Funding your studies
It’s not always easy to find the financial support you need to study, but there are organisations that can help. Provided below are details of contacts which may be useful. Please see our policy on external websites.
Further information on funding postgraduate study
College of Law Scholarship Programme
We take our responsibility to widen access to the legal profession seriously and as a result make substantial investment in a range of ways to offer financial assistance to our students.
Pathways to Law
The College of Law is the major financial contributor to the innovative Pathways to Law scheme. Created in collaboration with the Sutton Trust charity, leading law firms and seven Russell Group universities, the scheme aims to provide career opportunities for academically able state school students who come from less advantaged backgrounds and have no family history of university education. Our £3m commitment will help the scheme achieve its aims of widening access to the legal professions and increasing diversity within the legal services industry.
The scheme provides support throughout years 12 and 13, including lectures, seminars, advice sessions, mentoring, law firm placements and a three-day national conference. The scheme currently offers 375 places per year and has already helped nearly 1,250 students since it started in September 2007.
More information on Pathways to Law
Law Society Diversity Access
The Law Society Diversity Access Scheme aims to improve social mobility in the legal profession by supporting promising entrants who also face exceptional social, educational, financial or personal obstacles to qualification.
The College supports this scheme to the equivalent of six full-time LPC course fees each year. Please visit The Law Society Diversity Access Scheme for more information.
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Great news! We have extended the deadline dates for the GDL and LPC scholarship programmes.
We’ve received a high level of interest from students and feedback over the past few weeks shows that, as they have been working hard towards exams and course work, an extension would be welcomed. We are pleased to be able to offer this. So students who have accepted their offer of a place at the College by 29 February 2012 now have until 14 March 2012 to submit their entry.
If you accept your place on a full-time Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) or Legal Practice Course (LPC) at the College by 29 February 2012, you have the chance to secure one of the following scholarship awards: |
Graduate Diploma in Law Scholarships:
- 1 full scholarship for a full GDL course fee for the full-time course in the centre of your choice commencing in autumn 2012.
- 2 runners-up will receive will a £2,000 scholarship towards the cost of a full-time GDL in the centre of your choice commencing in autumn 2012.
Legal Practice Course Scholarships:
- 1 full scholarship for a full LPC course fee for the full-time course in the centre of your choice commencing in autumn 2012.
- 2 runners-up will receive a £2,000 scholarship towards the cost of a full-time LPC in the centre of your choice commencing in autumn 2012.
To be considered for these scholarship awards, you should submit an essay, a short-video or another form of digital presentation on the following subject:
- My vision of the modern lawyer in the 21st century.
After accepting an offer of a place with us on a full-time course by 29 February 2012, you should submit your entry by midnight on 14 March 2012.
Please see below for guidance notes on how to enter and the terms and conditions of our scholarships.
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If you accept your place on a full-time Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) at the College by 20 March 2012, you have the chance to secure one of the following scholarship awards:
- The College of Law Bar Professional Training Course Full Scholarship: One full College of Law Bar Professional Training Course Scholarship for a full Bar Professional Training Course fee on the full-time course commencing in the academic year 2012/2013 at either London Bloomsbury or Birmingham centre.
- The College of Law Bar Professional Training Course Scholarship Award of £2,000: to be used towards the full-time College of Law Bar Professional Training Course fees for the academic year 2012/2013 at either London Bloomsbury or Birmingham centre.
To be considered for these scholarship awards, you should submit an essay, a short-video or another form of digital presentation on the following subject:
- “The modern Bar: diverse and open to all. Discuss.”
After accepting an offer of a place with us on a full-time course by 20 March 2012, you will have until 27 March 2012 to submit your entry.
Please see below for guidance notes on how to enter and the terms and conditions of our scholarships.
See for details of our scholarships available to LL.B students.
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We are pleased to be able to offer, in conjunction with the International Bar Association (IBA) 4 scholarships for our full-time LL.M programme.
There are 4 x £2,500 scholarship awards to be used towards the IBA/College of Law LL.M in International Legal Practice (full-time in London programme) running at The College of Law, London Moorgate centre, from September 2012.
