Graduate Diploma in Law,

You will learn the foundation subjects of Contract Law, Law of Tort, Public Law, Equity & Trusts, Land Law, Criminal Law, and European Union Law through lectures and compulsory seminars.

You will study a further legal subject through a supervised research project.

To enrol on the GDL an applicant must normally have obtained an undergraduate degree awarded by a recognised UK or Republic of Ireland institution. (Please note that those wishing to progress to the Bar should normally have achieved at least a 2:2 honours classification in their undergraduate degree. Visit http://www.barcouncil.org.uk/ for further information).

Students with alternative professional qualifications and/or experience, and international students, please see information on ‘Non-standard Qualifications’ below.

Non-standard qualifications

Those with overseas degrees:

 (i) If you plan to qualify as a solicitor you should make your application as normal, through the Central Applications Board (CAB).

On receipt of your application, Swansea University will assess the equivalence of your international qualification by reference to UK NARIC

(ii) If you plan to qualify as a barrister you should obtain a Certificate of Academic Standing from the Bar Standards Board.

Mature applicants with alternative qualifications or experience:

If you plan to qualify as either a solicitor or barrister, you should obtain your Certificate of Academic Standing from either the Solicitors Regulation Authority SRA or the Bar Standards Board.

Teaching block one (TB1) runs from September until January and during this block, for this year, this course will be taught in a ‘blended’ way. This means that some teaching will be done online and some will be on campus. The online teaching, where you will be physically apart from your lecturer, can be ‘live’ with your lecturer present and where you’ll be able to interact. Some of it may be self-directed which means that you can access the learning materials at a time to suit you. 

On-campus Live

• Academic skills programme
• Academic mentor meetings
• (Subject to distancing requirements and staff availability)

Online Live

• Induction sessions
• Weekly large-group sessions with module teams (e.g. to review material/address questions/go through practice questions and so on)
• Small-group seminars for each module, on a two week cycle
• Academic skills programme
• Academic mentor meetings

On-campus Self-directed

• Guided reading
• Lecture preparation
• Seminar preparation
• Quizzes
• Self-test questions

Online Self-directed

• Lecture recordings
• Quizzes
• Self-test questions
• And in addition might include for example:
• Blogs/Vlogs

Find out about how you will be taught with our Learning and Teaching Definitions document. 

There are opportunities for Welsh speakers to study through the medium of Welsh and our dedicated academy for Welsh-medium study, Academi Hywel Teifi, is here to support you throughout your time at Swansea University. We offer you:

• An interview through the medium of Welsh when applying for a place.
• The option to receive your personal correspondence in Welsh - we will then communicate with you in your language of choice.
• The option to write and submit your coursework or exams through the medium of Welsh (even if you have chosen to study in English), and every effort will be made to mark your work in its original language.
• A Welsh-speaking personal tutor.
• One-to-one support to improve your academic Welsh language skills.

To see further details about the level of provision delivered in Welsh on this particular degree scheme, please see the Welsh-language course page for further information.

Since 2011, there has been a 113% increase in the number of students studying through the medium of Welsh at Swansea University and our TEF* data over the last two years shows that Welsh-medium students are high achievers with regard to employability (*Swansea University TEF return 2017 and 2018).

Our postgraduate degrees give you the opportunity to learn from academics who are industry experts, with a wealth of academic and practical experience. The Hillary Rodham Clinton School of Law is home to a vibrant academic community dedicated to understanding some of society’s most challenging issues.

You can find out more about our academic expertise on our staff pages.

Tuition fees for years of study after your first year are subject to an increase of 3%.

You can find further information of your fee costs on our tuition fees page.

You may be eligible for funding to help support your study. To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available please visit the University's scholarships and bursaries page.

Current students: You can find further information of your fee costs on our tuition fees page.

EU Transitional Bursary available for September 2021.

You may be eligible for funding to help support your study.

If you're a UK or EU student starting a master’s degree at Swansea University, you may be eligible to apply for Government funding to help towards the cost of your studies. To find out more, please visit our postgraduate loans page.

To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available please visit the University's scholarships and bursaries page.

