Program Overview

Bar Training Course

The Bar Training Course (BTC) at Manchester Metropolitan University is a professionally focused program that brings together the essential practical skills, legal knowledge, and understanding of professionalism required to thrive at the Bar or in a related field. The course is designed to help students develop resilience, confidence, and leadership skills that can be taken forward into their future careers.

Course Overview

The BTC is a postgraduate diploma that consists of 120 credits. The course is taught by a team of professionals, including practicing and former practicing barristers and solicitors, a King's Counsel (KC), and specialists in civil and criminal litigation. The program is designed to provide students with a realistic and relevant experience, with a focus on practical skills and legal knowledge.

Features and Benefits

• Specialist facilities for bar students: The course includes access to specialist facilities, such as chambers rooms, a legal library, and a modern moot courtroom.
• Flexible modes of study: The course offers flexible modes of study, including full-time, part-time, and flexible study options, allowing students to personally design their studies around their commitments and learning styles.
• Legal experts: The course is taught by a team of legal experts, including practicing and former practicing barristers and solicitors, a KC, and specialists in civil and criminal litigation.
• Legal hub: Manchester has a dynamic legal sector, at the heart of the Northern Circuit of the Bar.
• Explore professional practice: The course includes a module focused on building professional skills and legal connections, allowing students to explore the realities of working at the Bar through mentoring and placement schemes, pro bono opportunities, and links with the Northern Circuit.
• Professional lecture series: The course includes a professional lecture series, which provides students with insight from seasoned professionals.
• Moot courtroom: The course includes access to a state-of-the-art moot courtroom, which supports the development of students' legal advocacy skills.
• Supportive community: The course includes a supportive community, with a student Bar Society that brings together students from all stages of legal study for networking, guest lectures, and social events.

Accreditations, Awards, and Endorsements

• Bar Standards Board: The course is authorized by the Bar Standards Board.
• Educate North Awards: The Law School at Manchester Metropolitan University was awarded Law School of the Year in 2025.

Year 1

The first year of the course consists of three study routes: full-time, part-time, and flexible. All three routes are taught together, on weekdays, in a supportive chambers environment. The course includes a minimum 80% attendance, preparation, and engagement policy for all routes.

Core Modules

• Civil Litigation: This module provides knowledge, understanding, and the ability to apply and evaluate the rules of civil litigation and resolution of disputes out of court.
• Criminal Litigation Evidence and Sentencing: This module provides knowledge, understanding, and the ability to apply and evaluate the rules of criminal procedure, evidence, and sentencing.
• Professional Ethics: This module introduces and develops the knowledge and applications of the key ethical and professional conduct issues and behaviors that underpin practice at the Bar.
• Professional Practice: This module develops understanding of wellbeing and improves resilience and confidence to be able to thrive either at the Bar or in a professional career.
• Conference Skills: This module introduces and develops the skills necessary to prepare for, structure, take instructions, and advise a client in conference.
• Opinion Writing and Legal Research: This module introduces and develops the skills to carry out legal research and provide written advice to the Instructing Solicitor and lay client.
• Advocacy (Civil): This module introduces and develops the skills necessary to prepare, present, and respond to a case or legal argument before a court or other tribunal in a civil context.
• Drafting: This module introduces and develops the skills of drafting statements of case to be used at different stages of legal proceedings.
• Advocacy (Criminal): This module introduces and develops the skills necessary to prepare, present, and respond to a case or legal argument before a court or other tribunal in a criminal context.

Study and Assessment

• Full-time: 20% lectures, seminars, or similar; 0% placement; 80% independent study.
• Full-time: 50% coursework; 0% practical; 50% examination.

Additional Information

• Study: Whilst students may not spend a high percentage of their committed weekly hours physically in class, they will be provided with a wide range of online exercises that cover the majority (up to 75%) of their module content.
• Assessment: Students will be assessed in a variety of different ways, including examinations and coursework, alongside live assessments such as an oral performance.
• Course extras: All study materials and textbooks are included in the course fee. However, students are required to pay their own Bar Registration Fee.

Placements

As part of Manchester Law School, students will have the chance to get involved in voluntary experiences through the Pro Bono Network. If students choose to work with one of the partners, they won't just be offering free expertise to people in need, but they'll also have the chance to build real skills and relevant experience.

Entry Requirements

Bar students are selected primarily on academic ability. To be considered for a place on the Bar Training Course, students will need to satisfy one of the following criteria:

• LLB degree: Students will have an LLB degree from an institution based in the UK/Republic of Ireland, which included the seven foundation subjects (Contract Law, Tort, Criminal Law, EU Law, Public Law, Land Law, and Equity and Trusts) with a minimum grade of 55% (2:2).
• Non-law degree: Students will have a non-law degree (with a minimum grade of 55% (2:2)) from an institution based in the UK/Republic of Ireland and have successfully completed an eligible conversion course, which included the seven foundation subjects, at a UK/Republic of Ireland institution (such as the GDL) with a minimum grade of 55%.

Fees and Funding

• UK and Channel Island students: Full-time fee: £14,500 per year. Part-time fee: £1209 per 10 credits.
• EU and non-EU international students: Full-time fee: £14,500 per year. Part-time fee: £1209 per 10 credits.
• Additional costs: Students will be required to pay an additional Bar Registration Fee. From 1 September 2025, the fee will be £840.

Careers Support and Prospects

The course is designed to start careers, and it is not only designed around the demands set out by the Bar Standards Board, but it's also a qualification built to give students a professional and practical edge when it comes to taking their next steps towards the competitive world of pupillage. While the course is intended to help students progress onto the Bar, its practical approach and challenging curriculum can also prepare students for a range of other careers, across the legal world and beyond.

How to Apply

To apply for this course, students will need to complete the following items:

• Online Application Form: Students can apply for this course by selecting one of the options above.
• Supplementary Application Form: Students will need to complete a supplementary application form.
• Monitoring Questions Form: Students will need to complete a monitoring questions form.
• Academic reference: A detailed academic reference from the student's most recent place of study.
• Application deadline: International applicants: 31st May 2025. Home applicants: 30th June 2025.