Becoming a solicitor

Conversion courses

Common Professional Examination rules—entry requirements

Entry requirements, time periods for completion, and other details are included in the CPE Rules (PDF 74K) jointly issued by the SRA and the Bar Council.

Exemption from the Common Professional Examination

Some people may be eligible to apply for an exemption from the Common Professional Examination. You should read the notes on applications for a certificate of exemption from the CPE (PDF 33K), and, if you meet the criteria, you should complete and submit a CPE exemption application form (PDF 61K).

Common Professional Examination (CPE)/Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL): institutions, courses and contact details

Course(s) Contact details
University of Birmingham
  • Graduate Diploma in Legal Studies (CPE) (full-time)
 Birmingham Law School
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham B15 2TT
Tel: 0121 414 6312
Website: www.law.bham.ac.uk
Birmingham City University
  • CPE/Graduate Diploma in Law full-time
  • CPE/Graduate Diploma in Law part-time
 School of Law
Birmingham City University
Franchise Street
Perry Barr
Birmingham B42 2SU
Tel: 0121 331 6415
Website: www.bcu.ac.uk
University of Bradford
  • CPE full-time
  • CPE part-time
 School of Law
School of Management
Emm Lane
Bradford
BD9 4JL
Tel: 01274 234321
Website: www.bradford.ac.uk
Bournemouth University
  • CPE/Graduate Diploma in Law full-time
  • CPE/Graduate Diploma in Law part-time
School of Finance & Law
Bournemouth University
Talbot Campus
Fern Barrow
Poole
Dorset BH12 5BB
Tel: 01202 595155
Website: www.bournemouth.ac.uk
BPP Law School, London
  • GDL full-time
  • GDL part-time evening
  • GDL part-time distance learning
  • GDL part-time weekend
BPP Law School
137 Stamford Street
Waterloo
London SE1 9NN
Tel: 0207 430 2304
Website: www.bpp.com/law
BPP Law School, Leeds
  • GDL full-time
  • GDL part-time evening
  • GDL part-time distance learning
BPP Law School
137 Stamford Street
Waterloo
London SE1 9NN
Tel: 0207 430 2304
Website: www.bpp.com/law
BPP Law School, Manchester
  • GDL full-time
  • GDL part-time evening
  • GDL part-time Saturday
BPP Law School
137 Stamford Street
Waterloo
London SE1 9NN
Tel: 0207 430 2304
Website: www.bpp.com/law
University of Brighton
  • PGDip Law part-time
University of Brighton
Brighton Business School
Mithras House
Lewes Road
Brighton BN2 4AT
Tel: 01273 642572
Website: www.brighton.ac.uk
University of the West of England, Bristol
  • GDL full-time
  • GDL part-time distance learning
Faculty of Law
University of the West of England, Bristol
Frenchay Campus
Bristol BS16 1QY
Tel: 0117 965 6261, Ext 2709
Website: www.uwe.ac.uk
Brunel University
  • CPE full-time
 Law Department
Brunel University
Uxbridge
Middlesex UB8 3PH
Tel: 01895 274 000
Website: www.brunel.ac.uk
City University
  • Law CPE/Graduate Diploma
 Department of Law
City University
Northampton Square
London EC1V 0HB
Tel: 0207 040 8301
Website: www.city.ac.uk
The College of Law (branches at Birmingham, Chester, Guildford, London and York)
  • GDL full-time (tuition at Birmingham, Chester, Guildford, London and York)
  • GDL part-time evening in London
  • GDL part-time day in Birmingham, Guildford and York
  • GDL part-time weekend in Birmingham and Chester
The Admissions Department
The College of Law
Braboeuf Manor
St Catherines
Portsmouth Road
Guildford, Surrey GU3 1HA
Tel: 0800 328 0153
Website: www.college-of-law.co.uk
