Gray's Inn Scholarships (GDL + Bar Course), Inner Temple Scholarships, Lincoln's Inn Scholarships, Middle Temple Scholarships

What you get

The four Inns of Court (Gray's Inn, Lincoln's Inn, Inner Temple and Middle Temple) each award scholarships to help you pay for law training in England and Wales. They fund two courses. The first is the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL), a one-year conversion course for people whose first degree was not in law. The second is the Bar Course, the vocational stage of training to become a barrister. The awards are cash grants set for each person. GDL grants run up to about EUR 22,000 (around 13,000-19,750 GBP depending on the Inn). Bar Course grants reach roughly EUR 28,000 to EUR 33,000 (up to 25,000-28,000 GBP). Each Inn pays out between about 1.5 and over 2 million GBP a year across dozens of scholarships. Some awards add extras such as free or reduced-rent accommodation in central London, cheaper membership fees and no Call to the Bar fee.

Who can apply

• Your course: You are starting or applying to start a GDL law conversion course or the Bar Course, full-time or part-time.
• Career plan: You intend to qualify and practise as a barrister at the Bar of England and Wales.
• One Inn only: You may apply to just one Inn per cycle. The Inns share data, and applying to more than one gets you disqualified.
• Merit: Awards are given on merit. The Inns look at academic strength, advocacy (clear, persuasive argument), analytical skills, your motivation for the Bar and how well you work with others.
• Financial need: The exact grant amount is means-tested, so what you and your family can afford affects how much you get.
• Nationality: All nationalities can apply. What matters is your plan to practise at the Bar of England and Wales.
• Age: No age limit.
• References: You need at least one supporting reference (usually two are requested, with at least one academic). No reference means disqualification.
• No AI: Using AI to write or rephrase your application leads to disqualification.
• Membership: You do not need to be a member of an Inn to apply or interview. But you must join one Inn (and only one) before you can accept an award.

How to apply

Apply online through your chosen Inn's scholarship portal before you start the course, then attend an interview (in person, sometimes remote). Deadlines differ by Inn and course. For example, Gray's Inn's Bar Course cycle opens 11 September 2026 with a 30 October 2026 deadline, while its GDL cycle opens 12 March 2027 with a 30 April 2027 deadline. Successful candidates then complete a separate financial assessment that sets the grant amount.

How realistic are your chances?

These are well-known awards for a competitive profession, so the applicant pools are large. Gray's Inn drew 383 Bar Course applications for 107 awards in 2026, and Lincoln's Inn had similar numbers. Even so, the odds are far better than most scholarships, because each Inn funds a big share of its applicants. Middle Temple interviews every applicant with a course place, so a strong, well-evidenced case has a genuine shot. Pick the one Inn that fits you best, since you only get one application per cycle.