The University of Law announces new Bar course

The University of Law is the latest law school to announce a new bar course to replace the BPTC.

The University of Law’s new Bar Practice Course (BPC), if approved by the Bar Standards Board, will be taught to students from 2020. There are plans to launch full time and part-time courses next September, as well as a full-time BPC starting in July.

Fees will stand at £13,000 in London and £11,750 outside London, with this also paying for textbooks, making the course considerably less expensive than the current BPTC which is being phased out.

A number of law schools have announced new Bar courses in recent months, following new training rules introduced by the BSB which seek to make the route to becoming a barrister more affordable and flexible. The Inns of Court College of Advocacy announced its own two-part Bar course in July, while BPP University Law School revealed its new offering last month.

Confusingly, the courses replacing the BPTC have different names despite being very similar. The University of Law has chosen to call its course the BPC, while the ICCA and BPP have both named their offerings the Bar Training Course (BTC).

The University of Law’s BPC promises blended learning and classroom study to suit different learning styles. Jacqueline Cheltenham, director of the BPC at the University of Law, said: “The new [BPC] at The University of Law combines exciting new aspects whilst retaining the best of what went before, to provide a more flexible and accessible approach to qualifying as a barrister.

“Students will study in a supportive environment, with options tailored to suit their needs and fit around their life where needed.”