There are a number of ways to obtain GDL funding and/or GDL scholarships for your GDL course at Kaplan Law School:
Kaplan Law School Bursaries
Kaplan Law School Scholarships
Local authority grants
Loan schemes - high street banks
Professional development loans
Our Law Bursaries for the Graduate Diploma in Law
At Kaplan Law School we offer 4 law bursaries for LPC and GDL course places each academic year of up to £2500 per law bursary.
To apply for our law bursary for the GDL course you should send your CV with a covering letter of no more than 600 words outlining why you believe you are suitable to receive a law bursary to:
By post:
Bursary Applications
Kaplan Law School
Palace House
3 Cathedral Street
London
SE1 9DE
By email: Gemma.Baker@kaplan.co.uk
Aplication should be recieved by 1st March. Shortlisted applicants will be required to attend a short interview prior to final award.
Full Law Scholarship available for GDL Course
Each year two students will be offered the chance to study at Kaplan Law School, with full scholarships for their GDL or LPC tuition fees.
To enter, applicants must write a 1000 word essay on a contemporary legal topic. This, together with a current CV must be submitted to Kaplan Law School by 1 February for the GDL course. Short-listed finalists will be invited to present their essays to a panel of experts who will award the scholarships at a formal presentation ceremony.
To apply for the Law Scholarship, you must provide the following
information by post or email before 1 February 2010 for the GDL course:
- Current CV – including two referees.
- Completed application form. (Students may submit an application via email by providing the required data in the body of the email.)
- An essay (of no more than 1000 words) highlighting a contemporary legal issue you have read about, and explaining why you consider it significant in the context of UK society. Students are encouraged to look beyond current newspaper headlines. Please make sure the essay is typed in Word, with double-spacing.
- Kaplan Law School will review applications for consideration. A select group of law scholarship finalists will be invited to our premises in London to provide a short presentation on their topic. Students will be informed of selection in February 2010.
- Scholarship winners will be determined following the presentations. Decisions will be communicated by 1st March 2010.
How to submit your application for a law scholarship
Submission of applications can be made by email to: Gemma.Baker@kaplan.co.uk
or by post:
Kaplan Law School
Palace House
3 Cathedral Street
London
SE19DE
Queries to Giles Proctor: Gemma.Baker@kaplan.co.uk
Local authority grants, loan schemes and Professional development loans
Local authority grants
Your local authority will be able to provide you with details of mandatory and discretionary award policies. This will include courses which the authority considers suitable for the purposes of financial support.
The Graduate Diploma in Law is categorised as a discretionary award. These awards are limited, and you should check with your local authority when to apply. The authority will decide whether you qualify for an award, using a series of criteria established by the officers and elected members.
The Department for Children, Schools and Families also publishes information about funding on the Directgov website.
Loan schemes – the high street banks
Major high street banks are a popular source of finance for those considering a career in law. A number of these banks offer special schemes for the GDL course, with lower interest rates than normal and delayed repayment arrangements, see below for details.
NatWest Professional Trainee Loan
Full time students studying on the GDL can apply to borrow up to £25,000. More information is available on the NatWest website.
Lloyds TSB Professional Studies Loan
TSB loans are available for GDL students, in a lump sum or stages. Loan amount is up to £10,000 or two-thirds of previous salary if in employment.
Career development loans
The career development loan has been replaced by the Professional and Career Development Loan. For full details visit the Directgov website
There are further schemes available specifically for the LPC and BPTC.