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Law (Postgraduate Certificate)

PG Cert

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Key information

Key information for 2026-27

Start date:
September 2026
Study route:

  • One year part-time, on campus

Status:
Fully approved
Location:
Birkbeck Campus, Central London
Awarding body:
University of London
Study options:
Part-time | On campus

Course overview

The Postgraduate Certificate in Law gives you the chance to study specialist law modules at a postgraduate level in the heart of London, without having to commit to studying for a full LLM.

  • Why choose this course?
    • This flexible course offers you a rich choice of specialist modules on many in-depth and fascinating areas of law.
    • Modules are taught by expert researchers or practitioners, and most can be studied as HyFlex - either online or on campus.
    • For non-lawyers the course also offers an essential foundation module on key legal concepts.

  • What will I learn?

    This course is ideal if you want to enhance your knowledge in particular areas of law relevant to your career, develop new areas of expertise, or you simply want to learn more about a specific topic. You may be interested in environmental policy, human rights, AI and the regulation of technology, law and the humanities, or one of the many other specialist topics covered.

  • How will I learn?

    You will join a diverse cohort of students from different backgrounds and professions who bring their experience and insights to the classroom. Most of the modules are also offered in our HyFlex state-of-the-art classrooms, so you can choose to attend classes online or on campus. The course is available to study part-time with lectures and seminars taking place in the evening to help you balance your studies with work or other commitments.

    If you require a Student visa to study in the UK, you will only be able to attend this course on campus. The online option will not be available to you because it may affect the conditions of your visa.

  • How often will I attend classes?

    Part-time: One or two evenings a week, September to July.

  • Course disclaimer

    Birkbeck makes all reasonable efforts to deliver educational services, modules and programmes of study as described on our website. In the event that there are material changes to our offering (for example, due to matters beyond our control), we will update applicant and student facing information as quickly as possible and offer alternatives to applicants, offer-holders and current students.

    Most of our courses are taught in the evenings, however some of our courses offer a daytime timetable. Where there is an option to attend daytime teaching sessions, this is stated in the How will I learn? section.

More highlights

  • The Birkbeck Law School is internationally renowned for its pathbreaking theoretical, political and humanities-based scholarship.
  • You will be able to attend our Law School Annual Lecture and specialist research seminars which feature international scholars speaking on current issues and their interdisciplinary research. 
  • Our Centre for Law and the Humanities attracts notable guest speakers and public intellectuals to our lecture theatres.
  • We are home to the Birkbeck Law Press which publishes Law and Critique. You can also take advantage of the rich research collections nearby, including those of the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Senate House Library, the British Library of Political and Economic Science (LSE Library) and the British Library.

Modules and Teaching

Birkbeck Law School

The Law School is recognised for research excellence, professional connections and student support, as well as courses that combine multidisciplinary insight with practical skills.

Visit the school

Entry requirements

Our standard entry requirements for postgraduate courses are a second-class honours degree (2:2), or equivalent, in any area of study.

We welcome applicants without traditional entry qualifications as we base decisions on our own assessment of qualifications, knowledge and previous work experience. We may waive formal entry requirements based on judgement of academic potential.

On your application form, please list all your relevant qualifications and experience, including those you expect to achieve.

Apply now to secure your place. The earlier you apply, the sooner your application can be considered, and you can enrol. You do not need to have completed your current qualification to start your application.

  • What are the English language requirements?

    If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, our usual requirement is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.5, with not less than 6.0 in each of the sub-tests. We also accept other English language tests.

    If you don't meet the minimum English language requirements, please contact us or see our international study skills page for more details about how we can help.

    Visit the International section of our website to find out more about our English language entry requirements and relevant requirements by country.

  • What are the visa and funding requirements?

    If you are not from the UK and you do not already have residency here, you may need to apply for a visa.

    The visa you apply for varies according to the length of your course:

    • Courses of more than six months' duration: Student visa
    • Courses of less than six months' duration: Standard Visitor visa

    International students who require a Student visa should apply to study on our courses full-time as these qualify for Student visa sponsorship. If you are living in the UK on a Student visa, you will not be eligible to enrol to study part-time courses at Birkbeck (with the exception of some modules).

    As a Student visa student, you should also apply to study on campus only, as online and flexible options of study (if they are available for your course) may affect the conditions of your visa.

    For full information, read our visa information for international students page.

    Please also visit the international section of our website to find out more about relevant visa and funding requirements by country.

    Please note students receiving US Federal Aid are only able to apply for in-person, on-campus programmes which will have no elements of online study.

  • Credits and accredited prior learning (APL)

    If you have studied at university (or have an HND or Foundation Degree), you may have accumulated credits. It may be possible to transfer these from your previous study to Birkbeck or another institution.

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Fees

PG Cert: One year part-time, on campus, starting in September 2026

Academic year 2026-27

Part-time home students: £4,370 per year
Part-time international students: £7,660 per year

Students are charged a tuition fee in each year of their course. Tuition fees for students continuing their course may be subject to annual inflationary increases. For more information, please see the Fees Policy.

Discover the financial support available to you to help with your studies at Birkbeck.

Birkbeck's campus is located in the historic and vibrant Bloomsbury area of central London - named one of the best places to live in London 2025 by The Times.

Careers and employability

On successfully completing this Law Postgraduate Certificate you will have gained valuable transferable skills in:

  • research
  • analysis
  • developing arguments
  • communicating your ideas effectively in both written and verbal form.

You will find PG Cert Law graduates in roles such as:

  • policy analyst
  • journalist
  • civil servant
  • advocate.

You may also decide to use this Certificate to progress your studies further on our LLM Law.

We offer a comprehensive careers service - Careers and Enterprise - your career partner during your time at Birkbeck and beyond. At every stage of your career journey, we empower you to take ownership of your future, helping you to make the connection between your experience, education and future ambitions.

Student support

Birkbeck offers study, learning and wellbeing support to undergraduate and postgraduate students to help them succeed.

Our Learning Development Service provides a lively programme of free weekly workshops building essential academic skills - from writing and critical thinking to maths and referencing - offering flexible sessions, practical tips, and online resources to boost your skills and confidence.

Our Disability and Mental Health Service can support you if you have disabilities, specific learning differences, mental health conditions or neurodivergence, by providing practical support to help you achieve your academic potential.

Our Counselling Service aims to support you with any emotional and psychological difficulties that are affecting your experience and engagement with your studies at university. It is a free, non-judgemental and confidential service which consists of a consultation process followed by time limited counselling contact.

Find out more about the full range of student services we offer at Birkbeck.

How to apply

You apply directly to Birkbeck for this course, using the online application link.

You will need to prove your identity when you apply. Find out more about how to apply.

  • When should I apply?

    You are strongly advised to apply now, to ensure there are still places left, and to give you enough time to complete the admissions process, to arrange funding and to enrol.

    You don't need to complete your current programme of study before you apply - Birkbeck can offer you a place that is conditional on your results.

Related courses

Study routes for Law (Postgraduate Certificate) (PG Cert)

Please select a study route below to continue your application.

Please note that international students who require a Student visa to study in the UK can only apply for full-time, on campus routes.

Starting in September 2026

Part-time