To be considered for these scholarship awards, you should submit an essay, a short-video or another form of digital presentation on the following subject:
- Why the world needs lawyers
Entrants must by midnight on 20 July 2012 have booked a place to study the IBA/College of Law LL.M in International Legal Practice (full-time programme) at The College of Law, London Moorgate centre commencing September 2012. Entrants booking their place after this date will not be considered.
Entries must be received by The College of Law by midnight on 20 July 2012.
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Professional and Career Development Loans for LPC and BPTC Students
Professional and Career Development Loans are bank loans that can be used to help pay for work related learning. You may apply to borrow between £300 and £10,000 to help support the cost of up to two years of learning (or three years if it includes one year’s relevant unpaid practical work). The Young People’s Learning Agency will pay the interest on the loan while you are learning and for one month afterwards. The loan can be used to pay course fees or other costs such as travel and living expenses. You can also use the loan to supplement other forms of support such as grants or bursaries. Because the Professional and Career Development Loan is a commercial loan product, they should only be considered as an option once all other student funding options have been investigated.
Further information on Professional and Career Development Loans
Barclays - Professional and Career Loan
Cooperative Bank - Professional and Career Development Loan
For further information on financial assistance to support your learning, please visit www.direct.gov.uk/adultlearning or contact Careers Advice on 0800 100 900. The learning provider registration number for The College of Law is: 10020816.
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Graduate loans for GDL
Graduate loans are available from the majority of high street banks. You may apply to borrow from £1,000 up to £15,000 . Loans are subject to status and assessment. Further information on graduate accounts and loans.
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Local authority grants
Some authorities provide financial assistance. For further information contact your local authority.
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Charities and grant-making trusts
There are numerous organisations that provide financial support to students. For further information contact the Education Grants Advisory Service – e-mail egas.enquiry@fwa.org.uk
The Graham Rushton Award for Blind and Partially Sighted Law Students
The Graham Rushton Award is a grant of around £7,000 for which blind and partially sighted people can apply.
Further information and details of how to apply
Tracy Kaye/Berrymans Lace Mawer Memorial Bursary (LPC Bursary available at The College of Law York)
The Tracy Kaye/Berrymans Lace Mawer Memorial Bursary is a £1,500 bursary to assist a student in meeting the cost of the Legal Practice Course tuition fees at The College of Law, York.
Further information and details of how to apply
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Funding for US students on GDL, LPC and BPTC courses
Further information on funding for US students on GDL, LPC and BPTC courses
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Funding for trainee solicitors
Employer sponsorship
Some law firms and other employers sponsor their trainees, paying course fees and living expenses. For further information see The Training Contract and Pupillage Handbook or visit www.lawcareers.net. Some firms also offer part-time study training contracts (PTS TC) combining part-time study (GDL and/or LPC) with full-time work, half of which can be counted towards the two years required to complete a training contract. For further information visit the Solicitors Regulation Authority website.
Law Society bursary scheme
If you have no other funding you may be able to get a bursary from the Law Society. Applications must be made by April of the year you start your course. For further information call 0870 606 2555, e-mail bursaryapplications@lawsociety.org.uk or visit the Solicitors Regulation Authority website.
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Funding for trainee barristers
Inns of Court scholarship
Partial funding is available from the Inns of Court for qualifying pupils, GDL or BPTC students.
Barristers’ chambers
All chambers should award a minimum grant of £12,000 over a one-year pupillage. For further information see The Pupillages Handbook available from the Bar Council or online at www.pupillages.com
HSBC Bar student loan package
The Bar Loan is a loan offered by HSBC to eligible Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) students studying full-time or part-time and can be used to assist with course fees, living expenses or a combination of the two.
For further information, please contact Ian Jones, Professional Studies Loan Manager at HSBC on ian.c.jones@hsbc.com or 08455 846558.
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Study bursaries for LL.M students
Postgrad Solutions Ltd is offering two Global LL.M Study Bursaries each to the value of £500. They are open to both international and UK students, and aim to help students fund their chosen Master of Laws programme.
Further information and details of how to apply.
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