GDL and PGDL: the UK law conversion course explained

If you've got a degree in engineering, languages, business, or anything other than law, but you want to become a solicitor or barrister in England and Wales, you face a decision: do you take the GDL (or PGDL), or skip straight to the SQE?

This page explains what the GDL/PGDL is, how long it takes, what it costs, and whether it's the right path for you.

The short version

The GDL (Graduate Diploma in Law) is a one-year full-time course (or two years part-time) for non-law graduates. It teaches the seven foundation subjects of English law. After you finish, you move into either the SQE (Solicitors Qualifying Examination) or the BPC (Bar Practice Course), depending on whether you want to be a solicitor or barrister.

The PGDL is the same course, just called a postgraduate diploma because you already have an undergraduate degree. The terms are used interchangeably.

You don't legally need the GDL anymore. Since 2021, the SQE (for solicitors) and the new Bar Practice Course (for barristers) have opened to anyone with a qualifying law degree. But most people without a law degree still take the GDL first, because it fills the knowledge gaps and makes the SQE easier.

At a glance

What the GDL/PGDL is

The GDL is a taught course that gives you the legal knowledge a traditional law graduate would have, but compressed into one year. It's not a degree (though it's called a diploma). You're not writing a dissertation or doing independent research. Instead, you sit in lectures, tutorials, and practical workshops, and at the end you take exams covering seven core areas of English law.

The course is regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and the Bar Standards Board (BSB). Both bodies set out the "foundation subjects": the bits of law every solicitor and barrister must know before they start practising.

GDL providers can be universities, law schools, or private education companies. Some offer it full-time (one year), others part-time (two years), and many offer both. You can study in person, online, or in a hybrid format.

The PGDL is identical to the GDL, just with the "postgraduate" label because it's aimed at people who already have a first degree.

Who needs it

Strictly speaking, since 2021, you don't need the GDL to become a solicitor or barrister. The SQE and BPC opened the door to anyone with a qualifying law degree. The SRA has said you can qualify with just an undergraduate law degree plus the SQE, skipping the GDL entirely.

But:

• If you don't have a law degree, the GDL teaches you the basics. It fills the seven-subject foundation that the SQE assumes you already know.
• If you come from a different field, the GDL gives you the language and concepts of law. It's the difference between jumping straight into algebra and learning arithmetic first.
• If you've been out of study for years, the GDL eases you back in, with structure and support.
• If you want to be a barrister, the BPC still expects you to have studied the foundation subjects. The GDL is the standard way to get there.

Most law firms still recruit people who've done the GDL. Some prefer it, because they know you've covered the basics. So in practice, most non-law graduates who want to qualify still do the GDL.

Length

Full-time: 1 year, usually structured as three terms (Autumn, Spring, Summer) running September through June. You'll be studying and sitting exams during that time.

Part-time: 2 years, spread across two academic years. Each year you take some of the foundation subjects, and by the end of year two you've covered them all. This suits people who are working, have caring responsibilities, or want a gentler pace.

The part-time route means you're still studying on top of other commitments, but it's more sustainable for many people.

Some providers also offer intensive or accelerated versions (for example, summer starts), but these are less common and usually more expensive.

Modules covered

The GDL teaches seven "foundation subjects" set out by the SRA and BSB. These are the areas of law you must know.

Contract Law. The law of agreements: when a contract is formed, what makes it binding, what happens when someone breaks it, and remedies. You'll learn about offer, acceptance, consideration, breach, damages.

Tort Law. The law of civil wrongs, mainly negligence. Someone hits your car, or injures you, or damages your reputation. You'll study negligence, defamation, nuisance, liability.

Criminal Law. Crimes, defences, and punishment. Murder, theft, assault, fraud. How crimes are proved, the role of intent, and mitigating factors.

Public Law. Constitutional law and administrative law. The structure of parliament, the role of courts, judicial review, human rights, and how the state is accountable.

