Becoming a solicitor

Academic stage

Qualifying law degrees

The Training Regulations 1990 (PDF 160K) are rules that govern all aspects of qualifying as a solicitor. Agreeing the regulations is part of the role of the Council of the Law Society; the regulations are approved by the Lord Chancellor and designated judges. The provisions of the Training Regulations are supplemented by an extensive body of subordinate regulations.

The Joint Statement on Qualifying Law Degrees (PDF 51K), prepared jointly by the Law Society and the Bar Council, sets out the conditions a law degree course must meet in order to be termed a "qualifying law degree". This version applies to all law degrees commenced after 1 September 2001.

The Joint Academic Stage Board of the SRA and the Bar Council offers guidance to higher education institutions on determining the level of learning resources they commit to a course of study that is recognised as a qualifying law degree. Based around a series of precepts, Joint Academic Stage Board: Guidance on the determination of learning resources for recognised law programmes (PDF 87K) deals with matters such as human resources, staff development, physical resources and student support.

Completing the academic stage of training: Guidance for providers of recognised law programmes (PDF 87K) is designed for anyone who—in a professional capacity—provides advice to individuals intending to qualify as a solicitor. The elements of the academic stage of training are outlined, and the process of completing the academic stage of training is explained. The guidance describes SRA policies and conventions; it also addresses queries frequently raised by students and higher education institutions.

Student enrolment

Find out more about student enrolment.

Institutions, courses and contact details

Institutions that offer qualifying law degrees are displayed below in alphabetical order, including details of award titles and attendance modes, telephone enquiry numbers and web addresses.

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Aberystwyth University

Tel +44 (0) 1970 623111 www.aber.ac.uk

Full-time
Senior status (full-time)
Part-time
Collaborative Arrangement – Additional information: The institution above may allow credits earned as part of a non-qualifying law degree, awarded by the institution(s) below, to count towards a qualifying law degree programme.
Contact the institution for up-to-date details.

Anglia Ruskin University

Tel +44 (0) 1245 493 131 www.anglia.ac.uk

Full-time
Part-time

Aston University

Tel +44 (0) 121 204 3112 www.aston.ac.uk

Full-time

University of Wales, Bangor

Tel +44 (0) 1248 382221 www.bangor.ac.uk

Full-time
Senior status (full-time)

University of Bedfordshire

Tel +44 (0) 1582 734 111 www.beds.ac.uk

Full-time
Part-time

Birmingham University

Tel +44 (0) 121 414 3344 www.bham.ac.uk

Full-time
Senior status (full-time)

Birmingham City University

Tel +44 (0) 121 331 5000 www.bcu.ac.uk

Full-time
Part-time
Collaborative Arrangement – Additional information: The institution above may allow credits earned as part of a non-qualifying law degree, awarded by the institution(s) below, to count towards a qualifying law degree programme.
Contact the institution for up-to-date details.

University of Bolton

Tel +44 (0) 1204 900600 www.bolton.ac.uk

Full-time
Part-time

Bournemouth University

Tel +44 (0) 1202 595 187 www.bournemouth.ac.uk

Full-time
Part-time

Bradford College

Tel +44 (0) 1274 753 111 www.bradfordcollege.ac.uk

Full-time

University of Bradford

Tel +44 (0) 1274 232323 www.bradford.ac.uk

Full-time
Collaborative Arrangement – Additional information: The institution above may allow credits earned as part of a non-qualifying law degree, awarded by the institution(s) below, to count towards a qualifying law degree programme.
Contact the institution for up-to-date details.

Brighton University

Tel +44 (0) 1273 642 571 www.brighton.ac.uk

Full-time

Bristol University

Tel +44 (0) 1179 287 453 www.bris.ac.uk

Full-time
Senior status (full-time)

Brunel University (University of West London)

Tel +44 (0) 1895 274 000 www.brunel.ac.uk

Full-time

Buckingham New University

Tel +44 (0) 1494 522 141 www.bcuc.ac.uk

Full-time

Buckingham University

Tel +44 (0) 1280 814 080 www.buckingham.ac.uk

Full-time
Part-time

Cambridge University

Tel +44 (0) 1223 337 733 www.cam.ac.uk

Full-time
Senior status (full-time)
Collaborative Arrangement – Additional information: The institution above may allow credits earned as part of a non-qualifying law degree, awarded by the institution(s) below, to count towards a qualifying law degree programme.
Contact the institution for up-to-date details.

