Â鶹Íø

Skip to Content
Postgraduate Taught 2026
PgDip | Postgraduate Taught

Law

Register Interest
Entry year
Academic Year 2026/27
Entry requirements
2.1
Attendance
1 year (Full-time)
2 years (Part-time)
Places available
Places Available (Full Time)
Places Available (Part Time)

The PG Diploma Law is a Qualifying Law Degree for students who wish to complete the academic stage legal qualification for Northern Ireland (NI), the pre-requisite for professional legal studies in NI.

The programme aims to provide a systematic understanding of the fundamental doctrines and principles underpinning the law in Northern Ireland; the interaction between the law in NI and the wider national, European and international contexts; and the social, political and economic contexts within which the legal system operates.

This programme is designed for UK non-law graduates, and for law and non-law graduates from other countries who wish to acquire a thorough grounding in law in Northern Ireland. It is particularly attractive for those who wish to prepare for professional practice courses to enter the legal profession. It offers the high highest quality of teaching, primarily delivered through group seminars.

Students will develop key legal skills such as understanding primary and secondary sources of law, legal research methods, legal referencing, how to develop arguments supported by legal research, how to effectively present legal arguments and answer complex legal questions. This programme will aim to ensure that students have a strong foundational knowledge of core legal modules while also developing their analytical legal research and writing skills. Assessment is primarily based on a combination of in-person exams and coursework

The Legal Methods and Skills module is and innovative module that will focus on supporting students to develop core legal skills such as research and referencing skills along with knowledge of the courts structure and legal system.

Law highlights

Career Development

We are dedicated to student employability and have strong industry links. Law was ranked Top 10 in the UK for graduate prospects (Complete University Guide 2025).

World Class Facilities

Our facilities at Â鶹Íø include a state-of-the-art Law building with superb teaching facilities, a moot court and study spaces. Â鶹Íø has one of the most modern campuses in the UK, including the award winning McClay Library, one of the finest libraries in the world and home to 1.2 million volumes and over 2,000 reader
places.
Our Physical Education Centre was used as a training camp for the 2012 Olympics. Our Â鶹Íø Elms Student Village and city centre student accommodation (built in 2018) are located within easy walking distance of the University.

Internationally Renowned Experts

Law at Â鶹Íø is taught by world-leading experts in the area of Law. Our staff have close research links with the professions, government and Civil Society. Law at Â鶹Íø is in the top 150 Law Schools worldwide and we are ranked 18th in the world for international outlook. Research in Law was ranked 8th in the UK in the most recent Research Assessment Exercise (2021).

Student Experience

At Â鶹Íø you will be part of a thriving postgraduate culture built on teaching excellence, leading-edge research, innovation, collaboration and engagement. These components are woven together in our Graduate School. It is here you will develop new skills and increased personal effectiveness that will enable you to stand out in the crowded and increasingly competitive global job market. Life at Â鶹Íø is not just about the degree. We offer our students the opportunity to really enrich their studies. Whether you're into student societies, sports, music, dance, or just a coffee with your friends, Â鶹Íø has exceptional facilities to cater for all interests.

NEXT
Course content

Course Structure

Students may enrol on a full-time (1 year) or part-time (2 years) basis.

The PG Diploma is awarded to students who successfully complete all taught modules (120 CATS points).

Compulsory Modules

The Postgraduate Diploma is offered on a modular basis. To complete the diploma a total of 120 CATS points must be obtained. Eight modules (15 CATS each) must be taken.

Students will also undertake a non-credit bearing series of Legal Methods and Skills workshops. These workshops will take place at the start of the course and will allow students the opportunity to develop their legal skills.

The structure is as follows

Legal Methods and Skills Workshops (0 CATS)
Constitutional Law (15 CATS)
Contract Law (15 CATS)
Torts (15 CATS)
Equity (15 CATS)
Criminal Law (15 CATS)
EU Law (15 CATS)
Evidence (15 CATS)
Land Law (15 CATS)

People teaching you

Director of Graduate Studies


Learning and Teaching

Learning opportunities associated with this Programme are outlined below:

Learning Opportunities:

The degree offers the highest quality of teaching, primarily delivered through group seminars and the specially devised curriculum builds on the fact that students have already benefited from a university level education.

Assessment

Assessments associated with the course are outlined below:

  • Primarily assessed by in person exams and coursework

What our academics say

"The new Diploma in Law is perfectly suited to those who have completed an undergraduate degree but now want to upskill or change careers. The eight core law modules are covered over two terms full time or four terms part time. Students also have the opportunity to take an innovative Legal Methods and Skills module at the start of the programme, this module will equip students with foundational legal skills that will be built on through participative seminars in the eight core law modules."

Dr Norah Burns Director of Graduate Studies

PREV
Overview

NEXT
Modules

Modules

The information provided in this Course Finder reflects the module details for the current year of study (2025/26). Please note that modules are subject to annual review and changes may occur in response to various factors, including student feedback and academic developments. Prospective students will be notified of any significant changes to module offerings before the start of the new academic year.

PREV
Course content

NEXT
Entry requirements

Entrance requirements

Normally a 2.1 Honours degree or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University in a discipline other than Law. Graduates holding law degrees that are not recognised by the Institute of Professional Legal Studies, Northern Ireland are also eligible to apply (for example international applicants with law degrees, those with Scottish Law degrees, or those with degrees from the Republic of Ireland that have not been recognised).

Exemption from these requirements may be considered for those applicants who hold a Master's degree (or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University) OR hold a 2.2 Honours degree in a discipline other than Law (or equivalent qualifications acceptable to the University) together with 2 years’ relevant professional experience.

Graduates who hold a law degree recognised by the Institute of Professional Legal Studies, Northern Ireland may not register for this programme.

