Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL)

1-2 Years

Benefits of doing Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL)-

  1. 1. UK graduate diploma in law course allows students with a non-law background and international students to go for a legal career.

  2. 2. GDL provides the basic knowledge of legal affairs, principles, and applications

  3. 3. Those who successfully complete this course can go for the LLM in Legal Practise Course (LPC) or the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC).

  4. 4. Good grades in GDL is equal to an LLB degree, as GDL graduates complete many modules and

  5. 5. Many law firms accept and recruit GLD graduates with previous non-law backgrounds people.

Affordable UK Universities for Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL)

The UK has several good institutes to pursue GDL courses. You can find top-positioned universities to low tuition-fees universities here. The top eleven and low-cost universities for GDL courses are–

  • Birmingham City University
  • Bournemouth University
  • De Montfort University
  • Cardiff University
  • University of Westminster
  • Liverpool John Moores University
  • University of Sussex
  • University of the West of England
  • London South Bank University
  • BPP University
  • Northumbria University

  • Let’s discuss three universities that offer this course briefly-

    Liverpool John Moores University

    Liverpool offers Qualifying Law which is previously known as GDL. Liverpool’s Qualifying Law LLM conversion course is professionally accredited. Expert lecturers and practitioners prepare students with quality education here.

    If we look into the excellent course content, then we can see that this Bar Standards Board’s certification provides flexible modes of study to the students. You can apply here with any degree and a dream of a legal career. Because the programme will lead you to earn the Legal Practise Course (LPC) or the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC). Teaching from basic knowledge to deep thinking will increase your interest in legal fields. Again, you will be confident by learning the necessary skills to choose any special legal field according to your choice.

    Intake- September
    Study Mode: Full-time or Part-time
    Tuition Fees: £15,600 per year (full-time)

    Entry requirements-

  • A minimum of second-class honours or equivalent degree experience
  • English language proficiency: 6.5 overall with a minimum of 6 in each component in IELTS is required. Other tests are also accepted.

  • According to Liverpool admission criteria, some essential documents are needed. Students can check the list on the website before applying.

  • Scholarships and other funds are also available for postgraduate study. Graduate Diploma in Law students can apply for the Rice-Jones Scholarship at Liverpool. It offers an award between £250 and £1500 for the study cost for the session of 21/22.

    Cardiff University

    This conversion course is delivered in Cardiff by experienced solicitors or barristers. This course aims to equip the learners with the legal knowledge, structure of the system, and applications.

    This Cardiff programme is designed with two terms. The first-term modules are Contract, Crime, and EU Law, as well as Equity and Trusts Law. Alongside contact, the second term will teach land law, public law, and tort. Students will get a chance to earn practical experience too by doing projects, teamwork, and so on. Students will attend two classes per week and later, after classes,they can access these electronically.

    Duration- 1 year
    Study Mode- Full-time
    Tuition Fees- £18,200 per year

    Entry requirements-

  • A Honours in any subject and/or general work experience

  • English language proficiency: 6.5 overall, 6.5 in writing, and no less than 6.0 in each component in IELTS is required. Other tests are also accepted.

  • According to Cardiff’s admission criteria, some essential documents are needed. Students can search the list on the website when they wish to apply.

  • Financial awards are also available for students at Cardiff. Besides, the university regularly arranges many events so that students can expand their networks with local firms and chambers. All dedicated professionals always provide support to lead the students towards strong careers in their chosen fields.

    University of Westminster

    Westminster offers this intensive course of Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) which is also called CPE here. As we know students with any background can wish to do this programme and Westminster is the best place for it because GDL is delivered here since 1997.

    Qualified and experienced teachers of the Westminster law School are great supporters to train these students. To practice in the real world legal field students will gain the necessary skills and broad knowledge of the `law from here. The Core modules of the course are- Contract Law, Criminal Law, Equity and the Law of Trusts, Land Law, Law of the European Union, Public Law, and Tort Law. Optional modules are designed with Research Project and reflecting on Work Experience. Also, by the end of the course, students will capable to do legal analysis, research, and identification.

    Intake- September
    Duration- 1 year
    Study Mode- Full-time
    Tuition Fees- £14,000 per year

    Entry requirements-

  • A lower second class honours degree (2:2) in any subject or equivalent qualification or work experience.

  • English language proficiency- 6.5 overall with 6.0 in writing in IELTS is required. Other tests are also accepted.

  • One academic reference.
  • According to Westminster admission criteria, some essential documents are needed. Students can check the details on the website while applying.

  • Westminster encourages brilliant students with various types of scholarships. You can find the award details on the website. Moreover, they do many career development activities and offer employability services to help all students.

    Employability of Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL)

    Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) can work as a gateway for you and you will find many job options to choose from. And of course, as UK law degrees are globally recognised the skilled graduates’ incomes are high no doubt. Some direct and relevant jobs in this field are-

  • Barrister
  • Barrister’s clerk
  • Arbitrator
  • Chartered legal executive (England and Wales)
  • Solicitor
  • Paralegal
  • Company secretary
  • Costs lawyer
  • Detective
  • Licensed conveyancer
  • Advice worker
  • Border Force officer
  • Chartered accountant
  • Civil Service administrator
  • Data analyst
  • Data scientist
  • External auditor
  • Forensic computer analyst
  • Human resources officer
  • Mediator
  • Patent attorney
  • Political risk analyst
  • Stockbroker
  • Trading standards officer
  • FAQ's

    How long is Graduate Diploma in law UK?

    The Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) is a programme designed to facilitate the conversion of non-law graduates into legal professionals. The course condenses the content of 18 months of undergraduate Law study into a rigorous and intensive one-year programme. These courses frequently offer preparation for the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE).

    Which universities offer the Graduate Diploma in Law in the UK?

    Affordable UK Universities for Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL)-

  • Birmingham City University
  • Bournemouth University
  • De Montfort University
  • Cardiff University
  • University of Westminster
  • Liverpool John Moores University
  • University of Sussex
  • University of the West of England
  • London South Bank University
  • BPP University
  • Northumbria University

  • How much does the GDL cost UK?

    The cost of Postgraduate Diploma in Law (PGDL) varies depending on the institution of choice, with fees ranging from £5000 to £12,000. The average cost for a full-time PGDL programme is approximately £8,400. To obtain information regarding the PGDL fees for particular universities, kindly refer to our PGDL Course Comparison Table.

    Is LLB equivalent to GDL?

    The graduate-entry LLB programme is a comprehensive, full-time curriculum spanning two years, designed to confer upon successful candidates a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree, as opposed to a graduate diploma. Although both credentials share similarities, the graduate entry LLB affords a wider range of academic exploration akin to that of an undergraduate degree.

    Is a Graduate Diploma higher than a degree?

    Although the prestige of a master's degree may not yet be fully understood, it is important to note that a graduate diploma holds a higher academic standing than a bachelor's degree, as it is a postgraduate qualification. Additionally, a graduate diploma provides a more comprehensive understanding of the subject matter compared to a graduate certificate.