Canterbury Christ Church University

Tel +44(0) 1227 767700 www.canterbury.ac.uk

Full-time

Cardiff University

Tel +44 (0) 2920 874 348 www.cf.ac.uk/claws

Full-time
Senior status (full-time)
Collaborative Arrangement – Additional information: The institution above may allow credits earned as part of a non-qualifying law degree, awarded by the institution(s) below, to count towards a qualifying law degree programme.
Contact the institution for up-to-date details.

University of Central Lancashire

Tel +44 (0) 1772 201 201 www.uclan.ac.uk

Full-time
Part-time
Collaborative Arrangement – Additional information: The institution above may allow credits earned as part of a non-qualifying law degree, awarded by the institution(s) below, to count towards a qualifying law degree programme.
Contact the institution for up-to-date details.

University of Chester

Tel +44 (0) 1244 392780 www.chester.ac.uk

Full-time
Part-time

City University

Tel +44 (0) 20 7040 8308 www.city.ac.uk

Full-time
Senior status (full-time)

City University of Hong Kong

Tel (852) 2788 8008 www.cityu.edu.hk/slw

Full-time
Part-time

University College Cork*

Tel 00 3532 1902532 www.ucc.ie

*University College Cork offers the following degree programmes; they are not deemed to be qualifying law degrees but may lead to full or partial exemption from the Common Professional Examination (CPE) for students enrolling from September 2004.

Full-time

Coventry University

Tel +44 (0) 24 7688 7688 www.coventry.ac.uk

Full-time
Senior status (full-time)
Part-time
Senior status (part-time)
Collaborative Arrangement – Additional information: The institution above may allow credits earned as part of a non-qualifying law degree, awarded by the institution(s) below, to count towards a qualifying law degree programme.
Contact the institution for up-to-date details.

Univeristy of Cumbria

Tel +44 (0) 1962 827 234 www.cumbria.ac.uk

Full-time
Part-time

De Montfort University

Tel +44 (0) 1162 551 551 www.dmu.ac.uk

Full-time
Part-time
Collaborative Arrangement – Additional information: The institution above may allow credits earned as part of a non-qualifying law degree, awarded by the institution(s) below, to count towards a qualifying law degree programme.
Contact the institution for up-to-date details.

University of Derby

Tel +44 (0) 1332 622 222 www.derby.ac.uk

Full-time
Part-time

Trinity College, University of Dublin*

Tel 00 3531 6772941 www.tcd.ie

*Trinity College, University of Dublin, offers the following degree programmes; they are not deemed to be qualifying law degrees but may lead to full or partial exemption from the Common Professional Examination (CPE) for students enrolling from September 2004.

Full-time

University College Dublin*

Tel 00 3531 7067777 www.ucd.ie

*University College Dublin offers the following degree programmes; they are not deemed to be qualifying law degrees but may lead to full or partial exemption from the Common Professional Examination (CPE) for students enrolling from September 2004.

Full-time

Dundee University

Tel +44 (0) 1382 344 461 www.dundee.ac.uk

Full-time

Durham University

Tel +44 (0) 191 374 2000 www.dur.ac.uk

Full-time

University of East Anglia (Norwich Law School)

Tel +44 (0) 1603 582 520 www.uea.ac.uk

Full-time
Part-time

University of East London

Tel +44 (0) 20 8223 3000 www.uel.ac.uk

Full-time
Part-time

Edge Hill University, Lancashire

Tel +44 (0) 1695 575 171 www.edgehill.ac.uk

Full-time
Part-time

University of Essex

Tel +44 (0) 1206 873 333 www.essex.ac.uk

Full-time
Collaborative Arrangement – Additional information: The institution above may allow credits earned as part of a non-qualifying law degree, awarded by the institution(s) below, to count towards a qualifying law degree programme.
Contact the institution for up-to-date details.

Exeter University

Tel +44 (0) 1392 661000 www.ex.ac.uk

Full-time
Collaborative Arrangement – Additional information: The institution above may allow credits earned as part of a non-qualifying law degree, awarded by the institution(s) below, to count towards a qualifying law degree programme.
Contact the institution for up-to-date details.