EU Law and Human Rights. European Union law (including post-Brexit retained law) and the European Convention on Human Rights. Rights, freedoms, and what UK courts must do to protect them.

Equity and Trusts. Trusts, wills, estates, and equitable remedies. How property is held on trust, what happens to an estate after someone dies, and fairness in law.

Land Law. Property law: ownership, transfer, mortgages, leases, and disputes over land.

Most providers also include practical legal skills: how to draft a letter, advise a client, conduct negotiations. These skills matter in practice.

Fees

GDL fees vary by provider and location, but typically fall between £8,000 and £15,000 per year.

Universities and law schools often charge around £9,000 to £12,000.

Private providers (BPP, Kaplan, University of Law) often charge £10,000 to £15,000 or more.

Part-time courses may cost the same total as full-time, or be charged per year (so split the cost over two years).

These are student fees only. You may also incur costs for textbooks (£200 to £400), course materials, travel, and subsistence if you're not studying near home.

Some employers sponsor their staff through the GDL, or law firms offer scholarships. If you're looking at the course, check whether your employer might fund it.

How to apply

Applications go through Lawcabs, the central application service for the GDL/PGDL in England and Wales.

You'll need:

• Bachelor's degree in any subject (usually 2:2 or above)
• References (often two academic or professional)
• A personal statement (explaining why you want to study law)
• Evidence of English language proficiency if you're not a UK national

The application window typically opens in September and closes the following April. Places are competitive, especially at prestigious law schools, so apply early.

Once you're accepted by a provider, you'll receive a conditional or unconditional offer. Most start dates are September, though some providers have January or spring intakes.

Routes after the GDL/PGDL

After you finish the GDL, you have two paths: solicitor or barrister.

Becoming a solicitor

You must pass the SQE (Solicitors Qualifying Examination), a two-part written exam set by the SRA. SQE1 tests legal knowledge (the seven foundation subjects plus practice areas like tax, employment, property). SQE2 tests legal skills and practical application.

You must then complete a recognised training contract (an apprenticeship under a qualified solicitor) lasting two years.

Most people do the GDL, then SQE, then the training contract. Some people skip the GDL and go straight to the SQE, but they're rarer.

Becoming a barrister

You must pass the Bar Practice Course (BPC), a one-year taught course covering practical skills and specialist law modules. The BPC is run by the Bar Practice Course Board.

You must then complete a pupillage (apprenticeship under an experienced barrister) lasting one year.

The route is: GDL → BPC → pupillage.

GDL vs SQE-only route

Since 2021, you can skip the GDL and go straight to the SQE if you have a qualifying law degree. But if you don't have a law degree, you can't go straight to the SQE. You either do the GDL first, or you do a full undergraduate law degree.

Cost comparison:

• GDL route: £8,000 to £15,000 (one year) + SQE course fee (£2,500 to £4,000) = roughly £10,500 to £19,000
• Law degree route: £9,000 to £15,000 per year × 3 years = roughly £27,000 to £45,000
• SQE-only route: Only possible if you already have a qualifying law degree (so you've already paid for that degree)

Time comparison:

• GDL route: 1 year full-time (or 2 part-time) + 2 years training contract = 3 to 4 years total to qualified solicitor
• Law degree route: 3 years degree + 2 years training contract = 5 years total
• SQE-only route: SQE course (varies, 3 to 12 months) + 2 years training contract = 2.5 to 3.5 years if you already have a qualifying degree

For a non-law graduate wanting to practise as a solicitor, the GDL is usually the fastest and cheapest route. A full undergraduate law degree takes longer and costs more.

Funding options

Student loans

You can take out a Postgraduate Loan from Student Finance England if you're a UK national. The loan covers up to £12,000 towards tuition fees (as of 2026). Repayment is based on your earnings after you finish the course, at 6% interest. If you never earn above the threshold, you don't pay.

