Robert Gordon University

Our face-to-face Diploma course is taught by local solicitors and other practitioners who are supported by full time members of the academic staff. The majority of teaching will take place in small group tutorials and seminars. Full time Students are timetabled to be in university 3 days per week. Part Time students will have classes for 1.5 to 2 days per week. Classes are not over full days and some classes will be in the evenings. Diploma students are grouped in two/three groups one of which has classes Monday to Wednesday and the others Tuesday to Thursday each week.

We try as far as possible to accommodate student group requests to allow students to continue with any employment they are undertaking whilst studying or to maintain other commitments they may have. We recognise that for many of you working within a legal firm whilst studying for DPLP is often important in your search for a traineeship and we aim to be as flexible as far as we can with our timetable in order  to support these endeavours.

Online students will attend weekly evening classes (with some on a Saturday morning) within a virtual classroom. Material is disseminated by recorded lectures and the virtual classes are in tutorial style. Most assessments will be completed and submitted online but some oral assessments may take place on campus at the mandatory on campus days each year. Our online course is taught mainly by solicitors as with the face-to-face course but some are based outwith Aberdeen, elsewhere in Scotland and teach in the virtual classroom within the online learning portal Moodle which is available to all students enrolled in the course.

Our tutors are in mainly in legal practice and are experienced in their fields. Teaching is practically focussed and there is regular assessment in all modules including one exam. As postgraduates students will be expected to research as required using course materials, textbooks and library resources.

As our cohort is small we come to know our students well and can offer support in terms of employability. In conjunction with our Careers service we will assist with CV preparation, application forms and mock interviews.

ALL students will study four core modules:

• Conveyancing
• Private Client
• Litigation
• Business Finance and Practice

Students will select 3 of the following elective modules with part time students taking these over the two years of study:

• Commercial Conveyancing
• Advanced Civil Litigation (part-time students can only take this module in year 2)
• Oil and Gas Practice (not available to online students)
• Employment Practice
• Practical Dispute Resolution
• Practical Social Work and Child Law
• Legal Tech

£6,830 with additional cost of £170 for materials

Currently 20% fee discount for alumni applies 

Payment can be spread in certain instalment plans

RGU has sources of financial awards, administered by the university. Find out more.

Students can also find out about funding the Diploma on the Law Society's website.

Subject to entry requirements and visa requirements, international students may apply but must contact the Course Director for information on traineeships and visa related restrictions on these before accepting any offer.

International students should note that the online course has mandatory on campus days requiring attendance at RGU and an assessment requiring a visit to a Scottish criminal court during the course.

Find out more information here.