Law - GDL

GradDip

SQE Discounts

We have an arrangement with the College of Legal Practice to offer our students a discount on SQE prep courses. More information coming soon

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Key facts

Start dates

September 2025 / September 2026

Location

Headington

Course length

Full time: 12 months

Part time: 24 months

Accreditation(s)

Bar Standards Board (BSB)

Overview

Join a Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) course where you’ll build effective legal knowledge and develop practical legal skills.

You’ll be part of a supportive, acclaimed and successful course. You’ll learn from qualified legal practitioners and key international law researchers; with a deep understanding of the subject area and close links to the profession.

You'll develop an awareness of how to apply the law in professional practice. You will also advance your research and professional legal skills. You'll study in small groups and receive expert tuition. You can also join our award winning mooting and client interviewing teams, to build your advocacy skills.

There's also access to employability and pro bono opportunities - including:

  • Solicitor and barrister mentoring scheme
  • A court-based family law pro bono project
  • Training to work with the death row charity Amicus ALJ.

You’ll gain expert legal knowledge and skills to equip you for the Bar Training Course (BTC) or to start the preparation courses for the new Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE).

How to apply

Entry requirements

Specific entry requirements

You will normally have a second class degree or above and your application should also demonstrate a commitment to the legal profession.

All applications are considered on their merits and we'll consider applicants who do not have an upper second class honours degree who can demonstrate a commitment to pursuing a legal profession and have other strengths or evidence of achievement such as awards, scholarships and work experience - paid or unpaid.

A Certificate of Academic Standing is required for applicants whose intention it is to become a barrister and who do not hold a UK first Degree. Applicants are strongly advised to apply to the Bar Standards Board (BSB) as soon as possible for a Certificate of Academic Standing for the GDL as these can take some time to obtain.

You can also join the GDL on a training contract or with qualifying work experience. And every year some of our students join us having secured positions with legal firms.

Please also see the University's general entry requirements.

English language requirements

Students whose first language is not English will need A-level English, or an IELTS score of 7.0, including a minimum of 6.5 in each component. This is for all applicants whose first language in not English including those who may have a degree from the UK.

Please also see the University's standard English language requirements.

International qualifications and equivalences

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English requirements for visas

If you need a student visa to enter the UK you will need to meet the UK Visas and Immigration minimum language requirements as well as the University's requirements. Find out more about English language requirements.

Pathways courses for international and EU students

We offer a range of courses to help you meet the entry requirements for your postgraduate course and also familiarise you with university life in the UK.

Take a Pre-Master's course to develop your subject knowledge, study skills and academic language level in preparation for your master's course.

If you need to improve your English language, we offer pre-sessional English language courses to help you meet the English language requirements of your chosen master’s course.

Terms and Conditions of Enrolment

When you accept our offer, you agree to the Terms and Conditions of Enrolment. You should therefore read those conditions before accepting the offer.

Application process

Full-time applications

Applications for full-time study are made through the Central Applications Board.

Please ensure that you select Oxford Brookes School of Law from the options available.

Part-time applications

Applications for the part-time course are received directly to Oxford Brookes University.

Apply now

Tuition fees

Please see the fees note
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Questions about fees?

Contact Student Finance on:

Tuition fees

2024 / 25
Home (UK) full time
£9,700

Home (UK) part time
£4,850

International full time
£10,300

2025 / 26
Home (UK) full time
£10,300

Home (UK) part time
£5,150

International full time
£10,800

Questions about fees?

Contact Student Finance on:

+44 (0)1865 534400

financefees@brookes.ac.uk

Fees quoted are for the first year only. If you are studying a course that lasts longer than one year, your fees will increase each year.

The following factors will be taken into account by the University when it is setting the annual fees: inflationary measures such as the retail price indices, projected increases in University costs, changes in the level of funding received from Government sources, admissions statistics and access considerations including the availability of student support.

How and when to pay

Tuition fee instalments for the semester are due by the Monday of week 1 of each semester. Students are not liable for full fees for that semester if they leave before week 4. If the leaving date is after week 4, full fees for the semester are payable.

