Where to do GDL

[CupOfTea17]

Hey guys!

I am due to start my GDL soon, and I have a choice between Oxford Brookes and University of Law - I am just wondering, do firms value different GDL providers differently, or are they treated the same?
My preference would be to study at Oxford Brookes as it is easier to access, however, if studying the GDL at the University of Law is valued higher, I may consider taking up a place there instead.

 

[Trainee590]

Hi there,

From what I have seen, it does not really matter where you do the PGDL from a firm's perspective. Many firms will have preferred providers (i.e. providers that they have contracted with to send their future trainees), but if you are self-funding, a firm is unlikely to view your application differently based on where you chose to study the PGDL.

However, there are reasons why people might choose one provider over another. Providers vary in quality of teaching and approach, so it is worth researching the differences between the courses at Oxford Brookes and ULaw before making your decision. For example, ULaw places particular emphasis on helping students gain practical skills. In addition, some providers offer more opportunities to attend in-person events than others or to interact with future trainees at a firm you a targeting, which might be beneficial to you. Having said this, there are many virtual events on offer to gain these kinds of advantages.

Therefore, while the provider you choose is unlikely to make a difference to your law firm applications, I would advise you to consider how it will make a difference to your own experience and goals.

I hope this helps and best of luck with the PGDL!

 

[CupOfTea17]

Hi there,

From what I have seen, it does not really matter where you do the PGDL from a firm's perspective. Many firms will have preferred providers (i.e. providers that they have contracted with to send their future trainees), but if you are self-funding, a firm is unlikely to view your application differently based on where you chose to study the PGDL.

However, there are reasons why people might choose one provider over another. Providers vary in quality of teaching and approach, so it is worth researching the differences between the courses at Oxford Brookes and ULaw before making your decision. For example, ULaw places particular emphasis on helping students gain practical skills. In addition, some providers offer more opportunities to attend in-person events than others or to interact with future trainees at a firm you a targeting, which might be beneficial to you. Having said this, there are many virtual events on offer to gain these kinds of advantages.

Therefore, while the provider you choose is unlikely to make a difference to your law firm applications, I would advise you to consider how it will make a difference to your own experience and goals.

I hope this helps and best of luck with the PGDL!

Thank you so much! This is super helpful )

 

[Isabelcampbell]

Hey guys!

I am due to start my GDL soon, and I have a choice between Oxford Brookes and University of Law - I am just wondering, do firms value different GDL providers differently, or are they treated the same?
My preference would be to study at Oxford Brookes as it is easier to access, however, if studying the GDL at the University of Law is valued higher, I may consider taking up a place there instead.

Hi there! As the reply above mentions, most firms do tend to send their future trainees to either BPP or ULaw, but if you’re self-funding then you’ll ultimately come out with the same qualification regardless of where you study. From my own experience doing the PGDL at BPP, one of the most valuable aspects wasn’t the provider itself, but the people I was surrounded by. Being in classes with future trainees who had already been through successful application cycles was incredibly useful, and they were generous with advice and represented such a range of firms, which gave me a lot of valuable insight!


That said, you’ll get out of the PGDL what you put in. Whichever provider you choose, the key is to be proactive: attend events, get involved, and engage fully with the course. It’s also worth being realistic, as the course is tough, so if Oxford Brookes is easier for you to access and will fit more smoothly into your life, that’s an important consideration. Making things manageable often means you’ll get more out of the experience overall.


Finally, take some time to weigh up the different options (in-person vs online, full-time vs part-time, PGDL vs LLM). Once you’ve thought through what works best for your circumstances, you should have a clearer picture. But to answer your core concern: I don’t think the provider itself carries much weight with applications, so choose the route that best supports you and your learning.

Hope this is useful!

 

[Anthony F. Vaughn]

Firms don’t really care where you do the GDL it’s more about your grades, skills, and experiences outside the classroom. Go with the place that works best for you personally, you’ll perform better there.