Scholarships and bursaries

Law schools and private providers often offer scholarships based on merit or financial need. Law firms may also sponsor students, especially if you're planning to join them afterwards.

Employer sponsorship

If you're working and your employer wants you to qualify as a solicitor or barrister, they may pay your fees in full or in part. This is common in law firms and in-house legal teams.

Part-time work

Many people fund their GDL by working part-time during the course. A part-time course (2 years) gives you more time to balance study and work.

Professional bodies

The Law Society and Bar Standards Board sometimes publicise bursaries and funding opportunities. Check their websites.

Day to day

A typical week on a full-time GDL looks like this:

Monday to Friday mornings: Lectures on one or two of the foundation subjects. A lecture might be on, say, the law of contract (offer and acceptance). You'll have a lecturer at the front, often with slides, case law, and examples. Class sizes range from 50 to 200 students.

Monday to Friday afternoons: Small-group tutorials (10 to 20 students) on the same subject, diving deeper into cases and problem-solving. Your tutor will ask you questions to test your understanding.

Evenings: Private study. You'll read case law (court judgments), textbooks, and notes. You'll work through practice problems and past exam papers.

Weekends: More private study, or a break.

Exams: At the end of each term (or at the end of the year, depending on the provider), you'll sit written exams on each foundation subject. Exams are usually 2 to 4 hours, and you might sit one or two per day during the exam period.

It's intensive. Most providers expect you to study 35 to 40 hours per week (including lectures, tutorials, and self-study).

On a part-time course, the structure is similar, but stretched over two years. You might attend classes on certain evenings and weekends, or attend in blocks during the summer.

Many providers now offer hybrid or online options, especially post-2020. You can join lectures remotely, watch recordings if you miss a live session, and sometimes do tutorials via video call.

Common misconceptions

"The GDL is just for people who couldn't get into law school." Not true. People do the GDL because they studied something else first and changed their minds, because they wanted experience in another field before law, or because they thought law wasn't for them and then changed direction. There's no shame in it.

"The GDL is harder than an undergraduate law degree." It's different, not harder. You're covering the same seven subjects, but in half the time. Some people find the intensity harder, but the material isn't more difficult.

"You can't get a training contract without a law degree." You can with the GDL. Law firms recruit GDL graduates. Many don't care whether your degree is in law or chemistry, as long as you've done the GDL and passed the SQE.

"The GDL is a waste of time if the SQE exists." The SQE is an alternative, not a replacement. If you don't have a law degree, you still need to learn the seven foundation subjects somehow. Most people do that via the GDL. A few get a full law degree instead. The SQE just gave people without a law degree a faster route (GDL + SQE, instead of full degree + training contract).

"Everyone does the GDL." Not true. Some people do a full law degree. Some people (rare) skip both and just do the SQE if they happen to have a qualifying degree in law from their first degree. But for non-law graduates, the GDL is the standard route.

Related concepts

• Training contracts: How to get a training contract as a solicitor
• The SQE: What you need to know about the Solicitors Qualifying Examination
• The Bar Practice Course: Becoming a barrister after the GDL
• Pupillage: How to become a barrister through pupillage
• Legal education in the UK: Overview of routes to qualification
• Career-changing into law: A guide for professionals from other fields
• Law school rankings: Do they matter for your career?
• Part-time law study: Balancing study with work and life

Sources

• Solicitors Regulation Authority: GDL Information for non-law graduates
• The Law Society: Routes to becoming a solicitor
• Bar Standards Board: Becoming a barrister: The Bar Practice Course
• Lawcabs: Central Application Service for GDL/PGDL

Disclaimer: This page provides information about UK law conversion courses. It is not legal or career advice. Regulations and procedures change. For the latest information, consult the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), the Bar Standards Board (BSB), or the provider you're considering.

Written by Peter Kolomiets, founder of CaseCalm. UK content reviewed 2026-05-28.