Advisory note: the PG Diploma Law is designed for:
• UK and ROI non-law graduates, and for
• Law and non-law graduates from countries other than Northern Ireland, England and Wales.
• Law graduates from the Republic of Ireland whose law degree is not recognised by the Institute of rofessional Legal Studies, Northern Ireland

The PG Diploma Law is a Qualifying Law Degree for students who wish to complete the academic stage legal qualification for Northern Ireland (NI) - the pre-requisite for professional legal studies in NI. All applicants (except those from NI) should contact the appropriate regulator (in the country where they hope to practice law) to confirm that the PG Dip programme meets its requirements

Applicants are advised to apply as early as possible and ideally no later than 28th August 2026. In the event that any programme receives a high number of applications, the University reserves the right to close the application portal. Notifications to this effect will appear on the application portal against the programme application page.

Admission under Recognition of Prior Experiential Learning (RPEL) may be considered for this course. The University's Recognition of Prior
Learning Policy provides guidance on the assessment of experiential learning (RPEL). Please visit the link below for more information.

International Students

Our country/region pages include information on entry requirements, tuition fees, scholarships, student profiles, upcoming events and contacts for your country/region. Use the dropdown list below for specific information for your country/region.

English Language Requirements

Evidence of an IELTS* score of 6.5, with not less than 5.5 in any component, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University is required. *Taken within the last 2 years.

International students wishing to apply to Â鶹Íø (and for whom English is not their first language), must be able to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their course of study or research. Non-EEA nationals must also satisfy UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) immigration requirements for English language for visa purposes.

For more information on English Language requirements for EEA and non-EEA nationals see: www.qub.ac.uk/EnglishLanguageReqs.

If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this degree programme, Â鶹Íø International Study Centre offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for admission to this degree.

  • : an intensive English language and study skills course for successful university study at degree level
  • : a short intensive academic English course for students starting a degree programme at Â鶹Íø and who need to improve their English.

PREV
Modules

NEXT
Careers

Career Prospects

Introduction

This PG Diploma programme is designed for UK non-law graduates, and for law and non-law graduates from other countries who wish to acquire a thorough grounding in law. It is particularly attractive for those who wish to enter the legal profession. Â鶹Íø postgraduates reap exceptional benefits. Unique initiatives, such as Graduate Plus, bolster our commitment to employability, while innovative leadership and executive programmes alongside sterling integration with business experts helps our students gain key leadership positions both nationally and internationally.

Graduate Plus/Future Ready Award for extra-curricular skills

In addition to your degree programme, at Â鶹Íø you can have the opportunity to gain wider life, academic and employability skills. For example, placements, voluntary work, clubs, societies, sports and lots more. So not only do you graduate with a degree recognised from a world leading university, you'll have practical national and international experience plus a wider exposure to life overall. We call this Graduate Plus/Future Ready Award. It's what makes studying at Â鶹Íø special.

PREV
Entry Requirements

NEXT
Fees and Funding

Tuition Fees

Northern Ireland (NI) 1 ?5,133
Republic of Ireland (ROI) 2 ?5,133
England, Scotland or Wales (GB) 1 ?6,933
EU Other 3 ?15,333
International ?15,333

1EU citizens in the EU Settlement Scheme, with settled status, will be charged the NI or GB tuition fee based on where they are ordinarily resident. Students who are ROI nationals resident in GB will be charged the GB fee.

2 EU students who are ROI nationals resident in ROI are eligible for NI tuition fees.

3 EU Other students (excludes Republic of Ireland nationals living in GB, NI or ROI) are charged tuition fees in line with international fees.

All tuition fees quoted relate to a single year of study unless stated otherwise. Tuition fees will be subject to an annual inflationary increase, unless explicitly stated otherwise.

.

Additional course costs

All Students

Depending on the programme of study, there may be extra costs which are not covered by tuition fees, which students will need to consider when planning their studies.

Students can borrow books and access online learning resources from any Â鶹Íø library. If students wish to purchase recommended texts, rather than borrow them from the University Library, prices per text can range from £30 to £100. Students should also budget between £30 to £75 per year for photocopying, memory sticks and printing charges.

Students undertaking a period of work placement or study abroad, as either a compulsory or optional part of their programme, should be aware that they will have to fund additional travel and living costs.

If a programme includes a major project or dissertation, there may be costs associated with transport, accommodation and/or materials. The amount will depend on the project chosen. There may also be additional costs for printing and binding.

Students may wish to consider purchasing an electronic device; costs will vary depending on the specification of the model chosen.

There are also additional charges for graduation ceremonies, examination resits and library fines.

How do I fund my study?

The Department for the Economy will provide a tuition fee loan of up to £6,500 per NI / EU student for postgraduate study. Tuition fee loan information.

A postgraduate loans system in the UK offers government-backed student loans of up to £11,836 for taught and research Masters courses in all subject areas (excluding Initial Teacher Education/PGCE, where undergraduate student finance is available). Criteria, eligibility, repayment and application information are .

More information on funding options and financial assistance - please check this link regularly, even after you have submitted an application, as new scholarships may become available to you.

International Scholarships

Information on scholarships for international students, is available at www.qub.ac.uk/Study/international-students/international-scholarships.

PREV
Careers

NEXT
Apply

How to Apply

Apply using our online and follow the step-by-step instructions on how to apply.

Terms and Conditions

The terms and conditions that apply when you accept an offer of a place at the University on a taught programme of study.
Â鶹Íø Terms and Conditions.

Download a prospectus

PREV
Fees and Funding

Course location

Law

Can't find something?

We're here to help with any questions or queries you may have about this course

Ask a question
Close Menu - Off Canvas