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PGDL
Postgraduate Diploma in Law (PGDL) Online - (conversion)
Join the largest community of postgraduate law conversion students*.
Our Postgraduate Diploma in Law (PGDL) Online is a law conversion course that teaches you to think like a lawyer and prepare for the realities of life in legal practice. This course replaces our Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) and provides the foundation for the pathway into practice for non-law graduates who want to progress onto the SQE1 Preparation Course, our LLM Legal Practice (SQE1&2) to qualify as a solicitor or the Bar Practice Course (BPC) to qualify as a barrister.
Our PGDL Online offers you a great chance to make the transition into legal study with excellent levels of support and guidance from our experienced, professional lecturers. Not only will you learn the academic law necessary for converting to law, but you will also focus on key skills and competences crucial for your development as a lawyer.
*Central Applications Board (LawCAB) 2023
Key Facts
Entry requirements
An undergraduate degree at 2:2 or above in any discipline (or equivalent).
Entry requirementsDuration options
9 months (full-time online)
19-21 months (part-time weekend and evening online)
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Course Details
Postgraduate Diploma in Law (conversion) Online
If you’re looking to make the change into legal study and already have an undergraduate degree in another discipline then our online PGDL is your pathway into legal practice.
In an increasingly competitive legal job market, many employers value the combination of a non-law undergraduate area of expertise combined with the solid grounding in core legal principles and legal skills. Through studying another degree subject, and building your career in another discipline, you will have gained many transferable skills. By choosing law at a later stage, you are showing motivation and determination to pursue a new career.
With the online PGDL you will receive regular online support and feedback on work from one of our expert legal lecturers. You’ll have access to world-class learning materials, including our unique methods of online engagement, and unrivalled online lecturer supervision and support.
We have made sure that you will have access to comprehensive online learning resources and plenty of professional lecturer guidance, providing you with relevant knowledge and practical skills so you’ll know what to expect in real-life situations.
Why choose this course?
- Learn to think like a lawyer and develop practical legal skills through practical workshops and problem-based learning.
- Be ready to progress your legal training – go on to study the SQE1 Preparation Course and develop the skills required to answer SQE1 style legal knowledge questions or progress onto our LLM Legal Practice (SQE1&2) or Bar Practice Course (BPC).
- Stand-alone Skills & Behaviours module – designed to focus on key skills and behaviours necessary for practice as a solicitor or barrister.
- The Law of Organisations module focuses on company and partnership law - ideal for preparation for your late studies and practice.
- With one of the largest legal careers services in the UK, ULaw gives you the support and opportunities you need to make the best start in your legal career.
- Taught by qualified lawyers, with lectures and practical workshops to develop your legal skills, so you’ll know what to expect in a real-life work environment.
- Enjoy flexible study – studying at our online campus gives you the opportunity to work at your own pace and around your other commitments, within given deadlines, and at your preferred time of day, with the benefit of our expertise, experience and employability focus
- Our online programmes will save you the time and money on commuting to and from campus and allow you to study anywhere, across devices, however you can be reassured that the course won’t be compromised on quality or be less demanding than our on campus courses
- We have a vast network in the legal industry and deliver training to 91 of the top 100 law firms, with exclusive relationships with 61 of the top UK law firms and many of the most prestigious US firms in the UK.
- 94% of postgraduates were in employment or further study 15 months after graduating (2021/22 Graduate Outcomes data). Contains HESA Data: Copyright Jisc 2024.
If you choose to progress onto study our BPC, you will also benefit from our excellent pupillage rate:
- 93% of BPC graduates in work were in highly skilled employment, including pupillage, 15 months after graduating (2021/22 Graduate Outcomes data). Contains HESA Data: Copyright Jisc 2024.
Our years of experience in training more practising lawyers in the UK than any other law school has helped our students go on to succeed in law, business, politics and more. We believe in training students for the real world from the moment they accept a place with us.
Want to progress on to solicitor training, but not sure if this course is right for you? Download our free guide, An SQE Course for Everyone, to find your path to becoming a solicitor.
Important Information
Progression for full-time PgDL and MA Law (Conversion) students
Due to the projected end date of our full-time Postgraduate Diploma in Law (PgDL) and Master of Arts in Law (MA Law Conversion) courses, you may not be eligible to commence our Bar Practice Course (BPC), LLM Legal Practice (SQE1&2) or SQE1 Preparation Course in September 2024 and January 2025.