Academi Hywel Teifi at Swansea University and the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol offer a number of generous scholarships and bursaries for students who wish to study through the medium of Welsh or bilingually. For further information about the opportunities available to you, visit the Academi Hywel Teifi Scholarships and Bursaries page.

School of Law Scholarships and Bursaries

A £1000 bursary is available to graduates of Swansea University.

Please note the current bursaries displayed are for the 21/22 academic year and are subject to change going forward.

Payment of Course Fees

• Pay your course fees in full at enrolment 
• Or, make three payments in instalments through the year. 

Home Students

Full payment at/before enrolment

OR

Pay in three instalments:

• 33% - November 7th 2019
• 33% - February 6th 2020
• 34% - May 7th 2020 

International Students

Full payment at/before enrolment

OR

Pay in three instalments:

• 50% - At/before enrolment
• 25% - February 6th 2020
• 25% - May 7th 2020

Access more information on your payment options.

Access to your own digital device/the appropriate IT kit will be essential during your time studying at Swansea University. Access to wifi in your accommodation will also be essential to allow you to fully engage with your programme. See our dedicated webpages for further guidance on suitable devices to purchase, and for a full guide on getting your device set up.

You may face additional costs while at university, including (but not limited to):

• Travel to and from campus
• Printing, photocopying, binding, stationery and equipment costs (e.g. USB sticks)
• Purchase of books or texts
• Gowns for graduation ceremonies

Swansea Employability Academy (SEA) will support you at each stage of your career journey helping you build a bright future.

Our career support services include:

• Employability workshops, employers’ talks, bespoke events and careers fairs
• Individual advice and guidance from professionally qualified Careers Advisers
• Help with finding jobs, internships, work placements and volunteering opportunities
• Access to information resources on a wide range of career management topics
• Funding to support student internship opportunities and Student Society/Club events.

We also provide help and advice for Swansea University Alumni up to two years after you graduate.

Employability at the School of Law

The School of Law takes a proactive approach to enhancing graduate employability, with a dedicated Employability and Placements Officer. The School offers a range of local, national and international work placements, professional courses, advice and support to help you develop the skills required to achieve your ambitions.

Find out more on our employability webpage.

In order to qualify as a solicitor or barrister you will have to complete the vocational stage of training. The Hillary Rodham Clinton School of Law offers a full-time and part-time Legal Practice Course (LPC), successful completion of which satisfies the requirements of the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

For more information on our LPC, contact Michaela Leyshon, LPC Admissions Tutor.

Non-law graduates are being welcomed into the legal profession at an increasing rate, as they are perceived as bringing a fresh perspective to the practice of law, and now make up approximately 50% of all new lawyers. Successful completion of the Swansea GDL, which is accredited by the SRA, Bar and ILEX satisfies all of the academic requirements for admission to the vocational stage of training as a solicitor, barrister or legal executive.

UK qualified lawyers have the opportunity to not only work in local and nationally based firms and chambers, public bodies and businesses, but also in legal environments around the world.

As well as subject specific support by college teaching staff and your personal academic mentor, the Centre for Academic Success provides courses, workshops and one-to-one support in areas such as:

• Academic writing
• Maths and statistics
• Critical thinking
• Time management
• Digital skills
• Presentation skills
• Note taking
• Revision, memory and exam techniques
• English language skills (if English is not your first language).

In addition, if you have a Specific Learning Difficulty (SpLD), disability, mental health or medical condition, the Centre for Academic Success have Specialist Tutors to support your learning, working alongside the Disability Office and Wellbeing Service to support all your needs and requirements whilst studying at Swansea University.

Support at the School of Law

Each student is assigned an Academic Mentor to help with:

• Academic Guidance
• Personal Development Planning
• Employability Advice

The school also has a dedicated Student Information Office who will be able to offer academic assistance throughout your studies.

Applications are made to the Central Applications Board for the full-time course.

EU students - visa and immigration information is available and will be regularly updated on our information for EU students page.

Contact Details

For further details, please contact:

Ms Jess Hammett (Recruitment Officer) 
Tel: +44 (0)1792 606341
Email: Jess

General Enquiries:
Tel: +44 (0)1792 295831
Email: Study

For EU/International Enquiries:
Tel: +44 (0)1792 602600
Email: International