  • For information on payment methods please see our Make a Payment page.
  • For information about refunds please visit our Refund policy page

Students on this course are not eligible for the Postgraduate Master's Loan.

Additional costs

Please be aware that some courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees. Specific additional costs for this course are detailed below.

Funding your studies

Financial support and scholarships

Featured funding opportunities available for this course.

 

 

All financial support and scholarships

View all funding opportunities for this course

Learning and assessment

You’ll kick off your learning experience with a two-week induction course. This includes a study of the English legal system, legal theory, legal writing and problem-solving. You must pass the induction course before progressing onto the GDL.

Once on the course, you’ll start building essential legal knowledge and skills immediately. You’ll explore all the core legal subjects, including:

  • criminal law
  • contract law
  • human rights law
  • and constitutional law

You’ll also be able to carry out a research project in a legal area that interests you - like sports law, intellectual property or workplace rights. You’ll be supported all the way through by a tutor who is an expert in your chosen field, and you’ll start to develop a specialism early, setting you apart from other candidates.

You’ll also have the opportunity to take part in additional extracurricular activities such as mooting and pro bono to help further your experience.

Female student studying

Study modules

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Please note: As our courses are reviewed regularly as part of our quality assurance framework, the modules you can choose from may vary from those shown here. The structure of the course may also mean some modules are not available to you.

Learning and teaching

Your lectures and workshops will be led by active legal researchers, as well as qualified barristers and solicitors who are passionate about teaching.

You’ll also have access to regular mooting and client interviewing workshops. Our mooting teams are nationally acclaimed - and open to all students on the GDL. This will build your advocacy skills - crucial to professional practice as a solicitor or barrister. You’ll experience the courtroom firsthand - via competitions and in our own moot court. And you’ll be connected with leading solicitors and law firms.

if you’re joining Oxford Brookes without any prior experience of law, you’ll have access to our Mentoring Scheme - where you’ll be mentored by a practising barrister or solicitor.

If you choose to study the GDL part-time, you’ll attend lectures and seminars two days per week. This can help you balance your study around employment and family commitments.

Assessment

Assessment methods used on this course

You will have an ongoing awareness of your progress. Assessments are spread throughout the course and include both coursework and exams.

Our staff and students monitor and analyse the effectiveness of teaching and assessments. Our methods are described in the course handbook.

Research

You’ll be joining a research-active department. And your tutors are directly involved in shaping the latest legal research and policy. Our research specialisms include:

  • public law
  • international law and human rights
  • employment
  • religion and the law
  • criminal justice
  • IT and the law

Many opportunities exist for research degrees. And some GDL students progress into research roles after graduation

Researcher in the library

After you graduate

Career prospects

‘This degree awarded to you is supremely valuable. The award is from a university which... commands very considerable respect. A Law degree from Brookes leads us London lawyers to say: well, she or he must be bright as well as knowledgeable’. Lord Wilson of Culworth, Justice of the Supreme Court (2019)

When you graduate, you’ll be ready to progress into a law career. You’ll be ready to progress onto the Bar Course, if you want to become a barrister. You’ll also have a strong foundation of knowledge to take the further SQE1 and SQE 2 requirements to then take the Solicitors’ Qualifying Exam (SQE).

You’ll graduate with a reputable qualification that is highly regarded by employers in the legal profession. You’ll have a thorough knowledge base and proven practical skills.This will set you up for success in your further training. And it can give you a competitive edge on the jobs market or in a pupillage. Take a look at our Routes to Legal Qualification page, that show you the paths into a legal career.

You’ll also be supported to apply for funding for the Bar - and every year some of our students are awarded the prestigious Inns of Court scholarships, and many Oxford Brookes students secure pupillages in leading firms like Quadrant Chambers, 4 Pump Court and XXIV Old Buildings.

Student profiles

Related courses

Programme changes:
On rare occasions we may need to make changes to our course programmes after they have been published on the website. For more information, please visit our changes to programmes page.