Please note: If you require a visa to study in the UK and wish to progress on to one of our on-campus vocational courses, please refer to our UK visa requirements page for information about applying for a Student Route visa.
Course Structure
Required pre-course study
The Law & Constitution module requires 40-50 hours of pre-course study in Legal Method, through guided module units with all materials provided online.
Modules
You will learn the essentials of the key foundation areas of law that align to the Solicitors Regulation Authority specification of Functioning Legal Knowledge (FLK) for the SQE. In each area, you will develop a practical and functional understanding of the foundations of English & Welsh Law, and core analytical and practical legal skills.
- English Legal System and Constitutional Law (including EU Law) (15 credits)
- Tort Law (15 credits)
- Contract Law (15 credits)
- Criminal Law (15 credits)
- Administrative Law and Human Rights (15 credits)
- Land Law (15 credits)
- Equity & Trusts (15 credits)
- Law of Organisations (15 credits)
- Skills and Behaviours (non-credit-bearing)
This course develops the key intellectual and personal skills required by lawyers, alongside skills required to pass professional examinations for qualification as a solicitor or barrister.
In all modules there is a focus on combining knowledge and understanding of core areas of law with the ability to analyse, evaluate and form critical judgements about the law. Study is centred on practical activities that enable students to learn by doing. Workshops involve students completing further practice based tasks, including an application of Functioning Legal Knowledge (FLK) to Single Best Answer Questions (SBAQs).
Alongside academic modules, students will engage in a Skills and Behaviours module, which allows you to recognise and develop key professional and personal attributes necessary to thrive as a lawyer in a work environment, and to manage your career.
What about the SQE?
The SQE is being phased in to become the new centralised way to qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales
Find out moreCourse Start Dates
January 2025
-
Postgraduate Diploma in Law
- Full-time: Online
- Part-time: Online
September 2025
-
Postgraduate Diploma in Law
- Full-time: Online
- Part-time: Online
January 2026
-
Postgraduate Diploma in Law
- Full-time: Online
- Part-time: Online
Get to know our lecturers
Hear from our lecturers about what makes law conversion a fascinating path to study leading to a fulfilling and dynamic career.
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Course requirements
The course demands show you the requirements, prior knowledge and commitments our course will involve.
Law Conversion Courses
Start your legal journey
We offer a number of law conversion courses, which offer you a pathway to progress onto become a solicitor or barrister.
View our law conversion guide to make the best choice for you and your career.
Will non-law graduates on the SQE pathway be required to complete a conversion course?
Study On Campus
You can also study this course at one of our campuses. If you’re looking for a more traditional university experience, why not consider studying on campus?
Course Information
Application and booking deadlines vary by intake - take a look at our key application and enrolment deadline dates for more information.
With many options for when you can study the PGDL Online, you can be sure to find a start date to suit your needs.
All modules will incorporate 40% examination by Single Best Answer Questions (SBAQs) to support any future progress onto SQE1 assessment.
The other 60% will vary according to the module. These will include:
- online open book examination
- coursework
- oral presentation.
- We provide you with a structured approach to your learning, with a clear and easy to navigate online learning platform (Blackboard ELITE), supported by our dedicated academic, administrative, design and development teams to ensure you have the very best learning experience.
- Each taught module comprises of workshops and incorporates streamed lectures or media.
- Class contact time is combined with online tutorials, online Single Best Answer Questions (SBAQs) and self-study from study manuals and online research.
- The learning model is based around undertaking activities in the workshops (or equivalent online activities) to develop both knowledge and key skills.
- The Skills and Behaviours module will comprise of workshops spread over all semesters.
Employability We Set You Up For Success
We care about your career, which is why we offer support with job applications and other work experience opportunities as soon as you accept your place.
Discover more
Find a career that suits you
Fees and Applying
You can apply for the PGDL Online directly with the University.
2024/25 Course Fee (for courses starting on or after 1 July 2024)
Online: £11,500
See the full fee schedule for the PGDL here.
If you’re a ULaw alumnus, you may be eligible to receive our £500 General Alumni Discount.
We also have a range of scholarships and bursaries available which make studying with us more affordable than ever.
We have students from over 120 different countries throughout our campuses, with a dedicated team to help international students.