De Montfort University
  • GDL full-time
  • GDL part-time distance learning
School of Law
De Montfort University
The Gateway
Leicester LE1 9BH
Tel: 0116 257 7177
Website: www.dmu.ac.uk
University of East London
  • GDL full-time
School of Law
University of East London
Longbridge Road
Dagenham
Essex RM8 2AS
Website: www.uel.ac.uk
University of East Anglia
  • Diploma in Legal Studies full-time
 School of Law
University of East Anglia
Norwich NR4 7TJ
Tel: 01603 592520
Website: www.uea.ac.uk
University of Glamorgan
  • CPE/PGDL full-time
  • CPE/PGDL part-time
School of Law
University of Glamorgan
Pontypridd
Mid-Glamorgan CF37 1DL
Tel: 01443 483005
www.glam.ac.uk
University of Hertfordshire
  • CPE full-time
  • CPE part-time
Faculty of Law
University of Hertfordshire
St Albans Campus
7 Hatfield Road
St Albans
Herts AL1 3RS
Tel: 01707 286227
Website: www.herts.ac.uk
Holborn College
  • GDL by flexible learning with on-line tutorial support – one year or two year option – offered by franchise from the University of Huddersfield
 Holborn College
Wollwich Road
Charlton
London SE7 8LN
Tel: 0208 317 6074/6182
Website: www.holborncollege.ac.uk
www.flexible-learning.co.uk
University of Huddersfield
  • GDL full-time by flexible learning on the Internet
  • GDL part-time by flexible learning on the Internet
Department of Law
University of Huddersfield
Queensgate
Huddersfield HD1 3DH
Tel: 01484 472192
Website: www.hud.ac.uk
Keele University
  • CPE/Graduate Diploma in Law full-time
  • CPE/Graduate Diploma in Law part-time
Department of Law
Keele University
Keele
Staffs ST5 5BG
Tel: 01782 583243
Website: www.keele.ac.uk
Kingston University
  • Graduate Diploma in Law full-time
  • Graduate Diploma in Law part-time
Kingston Law School
Kingston University
Kingston Hill
Kingston upon Thames
Surrey KT2 7LB
Tel: 020 8547 7336
Website: www.king.ac.uk
University of Central Lancashire
  • CPE/GDL full-time
  • CPE/GDL part-time
Lancashire Law School
University of Central Lancashire
Harris Building
Corporation Street
Preston PR1 2HE
Tel: 01772 893088
Website: www.uclan.ac.uk
Leeds Metropolitan University
  • GDL full-time
  • GDL part-time
Leeds Law School
Leeds Metropolitan University
Cavendish Hall
Beckett Park
Headingley
Leeds LS6 3QS
Tel: 0113 283 7451
Website: www.lmu.ac.uk
University of Lincoln
  • CPE full-time
Enquiry Centre
University of Lincoln
Brayford Pool
Lincoln
LN6 7TS
Tel: (0)1522 882000
Website: www.lincoln.ac.uk/home
London Metropolitan University
  • CPE/Diploma in Law full-time
  • CPE/Diploma in Law part-time day
  • CPE/Diploma in Law part-time evening
Department of Law
City Campus
Goulston Street
London E1 7DP
Tel: 0207 320 4900
Website: www.londonmet.ac.uk
London South Bank University
  • Graduate Diploma in Legal Studies/CPE full-time
  • Graduate Diploma in Legal Studies/CPE part-time
Admissions Office
South Bank University
103 Borough Road
London SE1 0AA
Tel: 020 7815 8232
Website: www.lsbu.ac.uk
Manchester Metropolitan University / University of Hong Kong (franchised by Manchester Metropolitan University )
  • G. Dip. L full-time
  • G. Dip. L part-time evening
  • G. Dip. L (part-time) (University of Hong Kong)
 School of Law Manchester Metropolitan University
All Saints West
Lower Ormond Street Manchester M15 6HB
Tel: 0161 247 3050
Website: www.mmu.ac.uk
www.hku.hk
The City University of Hong Kong offers the following degree programme; it is not deemed to be a qualifying law degree but may lead to partial exemption from the Common Professional Examination (CPE).
