The Bar Course

The Bar Course is the vocational stage of training undertaken after completing a law degree or law conversion course by those wishing to practise as a barrister in England and Wales.

Formerly known as the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC), the programme was restructured in 2018 when the Bar Standards Board (BSB) introduced new training rules to create a more flexible and affordable route to qualification. Since September 2020, all programmes are collectively referred to as qualifying Bar Courses, though the title may differ by provider. Examples include the Bar Practice Course (BPC), the Barrister Training Course (BTC), and Bar Vocational Studies (BVS).

Membership of an Inn of Court

Before beginning the Bar Course, all aspiring barristers must become a student member of one of the four Inns of Court: Lincoln’s Inn, Gray’s Inn, Inner Temple, or Middle Temple, each located in London.

The Inns are professional membership associations for barristers in England and Wales. While they are not academic institutions, they play a central role in the barrister’s journey by providing support, scholarships, networking opportunities, libraries, events, and dining facilities. Membership is a mandatory requirement and a vital first step in progressing towards practice at the Bar.

Academic Entry Requirements

To progress to the Bar Course, candidates must meet minimum academic standards. The basic requirement is an undergraduate degree with at least a 2:2 classification, along with successful completion of a law conversion course where applicable.However, it is important to note that some providers set higher entry thresholds, often requiring a 2:1 or above. Prospective applicants should review the specific requirements of their chosen institution well in advance to ensure eligibility and allow sufficient time to meet any additional criteria.

Course Structure and Pathway Options

A key development in the design of many new Bar Courses is the option to complete the programme in two parts—a flexibility not available under the former Bar Professional

Training Course (BPTC). This change is intended to make the course more affordable, accessible, and adaptable for aspiring barristers.

That said, some law schools continue to offer a one-part course structure, similar to the traditional BPTC.

As a result, your qualification pathway will vary depending on the provider:

• Three-Stage Route: Law degree (or law conversion) → One-part Bar Course → Pupillage
• Four-Stage Route: Law degree (or law conversion) → Two-part Bar Course → Pupillage

At The University of Law, the Bar Practice Course (BPC) is delivered as a single, comprehensive programme. It is designed to provide aspiring barristers with both the core knowledge—covering criminal and civil litigation, evidence, and sentencing—and the practical skills required for practice, including advocacy, conference skills, legal research, opinion writing, and drafting.

For those seeking to enhance their professional profile, the BPC may be combined with an LLM. This is achieved by supplementing the course with one of three specialist pathways:

• Pro Bono Pathway – gaining practical experience through supervised legal work.
• Dissertation Pathway – undertaking in-depth research on a legal subject of choice.
• Optional Modules Pathway – developing expertise in selected areas of law through tailored electives.

This flexible structure enables students to tailor their training to align with their career goals, while building both the knowledge base and practical experience necessary for progression to pupillage.

The ICCA Bar Course is structured in two distinct stages, allowing students to build knowledge first before progressing to practical training:

• Part One – Knowledge Stage
  Delivered entirely online through guided self-study, this stage covers the core knowledge areas required for practice, including criminal and civil litigation, evidence, and sentencing. The course typically takes 12–16 weeks to complete, with built-in flexibility to suit individual study needs.
• Part Two – Skills Stage
  Once Part One is successfully completed, students progress to the skills-based stage. This focuses on developing essential professional competencies such as advocacy, conference skills, legal research, opinion writing, and drafting.

Key Advantage – Reduced Financial Risk

A major benefit of the two-part structure is the separate fee model. Students pay only for Part One initially, and fees for Part Two are due only after passing the first stage. This reduces the financial commitment and risk compared with the previous BPTC structure, where the full fee was payable upfront.

This staged approach ensures that students progress with both the knowledge foundation and financial confidence required to move forward towards pupillage.

Qualifying sessions

Alongside the Bar Course, aspiring barristers are required to engage with their chosen Inn of Court, which must be joined prior to commencing study. Membership provides access to qualifying sessions designed to complement both academic and vocational training. These sessions focus on professional development and typically include activities such as lectures, advocacy workshops, moots, formal dinners, and residential weekends.

The Bar Standards Board (BSB) prescribes the number of qualifying sessions needed before students can be called to the Bar. At present, students must complete 10 qualifying sessions as part of their professional training journey.

This structured engagement with the Inns ensures that future barristers develop not only technical expertise but also the professional networks, ethical foundations, and traditions of practice central to a career at the Bar.

Duration of Training

Aspiring barristers can choose from several study routes depending on their circumstances and career planning:

• Full-Time Bar Course (1 Year)
  The most common pathway, typically commencing in September, with some institutions also offering January and July start dates. This intensive route enables students to complete their vocational training within one year.
• Part-Time Bar Course (2 Years)
  Designed for those balancing work or other commitments, this option delivers the same content as the full-time route but is spread across two years. Teaching usually takes place one day per week, allowing for greater flexibility.
• Bar Course with Integrated LLM (1 Year)
  A popular option for students seeking both advanced study and access to postgraduate funding, as these combined programmes are generally eligible for postgraduate loans. Alongside the core Bar Course, students complete additional LLM components to strengthen their academic and professional profile.

This flexible structure allows candidates to select the route that best aligns with their personal, financial, and career objectives while progressing towards pupillage.

How much does it cost?

A key advantage of the new Bar Courses is the combination of lower costs and greater flexibility compared with the former BPTC. While the BPTC was priced between £15,000 and £19,000, the new one-part Bar Course now begins at approximately £11,900.

For students seeking an even more flexible approach, the two-part Bar Course offers staged payments and reduced financial risk:

• Part One – Focused on knowledge subjects, costing between £3,000 and £3,934.
• Part Two – Concentrated on skills training, with fees ranging from £9,225 to £11,801.

This structure means students only commit to the higher cost of Part Two after successfully completing Part One. If unsuccessful at the first stage, they are not financially tied to continuing. Additionally, the gap between the two stages allows candidates the opportunity to gain work experience before progressing.

It is important to note that fees vary significantly depending on the chosen institution, location, and whether the course is taken in a single stage or split into two parts.

Funding the Bar Course

The most common route to funding the Bar Course is via scholarships awarded by the Inns of Court. There are four Inns in total—Lincoln’s Inn, Gray’s Inn, Middle Temple, and Inner Temple—each with its own eligibility criteria and assessment approach.

• Lincoln’s Inn and Gray’s Inn – Scholarships are awarded primarily on the basis of merit.
• Middle Temple and Inner Temple – A broader set of factors is considered, including merit alongside financial need and personal circumstances.

These scholarships form a central part of the financial support available to aspiring barristers and play a key role in widening access to the profession.

For candidates who secure pupillage prior to commencing the Bar Course, certain chambers provide the option to “draw down” a portion of the pupillage award—essentially an advance on the trainee barrister’s salary—to offset course fees.

While this funding route can significantly ease the upfront financial burden of the Bar Course, it is important to note that it reduces the amount available to support living expenses during the 12-month pupillage. As such, the drawdown option is typically most viable for students who obtain a pupillage with a substantial financial award.

Next steps to qualification

Once the Bar Course has been successfully completed, aspiring barristers are formally “called to the Bar” by their Inn of Court. This mandatory ceremony marks the official recognition of a student as a barrister, and the Inns of Court remain the only institutions in the UK with the authority to confer this status.

Following Call, the final stage on the route to qualification is the 12-month pupillage. This practical training period provides hands-on experience under the supervision of an experienced barrister and represents the final step towards becoming a fully qualified barrister in England and Wales.