Funding the BPC

Jan 26, 2023

Written By Annika De Lathauwer

BPC stands for the Bar Practice Course and is a vocational barrister course, which must be completed before a pupillage in order to qualify and become a barrister. However, having already completed an undergraduate degree, this can be a very expensive and financially worrying time for people, so it is important to consider how this can be funded.

Sponsor

A select few people may already have a pupillage in place for after they complete the BPC, which can help to cover schooling. However, this will only be the case for the very top pupillage programmes; most sponsors will not cover the bar at all. Do not worry if this is not the case for you, as it only applies to a select few and there are plenty of other ways to fund the BPC, which are discussed below.

Inns of Court Scholarship

It is also possible to apply for an Inns of Court Scholarship. About 1 in 4 students can arrange for some funding, as there is about £5 million available in total.

Scholarships

There are many other scholarships that can be found online from a variety of providers, such as the University of Law, as well as other universities and institutions. Many of these tend to have a focus on helping those that have come from lower socio-economic backgrounds, or from groups underrepresented in law.

Bank Loan

As it is unlikely that you will have any student loan or overdraft left over, another option is to take out another loan. Some graduate account offers are known to have somewhat decent overdrafts. It is a good idea to do some research into different banks’ options before you decide, as they will each have different offers and benefits.

Make sure to think very carefully before taking out a loan, as your debt will only grow, and you need to be sure that you will be able to pay it back in the required time.

A job

Studying part-time can be an excellent option, as it allows students to work alongside their studies. This makes it easier to afford tuition, while simultaneously gaining practical work experience. It will, however, increase your study time and keep you from fully qualifying as a barrister for another year, but it can be worth it to decrease the amount of debt you will find yourself in.

Full-time students may also work in the evenings and on the weekends to earn some extra money, but you have to be very careful to not get burnt out.

Choose where to study wisely

Although there are great pros to living in a big city, there are also some cons that must be considered, especially when it comes to funding your BPC. For example, studying in London can cost almost double in comparison to other places. Choosing to study somewhere else will still provide quality education, but for a far lower price. Check online to compare law school course prices. Also take into consideration the cost of living in certain cities.

University Funding