards. "What Barristers Do and How They Help | Bar Standards Board". www.barstandardsboard.org.uk. Retrieved 10 July 2026.
  21. ↑ "Bar regulator announces changes to the Bar Course Aptitude Test for 2016 and 2017". Bar Standards Board. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
  22. ↑ Waller-Davies, Becky (13 April 2015). "Bar Council report slams BPTC providers". The Lawyer. Archived from the original on 29 August 2015. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  23. ↑ Robson, Jeremy (17 April 2015). "'Bar Council's attack on BPTC providers is wrong' - Nottingham Law School responds to Rivlin criticism". The Lawyer. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  24. ↑ Hilborne, Nick (9 March 2023). "Bar courses still unaffordable, students tell regulator". Legal Futures. Retrieved 10 July 2026.
  25. ↑ Castro, Bianca. "Bar course uptake continues to grow - along with fees, BSB data shows". Law Gazette. Retrieved 10 July 2026.
  26. ↑ Hilborne, Nick (4 February 2025). "BSB: No need for "anxiety" over barrister training standards". Legal Futures. Retrieved 10 July 2026.
  27. 1 2 "Bar Training Course". BPP - Building Careers Through Education. Retrieved 10 July 2026.
  28. ↑ "Bar Training Course (PGDip)". Cardiff University. Retrieved 10 July 2026.
  29. ↑ "Bar Vocational Studies (BVS) | City St George's, University of London". Bar Vocational Studies (BVS). 30 October 2020. Retrieved 10 July 2026.
  30. ↑ University, Manchester Metropolitan. "Bar Training Course, Manchester Metropolitan University". Manchester Metropolitan University. Retrieved 10 July 2026.
  31. ↑ "Fees and Funding". ICCA. Retrieved 10 July 2026.
  32. ↑ "Bar Course". www.northumbria.ac.uk. Retrieved 10 July 2026.
  33. ↑ "Barristers Training Course (BTC)". www.ntu.ac.uk. Retrieved 10 July 2026.
  34. 1 2 "Bar Practice Course (BPC) | University of Law". www.law.ac.uk. Retrieved 10 July 2026.
  35. ↑ "Bar Training Course - LLM/PGDip - UWE Bristol: Courses". courses.uwe.ac.uk. Retrieved 10 July 2026.
  36. ↑ "LLM Bar Practice". www.herts.ac.uk. Retrieved 10 July 2026.
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