Middlesex University
  • GDL full-time/open learning (attendance one day per week)
  • GDL part-time distance learning (internet-based, attendance at induction and two revision weekends)
Admissions Office
Middlesex University
The Burroughs
Hendon
London NW4 4BT
Tel: 0208 411 6722
Website: www.mdx.ac.uk
Northumbria University
  • CPE/GDL full-time
  • CPE/GDL part-time distance learning
School of Law
Northumbria University
Sutherland building
Northumberland Road
Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE1 8ST
Tel: 0191 227 3426
Website: www.northumbria.ac.uk
Nottingham at Kaplan Law School (from Sept 2007)
  • CPE/GDL full-time
See below for address details
Website: www.kaplanlawschool.org.uk
Nottingham Trent University
  • GDL full-time
  • GDL part-time distance learning
GDL full-time:
Nottingham Law School
Belgrave Centre
Chaucer Street
Nottingham NG1 5LP
Tel: 0115 848 4148
GDL part-time distance learning:
Distance Learning Office
Department of Academic Legal Studies
Nottingham Law School
Nottingham Trent University
Burton Street
Nottingham NG1 4BU
Tel: 0115 848 4271
Website: www.ntu.ac.uk
Oxford Brookes University
  • CPE/GDL full-time
  • CPE/GDL part-time
Law Department
School of Social Sciences & Law
Oxford Brookes University
Headington Hill Hall
Headington
Oxford OX3 0BP
Tel: 01865 484 931
Website: www.brookes.ac.uk
University of Plymouth
  • GDL full-time
 Marketing and Admissions Office
ssb.enquiries@plymouth.ac.uk
Tel: 01752 232 864
Website: www.plymouth.ac.uk
Sheffield Hallam University
  • CPE/Graduate Diploma in Law full-time
  • CPE/Graduate Diploma in Law part-time
 Sheffield Hallam University
Surrey Building
Howard Street
Sheffield
S1 1WB
Tel: 0114 225 5555
Website: www.shu.ac.uk
Southampton Solent University
  • CPE full-time
  • CPE part-time
The School of Law
Southampton Solent University
East Park Terrace
Southampton
SO14 OYN
Tel: 023 8031 9132
Website: www.solent.ac.uk
Staffordshire University
  • CPE/Graduate Diploma in Legal Studies - full-time
  • CPE/Graduate Diploma in Legal Studies - part-time day, or evening, or day/evening
Law School
Staffordshire University
Leek Road
Stoke on Trent
Staffordshire
ST4 2DF
Tel 01782 294550
Website: www.staffs.ac.uk/law
Staffordshire University and Worcester College of Technology at Worcester
  • CPE/Graduate Diploma in Legal Studies part-time
Law School
Worcester College of Technology
Deansway
Worcester WR1 2JF
Tel: 01905 725 555
Website: www.staffs.ac.uk/schools/law
www.wortech.ac.uk
University of Sussex
  • CPE full-time
 Postgraduate Office
University of Sussex
Sussex House
Falmer
Brighton BN1 9RH
Tel: 01273 877 175
Website: www.sussex.ac.uk
Swansea University
  • GDL full-time
 Department of Law
University of Wales, Swansea
Singleton Park
Swansea SA2 8PP
Tel: 01792 295 831/295 913
Website: www.swan.ac.uk
Thames Valley University
  • GDL full-time
  • GDL part-time
Thames Valley University
TC 320
St Mary's Road
Ealing
London W5 5RF
Tel: 0208 231 2505
Website: www.tvu.ac.uk
University of Westminster
  • CPE/GDL full-time
  • GDL part-time
Admissions Office
University of Westminster
4 Little Titchfield Street
London W1W 7UW
Tel: 0207 911 5000, Extn 2584
Website: www.wmin.ac.uk
University of Wolverhampton
  • CPE full-time
  • CPE part-time
School of Legal Studies
University of Wolverhampton
Arthur Storer Building
Molineux Street
Wolverhampton WV1 1SB
Tel: 01902 321 564
Website: www.wlv.ac.uk