Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL)

 

Please note that applications for this course open on 1 October and close on 31 July in each application cycle, however, Cardiff operates its own deadline of 30 April. If you submit an application after 30 April, Cardiff will only consider it if there are places are still available.

 

Course information

If you are thinking of qualifying as a lawyer in England and Wales, this course enables you to,

- study the structure and doctrines of the legal system in England and Wales and

- the seven core (foundation) subjects of a law degree: contract law, criminal law, equity & trusts law, EU law, land law, public law and tort law.

The GDL allows you to study these intensively over one year, instead of the three years usually required for a Law degree.

If you are thinking of qualifying as a barrister, the GDL gives you the academic modules you will need to pass before progressing to a Bar Training Course (BTC).  We also offer a BTC course. 

If you are thinking of qualifying as a solicitor, the GDL gives you the academic knowledge of legal principles and their application you will need as part of your preparation for the new centrally assessed Solicitors Qualifying Examination (“SQE”), introduced from September 2021. 

Find out more about this course here

Apply through LawCAB using the GDL/law conversion course application form.

Course length

12 months, full-time

Eligibility requirements

Honours degree from a UK university in a non-law subject or an equivalent international degree, Class 2.2 or above. Applicants from overseas or with non-standard qualifications must apply for a Certificate of Academic Standing from the Bar Standards Board (BSB) if you are planning on qualifying as a barrister.

Graduate Visa eligibility

Yes

Read about the graduate visa

Qualification level

Level 6 / 160 credits

Find out here what the different qualification levels mean.

How to apply

Log in to LawCAB

Create a GDL application form from your dashboard.

Select Cardiff University from the list of institutions in the course choice section of your form and then select the course, location and start date you want to apply for.

Please note that applications for this course open on 1 October and close on 31 July in each application cycle, however, Cardiff operates its own deadline of 30 April. If you submit an application after 30 April, Cardiff will only consider it if there are places are still available.

Full details of the application process are available here.