University College, Galway*

Tel 00 3539 1524411 www.nuigalway.ie

*University College, Galway, offers the following degree programme; it is not deemed to be a qualifying law degree but may lead to full or partial exemption from the Common Professional Examination (CPE) for students enrolling from September 2004.

Full-time

University of Glamorgan

Tel +44 (0) 1443 480 480 www.glam.ac.uk

Full-time
Senior status (full-time)
Part-time
Collaborative Arrangement – Additional information: The institution above may allow credits earned as part of a non-qualifying law degree, awarded by the institution(s) below, to count towards a qualifying law degree programme.
Contact the institution for up-to-date details.

University of Gloucestershire

Tel +44 (0) 1242 532810 www.glos.ac.uk

Full-time

University of Greenwich

Tel +44 (0) 20 8316 8000 www.gre.ac.uk

Full-time
Senior status (full-time)
Part-time
Senior status (part-time)

University of Hertfordshire

Tel +44 (0) 1707 284 000 www.herts.ac.uk

Full-time
Senior status (full-time)
Part-time
Collaborative Arrangement – Additional information: The institution above may allow credits earned as part of a non-qualifying law degree, awarded by the institution(s) below, to count towards a qualifying law degree programme.
Contact the institution for up-to-date details.

Holborn College

Tel +44 (0) 20 8317 6000 www.holborncollege.ac.uk

Full-time

Huddersfield University

Tel +44 (0) 1484 422 288 www.hud.ac.uk

Full-time
Senior status (full-time)
Part-time
Senior status (part-time)
Collaborative Arrangement – Additional information: The institution above may allow credits earned as part of a non-qualifying law degree, awarded by the institution(s) below, to count towards a qualifying law degree programme.
Contact the institution for up-to-date details.

Huddersfield University / Holborn College franchise

Tel +44 (0) 208 317 6182 www.flexible-learning.co.uk

Full-time
Part-time

Hull University

Tel +44 (0) 148 246 311 www.hull.ac.uk

Full-time
Senior status (full-time)
Part-time
Senior status (part-time)
Collaborative Arrangement – Additional information: The institution above may allow credits earned as part of a non-qualifying law degree, awarded by the institution(s) below, to count towards a qualifying law degree programme.
Contact the institution for up-to-date details.

Keele University

Tel +44 (0) 1782 621 111 www.keele.ac.uk

Full-time

Kent University

Tel +44 (0) 1227 764 000 www.ukc.ac.uk

Full-time
Senior status (full-time)
Part-time
Collaborative Arrangement – Additional information: The institution above may allow credits earned as part of a non-qualifying law degree, awarded by the institution(s) below, to count towards a qualifying law degree programme.
Contact the institution for up-to-date details.

Kingston University

Tel +44 (0) 20 8547 2000 www.king.ac.uk

Full-time
Senior status (full-time)

Lancaster University

Tel +44 (0) 152 465 201 www.lancs.ac.uk

Full-time

Leeds Metropolitan University

Tel +44 (0) 113 282 2600 www.lmu.ac.uk

Full-time
Part-time
Collaborative Arrangement – Additional information: The institution above may allow credits earned as part of a non-qualifying law degree, awarded by the institution(s) below, to count towards a qualifying law degree programme.
Contact the institution for up-to-date details.
Foundation Degrees & Higher National Diplomas Additional Information– The institution above may allow credits earned as part of a recognised foundation degree or HND, from the institution(s) below, to count towards a qualifying law degree.
Contact the institution for up-to-date details

University of Leeds

Tel +44 (0) 113 243 1751 www.leeds.ac.uk

Full-time
Senior status (full-time)
Part-time
Collaborative Arrangement – Additional information: The institution above may allow credits earned as part of a non-qualifying law degree, awarded by the institution(s) below, to count towards a qualifying law degree programme.
Contact the institution for up-to-date details.

Leicester University

Tel +44 (0) 116 252 2363 www.le.ac.uk

Full-time
Senior status (full-time)

University of Limerick

Tel 00 3536 1202344 www.ul.ie

*The University of Limerick offers the following degree programme; it is not deemed to be a qualifying law degree, that may lead to full or partial exemption from the Common Professional Examination (CPE) for students enrolling from September 2004.

