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GDL
Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) Online
Applications for our GDL Online are now closed, unless you’re wishing to study the PCLL in Hong Kong. Our new conversion course is the Postgraduate Diploma in Law (PGDL).
The online Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL Online) is your pathway into practice. It is one of the conversion courses you can study if you have an undergraduate degree in a non-law subject and want to study law at a postgraduate level. If you’re looking for a truly flexible conversion course to kick-start your route to a career as a lawyer, our supported GDL Online is the perfect solution.
Thinking of continuing onto the LPC?
You can continue with the LPC route if by 31 August 2021, you completed, started, accepted an offer, or paid a non-refundable deposit for this course. Alternatively, we’ve developed a range of courses for the SQE route that will prepare you for a career as a solicitor, as well as SQE success.
Key Facts
Entry requirements
An undergraduate degree at 2:2 or above in any discipline (or equivalent).
Full requirementsDuration options
12 months (full-time)
24 months (part-time January)
Apply
You can apply directly with The University of Law to study one of our online courses.
Course Details
GDL Online
With the GDL Online you will receive regular online support and feedback on work from one of our expert legal tutors. You’ll have access to world-class learning materials, including our unique methods of online engagement, and unrivalled online GDL tutor supervision and support.
Our structured course is delivered by qualified lawyers with online resources and learning tools to develop your legal skills. Not only will you learn to think like a lawyer and develop practical legal skills through online workshops and problem-based learning, but you get the chance to explore an area of law that interests you via your own Research Project or our unique Law of Organisations module.
We have made sure that you will have access to comprehensive online learning resources and plenty of professional tutor guidance, providing you with relevant knowledge and practical skills so you’ll know what to expect in real-life situations.
In addition to the course and learning materials, you’ll also have access to our expert careers support services, who can help you with your training contract and pupillage applications. Our pro bono team have over 3,000 pro bono opportunities, which are available to you from as soon as you accept your place, so you can get loads of experience of working on real life cases and get “on-the-job” advice from practising lawyers. We also work with over 90 of the top 100 law firms.
Whether you choose to progress onto the LPC or BPC, you will benefit from our excellent employment and pupillage rates -
- 95% of our full-time, UK, LPC students in employment were in Highly Skilled Occupations 15 months after graduating (2018/19 Graduate Outcomes data). Contains HESA Data © HESA 2021 (www.hesa.ac.uk).
- • 52% of our full-time UK/EEA 2018-19 BPC students graduating in 2019 have successfully secured or completed pupillage (based on student data collated summer 2021).
Required attendance
Although the vast majority of this course is studied entirely online, all invigilated exams must be sat in a University of Law campus; these may be sat overseas, however, with prior arrangement and approval from the University.
Important Information
Progression for full-time GDL and MA Law students
If you started our full-time Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) or Master of Arts in Law (MA Law) in September 2021, you should be eligible to commence the Bar Practice Course (BPC) or Legal Practice Course (LPC) in September 2022 on successful completion of your course.
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.
Programme Demands
This document explains the demands of the course in order to assess your ability for the course.
Download GDL (online) programme demands ➔
Course Structure
Required pre-course study
Before you start your GDL Online you will need to complete our online pre-course study programme on legal method, designed specifically to prepare you for the GDL Online, so you're up to speed when you arrive.
Online induction
You don’t need to attend a campus for induction. Instead, you’ll be enrolled into an online induction module which will take you through necessary administrative requirements and provide you with guidance on how the programme works and additional support, such as our Employability Service.
Introductory module
Ethic and Professional Legal Practice
This module is taken at the start of the course. It includes:
- Insight into the different areas of the legal profession
- Consideration of the role of legal ethics within the profession
- Development of key legal skills and professional attributes required by lawyers
Main modules
Foundation modules
There are seven foundation modules that you’ll study over the course of the year:
- Public law
- European Union law
- Criminal law
- Tort
- Contract law
- Land law
- Equity and trusts
Final module
Choose one:
Research Project
In this module you will plan, research and write an essay, tailored to reflect the area of law in which you intend to specialise. You will have time dedicated in your timetable to undertake this work and detailed guidance on both legal research and legal essay writing skills.
Law of Organisations
This module is for students intending to practise as a solicitor in a corporate law practice and is offered as an alternative option to the Research Project module. In this module you will study the principles of contract and corporate law that underpin the creation and running of business organisations. The module will develop your legal research skills through the preparation of a legal report on an allocated problem-based question. On the full-time course, this module will be taught through face-to-face workshops and on the part-time course this module will be studied online.
Course Start Dates
January 2022
-
Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL)
- Full-time: Online (Hong Kong)
- Part-time: Online (Hong Kong)
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.
Course Information
To get a full picture of how studying this course works during the year, take a look at our course date breakdowns.
This modular course is assessed by coursework essays and invigilated exams throughout your studies.
Please note that invigilated exams must be completed at our campuses, or a British Council Office if you wish to sit your exam abroad. There will be an additional fee if you wish to sit your exam outside the UK.
For more information email: Overseas-Assessments@law.ac.uk
Each of our full-time and part-time GDL study options has its own structure, with different assessments to suit.
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
Applications for this course are closed and only available at our Online Hong Kong campus in January 2022.
- Hong Kong campus: HKD $98,500
You can get full details about course fees and payment structures in the fees section of our website.
We have students from over 120 different countries throughout our campuses, with a dedicated team to help international students.