Full-time

University of Lincolnshire and Humberside

Tel +44 (0) 1482 440 550 www.humber.ac.uk

Full-time
Part-time

Liverpool John Moores University

Tel +44 (0) 151 231 2121 www.livjm.ac.uk

Full-time
Part-time

Liverpool University

Tel +44 (0) 151 794 2000 www.liv.ac.uk

Full-time
Part-time
Collaborative Arrangement – Additional information: The institution above may allow credits earned as part of a non-qualifying law degree, awarded by the institution(s) below, to count towards a qualifying law degree programme.
Contact the institution for up-to-date details.

London Metropolitan University

Tel +44 (0) 20 7423 0000 www.londonmet.ac.uk

Full-time
Part-time
Collaborative Arrangement – Additional information: The institution above may allow credits earned as part of a non-qualifying law degree, awarded by the institution(s) below, to count towards a qualifying law degree programme.
Contact the institution for up-to-date details.
Foundation Degrees & Higher National Diploma Additional Information– The institution above may allow credits earned as part of a recognised foundation degree or HND, from the institution(s) below, to count towards a qualifying law degree.
Contact the institution for up-to-date details

London School of Economics and Political Science

Tel +44 (0) 20 7955 7007 www.lse.ac.uk

Full-time

University of London – External Programme

Tel +44 (0) 20 7862 8360 www.londonexternal.ac.uk

Full-time
Senior status (full-time)
Part-time
Senior status (part-time)

Birbeck College (University of London)

Tel +44 (0) 20 7631 6507 www.bbk.ac.uk

Part-time
Senior status (part-time)

Kings College London (University of London)

Tel +44 (0) 20 7836 5454 www.kcl.ac.uk

Full-time
Collaborative Arrangement – Additional information: The institution above may allow credits earned as part of a non-qualifying law degree, awarded by the institution(s) below, to count towards a qualifying law degree programme.
Contact the institution for up-to-date details.

Queen Mary and Westfield College (University of London)

Tel +44 (0) 20 7882 5555 www.qmw.ac.uk

Full-time
Senior status (full-time)

School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) (University of London)

Tel +44 (0) 20 7637 2388 www.soas.ac.uk

Full-time

University College (University of London)

Tel +44 (0) 20 7387 7050 www.ucl.ac.uk

Full-time

Manchester Metropolitan University

Tel +44 (0) 161 247 2000 www.mmu.ac.uk

Full-time
Part-time

University of Manchester

Tel +44 (0) 161 275 2000 www.manchester.ac.uk

Full-time
Collaborative Arrangement – Additional information: The institution above may allow credits earned as part of a non-qualifying law degree, awarded by the institution(s) below, to count towards a qualifying law degree programme.
Contact the institution for up-to-date details.

Middlesex University

Tel +44 (0) 20 8362 5000 www.mdx.ac.uk

Full-time
Part-time

Newcastle University

Tel +44 (0) 191 222 6000 www.ncl.ac.uk

Full-time

University of Northampton

Tel +44 (0) 1604 735 500 www.northampton.ac.uk

Full-time
Part-time

Northumbria University

Tel +44 (0) 191 232 6002 www.northumbria.ac.uk

Full-time
Part-time
Collaborative Arrangement – Additional information: The institution above may allow credits earned as part of a non-qualifying law degree, awarded by the institution(s) below, to count towards a qualifying law degree programme.
Contact the institution for up-to-date details.

Nottingham Trent University

Tel +44 (0) 115 941 8418 www.ntu.ac.uk

Full-time
Part-time
Collaborative Arrangement – Additional information: The institution above may allow credits earned as part of a non-qualifying law degree, awarded by the institution(s) below, to count towards a qualifying law degree programme.
Contact the institution for up-to-date details.
Foundation Degrees & Higher National Diploma Additional Information – The institution above may allow credits earned as part of a recognised foundation degree or HND, from the institution(s) below, to count towards a qualifying law degree.
Contact the institution for up-to-date details

Nottingham University

Tel +44 (0) 115 951 5700 www.nottingham.ac.uk

Full-time

Open University

Tel +44 (0) 1908 655 888 www.open.ac.uk

Part-time
Senior status (part-time)
Collaborative Arrangement – Additional information: The institution above may allow credits earned as part of a non-qualifying law degree, awarded by the institution(s) below, to count towards a qualifying law degree programme.
Contact the institution for up-to-date details.